GENERAL TAYLOR. A LIFE GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR; COJirKISING A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS CONNECTED WITH HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER, DERIVED FROM PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE; BY J. REESE' FRY; AND AUTHENTIC INCIDENTS OF HIS EARLY YEARS, FROM MATERIALS COLLECTED BY ROBERT T. CONRAD. WITH AN ORIGINAL AND ACCURATE PORTRAIT AND ELEVEN ELEGANT ILLUSTRATIONS Of the Eattles of Fort Harrison, Okee-cho-bee, Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and Buena Vista, ecc., fee. j t v ofCon> A DBSIONBD BY F. O. 0. DARXjp?. 4 J .1 r\ ■: • Q. PHILADELPHIA: GRIGG, ELLIOT & CO. No. 14 NORTH FOURTH STREET. 1848. I Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by GRIGG, ELLIOT & CO., in the clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BY J. FAGAN. PRINTED BY T. K. AND P. G. COLLINS. (2) ADVEETISEMENT. Ir was expected, by the publishers of this volume, that, according *i their announcement, a Life of General Taylor, by R. T. Conrad, Esq., would be ready at the present time. To collect materials respecting the early years of General Taylor, Mr. Conrad visited Kentucky during the past summer, and was about to begin the work, when prevented by other engage- ments. His memoranda, however, were kindly placed at the disposal of the publishers, and have supplied interesting facts for the present volume, for the use of which they make this acknowledgment on their own behalf and that of the author. Philadelphia, October 10, 1847. 0) PKEFACE. The time is not yet mature for a biography of General Tay- lor, which will do thorough justice to his character and military services. Only eighteen months have elapsed, since his ability as a commander began to be generally recognized. His varied and extraordinary achievements within that period have justly excited popular curiosity regarding his early life, as well as his late career. To meet, therefore, a want of the day, this volume has been prepared. No profession is made respecting it, ex- cept that pains have been taken to procure accurate information touching the circumstances of Taylor's family, the incidents of his youth, and his services in the Indian wars. The outline of his proceedings in Mexico is drawn partly from private letters, but chiefly from his own official correspondence. It may be proper to add, that, to make this volume accepta- ble to a class of present readers, it was thought expedient to' be diffuse in some instances where permanent favour would have suggested condensation, and to be brief in others, where the same reason would have demanded comprehensive state- ments or remarks. Still it is believed that the narrative is neither impeded by irrelevant matter, nor deficient in any es- sential particular. • (4) \« CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Taylor Family — Kentucky in 1775 — Birth of Zachary Taylor — Emigration of the Family to Kentucky — Hancock Taylor — Danger from the Indians — Zachary Taylor's Schoolmaster — His First Lesson in Tac- tics — His Prosperity as a Farmer — Peace with the Indians — Volunteers to oppose Burr's Designs — Commissioned a Lieutenant in U. S. Army — His Marriage — The Indians under Tecumseh — Harrison's Expedition against them — Taylor promoted to a Captaincy — War with England- Attack on Fort Harrison — Taylor's Defence of it — His First Despatch — Further Services — Major by Brevet 13 CHAPTER II. Injustice to Army Officers — Taylor's Resignation and Reinstatement — Va- rious Services from 1816 to 1832 — Anecdote of his Habits — Promoted to a Colonelcy — Black Hawk War — Battle of Bad-Axe — Gen. Atkin- son's Despatch — Anecdote of Taylor — Services until 1836 29 CHAPTER III. Destiny of the Indian Races— Causes of the Florida War — Osceola— Commencement of the Florida War — Troops in Florida — Massacre of Dade's Command — Volunteers in Florida — Taylor ordered to the Seat of War — Marches against the Indians — Difficulties of the March — Bat- tle of Okeechobee — Gallantry of the Troops — The Killed and Wounded — Taylor's Account of the Battle — Its Results — Taylor applauded by the Country — Promoted to a Brigadier Generalship — Appointed to the chief Command in Florida — Use of Blood-hounds — Authority for the Use — Reasons for the same — Indian Murders, several Accounts — Their Perfidy — Taylor vindicated — He retires from the Command in Florida. 37 1* (5) VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. General Taylor in the South-west — Tender of a public Dinner — Mexico in 1822 — Spirit of her Institutions — Injustice to Texas — Revolt of Texas — Annexation of Texas — Duty of a Soldier — Taylor ordered to defend Texas — Conditions of the Order — Invasion of Texas defined — Gen. Taylor embarks for Corpus Christi — Number of his Troops — Ordered to Matamoros — His Despatches from the date of embarking for Corpus Christi to the breaking up of the Camp at that point 68 CHAPTER V. The March from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande commenced — Face of the Country — Sufferings of the Troops — Mexican Demonstration — American Action — Point Isabel invested — The March resumed — En- campment on the Rio Grande — Conference rejected — Entrenchments commenced — Despatches of General Taylor — Ampudia's Magnanimity A Deserter shot — Fort Brown — Murder of Colonel Cross — Corre- spondence, Ampudia and Taylor — General Arista — Blockade of the Rio Grande — Correspondence on the Subject — Mexicans crossing the River — Capture of Thornton's Command — Mexican Exultation — Manifesto of Arista Point Isabel in Danger — Requisition for Volunteers — Cap- tain Walker's First Exploit — Resolution to relieve Point Isabel 87 H CHAPTER VI. Rejoicing in Matamoros — Arista, with his Forces, crosses the River — His Disappointment at Taylor's Escape — Mexican Narrative of both Move- ments — Ardour of the Mexicans — Terror of the Americans — Their Du- plicity and Treachery — Taylor's Ignominy — Bombardment of Fort Brown — Taylor's Instructions — May's and Walker's Mission — New Mexican Batteries — Their Fire not returned — Mexican Account of the Bombardment — Eternal Honour of Mexican Artillery-men — Barbarous Pleasure of the Americans — Their Cowardice and Stupidity — Mexican Triumph American Loss — Mexican Superiority — Continuation of the Bombardment — Death of'Major Brown — New Mexican Batteries — Cap- tain Hawkins summoned to Surrender — Arista's modest Letter — Haw- kins' presumptuous Answer — Want of Ammunition — Preparations for an Assault — Weariness of the Men in the Fort — Signals of Relief. 108 CHAPTER VII. General Taylor leaves Point Isabel for Fort Brown — His Force — The March — Enemy reported — Rest before battle — Palo Alto — Enemy in CONTENTS. VH sight — Taylor's order of battle — Lieut. Blake's bold reconnoissance — Taylor's confidence — Arista's Force and order of battle — The Enemy's first Fire — The Answer and its Effect— Charge by the Lancers — Their repulse — Fall of Ringgold — The Prairie on fire— Charge on the Train — Duncan's Battery — May's gallantry — The last Charge — The Field won — The Loss — Taylor's first Despatch — His detailed account of the Action — Mention of Lieut. Blake — Of the Artillery — Of Lieut. Luther •r-Statement of Forces — Arista's Despatch — Misstatement of his Force — Explanations of Failure — False colouring — Acknowledgment of Loss — Remarks on the causes of the Victory 119 CHAPTER VIII. Mexican Army retreating — Taylor's March resumed — Mexican Dead and Wounded — Skirmishes with the Enemy — Mexican Army formed — Its Position — La Resaca de la Palma — The Battle commenced — The Artil- lery — Infantry engaged — Close Quarters — The Enemy's Batteries — May ordered to charge them — Ridgely's Gallantry — May's furious Onset — Inge's and Sackett's Death — Batteries captured — La Vega a Prisoner — The Fifth Infantry's charge — Personal deeds The Enemy's bra- very — Officers Wounded and Killed — Arista's Camp taken — The Tam- pico Battalion — Rout of the Enemy — The Booty — The Loss — Tay- lor's first Despatch — His detailed Account — Encomiums on his Troops — Mistakes of Arista — Misery of routed Troops — Gen. Taylor's care of the Wounded — His return to Point Isabel — Congratulates his Troops — Mexican Commander's Manifesto — Remarks on causes of his Defeat — Inferiority of Officers — Authority cited — Self-devotion of American Officers — Examples — Anecdotes of Heroism — Ridgely — Page Payne — Ringgold — Richey — Woods and Hays — Augur and Cochrane — Bar- bour — May — Melton — Lincoln and Jordan — Belknap and Scott — Mc- intosh — Letter of a Witness 135 CHAPTER IX. The 8th of May at Fort Brown — Anxiety of the Garrison News of Palo Alto — Bombardment on the 9th — Mexican Fugitives seen — Reck- lessness in their Panic — Disappointment and Suffering in Matamoros — The Wounded and Dead — Despatches from Taylor — Incidents of La Vega's Capture — Taylor's Courtesy to him — Taylor's return to the Rio Grande — Commodore Conner — Barita taken — Preparations to Bombard Matamoros — Armistice offered and refused — Arista's final Retreat — Oc- cupation of Matamoros — Despatch from General Taylor — Arista's report of his Retreat — Anecdote of Ampudia — Document found in Arista's Tent — Result of Taylor's Operations 160 Vlll CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. War recognized by Congress — Men and Money voted — General Taylor embarrassed — Inadequate means of advancing — Letter to the Depart- ment — Difficulties and Wants explained — Further correspondence — Sug- gestions regarding his advance; — Letter from the Secretary of War — Taylor recommended to advance on Monterey — His Views on the Cam- paign requested — Continued Difficulties — Further despatches — Arrival ' of Volunteers — Causes of Inactivity explained — Minor Expeditions — More Troops — Letter from General Scott — News of Taylor's Victories reaches the United States — Popular Enthusiasm — Created Brigadier General by Brevet — President's Letter — Thanks voted by Louisiana Legislature — Deputation to Taylor — His Speech to the Committee Made a full Major General by Congress — Correspondence — Taylor's Views of future Operations — Camargo taken — Despatches 177 CHAPTER XL Civil Dissensions of the Mexicans — Tyranny of Paredes — Popular Defec- tions — Conspirators apprehended — Liberty of the Press abolished — Un- wise Policy of Paredes — News of Arista's Defeat received — Sensation in the Capital — Money refused by the Clergy — Decline of Paredes 7 authority — Movement in favour of Santa Anna — Civil War in Mexico- Blockade by the United States of Mexican Ports — Plans of the United States Government — Plans of General Taylor — Proclamation to the People of Mexico — Confidential Letter to Taylor — Taylor's Answer — Santa Anna proclaimed in Vera Cruz — Excitement in the Capital — Fall of Paredes — Santa Anna's return to Mexico — Government of de Salas — Santa Anna's triumphal entry into the Capital — His pledges to the Mexicans — Taylor's Arrangements complete for his Advance — His Difficulties explained — Enumeration of his Force — March of Worth's Division — Of Butler's and Twiggs' Divisions — Report of Forces against Monterey — Sufferings and Death of Volunteers — March of Worth's Di- vision towards Monterey 195 CHAPTER XII. Enemy reinforced at Monterey — Taylor, with Twiggs' and Butler's Divi- sions, marches from Camargo — The March — Rest at Seralvo — Appear- once of the Country — Mexican Forces discovered — The Advance before Monterey fired upon — Encampment at Walnut Springs — Description of Monterey — Its Fortifications — Mexican Forces in it — Ampudia's Ad- dress — Taylor's Keconnoissance — His Plan of Assault — Worth's Expe- dition — His movement on tile 20th — Skirmish on the 21st — Occupa- CONTENTS. IX tion of the Saltillo Pass — Movements of Butler's Division—First Fort in the Eastern Suburbs carried — Terrible Fire of the Enemy's Bat- teries — Repulse of the Lancers — Two Forts on the Heights carried — Losses on the First Day — Dispositions for the Night 215 CHAPTER XIII. Independencia carried — Sortie from the Palace — Enemy repulsed and Pa- lace taken — Operations on the Eastern Quarter — Progress towards the Heart of the Town — Worth's Progress on Opposite Side — Command of the Main Plaza — Flag of Truce — Suspension of the Attack — Tay- lor's Despatch — Correspondence with Ampudia and the Governor — Tay- lor's Detailed Report of the Siege! — Extract from Worth's Report — Com- ments on the Action — Conference between Ampudia and Taylor — Com- missioners on the Capitulation appointed — Proceedings of the Commis- B i on — Terms of Capitulation — Report of Killed and Wounded 232 CHAPTER XIV. Occupation of the City by Worth's Division — Encampment of Butler's and Twiggs' Divisions — Consideration of the Terms of Capitulation- Implied Censure by Congress of the Terms — Defence of the same — Jef- ferson Davis' Views regarding the Capitulation — Taylor's Letter to the Adjutant General justifying it — Private Letter on the same Subject, and on his past Operations and future Plans — Concluding Remarks 263 CHAPTER XV. Taylor's Force after the Capitulation of Monterey — Reflections on hia Course Advices from Washington — Instructions regarding Supplies- Regarding an Expedition against the Coast — Further Correspondence — Taylor's Replies — Opinions regarding his own future Operations — Re- garding the Force requisite to invest Vera Cruz — Assertion of his Rights as Commander — Answer to the Secretary respecting forced Supplies — General Wool's Entry into Monclova 274 CHAPTER XVI. March of Worth's Division for Saltillo — Taylor's Instructions — His reasons for holding Saltillo — Opinion regarding the Expedition against Vera Cruz The Forces necessary — Taylor visits Saltillo — Protest of the Go- vernor — Relative position of the Divisions — Tampico occupied — Taylor sets out for Victoria with Twiggs' and Quitman's Brigades — Returns with the former — Concentration at Saltillo — Arrival of Wool's Division expected — Taylor marches again for Victoria with Twiggs' Division — Occupation of Victoria — Forces there — Government Plans against Vera X CONTENTS. Cruz — Letter from General Scott to General Taylor — Forces withdrawn from General Taylor — Address to his Troops — Loss of May's Rear-guard — Capture of Majors Borland, Gaines, and C. M. Clay — Affairs of Mexico — Activity of Santa Anna — His advance to San Luis — General Wool's Camp — Taytor's advance to Saltillo — Camp at Agua Nueva — At Buena Vista — Enumeration of Santa Anna's Forces — of Taylor's Forces 289 CHAPTER XVII. tt Taylor's Position at Buena Vista — Washington's Birth-day — Summons of Santa Anna to Taylor to Surrender — The Reply — Taylor's Detailed Report of the Battle — His order of Battle on the 22d — Skirmishes — Minon's Cavalry in the Rear — Battle on the 23d — Attack of the Enemy on the Left and Centre — Partial success of the Attack — Service of the Artillery — Repulse of the Enemy — Ruse of Santa Anna — Death of Yell and Vaughan — Rei*ewed Attacks of the Enemy — Bragg's Battery — The Day saved — Death of Hardin, McKee, Lincoln, and Clay — Incidents after the Battle — Comparative Losses — General Wool and other Officers and Corps distinguished — Official Return of Loss — Private Letter to General Butler — Taylor's Views of the Battle — Congratulatory Orders Letters to Henry Clay and Governor Lincoln — Rejoicings in the United States — Mr. Crittenden — Repulse of Urrea and Romaro by Ma- jor Giddings Taylor's pursuit of them — Return to his Head-quarters Public Estimation of Taylor— The Presidency — His Personal Views as a Candidate — Concluding Remarks on his Character 299 A F SEAT OF GENERAL TAYLOR'S OPERATIONS SX£ zm ^S 02 CS3 C£> (To face page 13.) taylor's first lesson ln the art of war. To face page 13. LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. CHAPTER I. The Taylor Family — Kentucky in 1775 — Birth of Zachary Taylor — Emigration of the Family to Kentucky — Hancock Taylor — Danger from the Indians — Zachary Taylor's Schoolmaster — His First Lesson in Tactics — His Prosperity as a Farmer — Peace with the Indians — Volunteers to oppose Burr's Designs — Commissioned a Lieutenant in U. S. Army — His Marriage — The Indians under Tecumseh — Harrison's Expedition against them — Taylor promoted to a Captaincy — War with England — Attack on Fort Harrison — Taylor's De- fence of it — His First Despatch — Further Services — Major by Brevet. The republican principles and customs of our country hap- pily forbid personal distinction founded merely upon ancestral rank. We incline rather to celebrate a name first made illus- trious in our own day, than one which borrows its light from the glory of other generations. Yet we fail not in due re- spect for the character which worthily sustains inherited supe- riority. In this spirit, we commence a biography of General Taylor, by citing the honourable families whose blood is mingled in his veins. Original obscurity or early trials could not have shadowed his genius or repressed his energies. But springing from a stock, to be worthy of which were a singular merit, he has proved himself its noblest scion, and, amid a halo of kindred names, his own has suddenly risen to be the highest and brightest. The family of the Virginia Taylors is allied to the oldest and most distinguished of that state. Its first representatives emigrated from England, and settled in the south-eastern part of the colony, towards the close of the seventeenth century. 2 (13) 14 THE TAYLOR FAMILY. In the different branches of it are found the Lees, the Bar- bours, the Madisons, the Conways, the Pendletons, the Hunts, the Taliaferros, the Gaineses, and others, whose public ser- vices and virtues, during a hundred years, are commemo- rated in our colonial and national history. Richard Taylor, the father of General Zachary Taylor, was born in Virginia, on the 22d day of March, 1744. He appears to have received a plain but solid education, and evinced in his boyhood the daring and adventurous spirit, which led him to seek a home and independence in the wilderness of the Mississippi valley. While yet at school, he entered into a compact, with some of his mates, to visit Kentucky when they should grow up. He, at least, adhered to his purpose. When stili very young, he set out, and reached " the dark and bloody ground," on which, at that time, the dwelling of a civilized man had not been reared. His survey of the country ex- tended to the Mississippi, down which he proceeded as far as Natchez. From that point, his face was then turned home- ward ; and, without guide or companion, through pathless woods, over rivers and mountains, fearless alike of the seasons, of savages, or of any peril of his long and lonely way, he walked back to his father's house in Virginia. All that he had seen served but to confirm, in his imagination, the charms of border life ; and, although he continued to reside many years in Virginia, he subsequently fulfilled his desire of making his home in the great west. On the 20th of August, 1779, when thirty-five years old, he was married to Sarah Strother, a young lady, of good family, then in her twentieth year. At this time, he held a colonel's commission in the Virginia Line, and served with zeal and honour through the revolutionary war. Five sons and three daughters were the offspring of this mar- riage, — the first child born in 1781. Zachary Taylor, the sub- ject of this memoir, the third son of Colonel Richard Taylor, was born in Orange county, Virginia, on the twenty-fourth day of November, 1784. In the following summer, his father ful- filled his lone-cherished intention of piaWaiirtg to Kentucky. KENTUCKY PIONEERS. 15 Only ten years before, the first habitation of a white man had been erected in the vast region between the western boundary of Virginia and the Mississippi. Within this period, a few set- tlements had been made, insufficient, however, from their feebleness and isolated positions, to secure to the emigrant , adequate protection from the Indians, much less to afford him the most usual comforts of civilized life. Peril and privation, to which only superior courage and fortitude were equal, were the lot of all who sought a home in the primitive woods, and in the hunting-grounds of hostile savages. In the emigration of Colonel Richard Taylor to this country, he had- been preceded by his brother Hancock, a brave and intelligent man, who fell a sacrifice in the enterprise of sur- veying parts of the Ohio valley. He is said to have selected, for his farm, the site of the city of Louisville. He is thus mentioned in Marshall's History of Kentucky. " After Douglass, (a surveyor, who died on the Kentucky river, while engaged in his profession,) and pursued by a fate more malignant, was Hancock Taylor ; a surveyor also, and a man of more enterprise. He, too, landed at the falls of the Ohio, and, after making a number of surveys, by virtue of mili- tary warrants, was killed by the Indians, who made a sudden onset before he was apprized of danger. Thus fell an intelli- gent and worthy man. One of his attendants had the pre- caution to secure and bring off' his book of field notes, which was rendered effectual [adopted as authority,] by an act of the legislature." Under the guidance of such men, and under such circum- stances for the development of his bold spirit and active intel- lect, Zachary Taylor passed his infant years. The hardships and dangers of border life were to him as familiar as ease and security to the child of metropolitan luxury. His father had settled in Jefferson county, about two miles from the Ohio river, and five miles from Louisville, where he acquired a large estate by his industry and thrift, and honourable con- sideration by his intelligence, bravery, and patriotism. As Louisville rose into importance, his own fortune and local dis- 16 . Taylor's schoolmaster. tinction increased. He received from President Washington a commission as collector of that port, New Orleans being then in possession of the Spaniards. He had been a personal friend of Washington, prior to his emigration from Virginia, and his worth was, therefore, familiar to that great man, from early knowledge as well as later report. One of the chief cares of Colonel Taylor was the education of his children. During the first ten or fifteen years of his residence in Kentucky, the country being sparsely settled, and exposed to Indian enemies, this purpose could be accomplished only in a very partial degree. A school, for the rudiments of English merely, was established in his neighbourhood by Elisha Ayres, a native of Connecticut, who afterwards returned to that state, and now resides, a venerable gentleman of four- score years, at Preston, in the vicinity of Norwich. A letter from him, written during the past summer to the author of this volume, in answ r er to one of inquiry concerning the school-boy days of General Taylor, explains satisfactorily the circum- stances in which they were passed, and exhibits the character of our hero, at that time, in a light worthy of his mature re- putation. In the language of Mr. Ayres, "the Kentuckians were then a warlike and chivalrous people, and they were often engaged in offensive or defensive skirmishes with the Indians. A number were known to be in the woods not far distant from the school-house, and, on one occasion, one of them was shot, wearing a British uniform. In their hostility to the Americans, they were encouraged and sustained by the British authorities on the Northern frontier. There was a Mr. Whetsel, in the neighbourhood of the school, who, having been once chased by three or four Indians, loaded his rifle while running, and suc- cessively shot them all. This exploit made Whetsel famous, and he became the instructor of the young men and boys in the neighbourhood, in his mode of maintaining a running fire. Among his pupils, it is believed, was yojng Zachary." It may be remarked, upon this recital of » young Zachary's" first training in the art of war, that he has apparently forgotten TAYLOR A FARMER. 17 the " running" lessons, although, jn other respects, he ab m- dantly justifies the tuition of the valiant Whetsel. Among the anecdotes current in Kentucky respecting his childhood, is one of his watching at home with his brother, and casting bullets, while his father was out engaged with the Indians. Such, in fact, was the constant necessity of guarding against these cunning and implacable foes, that the physician of the neighbourhood habitually rode with pistols at his saddlebows. All attempts to placate or subdue the Indians had failed, prior to the date of Wayne's decisive victory over them. In 1795, the year following that important achievement, a general peace was concluded. From that period, the population of Kentucky increased rapidly, and civilized labour and enter- prise began to enjoy their due reward. Zachary Taylor \vas reared by his father to his own profession — that of a farmer ; and, until his majority, was practically engaged in it, working with his own hands, and laying the foundation of the robust health, hardy habits, and persevering industry, which have borne the test of various climate, rude fare, and severe duty, during a military life of more than thirty years. The service very early engaged his affections and excited his ambition. When Aaron Burr's movements in the west began to arouse suspicion, the patriotic young men of Kentucky formed volun- teer companies, to oppose his designs by arms, if occasion should demand such a resort. Zachary Taylor, and one or more of his brothers, were enrolled in a troop raised for this purpose. After the alarm had subsided, he returned to his farm, which he continued to cultivate successfully, until the death of his brother, Lieutenant Taylor. The latter held a commission in the United States army, and, dying in the service, an oppor- tunity was afforded Zachary of obtaining the vacancy. Through the influence of his relative, James Madison, of his uncle, Major Edmund Taylor, and of his father, this object was ac- complished ; and, on the 3d of May, 1808, he received his commission as first lieutenant in the seventh regiment of United States Infantry. At this time, he was already in the enjoyment 18 WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. of a fortune, which, although moderate, was more than suffi- cient for his wants. But the activity of his mind, his aspira- tions for a larger sphere of employment, and, it may be, for the distinction of an officer in the national service, were supe- rior to the inclination for the quiet and profitable occupation of landed proprietor. His first experience in his new vocation had nearly proved fatal. He was ordered to report himself to General Wilkinson in New Orleans ; and, being taken there with the yellow fever, was obliged to return home to recruit his health. He appears to have employed his time sedulously in the study of his profession, as we find him, three years from this time, fulfilling with honour a dangerous and important post. The aggressive policy of England had been meanwhile pre- paring the public mind for the declaration of war. The emis- saries of her government, employed among the Indian tribes north of the Ohio, had incited anew their hostility to the Ame- rican settlers, who were kept in constant apprehension of an attack. Under these circumstances, it was deemed advisable by the government to make the first demonstration, and General Harrison, then Governor of the North-west Territory, was ordered to march a force into the Indian country. In the progress of this expedition he erected on the Wabash River, in Indiana, a block-house and stockade, which received the name of Fort Harrison. Lieutenant Taylor took part in this duty, and was afterwards kept actively engaged in watching the Indians and thwarting their adverse movements. His mar- riage had taken place in 1810, and he left at home a young wife and child to join his command. Communications with his family were difficult and infrequent, — at times so long in- terrupted that he was supposed to have fallen a victim to the perilous enterprise in which he was employed. His services were appreciated by President Madison, who rewarded them by a captain's commission, in the beginning of the year 1S12. He was then placed in command of Fort Harrison, and soon afterwards Congress declared war against Great Britain. From this period may be dated his first actual encounter with an INDIAN HOSTILITIES. 19 enemy. Upon the character of this enemy a few words may be proper in this place. During the long struggle between the French and English for the ascendancy in the Mississippi valley, the Indians had been anxiously courted by both powers. While they were supplied with European arms, and partially instructed in mili- tary science by European officers, no effort appears to have been made to soften their ferocity, or to mitigate the barbarous customs which regarded war less as an act of national policy, than an opportunity of indulging all the worst of individual passions. If lack of discipline in their armies made them less formidable to an equal number of our own troops, their savage disregard of the rights of prisoners, made them terrible to an inferior force. At the time that Captain Taylor was first brought into conflict with the tribes in the region of Fort Har- rison, they had been particularly prepared for daring adven- tures by the encouragement of two chiefs, whose talents would have honoured far nobler followers. These were Tecumseh, and his brother Olliwachica, — better known as the Prophet. For several years it had been the policy and ambition of these men to inflame the Indians of the North-western Territory with fresh animosity against their white neighbours. Both leaders added to the qualities of courage, fortitude, and perse- verance, consummate knowledge of the arts by whicl. the savage mind is controlled ; and they succeeded in inspiring their inferiors with a religious abhorrence of the whites, more effectual for their ends, than the national jealousy excited by the encroachments of the latter upon their ancient hunting- grounds. At no previous period, therefore, was the spirit of the Indians so fully aroused to the duty — such it was in their view — of exterminating our people, as when they resolved to attack Fort Harrison. Three months after war with England had been formally declared, they were banded for this purpose. Captain Taylor had some intimations of it, which were confirmed on the 3d of September, by the report of guns in the vicinity of the fort, where two young men were at work in the fields. On the 20 NIGHT ATTACK BY INDIANS. 4th their bodies were discovered by a party sent out in search of them, — the scalped heads bearing too apparent proof of In- dian hands. This incident added to the vigilance of Captain Taylor, and he made every effort for defence compatible with his limited means. The whole force under his command was about fifty men, of whom about two-thirds were invalids. He himself was just recovering from a fever. The Indians were aware of his weakness, but still preferred the exercise, in some degree, of their native cunning, to the hazard of an open attack. For this purpose a deputation of the Prophet's party came to the fort on the evening of the 4th, bearing a white flag, and affecting peaceable intentions. Captain Taylor was not deceived by this attempt to lessen his caution. He in- spected the arms of the men, served out 16 rounds of car- tridges to each, and made other dispositions of his meagre re- sources to guard against surprise and sustain an assault. His force was so small that a sufficient number of sentinels could not be posted to protect the whole extent of the outworks, but the officer of the guard was ordered to make the tour of the inside through the night. With these precautions the commander, and that portion of his little band not on the watch, retired to rest. But an hour before midnight they were aroused by the report of a musket. Taylor sprang up from his brief sleep, and found his savage enemies upon him. On their approach, the sentinels had pre- cipitately retired within the house, and it was discovered that the lower building was already fired by the Indians. The sit- uation of the garrison was now one of extreme peril, the alter- native of death by fire or savage arms appearing imminent. The young captain, however, maintained his composure, and while he directed one party to carry buckets of water to extin- guish the flames, encouraged another, in their efforts to repel the assailants. It chanced that the fire was first communicated to the store-room, which contained a quantity of whiskey. This was soon in a blaze, which reached the roof and defied every effort to suppress it. Meanwhile a host of savages, who, under cover of a very dark night, had previously approached close THE INDIANS REPULSED. £1 to the house, maintained the attack, yelling furiously in antici- pation of their triumph, which it seemed almost impossible to avert. But Taylor, not despairing even in this emergency, ordered the roofs of a portion of the buildings to be torn off, and by keeping that which remained continually wet, suc- ceeded in restricting the fire to the apartments where it originated. Animated by their leader, the men, who at first shrank from the unequal contest, kept up a steady discharge of musketry upon the assailants, who, during seven hours, abated no effort to carry the fort. In this protracted attack, only three of the garrison were killed and three wounded, while it was apparent that the Indians suffered severely from their exposed position. At six o'clock, on the morning of the 5th, dispirited by their loss, and abandoning the hope of wearying resistance at once so resolute and effective, they retired from the spot, after de- stroying all the provisions of the post, and killing or driving off the horses and cattle. The account of this affair, given to General Harrison, in a letter dated the 10th of September, 1812, being the first despatch from Taylor's pen, is appropriately inserted in this place. It has the unaffected spirit, if not the severe style, of his more mature productions. The following is an extract : — « On Thursday evening, 3d instant, after retreat beating, four guns were heard to fire in the direction where two young men, (citizens who resided here,) were making hay, about four hundred yards distant from the fort. I was immediately im- pressed with an idea that they were killed by the Indians, as the Miamies or Weas had that day informed me that the Pro- phet's party would soon be here for the purpose of commencing hostilities ; and that they had been directed to leave this place, which they were about to do. I did not think it prudent to send out at that late hour of the night, to see what had become of them, and their not coming convinced me that I was right in my conjecture. I waited until eight o'clock next morning, when I sent out a corporal with a small party to find them, if |J| C A T T . T A V L Uli'« F I li ti T L> E S V A T C H . it could be done without running too much risk of being drawn into an ambuscade. He soon sent back to inform me, that he had found them both killed, and wished to know my further orders : I sent the cart and oxen, had them brought in and buried. They had been shot with two balls, scalped, and cut in the most shocking manner. Late in the evening of the 4th instant, old Joseph Lenar, and between thirty and forty In- dians, arrived from the Prophet's town, with a white flag; among whom were about ten women, and the men were com- posed of chiefs of the different tribes that compose the Pro- phet's party. "A Shawnee man that spoke good English, informed me that old Lenar intended to speak to me next morning, and try to get something to eat. After retreat beating, I examined the men's arms, and found them all in good order, and com- pleted their cartridges to sixteen rounds per man. As I had not been able to mount a guard of more than six privates, and two non-commissioned officers for some time past, and some- times p^art of them every other day, from the unhealthiness of the company, I had not conceived my force adequate to the defence of this post, should it be vigorously attacked, for some time past. As I had just recovered from a very severe attack of the fever, I was not able to be up much through the night. " After tattoo, I cautioned the guard to be vigilant, and ordered one of the non-commissioned officers, as the sentinel could not see every part of the garrison, to walk around on the inside during the night, to prevent the Indians taking any advantage of us, provided they had any intention of attacking us. About eleven o'clock, I was awakened by the firing of one of the sentinels ; I sprung up, ran out, and ordered the men to their posts, when my orderly sergeant (who had charge of the upper block-house) called out that the Indians had fired the lower block-house, which contained the property of the contractors, which was deposited in the lower part, (the upper part having been assigned to a corporal and ten privates as an alarm post.) The guns had begun to fire pretty smartly from THE FORT ON FIRE. 23 both sides, I directed the buckets to be got ready, and water brought from the well, and the fire extinguished immediately, as it was perceivable at that time ; but from debility, or some other cause, the men were very slow in executing my orders ; the word fire, appeared to throw the whole of them into con- fusion ; and by the time they had got the water, and broken open the door, the fire had unfortunately communicated to a quantity of whiskey, (the stock having licked several holes through the lower part of the building, after the salt that was stored there, through which they had introduced the fire, without being discovered, as the night was very dark,) and in spite of every exertion we could make use of, in less than a minute it ascended to the roof, and baffled every effort we could make to extinguish it. "As that block-house adjoined the barracks that made part of the fortifications, most of the men immediately gave them- selves up for lost, and I had the greatest difficulty in getting my orders executed ; and, sir — what from the raging of the fire — the yelling and howling of several hundred Indians — the cries of nine women and children (a part soldiers' and a part citizens' wives, who had taken shelter in the fort) — and a de- sponding of so many of the men, which was worse than all — I can assure you that my feelings were very unpleasant ; and, indeed, there were not more than ten or fifteen men able to do anything at all, the others being sick or convalescent ; and to add to our other misfortunes, two of our stoutest men jumped the pickets and left. But my presence of mind did not for a moment forsake me. I saw by throwing off part of the roof that joined the block-house that was on fire, and keeping the. end perfectly wet, the whole row of buildings might be saved, and leave only an entrance of eighteen or twenty feet for the Indians to enter, after the house was consumed; and that a temporary breast- work might be formed to prevent their enter- ing even there. I convinced the men that this could be ac- complished, and it appeared to inspire them with new life ; and never did men act with more firmness or desperation. Those 24 THE INDIANS BAFFLED. that were able (while others kept up a constant fire from the up- per block-house and the two bastions) mounted the roofs of the houses, with Doctor Clark at their head, (who acted with the greatest firmness and presence of mind, the whole time the attack lasted, which was seven hours,) under a shower of bullets, and in less than a moment threw off as much of the roof as was ne- cessary. This was done, with one man killed, and two wounded, and I am in hopes neither of them dangerously. The man that was killed was a little deranged, and did not get off of the house as soon as directed, or he would not have been hurt ; and although the barracks were several times in a blaze, and an immense quantity of fire against them, the men used such exertion, that they kept it under ; and, before day, raised a temporary breast-work as high as a man's head. Although the Indians continued to pour in a heavy fire of ball, and an innumerable quantity of arrows, during the whole time the attack lasted, in every part of the parade, I had but one other man killed — nor any other wounded inside the fort — and he lost his life by being too anxious ; he got into one of the gallies in the bastions, and fired over the pickets, and called out to his comrades that he had killed an Indian, and neglect- ing to stoop down in an instant, he was shot. | " One of the men that jumped the pickets, returned an hour before day, and running up towards the gate, begged for God's sake for it to be opened. I suspected it to be a strata- gem of the Indians to get in, as I did not recollect the voice ; I directed the men in the bastion where I happened to be to shoot him, let him be who he would, and one of them fired at him, but fortunately he ran up the other bastion, where they knew his voice, and Doctor Clark directed him to lie close to the pickets, behind an empty barrel that happened to be there, and at daylight I had him let in. His arm was broken in a most shocking manner, which he says was done by the In- dians, which I suppose was the cause of his returning. I think it probable that he will not recover. The other they caught about one hundred and thirty yards from the garrison, and THEFORTSAVED. 25 cut him all to pieces. After keeping up a constant fire until about six o'clock the next morning, which we began to return with some effect, after daylight they removed out of reach of our guns. A party of them drove up the horses that belonged to the citizens here, and as they could not catch them very readily, shot the whole of them in our sight, as well as a num- ber of their hogs. They drove off the whole of the cattle. w r hich amounted to sixty-five head, as well as the public oxen. I had the vacancy filled up before night (which was made by the burning of the block-house) with a strong row of pickets, which I got by pulling down the guard-house. We lost the whole of our provisions, but must make out to live upon green corn, until we can get a supply, which I am in hopes will not be long. I believe the whole of the Miamies or Weas were among the Prophet's party, as one chief gave his orders in that language, which resembled Stone Eater's voice, and I believe Negro Legs was there likewise. A Frenchman here understands their different languages ; and several of the Miamies or Weas that have been frequently here were recognised by the Frenchman and soldiers next morning. " The Indians suffered smartly, but. were so numerous as to take off all that were shot. They continued with us until the next morning, but made no further attempt on the fort, nor have we seen anything more of them since. I have delayed informing you of my situation, as I did not like to weaken the garrison, and I looked for some person from Vincennes, and none of my men were acquainted with the woods, and there- fore I would either have to take the road or river, which I was fearful was guarded by small parties of Indians, who would not dare attack a company of rangers that was on a scout. But being disappointed, I have at length determined to send a couple of my men by water, and am in hopes they will arrive safe. I think it would be best to send the provisions under a pretty strong escort, as the Indians may attempt to prevent their coming. If you carry on an expedition against the Pro- phet this fall, you ought to be well provided with everything, 3 26 HONOR OF THE DEFENCE. as you may calculate on having every inch of ground disputed, that they can defend with advantage." Such is the modest account which Taylor gave of an achievement, which, however insignificant compared with the 'operations of large armies, required the highest degree of phy- sical courage, and the heroic firmness which imparts its quality to other spirits. In the open plain and in the broad sunlight, — in the grand movements of thousands of serried troops, and the steady glitter of their arms — in the cheering peal of trum- pet and drum, and the waving of bright banners — in all this there is something to awaken courage in the most sluggish heart, and to prove at once to the warrior the honour of tri- umph, of wounds or of death, in a cause which brings hosts into conflict. But far stronger is the nerve, far sterner the purpose, which while the howl of infuriate barbarians arouses the midnight sleeper, can sustain him in the terrible moment when the flames, raging around his shelter, threaten to drive him into the less fortunate embrace of his merciless enemies. It was in such a scene as this, his first experience in warfare, that Taylor evinced the calmness, the energy, the hope against mighty odds, which in a later and larger field of action inspired one of his followers to exclaim, as if he were uttering a moral axiom, " Taylor never surrenders!" At Fort Harrison, four hundred savages fell suddenly upon his petty band, less than a twentieth their number, and after a fierce affray of seven hours, left the field discomfited. With such a beginning of his glo- rious career, should the sequel of Buena Vista be regarded with surprise ? The failure of their enterprise against Fort Harrison morti- fied and disheartened the Indians, and they abandoned for the time any further attempts against it. The garrison, however, was ignorant of their feelings or intentions, and as a renewal of the attack was reasonably apprehended, its vigilance was not abated. The despatch cited above was entrusted to two men, who attempted to descend the river to Vincennes, out the Indians being on the alert, and keeping up fires on the banks through the night, obliged the bearers to return. In THE GARRISON RELIEVED. 27 this emergency, Captain Taylor again addressed Governor Harrison, and sent his messengers by land. These were suc- cessful. The letter was in these terms : " I wrote you on the 10th instant, giving you an account of the attack on this place, as well as my situation, which ac- count I attempted to send by water, but the two men whom I despatched in a canoe after night, found the river so well guarded, that they were obliged to return. The Indians had built a fire on the bank of the river, a short distance below the garrison, which gave them an opportunity of seeing any craft that might attempt to pass, and were waiting with a canoe ready to intercept it. I expect the fort, as well as the road to Vincennes, is as well or better watched than the river. But my situation compels me to make one other attempt by land, and my orderly sergeant, with one other man, sets out to-night, with strict orders to avoid the road in the daytime, and depend entirely on the woods, although neither of them has ever been to Vincennes by land, nor do they know anything of the coun- try ; but I am in hopes they will reach you in safety. I send them with great reluctance from their ignorance of the woods. I think it very probable there is a large party of Indians way- laying the road 'between this and Vincennes, likely about the Narrows, for the purpose of intercepting any party that may be coming to this place, as the cattle they got here will supply them plentifully with provisions for some time to come." Immediately on the receipt of this communication, a large force, under the command of General Hopkins, was sent to the relief of the garrison, then reduced to the extremest need, by sickness, fatigue, and the loss of provisions. The conduct of Taylor at Fort Harrison was not overlooked by his superior officers, by the public-, or by the government. General Hopkins, in a letter to the Governor of Kentucky, said of him: — "The firm and almost unparalleled defence of Fort Harrison by Captain Zachary Taylor, has raised for him a fabric of character not to be effaced by eulogy." The singu- lar force and refinement of this commendation are as honour- able to the writer as to the subject of it. An ardent response 28 TAYLOR'S HONOURS AND PROMOTION. to the sentiment was'given by the whole country, and the Pre- sident afforded a more satisfactory proof of its justice, by con- ferring upon Taylor the rank of Major by brevet — the oldest instance in the service of this species of promotion. Pending the arrival of Hopkins' command at Fort Harrison, the Indians continued their depredations upon the peaceful inhabitants of the neighbourhood, destroying their houses and farms, and carrying on the war in their usual relentless mode, irrespective of age or sex in the objects of their attacks. De- cisive measures were necessary to arrest these atrocities, and an expedition was accordingly planned by General Hopkins against the Indian villages in the Peoria country. The march commenced in the middle of October, but was suddenly ended by the insubordination of the volunteers composing the force. This spirit was partially manifest on the fourth day, but on the fifth it was beyond control. The Indians had set fire to the prairie-grass, and a violent wind drove the flames in the direc- tion of the camp, which was saved with difficulty. | Discontent ripened from this cause into alarm. At a coun. cil of officers, convened by General Hopkins, he offered to pro- ceed on the expedition, if followed by only five hundred men. But the voices of all the volunteers were against him, and their steps were accordingly retraced. The enterprise, however, was not altogether fruitless. The Indians, alarmed by the ap- proach of so large a force, collected their warriors to oppose it, leaving their villages unprotected. In this condition, they were attacked by a detachment under Colonel Russell, and destroyed. In the following month, General Hopkins under- took a second expedition, directed against the Prophet's and Winnebago Town, in which Major Taylor took part, and re- ceived the official commendations of the general. Several skirmishes occurred, in some of which our troops suffered se- verely. They succeeded in achieving their main objects, de- vastating the enemy's country, and destroying their settlements. The winter forced both parties into a cessation of active hos- tilities. From this time, to the close of the war with Great Britain, Major Taylor was engaged in the same vicinity, ac- INJUSTICE TO TAYLOR. 29 complishing the purposes of the government with unremitting vigilance. No further opportunity occurred of signalizing his special talents ; but he earned with others the distinction of reducing the Indians, for the time, to terms of peace, and of establishing among the white settlers security from their incursions. CHAPTER II. Injustice to Army Officers — Taylor's Resignation and Reinstatement — Various Services from 1816 to 1832 — Anecdote of his Habits — Promoted to a Colonelcy — Black Hawk War — Battle of Bad-Axe — Gen. Atkinson's De- spatch — Anecdote of Taylor — Services until 1836. The restoration of peace was made the occasion by govern- ment of signal injustice to many officers of the army. Promo- tions earned by good service during the war were nullified when its exigencies ceased. Among the victims of this policy was Major Taylor, — certainly one of the last who should have been selected for a blow so unworthy. He was reduced to the rank of captain, and deprived alike of the reward and the honour earned by extraordinary talent and devotion to duty. Although his modesty — so well illustrated in later years — would at any time have shrunk from claiming preferment, yet his self-respect forbade submission to an indignity, implying the absence of common desert. With this feeling he resolved to quit a service, in which fidelity seemed to be regarded only in emergencies, and forgotten when no longer required. He accordingly resigned his commission and returned to the more grateful care of his family. His friends, however, were not content to witness calmly either his resignation or the cause of it, and their influence was powerfully exercised with the administration in his behalf. The result was that in the course of a year he was reinstated by President Madison, and con- 3* 30 RESTORED TO HIS RANK. sented again to leave his home and its interests for the labours of a profession, the dangers of which in war are preferable to its monotony in peace. In 1816, immediately after his restoration to his former rank, Major Taylor was ordered to Green Bay, and remained in command of that post for two years. Returning to Kentucky, he passed a year with his family, and was then ordered to join Colonel Russell at New Orleans. Except during a temporary absence, when recalled by the illness of his wife, he continued in the south for several years, generally engaged in some ac- tive duty. One of his labours was the opening of a military road, and another the erection of Fort Jesup — the latter in, 1822. In 1824 he was engaged in Louisville in the recruiting service, and in the latter part of that year was ordered to Washington. He was appointed a member of the board for the planning and erection of Jefferson Barracks. On the 20th of April, 1819, Taylor received the commission of a Lieute- nant Colonel. The following year he again returned to the south, but was recalled in 1826, to sit as a member of a board of officers of the Army and of the Militia, convened by Secre- tary Barbour, to consider and propose a system for the organi- zation and improvement of the militia of the United States. General Scott was president of this commission. The other members, besides Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, were Brigadier General Eustis, Lieutenant Colonel Cutler, Major Nourse of the Army, and Major General Cadwalader, Adjutant General Damil, and Adjutant General Sumner of the Militia. To the last-mentioned gentleman the writer is indebted for an account of the proceedings of this board. Its discussions were long and earnest, but a report was finally agreed upon, embracing several important provisions. It is unnecessary to introduce here an abstract of this docu- ment, but it is proper to state that Taylor — then Lieutenant Colonel — was strenuous in maintaining the militia strictly as citizen soldiery, in opposition to the views of some older officers in the board, who would have invested this body with HIS SEVERE DISCIPLINE. 