was no place of safety to be found. The governor was besought and entreated to spare the further effusion of blood by a surrender. Proud and punctilious to the end he refused to do any thing that would derogate from his honor, but was finally persuaded to yield up the command to General Landero, by whom negotiations were opened with General Scott. At eight o'clock in the morning of the 26th the batteries ceased
playing, and articles of capitulation were signed on the following day.[1] The surrender of the city took place in the morning of the 29th, when the Mexican forces marched out to a plain about one mile outside the
- ↑ "Terms of capitulation agreed upon by the commissioners, viz: —
"Generals W. J. Worth and G. J. Pillow, and Colonel J. G. Totten, chief engineer, on the part of Major General Scott, general-in — chief of the armies of the United States; and Colonel José Gutierrez de Villanueva, lieutenant colonel of engineers, Manuel Robles, and Colonel Pedro de Herrera, commissioners appointed by General of Brigade, Don José Juan Landero. commanding in chief, Vera Cruz, the castle of San Juan de Ulua, and their dependencies, for the surrender to the arms of the United States of the said forts, With their armaments, munitions of War, garrisons, and arms.
"1. The whole garrison, or garrisons to be surrendered to the arms of the United States, as prisoners of war, the 29th instant, at 10 o'clock, a. m.; the garrisons to be permitted to march out with all the honors of war, and to lay down their arms to such officers as may be appointed by the general — in-chief of the United States armies, and at a point to be agreed upon by the commissioners.
"2. Mexican officers shall preserve their arms and private effects, including horses and horse furniture, and to be allowed, regular and irregular officers, as also the rank and file, five days to retire to their respective homes, on parole, as hereinafter prescribed.
"3. Coincident with the surrender, as stipulated in article 1, the Mexican flags of the various forts and stations shall be struck, saluted by their own batteries; and, immediately thereafter, Forts Santiago and Conception, and the castle of San Juan de Ulua, occupied by the forces of the United States.
"4. The rank and file of the regular portion of the prisoners to be
