anteed protection. During the siege 400 of the garrison were killed and 600 wounded; in addition, between 400 and 600 of the inhabitants had perished. General Worth was appointed temporary governor of Vera Cruz, and discharged the duties of the post during the delay necessary to arrange for advancing into the interior.*

From Vera Cruz the national road extended to the City of Mexico, and along this road the army set out on one of the most famous marches in our history. As soon as he had made provision for resuscitating the commerce of the port, General Scott took up the line of march, Twiggs leading the way and being followed the next day by Patterson and five days later by Worth. On April 14, after a march of six days, the greater part of the army arrived at the village of Plan del Rio, and there the first trouble was experienced when the advance column (under Twiggs and Patterson) found Santa Anna drawn up with a large force to oppose its progress. On recovering from the shock of the defeat at Taylor's hands, Santa Anna had taken the field in person. Bringing the remnants of his shattered army from San Luis Potosi to Mexico City, he had prepared to raise the siege of Vera Cruz, but too late. Still undismayed, he rallied all the men and

* McMaster, vol. vii., pp. 506–507; Wright, Life of Scott, pp. 162-172; Schouler, United States, vol. v., p. 46; Ladd, The War with Mexico, pp. 208216; Dabney H. Maury, Recollections of a Virginian in the Mexican, Indian, and Civil Wars, pp. 31-35; Maclay, History of the Navy, vol. ii., pp. 178-185.

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resources at his command for one last stand. Announcing in a stirring proclamation to the Mexican people his determination to triumph or die in their cause, he set out with an army (variously estimated at from 9,000 to 13,000) * to intercept the invaders, and within 12 days after leaving Mexico City had drawn up his forces in advance of Jalapa on the great conical hill of Cerro Gordo. The Mexicans had 40 or more pieces to protect their position and, moreover, had cut a ditch three leagues in length, throwing up intrenchments and placing half a dozen batteries in position.

Scott reached Plan del Rio on the 14th and was joined by Worth and his command two days later. Cerro Gordo, the high hill that gave the name to the battle, rises from the bank of the river. In the vicinity the plain terminates and the highway to Jalapa ascends abruptly, winding its way among the hills. The Mexicans had fortified these hills, their right being intrenched and resting on a safe precipice overhanging the stream, the left being commanded by Cerro Gordo's lofty height. lofty height. In the rear toward Jalapa the main Mexican army had encamped on level ground. Santa Anna, however, had neglected to fortify the extreme left, believing it unapproachable. Scott detected this omission and formed his plan of battle accordingly.

After several reconnoitering trips

*The first figures are given by Schouler (vol. v., p. 48) and the last by McMaster (vol. vii., p. 507) and Ladd (The War with Mexico, p. 219).