31 more of the character of a regular army. The report, having been drawn by General Scott, was adopted on motion of Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, and was approved in Congress. Owing, however, to want of proper attention, a bill based upon it was suffered to slumber for some time in Committee on the Militia, and was finally forgotten. The duties of Taylor were subsequently resumed upon the north-western frontier, a field on which, soon afterwards, he again met an Indian enemy and sustained the reputation won in his first contest with him. Five years of peace, however, preceded this occasion, — years not idly spent by the man who seemed unconsciously preparing himself in every department of his profession for the splendid achievements of his later days. A writer in the Literary World thus mentions him : " As plain Lieut. Colonel Taylor I have often seen him putting his men through the battalion drill on the northern banks of the Wisconsin, in the depth of February. This would seem only characteristic of the man who has since proved himself equally " Rough and Ready" under the scorching sun of the tropics. But, looking back through long years to many a pleasant hour spent in the well-selected library of the post which Colonel Taylor then commanded, we recur now with singular interest to the agreeable conversations held in the room which was the Colonel's favourite resort, amid the intervals of duty." And the same chronicler of his severe habits of discipline and study continues : " Nor will the reader think these personal reminis- cences impertinent, when we add that our object in recurring to them here is simply to mention that, remembering alike the wintry drill and the snug book-room, Taylor's hardihood — the idea of which now so readily attaches to his sobriquet of Rough and Ready — would certainly not then have struck a stranger as more characteristic than his liberal-minded intelli- gence." In 1832 Taylor was promoted to the rank of Colonel. During the previous year, the difficulties between the white settlers near Rock River, and the Sac Indians under the cele- brated chief Black Hawk, had been fomented by bad and 32 THE BLACK HAWK WAR. interested men to a point of open hostilities. It must be equally as painful to any American historian, as it would be unnecessary for the author of this biography, to recite the events which brought about the contest known as « the Black Hawk war." If, in formeT periods and in other places, the implacable aversion of the Indians to the peaceful encroach- ments of our people, induced the latter to resort to arms and the work of destruction as acts of simple self-defence, the same reason cannot be asserted for the war against Black Hawk and his unfortunate tribe. Once commenced, however, the security of all parties demanded its termination by the most vigorous measures. Black Hawk, whose flags of truce had been on two different occasions fired upon, and the bearers killed, defeated on the 14th of May, 1S32, near Rock River, a large number of mounted volunteers, who fled precipitately before a small band of the brave chief. The force of the latter was vastly exag- gerated by the fears of the routed troops, and alarm spread through the state of Illinois. General Atkinson, then com- manding in the north-west, had his head-quarters at Dixon's Ferry, which he immediately proceeded to fortify. The governor of Illinois at the same time called out a fresh body of mounted volunteers, and the secretary of war ordered about one thousand regulars to the scene of action. General Scott then took the command of the army, and conducted the cam- paign. For three months a contest characterized by the worst ads of border ferocity was maintained. The Indians mur- dered many froritier families, and committed bold depredations in the face of our troops. In their turn they suffered in several skirmishes, but not to the extent of disheartening them. A parly under Black Hawk attacked the fort at Buffalo Grove, and although they failed in carrying it, yet they killed several men, and afterwards defeated a detachment of volunteers who came to its rescue. General Atkinson arrived on the fourth of July with an army of twenty-five hundred men, including four hundred regulars under Col. Taylor, at Lake Coshconing, in the neighbourhood BATTLE OF THE BAD AXE. 33 of which the Indians had collected. The latter were reduced, at the time, to the greatest extremity for want of provisions, their fighting men being encumbered with women and children and their moveable property, as they had fled from their villages with no means of immediate subsistence. From Lake Cosh- coning, an extension of Rock River, they were pursued to- wards Fort Winnebago by two brigades of mounted volunteers, under General Dodge, and overtaken on the banks of the Wisconsin. In this flight they suffered dreadfully from fatigue, famine and slaughter. Late in July, General Atkinson crossed the Wisconsin River and ordered the pursuit of the Indians. For this service thirteen hundred men, among whom were Taylor's regulars, were selected. They set forth immediately. The way was through a primitive wilderness, before untrodden by any body of white men. With forced speed the march was pressed over rocks and mountains, through woods and waters, often almost impassable for horses, and continually exhausting to the men. At last the enemy was overtaken on the Bad Axe, near the junction of the Mississippi and the Iowa. A battle, des- perate on the part of the Indians, ensued, in which they were wholly routed, many falling by our arms, others perishing in the river, and the rest dispersing or submitting themselves prisoners. The chief, Black Hawk, who then escaped, was in the course of the month surrendered by some of his faithless allies, and with his capture ended the war. The following is General Atkinson's official account of the battle. " Head Quarters, First Artillery Corps, North-western Army. « Prairie des Chiens, Augt. 25, 1832. " Sir : I have the honour to report to you that I crossed the Ouisconsin on the 27th and 28th'ultimo, with a select body of troops, consisting of the regulars under Col. Taylor, four hundred in number, part of Henry's, Posey's and Alexander's brigades, amounting in all to 1300 men, and immediately fell upon the trail of the enemy, and pursued it by a forced march, through a mountainous and difficult country, till the morning 34 GENERAL A T K I X S O N ' S DESPATCH. of the 2d inst., when we came up with his main body on the left bank of the Mississippi, nearly opposite the mouth of the Iowa, which we attacked, defeated and dispersed, with a loss on his part of about a hundred and fifty men killed, thirty-nine women and children taken prisoners — the precise number could not be ascertained, as the greater portion was slain after being forced into the river. Our loss in killed and wounded, which is stated below, is very small in comparison with the enemy, which may be attributed to the enemy's being forced from his positions by a rapid charge at the commencement, and through- out the engagement — the remnant of the enemy, cut up and disheartened, crossed to the opposite side of the river, and has fled into the interior, with a view, it is supposed, of join- ing Keokuk and Wapello's bands of Sacs and Foxes. " The horses of the volunteer troops being exhausted by long marches, and the regular troops without shoes, it w T as not thought advisable to continue the pursuit ; indeed a stop to the further effusion of blood seemed to be called for, till it might be ascertained if the enemy would surrender. " It is ascertained from our prisoners, that the enemy lost in the battle of the Ouisconsin sixty-eight killed and a very large number wounded ; his whole loss does not fall short of three hundred ; — after the battle on the Ouisconsin, those of the enemy's women and children, and some who were dismounted, attempted to make their escape by descending that river, but judicious measures being taken by Captain Loomis and Lieut. Street, Indian agent, thirty-two women and children and four men have been captured, and some fifteen men killed by the detachment under Lieut. Ritner. " The day after the battle on this river, I fell down with the regular troops to this place by w T ater, and the mounted men will join us to-day. It is now my purpose to direct Keokuk to demand a surrender of the remaining principal men of the hostile party, which, from the large number of women and children we hold prisoners, I have every reason to believe will be complied with. Should it not, they should be pursued and subdued, a step Maj. Gen. Scott will take upon his arrival. ANECDOTE OF TAYLOR. 35 " I cannot speak too highly of the brave conduct of the regular and volunteer forces engaged in the last battle and the fatiguing march that preceded it ; as soon as the reports of officers of the brigades and corps are handed in, they shall be submitted with further remarks. " 5 killed, 2 wounded, 6th inft. 2 do. 5th inft. 1 captain, 5 privates, Dodge's Bat. mounted. 1 Lieut. 6 privates, Henry's. 1 private wounded, Alexander's. 1 private do. Posey's. I have the honour to be, with great respect, Your obedient servant, H. Atkinson, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. « Maj. Gen. Macomb, Com. in Chief, Washington." Black Hawk and his fellow prisoners were confided to the charge of Col. Taylor, who conveyed them to the Jefferson Barracks, where they arrived about the middle of September. On this, as on every other occasion, however trying, Taylor shrank from no obligation, the result of his position as an officer, carrying out the orders of his superiors. A portion of his task could not have been less painful to his feelings than difficult of execution. But it was accomplished promptly and thoroughly, in a manner worthy of himself. The writer in the Literary World, already quoted, relates the following anecdote of Taylor, while in pursuit of Black Hawk. If slightly erroneous in any particular, it is at least illustrative of the man. « Some time after Stillman's defeat by Black Hawk's band, Taylor, marching with a large body of volunteers and a hand- ful of regulars in pursuit of the hostile Indian force, found himself approaching Rock River, then asserted by many to be the true north-western boundary of Illinois. The volunteers, as Taylor was informed, would refuse to cross the stream. They were militia, they said, called out for the defence of the state, and it was unconstitutional to order them to march beyond its frontier into the Indian country. Taylor thereupon halted 36 A DECISIVE SPEECH. his command, and encamped within the acknowledged boun- daries of Illinois. He would not, as the relator of the story said, budge an inch further without orders. He had already driven Black Hawk out of the state, but the question of crossing Rock River seemed hugely to trouble his ideas of integrity to the constitution on one side, and military expediency on the other. During the night, however, orders came, either from General Scott or General Atkinson, for him to follow up Black Hawk to the last. The quietness of the regular colonel, mean- while, had rather encouraged the mutinous militia to bring their proceedings to a head. A sort of town-meeting was called upon the prairie, and Taylor invited to attend. After listening some time very quietly to the proceedings, it became Rough and Ready's turn to address the chair. ' He had heard,'- he said, 'with much pleasure the views which several speakers had expressed of the independence and dignity of each private American citizen. He felt that all gentlemen there present were his equals — in reality, he was persuaded that many of them would in a few years be his superiors, and perhaps, in the capacity of members of congress, arbiters of the fortune and reputation of humble servants of the republic like himself. He expected them to obey them as interpreters of the will of the people ; and the best proof he could give that he would obey them, was now to observe the orders of those whom the people had already put in the places of authority, to which many gentlemen around him justly aspired. In plain English, gentlemen and fellow-citizens, the word has been passed on to me from Washington to follow Black Hawk, and to take you with me as soldiers. I mean to do both. There are the flat- boats drawn up on the shore, and here are Uncle Sam's men drawn up behind you on the prairie.' " It is unnecessary to state the effect of this appeal. After the Black Hawk war, Col. Taylor was for a short time in Louisville, and was thence ordered to Prairie du Chien, to the command of Fort Crawford, a work which had been erected under his superintendence. Here he remained until 1836, when his services were required in the Seminole war in Florida. FATE OF THE INDIAN RACES. 37 To that field he immediately repaired, although he might with propriety have asked of the government a season of repose, having very rarely enjoyed the ease and tranquillity of home during a period of more than twenty-five years. CHAPTER III. Destiny of the Indian Races — Causes of the Florida War — Osceola — Com- mencement of the Florida War — Troops in Florida — Massacre of Dade's Command — Volunteers in Florida — Taylor ordered to the Seat of War — Marches against the Indians — Difficulties of the March — Battle of Okeecho- bee — Gallantry of the Troops — The Killed and Wounded — Taylor's Account of the Battle — Its Results — Taylor applauded by the Country — Promoted to a Brigadier Generalship — Appointed to the chief Command in Florida — Use of Blood-hounds — Authority for the Use — Reasons for the same — Indian Murders, several Accounts — Their Perfidy — Taylor vindicated — He retires from the Command in Florida. It is a fact, which speculative philanthropy seems no longer inclined to dispute, that the aboriginal races of this continent must decline and become extinct in the presence of our own civilized people. The minds and the habits of the white and the red man are not less irreconcilable than the colour of their skins. It appears idle, therefore, to mourn over the inevitable fate of the latter, or to regard as criminal the progress of the former, when of necessity it is attended with the invasion and occupation of new territory. Justice and humanity may modify the apparent hardship of the Indian, banished from the land of his fathers and bereft of the rude privileges which endear it to him. But no ingenuity can devise a code, which will secure his national independence and his barbarous usages, when surrounded by a civilized community. His sovereignty under such circumstances must cease. Nor this alone. He must also recede before the advance of a superior in knowledge and virtue, as well as in power. His only temporary hope of re- taining the semblance of freedom, and of the personal and civil customs which are a part of his nature, is to retire beyond 4 38 THE SEMINOLE TROUBLES. the boundaries of his better neighbour. And as these bound- aries extend, he must still retire ; losing strength with every movement, destroying the associations which were the only safeguard of his political and religious system, and by certain decay wasting away sooner or later from the face of the earth. The Seminole Indians, occupying the region of Florida, were required by the federal government to emigrate to lands appropriated for their occupation on the west of the Missis- sippi River. The requisition may have been a Tittle prema- ture — their vicinity to the white settlements may not at the time have been wholly incompatible with the security and comfort of the latter. But the period of their removal could not have been long postponed, and had they been well advised they would have immediately yielded to the proposition of the government. No difficulty, in fact, was anticipated in carry- ing it out. The local newspapers gave assurances of the rea- diness of the Indians to depart. Some unfairness, however, which it is needless to examine here, may have been practised in the negotiations with them. Their jealousy and pride were excited, and the task, which at first appeared so easy and certain of execution, proved to be one which baffled the diplomacy of cabinets and the power of armies, and cost the nation tens of hundreds of lives and tens of millions of trea- sure. A treaty with the Seminoles for their removal was concluded at Payne's Landing, in Florida, in May, 1832, allowing three years for its fulfilment. The government was first advised in 1834 of their disinclination to depart. Yet as late as the •pring of 1835, there was in Florida a confidence in the public mind, regarding the calm dispositions of the Seminoles, un- clouded by a thought of the terrible storm which so soon after- wards desolated its homes, and menaced for a time even its capital with destruction. The St. Augustine Herald of that period, emphatically denied that there was any foundation for the reports of difficulties with' the Indians, — adding this assu- rance of their harmless character: "The Seminole of the pre- sent day is a different being from the warlike son of the forest, DESTRUCTION OF DADE'S COMMAND. 39 when the tribe was numerous and powerful. No trouble in the removal of it is anticipated." Yet before the close of the year, how sadly was this declaration falsified ! A chief had appeared among this tribe destined to hold a place in history with Philip of Pokanokee, Tecumseh, and Black Hawk. This was Osceola. Hatred for the whites had long been a smo- thered fire in his heart, and now the moment had arrived when it burst forth with implacable fury. By inheritance, Osceola enjoyed no title or distinction among the Seminoles. He derived his origin from the Creeks, and had affected, until up- wards of thirty years of age, the more pacific feelings of that people. But when the time for throwing off disguise appeared to have matured, he used among the more southern tribes, the influence obtained by his talents and courage. Declaring openly against the United States' government and citizens, he supplanted the legitimate chiefs of the Seminoles, and even put to death those who exhibited a desire for peaceful mea- sures. Relentless in his enmities, profound in his purposes of vengeance, reckless of danger, deliberate, cunning, and ambitious, he acquired perfect ascendancy over his red breth- ren, and when he gave the signal war-cry, murder, rapine and fire told of their dreadful response, from the everglades of central Florida to the very walls of St. Augustine. Conster- nation seized the quiet inhabitants, and the bolder spirits, aroused alike by grief and rage, snatched up their arms and banded together, some to protect their homes, others to pursue with terrible justice the foe who would spare nought that was dear to them. The United States' troops, at this time, in Florida numbered % between five and six hundred men, stationed at several posts, — General Clinch being in command. On the 23d of Decem- ber, a detachment of two companies, amounting to one hundred and twelve officers and men, under Major Dade, marched from Fort Brooke for the purpose of joining the commanding gene- ral. On their route, anticipating no danger, they were sur- prised by a large body of the Indians; and, after a resistance, begun with cool bravery and protracted with fierce despair, 40 TAYLOR ORDERED TO FLORIDA. the unfortunate party was utterly destroyed, with the exception of three men, who, exhausted with many wounds, reached the fort to tell the fate of their companies. From this memorable day, open war commenced. Many Creek warriors joined the Seminoles, and the government found it necessary to send in succession its most able generals into the field. From time to time, on their requisition, the gallant men of Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri, promptly took up arms to aid their suffering brethren of Florida. On the part of the Indians, occasional success added vigour to their bold and cruel enterprises. In this state of affairs, Colonel Taylor was ordered to the seat of war. An opportunity was not long wanting for a new exhibition of his perseverance in discovering, and his skill in fighting, an Indian enemy. General Jesup had then command of the army in Florida, and, like his predecessors in the office, had made fruitless efforts to bring the Seminoles to terms of treaty. The hope had been entertained, that a delegation of the Cherokees, acting as mediators, might be able to convince them of the ultimate folly of opposing the wishes of our govern- ment, and the immediate advantages of laying down their arms and acceding to its proposals. The intercession of these friendly Indians, however, was unavailing with the obstinate and ferocious dispositions of the resisting tribes, and no choice was left between absolute concession to their demands, or rigorous enforcement of our own. Active hostilities, which during two years had abated at intervals, were, therefore, de- termined upon ; and, in December, 1837, Colonel Taylor re- ceived orders to seek out any portion of the enemy, wherever to be found, and to destroy or capture his forces. On the 19th and 20th of December, 1837, the force under Colonel Taylor, amounting to about eleven hundred, officers and men, left Fort Gardner, in pursuance of the instructions of General Jesup. The country presented all the usual obstacles to the march of an army, which are found in the narrow peninsula of Florida, and which had baffled the plans of many former expeditions. A wet and soft soil, matted with DIFFICULTIES OF A MARCH. 41 rank herbage, which clogged the feet at every step, and served as an impenetrable screen to a lurking foe ; the deep and slimy beds and the waters of many streams ; the dense thickets of the cypress, the palmetto, and other luxuriant underwood, — such was the surface over which Taylor led his troops to dis- cover and cope with the savages. The latter, anticipating his approach, and perfectly familiar with the labyrinths and natu- ral fastnesses of their own country, had retired to one of its strongest and most inaccessible places, prepared to give him battle. The commander and his followers were not ignorant of the hazard and toil of their enterprise. Many were the brave spirits who had peiished in similar duty, — a duty in which failure had often brought reproach ; and in which success, achieved with grievous wounds and death, had been un- honoured by the applause of the nation, unrewarded by the care of the government. Regardless of all this, so crushing to the soldier's energies, Taylor led on his generous little army. Never had worthy chief more worthy aid. The noble and brave Lieutenant Colonel Davenport, who like him had been in the border struggles of the north-west; the firm and daring Lieut. Cols. Thompson and Foster, of the army, the latter schooled in the wars with England and on the frontier, and the magnanimous Col. Gentry of the Missouri volunteers, divided the commands under him. The banks of the Kissimmee River marked the course of the march, which for five days was laboriously pursued. At times the long clotted grass of the swamps wholly arrested the advance of the horses, and the men only finished a wearisome progress through these obstacles,* to plunge into the stagnant waters of low bottom lands. Oc- casionally a straggling Indian or the individuals of a family were captured, who served to assure Taylor that he was approaching the stronghold of their people. On the fifth day after leaving Fort Gardner he reached a cypress swamp, which bore the marks of the late presence of a large body of the enemy. Taylor disposed his army in order of battle, and ad- vanced expecting to find him. But the swamp was passed 4* 42 BATTLE- OF OKEECH-OBEE. without his appearing, and a large prairie disclosed, bounded on its farther side by an extensive hammock. In the latter, according to the report of a prisoner, the Indians were posted. Here, at noon on the 25th, the final preparations were made for the attack. Gentry's Missouri volunteers and Captain Morgan's " Spies" were formed in an extended line, and ordered to enter the hammock, to attack the enemy, and if repulsed to fall back under cover of the regular troops. The Fourth Infantry, under Lt. Col. Foster, and the Sixth, under Lt. Col. Thompson, formed a second line to support the volunteers. The First In- fantry, under Lt. Col. Davenport, was held in reserve. Eager for the action, the troops hurried forward in this order, but at the distance of a quarter of a mile entered a wide slough, which seemed to forbid farther progress. For horses the ad- vance was impossible, and they were abandoned, while the men, buried to their necks in the long tangled grass, and sinking frequently to their waists in slime and water, struggled on to charge the unseen foe. They had proceeded thus but little beyond the edge of the swamp, the volunteers and spies leading in the order assigned them, when suddenly the rustle of the grass and the plash of the water through which they moved, were smothered in the rattle of hundreds of rifles. The savages were close before them, and had reserved their fire until it would be surely answered with the death-cry of many a brave assailant. But the shock for a time was fear- lessly sustained, and the volunteers still charged on, until the impetuous commander, cheering them in the front rank, re- ceived a fatal shot and fell. Major Sconce, Capt. Childs, Lieutenants Rogers, Haas, and Gordon, staggered under their wounds. The men, discouraged, now gave way and retired from the storm which had swept down their leaders. But the regulars pressed forward through the deep morass, as compact and firm as if the solid ground were beneath them, and only a holiday crowd in front to admire their manoeuvres. On the Sixth Infantry a torrent of bullets was poured, carrying havoc into their files. The dark cool waters beneath them grew THE INDIANS DEFEATED. 43 warm and red with their blood, and in the foremost ranks was not a heart but pajd its tribute to swell the tide. Their leader, too, the heroic Thompson, regardless of two balls received in the first onset, courted and met death at their head, shouting the charge, and words of encouragement, with his last breath. Still they closed upon their* foes, and with every step left behind a fallen chief or comrade. Adjutant Center, Captain Van Swearingen, and Lieut. Brooke perished. Capt. Andrews and Lieuts. Hooper and Walker were wounded, and every in- ferior officer of five companies in the advance was also killed or disabled, while of one company only four men were unin- jured. For more than an hour, before so terrible a fire, the gallant Sixth advanced, and when its leaders were lost, at last retired, but only for a time, to form again and renew the assault. Thrice the enemy wavered and gave ground, and thrice re- turned to the most desperate conflict ever maintained by their arms. Meanwhile Lt. Col. Foster led on the Fourth, and finally drove the savages from their position ; and being joined by Capt. Noel with the remaining companies of the Sixth, pressed them hotly to their camp on the borders of Lake Okeechobee. Capt. Allen, with two companies, having been detached to the right in the beginning of the action, Lieut. Col. Davenport, with the First Infantry, was ordered, when his advance was perceived, to turn the right flank of the enemy. This move- ment being executed with brave alacrity, and the enemy seeing the regiment in position, delivered one final volley from their rifles and fled, the three regiments of regulars and a portion of the volunteers following them in every direction, and only abating the pursuit when night closed in upon them. The force of the Indians amounted to several hundred warriors, and they had so chosen their defensive position as to give the utmost efficiency to their numbers. Their loss was not ascertained. The loss of our troops in this severe and memorable battle, included fourteen officers and one hundred I and twenty-four men, killed and wounded, being one-fifth of the whole number engaged. Upon the merits of a victory 44 CREDIT OF THE VICTORY. gained under such circumstances, and at such cost of life and blood, what comment can be made to enhance respect for the dauntless spirits who won it? We look upon the exhausting march of five days from Fort Gardner, and the previous ad- vance of five weeks to that station, attended with hardships scarcely less appalling, and we ask in admiration, whence was the strength, whence the energy, whence the courage to engage for three hours on ground which scarcely admitted a foothold, and defeat and scatter a foe whom nature had entrenched and desperation animated ? Can any answer be found to the ques- tion, unless it be in the ability, the valour, the endurance, the inspiring presence of the chief himself? He had led them on the long and arduous march, sharing all their toils and priva- tions, and when they met the enemy, he was seen where the battle strewed the dead around him, calm amid its iron tempest, and giving assurance by his thrilling voice and flashing eye of victory, which, however long it may flutter around his standard, never fails to rest at last upon it. The contest over, the care of the wounded and the dead was the first thought of the commander. That his humanity may be appreciated, as well as his heroism, through the whole of the trying scenes which have been faintly sketched, it is proper to exhibit his own official narrative. "Head Quarters, First Brigade, Army south of the Withlacoochee. "Fort Gardner, January 4, 1838. " On the 19th ultimo, I received at this place a communi- cation from Major General Jesup, informing me that all hopes of bringing the war to a close by negotiation, through the in- terference or mediation of the Cherokee delegation, were at an end ; Sam Jones, with the Mickasukies, having determined to fight it out to the last, and directing me to proceed with the least possible delay against any portion of the enemy I might hear of within striking distance, and to destroy or capture him. "After leaving two officers and an adequate force for the protection of my depot, I marched the next morning, with twelve days' rations (my means of transportation not enabling Taylor's official account. 45 me to carry more,) with the balance of my command, consist- ing of Captain Munroe's company of the Fourth artillery, total thirty-five men ; the First infantry, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Foster, two hundred and seventy-four ; the Sixth infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Thompson, two hun- dred and twenty-one ; the Missouri volunteers, one hundred and eighty ; Morgan's spies, forty-seven ; pioneers, thirty ; pontoneers, thirteen ; and seventy Delaware Indians, making a force, exclusive of officers, of one thousand and thirty-two men ; the greater part of the Shawnees having been detached, and the balance refusing to accompany me, under the pretext that a number of them were sick, and the remainder were with- out moccasins. " I moved down the west side of the Kissimmee, in a south- easterly course, towards Lake Istopoga, for the following reasons: 1st. Because I knew a portion of the hostiles were to be found in that direction ; 2d. If General Jesup should fall in with the Mickasukies and drive them, they might attempt to elude him by crossing the Kissimmee, from the east to the west side of the peninsula, between this and its entrance into the Okeechobee, in which case I might be near at hand to inter- cept them ; 3d. To overawe and induce such of the enemy who had been making propositions to give themselves up, and who appeared very slow, if not to hesitate in complying with their promises on that head, to surrender at once ; and lastly, I deemed it advisable to erect block-houses and a small picket work on the Kissimmee, for a third depot, some thirty or forty miles below this, and obtain a knowledge of the intervening country, as I had no guide who could be relied on, and by this means open a communication with Colonel Smith, who was operating up the Caloosehatchee, or Sangbel river, under my orders. " Late in the evening of the first day's march, I met the In- dian chief Jumper, with his family, and a part of his band, consisting of fifteen men, a part of them with families, and a few negroes, in all sixty-three souls, on his way to give him- self up, in comformity to a previous arrangement I had entered 46 EVENTS ON THE MARCH. into with him. They were conducted by Captain Parks ami a few Shawnees. He (Parks) is an active, intelligent half t breed, who is at the head of the friendly Indians, both Shaw* nees and Delawares, and who I had employed to arrange anc bring in Jumper and as many of his people as he could prevaii on to come in. We encamped that night near the same spot ; anc< the next morning, having ordered Captain Parks to join me and take command of the Delawares, and having despatched Jumper, in charge of some Shawnees, to this place, and so on to Fort Frazier, I continued my march, after having sent for- ward three friendly Seminoles to gain intelligence as to the position of the enemy. "About noon the same day, I sent forward one battalion of Gentry's regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Price, to pick up any stragglers that might fall in his way, to encamp two or three miles in advance of the main force, to act with great circumspection, and to communicate promptly any occurrence that might take place in his vicinity, important for me to know. About JO, P. M., I received a note from the colonel, stating that the three Seminoles sent forward in the morning had returned ; that they had been at or near where Alligator had encamped, twelve or fifteen miles in his advance ; that he (Alligator) had left there with a part of his family four days before, under the pretext of separating his relations, &c, from the Mickasukies, preparatory to his sur- rendering with them ; that there w T ere several families remaining at the camp referred to, who wished to give themselves up, and would remain there until we took possession of them, un- less they were forcibly carried off that night by the Mickasu- kies, who were encamped at no great distance from them. " In consequence of this intelligence, after directing Lieu- tenant Colonel Davenport to follow me early in the morning with the infantry, a little after midnight I put myself at the head of the residue of the mounted men and joined Lieutenant Colonel Price, proceeded on, crossing Istopoga outlet, and soon after daylight took possession of the encampment referred to, where I found the inmates, who had not been disturbed. FURTHER INCIDENTS. 47 They consisted of an old man, and two young ones, and seve- ral women and children, amounting in all to twenty-two indi- viduals. The old man informed me that Alligator was very anxious to separate his people from the Mickasukies, who were encamped on the opposite side of the Kissimmee, distant about twenty miles, where they would fight us. I sent him to Alli- gator to say to him, if he were sincere in his professions, to meet me the next day at the Kissimmee, where the trail I was marching on crossed, and where I should halt. " As soon as the infantry came up I moved on to the place designated, which I reached late that evening, ajid where I encamped. About 11 P. M., the old Indian returned, bring- ing a very equivocal message from Alligator, who, he stated, he had met accidentally ; also, that the Mickasukies were still encamped where they had been for some days, and where they were determined to fight us. " I determined at once on indulging them as soon as prac- ticable. Accordingly, next morning, after laying out a small stockade work for the protection of a future depot, in order to enable me to move with the greatest celerity, I deposited the whole of my heavy baggage, including artillery, &c, and hav- ing provisioned the command to include the 26th, after leaving Captain Munroe with his company, the pioneer, pontoneers, with eighty-five sick and disabled infantry, and a portion of the friendly Indians, who alleged that they were unable to march farther, crossed the Kissimmee, taking the old Indian as a guide who bad been captured the day before, and who accompanied us with great apparent reluctance, in pursuit of the enemy, and early the next clay reached Alligator's encamp- ment, situated on the edge of Cabbage-tree Hammock, in' the midst of a large prairie, from the appearance of which, and other encampments in the vicinity, and the many evidences of slaughtered cattle, there must have been several hundred individuals. "At another small hammock, at no great distance from Al- ligator's encampment, and surrounded by a swamp, impassable for mounted men, the spies surprised an encampment contain- 48 SPIESCAPTURED. ing one old man, four young men, and some women and chil- dren. One of the party immediately raised a white flag, when the men were taken possession of, and brought across the swamp to the main body. I proceeded with an interpreter to: meet them. They proved to be Seminoles, and professed to be friendly. They stated that they were preparing to come in; they had just slaughtered a number of cattle, and weree employed in drying and jerking the same. They also informed me that the Mickasukies, headed by A-vi-a-ka, (Sam Jones,) were some ten or twelve miles distant encamped in a swamp,, and were prepared to fight. "Although I placed but little confidence in their professions of friendship, or their intentions of coming in, yet I had no time to look up their women and children, who had fled and concealed themselves in the swamp, or to have encumbered myself with them in the situation in which I then was. Ac- cordingly, I released the old man, who promised that he would collect all the women and children and take them in to Captain Munroe, at the Kissimmee, the next day. I also dismissed the old man who had acted as guide thus far, supplying his place with the four able w T arriors who had been captured that morning. "These arrangements being made, I moved under their guidance for the camp of the Mickasukies. Between two and three, P. M., we reached a very dense cypress swamp, through which we were compelled to pass, and in which our guide in- formed us we might be attacked. After making the necessary dispositions for battle, it was ascertained that there was no> enemy to oppose us. The army crossed over and encamped for the night, it being late. During the passage of the rear, Captain Parks, who was in advance with a few friendly Indians, fell in with two of the enemy's spies, between two and three miles of our camp_ one on horseback, the other on foot, and succeeded in capturing the latter. He was an active young warrior, armed with an excellent rifle, fifty balls in his pouch, and an adequate proportion of powder. This Indian confirmed the information which had been previously received from the DISPOSITION FOR BATTLE. 49 other Indians, and, in addition, stated that a large body of Seminoles, headed by John Cohua, (Co-a-coo-chee,) and, no doubt, Alligator, with other chiefs, were encamped five or six miles from us, near the Mickasukies, with a cypress swamp and dense hammo'ck between them and the latter. " The army moved forward at daylight the next morning, and after marching five or six miles, reached the camp of the Seminoles on the border of another cypress swamp, which must have contained several hundred, and bore evident traces of having been abandoned in a great hurry, as the fires were still burning, and quantities of beef lying on the ground un- consumed. " Here the troops were again disposed of in order of battle, but we found no enemy to oppose us; and the command was crossed over about 11 A. M., when we entered a large prairie in our front, on which two or three hundred head of cattle were grazing, and a number of Indian ponies. Here another young Indian warrior was captured, armed and equipped as the former. He pointed out a dense hammock on our right, about a mile distant, in which he said the hostiles were situ- ated, and waiting to give us battle. "At this place the final disposition was made to "attack them, which was in two lines, the volunteers under [Gentry, and Morgan's spies, to form the first line in extended order, who were instructed to enter the hammock, and in the event of being attacked and hard pressed, were to fall back in rear of the regular troops, out of reach of the enemy's fire ; the second was composed of the 4th and 6th infantry, who were instructed to sustain the volunteers, the 1st infantry being held in reserve. , " Moving on in the direction of the hammock, after pro ceeding about a quarter of a mile, we reached the swamp which separated us from the enemy, three-quarters of a mile in breadth, being totally impassable for horses, and nearly so for foot, covered with a thick growth of saw grass, five feet high, and about knee-deep in mud and water, which extended to the left as far as the eye could reach, and to the right to a 5 50 SANGUINARY ASSAULT. part of the swamp and hammock we had just crossed through, ran a deep creek. At the edge of the swamp the men were dismounted, and the horses an,d baggage left under a suitable guard. Captain Allen was detached with the two companies of mounted infantry to examine the swamp and hammock to the right, and in case he should not find the enemy in that di- rection, was to return to the baggage, and in the event of his hearing a heavy firing to join me immediately. " After making these arrangements, I crossed the sw T amp in the order stated. On reaching the borders of the hammock, the volunteers and spies received a heavy fire from the enemy, which w r as returned by them for a short time, when their gal- lant commander, Colonel Gentry, fell, mortally wounded. They mostly broke ; and instead of forming in rear of the re- gulars, as had been directed, they retired across the swamp to their baggage and horses, nor could they again be brought into action as a body, although efforts were made repeatedly by my staff to induce them to do so. "The enemy, however, were promptly checked and driven back by the 4th and 6th infantry, which in truth might be said to be a moving battery. The weight of the enemy's fire was principally concentrated on five companies of the 6th infantry, which not only stood firm, but continued to advance until their gallant commander, Lieutenant Colonel Thompson, and his adjutant, Lieutenant Center, were killed ; and every officer, with one exception, as well as most of the non-commissioned officers, including the serjeant-major and four of the orderly sergeants, killed and wounded of those companies, when that portion of the regiment retired to a short distance and were again formed, one of these companies having but four members left untouched. " Lieutenant Colonel Foster, with six companies, amounting in all to one hundred and sixty men, gained the hammock in good order, where he was joined by Captain Noel with the two remaining companies of the 6th infantry, and Captain Gentry's volunteers, with a few additional men, continued to drive the enemy for a considerable time, and by a change of CARE OF T II E WOUNDED . 51 front, separated his line and continued to drive him until he reached the great lake, Okeechobee, which was in the rear of the enemy's position, and on which their encampment extended for more than a mile. As soon as I was informed that Captain Allen was advancing, I ordered the 1st infantry to move to the Jeft, gain the enemy's right flank, and turn it, which order was executed in the promptest manner possible, and as soon as that regiment got in position, the enemy gave one fire and re- treated, being pursued by the 1st, 4th, and 6th, and some of the volunteers who had joined them, until near night, and until these troops were nearly exhausted, and the enemy driven in all directions. " The action was a severe one, and continued from half-past twelve until three P. M., a part of the time very close and se- vere. We suffered much, having twenty-six killed, and one hundred and twelve wounded, among whom are some of our most valuable officers. The hostiles probably suffered, all things considered, equally with ourselves, they having left ten dead on the ground, besides, doubtless, carrying off more, as is customary with them when practicable. "As soon as the enemy were completely broken, I turned my attention to taking care of the wounded, to facilitate their removal to my baggage, where I ordered an encampment to be formed. I directed Captain Taylor to cross over to the spot and employ every individual whom he might find there in con- structing a small footway across the swamp ; this, with great exertions, was completed in a short time after dark, when all the dead and wounded were carried over in litters made for the purpose, with one exception, a private of the 4th infantry, who was killed and could not be found. s " And here I trust I may be permitted to say that I expe- rienced one of the most trying scenes of my life, and he who could have looked on it with indifference, his nerves must have been differently organized from my own. Besides the killed, there lay one hundred and twelve wounded officers and sol- diers, who had accompanied me one hundred and forty-five miles, most of the way through an unexplored wilderness, 52 RETURN TO FORT GARDNER. without guides, who had so gallantly beaten the enemy, under my orders, in his strongest position, and who had to be con- veyed back, through swamps and hammocks, from whence we set out, without any apparent means of doing so. This ser- vice, however, was encountered and overcome, and they have been conveyed thus far, and proceeded on to Tampa Bay on rude litters, constructed with the axe and knife alone, wkh poles and dry hides — the latter being found in great abundance at the encampment of the hostiles. The litters were carried on the backs of our weak and tottering horses, aided by the residue of the command, with more ease and comfort to suf- ferers than I could have supposed, and with as much as they could have been in ambulances of the most improved and modern construction. " The day after the battle we remained at our encampment, occupied in taking care of the wounded, and in the sad office of interring the dead ; also in preparing litters for the removal of the wounded, and collecting, with a portion of the mounted men, the horses and cattle in the vicinity belonging to the enemy, of which we found about one hundred of the former, many of them saddled, and nearly three hundred of the latter. " We left our encampment on the morning of the 27th, for the Kissimmee, where I had left my heavy baggage, which place we reached about noon on the 28th. After leaving two companies and a few Indians to garrison the stockade, which I found nearly completed on my return, by that active and vigilant officer, Captain Munroe, 4th artillery, I left the next morning for this place, where I arrived on the 31st, and sent forward the wounded next day to Tampa Bay, with the 4th and 6th infantry, the former to halt at Fort Frazer, remaining here myself with the 1st, in order to make preparations to take the field again as soon as my horses can be recruited, most of which have been sent to Tampa, and my supplies in a sufficient state of forwardness to justify the measure. " In speaking of the command, I can only say, that so far as the regular troops are concerned, no one could have been more efficiently sustained than I have been, from the com- HONOUR TO THE TROOPS. 53 mencement of the campaign ; and I am certain that they will always be willing and ready to discharge any duty that may be assigned them. " To Lieutenant Colonel Davenport, and the officers and soldiers of the First Infantry, I feel under many obligations for the manner in which they have, on all occasions, discharged their duty ; and although held in reserve, and not brought into battle until near its close, it evinced by its eagerness to engage, and the promptness and good order with which they entered the hammock, when the order was given for them to do so, is the best evidence that they would have sustained their own characters, as well as that of the regiment, had it been their fortune to have been placed in the hottest of the battle. " The Fourth Infantry, under their gallant leader, Lieutenant Colonel Foster, was among the first to gain the hammock, and maintained this position, as well as driving a portion of the enemy before him, until he arrived on the borders of Lake Okeechobee, which was in the rear, and continued the pursuit until near night. Lieutenant Colonel Foster, who was favour- ably noticed for his gallantry and good conduct in nearly all the engagements on the Niagara frontier, during the late war with Great Britain, by his several commanders, as well as in the different engagements with the Indians in this territory, never acted a more conspicuous part than in the action of the 25th ult. ; he speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of brevet Major Graham, his second in command, as also the officers and soldiers of the Fourth Infantry, who were engaged in the action. Captain Allen, with his two mounted compa- nies of the Fourth Infantry, sustained his usual character for promptness and efficiency. Lieutenant Hooper, of the Fourth Regiment, was wounded through the arm, but continued on the field, at the head of his company, until the termination of the battle. " I am not sufficiently master of words to express my admi- ration of the gallantry and steadiness of the officers and soldiers of the sixth regiment of infantry. It was their fortune to bear the brunt of the battle. The report of the killed and wounded, 5* 54 GENTRYANDHISSON. which accompanies this, is more conclusive evidence of their merits than anything I can say. After five companies of this regiment, against which the enemy directed the most deadly- fire, was nearly cut up, there being only four men left uninjured in one of them ; and every officer and orderly serjeant of those companies, with one exception, were either killed or wounded, Captain Noel, with the remaining two companies, his own company, " K.," and Crossman's, "B.," commanded by- second Lieutenant Woods, which was the left of the regiment, formed on the right of the fourth infantry, entered the hammock with that regiment, and continued the fight and the pursuit until its termination. It is due to Captain Andrews and Lieu- tenant "Walker, to say they commanded two of the five com- panies mentioned above, and they continued to direct them, until they were both severely wounded, and carried from the field ; the latter received three separate balls. " The Missouri volunteers, under the command of Colonel Gentry, and Morgan's spies, who formed the first line, and, of course, were the first engaged, acted as well, or even better, than troops of that description generally do ; they received and returned the enemy's fire with spirit, for some time, when they broke and retired, with the exception of Captain Gillam and a few of his company, and Lieutenant Blakey, also with a few men, who joined the regulars, and acted with them, until after the close of the battle, but not until they had suffered severely ; the commanding officer of the volunteers, Colonel Gentry, being mortally wounded while leading on his men, and en- couraging them to enter the hammock, and come to close quarters with the enemy ; his son, an interesting youth, eigh- teen or nineteen years of age, serjeant major of the regiment, was severely wounded at the same moment. " Captain Childs, Lieutenants Rogers and Flanagan, of Gentry's regiment, acting Major Sconce, and Lieutenants Hase and Gordon, of the spies, were wounded, while encouraging their men to a discharge of their duty. " The volunteers and spies having, as before stated, fallen back to the baggage, could not again be formed and brought OFFICERS SIGNALIZED. 55 up to the hammock in anything like order ; but a number of them crossed over individually, and aided in conveying the wounded across the swamp to the hammock, among whom were Captain Curd, and several other officers, whose names I do not now recollect. " To my personal staff, consisting of first Lieutenant J. M. Hill, of the second, and first Lieutenant George H. Griffin, of the sixth infantry, the latter aid-de-camp to Major General Gaines, and a volunteer in Florida from his staff, I feel under the greatest obligations for the promptness and efficiency with which they have sustained me throughout the campaign, and more particularly for their good conduct, and the alacrity with which they aided me and conveyed my orders during the ac- tion of the 25th ult. " Captain Taylor, commissary of subsistence, who was or- dered to join General Jesup at Tampa Bay, as chief of the subsistence department, and who was ordered by him to remain with his column until he (General Jesup) joined it, although no command was assigned Captain Taylor, he greatly exerted himself in trying to rally and bring back the volunteers into action, as well as discharging other important duties which were assigned to him during the action. " Myself, as well as all who witnessed the attention and ability displayed by Surgeon Satterlee, medical director on this side the peninsula, assisted by assistant surgeons McLaren and Simpson, of the medical staff of the army, and Doctors Hannah and Cooke, of the Missouri volunteers, in ministering to the wounded, as well as their uniform kindness to them on all oc- casions, can never cease to be referred to by me but with the most pleasing and grateful recollections. " The quartermaster's department, under the direction o.f that efficient officer, Major Brant, and his assistant, Lieutenant Babbit, have done everything that could be accomplished to throw forward from Tampa Bay, and keep up supplies of pro- visions, forage, etc., with the limited means at their disposal. Assistant commissaries Lieutenants Harrison, stationed at Fort Gardner, and McClure, at Fort Fraser, have fully met my ex- 56 Thompson's last words. peetations in discharge of the various duties connected with their department, as well as those assigned them in the quar- termaster's department. " This column, in six weeks, penetrated one hundred and fifty miles into the enemy's country, opened roads, and con- structed bridges and causeways, when necessary, on the greater portion of the route, established two depots, and the necessary defences for the same, and finally overtook and beat the enemy in his strongest position. The results of which movement and battle have been the capture of thirty of the hostiles, the coming in and surrendering of more than one hundred and fifty Indians and negroes, mostly the former, in- cluding the chiefs Ou-la-too-gee, Tus-ta-nug-gee, and other principal men, the capturing and driving out of the country six hundred head of cattle, upwards of one hundred head of horses, besides obtaining a thorough knowledge of the country through which we operated, a greater portion of which was entirely unknown, except to the enemy. " Colonel Gentry died in a few hours after the battle, much regretted by the army, and will be, doubtless, by all who knew him, as his state did not contain a braver man or a bet- ter citizen. " It is due to his rank and talents, as well as to his long and important services, that I particularly mention Lieutenant Co- lonel A. R. Thompson, of the Sixth Infantry, who fell, in the discharge of his duty, at the head of his regiment. He was in feeble health, brought on by exposure to this climate during the past summer, refusing to leave the country while his regi- ment continued in it. Although he received two balls from the fire of the enemy, early in the action, which wounded hirn severely, yet he appeared to disregard them, and continued to give his orders with the same coolness that he would have done had his regiment been under review or on any parade duty. Advancing, he received a third ball, which at once deprived him of life. His last words were, "keep steady, men, charge the hammock — remember the regiment to which you belong." I had known Colonel Thompson personally only for a short RESULT OF THE BATTLE. 