On November I5, 1846, the Americans under General Salt1llo Worth captured Saltillo, about 300 miles northwest of Matamoros. Shortly afterwards, Victoria, capital of Tamaulipas, 220 miles southwest of Matamoros, was taken by Gen. Robert Patterson. In the meantime, Tampico, 335 miles south of Matamoros, on the gulf, had capitulated to Captain Connor of the American flotilla. Buena Vista On February 23, 1847, at Buena Vista, 25 miles south of Saltillo, another battle was fought and here again the Americans defeated the Mexican army. This was General Taylor's last battle, and he and his men soon returned to the Texas frontier. Scott in On March 9, 1847, Gen. Winfield Scott, with about 12,000 men, landed near Vera Cruz. A fierce battJe Mexico ensued, the batteries of San Juan d'Ulloa resisting for four days. Then the Mexicans surrendered. On April 8, 18, the Americans set out towards Jalapa (on what is now t' Interoceanic railway about 80 miles from Vera Cruz). On A il 22, 1847, was fought the battle of Cerro Gordo re the Americans captured two fortified strongholds situated on the top of almost insurmountable peaks. On May I5, 1847, the Americans marched into Puebla about 200 3S west from Vera Cruz. On the twentieth of August, 1847, the Americans captured Contreras, 8 miles from Mexico City, and on the same day they took Churubusco, 3 miles from Mexico City. On September 13, Chapultepec was carried by storm, and on the fourteenth of September the American flag floated from the National Palace in the beautiful City of Mexico, 293 miles west from Vera Cruz. CHAPTER IV After the capture of Mexico City by the Americans, a commission was named to negotiate for peace, and on February 2, 1848, it submitted its report, which later, March 16, 1848 was ratified by the President of the United States. This treaty recognized the Rio Grande as the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. Texas Border side. Immediately after the treaty became effective, Americans began to flock to the border and American troops garrisoned the border towns on the Texas In the year 1851, Jose Maria Carvajal, a prominent Mexican who had been educated in the United States, returning to his native heath, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, headed a revolt against the local state government. He insisted that the customs duties on goods destined to points within a certain distance from the Rio Grande (this territory was afterwards called "LA ZONA LIBRE") should be removed and that such goods should be permitted to enter duty free, considering the great distance over rough, bandit-infested roads that merchandise should have to be hauled unless imported from Texas. He enlisted many Mexican ranchmen and more than a hundred Americans who lived at places along the banks of the river, on both sides. He succeeded in invading the City of Matamoros and with his men surrounded the public plaza held by General Avalos. After a very desultory fight, Carvajal demanded the surrender of the city. Avalos answered that he might have surrendered to Mexicans and fellow-countrymen, but so long as Carvajal had selected to enlist foreigners he would resist. The entire citizenship then reenforced Avalos who drove the invaders out with great loss. For their efforts to preserve the integrity of the City, the Local State Congress and the City Council conferred upon the City the title "HEROIC," which ever since must be a part of the name on all legal documents. It likewise had issued a letter of commendation conferring upon the City the words "UNCONQUERABLE, LOYAL, and HEROIC." Carvajal and Canales were at once pursued but took refuge in Brownsville. In February, 1862, Carvajal again attempted to head a revolt and with about five hundred dissenters from both sides of the river, Mexicans and Americans, and with an original twelve pounder, crossed into Mexico with the avowed purpose of successfully carrying out his original plan, called "Plan de la Loba," which referred to the establishment of the aforementioned "Free Zone." He was engaged in battle this time at Rancho Azucar, very close to Camargo, and being defeated, soon disbanded. For their great patriotism and heroic defense of their country, the Mexican officers and troops were decorated with medals and many honors were conferred upon them. During the year 1854, a party of outlaws disguised as Indians, raided the town of Roma and Rio Grande. They looted the churches and did other acts of vandalism. They had also attacked the U. S. troops at various places on the border, entering their camps at night-time and shooting the sentinels. Special orders No. 20, dated Corpus Christi, Texas, May, 1854, issued by Pvt. Capt. Alfred Gibbs, attested by Asst. Adjt. Genl. D. C. Buell, directed and authorized Col. B. G. Roberts to pursue and chastise the miscreants. Two of the leaders, notorious outlaws who had terrorized the neighborhood for many years, were captured by Roberts' troops, who after identification immediately hung them on the public highway between Roma and Rio Grande, Texas. Cortina Not the least in importance of the episodes along the Raid lower Rio Grande border was what has been called "The CORTINA RAID.". After the treaty of Guadaloupe, agreed upon between Mexico and the United States in February, 1848, some questions arose in the Valley as to the real ownership of various tracts of land theretofore Mexican, but at the time referred to, under Texas jurisdiction. The most notable was that of the present townsite of Brownsville, some 1,500 acres. The Espiritu Santo grant, some 260,000 acres, had been allotted to Jose Salvador de la Garza in 1782. Upon the death of Garza and his wife it descended to their children and their heirs. Among these were Maria Josefa Cavazos (who though not a direct descendant, nevertheless, inherited through an aunt) and Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, a greatgrandson of the original grantee. . The present townsite of Brownsville and of Fort Brown is located on that part of the grant which was allotted and set apart to Maria Josefa Cavazos. Before an American invasion was even thought of, the Matamoros congregation had denounced its customary four leagues for a townsite and in so doing had included all the land on the Texas side up to what is now called the Brownsville City limits. The Mexican City of Matamoros controlled and claimed this land as a part of the Matamoros town commons, but, it appeared from testimony afterwards adduced, had never complied with the Mexican law which provided that when land should be taken for such purposes the original owner should be compensated therefor. Consequently, upon becoming a part of Texas, a great many squatters, holders of headrights, certificates, bounty warrants, etc., located on the Matamoros town commons, situated on the Texas side, alleged them to be VACANT or NATIONAL LANDS pertaining to the Republic of Mexico |