even private property ruthlessly consumed by the torch. Meanwhile, they made every effort to organize a new army in the interior, and declared that the loss of Monterey was owing only to the incapacity of Ampudia, who was ordered to be tried by court-martial. General Herrera had been president of Mexico when the war was first threatened, but his inclination to avoid hostilities had caused him to be deprived of power, and Paredes assumed the reins of government, and the responsibility of the war. Being unsuccessful, however, he lost caste with his countrymen, who now began to look for another ruler. Several leaders presented themselves, each at the head of a small

Santa Anna lands at Vera Cruz.

army, and each breathing implacable hostility to the United States. In the mean time a party had arisen favourable to the recall of Santa Anna, who had been exiled in 1844, and was living at Havana. A proclamation was issued at Mexico, inviting the return of all Mexicans faithful to their country, Santa Anna being named as one, and appointed general-in-chief; and calling for a meeting of a congress of representatives to be chosen according to the repudiated constitution of 1824, under which Mexico was a federal republic, similar to that of the United States. This was the production of General Salas, who was the avowed supporter of Santa Anna, and who had been elevated to the presidency.

On the 16th of August, Santa Anna landed at Vera Cruz, having been allowed to pass the American blockading squadron, in the British mail steamer Arab. On the 14th of September, when he had reached Ayotla, he received and accepted a commission appointing him supreme dictator. On the next day he entered the capital and was received with every demonstration of joy and confidence. He issued a proclamation calling upon the people to support him in defending the country. The American government had refused to sanction the conditional armistice of eight weeks, provided for by one of the articles of capitulation at Monterey, and directed General Taylor to resume hostilities. That officer therefore addressed a letter to Santa Anna notifying him of the renewal of hostilities, and making a request for the release of certain prisoners at San Luis Potosi. Santa Anna acknowledged the receipt of the letter in a courteous and dignified manner, acquiesced in the conclusion of the armistice, and complied in a liberal manner with

the request concerning the prisoners. He soon found himself at the head of an army of twenty thousand men, who regarded him as invincible.

Meanwhile, the Americans were not idle. General Worth had moved with fifteen hundred men upon Saltillo and taken it, and Parras had fallen into the hands of General Wool. In December, General Santa Anna threatened to attack the American forces in Saltillo, and General Urrea was reported to be in the vicinity of Victoria. General Taylor marched to the latter place, which he reached on the 30th of December. Here he received

Taylor's address to his soldiers.

a letter from General Scott, requesting a large detachment of his troops, which was to increase the army destined to capture Vera Cruz. No soldier could feel more keenly than General Taylor the disappointment to which he was thus subjected to lose the veterans who had won for him so great glory, and be at the same time reduced from a victorious position to one of comparative inaction. Yet he cheerfully obeyed the command. At parting with his troops he issued the following address to them:

"It is with deep sensibility that the commanding general finds himself separated from the troops he so long commanded. To those corps, regular and volunteer, who have shared with him the active services of the field, be feels the attachment due to such associations, while to those who are making their first campaign, he must express his regret that he cannot participate with them in its eventful scenes. To all, both officers and men, he extends his heartfelt wishes for their continued success and happiness, confident that their achievements on another theatre will redound to the credit of their country and to them."

After they had left him, he again established his headquarters at Monterey, where he remained until February. In that month, his force was raised to nearly five thousand, by the arrival of a considerable number of volunteers. He then marched from Monterey to Agua Nueva, a place eighteen miles below Saltillo.

He retired, however, on the approach of Santa Anna, to Buena Vista, a strong position a few miles south of Saltillo. Here he was attacked by Santa Anna, on the 21st of February. That general seems to have been for

Santa Anna's address.

a considerable time wavering as to the course he should pursue; at one time threatening to march to Vera Cruz, then turning to quell an insurrection at the capital, and again manoeuvering in the vicinity of Saltillo. At length he issued an address to his companions in arms, which contained his real intentions. We quote a specimen

of it.

"Soldiers' the entire world observes us, and will expect our acts to be heroic as they are necessary. Privations of all kinds surround us, in consequence of the neglect shown towards us for more than a month, by those who should provide your pay and provisions. But when has misery debilitated your spirits, or weakyour enthusiasm? The Mexican soldier is well known by his frugality and patience under suffering, never wanting magazines in marches across deserts, and always counting upon the resources of the enemy to provide for his wants. To-day we shall undertake to march over a desert country, without succour or provisions. But be assured, that we shall be immediately provided from those of the enemy, and with them you will be sufficiently reimbursed. My friends, we go to open the campaign. What days of glory await us! What a flattering future for our country! How satisfactory, when we contemplate that we have saved its independence! How the world will admire us! How the nation will bless us And when in the bosoms of our families we shall relate the risks and fatigues which we have endured, the combats with and triumphs over a daring and presumptuous enemy; and hereafter, when telling our children that we have saved our country a second time, the jubilee will be complete, and the sacrifices will then