57 time, and the more I knew of him the more I wished to know ; and, had his life been spared, our acquaintance, no doubt, would have ripened into the closest friendship. Under such circumstances, there are few, if any, other, than his bereaved wife, mother, and sisters, who more deeply and sincerely lament his loss, or who will longer cherish his memory, than myself. I " Captain Van Swearingen, Lieutenant Brooke, and Lieu- tenant and Adjutant Center, of the same regiment, who fell on that day, had no superiors of their years in service, and, in point of chivalry, ranked among the first in the army or nation ; besides their pure and disinterested courage, they possessed other qualifications, which qualified them to fill the highest grades of their profession, which, no doubt, they would have attained and adorned, had their lives been spared. The two former served with me on another arduous and trying cam- paign, and, on every occasion, whether in the camp, on the march, or on the field of battle, discharged their various duties to my entire satisfaction. With great respect, etc., etc., Z. Taylor, Col. Com'd. To Brig. Gen. Jones, Adj. Gen., U. S. Army, Washington, D. C." The immediate consequence of the battle of Lake Okeecho- bee, was the surrender of a number of Indians. Col. Taylor had penetrated farther into their country than any other com- mander, and to a point beyond which it was impossible to pro- ceed, had he even been unincumbered by the care of the wounded. The nature of the soil, as has been seen, forbade the transportation of supplies in the usual mode, and the enemy, if disposed, was therefore at liberty to remain in the depths of their native wilderness. This, as the subsequent history of the war unhappily shows, continued to be the policy of a large number, who, scattered in petty bands over a wide extent of barren and swamp lands, were enabled to defy for years all the force which the federal government deemed expe- dient to employ against them. If, however, the dearly-bought 58 TAYLOR PROMOTED. triumph of Taylor failed to reduce the whole body of the In- dians to terras of peace, it still demanded the grateful recogni- tion of the nation and the government. The sentiments of the latter were expressed in the annexed General Order. "Washington, February 20, 1838. " The Secretary of War has received from Col. Taylor, of the First Regiment of Infantry, of the affair of the 25th December last, with the Seminole Indians on the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee, in Florida, in which the Indians, after a severe conflict, were beaten and driven at all points. " The gallantry and the steadiness displayed in the attack are highly creditable to the corps engaged ; and the conduct of Col. Taylor, in pursuing the enemy and bringing him to action, is deserving of high commendation. " The triumph of success cannot lessen the regret which must be felt by all for the loss of the many valuable lives, and the severe suffering by wounds, which unavoidably attend a military achievement. » To Col. Taylor and the officers, non-commissioned officers, and troops of the regular army, the Secretary of War tenders the thanks of the President of the United States, for the dis- cipline and bravery displayed by them on the occasion ; as likewise to the officers and volunteers of Missouri, who shared in the conflict, and who evinced so much zeal and gallantry in bringing on the action. " By order of Alexander Macomb, Mj. Gen. Commander-in-Chief." This official acknowledgement of Taylor's merit was soon after followed by promotion to the rank of Brigadier General by brevet, according to the language of the order, " for dis- tinguished services in the battle of Kissimmee (Okeechobee), in Florida." In April, 1838, and soon after his promotion, the command of the troops in Florida was assigned to General Taylor, Ge- neral Jesup having been relieved at his own desire. In this SUCCEEDS GEN. JESUP. 59 new and responsible position, his entire energies were devoted to the protection of the inhabitants from attacks of the Indians, and of the reduction of the latter to submission to the authority of the United States. The perfect accomplishment of these objects was impracticable with the means and forces placed at the disposal of the commander. In a communication to the war department, written by General Jesup, on the ninth of February, 1838, prior to his recall, he makes these decided remarks on the subject of the war : "As a soldier, it is my duty, I am aware, not to comment on the policy of the government, but to carry it out in accord- ance with my instructions. I have endeavoured faithfully to do so, but the prospect of terminating the w r ar in any reasona- ble time is any thing but flattering. My decided opinion is, that unless immediate emigration be abandoned, the war will continue for years to come, and at constantly accumulating expense." In the letter, of which this is a prophetic passage, the dis- tinguished writer earnestly recommends that the Indians be allowed to remain within certain limits, at a distance from the white population. The advice, however, was not followed, and General Taylor was entrusted with the task which four able predecessors had in vain endeavoured to perform. From time to time skirmishes with the Indians took place, and individuals, or small parties of them, were captured or voluntarily surren- dered. But they could never be brought to a general action, and after a short season of comparative repose, they renewed, against the defenceless inhabitants of the frontier, the acts of barbarity which had marked their first hostilities. To put an end to this work, an expedient was at last devised, which, as it was the subject of much severe animadversion at the time, and of which General Taylor bore a part, it is proper that his candid biographer should record. This expedient was the use of blood-hounds in pursuit of the Indians. The annunciation of such a purpose was at first received with doubt, and finally visited with unqualified censure, in those parts of the country where, on the one hand, the sufferings of the peo- CO EMPLOYMENT OF BLOOD-HOUNDS. pie of Florida from their savage neighbours were not appre- ciated, and where on the other the real agency of the blood- hounds was not understood. An inquiry into the matter having been instituted by Congress, it appeared that the local govern- ment of Florida originated the measure, and that the War Department had no share in it. It also appeared, and the public mind was afterwards fully satisfied on the point, that the dogs were employed not to destroy, nor even to harass, the Indians, but simply to follow their trails and indicate their hiding-places. Even for this purpose they were soon found incompetent, and the use of them was discontinued after a brief trial. But it is not the less expedient to show here by positive testimony in what mode and to what extent they were used, and what were the circumstances which induced an ex- periment, the naked mention of which seems to prove it incon- sistent with humanity and the laws of civilized warfare. A correspondence on this subject was submitted by the Sec- retary of War to the Chairman of the Committee of Military Affairs in the United States Senate, showing that the introduc- tion of the dogs into Florida was made by the authorities of that territory, and that they were to be used " as guides to dis- cover the lurking-places of the Indians, and not to worry or destroy them." The Secretary further stated that the impor- tation of the animals was made by the Governor and Council of Florida without consultation with the War Department, which was ignorant of the intention until after their arrival. It was the intention to use them muzzled and secured by leashes held by the keepers. This declaration of the Secretary was confirmed by General Taylor himself, who said in a letter to the Department, that the object in employing the dogs was " only to ascertain where the Indians could be found — not to injure them." This fact being apparent, it is only necessary to show under what circumstances the introduction of such aids was suggested, to prove that the measure was not only undeserving censure, but that if it could have accomplished its object, it was demanded by every consideration of justice BARBARITY OF THE INDIANS. 61 and humanity, regarding the long-suffering inhabitants of the Florida frontiers. It was not until these people, engaged in the peaceful cares of their plantations, had been exposed for five years to the loss of property and life at the hands of the Indians, and when every attempt at conciliation had failed, and every exertion of force proved abortive, that the assistance of dogs, less fero- cious than the Indians themselves, was essayed to discover and subdue them. The journals of the period are burdened with accounts of the ruin and murder which they visited upon their unoffending neighbours. A few examples may serve to prove to what grievous extremities the latter were reduced. In the spring of 1839, strenuous efforts were made to con- clude a peace with the Indians. Negotiations had been en- tered into with their chiefs, and their country enjoyed at the hands of our troops the protection of a white flag. It was under these circumstances that the residence of Mr. Edmund Gray, a respectable citizen of Jefferson county, was attacked by one of their marauding parties. While sitting in his house, after dark, with his children around him, himself and one of them, an infant in years, were shot. Another child, attempting to fly, was also shot. A third was knocked down with a mus- ket and pierced with bayonet wounds. The fourth, a little girl, and only remaining member of the family, escaped to tell the tale of its slaughter, in which thirty savages took part. In the same vicinity, two dwellings of another citizen pre- sented a scene of similar barbarities ; and after the murder of the inmates, the houses were burnt to the ground. At another settlement, the head of the family was wounded and his little boy killed. Three children of a planter, in his absence from home, were butchered. A respectable widow lady and her five children shared the same fate, and other families escaping from their ruined homes, were thrown desti- tute upon the charity of distant friends. The contemporaneous narratives of these and other atrocities present them in the most impressive light, and a few extracts are pertinent to the purpose of demonstrating the deplorable 6 62 FURTHER EXAMPLES. condition of families exposed to the treachery and cruelty of the enemy. The following is from the Tallahassee Star of July, 1S39. " On Saturday night, between nine and ten o'clock, the family of Mr. Green Chairs, about ten miles from town, was attacked by the Indians. Mrs. Chairs was sitting by the table, sewing, surrounded by her interesting family, consisting of her husband and six children. An Indian rifle was fired, and Mrs. Chairs fell dead. Mr. Chairs instantly sprang up, and seizing his rifle, closed the doors and windows, and de- termined to defend his dwelling. He directed the four elder children to make their escape by the back door. One of them, young lady of seventeen, was seen and pursued by the sa- vages, but, wearing a dark cloak, she was enabled to conceal herself in some bushes. Mr. Chairs, at the same time, dis- covered that the house had been fired ; and, so rapid was the progress of the flames, that this new danger, and the conster- nation produced by the death of his wife, caused him to for- get his two youngest children. He fled, leaving them ; — and both, helpless infants,* were burnt to cinders, with his dwelling, and all else that it contained. Information of this horrid trans- action reached our city during the night." The same journal relates this incident. " Two wagons left Fort Frank Brooke on Monday, and, after proceeding a short distance, they were fired upon, by Indians, from a hammock, and two men killed. The body of one was afterwards found, honibly mutilated, with the eyes dug out, the throat cut, and otherwise disfigured. The body of the other could not be found." At this time, a " Treaty" was supposed to be in force with the Indians. In the same month, the faithless and vindictive barbarians butchered a portion of Colonel Harney's command, under circumstances thus narrated by a correspond- ent of the National Gazette : " On the 28th of July, four dragoons, two wounded, arrived here, (Garey's Ferry, East Florida,) and reported the massacre of a large part of Colonel Harney's command, who were sent to the Caloosahatchce to establish a trading-house, in con- MORE OUTRAGES. 63 formity with Macomb's Treaty. The Indians had, for some time, manifested the most friendly dispositions, daily visiting the camp, and trading with the sutler. So completely^had they lulled the troops into security, that no defence was erected, and no guard maintained. The camp was on the margin of the river. At dawn, on the 23d of July, the enemy made a simultaneous attack on the camp and the trading-house. Those who escaped their first discharge fled naked to the river, and effected their escape in some fishing-smacks. Colonel Harney was among them. The serjeant, and four others, while descending the river, were called to the shore by a well- known Indian, who spoke English perfectly, with the assurance that they would not be harmed. They complied, and were instantly butchered. Altogether, eighteen were killed. Colo- nel Harney afterwards cautiously approached the spot, and found eleven bodies shockingly mutilated, and two hundred and fifty Indians, in the neighbourhood, dancing and whoop- ing in savage triumph." A correspondent of the Army and Navy Chronicle wrote, as follows, from Fort King, under date of the 6th of September, 1S39. " I am sorry to say, that the Florida war is far from being ended. Hardly a week passes without some outrages by the Indians. A party of volunteers, bathing in Orange lake a few days ago, were attacked, and one of them killed. An express rider was shot on the road, and his body mutilated. I could enumerate a thousand instances of Indian murders since the *« treaty." When I saw them receiving presents at this post, I was disgusted to think we were shaking hands with men whose blood-stained hands and treacherous looks denoted anything but peaceable intentions." One other example of this relentless hate may close this subject. It is from the Charleston Mercury of August, 1840. " By the schooner Empire, Capt. Southwick, we have re- ceived St. Augustine papers of the 21st inst., from which we copy the following account of the butchery at Indian Key, which varies in some particulars from that already published. 64 ATTACK ON INDIAN KEY. " The steamer Santee, Captain Poinsett, arrived on Wednes- day morning from the south, bringing passengers the family of Dr. Perrine, late of Indian Key. She brought in tow, from New Smyrna, the steamer Wm. Gaston, which boat had sus- tained injury some time since. » It becomes again our mournful duty to record the success- ful effusion of blood in this ill-fated territory, and the trium- phant accomplishment, on the part of the Indians, of an ad- venture bordering on romance. Indian Key, a small spot of not over seven acres in extent, and situated a short distance in advance, midway between old and new Matacomba Key, about thirty miles from the main land, and on our Southern Atlantic coast, was invested by seventeen boats containing In- dians ; seven of its inhabitants murdered, the island plundered, and its buildings burnt. i "About two o'clock on the morning of the 7th inst., a Mr. Glass, in the employ of Mr. Houseman, happening to be up, saw boats approaching, and informed a person in the same employ, when they passed into Mr. Houseman's garden, and were satisfied that they were boats containing Indians. The Indians commenced their firing upon the house of Mr. House- man and Dr. Perrine ; the former of whom, with his family, and that of Mr. Charles Howe and his family, succeeded in escaping to boats, and crossed over to Teatable Key. The family of Dr. Perrine passed through a trap- door into their bathing-room, from whence they got into the turtle crawl, and by great effort removed the logs and escaped to the front of Houseman's store. They then went to a boat at the wharf, which six Indians (all who remained) had partly filled, and were in the store after a further supply. They then pushed off and pulled with an oar, a paddle and poles towards the Medium. They were met by a boat when they had rowed a mile, and taken to the schooner. "Mr. Motte and wife, and Mrs. Johnson, a lady of seventy years of age, fled into an out-house, from whence Mrs. Motte was dragged by an Indian, and while in the act of calling on her husband, "John, save me!" she was killed. Mr. Motte BARBARITY OF THE INDIANS. 61 and humanity, regarding the long-suffering inhabitants of the Florida frontiers. It was not until these people, engaged in the peaceful cares of their plantations, had been exposed for five years to the loss of property and life at the hands of the Indians, and when every attempt at conciliation had failed, and every exertion of force proved abortive, that the assistance of dogs, less fero- cious than the Indians themselves, was essayed to discover and subdue them. The journals of the period are burdened with accounts of the ruin and murder which they visited upon their unoffending neighbours. A few examples may serve to prove to what grievous extremities the latter were reduced. In the spring of 1839, strenuous efforts were made to con- clude a peace with the Indians. Negotiations had been en- tered into with their chiefs, and their country enjoyed at the hands of our troops the protection of a white flag. It was under these circumstances that the residence of Mr. Edmund Gray, a respectable citizen of Jefferson county, was attacked by one of their marauding parties. While sitting in his house, after dark, with his children around him, himself and one of them, an infant in years, were shot. Another child, attempting to fly, was also shot. A third was knocked down with a mus- ket and pierced with bayonet wounds. The fourth, a little girl, and only remaining member of the family, escaped to tell the tale of its slaughter, in which thirty savages took part. In the same vicinity, two dwellings of another citizen pre- sented a scene of similar barbarities ; and after the murder of the inmates, the houses were burnt to the ground. At another settlement, the head of the family was wounded and his little boy killed. Three children of a planter, in his absence from home, were butchered. A respectable widow lady and her five children shared the same fate, and other families escaping from their ruined homes, were thrown desti- tute upon the charity of distant friends. The contemporaneous narratives of these and other atrocities present them in the most impressive light, and a few extracts are pertinent to the purpose of demonstrating the deplorable 6 62 FURTHER EX A RIFLES. condition of families exposed to the treachery and cruelty of the enemy. The following is from the Tallahassee Star ofl July, 1839. " On Saturday .night, between nine and ten o'clock, thet family of Mr. Green Chairs, about ten miles from town, wass attacked by the Indians. Mrs. Chairs was sitting by the: table, sewing, surrounded by her interesting family, consisting; of her husband and six children. An Indian rifle was fired,, and Mrs. Chairs fell dead. Mr. Chairs instantly sprang up,, and seizing his rifle, closed the doors and windows, and de- termined to defend his dwelling. He directed the four elder ' children to make their escape by the back door. One of them, young lady of seventeen, was seen and pursued by the sa- vages, but, wearing a dark cloak, she was enabled to conceal herself in some bushes. Mr. Chairs, at the same time, dis- covered that the house had been fired ; and, so rapid was the progress of the flames, that this new danger, and the conster- nation produced by the death of his wife, caused him to for- get his two youngest children. He fled, leaving them ; — and both, helpless infants, were burnt to cinders, with his dwelling, and all else that it contained. Information of this horrid trans- action reached our city during the night." The same journal relates this incident. " Two wagons left Fort Frank Brooke on Monday, and, after proceeding a short distance, they were fired upon, by Indians, from a hammock, and two men killed. The body of one was afterwards found, hoiribly mutilated, with the eyes dug out, the throat cut, and otherwise disfigured. The body of the other could not be found." At this time, a " Treaty" was supposed to be in force with the Indians. In the same month, the faithless and vindictive barbarians butchered a portion of Colonel Harney's command, under circumstances thus narrated by a correspond- ent of the National Gazette : " On the 28th of July, four dragoons, two wounded, arrived here, (Garey's Ferry, East Florida,) and reported the massacre of a large part of Colonel Harney's command, who were sent to the Caloosahatchee to establish a trading-house, in con- ANNEXATION OF TEXAS. 71 ears, she heard not. But, like a hot-tempered child, who cries and throws about his limbs for the toy which he has wil- fully broken, she continued to exclaim, and to brandish her arms, while the world looked piteously or contemptuously upon the futile exhibition. Texas, feeling conscious of ability to maintain her sove- reignty, proceeded to organize a government based upon that of the United States. Ambitious, however, of accomplishing in a lustre the work of a generation, her financial affairs became embarrassed, and her sagacious people, to repair the error, soon agitated the question of annexation with the American Union. A proposition, to this effect, was rejected, as involv- ing bad faith with Mexico, which still asserted authority over the revolted province, and promised, from time to time, to re- duce it to subjection. A state of nominal war existed, without any act to prove its reality. From year to year, the question was agitated in the United States, with increasing warmth, — the party opposed to it main- taining a majority in Congress. Mexico, at last, seriously fearing the consummation, consented conditionally to acknow- ledge the independence of Texas. But the compliance yielded with so late and poor a grace, failed of its object. The act of annexation was confirmed, by Congress, on the 1st day of March, 1845 ; and thus, ten years from the time that Texas first raised an arm to repel the force of a despotic Mexican, she was lost to Mexico forever. When the consummation of the act became known to the latter, the resolution was avowed of resisting it, and preparations for subjugating the country north of the Rio Grande were declared anew. Preliminary measures had already been adopted under apprehensions of the event, which then became certain. The Mexican forces, on the right of that river, had been increased, and Monterey, Matamoros, and Mier, placed in a better condition of defence. The limits, if not the objects, of this work forbid any dis- cussion, receiving its tone from attachment to a political party, of the immediate causes of the war between the United States and Mexico. It is a clear proposition that the safety and inde 72 TAYLOR ORDERED TO TEXAS. pendence of any nation at war with another, are closely allied with the implicit obedience of its professional soldiery to the orders of their government. Whenever a general may pause to consider the policy of a contest, in which he is directed to take part by the civil power to which he is subordinate, reliance upon the appeal to arms for protection from a foreign state is at an end. The military power is then ascendant at home, and liberty is lost. The patriotic and consistent commander has a single and simple duty to perform — to follow the instructions and accomplish the purposes of his government. He cannot look behind such instructions, being conformable to the rules of civilized warfare, nor can others do so in judging his char- acter and conduct. It is undeniable that a large portion, probably a majority, of the people of the United States have been from the first opposed to the war with Mexico, and to most of the federal measures which led to it. But there can be few, however earnest in their condemnation of the government, who do not justly draw the distinction between its acts and responsibility, and those of the men who have been entrusted with the occu- pation and invasion of the territory over which Mexico still asserts her sovereignty. It may be said particularly of General Taylor, that the war in its inception found no favour in his eyes. He was selected, however, to take the field in the out- set, and before war had been declared, or any act of hostility committed on either side. From that moment he has been devoted to the one object of reducing the enemy to terms of peace. In May, 1845, General Taylor was instructed by the Secre- tary of War to have the forces under his command, or which might be assigned to it, put into a position where they might most promptly and efficiently act in defence of Texas in the event of such action becoming necessary. The instructions of the Department under this date were confidential, and were so worded as to imply clearly an apprehension, that the conse- quence of the annexation of Texas might be a collision with Mexico. The Secretary stated, that as soon as the Texan INSTITUTIONS OF MEXICO. 69 To the letter of invitation, Gen. Taylor made answer, that under ordinary circumstances it would have afforded him great pleasure to accept the invitation ; but having been already de- tained on his journey to the frontier an unusual length of time, he did not feel authorized to make, on his own account, any delay whatever. He was, therefore, compelled to decline the proffered hospitality. In concluding his reply, he gave assur- ances of his best exertions to secure the object of his command on the frontier. Time proved to what extent, then so unfor- seen, he redeemed the pledge. Five years elapsed before the occasion was presented of varying the monotonous routine of military duty incident to national peace. The events of that and a previous period, tending to a breach of that condition, may be glanced at, as properly introductory to the new and grand drama of the war between the United States and Mexico, in which General Taylor has acted a most illustrious part. Mexico, after a struggle worthy of the highest destiny, to free herself from the rule of Spain, succeeded, in 1822, in es- tablishing her independence. Had the eyes of her revolution- ary chieftains been turned towards the United States, then peaceful, and prospering under a political system tested for nearly half a century, they might have learned the secret of popular self-government, and have founded her nationality upon a secure and beneficent basis. But it was her misfortune to have many Arnolds, and many Burrs, but no Hamiltons, no Washingtons. Rejecting the principle of religious equality and rights, which the framers of the American Constitution held essential to its vitality, and forgetting the judicial safeguards of personal liberty, the authors of her independent government wrought it to an imperfect form, but breathed into it no living soul. Inconsistent with abstract justice, it could gain no per- manent favour with the intelligence of the enlightened few, or the affections of the ignorant mass. Wanting the prestige of time, and unequal to the test of brief experiment, it became the puppet of political charlatans, quarrelling for the honour and the profit of the exhibition, and each in turn leaving it more and more abused, broken, contemptible, and worthless. 70 REVOLT OF TEXAS. Among the provinces of Mexico, which regarded with early aversion the anti-republican features of her constitution, and the tyranny of the men who governed in its name, was Texas; at first, the least significant in wealth or population. Its citi- zens, in 1833, sought admission into the Mexican Union as a sovereign state, and, with that view, sent a commissioner to the federal government. Failing to obtain any answer to the application, the commissioner advised his fellow-citizens of Texas to organize a state irrespective of its authority. The letter containing this suggestion was disclosed to the go- vernment ; and its author, while returning to his constituents, was seized, and imprisoned for many months, without infor- mation of the cause of his arrest. The wrong to him, was felt to be equally a wrong to them. Mexico, by her weak and wicked rulers, instead of pruning discontent in Texas with a gentle hand, scattered the seeds of hatred, which sprang up with magic vigour, soon overshadowing her own name and strength. Less than two years after the outrage committed upon the Texan envoy, the administration of Mexico was in the hands of a military despot. The local government of her states was an- nihilated by a formal decree, and the institution of central tyranny asserted under the auspices of twenty thousand mus- kets. A minister of the new rule, with a due proportion of these aids, appeared in Texas to confirm its virtue. The menace of arms was met by arms. On the 27th of Septem- ber, when the brightness of a southern summer was departing before the mists of autumn, their first clash was heard ; and, from that day, the glory and the power of Mexico departed from Texas. The assaulted province drove the invaders, beaten and disgraced, from her borders. Her cause invited adventurous spirits from the United States. Texas declared herself free and independent. Mexico, with her best general, and thousands of her veteran troops, advanced upon the infant republic, resolved upon its ruin. But the boast was vain, the effort abortive. Alamo told how the soldiers of Texas could die ; San Jacinto how they could conquer. Still Mexico learned not wisdom. Having eyes, she saw not ; having ANNEXATION OF TEXAS. 71 ears, she heard not. But, like a hot-tempered child, who cries and throws about his limbs for the toy which he has wil- fully broken, she continued to exclaim, and to brandish her arms, while the world looked piteously or contemptuously upon the futile exhibition. Texas, feeling conscious of ability to maintain her sove- reignty, proceeded to organize a government based upon that of the United States. Ambitious, however, of accomplishing in a lustre the work of a generation, her financial affairs became embarrassed, and her sagacious people, to repair the error, soon agitated the question of annexation with the American Union. A proposition, to this effect, was rejected, as involv- ing bad faith with Mexico, which still asserted authority over the revolted province, and promised, from time to time, to re- duce it to subjection. A state of nominal war existed, without any act to prove its reality. From year to year, the question was agitated in the United States, with increasing warmth, — the party opposed to it main- taining a majority in Congress. Mexico, at last, seriously fearing the consummation, consented conditionally to acknow- ledge the independence of Texas. But the compliance yielded with so late and poor a grace, failed of its object. The act of annexation was confirmed, by Congress, on the 1st day of March, 1845 ; and thus, ten years from the time that Texas first raised an arm to repel the force of a despotic Mexican, she was lost to Mexico forever. When the consummation of the act became known to the latter, the resolution was avowed of resisting it, and preparations for subjugating" the country north of the Rio Grande were declared anew. Preliminary measures had already been adopted under apprehensions of the event, which then became certain. The Mexican forces, on the right of that river, had been increased, and Monterey, Matamoros, and Mier, placed in a better condition of defence. The limits, if not the objects, of this work forbid any dis- cussion, receiving its tone from attachment to a political party, of the immediate causes of the war between the United States and Mexico. It is a clear proposition that the safety and inde 72 TAYLOR ORDERED TO TEXAS. pendence of any nation at war with another, are closely allied with the implicit obedience of its professional soldiery to the orders of their government. Whenever a general may pause to consider the policy of a contest, in which he is directed to take part by the civil power to which he is subordinate, reliance upon the appeal to arms for protection from a foreign state is at an end. The military power is then ascendant at home, and liberty is lost. The patriotic and consistent commander has a single and simple duty to perform — to follow the instructions and accomplish the purposes of his government. He cannot look behind such instructions, being conformable to the rules of civilized warfare, nor can others do so in judging his char- acter and conduct. It is undeniable that a large portion, probably a majority, of the people of the United States have been from the first opposed to the war with Mexico, and to most of the federal measures which led to it. But there can be few, however earnest in their condemnation of the government, who do not justly draw the distinction between its acts and responsibility, and those of the men who have been entrusted with the occu- pation and invasion of the territory over which Mexico still asserts her sovereignty. It may be said particularly of General Taylor, that the war in its inception found no favour in his eyes. He was selected, however, to take the field in the out- set, and before war had been declared, or any act of hostility committed on either side. From that moment he has been devoted to the one object of reducing the enemy to terms of peace. In May, 1845, General Taylor was instructed by the Secre- tary of War to have the forces under his command, or which might be assigned to it, put into a position where they might most promptly and efficiently act in defence of Texas in the event of such action becoming necessary. The instructions of the Department under this date were confidential, and were so worded as to imply clearly an apprehension, that the conse- quence of the annexation of Texas might be a collision with Mexico. The Secretary stated, that as soon as the Texan INSTRUCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT. 73 Congress should assent to the act, and a convention should as- semble and accept the terras offered in the joint annexation resolutions of the Congress of the United States, Texas would be regarded " as part of the United States, so far as to be en- titled from this government a defence from foreign invasion and Indian incursions." General Taylor was accordingly di- rected to keep his command in readiness for this duty. The anticipation of difficulty with Mexico was further indicated by in- structions to General Taylor to open a correspondence with the authorities of Texas, or any diplomatic agent of the United States residing therein, with a view to information and advice in respect to the common Indian enemy, " as well as to any foreign power ;" and also to employ his forces in defence of the Texan territory, if invaded by " a foreign power," and to expel the invaders. General Taylor was thus apprised of the service which might be expected of him. In July of the same year, 1845, he was informed by the War Department, that the acceptance by Texas of the terms of annexation would probably be formally made by the Congress of that Republic on the 4th of that month, and in anticipation of that event, he was instructed to make an immediate forward movement, with the troops under his com- mand, and advance to the mouth of the Sabine, or to such other point on the gulf of Mexico, or its navigable waters, as might be most convenient for an embarkation, at the proper time, for the western frontier of Texas. The most expeditious route was recommended. The force named for this duty was the 3d and 4th regiments of infantry, and seven companies of the 2d regiment of dragoons. Two companies of the 4th infantry were ordered to join their regi- ments. The artillery was ordered from New Orleans. The ultimate point, then mentioned, of Taylor's destination, was the western frontier of Texas, on, or near, the Rio Grande del Norte, where he was ordered to select and occupy such a site as would consist with the health of the troops, and be best adapted to repel invasion, and to protect what, in the 7 74 EMBARCATION FOR TEXAS. event of annexation, would be the western border. The de- fence of the territory of Texas was defined as the limit of his action, unless Mexico should declare war against the United States. These movements to the gulf of Mexico, and the preparations to embark for the western frontier of Texas, were ordered to be made without any delay : but a landing was not to be ef- fected, on that frontier, until the due acceptance of Texas, of the proffered terms of annexation, had been ascertained. In reply to inquiries by General Taylor of the War Depart- ment respecting the position he should take, he was directed, generally, to be governed by circumstances, to avoid all ag- gressive measures, and to hold his force ready to protect the territory of Texas " to the extent that it had been occupied by the people of Texas." The Rio Grande was indicated, by the secretary, as the boundary between Mexico and Texas, to which the Army of Occupation was to approach, as nearly as prudence would permit. For this purpose, it was necessary to pass the Nueces. A letter from the department, dated in the following month, contains this passage : " Should Mexico assemble a large body of troops, on the Rio Grande, and cross it with a considerable force, such a movement must be regarded as an invasion of the United States, and the commencement of hostilities. You will, of course, use all the authority which has been, or may be, given you, to meet such a state of things. Texas must be protected from hostile invasion, and for that purpose, you will of course employ, to the utmost extent, all the means you possess, or can command." At the same time that these instructions were sent to Gene- ral Taylor, a naval force was despatched to the gulf of Mexico to aid him in any hostile operations which might occur. To this result, affairs were rapidly tending. Pursuant to these instructions, General Taylor proceeded, in July, 1845, to New Orleans, whence he embarked, with a THE A It M V A T b O It 1* U S C II R I S T [ . ?"> force of fifteen hundred men, and arrived, early in the following month, at St. Joseph's Island. From this point, lie embarked again for Corpus Christi, where he established his head quar- ters. In September, an enquiry was made by the United States' consul at Mexico, under authority of the government, whether a minister would be received, by Mexico, with powers to settle all points in dispute between the two countries. A favourable answer was received, and the minister was ap- pointed. On his arrival at the Mexican capital, a revolution, headed by Paredes, was in progress, which proved successful. The new government refused to acknowledge the American' envoy, except as a special agent. The consequence was the abandonment of negotiations through this medium. Pending this attempt at a peaceable adjustment of difficulties, the winter had passed, General Taylor remaining encamped at Corpus Christi. He had been reinforced, soon after his ar- rival, by seven companies of the 7th Infantry, under Major Brown, and two companies of volunteer artillery, under Major Gaily, with eight field-pieces. On the 8th of March, 1846, the camp at Corpus Christi was broken up, and the advance, of the army, consisting of Major Ringgold's Light Artillery, and the cavalry, the whole commanded by Colonel Twiggs, took up the line of march for Matamoras. On the three ensu- ing days, the brigades of infantry followed. The siege-train, and a field-battery, were sent by water to Point Isabel, wiih a corps of engineers, and the officers of ordnance, under the command of Major Munroe. As the correspondence of General Taylor, while in com- mand of the Army of Occupation, is necessary not only to a clear understanding of his views and early movements, but to afford that just exposition of his character, which is essential to a faithful biography, the annexed letters and despatches to the Adjutant General, are inserted in their proper order. Con- nected with the preceding narrative, they require no comment. 76 gen. Taylor's despatches. Head-Quarters 1st Military Department. New Orleans, La., July 20, 1845. Sir : I respectfully acknowledge your communication of July 8, covering the instructions of the Secretary of War of the same date, relative to the Mexican settlements on this side of the Rio Grande. Those instructions will be closely obeyed ; and the department may rest assured that I will take no step to interrupt the friendly relations between the United States and Mexico. I am gratified at receiving these instructions, as they confirm my views, previously communicated, in regard to the proper line to be occupied at present by our troops. I am sir very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head-Quarters Army of Occupation. Steamship Alabama, Aransas Pass, Texas, July 28, 1845. Sir : I respectfully report my arrival at this place on the 25th instant, with eight companies of the 3d infantry, it having been found necessary to leave two companies of that regiment, to be brought over in other transports. The troops are temporarily established on St. Joseph's Island. I am waiting the report of a boat expedition sent to Corpus Christi Bay before I determine on the site of an enoampment. I hope to receive the necessary information in the course of the day, when I shall immediately commence the removal of the 3d infantry to the point selected. The position will probably be " Live Oak Point," in Aransas Bay, some ten miles from our present position. I am very anxious to establish myself at the mouth of the Neuces, but the extreme shoalness of the water will, I fear, present an insuperable obstacle, unless we can procure lighters of much lighter draught than those we have at present. The difficulties of effecting a debarcation on this coast, and of establishing depots for supplying the army, are much greater DESPATCHES CONTINUED. 77 than I anticipated, and will render our operations at once em- barrassing and expensive. Between Pass Cavello and Brazos Santiago, there is no entrance for vessels drawing more than seven or eight feet ; and the prevailing winds render the opera- tion of lightening extremely uncertain and hazardous. We have been favoured with fine w T eather, and, should it continue, the other transports, which may now be expected, will be ena- bled to discharge without difficulty. We had a very favourable run from New Orleans ; and I am happy to state that the health of the command was greatly im- proved by the voyage. The eight companies have scarcely any sickness at this time. The day before leaving New Orleans, I received from Major Donelson a communication dated at Austin, on the 7th of July, informing me that the convention had unanimously accepted the proposition of annexation, and suggested that two compa- nies should be posted at Austin. I still deem it best to con- centrate my force until our relations with Mexico shall become settled, and until the country can be examined, and the best mode of supply ascertained. I hear nothing important from the Mexican frontier. Some Indian depredations are committed from time to time near Cor- pus Christi, and will claim my first attention after I can get established. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Corpus Christi, Texas, August 15, 1845. Sir: I have the honour to report that, by New Orleans papers of the 7th instant, I have received intelligence of the preparatory steps taken by Mexico towards a declaration of war against the United States. I shall spare no exertions to meet suitably this probable change in the relations between the two countries ; and the additional force ordered to join 78 DESPATCHES CONTINUED. me, as announced in your communication of July 30, will, I trust, enable me to do something more than maintain a merely defensive attitude on the Neuces. This will depend upon the demonstrations made by Mexico along the Rio Grande, in re- gard to which the Secretary of War has solicited a report. I am enabled to say, upon information which is regarded as au- thentic, that General Arista was to leave Monterey on the 4th of this month for Matamoros with 1500 men — 500 being cavalry. I learn, from the same source, that there are 500 regular troops at Matamoros. In regard to the force at other points on the Rio Grande, except the militia of the country, I have no information ; nor do I hear that the reported concen- tration at Matamoros is for any purpose of invasion. I have but just arrived at this place, and hope in a few days to be able to obtain more full and precise intelligence concerning the movements of the Mexicans. I shall not fail to communicate promptly to the department all such intelligence upon which I think reliance can be placed. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head Quarters Army of Occupation, Corpus Christi, Texas, August 19, 1815. Sir : I respectfully enclose for the information of the depart- ment, a copy of a letter addressed by me to the president of Texas, and forwarded to him by special express on the 17th instant. I have deemed it proper to make this communication to President Jones, in consequence of the desire manifested by the authorities of Texas to have a garrison established at once at Austin. As I cannot consent to detach any portion of m) r command while a superior Mexican force is probably concen- trating in my front, and as I still feel bound to extend every assistance compatible with a successful prosecution of the main object of the expedition, towards putting the frontier in a suita- ble state of defence, I have judged it prudent to make the sug- DESPATCHES CONTINUED. 79 gestions and recommendations which you will find in the en- closed letter. Trusting that they will meet the approbation of the War Department, I remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head Quarters Army of Occupation, Corpus Christi, Texas, August 30, 1845. Sir : I respectfully report the arrival at this point of seven companies of the 7th infantry under Major Brown, and two companies of volunteer artillery under Major Gaily. Major Seawell's company, I am informed, was ordered back to Baton Rouge by General Gaines, and some small detachments of that regiment were also left at several posts. I have retained one company as a guard for the depot at St. Joseph Island. The battalion of volunteer artillery has a fine battery of eight pieces — two twelves and six sixes, completely equipped in every respect. The officers are zealous, and the men seem to be quite well instructed in their duties. In case of need, I look for valuable service from this battalion. I have just received a communication from President Jones, under date of the 23d instant, notifying me that he had taken preparatory steps towards organizing a volunteer force of 1000 men to assist me if necessary. This matter will form the sub- ject of a special communication to your office in a few days. Apprehending that the erroneous impressions current in New Orleans in regard to our situation, might induce Gene- ral Gaines to order the muster of a battalion or brigade of infantry, I addressed a communication to his staff officer by the steamship Alabama, expressing my thanks for the reinforce- ment of the volunteer battalion of artillery, but with the hope that no more volunteers would be sent without a requisition from me. That communication will reach New Orleans to night or to-morrow, in time, I trust, to stop the employment of any more volunteers. 80 DESPATCHES CONTINUED. We have no news from the Rio Grande. Idle stories are brought in from that quarter, but with the means of accurate information which we now possess, I do not deem it necessary to repeat them. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Corpus Christi, Texas, October 4, 1845. Sir : I beg leave to suggest some considerations in relation to the present position of our force, and the dispositions which may become necessary for the more effectual prosecution of the objects for which it has been concentrated. It will be recol- lected that the instructions of June 15, issued by Mr. Bancroft, then acting Secretary of War, directed me to « select and oc- cupy, on or near the Rio Grande, such a site as will consist with the health of the troops, and will be best adapted to repel invasion," &c. Brazos Santiago is the nearest entrance to the mouth of the Rio Grande ; and Point Isabel, within that en- trance, and twenty-one miles from Matamoros, would have ful- filled more completely than any other position the conditions imposed by the Secretary. But we had no artillery, no engi- neer force or appliances, and but a moderate amount of in- fantry ; and the occupation of Point Isabel, under these cir- cumstances, and with at least the possibility of resistance from the Mexicans, might have compromised the safety of the com- mand. I therefore determined to take up the next accessible position in the rear, which is the mouth of the Neuces river. All the information which I could obtain before leaving New Orleans, seemed to point to Corpus Christi as the most suitable point for concentration ; and, although before the President's instructions of July 30 reached me, I would have preferred a position on the left bank of the river, yet a careful examination of (he country had already convinced me that none could be found combining so many advantages as this. Every day's DESPATCHES CONTINUED. 81 experience has confirmed these impressions. Corpus Christi is healthy, easily supplied, and well situated to hold in obser- vation the course of the Rio Grande from Matamoros to La- redo — being about 150 miles from several points on the river. I have reason to believe, moreover, that a salutary moral effect has been exercised upon the Mexicans. Their traders are con- tinually carrying home the news of our position and increasing numbers, and are confessedly struck by the spectacle of a large camp of well-appointed and disciplined troops, accompanied by perfect security to their persons and property, instead of the impressment and pillage to which they are subject in their own country. For these reasons, our position thus far has, I think, been the best possible ; but, now that the entire force will soon be concentrated, it may well be a question whether the views of government will be best carried out by our remaining at this point. It is with great deference that I make any sugges- tions on topics which may become matter of delicate negotia- tion : but if our government, in settling the question^ of boundary, makes the line of the Rio Grande an ultimatum, I cannot doubt that the settlement will be greatly facilitated and hastened by our taking possession at once of one or two suita- ble points on or quite near that river. Our strength and state of preparation should be displayed in a manner not to be mis- taken. However salutary may be the effect produced upon the border people by our presence here, we are too far from the frontier to impress the government of Mexico with our readiness to vindicate, by force of arms, if necessary, our title to the country as far as the Rio Grande. The " army of oc- cupation" will, in a few days, be concentrated at this point, in condition for vigorous and efficient service. Mexico having as yet made no positive declaration of war, or committed any overt act of hostilities, I do not feel at liberty, under my in- structions, particularly those of July 8, to make a forward movement to the Rio Grande without authority from the War Department. In case a forward movement should be ordered or author- ized, I would recommend the occupation of Point Isabel and 82 DESPATCHES CONTINUED. Laredo, as best adapted to the purposes of observing the course of the ri>er, and covering the frontier settlements of Texas. Point Isabel is accessible by water, and can be safely occupied by two brigades of infantry, with a suitable force of field artillery. On the arrival of the steamer Harney, I shall order a careful reconnoissance of Brazos Santiago, as a neces- sary preliminary measure to the occupation of Point Isabel. To occupy Laredo will require a land march from this point. Supplies may probably be transported by water as high as San Patricio, and possibly to the junction of the Rio Frio with .the Nueces. I propose to establish a depot on the Nueces river, probably at the crossing of the San Antonia and Laredo road, - from which to operate towards the Rio Grande. You will perceive, from my "special orders" No. 24, that a reconnois- sance has been ordered in that direction. A brigade of in- fantry, with the cavalry, and a battery or two of field artillery, will be sufficient for the occupation of Laredo. That town is on the left bank of the Rio Grande, and possesses the military advantage of holding in observation the main route from the interior of Mexico through Monterey to Matamoros. In case it should be found impracticable to establish a suita- ble depot on the Nueces, the entire force, after strengthening San Antonia, might be thrown forward to Point Isabel, where it could be readily supplied, and held in readiness for any further service. I have deemed it my duty to make the above suggestions. Should they be favourably considered, and instructions based upon them, I will thank you to send the latter in duplicate to Lieutenant Colonel Hunt — one copy to be despatched direct, without delay ; the other to be sent via Galveston, should a steamer be running to that port from New Orleans. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. P. S. — It is proper to add, that should any auxiliary force be required, I propose to draw it wholly from Texas. I do DESPATCHES CONTINUED. 83 not conceive that it will become necessary, under any circum- stances, to call for volunteers from the United States. Z. T. Head Quarters, Army of Occupation, Corpus Christi, Texas, November 7, 1845. Sir : I respectfully enclose a copy of a letter from Commo- dore Conner, commanding the home squadron, which I received by the " Saratoga," sloop of war, on the 5th instant. The in- telligence communicated by the commodore will, doubtless, reach the seat of government long before the receipt of this letter. The communication from the Secretary of War, dated Oc- tober 16, was received and acknowledged on the 1st and 2d instant. I purposely deferred a detailed reply to the various points embraced in that communication until I could receive an answer to mine of October 4, which covered (at least in part) the same ground. The intelligence from Mexico, how- ever, tends to modify, in some degree, the views expressed in that communication. The position now occupied by the troops may, perhaps, be the best while negotiations are pending, or at any rate until a disposition shall be manifested by Mexico to protract them unreasonably. Under the supposition that such may be the view of the department, I shall make no move- ment from this point, except for the purpose of examining the country, until further instructions are received. You will per- ceive, from my orders, that reconnoissances are almost con- stantly in the field, the officers of engineers and topographical engineers rendering valuable service on those duties. I refer you to the reports made by those officers to the chiefs of their own bureaux for the information which is thus procured in re- lation to the country. An examination of the harbour of Bra- zos Santiago will be ordered in a few days — as soon as a proper ^vessel shall become disposable for that service. In case no movement is made this season for the Rio Grande, I may land it necessary to detach a portion of the army a short distance into the interior, where wood can be more readily procured than here. But in no case do I deem it necessary to 84 DESPATCHES CONTINUED. hut the troops. Sheds, with platforms, on which to pitch the tents, were extensively used in camps of position in Florida, and will, I cannot doubt, form a sufficient protection here. On the hypothesis of an early adjustment of the boundary, and the consequent establishment of permanent frontier posts, I cannot urge too strongly upon the department the necessity of occupying those posts before the warm weather shall set in. A large amount of sickness is, I fear, to be apprehended, with every precaution that can be taken ; but the information which I obtain leads me to believe that a summer movement would be attended with great expense of health and life. As in Flo- rida, the winter is the best season for operations in Texas. