Coll.; Papeles Varios, xv. pt 9, xxxix. pt 22, xli. pt 10, li. pt 8, lvii. pt 8, lxxxvi. pts 7, 10, 13, lxxxvii. pt 13, lxxxix. pt 3, xcix. pts 4, 5, 6, 10, evii. pts 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, cxxx. pt 3, clxxxiii. pt 11; Jenkins' Mex. War, 58, 73-97, 120-2, 149-215, 241-3, 433-53; Frost's Mex. War, 13-16, 57-102, 123-8, 1549, 182-5, 206–17, 331-2; Id., Pict. Hist. Mex., 196, 207, 246–331; Méx., Mem. Hacda, 1870, 275, 1043-4; Id., Legisl. Mej., 1849, 227-30; Abr.-Jul. 1853, 161-92; Enero-Jun. 1856, 448-51; Id., Col. Leyes y Dec., 1844-6, passim; 1847, 24-5; Mansfield's Mex. War, 30-4, 44-75, 110-16.

A

TAYLOR RETURNS TO MONTEREY-PREPARATIONS AGAINST VERA CRUZLANDING OF UNITED STATES FORCES-APATHY OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT-FORTIFICATIONS OF VERA CRUZ-SIEGE AND CAPITULATIONRESPECTIVE LOSSES-OPERATIONS OF THE GULF FLEET-SANTA ANNA'S PREPARATIONS-HE TAKES UP A POSITION AT CERRO GORDO-SCOTT ADVANCES INTO THE INTERIOR-BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO-THE HEIGHT CARRIED SCOTT ENTERS JALAPA-THE CASTLE OF PEROTE EVACUATED— WORTH PROCEEDS TO PUEBLA-TRIST APPOINTED COMMISSIONER TO MEXICO-HIS DISAGREEMENT WITH SCOTT-ATTEMPTS AT NEGOTIATION WITH SANTA ANNA.

WITH the battle of Buena Vista, Taylor's active operations in the north may be regarded as ended. His work in future was confined to holding possession of the country occupied. The withdrawal of his regular troops for Scott's expedition against the capital, and the approaching expiration of his best volunteers' term of service, rendered offensive manoeuvres in the direction of San Luis Potosí inadvisable. At the same time Scott's advance against the capital so occupied the Mexicans that the hostile forces in the northern provinces were almost unmolested. For a brief period the communication between Monterey and the Rio Grande was interrupted by the operations of generals Urrea and Romero, who, in concert with Santa Anna's design of cutting off the retreat of the army which he had hoped to defeat, had advanced with a strong cavalry corps from Tula to the neighborhood of Cerralvo and Camargo. On the 24th of Feb

ruary Romero attacked a large wagon-train near Marin, escorted by Lieutenant Barbour, 1st Kentucky regiment. The train was destroyed, about 50 wagoners were killed, and the escort captured.1 Again, early in March, a train of 150 wagons, escorted by Major Giddings, was attacked near Cerralvo, and a sharp action took place. Many of the wagons were destroyed, and a number of lives were lost. The Mexicans, however, were finally repulsed. Several other affairs of a like nature took place; but Taylor, having returned to Monterey and established his headquarters at Walnut Springs, marched in person with a strong force against Urrea, who thereupon retired by way of Victoria and Tula to the south."

It appears from the official correspondence that Scott first submitted to the government a written exposition of his views relative to a new line of operations on the 27th of October, 1846. In the memoranda which he laid before the secretary of war he expressed the opinion that, in consideration of Mexico's rejection of all overtures of peace, only by the capture of the capital could she be brought to terms, and that the most practicable way of effecting this would be by taking possession of Vera Cruz and San Juan de Ulúa. To accomplish the latter he deemed a force of 10,000 men necessary, though 15,000 would be better if they could be on the spot before the yellow-fever came. Nevertheless, he was willing to attempt the capture of Vera Cruz with a smaller force. To reach the capital an army of more than 20,000 men would probably be needed. Scott's views were

1U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, Sen. Ex. 1, p. 210-12; Id., H. Ex. 60, p. 1119-20, 1123-4. Urrea reported that 120 wagons and as many pack-mules were captured, and 200 of the enemy killed or taken prisoners. A great number of the wagons were burned for want of animals to take them off. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 116.

2 Urrea states that the train consisted of 300 wagons, 100 of which were burned. Id., 116-17. Giddings' force numbered 260 men. Two of the escort and fifteen teamsters were killed. U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, Sen. Ex. 1, p. 213-15.

3

At this time Scott stated Taylor's army, including Wool's command, to

LANDING AT VERA CRUZ.

439

approved, and, as the reader is aware, he was appointed to the command of the forces in Mexico.