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Corpus Christi, Texas, February 4, 1846. Sir : I respectfully acknowledge the communication of the Secretary of War, dated January 13th, and containing the in- structions of the President to move forward with my force to the Rio Grande. I shall lose no time in making the necessary preparations for carrying out those instructions. The occupation of Point Isabel or Brazos Santiago as a depot will be indispensable. That point, and a position on or near the river opposite Matamoros, will, I think, answer all present purposes. At any rate, I shall not separate my force further until the position of affairs shall render it entirely safe to do so. I propose to abandon this position entirely, as soon after our march as the stores, hospital, &c, can be transferred to St. Joseph's Island. It will be necessary to keep up an establish- ment at that point for the present, although our supplies will come to Point Isabel direct from New Orleans. In reply to the call of the Secretary for information as to what means, if any, will be required " to enforce and maintain our common right to navigate" the Rio Grande, I would re- DESPATCHES CONTINUED. 85 spectfully state that, until I reach the river and ascertain the condition of things in the frontier States of Mexico, temper of the people, &c, I cannot give any satisfactory answer to the question. I have every reason to believe that the people re- siding on the river are well disposed towards our government. Our advance to the Rio Grande will itself produce a powerful effect, and it may be that the common navigation of the river will not be disputed. It is very important to us, and'will be indispensable when posts are established higher up, as must ultimately be the case. I shall not call for any militia force in addition to what I already have, unless unforeseen circumstances shall render its employment necessary. I beg leave again to call the attention of the Department to the necessity of having our movement and position at Brazos Santiago covered by a small armed vessel. I deem this vitally important, and hope it will meet with favourable consideration. We have no news from the interior of Mexico more recent than that derived from the New Orleans papers of the 26th of January. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Corpus Christi, Texas, February 26, 1846. Sir : I have to report that the preparations for a forward movement of this command are now nearly completed. The examinations spoken of in my report of the 16th instant have shown the practicability of both routes — by the main land and by Padre Island. The reconnoissance of Padre Island ex- tended to its southern extremity, and included the harbour of Brazos Santiago and Point Isabel ; that of the main route reached to a point near the Little Colorado. A depot, with four days' forage, and subsistence for the army, will be thrown forward some forty miles, to the Santa Gertrudes. A detach- 8 86 DESPATCHES CONTINUED. ment of two companies, to establish and cover this depot, will march, on the 28th, under Brevet Major Graham. In about a week thereafter, say the 7th of March, the cavalry will march, to be followed, at intervals of one day, by the brigades of in- fantry. By the 25th of March, at latest, I hope to be in posi- tion on the Rio Grande. I have taken occasion to represent to some citizens of Mata- moros, who were here with a large number of mules for sale, and who are represented to have considerable influence at home, that the United States government, in occupying the Rio Grande, has no motive of hostility towards Mexico, and that the army will, in no case, go beyond the river, unless hostilities should be commenced by the Mexicans themselves ; that the Mexicans, living on this side, will not be disturbed in, any way by the troops ; that they will be protected in all their usages ; and that every thing which the army may need will be pur- chased from them at fair prices. I also stated that, until the matter should be finally adjusted between the two governments, the harbour of Brazos Santiago would be open to the free use of the Mexicans as heretofore. The same views were impressed upon the Mexican custom-house officer at Brazos Santiago by Captain Hardee, who commanded the escort which covered the reconnoissance of Padre Island. We are entirely without news of interest from the frontier, or the interior of Mexico, our latest date from the capital being the 21st of January, and the same from Vera Cruz. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. These connected and lucid reports of General Taylor's views and acts, (luring the period that his head-quarters were estab- lished at Corpus Christi, supersede any other narrative. He had profited by the time to reduce his force to the most ad- mirable stafce of discipline ; to foster their esprit du corps, and especially by his frank and unaffected hearing, to inspire that confidence in himself w Inch contributed so largely to the bril- liant achievements of then' arms under his command. 'i MARCH FROM CORPUS CHRISTI. 87 % CHAPTER V. The March from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande commenced — Face of the Country — Sufferings of the Troops — Mexican Demonstration — American Action — Point Isabel invested — The March resumed — Encampment on the Rio Grande — Conference rejected — Entrenchments commenced — Despatches of General Taylor — Ampudia's Magnanimity — A Deserter shot — Fort Brown Murder of Colonel Cross — Correspondence, Ampudia and Taylor — General Arista — Blockade of the Rio Grande — Correspondence on the Sub- ject — Mexicans crossing the River — Capture of Thornton's Command — Mexican Exultation — Manifesto of Arista — Point Isabel in Danger — Requi- sition for Volunteers — Cautain Walker's First Exploit — Resolution to relieve Point Isabel. The Army of Occupation, having spent six months in the monotony of camp duty at Corpus Christi, was rejoiced to be put in motion for new scenes and service. The 12th of March witnessed its entire force moving in a southerly direction over the vast wilderness lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande. The face of the country, destitute of vegetation except the harsh prairie grass, and unvaried, except by the long undu- lations, never rising to the dignity of hills, presented nothing to sustain the buoyant spirit with which the march had been commenced, nor to make the encumbered soldier forget his burden. As the Nueces was left daily farther in the rear, the barrenness of the soil increased, and offered neither spring nor stream to appease thirst with a draught of wholesome water. . A week had passed in this dreary and painful progress, when green woods appeared to rise in the distance ; and, as the weary troops approached them, sheets of bright water varied their welcome shade. But the prospect of both was delusive. The seeming forests shrank into impenetrable clusters of the dwarfish thorn-tree, and the clear lakes were bitter with salt. Privations and fatigue became almost intolerable, under this disappointment. The stunted groves and the briny pools were passed, and the march continued through another dreary expanse of country. But here the suffering of nine days was forgotten, 88 POINT ISABEL INVESTED. in the enjoyment of abundant water. The arm^ reached the Arroya Colorado, a long, narrow inlet of the sea. General Taylor had concentrated his whole force, having been advised that an attempt would be made by the Mexicans to arrest his progress. A body of cavalry appeared, on the opposite bank of the river, and informed him that, if the ford was attempted, the passage would be resisted as an act of hostility. Unaffected by this menace, he formed the army in order, to meet force by force, and commenced the passage, the artillery being posted to protect the ford. The Mexicans, who had made demon- strations of having a large body ready to engage him, disap- peared from the opposite bank, which was reached without molestation, General Worth heading the advance. On the 23d, the march was resumed ; and, on the fol- lowing day, General Taylor reached Point Isabel with the cavalry, while General Worth continued with the infantry on the direct route to Matamoros. While approaching Point Isa- bel, General Taylor was met by a deputation of citizens, from the Rio Grande, who handed him a protest, signed by the Pre- fect of the Northern District of the Department of Tamaulipas, against the presence of his army. While the subject was under .consideration, he perceived smoke arising from Point Isabel ; and, believing that the place had been fired by Mexi- can authority, he broke off the conference, and dismissed the deputation, with the promise of an answer when he should arrive on the banks of the Rio Grande. Point Isabel, an in- significant post, with a few mean houses, had been selected as a depot for military stores, being the nearest port to Mate* moras on the north. To preserve its buildings, and hold pos- session of them, was, therefore, an object of moment to the commander. The fire, which had made but little progress, was arrested by the dragoons under Col. Twiggs, detached for the purpose ; and, at the moment of General Taylor's arrival, the supplies, which he had sent from Corpus Christi by water, also arrived, fortunately answering his expectations. The arrangements at this post being satisfactorily made, the general, with the cavalry, resumed the march towards Matamo- CAMP ON THE RIO GRANDE. 89 ros, and was joined by General Worth's command, which had encamped on the road. Another week brought the Rio Grande in sight, the army having passed over the ground soon after- wards rendered famous by the victories of the 8th and 9th of May. The exhausted troops, on the 28th of March, pitched their tents on the left bank of the beautiful river ; and, amidst the early vegetation of a tropical spring, reposed, for a time, from their labours. General Worth and his staff were, immediately, instructed by General Taylor to cross the river, with despatches for the Mexican commander, and for 'the civil magistrates. The purpose was defeated alike by the ceremonious requisi- tions of these parties, and by the determination of the Mexican general, particularly, to consider the presence of the Americans an aggressive and hostile act. General Taylor, accordingly, began to place himself in a position to resist any attack. The topographical corps made the requisite observations of the country, and the site of permanent defences being selected, the works were commenced, and prosecuted with the utmost diligence. The Mexicans, meanwhile, looked supinely on. Within shot of their city, the American flag was floating, and they had declared all under it to be open enemies. Yet they allowed the golden opportunity to pass, when the latter were encamped in the open field, and when, if ever, an assault might have been successful. From the day of leaving Corpus Christi until the encamp- ment on the Rio Grande, the following despatches were written by General Taylor : Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Corpus Christi, Texas, March 8, 1846. Sir : I respectfully report that the advance of the army, composed of the cavalry and Major Ringgold's light artillery, the whole under the command of Colonel Twiggs, took up the line of march this morning in the direction of Matamoros, its strength being 23 officers and 378 men. The advance will be followed in succession by the brigades of inlmtry, the last brigade marching on the 11th instant. The roads are in good S* 90 Taylor's despatches. order, the weather fine, and the troops in excellent condition for service. Major Munroe will embark for Brazos Santiago in season to reach that harbour about the time the army will be in the vicinity of Point Isabel. He takes with hirn a siege train and a field battery. Captain Sanders, of the engineers, the officers of ordnance, and the pay department, accompany Major Munroe. The movement by water, to Brazos Santiago, will be covered by the revenue cutter " Woodbury," Captain Foster, whose commander has kindly placed her at my disposal for this ser- vice. All proper arrangements have been made by the staff de- partments for supplying the army on the route, as well as establishing a depot for its further wants at Point Isabel. I have deemed it proper to cause my " orders" No. 30, to be translated into Spanish, and circulated on the Rio Grande. Sixty copies have already been sent in advance of the army to Matamoros, Camargo, and Mier. This form of giving publi- city to the spirit which actuates our movement in occupying the country, I thought preferable to a proclamation. I trust the order itself will meet the approval of the department. A few copies of the translation are herewith enclosed. I shall again communicate with general head-quarters before I march, and I expect to do so at least once on the route. My head-quarters will march with the rear brigade, but will soon pass to the advance of the army. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding: The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Order No. 30. Corpus Christi, March 8, 1846. The army of occupation of Texas being now about to take a position upon the left bank of the Rio Grande, under the orders of the Executive of the United States, the general-in- DESPATCHES CONTINUED. 91 chief flesires to express the hope that the movement will be advantageous to all concerned ; and with the object of attain- ing this laudable end, he has ordered all under his command to observe, with the most scrupulous respect, the rights of all the inhabitants who may be found in peaceful prosecution of their respective occupations, as well on the left as on the right side of the Rio Grande. Under no pretext, nor in any way, will any interference be allowed with the civil rights or religious privileges of the inhabitants ; but the utmost respect for them will be maintained. Whatsoever may be needed for the use of the army will be bought by the proper surveyor, and paid for at the highest prices. The general-in-chief has the satisfaction to say that he confides in the patriotism and discipline of the army under his command, and that he feels sure that his orders will be obeyed with the utmost exactness. Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Camp at "El Sauce," 119 miles from Corpus Christi, March 18, 1846. Sir: I avail myself of a chance opportunity to Corpus Christi to report that I have advanced to this point with the cavalry and 1st brigade of infantry. The 2d brigade encamps to-night about seven miles in my rear ; the 3d brigade about nineteen. I shall concentrate all my force on reaching the Little Colorado, thirteen miles in my front, so as to be prepared for any contingency. I am happy to say that all the corps of the army are in fine condition and spirits, equal to any service that may be before them. Within the last two days, our -advance has met with small armed parties of Mexicans, who seemed disposed to avoid us. They were, doubtless, thrown out to get information of our advance. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. 92 DESPATCHES CONTINUED. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Point Isabel, March 25, 1846. Sir : I respectfully report that I marched on the morning of the 23d instant with the entire army from the camp, near the Colorado, in the order prescribed in my order No. 35, here- with enclosed. After a march of fifteen miles, we reached, on the morning of the 24th, a point on the route from Matamoros to Point Isabel, eighteen miles from the former and ten from the latter place. I here left the infantry brigades under Briga- dier General Worth, with instructions to proceed in the direc- tion of Matamoros until he came to a suitable position for en- campment, where he would halt, holding the route in observa- tion, while I proceed with the cavalry to this point to commu- nicate with our transports, supposed to have arrived in the harbour, and make the necessary arrangements for the estab- lishment and defence of a depot. While on my way hither, our column was approached by a party on its right flank, bearing a white flag. It proved to be a civil deputation from Matamoros, desiring an interview with me. I informed them that I would halt at the first suitable place on the road and afford them the desired interview. It was, however, found necessary, from the want of water, to continue the route to this place. The deputation halted while y^et some miles from Point Isabel, declining to come further, and sent me a formal protest of the prefect of the northern dis- trict of Tamaulipas against our occupation of the country, which I enclose herewith. At this moment it was discovered that the buildings at Point Isabel were in flames. I then in- formed the bearer of the protest that I would answer it when opposite Matamoros, and dismissed the deputation. I con- sidered the conflagration before my eyes as a decided evidence of hostility, and was not willing to be trifled with any longer, particularly as I had reason to believe that the prefect, in making this protest, was but a tool of the military authorities at Mata- moros. The advance of the cavalry fortunately arrived here in season DESPATCHES CONTINUED. 93 to arrest the fire, which consumed but three or four houses. The port captain, who committed the act under the orders, it^ I is said, of General Mejia, had made his escape before its ar- rival. We found two or three inoffensive Mexicans here, the [ rest having left for Matamoros. I was gratified to find that the water expedition had exactly answered to our land movement — the steamers arriving in the harbour only two or three hours before we reached Point Isabel, with the other transports close in their rear. The "Porpoise" and "Lawrence," brigs of war, and cutter "Woodbury," are . lying outside. I have thought it necessary to order Captain Porter's company to this place to reinforce Major Munroe. Our great depot must be here, and it is very important to se- cure it against any enterprise of the enemy. The engineer officers are now examining the ground with a view to tracing ' lines of defence ,and strengthening the position. As soon as a sufficient amount of supplies can be thrown forward toward Matamoros, I shall march in the direction of i that town and occupy a position as near it as circumstances ' will permit. I enclose a sketch prepared by my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant ; Eaton, exhibiting the route of march since leaving the Colo- rado, and the bearings of important points. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. The following correspondence elucidates the positions of the Mexican local authorities, and of General Taylor, respectively, upon his arrival on the Rio Grande. Office of the Prefect of the Northern District of the Department of Tamaulipas. t God and Liberty ! Santa Rita, March 23, 1846. Sir : Although the pending question respecting the annexa- tion of the department of Texas to the United States is subject to the decision of the supreme government of Mexico, the fact 94 DESPATCHES CONTINUED. of the advance of the army, under your excellency's orders, over the line occupied by you at Corpus Christi, places me under the necessity, as the chief political authority of the northern district of Tamaulipas, to address you, as I have now the honour to do, through the commissioners, who will place this in your hands, and to inform you that the people, under this prefecture, being justly alarmed at the invasion of an army, which, without any previous declaration of war, and without announcing explicitly the object proposed by it, comes to oc- cupy a territory which never belonged to the insurgent pro- vince, cannot regard with indifference a proceeding so con- trary to the conduct observed towards each other by civilized nations, and to the clearest principles of the Jaw of nations ; that, directed by honour and patriotism^ and certain that no- thing has been said officially by the cabinet of the Union to the Mexican government, respecting the extension of the limits of Texas to the left bank of the Rio Bravo, trusting in the well- known justice of their cause, and using their natural right of defence, they (the citizens of this district) protest, in the most solemn manner, that neither now nor at any time do they, or will they, consent to separate themselves from the Mexican republic, and to unite themselves with the United States, and that they are resolved to carry this firm determination into effect, resisting, so far as their strength will enable them, at all times and places, until the army under your excellency's orders shall recede and occupy its former positions ; because, so long as it remains w r ithin the territory of Tamaulipas, the inhabitants must consider that whatsoever protestations of peace may be made, hostilities have been openly commenced by your excel- lency, the lamentable consequences of which will rest before the world exclusively on the heads of the invaders. I have the honour to say this to your excellency, with the object indicated, and to assure you of my consideration and esteem. Jenes Cardenas. Juan Jose Pineda. To General Z. Taylor, &c ENTRENCHMENTS ON THE RIVER. 95 Camp on the left bank of the Rio Grande. Opposite Matamoros, March 29, 1846- Sir : I have the honour to report that I arrived at this camp yesterday with the forces under my command, no resistance having been offered to my advance to the banks of the river, nor any act of hostility committed by the Mexicans, except the capture of two of our dragoons, sent forward from the ad- vanced guard. I deem it possible that these two men may have deserted to the enemy, as one of them, at least, bears a bad character. Our approach seems to have created much excitement in Matamoros, and a great deal of activity has been displayed since our arrival in the preparation of batteries. The left bank is now under reconnoissance of our engineer officers, and I shall lose no time in strengthening our position by such defensive works as may be necessary, employing for that purpose a portion of the heavy guns brought round by sea. The attitude of the Mexicans is so far decidedly hostile. An interview has been held, by my direction, with the military au- thorities in Matamoros, but with no satisfactory result. Under this state of things, I must again and urgently call your attention to the necessity of speedily sending recruits to this army. The militia of Texas are so remote from the border that we cannot depend upon their aid. The strength gained by filling up the regiments here, even to the present feeble establishment, would be of very great im- portance. I respectfully enclose a field report of the force now in this camp. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. A few days after the tents of the Army of Occupation had been pitched on the Rio Grande, sufficed for the partial erec- tion of defensive works. Meanwhile, Genera] Ampudia was 96 A DESERTER SHOT. on his march to Matamoros to take command of the IVJexican forces in that city. He announced his presence, by the circu- lation, in the American camp, of a document addressed to the English and Irish soldiers. It informed them, that the United States was guilty of barbarous acts of aggression against " the magnanimous Mexican nation ;" and that the government ex- isting under the stripes and stars, was unworthy of the desig- nation of Christian. The former subjects of Great Britain were reminded of their nativity, and assured that the American government, by its course with regard to Oregon, was then 1 seeking to create a rupture with their parent country. For these reasons, they were exhorted to take refuge in the Mexican ranks, and were guarantied " upon honour," good treatment, and safe escort to the beautiful capital of Mexico. The address concluded with these words : " Germans, French, Poles, and individuals of other nations ! Separate yourselves from the Yankees, and do not contribute to defend a robbery and usurpation which, be assured, the civilized nations of Europe look on with the utmost indignation. Come, therefore, and array yourselves under the tri-coloured flag, in the confidence that the God of armies protects it, and that it will protect you equally with the English !" This seductive appeal was not without effect upon a few* romantic individuals, who, as op- portunity offered, attempted to cross the river, and throw them- selves into the arms of the magnanimous Mexican nation. In the effort, a small number succeeded ; but the majority was drowned, and one man, who had reached the opposite bank and was ascending it, was shot, at the distance of two hundred yards, by a sentinel, and fell dead in the sight of his-old and his new friends. The latter buried him respectfully, and his melancholy fate proved a salutary lesson to the former. * By the 10th of April, considerable progress had been made in the works intended for the reception of ordnance expected from Point Isabel, and in the principal intrenchment, which afterwards received the name of Fort Brown. The latter was extensive, capable of accommodating about two thousand men. It had six bastions, and the guns on the river side COL. CROSS MURDERED.' 97 commanded the town of Matamoros. The work was planned and executed under the direction of Captain Mansfield, of the engineer corps. This day, the 10th of April, was signalized by the first shedding of American blood by Mexican hands. Colonel Cross, Deputy Quarter Master General, had ridden out, as was his custom, for exercise. Night coming on, he did not return, and alarm began to be felt for his safety. Attached to the Mexican army, were then, as now, irresponsible parties of ca- valry, whose business was rather assassination and robbery, than honourable warfare. It was feared, that Colonel Cross had fallen a victim to one of these bands, and ten days after- wards his remains were found and identified. Information was then received, which left no reasonable doubt that such had been the mode of his death. His memory was honoured, by the commander-in-chief, by a funeral becoming his rank. General Ampudia arrived in Matamoros on the 11th. He was welcomed by his countrymen ; and, to the army under Taylor, his coming was hailed as the signal of definite action on the part of Mexico. The suspense did not last long. On the following morning, a military deputation, from General Ampudia, delivered the subjoined letter to General Taylor : — Head Quarters at Matamoros, 2 o'clock P. M. Fourth Military Division, > . ., ,„ 10 .-, General-in-Chief. $ Apnl 12, 1846. God and Liberty ! To explain to you the many grounds for the just grievances felt by the Mexican nation, caused by the United States go- vernment, would be a loss of time, and an insult to your good sense ; I, therefore, pass at once to such explanation as I con- sider of absolute necessity. Your government, in an incredible manner — you will even permit me to say an extravagant one, if the usages, or general rules established and received among all civilized nations are regarded — has not only insulted, but has exasperated the Mex- ican nation, bearing its conquering banner to the left bank of 9 I 98 CORRESPONDENCE WITH AMPUDIA. the Rio Bravo del Norte ; and in this case, by explicit and definitive orders of my government, which neither can, will, nor should receive new outrages, I require you in all form, and at latest in the peremptory term of twenty-four hours, to break up your camp and retire to the other bank of the Nueces river, while our governments are regulating the pending ques- tion in relation to Texas. If you insist on remaining upon the soil of the department of Tamaulipas, it will clearly result that arms, and arms alone, must decide the question ; and, in that case, I advise you that we accept the war to which, with so much injustice on your part, you provoke us, and that, on our part, this war -shall be conducted conformably to the principles established by the most civilized nations ; that is to say, that the law of nations and of war shall be the guide of my opera- tions ; trusting that on your part the same will be observed. With this view, I tender you the considerations due to your person and respectable office. Pedro De Ampudia. Senor General-in-Chief of the U. S. Army, Don Z. Taylor. To this peremptory requisition General Taylor replied : Head Quarters, Army of Occupation. Camp near Matamoros, Texas, April 12, 1846. Senor : I have had the honour to receive your note of this date, in which you summon me to withdraw the forces under my command from their present position, and beyond the river Nueces, until the pending question between our governments, relative to the limits of Texas, shall be settled. I need hardly advise you that, charged as I am, in only a military capacity, with the performance of specific duties,' I cannot enter into a discussion of the international question in- volved in the advance of the American army. You will, how- ever, permit me to say, that the government of the United States has constantly sought a settlement, by negotiation, of the question of boundary ; that an envoy was despatched to Mexico for that purpose, and that up to the most recent dates BLOCKADE OF RIO GRANDE. 99 Said envoy had not been received by the actual Mexican go- vernment, if indeed he has not received his passports and left the republic. In the mean time, I have been ordered to occupy the country up to the left bank of the Rio -Grande, until the boundary shall be definitely settled. In carrying out these in- structions I have carefully abstained from all acts of hostility, obeying, in this regard, not only the letter of my instructions, but the plain dictates of justice and humanity. The instructions under which I am acting will not permit me to retrograde from the position I now occupy. In view of the relations between our respective governments, and the in- dividual suffering which may result, I regret the alternative which you offer ; but, at the same time, wish it understood that I shall by no means avoid such alternative, leaving the re- sponsibility with those who rashly commence hostilities. In conclusion, you will permit me to give the assurance that on my part the laws and customs of war among civilized nations shall be carefully observed. I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor. Senor General D. Pedro De Ampudia. To confirm these declarations, General Taylor continued to fortify his camp, and to make every disposition to resist an attack. Ampudia soon gave place, as commanding officer at Matamoros, to General Arista, commander-in-chief of the Northern Division of the Mexican army. The reported acces- sions to its force also created new expectations in the Ameri- can camp that a decisive demonstration would soon be made against it. On the 19th, intelligence was brought General Taylor of the arrival of two vessels off the mouth of the Rio Grande with supplies for the Mexicans in Matamoros. He at once declared a blockade of the river, which he enforced by ordering the United States Brig Lawrence, and a revenue cut- ter, to guard its mouth. This measure elicited another note from Ampudia, in which, after mentioning the fact of the ves- 100 ampudia's protest. sels being sent to Brazos Santiago, he proceeds in the following strain : " The cargo of one of them is composed in great part, and of the other entirely, of provisions, which the contractors, charged with providing for the army under my orders, had pro- cured to fulfil the obligations of their contracts. You have taken possession of these provisions by force, and against the will of the proprietors, one of whom is vice-consul of her Ca- tholic Majesty, and the other of her Britannic Majesty ; and whose rights, in place of being rigorously respected, as was proffered, and as was to be hoped from the observance of the principles which govern among civilized nations, have, on the contrary, been violated in the most extraordinary manner, op- posed to the guarantee and respect due to private property. " Nothing can have authorized you in such a course. The commerce of nations is not suspended or interrupted, except in consequence of a solemn declaration of blockade, commu- nicated and established in the form prescribed by international law. Nevertheless, you have infringed these rules ; and, by an act which can never be viewed favourably to the United States government, have hindered the entrance to a Mexican port of vessels bound to it, under the confidence that commerce would not be interrupted. My duties do not allow me to con- sent to this new species of hostility, and they constrain me to require of you, not only that the vessels taken by force to Brazos Santiago shall be at liberty to return to the mouth of the river, but the restoration of all the provisions which, be- sides belonging to private contractors, were destined for the troops on this frontier. I consider it useless to inculcate the justice of this demand, and the results which may follow an unlooked-for refusal. " I have also understood that two Mexicans, carried down in a boat by the current of the river near one of the advanced posts of your camp, were detained, after being fired upon, and that they are still kept and treated as prisoners. The indivi- duals in question do not belong to the army, and this circum- stance exempts them from the laws of war. I therefore hope Taylor's reply. 101 that you will place them absolutely at liberty, as I cannot be persuaded that you pretend to extend to persons not military the consequences of an invasion, which, without employing this means of rigour against unarmed citizens, is marked in it- self with the seal of universal reprobation." To this note General Taylor took occasion to reply at some length, in a strain both exculpatory, as regarded his own course, and declaratory of the exceptionable conduct of the Mexicans. After acknowledging Ampudia's note, he con- tinues as follows : " After all that has passed since the American army first approached the Rio Bravo, I am certainly surprised that you should complain of a measure which is no other than a natural result of the state of war so much insisted upon by the Mexican authorities as actually existing at this time. You will excuse me for recalling a few circumstances to show that this state of war has not been sought by the American army, but has been forced upon it, and that the exercise of the rights incident to such a state cannot be made a subject of complaint. " On breaking up my camp at Corpus Christi, and moving forward with the army under my orders to occupy the left bank of the Rio Bravo, it was my earnest desire to execute my in- structions in a pacific manner : to observe the utmost regard for the personal rights of all citizens residing on the left bank of the river, and to take care that the religion and customs of the people should suffer no violation. With this view, and to quiet the minds of the inhabitants, I issued orders to the army, enjoining a strict observance of the rights and interests of all Mexicans residing on the river, and caused said orders to be translated into Spanish, and circulated in the several towns on the Bravo. These orders announced the spirit in which we proposed to occupy the country, and I am proud to say that up to this moment the same spirit has controlled the operations of the army. On reaching the Arroyo Colorado I was informed by a Mexican officer that the order in question had been re- ceived in Matamoros ; but was told, at the same time, that if I attempted to cross the river it would be regarded as a dec.lara- 9 *, 102 VINDICATES HIS PROCEEDINGS. tion of war. Again, on my march to Frontone* I was met by a deputation of the civil authorities of Matamoros, protesting against my occupation of a portion of the department of Tamau- lipas, and declaring that if the army was not at once withdrawn, war would result. While this communication was in my hands, it was discovered that the village of Frontone had been set on fire and abandoned. I viewed this as a direct act of war, and informed the deputation that their communication would be answered by me when opposite Matamoros, which was done in respectful terms. On reaching the river I despatched an officer, high in rank, to convey to the commanding general in Matamoros the expression of my desire for amicable relations, and my willingness to leave open to the use of the citizens of Matamoros the port of Brazos Santiago until the question of boundary should be definitively settled. This officer received for reply, from the officer selected to confer with him, that my advance to the Rio Bravo was considered as a veritable act of war, and he was absolutely refused an interview with the Ameri- can consul, in itself an act incompatible with a state of peace. " Notwithstanding these repeated assurances on the part of the Mexican authorities, and notwithstanding the most obviously hostile preparations on the right bank of the river, accompa- nied by a rigid non-intercourse, I carefully abstained from any act of hostility — determined that the onus of producing an ac- tual state of hostilities should not rest with me. Our relations remained in this state until I had the honour to receive your note of the 12th instant, in which you denounce war as the alternative of my remaining in this position. As I could not, under my instructions, recede from my position, I accepted the alternative you offered me, and made all my dispositions to i meet it suitably. But, still willing to adopt milder measures before proceeding to others, I contented myself in the first in- stance with ordering a blockade of the mouth of the Rio Bravo by the naval forces under my orders — a proceeding perfectly consonant with the state of war so often declared to exist, and which you acknowledge in your note of the 16th instant, rela- * The town at Point Isabel. ANNOUNCES HIS RESOLUTION. 103 tive to the late Col. Cross. If this measure seem oppressive, 1 wish it borne in mind that it has been forced upon me by the course you have seen fit to adopt. I have reported this block- ade to my government, and shall not remove it until I receive instructions to that effect, unless, indeed, you desire an armis- tice pending the final settlement of the question between the governments, or until war shall be formally declared by either, in which case I shall cheerfully open the river. In regard to the consequences you mention as resulting from a refusal to remove the blockade, I beg you to understand that I am pre- pared for them, be they what they may. " In regard to the particular vessels referred to in your com- munication, I have the honour to advise you that, in pursuance of my orders, two American schooners, bound for Matamoros, were warned off on the 17th instant, when near the mouth of the river, and put to sea, returning probably to New Orleans. They were not seized, or their cargoes disturbed in any way, nor have they been in the harbour of Brazos Santiago to my knowledge. A Mexican schooner, understood to be the "Ju- niata," was in or off that harbour when my instructions to block the river were issued, but was driven to sea in a gale, since which time I have had no report concerning her. Since the receipt of your communication, I have learned that two persons, sent to the mouth of the river to procure information respecting this vessel, proceeded thence to Brazos Santiago, when they were taken up and detained by the officer in com- mand, until my orders could be received. I shall order their immediate release. A letter from one of them to the Spanish vice-consul is respectfully transmitted herewith. "In relation to the Mexicans said to have drifted down the river in a boat, and to be prisoners at this time in my camp, I have the pleasure to inform you that no such persons have been taken prisoners or are now detained by my authority. The boat in question was carried down empty by the current of the river, and drifted ashore near one of our pickets and was se- cured by the guard. Some time afterwards an attempt was made to recover the boat under the cover of the darkness; the 104 RECONNOITRING INCIDENTS. individuals concerned were hailed by the guard, and, failing to answer, were fired upon as a matter of course. What be- came of them is not known, as no trace of them could be dis- covered on the following morning. The officer of the Mexican guard directly opposite was informed next day that the boat would be returned on proper application to me, and I have now only to repeat that assurance. " In conclusion, I take leave to state that I consider the tone of your communication highly exceptionable, where you stig- matise the movement of the army under my orders as " marked with the seal of universal reprobation." You must be aware that such language is not respectful in itself, either to me or my government ; and while I observe in my own correspond- ence the courtesy due to your high position, and to the mag- nitude of the interests with which we are respectively charged, I shall expect the same in return." The position of the Army of Occupation began now to ap- pear painfully critical. Daily intelligence was received of the augmentation of the Mexican forces. To this was added, on the 24th, rumours that they were crossing the river, to the number of three thousand, above and below the camp, w r ith the design of marching against Point Isabel, and thus cutting off the supplies at that depot on which the army was dependent. To ascertain the truth of these reports, General Taylor ordered Captain Ker, with a squadron of dragoons, to reconnoitre be- tween the camp and the mouth of the river, while another squadron, under Captain Thornton, was sent above for the same object. The former returned without having learned anything to confirm the unfavourable reports. The mission of the latter was less fortunate. Having ascended the river bank about twenty-five miles, he halted in consequence of the re- fusal of his guide to proceed, the latter declaring that large bodies of Mexican troops were in the neighbourhood. Doubt- ing the statement, however, Captain Thornton again moved forward ; and, stopping at a farm-house, the court of which was surrounded by a chapparal hedge, to make some enquiry, he was suddenly surrounded by a large body of Mexican in- Thornton's command captured. 105 fantry and cavalry. A charge through it was attempted, but without success. Captain Thornton, by an extraordinary leap of his horse, which was wounded at the moment by a dis- charge of musketry, cleared the hedge. His command was un- able to follow ; and the second officer, Captain Hardee, after an attempt to retreat across the river, was obliged to surrender the party prisoners of war. Lieutenant G. T. Mason, a promising young officer, was killed in this affair. The prisoners were taken to Matamoros, and well treated. For some time, Captain Thornton was missing; but, as was afterwards learned from him, his horse had fallen, and injured him, and, when endea- vouring to return to the camp on foot, he was taken within a few miles of it, and joined his men, a prisoner, in Matamoros. The capture of this handful of dragoons, was the occasion of extraordinary exultation on the part of the host of their con- querors. General Arista thus triumphantly congratulated Ge- neral Torrejon, who commanded in the affair: " This has been a day of rejoicing to all the Division of the North, it having this day been known of the triumph achieved by the brigade which your excellency so worthily commands. The rejoiced country will doubtless celebrate this preliminary of glorious deeds that her happy sons will in future present to her. Your excellency will communicate to your brave soldiers that I have seen with the greatest pleasure their valiant be- haviour, and that I await for the detailed despatch to elevate it to the knowledge of the supreme government, so that the nation may learn the triumph of your arms." On the day that Thornton's unfortunate party had left the camp, a messenger from General Arista brought to General Taylor the following manifesto, addressed on the cover to the commander-in-chief of the United States forces : — " The course of events, since the annexation of Texas to the United States was declared, has been so clearly hostile to Mexico, and so foreign to the dignity and principles which the Americans have proclaimed to the world, that we came to the conclusion, that their policy has been changed, and that 10(3 POINT ISABEL T UREA T E N E D . their moderation is turned into a desire of aggrandizement, en- riching themselves by humiliating their neighbours. "The respect and consideration that friendly nations show to each other have been trampled upon, by which reason, the justice and excessive moderation of Mexico shine forth still more. Pressed and forced into war, we enter into a struggle, which cannot be avoided, without failing in what is most sacred to man. "Political discussions do not appertain to military men, but to diplomatic agents. To us belongs the part to act, without it occasioning any surprise that the troops under my command should not wait for anything else to give battle. " We Mexicans have been calumniated as barbarous, in the most caustic and unjust terms. The occasion has arrived to show what we are ; and, I do not believe that, in the troops under my command, there will be any cause to confirm such suppositions, as they will render conspicuous the feelings of humanity and generosity which distinguish them. " For this time, I have the honour to offer your excellency my gr?at consideration. " Mariano Arista. « God and Liberty ! •< Head Quarters, Matamoros, April 24, 1846." A private note to General Taylor accompanied this formal expression of modest assurance, in which the writer, after pay- ing a compliment to General Taylor's urbanity, pledged him- self, personally, that "justice and love of humanity" should be found in all his acts. The apprehensions already noticed for the safety of the little army on the banks of the Rio Grande were increased, by the fact, that bodies of Mexican troops, thrown between it and Point Isabel, had wholly debarred all intercommunication. To- wards the close of April, there were reports of a contemplated attack on this place. General Taylor shared the anxiety on the latter account — and he accordingly sent a despatch to the governors of Louisiana and Texas, asking an immediate rein- RELIEF FOR POINT ISABEL. 107 forcement of four regiments of volunteers from each state. From the time he had left Point Isabel, while on the march from Corpus Christi, Major Munroe, who was in command of that station, had been reinforced by a small body of Texan volunteers. Captain Walker, with a company of rangers, was amomr them, and occasion now offered for him to commence the career, in the Mexican war, which he has since followed with singular credit to his patriotism and courage. A wagon train, under the escort of Captain Walker, having been driven back, with severe loss, while on the way from Point Isabel to the camp, by a large body of Mexican troops, who pursued the fugitive party to the neighbourhood of the former post, Major Munroe was anxious to give General Taylor immediate advice of the fact. To this perilous service, Captain Walker volunteered, and safely accomplished it. The danger which menaced Point Isabel was now too imminent to admit delay in relieving it, and General Taylor, therefore, resolved on marching thither, immediately, with his whole force, except the seventh regiment of infantry, and Captain Bragg's and Captain Lowd's companies of artillery, which were to occupy Fort Brown, then sufficiently complete to sustain a bombard- ment. The cost of this movement was fully counted by the general ; — but he was prepared for any exigency, and resolved to meet any force which the enemy might bring against him. 108 TAYLOR LEAVES THE RIO GRANDE. CHAPTER VI. Rejoicing in Matamoros — Arista, with his Forces, crosses the River — His Dis- appointment at Taylor's Escape — Mexican Narrative of both Movements — Ardour of the Mexicans — Terror of the Americans — Their Duplicity and Treachery — Taylor's Ignominy — Bombardment of Fort Brown — Taylor's In- structions — May 'sand Walker's Mission — New Mexican Batteries — Their Fire not returned — Mexican Account of the Bombardment — Eternal Honour of Mexican Artillery-men — Barbarous Pleasure of the Americans — Their Coward- ice and Stupidity — Mexican Triumph— American Loss — Mexican Superiority — Continuation of the Bombardment — Death of Major Brown — New Mexican Batteries — Captain Hawkins summoned to Surrender — Arista's modest Letter — Hawkins' presumptuous Answer — Want of Ammunition — Preparations for an Assault — Weariness of the Men in the Fort — Signals of Relief. The first of May, 1846, was a day of great exultation among the good people of Matamoros. All classes forsook their oc- cupations, and gathered on the banks of the river. The merry bells were rung, and public joy was manifested by all modes known to the sanguine denizens of a tropical town. It so hap- pened, that his excellency, Don Mariano Arista, general-in- chief of the division of the north, had chosen the same bright morning to order a large body of his troops across the Rio Grande, that General Taylor had chosen to march to the relief of Point Isabel. A retrograde movement, on the part of the Americans, at any moment, would have been hailed by their confident neighbours as evidence of doubt and apprehension. But occurring simultaneously with the advance of their own forces to the left side of the river, the cheering conclusion was drawn, that the terror-stricken army of the United States was flying before the brilliant legions of Mexico. The latter had selected a ford for crossing, several miles above the camp of the former, and were, therefore, so far in the rear of the sup- posed fugitives, that their retreat could not be cut off. This was a disappointment ; but the anxiety to chastise the invaders w;is in a measure allayed, by the circumstance, that Genera] Taylor, in his precipitous flight, had left a small body of men in Fort Brown. To reduce these to the humiliation of sur- MEXICAN VIEWS OF HIS MARCH. 109 rendering would be an easy and a glorious task ; so thought his excellency (General Arista) and his worthy compatriots. Perhaps the best illustration of this comfortable assurance is found in the annexed extract of a document, published in El Monitor Republicano, of Matamoros, on the 4th of May. " On the first of this month, at eleven o'clock in the morning, the general-in-chief left this place to join the army, who, several hqurs before, had left with the intention of crossing the river at a short distance from the camp of the enemy. In consequence of the orders given, so that this dangerous operation might be performed with due security, and according to the rules of military art, when our troops arrived at the spot designated for the crossing of the river, the left bank was already occupied by General D. Anastasio Torrejon, with all the force under his command. The enthusiasm of our soldiers to conquer the obstacles which separated them from the enemy was so great, that they showed themselves impatient of the delay occasioned by the bad condition of some of the flat-boats, which had been very much injured in the transportation by land, and could not be used, as they would fill up with water as soon as they were launched. In spite of that obstacle, the work went on with such activity, and so great was the ardour of the most excel- lent general-in-chief, whose orders were obeyed with the greatest promptness and precision, that a few hours were suffi- cient to transport, to the opposite bank of the Bravo, a strong division, with all its artillery and train. " This rapid and well-combined movement ought to have proved to the invaders not only that the Mexicans possess in- struction and aptness for war, but that those qualities are now brought forth by the purest patriotism. The Northern Division, fearless of fatigue, and levelling all difficulties, ran to seek an enemy who, well sheltered under parapets, and defended with , guns of a large calibre, could wait for the attack with indis- putable advantage. With deep trenches, with a multitude of fortifications, the defence was easy against those who presented themselves with their naked breasts. " But General Taylor dared not resist the valour and enthu- 10 % 110 HOW HE CHANCED TO ESCAPE. siasm of the sons of Mexico. Well did he foresee the intre- 'pidity with which our soldiers would rush against the usurpers? of the national territory. Well did he know the many injuries? [tyhich were to be avenged by those who had taken up arms,, not to aggrandize themselves with the spoils of the property off others, but to maintain the independence of their country.. Well did he know, we repeat it, that the Mexicans would be j stopped neither by trenches, or fortresses, or large artillery. . Thus it was that the chief of the American forces, frightened I as soon as he perceived from the situation and proximity of ' his camp, that our army were preparing to cross the river, left' with precipitation for Point Isabel, with almost all his troops,, eight pieces of artillery, and a few wagons. Their march was observed from our position, and the most excellent General D. . .Francisco Mejia immediately sent an express extraordinary to> communicate the news to the most excellent general-in-chief. Here let me pay to our brave men the tribute which they de- serve. The express verbally informed some of the troops, which had not yet arrived at the ford, of the escape of the • Americans; in one instant, all the soldiers spontaneously crossed the river, almost racing one with another. Such was the ardour with which they crossed the river to attack the enemy. " The terror and haste with which the latter fled to the fort, , to shut themselves up in it and avoid a conflict, frustrated the active measures of the most excellent Senor General Arista, which were to order the cavalry to advance in the plain and cut off the flight of the fugitives. But it was not possible to do so, notwithstanding their forced march during the night. General Taylor left his camp at two o'clock in the afternoon, and, as fear has wings, he succeeded in shutting himself up in the fort. When our cavalry reached the point where they were to detain him, he had already passed, and was several leagues ahead. Great was the sorrow of our brave men not to have been able to meet the enemy face to face ; their defeat was certain, and the main body of that invading army, who thought that they inspired the Mexicans with so much respect, would TAYLOR REACHES POINT ISABEL. Ill have disappeared in the first important battle. But there was some fighting to be done ; and the Americans do not know how to use other arms but those of duplicity and treachery. Why did they not remain with firmness under their colours ? Why did they abandon the ground which they pretend to usurp with such iniquity? Thus has an honourable general kept his word. Had not General Taylor said, in all his communica- tions, that he was prepared to repel all hostilities ? Why, then, < does he fly in so cowardly a manner to shut himself up at. the Point? The commander-in-chief of the American army has covered himself with opprobrium and ignominy in sacrificing a part of his forces, whom he left in the fortifications, to save himself; for it is certain that he will not return to their assist- ance — not that he is ignorant of their peril, but he calculates that this would be greater if he had the temerity of attempting to resist the Mexican lances and bayonets in the open plain." Before the publication of this bold and sarcastic paper, General Taylor, fortunately for his feelings as well as his se- curity, had reached Point Isabel. Meanwhile, on the 3d in- stant, a Mexican battery had opened a fire upon Fort Brown, which its brave commander, Major Jacob Brown, returned so effectually that the guns of the former were very speedily silenced. Before leaving the fort, General Taylor had satisfied himself of its ability to sustain a bombardment, but to be pre- pared for its relief, he ordered that, in case of an assault, heavy signal guns should be fired at stated intervals, which would apprise him at Point Isabel of its condition. When the firing of the Mexican guns, on the 3d, was heard at the latter place, General Taylor's anxiety to know their effect, and the prospect of the fort sustaining the bombardment, determined him to despatch a troop of horse to ascertain these facts. One hundred dragoons under Captain May, and ten Texan Rangers under Captain Walker, were detailed for this duty, with orders to the former to proceed within six miles of the fort, (carefully avoiding the enemy, who then overran the whole intermediate country,) and there to remain, if circumstances permitted, while the Rangers, under cover of the night, should continue 112 FORT BROWN BOMBARDED. on to the fort, and communicate with Major Brown. This dangerous service was safely and satisfactorily performed, although Captain Walker was obliged to return to Point Isabel with no other force than his own ten men. The fire from the Mexican batteries, erected at different points, having been resumed, Major Brown found that his six- pounders, owing to the distance, did little execution, and \ wishing to husband his ammunition, and the strength of his men, the enemy's fire was not returned. This fact was too flattering to their pride and hopes to be properly understood ; and the subjoined bulletin of the first day's work was issued from the Matamoros press, and received with becoming delight and admiration by the populace. "But let us relate the glorious events of yesterday. As Aurora daw : ned, we began to fire from our ramparts on the for- tifications of the enemy, and the thunder of Mexican cannon was saluted by the reveille from every point of our line, by the bell of the parochial church, and by the vivas of the inhabit- ants of Matamoros. In a moment the streets were filled, and all were rejoiced to see at last the hour arrived, when we were to give a terrible lesson to the American camp, whose odious presence could no longer be tolerated. The enemy answered, but they were soon convinced that their artillery, although of a superior calibre, could not compete with ours. After a fire of five hours, our ramparts remained immovable, on account of the solidity of their construction, and the intelligence with which the rules of art had been observed. The same did not happen to the American fortifications, whose bastions were so completely demolished, that towards eleven o'clock in the morning their artillery ceased to play, and their fire was hushed. We continued to fire with activity during the day, without the enemy's daring to respond to us, because the parapets under which they would shelter themselves being destroyed, they had not courage to load their guns, which remained uncovered. This result shows us of what in reality consists the exalted skill of the American artillerists. They have eighteen-pounders, and we have nothing larger than eight-pounders; and yet the MEXICAN IDEAS OF ITS DEFENCE. 113 intelligence and practice of the Mexicans sufficed to conquer those who had superior arms. Unequalled glory and eternal honour to our brave artillerymen. « The enemy, in their impotent rage, and before they con- cealed their shame behind the most distant parapets, had the barbarous pleasure of aiming their guns towards the city, to destroy its edifices, as it was not in their power to destroy the fortifications from which they received so much injury. This wicked revenge, which only springs from cowardly and misera- ble souls, did not meet with the success expected by those who so unworthily adorn themselves with the title of savans and philanthropists. Their stupidity was equal to their wickedness. Almost all the balls passed too high ; and those which touched the houses, although they were eighteen-pounders, did not cause any other mischief but that of piercing one or two walls. If those who conceived the infamous design of destroying Matamoros, had seen the contemptuous laughter with which the owners of those houses showed their indifference for the losses which they might sustain, they would have admired the patriotism and disinterestedness of the Mexicans, always ready to undergo the greatest sacrifices, when it is necessary to main- tain their nationality and independence. The glorious 3d of May is another brilliant testimony of this truth ; through the thickest of the firing, one could remark the most ardent enthu- siasm on all faces, and hardly had a ball fallen, when even the children would look for it, without fearing that another aimed in the same manner should fall in the same place. That we saw ourselves in the public square, where a multitude of citi- zens were assembled. " The triumph of our arms has been complete, and we have only to lament the loss of a sergeant and two artillerymen, who fell gloriously in fighting for their country. The families of those victims ought to be taken care of by the supreme govern- ment, to whose paternal gratitude they have been recommended by the most excellent senor general-in-chief. We must also be consoled by the thought that the blood of these brave men has been revenged by their bereaved companions. As many 10* H4 MEXICO GLORIFIES HERSELF. of our balls passed through the enemy's embrasures, the loss to tlje Americans must have been very great ; and although we do not know exactly the number of their dead, the most accurate information makes it amount to fifty-six. It is proba- ble that such is the case. Since eleven o'clock in the morning, the abandonment of their guns, merely because two of them were dismounted, and the others were uncovered ; the panic- terror with which, in all haste, they took refuge in their furthest entrenchments, taking away from the camp all that could suffer from the attack of our artillery ; the destruction which must have been occasioned by the bombs so well aimed, that some would burst at a yard's distance from the ground in their de- scent to the point where they were to fall ; every thing contri- butes to persuade that indeed the enemy have suffered a terri- ble loss. If it were not the case — if they preserved some remnant of valour, why did they not dare to repair their forti- fications in the night ? It is true that, from time to time, a few guns were fired on them in the night, but their aim could not be certain, and cowardice alone could force them not to put themselves in an attitude to return the fire which was poured on them again at daylight. No American put out his head ; silence reigned in their camp ; and for this reason we have suspended our fire to-day — that there is no enemy to meet our batteries. " To conclude, we will give a brilliant paragraph relating to the contest, by the most excellent senor general-in-chief, as to the part which he took in the events of yesterday. He says thus : ' Mexico must glorify herself, and especially the valiant men of the Division of the North, that a force inferior in its elements, and perhaps in numbers also, and which required nearly two months to swell itself with the auxiliaries coming from the capital, should meet in an immense plain, defying the army of the United States, and the whole power of that re- public, without their opponents, who could receive succour in the space of fifty hours, should dare to leave the fort to give us battle.' "From the news which we publish to-day, it will be seen MEXICANS INTIMIDATE AMERICA. 115 that the Northern Division, so deservedly entrusted with the first operations against the North American army, has most nobly filled its highly important mission. Not that we mean to be understood as considering its task is yet fully completed, but we anticipate, before the end of the present week, to wit- ness the total discomfiture of the enemy, who has had the temerity to answer the fire of our batteries : of those batteries that gave them yesterday such abundant proof of that valour, so characteristic of the Mexicans : a valour rendered famous in a hundred bloody contests ! It were endless to recount all the acts of patriotism performed by the troops of the garrison, and the valiant citizens who shared in the defence of the city — they courted danger with that intrepidity always inspired by a just cause. " So rapid is the fire of our guns, that the batteries of the enemy have been silenced. But what is most worthy of notice, as showing the great enthusiasm of this place, is the fact that many of the inhabitants, of both sexes, in the hottest of the cannonade, remained firm in front of the enemy, filled with enthusiasm ; indeed, fear is always unknown to those whose mission is to avenge an outrage upon the sacred rights of their beloved country. " From our account of the war, the world will judge of the great superiority of our troops, in courage as well as skill, over the Americans. It is indeed wonderful to witness the dismay of the enemy : rare is the occurrence when an American ven- tures outside of the breastwork. There can be no doubt of this, that the Mexicans will be considered by foreign nations as the very emblems of patriotism. How evident that they in- herit the blood of the noble sons of Pelayo ! Happy they who have met with so glorious a death in defending tire territory bequeathed to them by their fathers ! " The nation with which we are at war is most savage in its proceedings; no regard being paid to the flags of friendly na- tions : even those usages and customs respected by civilized nations, to divest war of some of its horrors, have been shame- fully disregarded. The enemy have fired red shot against this 116 ATTACK UPON FORT BROWN. innocent city, and we publish it to the world in proof that, with all their boasted wisdom and liberty, they are unworthy of being counted among enlightened nations. " His excellency, the general-in-chief of the Northern Divi- sion, and his intrepid soldiers, are ready to fight the enemy in any numbers, and we are certain that our arms will be success- ful ; but the nation against whom we have to contend is exces- sively proud ; and it is also possessed of resources which may perhaps surpass those within our reach. Let us then make an immense effort to repel their aggressions. Let us contribute every thing most dear to us, our persons, our means, to save our country from its present danger. Let us oppose to the unbridled ambition of the Anglo-American that patriotic en- thusiasm so peculiar to us. Indeed, we need only follow the glorious example of Matamoros, that noble city, which will be known in future by the name of Heroic. Its inhabitants have emulated the examples of Menamia and Saguntum ; they have determined to die at the foot of the eagle of Anahuac, defend their fort whilst they retain the breath of life — this plan is settled. The supreme government is making strenuous exer- tions in order to protect the territory placed under its care by the nation, and nothing is now wanting but for the people to rush in a mass to the frontier, and the independence of Mexico is safe.'" On the morning of the 5th, a battery was discovered in the rear of Fort Brown, which a large body of the enemy, having crossed the river, had erected during the night. It opened a severe fire, and, at the same time, a tremendous discharge of shell and shot was maintained from the guns at Matamoros. Both were answered efficiently, their position being within range of the heavy guns of the fort. Major Brown had caused bomb-proof shelters to be erected for the men, to which they retreated when the shells were bursting within the entrench- ments. The great extent of the works over which the men were scattered, and this precaution, rendered almost abortive the cannonading of the enemy, which was maintained for days with great spirit and precision. Among the first, and very few, MAJOR BROWN WOUNDED. 117 however, who were victims of the storm, was the excellent and gallant commander himself. In the- midst of an incessant cross- fire from the Mexican batteries on both shores of the river, he was making his usual round of the works, and assuring him- self that the men were at their posts, when he was struck by a shell, which tore off one of his legs, inflicting a mortal injury. He was borne to the hospital, suffering excruciating torture ; but, forgetful of himself, he still cheered the men in their duty. The shattered limb was amputated ; and, while under the operation, he expressed his gratification that his country had not lost a younger man. A veteran in the servicet he could die calmly as he had lived nobly, devoted to the latest moment to his country and the honour of her arms." Meanwhile, the enemy grew bolder, under the impression that their guns were rapidly destroying the entire command in the fort. Large bodies of them surrounded it, and the erection of another battery was commenced on the site of General Tay- ldr's camp. Captain Hawkins succeeded Major Brown, and this was judged by Arista to be a favourable moment for a summons to surrender. On the afternoon of the 6th, he ac- cordingly sounded a parley; and, under the protection of a white flag, sent the following note, the merits of which would suffer by description or abridgment : " Mexican Army, Division of the North. "General-in-Chief: — " You are besieged by forces sufficient to take you ; and there is, moreover, a numerous division encamped near you, which, free from all other cares, will keep off any succours which you may expect to receive. "The respect for humanity, acknowledged at the present age by all civilized nations, doubtless imposes upon me the duty of mitigating the disasters of war. "This principle, which Mexicans observe above all other nations, obliges me to summon you, as all your efforts will be useless, to surrender, in order to avoid, by a capitulation, the entire destruction of all the soldiers under your command. 118 A HUMANE OFFER REJECTED. " You will thus afford me the pleasure of complying with the mild and benevolent wishes above expressed, which dis- tinguish the character of my. countrymen, whilst I, at the same time, fulfil the most imperious of the duties which my country requires for the offences committed against it. " Mariano Arista. " God and Liberty ! " Head Quarters at the Tonques Del Raminero, May 6, 1846." To this missive, more preposterous in sentiment than futile in purpose, Captain Hawkins replied, that he had duly con- sidered its humane proposition, which, if he correctly under- stood, he respectfully declined. Resolved to make good his threat, Arista now redoubled the work of his batteries, and their balls were hailed, for successive hours, into the fort. The ammunition in the latter, although prudently used from the first, was so far reduced, that no reply was made to the guns of the Mexicans. Their troops, elated by this circumstance, were seen in great numbers on every side of the American works. Through the night the firing ceased, but the garrison watched constantly, expecting an assault. The next day, the 7th, the bombardment was vigorously maintained, two or three men being wounded and several horses killed, from time to time, by the explosion of the shells. Again at night a watch was kept in anticipation of an assault, w T hich had been determined by the Mexican general, who, to justify his professions of personal and national valour, had a corps organized and inspected for the purpose. Under cover of the darkness, Captain Mans- field levelled the traverse thrown up by General Worth, and cut down the chapparal which screened the enemy's sharp shooters. Continual watching and labour had begun to weaiy the Americans. They had become familiarized, during four days, to the roar of heavy ordnance, and to the falling of balls among them. Their orders were, not to fire unless the enemy ap- proached within eighty yards of the fort, and this condition never occurring, they were obliged silently to watch the efforts to destroy them. It was a duty to test in the severest manner RETURN FROM POINT ISABEL. 119 their courage and fortitude; yet not a man faltered, and many were the examples of heroic indifference to danger. Four days and nights the iron tempest raged on all sides with little intec- mission. Soon after its commencement the signal cannon, as directed by General Taylor, had been fired, to warn him of in- creasing peril to the friends whom he had left. At mid-day, on the 8th of May, there was a pause in the thunder of the Mexican guns. Two hours passed, and other guns were heard, sending their rapid echoes afar from the north-east. To the beleaguered Americans there was sympathy and succour in those deep and distant sounds. A shout of joy and hope went up from the fort. CHAPTER VII. General Taylor leaves Point Isabel for Fort Brown — His Force — The March — . Enemy reported — Rest before battle — Palo Alto — Enemy in sight — Taylor's order of battle — Lieut. Blake's bold reconnoissance — Taylor's confidence — Arista's Force and order of battle — The Enemy's first Fire — The Answer and its Effect — Charge by the Lancers — Their repulse — Fall of Ringgold — The Prairie on fire — Charge on the Train — Duncan's Battery — May's gallantry — - The last Charge — The Field won — The Loss — Taylor's first Despatch — His detailed account of the Action — Mention of Lieut. Blake — Of the Artillery — Of Lieut. Luther — Statement of Forces — Arista's Despatch — Misstatement of his Force — Explanations of Failure — False colouring — Acknowledgment of Loss — Remarks on the causes of the Victory. General Taylor had tarried a week at Point Isabel, placing that post in a state of defence, and making the requisite pre- parations to conduct a large train of supplies to the camp, which he had temporarily left, opposite Matamoros. Booming across the wide prairie, which separated him from the gallant defenders of Fort Brown, he had heard the deep-mouthed cannon, which invited his return. But he never doubted that the trust he had left would be faithfully kept while an arm could be raised to maintain it. The sun of the 7th of May was declining, when, at the head of twenty-three hundred men, and with a supply 120 APPROACH TO PALO ALTO. train of nearly three hundred wagons, he again turned his face towards the Rio Grande. Two eighteen-pound guns, mounted on siege-carriages and drawn by ten yoke of oxen, moved laboriously on, in contrast with the eight light pieces of Ring- gold's and Duncan's Flying Artillery. Only two hundred sabres made the array of his cavalry, and eighteen hundred muskets told the complement of his infantry force. Twenty- seven miles separated him from the position which he had oc- cupied upon its banks, and after a march of one-fourth the dis- tance he bivouacked till the following morning. Through the silent watches, if the distant voice of the enemy's batteries told how they still menaced the destruction of the fort, it also cheered our troops on their way to its relief, assuring them by every echo, that their comrades were safe and " Giving proof through the night that our flag still was there !" As the day dawned again, the march was resumed, and con- tinued without interruption till nearly noon. At this hour fatigue might have suggested repose, but just then the scouts reported the Mexicans drawn up at the farther verge of a prairie, prepared to oppose the progress of the American army. The news gave fresh vigour to the troops, anxious to prove to an enemy, who had accused them of a cowardly retreat, how far the reproach was merited. The columns continued to advance, and a plain three miles wide extended before them. General Tay- lor awaited the coming of the main body and then ordered a halt. To prepare for the expected conflict, he gave the men an hour to rest, while, from the pools of fresh water near them, they quenched their present thirst, and filled their canteens, which were afterwards drained by many a wounded and weary foe. The train, remaining in the rear, was formed into a solid square. At two o'clock the order passed along the columns to ad- vance. The limbs, pained by leagues of travel, forgot their toil, and moved on as if just risen from the long repose of a home-spent night. And the backs, which had bent from sun- rise to meridian beneath a soldier's arms and burden, were Taylor's order of battle. 121 straightened up as if conscious only of the pride of a holiday suit. The field widened before the moving troops ; and its further boundary was a dwarfish wood, rising but little above the feebler vegetation of that barren waste. But seeming high by contrast, it is so called, and gives to the spot the name of Palo Alto. As the columns pressed forward, another bristling forest was indistinctly seen in front of that stunted wood. It was the long line of Arista's army, posted in hostile array to forbid the progress of Taylor's meagre battalions. The dis- tance was too great to distinguish the different corps, but as the sun shone upon them, the fitful glitter of each extreme told where the pride of Mexico was stationed — her squadrons of brilliant lancers. To be prepared for the enemy, Taylor thus disposed his force. Beginning with the right wing, commanded by Colonel Twiggs, were the Fifth Infantry, under Colonel M'Intosh ; Ringgold's Artillery ; the Third Infantry, under Capt. Morris ; two eighteen-pounders, under Lieutenant Churchill; Fourth Infantry, under Major Allen ; two squadrons of Dragoons, under Captains Ker and May. The left wing, commanded by Colonel Belknap, was formed of a battalion of Artillery, under Colonel Childs ; Duncan's Light Artillery ; and the Eighth Infantry, under Captain Montgomery. The army advancing in this order, Lieutenant Blake, of the Topographical Engi- neers, suddenly dashed forward, and, leaving it in the rear, did not pause until his horse brought him within a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's lines. There dismounting, he calmly drew forth his spy-glass, and reconnoitred them. So daring an act deceived them as to its object, and two of their officers rode forth towards him. Seeing this, he remounted, and rode leisurely along the whole extent of their front, carefully noting the force and position of the several arms. Having performed this singular and hazardous exploit, — the admiration of both opposing armies, — he rode back to his commander, and reported accurately the numbers and dispositions of the enemy. Six thousand men, many of them the veterans of other fields, stood there to resist the progress of two thousand, who 11 122 arista's order of battle. were to witness for the first time the clash of hostile arms. But when the signal odds were known to the American chief, he paused not, blenched not. Firm in his resolution, con- scious of his resources, confident of his followers, the great array of the foe served but to nerve his will, and exalt his hope. The flags of his troops were the same stripes and stars which had waved in triumph where he had fought before ; and, as he glanced along the ranks, over which they were borne, he felt that his progress was still to victory. The Mexican general had chosen a vast and open field to give the Americans battle. His right wing rested upon a gentle eminence covered with the low timber and under-growth of the sea-coast prairie ; and his left extended to an impassable salt-marsh. A thousand horse, at each extreme, menaced, in true time, the American flanks with an overwhelming charge. Twelve pieces of cannon, supported by four thousand infantry, were placed at intervals to command their entire front. Thus the opposing multitudes approached, until the arms and banners of each were fully discerned by the other. Over the Mexican host arose the gorgeous standards which marked their various corps, — and, among them, most honourable, that of the old and valiant Battalion of Tampico. — Above all, gleamed the tall steel, and quivered the gay pennons, of the renowned Lancers. It was a mild day in mid-spring, not a cloud to curtain the sun, still far above the horizon ; and then -it was a glorious sight to see, For one who had no friend, no brother there, Their rival scarfs, of mixed embroidery, And various arms that glittered in the air." Silently, the little army of the Americans kept on their way. The thick, rank grass forbade an echo of their steady tramp ; and the only sound, while M the bravest held his breath for a time," was the rattle of the artillery -harness, and the ring of the troopers' scabbards. "Firm paced and slow, a fearless front they form, Still as the breeze, but dreadful as the storm." Onlv seven hundred yards now separated the tw T o armies, DEADLY FIRE OF ARTILLERY. 123 when from the Mexican right the artillery, with ball and grape, thundered a challenge to the conflict. Promptly was it ac- cepted. Taylor halted his columns, and gave the order to de- ploy into line, which was obeyed with the steadiness and pre- cision of their ordinary drill. The light batteries on the flanks, and in the centre the eighteen-pounders, were advanced about a hundred yards, the General in person directing the position of the latter. Before this movement, he had ridden along each brigade, and encouraged the men to be cool and deliberate. For some minutes there was silence through the line, when the order passed to answer the enemy's fire. The prompt roar of Duncan's guns on the left, echoed by Ringgold's on the right, fulfilled the command, carrying fearful messengers across the plain. On both sides, the deep tones of the ordnance alone was heard. Before Ringgold's rapid discharges, the fine cavalry on the Mexican left faltered, and fell back to escape their resistless effect. From the centre, Churchill then directed the more terrible eighteen-pounders, while Duncan, pressing nearer to the enemy's right, made it share the ruin of the other extreme. The cannon on both sides, the only arm employed, continued thus for nearly an hour to maintain the fight. The Fifth Regiment of Infantry was then detached, and advanced to the right and front, nearly half a mile, with orders to turn the left flank of the Mexicans, who had gradually receded be- fore the artillery, which, at every discharge, opened hideous breaches in the living wall of their lines. Arista witnessed with painful surprise the frequent service and the deadly precision of the American guns, while his own, less rapid, often failed in their aim. Bravery and firmness were not wanting in his ranks, but he soon perceived that in a contest of artillery only, his force must speedily melt away before the inevitable fire directed against it. He therefore ordered a charge by the cavalry on his left, commanded by General Tor- rejon, while he led that on the right, with his infantry, against that portion of the American line respectively opposed to them. Torrejon came ; and not less than a thousand horse, supported by two field-pieces, dashed with him upon our right. The 124 THE PRAIRIE ON FIRE. Fifth and Third Regiments were ordered to receive him ; and as the splendid red lancers bore rapidly up, discharging their escopettes, the Fifth, thrown into cavalry square, returned the salute from one of its sides with a volley, which carried con- fusion into their foremost ranks. But recovering from the check, they still pressed gallantly towards our rear. The Third Infantry, promptly detached to the extreme right, covering the train, prepared to repel them ; while Lieutenant Ridgely, with a section of Ringgold's battery, rushed to the left of the Fifth, and wheeling his Hying pieces into position, before Torrejon's tardy guns were unlimbered, poured a ruinous fire into their columns, which they vainly struggled to resist. Precipitately they turned and fled, their retreating squadrons lessened at every step by the iron storm which pursued them. While this encounter proceeded on one wing, Ringgold, to the right of the eighteen-pounders, occupying the road, con- tinued with them to sweep the enemy's left. Thus engaged, a ball from one of their guns struck that daring officer and his horse, and, fatally mangled, both were dashed to the ground. Friends sprang to his aid, but forgetful of self, he bade them do their duty in the battle, and leave him to his fate. He was borne from the field, and Lieutenant Shover succeeded him in command, worthily sustaining the action till its close. Meanwhile Duncan advanced on the left, and supported by the Eighth Infantry, efficiently maintained the conflict of that extreme for two hours, the whole wing exposed during that time to a galling fire from the opposing artillery. The long grass of the prairie, parched by the constant blaze of the guns on either side, was suddenly lighted into flame by a discharge from one of Duncan's pieces. The smoke, rolling in heavy masses, concealed each army from the other, and for a time the battle paused. As the sea-breeze blew parallel to their fronts, it for a moment cleared the smoke on our left, and disclosed to the enemy that wing with its field-pieces, advancing to the right of its first position. The occasion was not lost to the quick eye of Duncan, who perceived the whole cavalry and infantry force of the Mexican right, two thousand men, moving DISCOMFITURE OF THE MEXICANS. 125 upon our train. Again the smoke of the burning prairie screened from each the adverse lines. But Duncan, under orders of Col. Belknap, wheeled his horses, and rushing in the direction of the enemy's lancers, halted within musket range, and as the air suddenly cleared again, he was in a position to receive them. So rapid was the movement, that they who, but an instant before, had seen the battery flying in another direc- tion, halted in astonishment. One section of it poured a vol- ley of shot and shells in their ranks, while another was directed against the regiments of foot, just then appearing from the chapparal, supported by two other squadrons of horse. The latter bodies, infantry and cavalry, retired to the chapparal, while the former stood firm before a fire which cut deep gaps in their solid masses. Again their fellows, having re-formed, debouched from the wood, and advanced steadily and valiantly in the teeth of the engines whose deadly aim had just driven them back. But the storm was resistless, and the infantry broke in confusion. Their supporting cavalry bore up but a moment longer, and then turned also. The whole body now fled, and in their retreating corps, the flying artillery kept up the havoc which it had begun. Before and during these movements on the left of our line, a change in the relative position of both armies had been effected. The enemy, 'pressed by our right, had formed his front nearly at right angles to its original line. Evening was approaching, when Captain May was ordered by General Tay- lor to drive the enemy's cavalry on his left flank. In the move- ment to execute this order, which he was eager to attempt in the face of fearful odds, he passed the General and his staff", and at the same moment received a direct volley from the enemy's batteries, which, wounding five men and killing six horses, deprived him at one blow of a twentieth of his troop. He gained, however, a position on the right, and there per- ceiving the impossibility of charging successfully a force ten times his own, returned to his first position. The action on our right, interrupted for an hour by the burning grass, was renewed, the enemy constantly, though 11* 126 NIGHT UPON THE BATTLE-FIELD. steadily, falling back. A demonstration by his' cavalry was made on the eighteen-pounders, at a moment when they were supported only by Ker's dragoons and the artillery battalion. But the latter, forming into square, repelled the charge, which was the last desperate effort to capture the pieces, that bore destruction to all before them. The shades of night only ar- rested the fatal work which the day permitted. The Mexican army, diminished by hundreds of wounded and dead, retreated behind the chapparal, while the Americans bivouacked upon the field so hardly and valiantly won. The field had been won, but the enemy was not conquered. Night, as it closed the bloody labours of the day, brought time for thought upon the morrow. It brought, too, rumours of numerous and fresh troops, reinforcing the Mexican army, which, it was apprehended, would recede to a new and better position, resolved still to oppose the advance of the small and jaded body of the Americans. Notwithstanding the success of the first encounter, it was therefore thought expedient to hold a consultation of officers on the policy of proceeding against a foe, far superior in numbers, and proved to possess both courage and endurance. The result of the council was a unanimous decision to move forward on the following morn- ing. That this had been Taylor's constant determination need hardly be added. He feared not defeat before a blow had been struck. Now he regarded a future triumph as the certain sequel of a conflict. While the mass of the wearied troops slept beside their arms, with' only the earth for their bed and the sky for its canopy, parties of them were following up the toil of the day by seeking the wounded left upon the field, and ministering to their com- fort. Scores of their unfortunate adversaries shared these hu- mane offices. Their loss in killed and wounded, as afterwards reported, was six hundred. The loss on our side was nine killed and forty-four wounded. Among the latter was Captain Page, an officer of great merit, who soon afterwards died. The fate of the gallant Ringgold has already been mentioned. If others were more fortunate, they were equally exposed to Taylor's account of the battle. 127 danger. General Taylor himself was often where the fire of the enemy was hottest, and set the example to his men of braving the death which constantly menaced their ranks. Of this glorious action of Palo Alto, the following is the brief and unpretending account which he prepared before the morning of the 9th : Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Camp at Palo Alto, Texas, May 9, 1846. Sir : I have the honour to report that I was met near this ! place yesterday, on my march from Point Isabel, by the Mexi- can forces, and after an action of about five hours, dislodged them from their position and encamped upon the field. Our artillery, consisting of two eighteen-pounders and two light batteries, was the arm chiefly engaged, and to the excellent manner in which it was manoeuvred and served is our success mainly due. The strength of the enemy is believed to have been about 6000 men, with seven pieces of artillery, and 800 cavalry. His loss is probably at least one hundred killed. Our strength did not exceed, all told, twenty-three hundred, while our loss was comparatively trifling — four men killed, three officers and thirty-seven men wounded, several of the latter mortally. I regret to say that Major Ringgold, 2d artillery, and Captain Page, 4th infantry, are severely wounded. Lieutenant Luther, 2d artillery, slightly so. The enemy has fallen back, and it is believed has re-passed the river. I have advanced parties now thrown forward in his direction, and shall move the main body immediately. In the haste of this report, I can only say that the officers and men behaved in the most admirable manner throughout the action. I shall have the pleasure of making a more de- tailed report when those of the different commanders shall be received. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. 128 L I N E OF BATTLE. A few days afterwards, the annexed despatch was prepared. Its details are essential as £ matter of justice to the officers and men, who merited all the encomiums of their worthy com- mander. The document is dated, Head Quarters, Camp near Matamoras, May 16, 1846, and, after an introductory sentence, proceeds as follows : " The main body of the Army of Occupation marched under my immediate orders from Point Isabel on the evening of the 7th of May, and bivouacked seven miles from that place. " Our march was resumed the following morning. About noon, when our advance of cavalry had reached the water-hole of ' Palo Alto,' the Mexican troops were reported in our front, and were soon discovered occupying the road in force. I ordered a halt upon reaching the water, with a view to rest and refresh the men, and to form deliberately our line of battle. The Mexican line was now plainly visible across the prairie, and about three-quarters of a mile distant. Their left, which was composed of a heavy force of cavalry, occupied the road. resting upon a thicket of chapparal, while masses of infantry were discovered in succession on the right, greatly outnumber- ing our own force. " Our line of battle was now formed in the following order, commencing on the extreme right : — 5th Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel M'Intosh ; Major Ringgold's Artillery; 3d Infantry, commanded by Captain L. N. Morris ; two eighteen- pounders, commanded by Lieutenant Churchill; 3d Artillery; 4th Infantry, commanded by Major G. W. Allen ; the 3d and 4th regiments composed the Third Brigade, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Garland ; and all the above corps, together with two squadrons of Dragoons, under Captains Ker and May, composed the right wing, under the orders of Colonel Twiggs. The left was formed by the Battalion of Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Childs, Captain Duncan's Light Artillery, and the Eighth Infantry, under Captain Mont- gomery — all forming the First Brigade, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Belknap. The train was parked near the MENTION OF LIEUT. BLAKE. 129 water, under direction of Captains Crossman and Myers, and protected by Captain Ker's squadron. " About 2 o'clock, we took up the march, by heads of columns, in the direction of the enemy — the eighteen-pounder battery following the road. While the columns were advancing, Lieutenant Blake, topographical engineer, volunteered a re- connoissance of the enemy's line, which was handsomely per- formed, and resulted in the discovery of at least two batteries of artillery in the intervals of their cavalry and infantry. These batteries were soon opened upon us, when I ordered the columns halted and deployed into line, and the fire to be re- turned by all our artillery. The Eighth Infantry, on our extreme left, was thrown back to secure that flank. The first fires of^ the enemy did little execution, while our eighteen-pounders and Major Ringgold's Artillery soon dispersed the cavalry which formed his left. Captain Duncan's battery, thrown for- ward in advance of the line, was doing good execution at this time. Captain May's squadron was now detached to support that battery, and the left of our position. The Mexican cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, were now reported to be moving through the chapparal to our right to threaten that flank, or make a demonstration against the train. The Fifth Infantry was immediately detached to check this movement, and, supported by Lieutenant Ridgely, with a section of Major Ringgold's battery, and Captain Walker's company of volunteers, effectu- ally repulsed the enemy — the Fifth Infantry repelling a charge of lancers, and the artillery doing great execution in their ranks. The Third Infantry was now detached to the right as a still further security to that flank, yet threatened by the en- emy. Major Ringgold, with the remaining s^btion,kept up his fire from an advanced position, and was supported by the Fourth Infantry. " The grass of the prairie had been accidentally fired by our artillery, and the volumes of smoke now partially concealed the armies from each other. As the enemy's left had evidently been driven back, and left the road free, the cannonade having been suspended, I ordered forward the eighteen-pounders on the 130 PAGE — RINGGOLD — LUTHER. road nearly to the position first occupied by the Mexican cavalry, and caused the First brigade to take up a new position still on the left of the eighteen-pounder battery. The Fifth was ad- vanced from its former position and occupied a point on the extreme right of the new line. The enemy made a change of position corresponding to our own, and after a suspension of nearly an hour the action was resumed. » The fire of artillery was now most destructive — openings I were constantly .made through the enemy's ranks by our fire, ,1 and the constancy with which the Mexican infantry sustained I this severe cannonade was a theme of universal remark and admiration. Captain May's squadron was detached to make a< demonstration on the left of the enemy's position, and suffered severely from the fire of artillery to which it was for some time i exposed. " The Fourth Infantry, which had been ordered to support the eighteen-pounder battery, was exposed to a most galling fire of artillery, by which several men were killed, and Captain Page dangerously wounded. The enemy's fire was directed I against our eighteen-pounder battery, and the guns under Major Ringgold in its vicinity. The Major himself, while coolly directing the fire of his pieces, was struck by a cannon ball and mortally wounded. " In the mean time, the Battalion of Artillery, under Lieu-' tenant Colonel Childs, had been brought up to support the^ artillery on our right. A strong demonstration of cavalry was* now made by the enemy against this part of our line, and the column continued to advance under a severe fire from the: eighteen-pounders. The battalion was instantly formed in.i square, and hekL ready to receive the charge of cavalry, but when the advancing squadrons were within close range, aD deadly fire of canister from the eighteen-pounders dispersed them. A brisk fire of small-arms was now opened upon the square, by which one officer, Lieutenant Luther, 2d artillery, was slightly wounded, but a well directed volley from the front of the square silenced all further firing from the enemy in this quarter. It was now nearly dark, and the action was closed LOSS AND COMPARATIVE FORCE. 131 ■on the right of our line, the enemy having been completely driven back from his position, and foiled in every attempt against our line. "While the above was going forward on our right, and under my own eye, the enemy had made a serious attempt against the left of our line. Captain Duncan instantly per- ceived the movement, and by the bold and brilliant manccuvre- ing of his battery, completely repulsed several successive efforts of the enemy to advance in force upon our left flank. Supported in succession by the 8th Infantry and Captain Ker's squadron of Dragoons, he gallantly held the enemy at bay, and finally drove him, with immense loss, from the field. The action here and along the whole line, continued until dark, when the enemy retired into the chapparal in rear of his position. Our army bivouacked on the ground it occu- pied. During the afternoon the train had been moved forward about half a mile, and was parked in rear of the new posi- tion. H Our loss this day was nine killed, forty-four w r ounded, and two missing. Among the wounded were Major Ringgold, who has since died, and Captain Page dangerously wounded. Lieutenant Luther slightly so. " Our own force is shown by the field report to have been 177 officers and 2111 men — aggregate 2288. The Mexican force, according to the statements of their own officers, was not less than 6000 regular troops, with ten pieces of artillery, and pro- bably exceeded that number ; the irregular force not known. Their loss was not less than 200 killed and 400 wounded ; probably greater. This estimate is very moderate, and formed upon the number actually counted upon the field and upon the reports of their own officers. " As already reported in my first brief despatch, the conduct of our officers and men was every thing that could be desired. Exposed for hours to the severest trial, cannonade of artillery, our troops displayed a coolness and constancy, which gave me throughout the assurance of victory." With this unvarnished tale it is interesting to compare 132 arista's despatch. the ingenious account given by General Arista of the same oc- currences. If it appears uncandid in any particular, or in its spirit, the embarrassing position of the writer must be his apology. It is addressed to the Mexican Minister of War and Marine. " Constant in my purpose of preventing General Taylor from uniting the forces which he brought from the Fronton of Sante Isabel, with those which he left opposite Matamoros, I moved this day from the Fanques del Raminero, whence I despatched my last extraordinary courier, and took the direction of Palo Alto, as soon as my spies informed me that the enemy had left Fronton, with the determination of introducing into his fort wagons loaded with provisions and heavy artillery. " I arrived opposite Palo Alto about one o'clock, and ob- served that the enemy was entering that position. " With all ray forces, I established the line of battle in a great plain, my right resting upon an elevation, and my left on a slough of difficult passage. " Scarcely was the first cannon fired, when there arrived General D. Pedro de Ampudia, second in command, whom I had ordered to join me after having covered the points which might serve to besiege the enemy in the forts opposite Mata- moros. " The forces under my orders amounted to three thousand men, and twelve pieces of artillery; those of the invaders were three thousand, rather less than more, and were superior in artillery, since they had twenty pieces of the calibre of six- teen and eighteen pounds. " The battle commenced so ardently, that the fire of cannon did not cease a single moment. In the course of it, the enemy wished to follow the road to Matamoros, to raise the siege of his troops ; with which object he fired the grass, and formed in front of his line of battle a smoke so thick, that he succeeded in covering himself from our view, but by means of manoeuvres this was twice embarrassed. " General Taylor maintained his attack rather defensively than offensively, employing his best arm, which is artillery. arista's misstatements. 133 protected by half of the infantry, and all of his cavalry, keeping the remainder fortified in the ravine, about two thousand yards from the field of battle. " I was anxious for the charge, because the fire of cannon did much damage in our ranks, and I instructed General D. Anastasio Torrejon to execute it with the greater part of the cavalry, by our left flank, with some columns of infantry, and the remainder of the cavalry. " I was waiting the moment when that general should exe- cute the charge, and the effect of it should begin to be seen, in order to give the impulse on the right ; but he was checked by a fire of the enemy, which defended a slough that embar- rassed the attack. " Some battalions, becoming impatient by the loss which they suffered, fell into disorder, demanding to advance or fall back. I immediately caused them to charge with a column of cavalry, under the command of Colonel D. Cayetano Mon- tero ; the result of this operation being that the dispersed corps repaired their fault as far as possible, marching towards the enemy, who, in consequence of his distance, was enabled to fall back upon his reserve, and night coming on, the battle was concluded, the field remaining for our arms. "Every suitable measure was then adopted, and the division took up a more concentrated curve in the same scene of action. " The combat was long and bloody, which may be estimated from the calculations made by the commandant general of artil- lery, General D. Thomas Requena, who assures me that the enemy threw about three thousand cannon-shots from two in the afternoon, when the battle commenced, until seven at night, when it terminated, — six hundred and fifty being fired on our side. 11 The national arms shone forth, since they did not yield a hand's breadth of ground, notwithstanding the superiority in artillery of the enemy, who suffered much damage. " Our troops have to lament the loss of two hundred and fifty-two men dispersed, wounded, and killed, — the last worthy 12 134 REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. of national recollection and gratitude for the intrepidity with whir h they died fighting for the most sacred of causes. "Will your excellency please with his note to report to his excellency the President, representing to him that I will take care to give a circumstantial account of this deed of arms ; and recommending to him the good conduct of all the generals, chiefs, officers, and soldiers under my orders, for sustaining so bloody a combat, which does honour to our arms, and exhibits their discipline." This document is dated, " In sight of the Enemy, May Sth." Throughout this action, memorable alike as the first in which the armies of the United States and Mexico were in open field, and as the beginning of a series of extraordinary victories, the enemy had every apparent advantage to secure the day. He had selected his own ground, the ground to which his cavalry was accustomed, and on which there was no natural impedi- ment to their movements ; and that body alone equalled the whole force of every arm which he determined to resist. There was, too, active daring, and passive courage in his ranks. His common soldiers had redeemed even the pledges of his boast- ing generals. What then was the cause of his failure ? One, certainly, is found in the inferiority of his artillery, which in no respect was served as our own. But this one cause will not explain a reverse so disastrous. The chief reason for it must be sought in the comparative abilities of the two commanders, and the spirit of their subordinates. Before the battle, Arista must have been ignorant of the power of our light artillery ; but when he had witnessed it, and discovered that his only hope of success was in a close conflict and the capture of the pieces, he should have charged up to our lines at any partial sacrifice. It is true that he thrice attempted this at different points, and with his overwhelming numbers, why should he have failed? The want of impetuous, self-abandoning, indo- mitable bravery in his officers aifords the only explanation. Their men sustained the destructive volleys of our guns with noble firmness, and had they been led on by superiors worthy MARCH FROM PALO ALTO. 135 of them, they might have more nearly balanced the fortunes of the clay, even if they had failed to overpower their adver- saries, who entered the field reckless of any opposing force, and resolved to maintain it at any cost. CHAPTER VIII. Mexican Army retreating — Taylor's March resumed — Mexican Dead and Wounded — Skirmishes with the Enemy — Mexican Army formed — Its Posi- tion — La Resaca de la Palma — The Battle commenced — The Artillery — In- fantry engaged — Close Quarters — The Enemy's Batteries — May ordered to charge them — Ridgely's Gallantry — May's furious Onset — Inge's and Sackett's Death — Batteries captured — La Vega a Prisoner — The Fifth In- fantry's charge — Personal deeds — The Enemy's bravery — Officers Wounded and Killed — Arista's Camp taken — The Tampico Battalion — Rout of the Enemy — The Booty — The Loss — Taylor's first Despatch — His detailed Account — Encomiums on his Troops — Mistakes of Arista — Misery of routed Troops — Gen. Taylor's care of the Wounded — His return to Point Isabel — Congratulates his Troops — Mexican Commander's Manifesto — Remarks on causes of his Defeat — Inferiority of Officers — Authority cited — Self-devotion of American Officers — Examples — Anecdotes of Heroism — Ridgely — Page — Payne — Ringgold — Richey — Woods and Hays — Augur and Cochrane — Barbour — May — Melton — Lincoln and Jordan — Belknap and Scott — Mcin- tosh — Letter of a Witness. The sun of the ninth of May was raising the curtain of mist, which hung across the field of Palo Alto, when the rear guard of the Mexican army was descried, gradually retiring through the distant chapparal. Although defeated in the contest of the previous day, its numbers were still formidable, and the rumours of the night increased them by large bodies of fresh troops. Anticipating another struggle before he should reach the Rio Grande, General Taylor made the requisite preparations for it. To place the train beyond the reach of accident, it was left in its position strongly parked, and entrenched, with four pieces of artillery and the artillery battalion to defend it. The wounded, by such modes of carriage as circumstances per- mitted, were sent back to Point Isabel ; and then, with a force diminished by the train guard, and by the losses of the late battle, the resolute commander gave the order for the advance. I 136 RECONNOITRING AND SKIRMISHING. As the ground, which had been, occupied by the Mexicans was crossed, the dreadful tokens of the havoc made among them by the American artillery were exhibited on every side. Not only were the rigid and insensible bodies of the dead there, but the still writhing and conscious forms of the living, variously mutilated and mangled ; who, forsaken by their friends, had passed the night on the chill earth, damp with their own blood, with no kind hand to stanch its flow, to bind up their wounds, or to wet their parched lips with a drop of water. As the columns, which, fulfilling the day before the soldier's mission, had caused their sufferings, marched by them to another field of strife and anguish, the pained and panting wretches, some by words and some by looks alone, would piteously ask for drink or food, or succour in their helplessness. What their enemies could give was freely given for the mo- ment, and these then passed on, soon to forget the sad chances of one battle in the rage of another. The march was continued until the edge of the chapparal was reached, which belted by a single narrow prairie extends about six miles to the bottom lands of the river. General Taylor had thrown forward a part of the first brigade under Capt. C. F. Smith, the second artillery and a few light com- panies, the whole commanded by Capt. McCall, to ascertain the enemy's force and position. It was three o'clock in the afternoon, when report was brought him that they had made a stand in the road, which was defended by artillery. An hour later, the main body under Taylor, overtook Capt. McCall, who reported that the Mexicans were formed in force in front. His command had skirmished with them and ascertained their position. Advancing into the chapparal, he had encountered small parties, which were fired upon ; and then proceeding he had reached the strip of open land, which interrupts the broad reach of undergrowth. Through this clear space a ravine ex- tends, which the road crosses. In the ravine and against the chapparal beyond it, the Mexicans were posted. They had chosen La Resaca dc la Palma to make their second stand against American arms. Their position was well selected for I LA RESACA DE LA PAL MA. 137 defence. The ravine is about four feet deep and from one to two -"hundred feet wide. Its bed in rainy seasons forms a se- ries of pools, which are sometimes swollen so as to unite in one continuous line of water. With dry weather this subsides, hence the name " Resaca de la Palma." The Mexicans stood entrenched in this natural ditch, and against the dense thicket extending on its farther bank. As the right of Capt. McCall's detachment debouched from the wood facing them, a masked battery opened upon it, killing one man and wounding two others. Meanwhile, Lieut. Dobbins on the left, commanding a small party, was charged by a body of Mexicans, who sud- denly emerged from the ravine. The foremost was shot by the brave lieutenant himself, and his men, following the exam- ple of his fire, caused the rest to retreat. Immediately the battery opened upon him and he fell wounded, but recovering his feet, he withdrew his party into the chapparal. At this moment a troop of cavalry rode by, and Lieut. Dobbins order- ing a fire upon them they also rapidly retreated. When General Taylor came up, he at once ordered Ridge- ■Jy's battery to advance upon the road, supported by the Third, Fourth and Fifth Infantry, and McCall's command on either side of it. The latter immediately engaged the enemy, and i was seconded by the light artillery, which speedily brought on I a general action. As on the previous day, the execution of the ! artillery was terrible. But the enemy answered it with spirit and effect, having eight pieces posted on the road. During the necessary pauses in the discharges of the latter, Ridgely contrived to push forward his own, until they were only one hundred yards from those of the enemy, and at this murderous proximity, the firing was maintained with grape and cannister. Admirably did Ridgely and his men labour in this terrible ser- vice, the sinewy arms and broad chests of the latter bared as for some peaceful toil, while his unerring eye gave assurance that not a charge was sped in vain. The infantry, at the same time, was pressing forward, and the sharp rattle of musketry on both sides accompanied the deep din of the ordnance. As each volley told upon the 12 * 138 CHARGE BY MAY'S DRAGOONS. ranks of the enemy, the wild shouts of our eager troops rivalled' the clamour of their arms. Their force was extended and di- vided by the compact thickets which impeded their advance/ The Third Regiment, under Captain Morris, and the Fourth, under Major Allen, still gaining ground, formed in the ravine. Here the fight was often hand to hand, and Mexico's bravest veterans resisted with every arm the impetuous onset of thet Americans ; but, except her artillery, no force could arrest them. That continued in position, and was used with severe efficiency. One piece on the right had been captured ; but no successful effort had been made towards those in the centre, which covered the Mexican infantry in several desperate at- tempts to retake the captured gun. General Taylor had for some time noted the strength of the enemy's position on the road, and the constant execution of his batteries upon our exposed lines. He called Captain May, \ who, with his Dragoons, had awaited orders in the rear, and told him to charge the artillery of the enemy, and take it, " nolens volens." " I will do it!" said May ; and, turning to his troop, he rose in his stirrups, pointed to the guns before him, and exclaiming, "Remember your regiment! — Men, follow !" he struck his charger, and bounded on before them down the narrow road. A deafening cheer answered his call, : and they dashed on towards the cannons' mouths. For a mo- ment, their career was checked by Ridgely's battery in the road. " Stop," said he, to the headlong leader, " till I draw their ' fire" — and with the word, his guns poured their iron torrent'; on the opposing batteries. It was met by a discharge from theirs, at the same moment, and while the smoke still rolled around them, May darted forward again to the charge. The noble horse which bore him outstripped his troop ; and, as he neared the enemy's breastworks, he turned to wave them on when only the impetuous Inge was by to answer. But the squadron, fast as their straining steeds could fly, was hastening on, their upraised sabres flashing in the sun, when a volley from the higher battery swept fearfully upon their column. Seven men and eighteen horses were crushed beneath it. I. ' "' ' '•"■"";■ enemy's batteries silenced. 