As soon as the United States government had decided to change the base of operation, preparations were carried on with all possible vigor. Transports were procured as quickly as possible, large quantities of munitions of war manufactured, and siege trains of heavy artillery shipped as promptly as circumstances would permit. By February the transports began to arrive at Brazos Santiago, and by the end of the month the embarkation of the troops had been effected at that port, as well as of Patterson's and Twiggs' divisions at Tampico. The island of Lobos, about sixty miles to the south of the latter place, was appointed by Scott as a general rendezvous, and there he organized his army, now numbering over 12,000 men. On March 7th the fleet of transports numbering about eighty vessels anchored at Point Anton Lizardo, and Scott, having reconnoitred the coast, decided to effect a landing at a point about three miles south of Vera Cruz. Sixty-seven surf-boats, each capable of holding from seventy to eighty men, had been provided, and into these 5,500 men were embarked and put ashore about half-past five in the afternoon of the 9th. During the night the debarkation of the whole force was effected without opposition."

be 20,500, to be shortly increased to 27,250 by nine additional regiments of volunteers. From them he proposed to withdraw 14,000 for the Vera Cruz expedition. U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, H. Ex. 59, p. 59-60. The correspondence referred to in the text will be found in the same document, pp. 54-63.

*Consisting of the 1st and 2d brigades of regulars respectively under Worth and Twiggs. Worth's command was composed of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th infantry, the 2d and 3d artillery, Duncan's field-battery, and two companies of volunteers. Twiggs' brigade included the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 7th infantry, the 1st and 4th artillery, with Taylor's field-battery, and a regiment of mounted riflemen. The division of volunteers under Patterson was organized into three brigades, commanded by Pillow, Quitman, and Shields respectively. The first consisted of the 1st and 2d Tenn. and 1st and 2d Penn., with Steptoe's battery of 12-pounders; the second of the South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama regiments; and the third brigade of one regiment of New York and two of Illinois Besides this force of infantry and field-artillery there were the 1st and 2d regiments of dragoons, and one regiment of Tenn. horse. Ripley's War with Mex., ii. 17-18.

men.

Scott's Autobiog., 419-21. Scott here states that the whole number was

While Vera Cruz, the gateway to the heart of the nation, was yet threatened with this hostile movement, the inhabitants received the unpleasant tidings that a revolution had broken out in the capital, and that the troops destined to move to their aid were there employed. It was more interesting fighting each other for individual supremacy than banding against the invaders. The fortifications of Vera Cruz were not in a satisfactory condition, many important points being out of repair, and the armament by no means in serviceable order. Gunpowder also would have been almost entirely wanting but for the opportune arrival of the French bark Anax, which succeeded in running the blockade during a norther with a cargo of that article. Provisions both in the city and in San Juan de Ulúa were scarce at the time of Scott's descent upon the coast, and the government's extraordinary neglect to furnish aid in any form gave rise to bitter reflections and to suspicions of treachery on the part of Santa Anna.8

rather less than 12,000 men, but these figures did not include the cavalry which was landed later. U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, Sen. Ex. 1, p. 223.

Cannons of 24-pound calibre were mounted on carriages for 18-pounders, and 18-pounders on those for 12-pounders. p. 18, of Un Tributo á la Verdad, Vera Cruz, Julio de 1847, 4°, pp. 72. This short work was written by an anonymous citizen of Vera Cruz, who was evidently present at the siege. The first 20 pages are taken up with political matters, and the writer all through the work makes clear his repugnance to Santa Anna and his party. He then portrays the neglect of the government to take proper precautions for the defence of Vera Cruz, and compares Mexico to a vampire that ever sucks her blood, and abandons her in time of danger to her fate. p. 22. Next follows an account of the patriotic exertions of the garrison and inhabitants to oppose the enemy, of the daily operations during the siege, and of the effect of the bombardment. Santa Anna's proceedings down to the entrance of the Americans into Puebla are then severely criticised, and the conclusion reached that while at Habana he made some compact with the U. S. gov., p. 45-6. The different interests of portions of the Mexican republic are touched apon, and the different effects of the war upon them. In a note the copy of an important document is supplied, namely, Gen. Landero's report of the siege to the minister of war.

Though she was lost on the following day, more than 1,000 quintales of powder were saved. Id., 23. Captain Desaché, by decree of May 21, 1852, was awarded $22,000 for running the blockade in January 1947. He was probably master of the Anax. Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1852, 122–3.

8.

'Suponiendo...que estaba decidido que Vera Cruz corriera la misma suerte que Tampico, y no faltaron estrangeros que decian publicamente, que estos dos puntos y Ulia estaban ofrecidos en garantia de compromisos hechos en la Habana.' Tributo á la Verdad, 23.