139 Among them, Inge and Sackett perished. But the rest paused not. At a bound, May cleared the battery. The horses of a few others were equal to the leap, and their impetus carried them beyond the guns. Wheeling again, they drove the gun- ners off, and Captain Graham, and Lieutenants' Pleasanton and Winship, with others, coming up, were masters of the battery. But they were surrounded by enemies determined not to yield their weapons without a struggle. The guns were recovered ; and the little band of dragoons again dispersed those who manned them. One officer alone remained, who endeavoured to rally his men, and, with match in hand, was about to dis- charge a piece, when May dashed up, and summoned him to yield. " General La Vega is a prisoner," answered the brave Mexican, and gave up his sword. Exposed to a shower of musketry, he was conducted by Lieutenant Stevens to the rear of our lines. The batteries, though silenced, could not be held by the few dragoons who had taken them. The Eighth Infantry, mean- while, had been fiercely engaged on the right of the road, and a part of the Fifth on the left. These were now ordered to charge the batteries, and in turn, though resisted inch by inch, they took them, and finally drove the enemy at the bayonet's point from them and from his position on the left. In this as- sault many fell, and the daring Captain Hooe, leading on his company, had his arm shattered by a grape, which struck him to the ground. Col. Belknap, Lieut. Col. Payne, Captain Montgomery, and Captain Scott, cheered on the men of the Eighth in this gallant charge Lieut. Col. Mcintosh, the ve- teran hero of other fields, led the Fifth. After the loss of their artillery, the Mexicans still fought desperately, and all along the ravine the contest was sustained by them with stubborn bravery. Captain Morris, with Lieutenants Woods and Hays, followed by a score of men, charged through a pond and cap- tured a field-piece, which was sweeping down the ranks of the Fourth. The chapparal presented even greater obstacles to the onward course of our troops than the storm of the enemy's cannon. From these natural walls the musketry of the Mexi- 140 ROUT OF THE MEXICANS. > cans poured a deadly fire. In a charge upon them Mcintosh fell, pierced in the throat with a bayonet, and while thus pinned to the ground, his sword cleft his antagonist. Others rushed upon him, and thrust their bayonets through his limbs. Lieut. Jordan, too, was wounded in one of the reckless assaults made through the chapparal ; and Lieut. Cochrane fell resisting a charge of cavalry, pierced with seven lance-wounds. While these close encounters with the enemy were in pro- gress, the artillery had ceased. Duncan's battery had been unemployed, as from its position it would have raked our lines, and Ridgely's, too, was silent, as friends and foes were clutched in desperate disorder along the thickets, and in the open spaces, to which the latter were driven. Worthily they strove to re- cover their lost position. The camp and head-quarters of Arista had been taken, and the rout of the Mexicans became general. A solitary banner still defied the onset of the victors. It was that of the Tampico Battalion, which had never yielded on any other field. Against fate and hope they fought on, until all were cut down. The standard-bearer, resolved to save his honoured charge, tore it from the staff and fled. But rid- den down by our pursuing dragoons, he was made prisoner, and it was seized, the noblest trophy of the field. During the struggle of the enemy to beat back our resistless muskets, the artillery had advanced, and when, at every point, the Mexi- cans sought safety in flight, the batteries opened upon thern with terrible effect. The artillery battalion, which, during the battle, had been left in the rear to guard the train, was now ordered to the pursuit. Ker's dragoons and Duncan's battery also followed the fleeing thousands, completing the work of their defeat, and making many prisoners. In this daring and successful engagement General Taylor had only seventeen hundred men. The enemy, reinforced on the night of the 8th, opposed him with not less than seven thou- sand chosen troops, accustomed to war, and perfectly prepared for action, with a splendid body of cavalry and eight pieces of artillery. So total was the rout that all their camp contained was captured. The plate and private property, correspondence GENERAL TAYLOR'S FIRST REPORT. 141 of their general-in-chief, the arras, ammunition, standards, pro- visions, pack-saddles, and every equipment of seven thousand men and two thousand horses, save what they wore in their precipitous flight, fell into the hands of the victors. The triumph, however, was not bought without the price of every battle-field. In our ranks one hundred and ten were killed and wounded, and ten times that number in those of the enemy. On the same day the subjoined brief despatch was prepared by General Taylor. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation Camp at Resaca de la Palma, 3 miles from Matamoros, 10 o'clock P. M., May 9, 1846. Sir : I have the honour to report that I marched with the main body of the army at two o'clock to-day, having previ- ously thrown forward a body of light infantry into the forest which covers the Matamoros road. When near the spot where I am now encamped, my advance discovered that a ravine crossing the road had been occupied by the enemy with artil- lery. I immediately ordered a battery of field artillery to sweep the position, flanking and sustaining it by the 3d, 4th, and 5th regiments, deployed as skirmishers to the right and left. A heavy fire of artillery and of musketry was kept up for some time, until finally the enemy's batteries were carried in succes- sion by a squadron of dragoons and the regiments of infantry that were on the ground. He was soon driven from his posi- tion, and pursued by a squadron of dragoons, battalion of ar- tillery, 3d infantry, and a light battery, to the river. Our vic- tory has been complete. Eight pieces of artillery, with a great quantity of ammunition, three standards, and some one hun- dred prisoners have been taken ; among the latter, General La Vega, and several other officers. One general is understood to have been killed. The enemy has recrossed the river, and I am sure will not again molest us on this bank. The loss of the enemy in killed has been most severe. Our own has been very heavy, and I deeply regret to report that Lieutenant Inge, 2d dragoons, Lieutenant Cochrane, 4th in- 142 PRAISES HIS TROOPS. fantry, and Lieutenant Chadbourne, 8th infantry, were killed on the field. Lieutenant Colonel Payne, 4th artillery, Lieu- tenant Colonel Mcintosh, Lieutenant Dobbins, 3d infantry; Captain Hooe and Lieutenant Fowler, 5th infantry; and Cap- tain Montgomery, Lieutenants Gates, Selden, McClay, Bur- bank, and Jordan, 8th infantry, were wounded. The extent of our loss in killed and wounded is not yet ascertained, and is reserved for a more detailed report. The affair of to-day may be regarded as a proper supple- ment to the cannonade of yesterday ; and the two taken to- gether, exhibit the coolness and gallantry of our officers and men in the most favourable light. All have done their duty, and done it nobly. It will be my pride, in a more circum- stantial report of both actions, to dwell upon particular in- stances of individual distinction. It affords me peculiar pleasure to report that the field-work opposite Matamoros has sustained itself handsomely during a cannonade and bombardment of 160 hours. But the pleasure is alloyed with profound regret at the loss of its heroic and in- domitable commander, Major Brown, who died to-day from the effect of a shell. His loss would be a severe one to the service at any time, but to the army under my orders, it is in- deed irreparable. One officer and one non-commissioned officer killed, and ten men wounded, comprise all the casualties in- cident to this severe bombardment. I inadvertently omitted to mention the capture of a large number of pack-mules left in the Mexican camp. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor. Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. A few days afterwards General Taylor wrote a more detailed report of the battle. The following extracts from it afford the best general account of the actions, and do justice to the officers and men engaged in it. " Early in the morning of the 9th instant, the enemy, who had encamped near the field of battle of the day previous, was TAYLOR'S DETAILED REPORT. 143 discovered moving by his left flank, evidently in retreat ; and perhaps at the same time to gain a new position on the road to Matamoros, and there again resist our advance. " I ordered the supply train to be strongly parked at its po- sition, and left with it four pieces of artillery — the two eighteen- pounders which had done such good service on the previous day — and two twelve-pounders which had not been in the action. The wounded officers and men were at the same time sent back to Point Isabel. I then moved forward with the columns to the edge of the chapparal or forest, which extends to the Rio Grande, a distance of seven miles. The light com- panies of the first brigade, under Captain C. F. Smith, 2d ar- tillery, and a select detachment of light troops, the whole under the command of Captain McCall, 4th infantry, were thrown forward into the chapparal, to feel the enemy, and ascertain his position. About three o'clock, I received a report from the advance, that the enemy was in position on the road, with at least two pieces of artillery. The command was immediately put in motion, and at about four o'clock I came up with Cap- tain McCall, who reported the enemy in force in our front, occupying a ravine which intersects the road and is skirted by thickets of dense chapparal. Ridgely's battery and the ad- vance under Captain McCall were at once thrown forward on the road, and into the chapparal on either side, while the 5th infantry and one wing of the 4th were thrown into the forest on the left, and the 3d and the other wing of the 4th, on the right of the road. These corps were employed as skirmishers to cover the battery and engage the Mexican infantry. Cap- tain McCall's command became at once engaged with the enemy, while the light artillery, though in a very exposed posi- tion, did great execution. The enemy had at least eight pieces of artillery, and maintained an incessant fire upon our advance. " The action now became general, and although the enemy's infantry gave way before the steady fire and resistless progress of our own, yet his artillery was still in position to check our advance — several pieces occupying the pass across the ravine, which he had chosen for his position. Perceiving that no de- 144 GALLANTRY OF THE FOURTH. cisive advantage could be gained until this artillery was silenced, I ordered Captain May to charge the batteries with his squadron of dragoons. This was gallantly and effectually executed ; the enemy was driven from his guns, and General La Vega, who remained alone at one of the batteries, was taken prisoner. The squadron, which suffered much in this charge, not being immediately supported by infantry, could not retain possession of the artillery taken, but it was completely silenced. In the mean time, the Eighth Infantry had been ordered up, and had become warmly engaged on the right of the road. This regi- ment, and a part of the Fifth, were now ordered to charge the batteries, which was handsomely done, and the enemy driven from his artillery and his position on the left of the road. " The light companies of the First brigade, and the Third and Fourth regiments of infantry, had been deployed on the right of the road, where, at various points, they became briskly engaged with the enemy. A small party under Captain Bu- chanan and Lieutenants Wood and Hays, Fourth Infantry, composed chiefly of men of that regiment, drove the enemy from a breastwork which he occupied, and captured a piece of artillery. An attempt to recover this piece was repelled by Captain Barbour, Third Infantry. The enemy was at last completely driven from his position on the right of the road, and retreated precipitately, leaving baggage of every descrip- tion. The Fourth Infantry took possession of a camp where the head-quarters of the Mexican general-in-chief were estab- lished. All his official correspondence was captured at this place. " The artillery battalion (excepting the flank companies) had been ordered to guard the baggage train, which was parked some distance in the rear. The battalion was now ordered up to pursue the enemy, and with the Third Infantry, Captain Ker's dragoons, and Captain Duncan's battery, followed him rapidly to the river, making a number of prisoners. Great numbers of the enemy were drowned in attempting to cross the river near the town. The corps last mentioned encamped near the river ; the remainder of the army on the field of battle. THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. 145 " The strength of our marching force on this day, as exhi- bited in the annexed field report, was one hundred and seventy- three officers, and two thousand and forty-nine men — aggregate, two thousand two hundred and twenty-two. The actual number engaged with the enemy did not exceed one thousand and seven hundred. Our loss was three officers killed and twelve wounded ; thirty-six men killed and seventy-one wound- ed. Among the officers killed, I have to regret the loss of Lieutenant Inge, Second Dragoons, who fell at the head of his platoon, while gallantly charging the enemy's battery ; of Lieutenant Cochrane, of the Fourth, and Lieutenant Chad- bourne, of the Eighth Infantry, who likewise met their death in the thickest of the fight. The officers wounded were Lieutenant Colonel Payne, inspector general ; Lieutenant Dob- bins, Third Infantry, serving with the Light Infantry advance, slightly ; Lieutenant Colonel Mcintosh, Fifth Infantry, severely (twice) ; Captain Hooe, Fifth Infantry, severely (right arm since amputated) ; Lieutenant Fowler, Fifth Infantry, slightly ; Captain Montgomery, Eighth Infantry, slightly ; Lieutenants Gates and Jordan, Eighth Infantry, severely (each twice) ; Lieutenants Selden, Maclay, Burbank, and Morris, Eighth In- fantry, slightly. A statement of the killed and wounded is annexed herewith. " I have no accurate data from which to estimate the ene- my's force on this day. He is known to have been rein- forced after the action of the 8th, both by cavalry and infantry, and no doubt to an extent at least equal to his loss on that day. It is probable that six thousand men were opposed to us, and in a position chosen by themselves, and strongly defended with artillery. The enemy's loss was very great. Nearly two hundred of his dead were buried by us on the day succeeding the battle. His loss in killed, wounded, and missing, in the two affairs of the 8th and 9th, is, I think, moderately estimated at one thousand men. " Our victory has been decisive. A small force has over- come immense odds of the best troops that Mexico can furnish — veteran regiments perfectly equipped and appointed. Eight 13 146 NOTICE OF PARTICULAR OFFICERS. pieces of artillery, several colours and standards, a great number of prisoners, including fourteen oflicers, and a large amount of baggage and public property have fallen into our hands. " The causes of victory are doubtless to be found in the su- perior quality of our officers and men. I have already, in former reports, paid a general tribute to the admirable conduct of the troops on both days. It now becomes my duty — and I feel it to be one of great delicacy — to notice individuals. In so extensive a field as that of the 8th, and in the dense cover where most of the action of the 9th was fought, I could not possibly be witness to more than a small portion of the operations of the various corps ; and I must, therefore, depend upon the reports of subordinate commanders, which I respect- fully enclose herewith. " Colonel Twiggs, the second in command, was particularly active on both days in executing my orders, and directing the operations of the right wing. Lieutenant Colonel Mcintosh, commanding the Fifth Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Garland, commanding the Third brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Belknap, commanding the First brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Childs, commanding the Artillery Battalion, Major Allen, Captains L. N. Morris and Montgomery, commanding respectively the Fourth, Third, and Eighth regiments of Infantry, were zealous in the performance of their duties, and gave examples to their commands of cool and fearless conduct. Lieutenant Colonel Mcintosh repulsed with his regiment a charge of lancers in the action of Palo Alto, and shared with it in the honours and dangers of the following day, being twice severely wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Belknap headed a charge of the Eighth In- fantry, which resulted in driving the enemy from his guns, and leaving us in possession of that part of the field. "Captain Duncan and Lieutenant Ridgely deserve especial notice for the gallant and efficient manner in which they ma- noeuvred and served their batteries. The impression made by Captain Duncan's battery upon the extreme right of the ene- my's line, at the affair of Palo Alto, contributed largely to the OFFICERS AND CORPS NOTICED. 147 result of the day ; while the terrible fire kept up by Lieutenant Ridgely, in the affair of the 9th, inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy. The eighteen-pounder battery, which played a con- spicuous part in the action of the 8th, was admirably served by Lieutenant Churchill, Third Artillery, assisted by Lieutenant Wood, Topographical Engineers. The charge of cavalry on the 9th, was gallantly led by Captain May, and had complete success. " Captain McCall, Fourth Infantry, rendered distinguished service with the advanced corps under his orders. Its loss, in killed and wounded, will show how closely it was engaged. I may take this occasion to say that, in two former instances, Captain McCall has rendered valuable service as a partisan officer. In this connection, I would mention the services of Captain Walker, of the Texas Rangers, who was in both affairs with his company, and who has performed very meritorious service as a spy and partisan. " I must beg leave to refer to the reports of subordinate com- manders for the names of many officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, who were distinguished for good conduct on both days. Instances of individual gallantry and personal conflict with the enemy were not wanting in the affair of the 9th, but cannot find place in a general report. The officers serving in the staffs of the different commanders, are particu- larly mentioned by them. , "I derived efficient aid on both days from all the officers ot my staff. Captain Bliss, assistant adjutant general, Lieutenant Colonel Payne, inspector general, Lieutenant Eaton, A. D. C, Captain Waggaman, commissary of subsistence, Lieutenant Scarret, engineer, and Lieutenants Blake and Meade, topo- graphical engineers, promptly conveyed my orders to every part of the field. Lieutenant Colonel Payne was wounded in the affair of the 9th, and I have already had occasion to report the melancholy death of Lieutenant Blake, by accident, in the interval between the two engagements. Major Craig and Lieu- tenant Brereton, of the ordnance department, were actively en- gaged in their appropriate duties, and Surgeon Craig, medica] 148 arista's military errors. director, superintended in person the arduous service of the field hospitals. I take this occasion to mention generally the devotion to duty of the medical staff of the army, who have been untiring in their exertions both in the field and in the hospitals, to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded of both armies. Captains Crossman and Myres of the quartermaster's department, who had charge of the heavy supply train at both engagements, conducted it in a most satisfactory manner, and finally brought it up without the smallest loss, to its destina- tion. " I enclose an inventory of the Mexican property captured on the field, and also a sketch of the field of ' Resaca de la Palma,' and of the route from Point Isabel, made by my aid- de-camp, Lieutenant Eaton. One regimental colour, (Battalion of Tampico,) and many standards and guidons of cavalry were taken at the affair of the 9th. I would be pleased to receive your instructions as to the disposition to be made of these trophies — whether they shall be sent to Washington, &c." The victory of Resaca de la Palma was a proper sequel to that of Palo Alto. Well as General Taylor knew himself, confidently as he trusted his officers and men before a blow had passed on either side, and well prepared as he may have been, while encamped opposite Matamoros for an assault, there can be no doubt that his situation, before the battles of the 8th and 9th of May was very critical. It was the misfor- tune of the Mexicans to have generals, who, however skilful in action, were tardy in their movements, and deficient in expe- dients, and incapable of taking advantage of circumstances palpably in their favour. The American army reached the banks of the Rio Grande, after its march from Corpus Christi, on the 28th of March. No effort had been made to resist its original progress. The passage of the Arroyo Colorado, was permitted, as has been seen, without the firing of a gun. So the original occupation of Point Isabel — a position easily for- tified — was allowed, when ordinary military forecast on the part of the Mexican commander should have taught him, that fjieneral Taylor could not leave that post in his rear occupied SUFFERING OF THE FUGITIVES. 149 by an enemy. But the fatal error of all, for which Arista is re- sponsible, is that he permitted Point Isabel, the depot of the American stores, to remain in the possession of a small garri- son for four weeks, when at any moment during that time, he might have thrown an overwhelming force across the Rio Grande and made himself master of the place. Had he done this, he might at least have afforded his unfortunate country one achievement to boast of, in a war which from first to last is a chapter in her history of unmitigated disaster and sorrow. This hypothesis does not carry with it a doubt of the ability of Taylor's little army to have met the enemy as efficiently at any moment, as on the days when it proved victorious against more than thrice its force. But it shows that for the Mexicans the only chance of even embarrassing the Americans was thrown away, and the latter were suffered to repel the first formidable opposition to their progress, with a degree of ex- traordinary and glorious success, which coloured their hopes, added vigour to their energies, and assurance to their courage. If the carnage among the Mexicans on the 8th excited the pity even of their enemies, that of the 9th must have appealed still more to their sympathies. The evening closed on hun- dreds of them, wounded, dying, and dead upon the field and on the road to the river. In the panic of flight, self-preserva- tion was the single thought of each individual. The bleeding and the exhausted were borne down and forsaken by the sound and the strong. The parties on foot were trampled by the cavalry ; and none of the multitude fleeing from their foes, found help or comfort from their friends. The thickets and the hollows, distant from the scene of strife, long afterwards told the story of many a wounded soldier, who had struggled on to some secluded spot, there to linger, to thirst, to hunger, to bleed, to faint, and to perish, alone in his long and varied agony. If General Taylor, in the stern duty of the battle, proved his devotion to the mission he had accepted, he equally testified, when its labour was done, his tender consideration for all who had suffered in it. The wounded on both sides received all 13* 150 taylor's congratulatory order. the care that the occasion permitted. Through the night the medical staff of his army were labouring to relieve them, and in the morning he sent to Matamoros for Mexican surgeons to further attend upon their countrymen. The same day was spent in collecting as many of the dead as could be seen on the battle-ground, and paying to their remains the last honours .of war. In the same graves were laid those who had met as enemies, and had fallen striving for life against life. The field was indeed theirs, but not as they had hoped to gain it. On the 11th, General Taylor returned to Point "Isabel (the army have proceeded to its camp opposite Matamoros), for the purpose of conferring with Commodore Conner. Before his departure the following official acknowledgment was made of the gallantry and good conduct of the troops. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation, Resaca de la Palma, May 11, 1846. The commanding general congratulates the army under his command upon the signal success which has crowned its re- cent operations against the enemy. The coolness and steadi- ness of the troops during the action of the 8th, and the bril- liant impetuosity with which the enemy's position and artillery were carried on the 9th, have displayed the best qualities of the American soldier. To every officer and soldier of his command, the general returns his thanks for the noble manner in which they have sustained the honour of the service and of the country. While the main body of the army has been thus actively employed, the garrison left opposite Matamoros has rendered no less distinguished service, by sustaining a severe cannonade and bombardment for many successive days. The army and the country, while justly rejoicing in this triumph of our arms, will deplore the loss of many brave officers and men who fell gallantly in the hour of combat. It being necessary for the commanding general to visit Point Isabel on public business, Col. Twiggs will assume command of the corps of the army near Matamoros, including the gar- rison of the field-work. He will occupy the former lines of ADDRESS TO THE MEXICANS. 151 the army, making such dispositions for defence and for the comfort of his command as he may deem advisable. He will hold himself strictly on the defensive until the return of the commanding general. By order of Brig. Gen. Taylor. W. W. J. Bliss, Act. Adj. General. In contrast with this congratulation of the victorious gene- ral, is the subjoined manifesto to the Mexican army. It is elevated in spirit and superior in style to the ordinary official papers of the nation. There is a frank avowal of defeat and an honourable resolution to wipe off disgrace. The Commander-in-chief of the Department of Tamaulipas to the Troops under his command. Fellow-Citizens : The afternoon of the 8th of this month our brothers of Matamoros have fought with intrepidity and enthusiasm in the Tanque del Ramerino. On the 9th they charged again with the same ardour. But fate has not crowned our efforts. The enemy passed from the fort, favoured by the dense smoke of a wood on fire, which protected them from our shot. Thus have our enemies escaped ! Soldiers ! another time we shall conquer. Such is the fate of war, a defeat to-day and glory to-morrow ; that glory which shall be ours at the end of this holy struggle. The God of battles is trying our valour, but he has not abandoned us. We know how to conquer, and we know how to suffer. Soldiers ! the lamentation of the soldier for the companion who dies on the field of battle ought to be a shot well-aimed at the enemy. Those are the tears which our brothers require of our love. Their tomb must be raised in the American camp. The corpses of the Yankees ought to form their mau- soleums. Soldiers ! if we have lost some of our brothers, the glory will be greater, there will be fewer conquerors ; it is not the number which gives victory. There were but three hundred Spartans, and the powerful Xerxes did not cross the Ther- mopylae. The celebrated army of the great Napoleon perished 152 COURAGE OF MEXICAN SOLDIERS. in Spain at the hands of a defenceless people, but they were* free and intrepid, and were fighting for their liberty. Fellow-soldiers ! shall we do less than they did ? We are< fighting for our liberty, our religion, our country, our cradles,; our graves. Let him who does not wish to die a traitor, hirac who wishes to deserve the tears of his children, let him taket breath and sustain his courage. He must not faint, he musfci not fear, but what have we to fear ? The heart tells us that inr it we shall find all that is requisite ; and our hearts we will, oppose to the enemy. Soldiers ! vengeance for our brothers ! glory for our children ! honour for our country! We defend those cherished feelings. Do not fear. I swear | to you that if the day be a labourious one, our glory will bet sweeter; but glory we will have, and your general and com-- panion will attain it with your loyalty and valour. Anastasio Parrode. Tampico, May 13th, 1846. Unfortunately for Mexico, her chiefs are more prone to " swear" what they will do, than to prove by deeds their "loyalty and valour." All accounts of the battles of the 8th and 9th of May agree in awarding to the Mexican soldiers the merit of courage and perseverance, and if, with these qualities, they were beaten by one-third their number of our troops, the reason is, in part at least, to be found in the incompetency and cowardice of their officers. That there is ground for this as- sertion, beyond the fact that the latter suffered little, while their men w r ere decimated by our arms, may be shown by the fol- lowing extract from Mayer's excellent work on Mexico, writ- ten at a time when her peaceful relations with the United States forbade any bias in the author's view of her institutions and people. In a notice of a review of troops in the capital in 1S42, Mr. Mayer says : " I have seldom seen better-looking regiments in Europe than the Eleventh Infantry, under the command of Lombardini. The arms are clean and bright, and the officers of division appear to be well-trained, and to have imparted their training MEXICAN OFFICERS DEFICIENT. 153 to the men. On the 13th of June, 1842, about eight thousand troops were brought together to be reviewed by General Santa Anna on the meadows south of the city. In line they had an ; extremely martial bearing. * * * Excellent and daring riders as are all the Mexicans, they must ever have a decided : advantage in their cavalry, and although they do not present I so splendid an appearance in equipments as some other regi- ; ments, I have no doubt they constitute the most effective arm | of the Mexican service. Indeed, almost all the foreigners, and even Texans, with whom I have spoken in regard to the quali- ! ties of these men, concur in a high estimate of the Mexican '. soldier, although they do not think so well of the Mexican | officers. This, in all probability, arises from the irregular manner in which persons arrive at command, and the want of soldier-like education and discipline." These remarks apply to the commissioned officers. Of the non-commissioned offi- cers, who, it may be presumed, belong to the same class of people as the men, the author says : " The drilling of the men is severe and constant. The sergeant is generally a well-trained soldier." And again, of the men and superior officers he remarks: "That the Mexicans are brave none will doubt, who read the history of their War of Independence, although the bad discipline of their officers has prevented the very emi- nent exhibition of this quality in their foreign battles." Such, then, is the military character of the enemy with whom General Taylor was brought into conflict. To explain thus one cause of the defeat of their armies does not detract from the merit of his victories. Inequality there must have been either in material, discipline, generalship, arms, or position, to account for the triumph of two thousand men over six thousand, in two distinct battles on two successive days. In discipline, the Mexicans were not deficient. Their arms were perfect, their position formidable. The excellent material of their ranks has been shown. The want, therefore, was of officers worthy of the troops, and this want was doubly felt in a contest with an enemy whose officers were not only competent in the tech- nics of their duty, but thoroughly self-devoted, wholly reckless 154 Taylor's personal courage. of personal danger — from the commander-in-chief to the cor- poral, ever in the front, where the fight was hottest, where death was surest. The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma afforded many brilliant illustrations of this remark. The descriptions of them given above, designedly general in their character, do not comprehend many anecdotes of individual heroism, which would necessarily impair a broad and connected view of the management, and result of either. A few exam- ples,, however, in this place, may serve to confirm the opinion of the superiority of the American officers, as a class, compared with the Mexican, and to extend the record of acts which their countrymen must cherish with pride and gratitude. Mr. Thorpe's spirited narrative, "Our Army on the Rio Grande," furnishes some of these instances. Others are selected from private letters, and the newspapers of the day. When the Mexican Lancers were charging our right at Palo Alto, Lieutenant Ridgely's horse was shot from under him, and the same ball probably that caused the death of his steed, alarmed the horses at one of his caissons, which sprang madly forward in range of the gun. Lieutenant Ridgely, regardless of personal danger, rushed forward between the two contending fires, seized the front horses by the head, and brought them into their places ; thus saving not only his horses, but the am- munition of his battery. It was the Fifth regiment of Infantry which was ordered to meet this charge of the Lancers, and, when thrown forward for the purpose, General Taylor rode up, and said, " Men, I place myself in your square !" Could they falter, with such an evi- dence of their commander's valour, and of his confidence in t lie m ? Towards the close of the same action, the Mexicans, as has been mentioned, formed a desperate resolution to silence the eighteen-pounders, and Ringgold's pieces, which hurled con- slimt destruction into their ranks. To accomplish this, they poured from their batteries a hurricane of grape and cannister, killing and wounding many of the Fourth, and, among them, the gallant Captain Page. At that moment, Colonel Payne, LETTER OF LIEUT. RICHEY. 155 inspector general of the army, and one of Taylor's aids, came and asked permission to sight one of Ringgold's guns. He had just done so, with effect, when he heard his name beseech- ingly called by one of the soldiers, and, turning round, dis- covered Ringgold wounded, as has been described. Amid the shower of balls, which still continued, Colonel Payne re- mained with him to sustain him, and to hear, what he then supposed might be, the last words of the dying man. At Resaca de la Palma, Lieut. John A. Richey, who in a subsequent service fell a sacrifice, took part in a daring adven- ture, which he thus described in a letter: « A short time after the battle began, several of us became separated in the brush, and started forward, with the few men we could collect at the moment, to take a battery of the Mexicans that was blazing upon us. We dashed forward into the ravine, across the stream which ran through it, and, clambering up the opposite bank, rushed across the openings of the chapparal towards the bat- tery. While passing through, I got separated for about ten minutes from Lieutenants Woods and Hays ; when I rejoined them, they had captured the cannon : they had dashed onward upon the enemy attended by only one man. The cannoneers immediately turned and fled. Before doing so they had set fire to the priming-tube, the gun being loaded. The match was about to ignite the powder, when Lieut. Woods knocked the priming off with his sword. In the mean time some Mexi- cans ran to the mules attached to the piece by a long pole, and endeavoured to drag it off. Hays, perceiving their intention, sprang forward and snapped his pistol at them. At the same moment Woods caught hold of the driving-reins. By this time our party was reinforced, and moved forward along the road, firing all the time and driving the enemy before us. We pro- ceeded in this way with about twenty men. Woods now separated from us, and we were joined by Lieuts. Angur and Cochrane of the 4th. Our little party was composed of men belonging to every regiment in the army. We advanced a great distance in front of the main body and were surrounded on all sides by the Mexicans." Capt. Barbour soon joined 156 LETTER OF SERGEANT MILTON." this bold party. It was on this occasion that Lieut. Cochrane fell, when immediately afterwards it was charged by the lancers. Corporal Chisholm shot the Colonel who led the charge. As the officer fell, the corporal was seen to hand him his canteen of water — and, but a moment afterwards, Chisholm himself was lying dead. The famous charge of May's dragoons, on the 9th, has al- ready been described. The following account of incidents connected with it is by Sergeant Milton, one of his officers. " On the second day, at Resaca de la Palma, our troop stood anxiously waiting for the signal to be given, and never had I looked upon men upon whose countenances were more clearly expressed a fixed determination to win. The lips of some were pale with excitement, and their eyes wore that fixed' expression which betokens mischief; others with shut teeth would quietly laugh and catch a tighter grip of the rein, or seat themselves with care and firmness in the saddle, while quiet words of confidence and encouragement were passed from each to his neighbour. All at once Captain May rode to the front of his troop — every rein and sabre was tightly grasped. Raising himself, and pointing at the battery, he shouted, ' Men, follow V There was now a clattering of hoofs and a rattling of sabre-sheaths — the fire of the enemy's guns was partly drawn by Lieutenant Ridgely, and the next moment we were sweeping like the wind up the ravine. I was in a squad of about nine men, who were separated by a shower of grape from the bat- tery, and we were in advance, May leading. He turned his horse opposite the breast-work, in front of the guns, and with another shout 'to follow,' leaped over them. Several of the horses did follow, but mine, being new and not well-trained, refused ; two others balked, and their riders started down the ravine to turn the breast-work where the rest of the troop had entered. I made another attempt to clear the guns with my horse, turning him around — feeling all the time secure at thinking the guns discharged — I put his head towards them and gave him spur, but he again balked ; so, turning his head down the ravine, I too started to ride round the breast-work. MURDER OF THE WOUNDED. 157 1 As I came down a lancer dashed at me with lance in rest. With my sabre I parried his thrust, only receiving a slight flesh wound, from its point, in the arm, which felt at the time like the prick of a pin. The lancer turned and fled ; at that mo- ment a ball passed through my horse on the left side and shat- tered rny right side. The shot killed the horse instantly, and he fell upon my left leg, fastening me by his weight to the earth. There I lay, right in the midst of the action, where carnage was riding riot, and every moment the shot, from our own and the Mexican guns, tearing tip the earth around me. I tried to raise my horse so as to extricate my leg, but I had already grown so weak with my wound that I was unable, and, from the mere attempt, I fell back exhausted. To add to my horror a horse, who was careering about riderless, within a few yards of me, received a wound, and he commenced struggling and rearing with pain. Two or three times he came near fall- ing on me, but at length, with a scream of agony and a bound, he fell dead — his body touching my own fallen steed. What I had been in momentary dread of now occurred — my wounded limb, which was lying across the horse, received another ball in the ankle. "I now felt disposed to give up; and, exhausted through pain and excitement, a film gathered over my eyes, which I thought was the precursor of dissolution. From this hopeless state I was aroused by a wounded Mexican, calling out to me, 'Bueno Americano,' and turning my eyes towards the spot, I saw that he was holding a certificate and calling to me. The tide of action now rolled away from me, and hope again sprung up. The Mexican uniforms began to disappear from the chap- para], and squadrons of our troops passed in sight, apparently in pursuit. While I was thus nursing the prospect of escape, 1 beheld, not far from me, a villainous-looking ranchero, armed with an American sergeant's short sword, despatching a wounded American soldier, whose body he robbed. The next he came to was a Mexican, whom he served the same way, and thus I looked on while he murderously slew four. I drew an undischarged pistol from my holsters, and, laying myself along 14 158 GALLANTRY OF COL. BELKNAP. my horse's neck, watched him, expecting to be the next victim ; but something frightened him from his vulture-like business, and he fled in another direction. I need not say that had he visited me I should have taken one more shot at the enemy, and would have died content had I succeeded in making such an assassin bite the dust. , Two hours after, I had the pleasure of shaking some of my comrades by the hand, who were picking up the wounded. They lifted my Mexican friend, too, and I am pleased to say he, as well as myself, live to fight over again the sanguine fray of Resaca de la Palma." Another writer relates this instance of personal bravery : " During the progress of the action, Lieutenant Lincoln, of the Eighth regiment, made a charge upon a body of Mexicans lodged in a thicket of chapparal, who were pouring a destruc- tive fire upon his regiment as it advanced up the road. In the midst of the conflict, he saw Lieutenant Jordan, (who had per- sonally charged the enemy,) wounded upon the ground, with a Mexican over him, in the act of running a bayonet through his body ; Lincoln sprang forward, and the Mexican faltering, in alarm, ran his bayonet through the arm, instead of the breast of Jordan. At the same instant, Lincoln cleft his scull. This gallant officer, with his sergeant, engaged in a conflict with others of the enemy, causing them to retreat, after having slain three of them with their own hands. Lieutenant Chadbourne, also of the Eighth, after distinguishing himself for his bravery, in one of these skirmishes fell mortally wounded, at the head of his command." When May had captured the battery, being unable with his handful of men to retain it, he rode back to the Eighth for support. Col. Belknap immediately ordered the Eighth to form in the road, when he led it on in person. While advanc- ing he was joined by a part of the Fifth Infantry under Captain Scott. For an instant the fire of the Mexicans checked the advance, when Col. Belknap sprang forward, and seizing one of their standards, waved on his troops, who were now, with the entire Fifth regiment, engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict with the celebrated Tampico veterans. In the charge Col. Belknap had \ ENTHUSIASM IN BATTLE. 159 the staff of his standard shot away, and at the same instant his horse, coming among a pile of dead and wounded artillerists, made a sudden movement aside and threw his rider. The Eighth took up the cry that their commander was killed, and dealt their blows the heavier, when he again appeared at the head of his column. The indomitable bravery of Lieut. Col. Mcintosh has already been mentioned. During a charge, he cut his way through a wall of chapparal, and just as he reached the opposite side, his horse was shot and fell. The Mexicans rushed on him, and he defended himself against odds, until a bayonet passed through his mouth and out below his ear. He raised his sword to strike the assailant, when another bayonet broke his arm, and a third pierced his hip, and he fell literally pinned to the earth. Soon afterwards Duncan came hurrying forward with his battery, Mcintosh having been left by his enemies, and re- gained his feet. Duncan, not perceiving his condition, requested |his support. The Colonel turning presented a most ghastly [appearance, from his face down covered with blood. Yet he ^answered, although speaking with difficulty, " I will give you the support you want ;" and added, » show me my regiment !" : A witness of the whole action, in concluding a descriptive letter says : " How can I describe the personal acts of bravery, not only In one instance but in twenty, not simply by the officer but by ■he common soldier. The whole battle was fought by indi- vidual squads, led sometimes by an officer, and frequently by (he non-commissioned officer. I could not say too much for every man engaged. So eager were our men for the fight, that 1 cannot better describe their enthusiasm than to give you the ijdea that struck me. It was this. Every man — officer and soldier — seemed impressed with the idea that there was but a given quantity of fighting to be had, not enough for every man to have his fill of it, and therefore it became every man to get what he could as soon as possible. "Instances there were where one man, charging upon their 160 THE GARRISON IN THE FORT. batteries, leaped astride their pieces, and holding on with one hand, beat off their gunners, or were themselves cut down." Of devotion such as this, it is needless to multiply exaifiples. To conquer such men were impossible. Only their equals in daring and magnanimity could ever maintain with them an equal contest. CHAPTER IX. The 8th of May at Fort Brown — Anxiety of the Garrison — News of Pal Alto — Bombardment on the 9th — Mexican Fugitives seen — Recklessness their Panic — Disappointment and Suffering in Matamoros — The Wounded and Dead — Despatches from Taylor — Incidents of La Vega's Capture — Tay- lor's Courtesy to him — Taylor's return to the Rio Grande — Commodore Con- ner — Barita taken — Preparations to Bombard Matamoros — Armistice offered I and refused — Arista's final Retreat — Occupation of Matamoros — Despatch from General Taylor — Arista's report of his Retreat — Anecdote of Ampudia — Document found in Arista's Tent — Result of Taylor's Operations. It was on the Sth of May, about two hours after mid-day, that the garrison of Fort Brown heard, during a brief pause in' the bombardment, which had been braved for more than a hundred hours, the distant thunder of other guns. Rapid and constant was the echo, and it was welcomed as the harbinger of relief. Taylor was on his march, and Arista had met him. So the garrison confidently felt, when the roar of the battle on the plain of Palo Alto was borne faintly n the 20th — Skirmish on the 21st — Occupation of the Saltillo Pass — Movements of Butler's Division — First Fort in the Eastern Suburbs carried — Terrible Fire of the Enemy's Batteries — Repulse of the Lancers — Two Forts on the Heights carried — Losses on the First Day — Dispositions for the Night. General Taylor, having been advised by General Worth that large reinforcements of the enemy were arriving at Monterey, determined to delay no longer his advance upon that place. The divisions of Generals Twiggs and Butler were accordingly ordered to take up the line of march, and General Taylor him- self left Camargo on the 7th of September. His route, for several days, lay through a country presenting few objects of interest. There was little vegetation except the thorny shrub- bery peculiar to that vast region of Mexico The aspect of the wilderness was varied by deep chasms or ravines, contain- ing, generally, stagnant water, equally offensive in taste and odor. After the town of Mier was passed, the prospect began to improve. Distant mountains began to show their misty out- line against the sky, and, as they were gradually approached, 216 THE APPROACH TO MONTEREY. a clear, cool stream, the Arroya Mier, one of their tributes to the Rio Grande, swept across the road, — a most welcome mes- senger to the troops oppressed with heat, and worn with travel. From this point, the country wore a new T aspect, still, however, wild and primitive. The creeks and rivulets, fresh from the mountains, became frequent ; and, on their banks, bloomed olive groves, with other denizens of the genial south. At intervals, far between, an humble rancho was discovered ; and, more frequently, a rustic cross, marking a grave, or the spot where some wayfarer had been murdered. The three divisions of the army having rested at Seralvo, the first, under General Twiggs, resumed its march from that town on the 13th, and the others promptly followed. The road now broke fairly into the mountainous region. The Sierra Alvo, a magnificent elevation of three thousand feet, arose to the right, with an ascent so sudden, that from the peaks, as seen from below, it seemed a stone might be cast into the road. On the left frowned another height, while in front the grand range wore the appearance of an immense amphitheatre. As the ridges were gained the scenery changed, presenting, appa- rently, a vast plain, covered with chapparal, in crossing which, how r ever, it was found to be intersected with deep and rocky ravines, washed by the highland torrents. The Rangers, of Worth's division, thrown forward during his encampment at Seralvo, had discovered a large body of Mexican cavalry posted in the neighbourhood of Marin, a vil- lage on the north side of the river San Juan. Subsequently, on the march, slight skirmishes took place between advanced parties, but the enemy continued to retire towards Monterey. On the seventeenth the army was concentrated at Marin, twelve miles north-east of that city. The following morning, at day- break, the whole was in motion, General Twiggs' division leading, General Worth's following, and General Butler's bringing up the rear. In this order the San Juan had been crossed, and the head of the main column was about six miles from Monterey, when the report of artillery was heard. The •i E o ~ -o 3 x ■.- o V. — * ^ £ " I I 2 I = - >. O tt sj | || O | k» S fe ?■ « '.2 aa e •- _ .5 .- J! — * — •? ■° - *£ — _u r£ i> ~ s 3 = o = lis «llll£ ££ ill 1i*s - 5 g -d d « c 9 o o u «j «i *• "5 — £ -S o c n "s S o t = i £ * ■I -5 -B e S £ ■= * E a H 1 £ 5 5 g o ca ( 7b face page 217.) SITUATION O F M ONTEREY. 21 7 Texas Rangers being in advance, it was known at once that the fire was from the enemy's batteries, directed against them, and a reconnoitring party, which escorted General Taylor within full view of the town. Doubts had been entertained whether resistance would be finally offered to the occupation of it ; but these doubts now ceased, and the troops, two- thirds of them volunteers who had never met an enemy in the field, started forward with vociferous cheers, forgetting fatigue in their anxiety to prove themselves worthy of the conquest which they sought. It was not General Taylor's intention to commence the assault that day. He therefore ordered a halt, on a small stream called the Walnut Springs, three miles north of the city, while a thorough reconnoissance of its position and defences might be effected by the officers of the engineer corps. Monterey, the capital of the State of New Leon, is a city of fifteen thousand inhabitants. It is distant about one hun- dred and fifty miles from Camargo, near the base of the grand mountainous range called the Sierra Madre, which sweeps around its south-western angle. The Arroya San Juan, a small branch of the San Juan river, runs beyond the town, parallel to the curve of the mountain. On the north, whence the road from Camargo approaches, is an extensive and gradu- ally inclined plain, rising from the margin of the creek, inter- rupted only by a dry ravine crossing it about three-fourths of a mile in front of the town ; which, at that distance, is seen em- bosomed in trees, revealing its white walls and spires through the openings of their luxuriant foliage. The plain is varied with patches of chapparal, and fields of corn and sugar-cane ; and the light of this sunny undergrowth is relieved by the umbrage of orange, lemon, citron, and olive groves, and other beautiful natives of that genial climate. The mountains, which wall up the southern and western horizon, rear their rugged and mighty, heads far above the clouds of the valley, and a single gorge marks the only continuation to Saltillo, of the roads from the Rio Grande, which coalesce at Monterey. To save this important and favoured spot from the posses- 218 DESCRIPTION OF ITS DEFENCES. sion of an enemy, was a purpose which stimulated the ener- gies of its people and their government. To this end, the natural defences of the site were improved with skill and great diligence. In front, and to the right of the town, a very ex- tensive and strong fortress, known as the " citadel," had for some time been erected. Standing on the plain, it covers an area of about three acres, the walls of solid masonry, thick and high, with bastions commanding all approach from the north-east, the north, and north-west. On the eastern side of the city, several redouts were built near the suburbs, forbid- ding ingress in that quarter. The range of the southernmost of these extended to the base of the heights in the rear, be- tween which and the town, as has been described, is the course of the Arroyo San Juan. Following this course to the south- west extremity of the city, two forts appear on the hills of its further side ; while on the nearer side of it, as well as of the Saltillo road, two other fortifications crown successive eleva- tions covering the pass. Of these latter, the lower one is a large and unfinished structure, designed for the Bishop's Pa- lace, and known as such. The upper one, more remote from the city, is an independent redout, erected expressly for de- fence. Entrance to the town on that quarter was further for- bidden by the walls of the cemetery, forming a strong breast- Work with embrasures. These numerous and well-constructed works were mounted with forty-two heavy cannon. In addition to these special external defences, and many street barricades then constructed, Monterey presents in its plan, and in the form of its buildings, extraordinary obstacles to an assault. Regularly laid out, a few pieces of artillery command the whole length of the principal streets. But its chief secu- rity is the stone walls of the houses, which, rising above the flat roofs, and forming around them and the courts regular parapets, afford thorough protection to their defenders. Each dwelling is thus a separate castle, and the whole city one grand fortification, suggested by nature and consummated by art. To man the works, Ampudia,to whom the command was entrusted, had eight thousand regular troops, and several thousand militia RECONNOISSANCE BY GEN. TAYLOR. 219 and armed citizens, with abundant supplies of small arms and ammunition in addition to the ordnance already mentioned. While these preparations for an attack were in progress, and before his forces had been concentrated, he issued the follow- ing address, showing his contempt for the little army of the Americans, then about marching to the capture of the northern stronghold of Mexico : " Soldiers : — The enemy, numbering only 2500 regular troops, the remainder being only a band of adventurers, with- out valour or discipline, are, according to reliable information, about advancing upon Seralvo, to commit the barbarity of attacking this most important place. We count near 3000 regulars and auxiliary cavalry, and these will defeat them again and again, before they can reach this city. Soldiers, we are constructing fortifications, to make our base at a convenient time, and drive back this enemy at the point of the bayonet. " Soldiers! three great virtues make the soldier worthy of his profession ; discipline, constancy under fatigue, and valour. He who at this moment would desert his colours, is a coward and a traitor to his country. Our whole nation, and even foreign countries are the witnesses of your conduct. The question now is, whether our independence shall be preserved or forever lost ; and its solution is in your hands. " I have assured the supreme government of the triumph of our arms, confiding in your loyalty and enthusiasm ; and we will prove to the whole world that we are worthy sons of the immortal Hidalgo, Morelo, Allende, Iturbide, and so many other heroes who knew how to die combatting for the inde- pendence of our cherished country. " Soldiers ! victory or death must be our only device ! " Pedro de Ampudia. "Head-Quarters, Monterey, September 14, 1846." From the plain of the road by which he had approached Monterey, General Taylor, on the 19th of September, surveyed its fortifications, within range of the guns of the Citadel. He 19* 220 GENERAL WORTH'S DIVISION'. then halted the army, as we have seen, at Walnut Springs, where the camp was formed, and ordered a close reconnois- sance of the outworks on both sides of the town by the offi- i cers of the engineers and topographical engineers. The result I of this examination, boldly and carefully executed under the » direction of Major Mansfield and Captain Williams, at once determined the plan of operations. It became evident that I an attempt should be made to gain, by a detour to the west, , the Saltillo road, at its junction with the roads leading from the city; and from that point, cutting off the enemy's supplies and his retreat, to storm the heights overlooking it and the south- western angle of the city. For this difficult and important service General Taylor detached a division under General W T orth, on the following day, the 20th, at noon. The division was composed of Duncan's battery (four pieces) of Flying Artillery, the Artillery Battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel Childs, and the Eighth Regiment of In- fantry, under Captain Screvin, constituting the First Brigade, . under Lieutenant Colonel Staniford ; the Flying Artillery, (four pieces), under Lieutenant Mackall, the Fifth Infantry, under Major Scott, the Seventh, under Captain Niles, and one company Louisiana volunteers, under Captain Blanchard, com«* posing the Second Brigade, under General Persifer F. Smith; and Colonel Hay's regiment of Texas Mounted Riflemen.' Captain Sanders, military engineers, and Lieutenant Meade, topographical engineers, accompanied the division. General Worth, with this command, turning off* the direct road which connects Marin with Monterey, sought another to the right, called the Presquina Grande road. His progress was 1 slow, the way having to be cut for the artillery, through fields of corn, sugar cane, and underwood ; but at sundown he had advanced six miles, and reaching the Presquina Grande road, came within range of the guns of the fort occupying the crest of the height, midway on which is situated the Bishop's Palace. A reconnoissance, under cover of the Texas Mounted Rifles, was then made along the road to its junction with the Saltillo road, and the importance of occupying the point of SKIRMISH OFWORTH'S DIVISION. 221 .intersection was evident. It was also apparent that this could not be done without opposition, as the enemy's position would thereby be turned, and his communication with Saltillo and the Presquina Grande route would be intercepted. On the ,night of the 20th the command bivouacked on the road. It ,was cold and rainy, and there were neither tents nor blankejts to cover the men. But they bore the exposure cheerfully, encouraged with the expectation of achieving some daring enterprise on the morrow. , At dawn on the following morning, General Worth disposed his force for the march in such order as to be prepared for an lattack at any point. The Texas Cavalry, supported by the [light companies of the First Brigade, under Captain C. F. Smith, (both extended or contracted according to the ground over which they moved) composed the advance of the column. • Duncan's light artillery and battalion heads of columns fol- lowed. Pursuing for two miles, in this order, the road wind- ing along the base of the mountain, a turn around one of its projections brought immediately in view a strong body of Mexican cavalry and infantry. The former instantly and im- ijpetuously charged, and were received with a well-aimed and [.deliberate volley from the rifles of the mounted Texans. At the same instant, the infantry of the First Brigade, Duncan's guns, and a section of Mackall's, opened upon them with equal effect. Owing to the narrowness of the road, the Second Brigade could not be brought into action. While the enemy thus maintained the engagement with his troops on the road, a battery was throwing shells from the height above it. In fifteen minutes, however, both his infantry and cavalry gave way, leaving one hundred killed and wounded, among them | a colonel of the Lancers. The routed troops fled along the Saltillo road, hotly pressed by the victors, until they entered 'the gorge which unites all the roads from Monterey. Here the pursuit ceased ; the important point being occupied, which intercepted all supplies and reinforcements from that quarter to the city. As the division was there exposed to the batte- ries on the heights. General Worth moved it about half a 222 MOVEMENT OF TWIGGS' DIVISION. mile farther, and then directed his attention to the means of : carrying by assault those elevated fortresses, the possession of i j which was essential to any closer operations against the city ; ( itself. _ < While General Worth was about to make an assault upon i i the works to the right and rear of the town, General Taylor, i in conformity with his own plans, as well as a suggestion from t General Worth, determined on a diversion in his favour, by ordering the other divisions to make a strong demonstration, to the left and centre, on the lower part of the town. During the t night of the 20th, two twenty-four-pound howitzers, and a ten- ; inch mortar, under Captain Webster, were placed in battery, facing the " citadel," in the ravine crossing the plain in. the approach to the city. Early on the morning of the 21st, the First Division, under General Twiggs, composed of the Third and Fourth Regiments of Regular Infantry, Captain Bragg's Flying Artillery, forming Lieut. Col. Garland's Brii--| gade, and the First Regiment of Regular Infantry, and thet Washington and Baltimore battalion of volunteers, forming Lieut. Col. Wilson's Brigade, were marched from the camp at Walnut Springs to the ravine where the mortar battery was planted. There the command was formed for the assault, the* three regiments of regulars being ordered to take possession of! some houses on the right of the enemy's works, situated on the east of the city, and the volunteers to advance upon the works* directly. General Butler's Division, composed of Quitman's Brigade, the Tennessee and Mississippi Regiments, and the- Ohio Regiment of Hamer's Brigade of volunteers, having formed in front of the ravine soon after Twiggs' Division moved from that position against the city, were prepared to support the latter in the assault. The affair of the day on that side, commenced by a heavy discharge of artillery from the citadel, which was ineffectually answered by the howitzer and mortar batteries ; the shot of the latter falling short of the town, while that of the citadel fell among Butler's Division in front of the ridge. The Division of General Twiggs continued to advance under tremendous MOVEMENT OB BUTLER'S DIVISION. 223 cross fires from the chain of forts on the left of the town. The three regiments of regulars, with inflexible firmness, moved to then* designated positions, gaining the town so as to annoy the enemy's works in that quarter on the flank and rear. Rivalling the courage of these elder troops, and filled with the enthusiasm of volunteers, the Washington and Baltimore battalion pressed onward in the teeth of batteries pouring ruinous discharges upon their ranks. Bragg's artillery, at the same moment, was worked within direct range of the enemy's heavy guns. When the battalion had approached close to one of the forts, the men were ordered to lie down for momentary respite Yrom its guns. These, however, were soon depressed, when a por- l tion of the command, led on by their officers, rushed into a narrow street, having but few houses on either side. Here they were raked by three batteries within a hundred yards, and by the twelve-pounders of the large work, which enfiladed their column during the whole period of its progress. At the intersection of the streets, high and strong barricades of solid masonry had been erected, and from these and the tops of the houses, thousands of smaller arms rained a deadly shower upon them. Numbers of the regulars and detachments of the volun- teers were similarly engaged at other points in the same quarter of the town. For about an hour this contest had proceeded with unabated fury, when Butler's division was ordered to sustain the advance. His men, already formed in line, had watched with eager in- terest the progress of their comrades, burning for the moment when they should be summoned to share in the strife. The Kentucky Regiment, Col. Ormsby, being left unwillingly to protect the howitzer and mortar batteries, Quitman's Brigade, (the Tennessee Regiment, Col. Campbell, and the Mississippi, ] Col. Davis,) and Col. Mitchell's Ohio Regiment, forming alone | Hamer's Brigade, moved off", the former to the left, to support * -the regulars of Twiggs' Division, and the latter to support Bragg's battery, which had already lost about twenty horses, and was in danger of being captured. With emulous cheers, defying the roar of the citadel's ordnance, the two commands 224 T II K FIRS T WORK CARRIED. sped on to their terrible duty and their course for full a mile, exposed to its unceasing fire. The Ohio volunteers reached the suburbs, there to be greeted, as their friends had "been before them, with the raking discharges of batteries in front, and on both flanks. Breasting the iron torrent, and unable to reach an enemy behind the house-walls and barriers, they still struggled on, passing gardens and ditches, which exposed them to the full play of both artillery and musketry. At last, some of the foremost, mounting a wall, came close upon a corps of the enemy, and drove it to a battery farther in the town. At this* point, opportunity was afforded of returning their shot with effect, — but the contest was unequal, our men being ex- posed upon the wall, and the Mexicans protected by their breastworks. At this point, General Butler was met by Major Mansfield, who had conducted a command of Twiggs* Division against one of the batteries, and who advised the general to advance no farther, as he would come within range of an irre- sistible fire from other batteries commanding the streets. General Taylor was not far in the rear of this spot, — exposed constantly to the enemy's fire, — and learning this fact from General Butler, ordered the Ohio men to retire. Meanwhile, the Tennessee and the Mississippi volunteers had reached a position on the north-east of the city. At this point, was a strong fort, the rear of which Colonel Garland had endeavoured to gain, but was met with such a severe fire, which could not be returned, that he was compelled to retire. At the moment, however, that the Mississippians and Tennes- seeans were coining on, Captain Backus, of the 1st regular in- fantry, with parts of his own and other companies of that regiment, had mounts! the roof of a tannery commanding the v fort, and was pouring into it an efiectual discharge of musketry. Several companies of the Fourth Infantry, advancing within close range of its guns, received a terrible fire, which instantly killed and wounded one-third of their number, and caused them to fall back. At this juncture, Quitman's volunteers, the Ten- nesseeans being well in advance, pressed forward, and pre- servin"- dieir line under a fire which made constant breaches in SEVERE V I R E O V T H E E N E M V . 225 ks living wall, rushed upon the works, and carried them at the point of the bayonet. A strong, stone building in the rear was taken at the same time. The conduct of these two regiments, in this assault, was distinguished equally by the hot-blooded recklessness of youth, and the steady bravery of veterans. Whether in approaching the enemy's batteries, when the balls were hurled in torrents upon them, or when mounting the barriers to engage their defenders hand to hand, these gallant troops were alike heedless of every result save the fulfilment of the immediate task assigned them. In the fort, five pieces of artillery, a large amount of ammu- nition, and thirty prisoners, including three officers, were cap- tured. But the prize was purchased at a fearful cost of blood, and much more was yet to be paid before other possessions of the enemy could be acquired. As soon as General Taylor learned that this fort was carried, he countermanded the order for Butler's division to withdraw, and ordered that work, and other defences on the side of the town which had been already gained, to be maintained. Hamer's brigade, the Ohio volunteers, now moved farther to the left, towards another strong fort in the line of its eastern defences. It required half an hour to come within close range of this work, during which the regiment was exposed to a de- structive fire, from three different batteries concentrated upon them. It was resolved to attempt to carry the fort by storm, when General Butler was wounded, and, at the same time, Colonel Mitchell, commanding the regiment. A murderous discharge of musketry swept the ranks continually, and the attempt was abandoned, the force being withdrawn to a posi- tion of less exposure. The battery of the fort captured by Quitman's brigade was now turned upon this second work ; and, under its cover, the artillery of Bragg and Ridgely was served, supported by parts of several regiments scattered during the general assault. Sub sequently, Captain Webster's howitzer was made to bear from the captured fort upon the second fort, against which the Ohio volunteers had made their daring but unsuccessful movement. 226 GENERAL TAYLOR EXPOSED. The latter, on retiring to the skirts of the town, at a point where a portion of the Mississippi regiment had also returned, found themselves dispersed on the plain, so as to present ap- parently an object of easy attack from a body of lancers then in view. The latter, accordingly, dashed towards them, but not in time to prevent their forming an imperfect front so as to meet the charge. On came the cavalry, which is the boast of Mexico, striking with their lances, as they swept over the field, the Americans who lay wounded and helpless upon it, until within short range of the volunteers' muskets, when a volley from the line checked their career, bearing down the foremost horses and riders, and driving the rest in disorder back to their position. During this, and other independent scenes in the drama of the day, parties and individuals of all regiments were in the streets, charging on the barricades, or returning the inces- sant fire of the enemy's batteries and lighter arms whenever an object for effectual aim was presented. General Taylor, who was almost constantly within range of the flying shot, ordered as many of the First, Third, and Fourth Infantry, or the Baltimore Battalion, as coidd be collected, again to enter the town, and carry, if possible, the second battery, against which Captain Webster's howitzer was then directed. Of this mixed force, Lieutenant Colonel Garland took the command, and a gallant effort was made to achieve the object. Receiving a fire from every direction, it pressed on to gain the rear of the work, and taking a position, maintained it for some time with the aid of Ridgely's battery. But the work proved too strong and well defended at every approach to be stormed with suc- cess, and the command was withdrawn. During this move- ment, Captain Bragg's artillery, supported by Captain Miller with § force of regulars and volunteers, dispersed a body of cavalry making a demonstration in front of the town. Hours passed, while these various and daring exertions were made to obtain possession of the chain of fortifications on the east and south- east of the city. They were defended by the Mexicans with constanry and valour, but with every advantage EFFECT OF T A YLOK's M OVEMENTS. 227 over the assailants in numbers, position, and arms. The latter were subjected, in all their movements, to terrible cross and direct fires, hurling upon them a continual stream of heavy shot, grape, and musket balls. Yet there was no waver- ing, no abatement of ardour. Volunteers and regulars, the men by whom the clash of arms was then first heard, and they who had chosen arms as a profession, fought and fell side by side, scores on scores, and yet all who stood, still stood firmly, still strove on, undaunted by the slaughter which raged around them. The main object, had in view by General Taylor in the assault upon the east side of the city, had so far been entirely accomplished. A long-continued diversion had been made in favour of General Worth's movements in the opposite quarter. To them we now revert. After having, early in the morning, repulsed the enemy's lancers posted at the spur of the mountain, and advanced to a position on the Saltillo road about half a mile west of the gorge, where the several roads from the north-eastern valley unite, a further reconnoissance was made of the fortifications on the heights on each side. A brief mention has already been made of these works, but a further description is necessary to a clear understanding of the operations of General Worth's division. The Creek or Arroyo San Juan, which sweeps, with the line of the mountain base, around the southern and eastern sides of the city, has its source to the south-west, and passing through the great gorge of the range in that direction, defines the line of the road to Saltillo, which is constructed on its northern margin. From this creek, at a point about a mile southwest of the city, and facing towards it, may be seen about six hun- dred yards to the right, a height called Federacion, which was surmounted by a strong redout ; and on the same ridge, half a mile nearer the city, another height crowned by a work called "Fort Soldado." On the left of the creek, opposite these elevations, rises Mitre Mountain ; on a prominence of which, called Independencia, nearly due north of Federacion, and about half a mile distant from it in an air line, was a third 20 228 ASSAULT ON FEDERACION HILL. fortified work. On a lower point of the same ridge, form- ing Independencia, and in a south-eastern direction, about a quarter of a mile nearer to the city, stands the Bishop's Pa- lace. These four works, two on each side of the Saltillo road, were reared on eminences sufficiently lofty and precipitous to be difficult of access, while they thoroughly commanded the deep valley between them, and the slopes on every other side. The first progress of General Worth was around the south- western base of Independencia, which brought his command between it and Federacion. It was determined that the first effort of his command should be made against the fort on the latter, the possession of all the heights being vital to the ad- vance of the whole army on Saltillo. At noon, on the 21st, he ordered four companies of the Regular Artillery Battalion, under Captain C. F. Smith, and six companies — Green's, McGowan's, Gillespie's, Chandlis', Ballowes', and McCulloch's, of the Texas Rifles, under Major Chevalier, (both commands numbering about three hundred men, and acting in co-opera- tion,) to storm the batteries first on Federacion Hill, and then to carry Fort Soldado. During the morning the- enemy's guns had not been idle, but when the movement for this assault commenced, they were served with redoubled zeal. Captain Smith led his men to the foot of the hill, whence, looking up, the toil of an unopposed and unencumbered ascent might well daunt common energies. Upward however they went, breast- ing sometimes the plunging discharges of the enemy's batteries high above them, and sometimes screened for a moment by a projecting rock, or a cluster of underwood. Occasionally they paused to return the fire, and in a moment were again climbing the rugged and perilous steep, from whose frowning crest balls of iron and copper rained upon them. At the same time bodies of Mexican light troops sallied from the works en both adjacent hills, and forming on every favourable point, seconded their heavy guns with volleys of musketry. At this moment, the enemy menacing Smith's command with an overwhelming superiority of numbers, Captain Miles, with the Seventh Infantry, was ordered to his support. The • FEDERACION AND SOLDADO CARRIED. 229 firing now became general, as the ascent of the storming party brought them within more effectual range of the forces above them. Other reinforcements of the latter being displayed around their works, General Worth directed General Smith, with the Fifth Infantry, under Major Scott, and the Louisiana Volunteers, under Captain Blanchard, to the further aid of the troops engaged. This third command pressed eagerly on to the assault ; and General Smith perceiving the practicability of storming Fort Soldado simultaneously with the attack already commenced on the other work, divided the supporting force, and directed the Fifth and Seventh, and the Louisiana Volun- teers against Soldado. Captain Smith's men continuing to mount the Federacion height, drove the enemy up and back upon the entrenchment, the contest becoming closer and closer, until, charging with the bayonet, they cleared the breastwork, and while its routed defenders fled precipitately down the op- posite side of the hill, tore down their standard, and raised the first American flag that ever waved in the mountain breezes of Mexico. Loud and heart-stirring were the cheers which hailed it, echoed from the valley by the gallant troops, then rushing up to plant a kindred banner on the neighbouring height. Immediately, the piece of ordnance (a nine-pounder) found in the captured works was directed against Fort Soldado, and the main body of Captain Smith's command then started in support of the other command. On the latter went, as they began the ascent receiving in their midst a tempest of grape and canister. With good will, however, they emulated the gallantry of their friends ; Captain Hays, with about fifty Texas rifles, joining in the work. Conquering the acclivity by the aid of every stone that offered a foothold, and every bush within grasp, they approached the Mexican lines near enough to use their muskets with effect. Loading and firing as they ascended, unchecked for an instant by the fire from above, they rose at last to within fifty yards of the wall, and then with a shout drove the enemy from it, and turned upon the confused and fleeing mass the artillery which themselves had loaded. Having served this purpose for the moment, it was then di- t 230 LOSSES ON THE FIR S T DAY. rected, together with the gun on Federaeion Hill, against the Bishop's Palace. The fire was returned from the latter with round shot and shell ; the valley of the Saltillo road separating the works only six hundred yards from the Palace. In these brilliant exploits, the officers already mentioned, and every subordinate and man, behaved with admirable daring. The whole force against both fortifications did not exceed six or seven hundred men, who, reckless of opposing numbers, and of their superior and strong position, charged up to them and swept them from their lofty perch. The sun was descending when the second fort had been carried, and about the same time, on the same side of the creek, at the south-eastern extreme of the city, the enemy's cavalry, having been previously checked by the Ohio and a part of the Mississippi regiments, made a demonstration against the troops exposed in that quarter. Ridgely brought his light battery to bear on them, and scattered them until they sought shelter in the city. After this no important movement was effected in any direc- tion. The approach of night and a severe rain storm arrested the terrible labours of the day — terrible to both parties. The divisions on the east of the town had lost many officers of great merit, and many more men, who, if indomitable energy and valour were the test, should have also been chiefs, not followers. Among the notable dead were, Captain Williams of the topo- graphical engineers, who aided heroically in directing the as- sault upon the first redout ; Lieutenants Terrett and Dihvorth, of the First Infantry; Lieutenant Colonel Watson, of the Bal- timore Battalion, one of the first to fall while cheering on his men, under the raking cross fires of the street works ; Brevet Major Barbour, of the Third Infantry, and Lieutenants Irwin and Hazlett of the same regiment ; Captain Allen and Lieu- tenant Putnam, of the Tennessee Volunteers, which indomit- able corps left, besides these officers, nearly half its numbers dead or wounded in the streets and fields ; Lieutenant Woods, o( the Second Infantry, who had distinguished himself also at Ilesaca de la Palma ; Lieutenant Hoskins, of the Fourth CLOSE OF THE FIRST DAY. 231 Infantry, and Lieutenant Colonel Hett, of the Ohio Volunteers, a regiment worthy of the officer, and which freely mingled its blood with his. Nearly four hundred of all the troops, Regu- lars and Volunteers, engaged east of the town, were killed or wounded. The avenues at times were choked with their bodies, where guns of the forts had centred on them. The Kentucky Regiment was not brought into the action farther than to support the field battery posted in front of the citadel. It stood ready several times to receive a threatened charge of a large body of lancers, and rendered efficient aid in main- taining the demonstration in front of the town. General Worth's loss was comparatively very small, owing to the less exposed position of his command. How they per- formed the tasks assigned them has been seen. Thirty-six hours had they been without food, one night in the rain with- out shelter or blankets, and now exposed on the coming of a second to a violent storm, and equally unprotected. The divisions of Butler and Twiggs, under the immediate command of General Taylor, were ordered back to the camp, except the Regulars of the First Division and Ridgely's battery, left to garrison the captured works, under Lieutenant Colonel Garland, and one battalion of the First Kentucky Regiment, detailed to work at the entrenchments through the night, and strengthen the positions acquired on the eastern part of the city. So wearied were all the troops with the labours of the day, that a witness relates, of those ordered back to the camp, many with difficulty reached it. Throughout the day General Taylor was constantly near or on the ground of actual conflict, sharing its dangers, and by his calm bravery giving effectual virtue to his directions. General Worth, apprehending a surprise, was obliged to keep most of his force on the watch through the night of the 21st. The few who sought rest had no shelter, and lay down under the heavy fall of rain, with their arms in their hands. The com- mands in the eastern quarter of the city enjoyed no better pro- tection or repose. Thus ended the labours of the first day before Monterey. 20* 232 INDEPENDENCIA CARRIED. CHAPTER XIII. Independencia carried — Sortie from the Palace — Enemy repulsed and Palace taken — Operations on the Eastern Quarter — Progress towards the Heart of the Town — Worth's Progress on Opposite Side — Command of the Main Plaza — Flag of Truce — Suspension of the Attack — Taylor's Despatch — Cor- respondence with Ampudia and the Governor — Taylor's Detailed Report of the Siege — Extract from Worth's Report — Comments on the Action — Con- ference between Ampudia and Taylor — Commissioners on the Capitulation appointed — Proceedings of the Commission — Terms of Capitulation — Peport of Killed and Wounded. General Worth had determined that the operations of the 22d,in the rear of the city, should commence against the work surmounting Independencia height and the Bishop's Palace, making the first assault on the former. This duty was assigned to one company of the Third Regulars (artillery battalion), two, companies of the Fourth, three companies of the Eighth, under Captain Screvin, and two hundred Riflemen, under Colonel Hays and Lieutenant Colonel Walker, the whole command under Lieutenant Colonel Childs, conducted by Captain Sanders, of the military, and Lieutenant Meade, of the topographical engi- neers. At three o'clock on the morning of the 22d this force was in motion. The rain and darkness favoured its ap- proach to the enemy's position. The ascent of the hill was commenced and conducted without molestation. As the ac- clivity was gradually overcome, the gray light of morning began to struggle through the mist which clouded its crest. Quietly and steadily the command ascended until within a hundred yards of the top, when a body of the enemy posted among the rocks and bushes came full in view. Expecting an attack they had awaited it. They fired and retreated, while assailants hastened up, reserving their fire until close upon the • redout, when delivering one general and deadly volley, they dashed into it with the bayonet, while the Mexicans lied down i the other side. Just then, as the coming sun streaked the white mists of the mountain peaks, the emulous flag of the Union floated above the third of the enemy's lofty strongholds. It was found that the guns of this post had been removed in the night to the Bishop's Palace, then the only remaining posi- THE BISHOP'S PALACE CARRIED. 233 tion of the Mexicans on the heights in the rear of the town. The high walls of massive masonry, defended by a howitzer, and two pieces of ordnance, besides a heavy force of musketry, forbade any attempt to carry the latter work without the aid of artillery. To procure this, Lieutenant Rowland, of Duncan's Artillery, was ordered from the main camp with a twelve-pound howitzer, and so great was his despatch, that, in two hours, with the aid of fifty men from the line under Captain Sanders, selected for the purpose of pointing out the least difficult route, that enterprizing and gallant officer, (as he is justly termed in the language of the General's official report,) had ascended the broken and steep acclivity of Independencia hill, and planted his gun in position. From it, under cover of the breastwork, an effectual fire was immediately directed against the Palace, distant about four hundred yards on the next point of the ridge. While this battery was thus brought to bear, part of the forces having possession of the heights on the opposite side of the road were ordered over. They consisted of the Fifth Infantry, Major Scott, and the Louisiana volunteers, Captain Blanchard, and reached the position about 8 o'clock. The enemy made several demonstrations of an attempt to regain the work last captured. At length, a large body of lancers swept around and up the hill with that intent. A sortie, by a strong force, was also made from the Palace. General Worth anticipated the movement. Lieutenant Colonel Childs had advanced two companies of light troops, under Captain Vinton, which skirmished with the enemy's advance. The main body was drawn up, with Hays' and Walker's Rifles, on the flanks. As the enemy rapidly advanced, the light troops retired in good order, and maintained a fire, until a general discharge from the whole line was ordered. The Mexicans were at once thrown into confusion, and fled, pursued by the whole force, under Colonel Childs, beyond the Palace, which the latter then entered, taking possession of it, and the fort ad- joining it. Down the enemy rushed towards the city, crowd- ing a street which extended to the Palace ; and, as they fled, the guns of their last mountain fastness were turned upon them. 234 THE EASTERN FORTS EVACUATED. Thus terminated the complete investment of the works com- manding the rear of the city, and the communication with the country to the south-west. The honour of the achievement was enhanced by the fact, that it was attended with but trifling sacrifice on the part of the victors. Prudence had gone hand in hand with courage, even in the boldest enterprizes of the two eventful days. General Worth's next care was to place the captured guns in positions on the heights to reach the great plaza of the town ; and, except a necessary garrison for Independencia hill, the di- vision was concentrated at the Bishop's Palace, to be prepared the next day for an assault on the city from that quarter. The day, the 22d, which had so well employed Worth's Division, was less actively spent by the wearied troops of the other division in the eastern quarter of the town. According to the official report, the citadel and other works continued to fire at parties exposed to their range, and at the work now oc- cupied by our troops. The guard left in it the preceding night, except Captain Ridgely's company, was relieved at mid-day by General Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was thrown under cover in front of the town, to repel any demon- stration of cavalry in that quarter. During the night of the 22d the enemy evacuated nearly all his defences in the lower part of the city. This was reported to General Taylor early in the morning of the 23d, by General Quitman, who had already meditated an assault upon those works. He immediately sent instructions to that officer, leaving it to his discretion to enter the city, covering his men by the houses and walls, and ad- vance carefully so far as he might deem it prudent. After ordering the remainder of the troops as a reserve, under the orders of Brigadier General Twiggs, General Taylor re- paired to the abandoned works, and discovered that a portion of General Quitman's brigade had entered the town, and were successfully forcing their way towards the principal plaza. He then ordered up the second regiment of Texas mounted volun- teers, who entered the city, dismounted, and, under the imme- diate orders of General Henderson, co-operated with General APPROACH TO THE MAIN PLAZA. 235 Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was also ordered up, supported by the Third Infantry, and after firing for some time at the Cathedral, a portion of it was likewise thrown into the city. The American troops advanced from house to house, and from square to square, until they reached a streetbut one square in rear of the principal plaza, in and near which the enemy's force was mainly concentrated. This advance was conducted vigorously, but with due caution, and although de- structive to the enemy, was attended with but small loss on our part. Captain Ridgely, in the mean time, had served a captured piece in the first battery against the city, until the ad- vance of our men rendered it imprudent to fire in the direction of the Cathedral. General Taylor was satisfied that his troops could operate successfully in the city, and that the enemy had retired from the lower portion of it to make a stand behind his barricades. As General Quitman's brigade had been on duty the previous night, he determined to withdraw the troops to the evacuated works, and concert with General Worth a com- bined attack upon the town. The troops accordingly fell back deliberately, in good order, and resumed their original posi- tions, General Quitman's brigade being relieved after nightfall by that of General Hamer. When General Worth heard, on. the morning of the 23d, the heavy and continuous fire from the opposite side of the city, he concluded that a main attack was in progress under the direction of General Taylor, and that orders for his co- operation had miscarried, owing to the long circuit over which it was necessary to carry them. His own intention was to have prosecuted his success during that night, but he instantly gave orders to this effect. To quote the clear and concise language of Worth's despatch, two columns of attack were organised to move along the two principal streets leading from one position in direction of the great Plaza, composed of light troops slightly extended, with orders to mask the men when- ever practicable ; avoid those points swept by the enemy's artillery ; to press on to the first Plaza Capilla; to get hold of the end of streets beyond ; then enter the buildings, and by 236 COMMAND OF THE MAIN PLAZA. , means of picks and bars, break through the longitudinal sec- tion of the walls ; work from house to house, and ascending the roofs, to place themselves upon the same breast-height with the enemy. Light artillery, by sections, and pieces under Duncan, Roland, Mackall, Martin, Hays, Irons, Clarke, and Curd, followed at suitable intervals, covered by reserves to guard the pieces, and the whole operation against the pro- bable enterprizes of cavalry upon our left. This was effectu- ally done by seizing and commanding the head of every cross street. The streets were, at different and well chosen points, barricaded by heavy masonry walls, with embrasures for one or more guns, and in every instance well supported by cross batteries. These arrangements of defence gave to the opera- tions at this moment a complicated character, demanding much care and precaution ; but the work went on steadily, simultaneously, and successfully. About the time Worth's assault commenced, the fire ceased from Taylor's force in the opposite quarter. Disengaged on the one side, the enemy was enabled to shift men and guns to Worth's quarters, as was soon manifested by accumulation of fire. At dark his com- mand had worked through the walls and squares, and reached to within one block of the great Plaza, leaving a covered way in its rear ; carried a large building which towered over the principal defences, and during the night and ensuing morning crowned the roof with two howitzers and a six-pounder. As< the columns of attack were moving from the Palace hill, Major Munroe, chief of artillery, arrived with a ten-inch mortar, which was immediately advanced to the Plaza Chapel, put in position, masked by the church wall, its bed adjusted as ra- pidly as possible, and by sunset opened upon the great square. At this period, our troops had worked to within one square of the Plaza. The exact position of their comrades on the oppo- site side was not known, and the distance of the position to be assailed from the bomb battery but conjectural : eight hun- dred yards was assumed, and fuze and charge regulated ac- cordingly. The first shell fell a little short of the point on which it was directed, and beside our troops. A slight in- CESSATION O F . A R. M S . 237 crease of the projecting charge gave exact results. The whole \ service was managed by Major Munroe most admirably; and, I combined with Other. operations, exercised a decided influence ; upon the final results. Early on the morning of the 23d, ; Major Brown, artillery battalion, was despatched with a select command, and one section of Mackall's battery, under Lieu- • tenant Irons, to occupy a stone mill and adjacent grounds, | constituting one league in advance the narrow gorge, near Sta. Catarina. The Major took possession, repulsed the enemy's picquets, and was preparing his command to resist any attack, when he received orders to retrace his steps, enter the city, and form the main reserve to the assaulting columns. He came up in good time and good order, and was at once under fire. It has been seen that Generals Taylor and Worth were thus advancing close to the centre of the town from opposite direc- tions. General Taylor, after withdrawing his troops from their advanced position near the Grand Plaza, as has been stated, returned to his camp, and there, in the evening, learned for the first time the extent of Worth's success in the town prim- to that hour. He deemed it too late then to change his own dispositions ; and receiving a note near midnight from General Worth, stating his further progress, and the position of his mortar battery, he requested that officer to await his co-opera- tion for further movements. Meanwhile General Worth had received from the enemy a flag of truce, asking a brief suspen- sion of his fire. Thus concluded the four days' action against Monterey, in the entreaty of its defenders for a capitulation. No previous achievement in the history of American arms affords a more splendid illustration of the heroism of the American character. Before proceeding to give further details of the siege, or comments upon the result of it, the following despatches of General Taylor are presented, to complete the chaia of the narrative. It is unnecessary to introduce his brief accounts of the affairs of the 21st, 22d, and 23d, written on those days respectively, as the detailed report, dated the 9th of Octobci , and annexed, covers the whole ground. 238 COMMISSION ON CAPITULATION. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Camp before Monterey, September 25, 1846. Sir : At noon on the 23d instant, while our troops were closely engaged in the lower part of the city, as reported in my last despatch, I received, by a flag, a communication from the Governor of the State of New Leon, which is herewith enclosed, (No. 1.) To this communication I deemed it my duty to return an answer declining to allow the inhabitants to leave the city. By 11 o'clock, P. M., the 2d division, which had entered the town from the direction of the Bishop's Palace, had advanced within one square of the principal Plaza, and occupied the city up to that point. The mortar had, in the mean time, been placed in battery in the cemetery, within good range of the heart of the town, and was served throughout the night with good effect. Early in the morning of the 24th, I received a flag from the town, bearing a communication from General Ampudia, which I enclose, (No. 2,) and to which I returned the answer, (No. 3.) I also arranged w r ith the bearer of the flag a cessation of fire until 12 o'clock, which hour I appointed to receive the - final answer of General Ampudia at General Worth's head- quarters. Before the appointed time, however, General Am- pudia had signified to General Worth his desire for a personal interview with me, for the purpose of making some definitive arrangement. An interview was accordingly appointed for one o'clock, and resulted in the naming of a commission to draw up articles of agreement regulating the withdrawal of the Mexi- can forces, and a temporary cessation of hostilities. The com- missioners named by the Mexican general-in-chief were Gene- rals Ortega and Raquena, and Manl. M. Llano, governor of New Leon. Those named on the American side were General Worth, General Henderson, Governor of Texas, and Colonel Davis, Mississippi volunteers. The commission finally settled upon the articles, of which I enclose a copy, (No. 4,) the du- plicates of which (in Spanish and English) have been duly signed. Agreeably to the provisions of the 4th article, our troops have this morning occupied the citadel A M p\l D I A ' S PRO'PO^AL T O KliTiRK. 239 It will be seen that the terms granted the Mexican garrison are less rigorous than those first imposed. The gallant defence of the town, and the fact of a recent change of government iti Mexico, believed to be favourable to the interests of peace, in- duced me to concur with the commission in these terms, which will, I trust, receive the approval of the government. The latter consideration also prompted the convention for a tempo- rary cessation of hostilities. Though scarcely warranted by my instructions, yet the change of affairs since those instruc- tions were issued seemed to warrant this course. I beg to be advised, as early as practicable, whether I have met the views of the government in these particulars. I regret to report that Captain Williams, topographical engi- neers, and Lieut. Terrett, 1st infantry, have died of the wounds received in the engagement of the 21st. Captain Gathir, 7th infantry, was wounded (not badly) on the 23d. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Maj. Gen. U. S. Army, commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Head-Quarters, Monterey. September 23, 1846, at 9 o'clock at night. General : As I have made all the defence of which I believe this city capable, I have fulfilled my obligation, and done all required by that military honour which, to a certain degree, is common to all the armies of the civilized world ; and, as a continuation of the defence would only bring upon the popula- tion distresses to which they have already been sufficiently subjected by the evils consequent upon war, and believing that the American government will appreciate these sentiments, I propose to your excellency to evacuate the city and citadel, taking with me the personnel and materiel of war which is left, and under the assurance that no prosecution shall be undertaken against the citizens who have taken part in the defence. 21 240 TAYLOR'S ANSWER TO AMPUDIA. Be pleased to accept the assurance of my most distinguished consideration. Pedro de Ampudia. Senor Don Z. Tatloh, General-in-chief of the American Army. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Camp before Monterey, September 24, 1846, 7 o'clock, A. M. Sir: Your communication, bearing date at 9 o'clock, P. M. on the 23d, has just been received by the hands of Colonel . Moreno. In answer to your proposition to evacuate the city and fort, with all the personnel and materiel of war, I have to state that my duty compels me to decline acceding to it. A complete surrender of the town and garrison, the latter as prisoners of •war, is now demanded. But such surrender will be upon terms ; and the gallant defence of the place, creditable alike to the Mexican troops and nation, will prompt me to make those terms as liberal as possible. The garrison will be allowed, at your option, after laying down its arms, to retire to the interior, on condition of not serving again during the war, or until regularly exchanged. I need hardly say that the rights of non- combatants will be respected. An answer to this communication is required by 12 o'clock. If you assent to an accommodation, an officer will be despatched at once, under instructions to arrange the conditions. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Major Gen. U. S. A., commanding. 8enor Don Petjro dk Ampudia, General-in-chief, Monterey. GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF NEW LEON. Your excellency having resolved to occupy this place by force of arms, and the Mexican general-in-chief to defend it A THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST OF TAYLOR. 241 at any cost, as required by his honour and duty, thousands of victims, who, from their poverty and want of means, find them- selves still upon the theatre of war, and who would be use- lessly sacrificed, claim the rights which in all times and in all countries humanity holds sacred. As Governor of this State, and as the legitimate representa- tive of the people thereof, I now address your excellency ; and I hope, from your regard to humanity, and from your sense of the rules which govern civilized nations, that whatever may be the result of the present struggle, you will give orders that the resident families shall be respected, or will concede a sufficient time for them to remove from this capital. I have the honour to salute your excellency, general-in-chief of the army of occupation of the United States, and to assure you of my highest consideration. God and liberty! Monterey, September 23, 1846, 8 o'clock in the morning. Francisco de P. Morales. To the General-in-chief of the Army of Occupation of the United States. I Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Camp near Monterey, Oct. 9, 1846. Sir : I have now the honour to submit a detailed report of the recent operations before Monterey, resulting in the capitu- lation of that city. The information received on the route from Seralvo, and particularly the continual appearance in our front of the Mexi- can cavalry, which had a slight skirmish with our advance at the village of Ramas, induced the belief, as we approached Monterey, that the enemy would defend that place. Upon reaching the neighbourhood of the city, on the morning of the 19th of September, this belief was fully confirmed. It was as- certained that he occupied the town in force ; that a large work had been constructed commanding all the northern approaches ; and that the Bishop's Palace, and some heights in its vicinity near the Saltillo road, had also been fortified and occupied 242 Taylor's detailed report. with troops and artillery. It was known, from information previously received, that the eastern approaches were com- manded by several small works in the lower edge of the city. The configuration of the heights and gorges in the direction of the Saltillo road, as visible from the point attained by our advance on the morning of the 19th, led me to suspect that it was practicable to turn all the works in that direction, and thus cut the enemy's line of communication. After establishing my camp at the "Walnut Springs," three miles from Monterey, the .nearest suitable position, it was, accordingly, my first care to order a close reconnoissance of the ground in question, which was executed on the evening of the 19th by the engi- neer officers, under the direction of Major Mansfield. A re- connoissance of the eastern approaches was at the same time made by Captain Williams, topographical engineer. The ex- amination made by Major Mansfield proved the entire practi- cability of throwing forward a column to the Saltillo road, and thus turning the position of the enemy. Deeming this to be an operation of essential importance, orders were given to Brevet Brig. Gen. Worth, commanding the second division, to march with his command on the 20th; to turn the hill of the Bishop's Palace ; to occupy a position on the Saltillo road, and to carry the enemy's detached works in that quarter, where practicable. The first regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, under command of Col. Hays, was associated with the second division on this service. Capt. Sanders, engineers, and Lieut. Meade, topographical engineers, were also ordered to report to Gen. Worth for duty with his column. At 2 o'clock, P. M., on the 20th, the second division took up its march. It was soon discovered, by officers who were reconnoitring the town, and communicated to Gen. Worth, that its movement had been perceived, and that the enemy was throwing reinforcements towards the Bishop's Palace and the height which commands it. To divert his attention as far as practicable, the first division, under Brigadier General Twiggs, and field division of volunteers, under Major General Butler, were displayed in front of the town until dark. Arrange- DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. 243 ments were made at the same time to place in battery during the night, at a suitable distance from the enemy's main work, the citadel, two twenty-four-pounder howitzers, and a ten-inch mortar, with a view to open a lire on the following day, when I proposed to make a diversion in favour of General Worth's movement. The 4th infantry covered this battery during the ( night. Gen. Worth had, in the mean time, reached and occu- pied for the night a defensive position just without range of a battery above the Bishop's Palace, having made a reconnais- sance as far as the Saltilio road. Before proceeding to report the operations of the 21st and following days, I beg leave to state that I shall mention in de- tail only those which .were conducted against the eastern ex- tremity of the city, or elsewhere, under my immediate direc- tion, referring you for the particulars of Gen. Worth's opera- tions, which were entirely detached, to his own full report transmitted herewith. Early on the morning of the 21st, I received a note from General Worth, written at half-past 9 o'clock the night before, suggesting what I had already intended, a strong diversion against the centre and left of the town to favour his enterprize against the heights in rear. The infantry and artillery of the first division, and the field division of volunteers, were or- dered under arms and took the direction of the city, leaving one company of each regiment as a camp guard. The 2d dra- goons, under Lieut. Col. May, and Col. Wood's regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, under the immediate direction of General Henderson, were directed to the right to support Gen. Worth, if necessary, and to make an impression, if practicable, upon the upper quarter of the city. Upon approaching the mortar battery, the 1st and 3d regiments of infantry and batta- lion of Baltimore and Washington volunteers, with Captain Bragg's field battery — the whole under the command of Lieut. Col. Garland — were directed towards the lower part of the town, with orders to make a strong demonstration, and carry one of the enemy's advanced works, if it could be done with- out too heavy loss. Major Mansfield, engineers, and Captain 21* 244 DERAILED REPORT CONTINUED. Williams and Lieut* Pope, topographical engineers, accompa- - nied this column, Major Mansfield being charged with its di- rection, and the designation of points of attack. In the mean time the mortar, served by Capt. Ramsay, of the ordnance, and the howitzer battery under Capt. Webster, 1st artillery, had opened their fire upon the citadel, which was deliberately sustained, and answered from the work. Gen. Butler's divi- sion had now taken up a position in rear of this battery, when the- discharges of artillery, mingled finally with a rapid fire of small arms, showed that Lieut. Garland's command had become warmly engaged. I now deemed it necessary to support this attack, and accordingly ordered the 4th infantry and three regi- ments of General Butler's division to march at once by the left flank in the direction of the advanced work at the lower ex- tremity of the town, leaving one regiment (1st Kentucky) to cover the mortar and howitzer battery. By some mistake two companies of the 4th infantry did not receive this order, and .consequently did not join the advance companies until some time afterwards. Lieut. Col. Garland's command had approached the town in ? direction to the right of the advanced work (No. 1.) at the north-eastern angle of the city, and the engineer officer, covered by skirmishers, had succeeded in entering the suburbs and gaining cover. The remainder of this command now advanced and entered the town under a heavy fire of artillery from the citadel and the works on the left, and of musketry from the houses and small works in front. A movement to the right was attempted with a view to gain the rear of No. 1, and carry that work, but the troops were so much exposed to a fire which they could not effectually return, and had already sustained such severe loss, particularly in officers, that it was deemed best to withdraw them to a more secure position. Captain Backus, 1st infantry, however, with a portion of his own and other companies, had gained the roof of a tannery, which looked directly into the gorge of No. 1, and from which he poured a most destructive fire into that work and upon the strong building in its rear. This fire happily coincided in point DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. 245 of time with the advance of a portion of the volunteer division upon No. 1, and contributed largely to the fall of that strong and important work. The three regiments of the volunteer division, under the im- mediate command of Major General Butler, had in the mean time advanced in the direction of No. 1. The leading brigade, under Brigadier General Quitman, continued its advance upon that work, preceded by three companies of the 4th infantry, while General Butler, with the first Ohio regiment, entered the town to the right. The companies of the 4th infantry had ad- vanced within short range of the work, when they were received by a fire that almost, in one moment, struck down one-third of the officers and men, and rendered it necessary to retire and effect a conjunction with the two other companies then advanc- ing. General Quitman's brigade, though suffering most se- verely, particularly in the Tennessef regiment, continued its advance, and finally carried the wo 1 k in handsome style, as well as the strong building in its reai . Five pieces of artillery, a considerable supply of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, in- cluding three officers, fell into their hands. Major General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regiment, after entering the edge of the town, discovered that nothing was to be accomplished in his front, and at this point, yielding to the suggestions of seve- ral officers, I ordered a retrograde movement ; but learning almost immediately, from one of my staff, that the battery No. 1. was in our possession, the order was countermanded : and I determined to hold the battery and defences already gained. General Butler with the 1st Ohio regiment, then entered the town at a point farther to the left, and marched in the direc- tion of the battery No. 2. While making an examination, with a view to ascertain the possibility of carrying this second work by storm, the general was wounded and soon after com- pelled to quit the field. As the strength of No. 2, and the heavy musketry fire flanking the approach, rendered it impos- sible to carry it without great loss, the 1st Ohio regiment was withdrawn from the town. Fragments of the various regimen s engaged were now under % 246 DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. cover of the captured battery, and some buildings in its front, and on the right. The field batteries of Captains Bragg and Ridgely were also partially covered by the battery. An inces- sant fire was kept up on this position from battery No. 2, and other works on its right, and from the citadel on all our ap- proaches. General Twiggs, though quite unwell, joined me at this point, and was instrumental in causing the artillery cap- tured from the enemy to be placed in battery, and served by Captain Ridgely against No. 2, until the arrival of Captain Webster's howitzer battery, which took its place. In the mean time, I directed such men as could be collected of the 1st, 3d, and 4th regiments, and Baltimore battalion, to enter the town, penetrating to the right, and carry the 2d battery if possible. This command, under Lieut. Col. Garland, advanced beyond the bridge " Purisima," when, finding it impracticable to gain the rear of the 2d battery, a portion of it sustained themselves for some time in that advanced position ; but as no permanent impression could be made at that point, and the main object of the general operation had been effected, the command, in- cluding a section of Captain Ridgely's battery, which had joined it, was withdrawn to battery No. 1. During the absence of this column, a demonstration of cavalry was reported in the direction of the citadel. Captain Bragg, who was at hand, immediately galloped with his battery to a suitable position, from which a few discharges effectually dispersed the enemy. Captain Miller, 1st Infantry, was despatched with a mixed com- mand to support the battery on this service. The enemy's lancers had previously charged upon the Ohio and a part of the Mississippi regiment, near some fields at a distance from the edge of the town, and had been repulsed with a considerable loss. A demonstration of cavalry on the opposite side of the river was also dispersed in the course of the afternoon by Cap- tain Ridgely's battery, and the squadrons returned to the city. At the approach of evening, all the troops that had been en- gaged were ordered back to camp, except Captain Ridgely's battery, and the regular infantry of the first division, who were detailed as a guard for the works during the night, under com- DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. 247 mand of Lieut. Col. Garland. One battalion of the 1st Ken- tucky regiment was ordered to reinforce this command. In- trenching tools were procured, and additional strength was given to the works, and protection to the men, by working parties during the night, under the direction of Lieut. Scarritt, engineers. The main object proposed in the morning had been effected. A powerful diversion had been made to favour the operations of the 2d division, one of the enemy's advanced works had been carried, and we now had a strong foot-hold in the town. But this had not been accomplished without a heavy loss, em- bracing some of our gallant and promising officers. Captain Williams, topographical engineers, Lieuts. Terrett and Dil- worth, 1st infantry, Lieut. Woods, 2d infantry, Capts* Morris and Field, Bvt. Major Barbour, Lieuts. Irwin and Hazlett, 3d infantry, Lieut. Hoskins, 4th infantry, Lieut. Col. Watson, Bal- timore battalion, Capt. Allen and Lieut. Putman, Tennessee regiment, and Lieut. Hett, Ohio regiment, were killed, or have since died of wounds received in this engagement, while the number and rank of the officers wounded gives additional proof of the obstinacy of the contest, and the good conduct of our troops. The number of killed and wounded incident to the operations in the lower part of the city on the 21st is 394. • Early in the morning of this day, (21st,) the advance of the 2d division had encountered the enemy in force, and after a brief but sharp corilict, repulsed him with heavy loss. Gen. Worth then succeeded in gaining a position on the Saltillo road, thus cutting the enemy's line of communication. From this position the two heights south of the Saltillo road were carried in succession, and the gun taken in one of them turned upon the Bishop's Palace. These important successes were fortunately obtained with comparatively small loss ; Captain McKavett, 8th infantry, being the only officer killed. The 22d day of September passed without any active opera tions in the lower part of the city. The citadel and othei works continued to fire at parties exposed to their range, and at the work now occupied by our troops. The guard left in it 248 DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. the preceding night, except Capt. Ridgely's company, was re- lieved at mid-day by Gen. Quitman's brigade, Capt. Bragg's battery was thrown under cover in front of the town to repel any demonstration of cavalry in that quarter. At dawn of day, the height above the Bishop's Palace was carried, and soon after meridian, the Palace itself was taken and its guns turned upon the fugitive garrison. The object for which the 2d divi- sion was detached had thus been completely accomplished, and I felt confident that with a strong force occupying the road and heights in his rear, and a good position below the city in our possession, the enemy could not possibly maintain the town. During the night of the 22d, the enemy evacuated nearly all his defences in the lower part of the city. This was reported to me early in the morning of the 23d by Gen. Quitman, who . had already meditated an assault upon those works. I imme- diately sent instructions to that officer, leaving it to his discre- tion to enter the city, covering his men by the houses and walls, and advance carefully as far as he might deem prudent. After ordering the remainder of the troops as a reserve, under the orders of Brigadier General Twiggs, I repaired to the abandoned works, and discovered that a portion of Gen. Quit- man's brigade had entered the town, and were successfully forcing their way towards the principal plaza. I then ordered up the 2d regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, who entered the city, dismounted, and, under the immediate orders of Gen. Henderson, co-operated with Gen. Quitman's brigade. Capt. Bragg's battery was also ordered up, supported by the 3d in- fantry ; and after firing for some time at the cathedral, a por- tion of it was likewise thrown into the city. Our troops ad- vanced from house to house, and from square to square, until they reached a street but one square in rear of the principal plaza, in and near which the enemy's force was mainly concen- trated. This advance was conducted vigorously but with due caution, and although destructive to the enemy, was attended with but small loss on our part. Captain Ridgely, in the mean time, had served a captured piece in battery No. 1, against the city, until the advance of our men rendered it imprudent to fire • t DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. 249 in the direction of the Cathedral. I was now satisfied that we could operate successfully in the city, and that the enemy had retired from the lower portion of it to make a stand behind his barricades. As Gen. Quitman's brigade had been on duty the previous night, I determined to withdraw the troops to the evacuated works, and concert with Gen. Worth a combined attack upon the town. The troops accordingly fell back de- liberately, in good order, and resumed their original positions, General Quitman's brigade being relieved after nightfall by that of General Hamer. On my return to camp, I met an offi- cer with the intelligence that General Worth, induced by the firing in the lower part of the city, was about making an attack at the upper extremity, which had also been evacuated by the enemy to a considerable distance. I regretted that this infor- mation had not reached me before leaving the city, but still deemed it inexpedient to change my orders, and accordingly returned to the camp. A note from Gen. Worth, written at eleven o'clock, P. M., informed me that he had advanced to within a short distance of the principal plaza, and that the mortar (which had been sent to his division in the morning) was doing good execution within effective range of the enemy's position. Desiring to make no further attempt upon the city without complete concert as to the lines and mode of approach, I in- structed that officer to suspend his advance until I could have an interview with him on the following morning at his head- quarters. Early on the morning of the 24th, I received, through Colonel Moreno, a communication from General Ampudia, proposing to evacuate the town ; which, with the answer, were forwarded with my first despatch. I arranged with Colonel Moreno a cessation of fire until twelve o'clock, at which hour I would receive the answer of the Mexican general at General Worth's head-quarters, to which I soon repaired. In the mean time, General Ampudia had signified to General Worth his desire for a personal interview with me, to which I acceded, and which finally resulted in a capitulation, placing the town 250 DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. and the material of war, with certain exceptions, in our posses- sion. A copy of that capitulation was transmitted with my first despatch. Upon occupying the city, it was discovered to be of great strength in itself, and to have its approaches carefully and strongly fortified. The town and works were armed with forty-two pieces of cannon, well supplied with ammunition, and manned with a force of at least 7000 troops of the line, and from 2000 to 3000 irregulars. The force under my orders before Monterey, as exhibited by the accompanying return, was 425 officers, and 6220 men. Our artillery consisted of one ten-inch mortar, two twenty-four-pounder howitzers, and four light field batteries of four guns each — the mortar being the only piece suitable to the operations of a siege. Our loss is twelve officers and one hundred and eight men killed ; thirty-one officers and three hundred and thirty-seven men wounded. That of the enemy is not known, but is be- lieved considerably to exceed our own. I take pleasure in bringing to the notice of the government the good conduct of the troops, both regulars and volunteers, which has been conspicuous throughout the operations. I am proud to bear testimony to their coolness and constancy in battle, and the cheerfulness with which they have submitted to exposure and privation. To the general officers commanding divisions — Major Generals Butler and Henderson, and Briga- dier Generals Twiggs and Worth — I must express my obliga- tions for the efficient aid which they have rendered in their re- spective commands. I was unfortunately deprived, early on the 21st, of the valuable services of Major General Butler, who was disabled by a wound received in the attack on the city. Major General Henderson, commanding the Texan volun- teers, has given me important aid in the organization of the command, and its subsequent operations. Brigadier General Twiggs rendered important services with his division, and as the second in command after Major General Butler was disabled, brigadier General Worth was intrusted with" an important de- tachment which rendered his operations independent of my ♦ DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. 251 own. These operations were conducted with ability, and crowned with complete success. I desire also to notice Brigadier Generals Hamer and Quit- man, commanding brigades in General Butler's Division. Lieu- tenant Colonels Garland and Wilson, commanding brigades in General Twiggs' Division. Colonels Mitchell, Campbell, Davis and Wood, commanding the Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, and 2d Texas regiments, respectively, and Majors Lear, Allen, and Abercrombie, commanding the 3d, 4th, and 1st regiments of infantry ; all of whom served under my eye, and conducted ( their commands with coolness and gallantry against the enemy. Colonel Mitchell, Lieut. Col. McClung, Mississippi regiment, Major Lear, 3d infantry, and Major Alexander, Tennessee re- giment, were all severely wounded, as were Captain Lamotte, 1st infantry, Lieut. Graham, 4th infantry, Adjutant Armstrong, Ohio regiment, Lieutenants Scudder and Allen, Tennessee re- giment, and Lieut. Howard, Mississippi regiment, while leading their men against the enemy's position, on the 21st and 23d. After the fall of Col. Mitchell, the command of the 1st Ohio regiment devolved upon Lieut. Col. Weller; that of the 3d infantry, after the fall of Major Lear, devolved in succession upon Capt. Bainbridge and Capt. Henry, the former being also wounded. The following named officers have been favourably noticed by their commanders: Lieut. Col. Anderson, and Ad- jutant Heiman, Tennessee regiment; Lieut. Col. McClung, Captains Cooper and Downing, Lieutenants 'Patterson, Cal- houn, Moore, Russell, and Cook, Mississippi regiment ; also Serjeant Major Hearlan, Mississippi regiment, and Major Price, and Capt. J. Smith, unattached, but serving with it. I beg leave also to call attention to the good conduct of Captain Johnston, Ohio regiment, and Lieut. Hooker, 1st artillery, serving on the staff of Gen. Hamer, and of Lieutenant Nichols, >2d artillery, on that of General Quitman. Captains Bragg and Ridgely seived with their batteries during the operations under my own observation, and in part under my immediate orders, and exhibited distinguished skill and gallantry. Captain Web- ster, 1st artillery, assisted by Lieutenants Donaldson and Bo- 252 DETAILED REPORT CONTINUED. wen, rendered good service with the howitzer battery, which was much exposed to the enemy's fire on the 21st. From the nature of the operations, the 2d dragoons were not brought into action, but were usefully employed, under the direction of Lieut. Col. May, as escorts, and in keeping open our communications. The 1st Kentucky regiment was also prevented from participating in the action of the 21st, but rendered highly important services under Col. Ormsby, in covering the mortar battery, and holding in check the enemy's cavalry during the day. I have noticed above, the officers whose conduct either fell under my immediate eye, or is noticed only in minor reports which are not forwarded. For further mention of individuals, I beg leave to refer to the reports of division commanders herewith respectfully transmitted. I fully concur in their re- commendations, and desire that they be considered as a part of my own report. From the officers of my personal staff, and of the engineers, topographical engineers, and ordnance, associated with me, I have derived valuable and efficient assistance during the opera- tions. Col. Whiting, assistant quartermaster general, Colonels Croghan and Belknap, inspector generals, Major Bliss, assistant adjutant general, Captain Sibley, assistant quartermaster, Cap- tain Waggaman, commissary of subsistence, Captain Eaton and Lieut. Garnett, aids-de-camp, and Major Kirby and Van Buren, pay department, served near my person, and were ever prompt, in all situations, in the communication of my orders and instructions. I must express my particular obligations to Brevet Major Mansfield and Lieut. Scarritt, corps of engineers. They both rendered most important services in reconnoitring the enemy's positions, conducting troops in attack, and strengthening the works captured from the enemy. Major Mansfield, though wounded on the 21st, remained' on duty during that and the following day, until confined by his wound to camp. Capt. Williams, topographical engineers, to my great regret and the loss of the service, was mortally wounded while fearlessly exposing himself in the attack of the 21st. worth's detailed report. 253 Lieut. Pope, of the same corps, was active and zealous through- out the operations. Major Munroe, chief of the artillery, Major Craig and Capt. Ramsay, of the ordnance, were assidu- ous in the performance of their proper duties. The former superintended their mortar service on the 22d, as particularly mentioned in the report of Gen. Worth, to which I also refer for the services of the engineer and topographical officers de- tached with the second division. Surgeon Craig, medical director, was actively employed in the important duties of his department, and the medical staff generally were unremitting in their attention to the numerous wounded — their duties with the regular regiments being ren- dered uncommonly arduous by the small number serving in the field. I respectfully enclose herewith, in addition to the reports of division commanders, a field return of the force before Mon- terey on the 21st of September — a return of killed, wounded, and missing during the operations — and two topographical sketches — one exhibiting all the movements around Monterey — the other on a large scale illustrating more particularly the operations in the lower quarter of the city — prepared respec- tively by Lieutenants Meade and Pope, topographical engineers. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Major Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. In justice to the gallant officers and corps of General Worth's Division, the annexed extract from his report of hfis operations is given, in connection with that of the commander- in-chief. ** When every officer and every soldier, regular and volun- teer, has, through a series of harassing and severe conflicts, in the valley and on the mountain, in the street and on the house- top, cheerfully, bravely, and successfully executed every sei- vice, and complied with every exaction of valour and patriotism, the task is as difficult as delicate to distinguish individuals ; 254 OFFICERS DISTINGUISHED IN IT. and yet it will always happen, as it has always happened, in the varied scenes of battle and siege, that fortune presents to some those opportunities which all would have seized with gladness and avidity. It is my pleasing and grateful duty to present to the consideration of the general-in-chief, and through him to the government, the distinguished conduct of Brigaflier General Smith, (colonel of rifles ;) Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Childs, artillery battalion ; Colonel Hays, Texan riflemen ; Bre- vet Lieutenant Colonel Duncan, horse artillery ; and Captain C. F. Smith, 2d artillery, commanding light troops 1st brigade. "My thanks are also especially due to Lieutenant Colonel Staniford, 8th, (commanding 1st brigade;) Major Munroe, chief of artillery, (general staff;) Brevet Major Brown and Cap- tain J. R. Vinton, artillery battalion ; Captain J. B. Scott, ar- tillery battalion, (light troops;) Major Scott, commanding, and Captain Merrill, 5th ; Captains Miles, (commanding,) Holmes, and Ross, 7th infantry, and Captain Screvin, commanding 8th infantry ; to Lieutenant Colonel Walker, (captain of rifles ;) Major Chevalier and Captain McCulloch, of the Texan, and Captain Blanchard, of the Louisiana volunteers ; to Lieutenants Mackall, (commanding battery,) Roland, Martin, Hays, Irons, Clarke, and Curd, horse artillery ; Lieutenant Longstreet, com- manding light company 8th ; Lieutenant Ayres, artillery batta- lion, who was among the first in the assault upon the palace, and who secured the colours. Each of the officers named either headed special detachments, columns of attack, storming parties, or detached guns ; and all were conspicuous for con- duct and courage. My attention has been particularly directed, by General Smith, to the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Gard- ner, 7th infantry, during the assault upon the city ; on which occasion he threw himself in advance, and on the most exposed points, animating the men by his brave example. Particular attention has also been called to the Lieutenants Nicholls, (brothers,) Louisiana volunteers, as having highly distinguished themselves by personal daring and efficient service. The offi- cers of brigade and regimental stall' were conspicuous in the field, or in their particular departments. Lieutenants Hanson, OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED. 255 (commanding,) Vandorn, (aid-de-carap 7th ;) Lieutenant Ro- binson, 5th, (quartermaster's department,) on the staff* of Gene- ral Smith ; Lieutenant and Adjutant Clarke, 8th infantry, staff' 1st brigade ; Lieutenants Benjamin, adjutant artillery battalion ; Peck, ordnance office, artillery battalion ; G. Deas, adjutant 5th, and Page, adjutant 7th infantry, are highly commended by their respective chiefs; to the justness of which I have the pleasure to add my personal observation. In common with the entire division, my particular thanks are tendered to Assistant^ Sur- geons Porter, (senior,) Byrne, Conrad, De Leon, and Roberts, (medical department,) who were ever at hand, in the close fight, promptly administering to the wounded and suffering soldier. To the officers of the staff, general and personal, more espe- cially associated with myself — honourable Colonel Balie Pey- ton, Louisiana troops, who did me the honour to serve as aid- de-camp ; Captain Sanders, military engineers ; Lieutenant Meade, topographical engineers ; Lieutenants E. Deas, Daniels, and Ripley, quartermaster's and commissary's staff, and Lieu- t tenants Pemberton, 4th artillery, and Wood, 8th infantry, my aids-de-camp — I have to express the greatest obligation. In such diversified operations, during the three days and nights, they were constantly in motion, performing every executive duty with zeal and intelligence, only surpassed by daring and courage in conflict. I beg to commend each to special con- sideration. " We have to lament the gallant Captains McKavett, 8th infantry, an officer of high merit, killed on, the 21st, and Gil- lespie, Texas volunteers, on the 22d. The latter eminently distinguished himself, while leading his brave company at the storming of the first height, and perished in seeking similar distinction on a second occasion. Captain Gatlin and Lieute- nant Potter, 7th, Lieutenant Russell, 5th, and Wainwright, 8th infantry, and Lieutenant R#ece, Texas riflemen, received hon- ourable (happily not mortal) wounds. Annexed is an accurate topographical sketch of the theatre of operations ; for which I am indebted, as in many other respects, to the intelligent zeal and gallantry of Lieutenant Meade, engineers. 22* 256 COMMENT ON THE ACTION. " The following non-commissioned officers are reported as having highly distinguished themselves : Serjeants Hazard, 4th, and Dilworth, 3d artillery ; Quartermaster Serjeant Henry, 7th infantry ; Cross, company C. ; Rounds, Bradford, (colour Ser- jeant,) and Wragg, company E. ; Bailey, company U. ; and Ballard, 7th infantry." Where few, if any, were found wanting, in the protracted, arduous, and singularly dangerous duty imposed on the troops who stormed Monterey, it is not possible, however grateful the task, to do historical justice to each individual. The reports of the commanders, already quoted, must therefore close the notice of personal merit, which shone forth on that memorable occasion — memorable not only in the annals of America, but in the records of modern warfare. A town, situated where nature pointed out security, protected on two sides by moun- tains, and on two others by a continuous series of fortresses; every house constructed as if defiance to enemies rather than shelter to friends had been intended ; every street walled up with immovable barriers ; heavy ordnance on every com- . manding elevation, and twelve thousand men in arms to defend every accessible point ; a town thus built and thus fortified, was in three days entered and possessed by six thousand as- sailants, two-thirds of them unused not only to battle, but even to the ordinary hardships of military life. Commentary cannot magnify the lustre of such an achievement. If it is right and reasonable to applaud actions, involving of necessity the inflic- tion of misery and the sacrifice of life, the capture of Monterey is one to command unqualified admiration. When General Ampudia's desire for a temporary cessation of the assault had been assented to, General Taylor, accom- panied by several officers, met him on the 24th of September, at a house designated for a conference. The Mexican com- mander there stated officially, that •ommissioners of the United States, appointed to treat with Mexico respecting the terms of a peace, had been received by the government of the latter country ; and further, that a change in that government having taken place, the orders under which he defended Monterey COMMISSION ON CAPITULATION. 257 were no longer virtual. Under these circumstances he pro- fessed to desire the conference. A conversation between him and General Taylor ensued, when it was discovered that the views of Ampudia were wholly inadmissible, and that no set- tlement could probably be made without a further appeal to arms. At this stage of the proceedings, it was suggested on the part of Ampudia's friends, that a mixed commission should be appointed to consider the terms of capitulation ; which being acceded to, General Taylor appointed General Worth, General J. P. Henderson, and Colonel Jefferson Davis, on his behalf; and General Ampudia appointed General J. Ma. Ortega, Gen- eral P. Raguena, and Senor M. Ma. Llano, the governor of the city. The instructions of General Taylor to the United States' commissioners were embodied by them in the following articles : Copy of demand by the United Stated Commissioners. » I. As the legitimate result of the operations before this place, and the present position of the contending armies, we demand the surrender of the town, the arms and munitions of war, and all other public property within the place. " II. That the Mexican armed force retire beyond the Rin- conada, Linares, and San Fernando, on the coast. "III. The commanding general of the army of the United States agrees that the Mexican officers reserve their side arms and private baggage; and the troops be allowed to retire under their officers without parole, a reasonable time being allowed to withdraw the forces: "IV. The immediate delivery of the main work, now occu- pied, to the army of the United States. " V. To avoid collisions, and for mutual convenience, that the troops of the United States shall not occupy the town until the Mexican forces have been withdrawn, except for hospital purposes, store-houses, &c. "VI. The commanding general of the United States agrees not to advance beyond the line specified in the second section 258 PROCEEDINGS OF COMMISSIONERS. before the expiration of eight weeks, or until the respective governments can be heard from." The subsequent proceedings of the commissioners are quoted from the minutes of them, made, and afterwards published by Colonel Davis, one of the commissioners. He says : — " The terms of the demand were refused by the Mexican commissioners, who drew up a counter proposition, of which I only recollect that it contained a permission to the Mexican forces to retire with their arms. This was urged as a matter of soldierly pride, and as an ordinary courtesy. We had reached the limit of our instructions, and the commission rose to report the disagreement. "Upon returning to the reception room, after the fact had been announced that the commissioners could not agree upon terms, General Ampudia entered at length upon the question, treating the point of disagreement as one which involved the honour of his country, spoke of his desire for a settlement without further bloodshed, and said he did not care about the pieces of artillery which he had at the place. General Taylor responded to the wish to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. It was agreed the commission should reassemble, and we were in- structed to concede the small arms ; and I supposed there would be no question about the artillery. The Mexican com- missioners now urged that, as all other arms had been recog- nised, it would be discreditable to the artillery if required to march out without any thing to represent their arm, and stated, in answer to an inquiry, that they had a battery of light artil- lery, manoeuvred and equipped as such. The commission again rose, and reported the disagreement on the point of artillery. "General Taylor hearing that more was demanded than the middle ground, upon which, in a spirit of generosity, he had agreed to place the capitulation, announced the conference at an end ; and rose in a manner which showed his determina- tion to talk no more. As he crossed the room to leave it, one of the Mexican commissioners addressed him, and some con- PROCEEDINGS OF COMMISSIONERS. 259 versation which I did not hear ensued. General Worth asked permission of General Taylor, and addressed some remarks to General Ampudia, the spirit of which was that he had mani- fested throughout the negotiation, viz : generosity and leniency, and a desire to spare the further effusion of blood. The com- mission reassembled, and the points of capitulation were agreed upon. After a short recess we again repaired to the room in which we had parted from the Mexican commissioners ; they were tardy in joining us, and slow in executing the instrument of capitulation. The seventh, eighth, and ninth articles were added during this session. At a late hour the English original was handed to General Taylor for his examination ; the Span- ish original having been sent to General Ampudia. General Taylor signed and delivered to me the instrument as it was submitted to him, and I returned to receive the Spanish copy with the signature of General Ampudia, and send that having General Taylor's signature, that each general might counter- sign the original to be retained by the other. General Am- pudia did not sign the instrument as was expected, but came himself to meet the commissioners. He raised many points which had been settled, and evinced a disposition to make the Spanish differ in essential points from the English instrument. General Worth was absent. Finally he was required to sign the instrument prepared for his own commissioners, and the English original was left with him that he might have it trans- lated, (which he promised to do that night,) and be ready the next morning with a Spanish duplicate of the English instru- ment left with him. By this means the two instruments would be made to correspond, and he be compelled to admit his knowledge of the contents of the English original before he signed it. "The next morning the commission again met, again the at- tempt was made, as had been often done before by solicitation, to gain some grant in addition to the compact. Thus we had, at their request, adopted the word capitulation in lieu of sur- render ; they now wished to substitute stipulation for capitula- tion. It finally became necessary to make a peremptory de- mand for the immediate signing of the English instrument by 260 TERMS OF CAPITULATION. General Ampudia, and the literal translation (now perfected) by the commissioners and their general. The Spanish instru- ment first s : gned by General Ampudia was destroyed in pre- sence of his commissioners ; the translation of our own instru- ment was countersigned by General Taylor, and delivered. The agreement was complete, and it only remained to execute the terms." This agreement, signed bv the commissioners, was in the fol- lowing form : Terms of capitulation of the city of Monterey, the capital of Nueva Leon, agreed upon by the undersigned commissioners, to wit: General Worth, of the United States army, General Henderson, of the Texas volunteers, and Colonel Davis, of the Mississippi riflemen, on the part of Major General Taylor, commanding-in-chief the United States forces, and General Requena, and General Ortega, of the army of Mexico, and Senor Manuel M. Llano, governor of Nueva Leon, on the part of Senor General Don Pedro Ampudia, commanding-in-chief the army of the north of Mexico. Art. 1. As the legitimate result of the operations before this place, and the present position of the contending armies, it is agreed that the city, the fortifications, cannon, the munitions of war, and all other public property, with the under-mentioned exceptions, be surrendered to the commanding general of the United States forces now at Monterey. Art. 2. That the Mexican forces be allowed to retain the following arms, to wit : the commissioned officers their side arms, the infantry their arms and accoutrements, the cavalry their arms and accoutrements, the artillery one field battery, not to exceed six pieces, with twenty-one rounds of ammuni- tion. Art. 3. That the Mexican armed forces retire within seven clays from this date, beyond the line formed by the pass of the Rinconada, the city of Linares and San Fernando de Presas. Art. 4. That the citadel at Monterey be evacuated by the Mexican, and occupied by the American forces, to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Art. 5. To avoid collisions, and for mutual convenience, EVACUATION OF THE CITY. 2G1 that the troops of the United States will not occupy die city until the Mexican forces have withdrawn, except for hospital and storage purposes. Art. 6. That the forces of the United States will not ad- vance beyond the line specified in the 2d [3d] article, before the expiration of eight weeks, or until the orders or instructions of the respective governments cajsj be received. Art. 7. That the public property to be delivered shall be turned over and received by officers appointed by the com- manding generals of the two armies. Art. S. That all doubts as to ihe meaning of any of the preceding articles shall be solved by an equitable con- struction, and on principles of liberality to the retiring array* Art. 9. That the Mexican flag, when struck at the citadel, may be saluted by its own battery. Done at Monterey, September 24, 1846. These articles were signed by the commissioners already named. As these terms gave rise to much comment at the time, and exposed General Taylor to reproach in certain quarters, the grounds on which he admitted them, seemingly too lenient to the enemy, will be considered in a future chapter. The evi- dence is conclusive that his justice, prudence, and humanity were, in this instance, worthy of his energy and courage. In accordance with the terms of the capitulation, the Mexican army evacuated Monterey. The movement was made by di- visions on the 26th, the 27th, and the 28th of September. Ampudia, in a Proclamation announcing the fact, stated that he had "suffered great scarcity of ammunition and provisions." The ammunition of all kinds, found by General Taylor in Mon- terey, was superabundant, — and the misrepresentation of the fact by Ampudia, proves not only his disregard of truth, but his recklessness of infamy. The following is a recapitulation, from the official report, of the killed, wounded, and missing, — a sad proof of the cost of our triumph before Monterey. 262 LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. KILLED AND WOUNDED AT THE SIEGE OF MONTEREY. KILLED. WODNDED. 9 .. 47 General Twiggs', Second Regiment Dragoons First Infantry 2 Second Infantry 1 Third Infantry 5 Fourth Infantry 2 Third Artillery Light Artillery Baltimore Battalion Captain Shriver's Com- ~> pany of Texas Vol'rs. $ [Killed 63, wounded 127.] General Worth's. Artillery Fifth Infantry Seventh Infantry Eighth Infantry Phoenix Company of Lou- "> isiana Volunteers. y Colonel Hays' Regiment 7 of Texas Volunteers. $ [Killed 39, wounded 41.] . . General Butler's. General Commanding .... Kentucky Regiment Ohio Regiment Ten riessee Regiment Mississippi Regiment Colonel Wood's Texas Rangers. [Killed 56, wounded 224.] Grand total 13 . E C & 60 1 1 % ft (c £ 4 14 14 11 4 9 27 31 23 9 7 106 12 25 .. 1 19 15 27 9 72 53 68 125 17 17 4 17 "21 5 32 75 47 Grand total killed Wounded Killed and wounded Missing 16 .. 208 16 .. 246 158 392 550 11 Grand total, killed, wounded, and missing 561 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY. 263 CHAPTER XIV. Occupation of the City by Worth's Division — Encampment of Butler's and Twiggs' Divisions Consideration of the Terms of Capitulation — Implied Censure by Congress of the Terms — Defence of the same — Jefferson Davis' Views regarding the Capitulation — Taylor's Letter to the Adjutant General, justifying it Private Letter on the same Subject, and on his past Operations and future Plans — Concluding Remarks. As soon as the Mexican army had evacuated Monterey, General Taylor quartered General Worth's Division in it, and continued the two other divisions of his army at the grove of San Domingo, the only woodland in the neighbourhood of the city. The wounded were duly cared for, and all who had shared the labours and dangers of the siege enjoyed a period of comparative repose. Immediate measures, however, were adopted, to restore and improve the defences of the city, and to be prepared for future active operations if the hostilities should be renewed. Before the recital of General Taylor's subsequent movements is commenced, it is proper to recur to the terms of the capitulation. A portion of his own troops was undoubtedly at the moment disappointed, on seeing the Mexican army departing, with all the parade of music, ban- ners, and arms, when it was believed to be wholly at the mercy of the victors. Time and reflection dissipated this feeling, which had never interfered with the respect or confidence with which Taylor had previously inspired his men. But con- demnation of his policy was seriously avowed in a quarter, which affected his position before the country. When the news of the convention of Monterey was received at Wash- ington, it found little favour with the government, or with a portion of the administration party in Congress. When a re- solution of thanks to General Taylor, and the army under his command, for their gallantry in the capture of Monterey, was under consideration, a proviso was offered and finally adopted, in these words : " That nothing herein contained shall be con- strued into an approbation of the terms of the capitulation of Monterey." The friends of General Taylor contended that 23 264 TERMS OF CAPITULATION JUSTIFIED. this proviso was in effect a resolution of censure, and on this ground many of them refused to vote for the original resolu- tion of thanks. It becomes necessary to show how entirely unmerited was this deliberate exception to his conduct. The first proper testimony on this head is that of the commissioners who agreed to the Convention. They are men, whose intelli- gence, patriotism, and courage are above suspicion, and who would neither have counselled nor sanctioned any terms short of the most honourable and expedient which our army could have enforced. Colonel Davis, one of the commissioners, ably defended the convention in a document already quoted, and the grounds of his defence were fully approved by General Worth. That document takes briefly this view of the question : "It is demonstrable, from the position and known prowess of the two armies, that we could drive the enemy from the town ; but the town was untenable whilst the main fort (called the new citadel) remained in the hands of the enemy. Being without siege artillery or entrenching tools, we could only hope to carry this fort by storm, after a heavy loss from our army ; which, isolated in a hostile country, now numbered less than half the forces of the enemy. When all this had been achieved, what more would we have gained than by the capitulation ? "General Taylor's force was too small to invest the town. It was, therefore, always in the power of the enemy to retreat, bearing his light arms. Our army, poorly provided, and with very insufficient transportation, could not have overtaken, if they had pursued the flying enemy. Hence the conclusion, that as it was not in our power to capture the main body of the Mexican army, it is unreasonable to suppose their general would have surrendered at discretion. The moral effect of retiring under the capitulation was certainly greater than if the enemy had retired without our consent. By this course we secured the large supply of ammunition he had collected in Monterey — which, had the assault been continued, must have been exploded by our shells, as it was principally stored in the « Cathedral,' which, being supposed to be filled with troops, was the especial aim of our pieces. The destruction which taylor's defence of the terms. 265 this explosion would have produced must have involved the advance of both divisions of our troops ; and I commend this to the contemplation of those whose arguments have been drawn from facts learned since the commissioners closed their negotiations." The correspondence of General Taylor further elucidates the respective positions of his own and the enemy's forces at the time of the capitulation. The armistice not having been ap- proved by the President, he was instructed to "give the requi- site notice, that the armistice was to cease at once, and that each party was at liberty to resume and prosecute hostilities without restriction." The reply to the letter enclosing this order is subjoined. It is addressed to the Adjutant General. "Camp near Monterey, November 8, 1846. " Sir : In reply to so much of the communication of the Secre- tary of War, as relates to the reasons which induced the con- vention resulting in the capitulation of Monterey, I have the honour to submit the following remarks. » The convention presents two distinct points : First, the permission granted the Mexican army to retire with their arms, o,c. Secondly, the temporary cessation of hostilities for the term of eight weeks. I shall remark on these in order. " The force with which I marched on Monterey was limited by causes beyond my control to about six thousand men. With this force, as every military man must admit, who has seen the ground, it was entirely impossible to invest Monterey so closely as to prevent the escape of the garrison. Although the main communication with the interior was in our possession, yet one route was open to the Mexicans throughout the operations, and could not be closed, as were also other minor tracks and passes through the mountains. Had we, therefore, insisted on more rigorous terms than those granted, the result would have been the escape of the body of the Mexican force, with the destruc tion of its artillery and magazines, our only advantage being the capture of a few prisoners of war, at the expense of valuable lives and much damage to the city. The consideration of hu- 266 MILITARY POINTS IN THE QUESTION. inanity was present to my mind during the conference which led to the convention, and outweighed, in my judgment, the doubtful advantages to be gained by a resumption of the attack upon the town. This conclusion has been fully confirmed by an inspection of the enemy's 'position and means since the sur- render. It was discovered that his principal magazine, con- taining an immense amount of powder, was in the Cathedral, completely exposed to our shells from two directions. The explosion of this mass of powder, which must have ultimately resulted from a continuance of the bombardment, would have been infinitely disastrous, involving the destruction not only of Mexican troops, but of non-combatants, and even our own people, had we pressed the attack. " In regard to the temporary cessation of hostilities, the fact that we are not at this moment, within eleven days of the termi- nation of the period fixed by the convention, prepared to move forward in force, is a sufficient explanation of the military reasons which dictated this suspension of arms. It paralyzed the enemy during a period when, from the want of necessary means, we could not possibly move. 1 desire distinctly to state, and to call the attention of the authorities to the fact, that, with all diligence in breaking mules and setting up wagons, the first wagons in addition to our original train from Corpus Christi, (and but one hundred and twenty-five in number,) reached mj head-quarters on the same day with the secretary's communi- cation of October 13th, viz : the 2d inst. At the date of the surrender of Monterey, our force had not more than ten days' rations, and even now, with all our endeavours, we have not more than twenty-five. The task of fighting and beating THE ENEMY IS AMONG THE LEAST DIFFICULT THAT WE EN- COUNTER — the great question of supplies necessarily controls all the operations in a country like this. At the date of the convention, I could not of course have foreseen that the Depart- ment would direct an important detachment from my command without consulting me, or without waiting the result of the main operation under my orders. " I have touched the prominent military points involved in NATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS. 267 the convention of Monterey. There were other considerations which weighed with the commissioners in framing, and with myself in approving the articles of the convention. In the conference with General Ampudia, I was distinctly told by him that he had invited it to spare the further effusion of blood, and because General Santa Anna had declared himself favorable to peace. I knew that our government had made propositions to that of Mexico to negotiate, and I deemed that the change of government in that country since my instructions, fully war- ranted me in entertaining considerations of policy. My grand motive in moving forward with very limited supplies had been to increase the inducements of the Mexican Government to ne- gotiate for peace. Whatever may be the actual views or dis- position of the Mexican rulers or of General Santa Anna, it is not unknown to the Government that I had the very best reason for believing the statement of General Ampudia to be true. It was my opinion at the time of the convention, and it has not been changed, that the liberal treatment of the Mexican army, and the suspension of arms, would exert none but a favorable influence in our behalf. » The result of the entire operation has been to throw the Mexican army back more than three hundred miles to the city of San Luis Potosi, and to open the country to us as far as we choose to penetrate it up to the same point. " It has been my purpose in this communication not so much to defend the convention from the censure which I deeply re- gret to find implied in the secretary's letter, as to show that it was not adopted without cogent reasons, most of which occur of themselves to the minds of all who are acquainted with the condition of things here. To that end I beg that it may be laid before the General-in-chief and Secretary of War." The nature of the assaults made on General Taylor, in con- sequence of the capitulation so ably and conclusively defended and justified in the foregoing official letter, induced one of his friends, whom he had privately addressed on the same subject, in connection with a general review of his operations, to per- 23* 268 r R 1 V A I B L E T T E II O C TAYLOR. mit the publication of a letter not intended for the public eye. That letter superadds such testimony in favour of his whole course, that being already before the world, it would be an ailectation injurious to his reputation to exclude it from these pages. It is the more interesting, therefore, as an unstudied and frank exposition of his conduct and motives, and of the difficulties which he encountered in the fulfilment of the mo- mentous duties imposed upon him. Portions of the letter were suppressed in the original publication. It is here given as it first appeared. Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation or Invasion. Monterey, Mexico, Nov. 5, 1846. My Dear ******* Your very kind and acceptable letter of the 31st of August, ******** reached me only a short time since for which I beg leave to tender to you my sincere thanks. [A few confidential remarks on certain public transactions are here omitted.] After considerable apparent delay on the part of the Quarter- master's Department, in getting steamboats into the Rio Grande adapted to its navigation, I succeeded, towards the latter part of August, in throwing forward to Camargo, (a town situated on the San Juan river, three miles from its junction with the Rio Grande, on the west side, nearly five hundred miles from Brazos Island by water, and two hundred by land, and one hundred and forty from this place,) a considerable depot of provisions, ordnance, ammunition, and forage, and then, having brought together an important portion of my command, I de- termined on moving on this place. Accordingly, after collect- ing 1700 pack mules, with their attendants and conductors, in the enemy's country, (the principal means of transportation for our provisions, baggage, &c.,) I left, on the 5th of September, to join my advance, which had preceded me a few days to Se- ralvo, a small village seventy-live miles on the route, which I did on the 9th, and, after waiting there a few days for some of the corps to get up, moved on and reached here on the 19th, with 6250 men — 2700 regulars, the balance volunteers. For THE CAPITULATION JUSTIFIED. 269 what took place afterwards I must refer you to several reports, particularly to my detailed one of the 9th ult. I do not be- lieve the authorities at Washington are at all satisfied with my conduct in regard to the terms of capitulation entered into with the Mexican commander, which you no doubt have seen, as they have been made public through the official organ, and copied into various other newspapers. I have this moment received an answer (to my despatch announcing the surrender of Monterey, and the circumstances attending the same,) from the Secretary of War, stating that " it was regretted by the President that it was not advisable to insist on the terms I had proposed in my communication to the Mexican commander, in regard to giving up the city," — adding that " the circum- stances which dictated, no doubt justified the change." Al- though the terms of capitulation may be considered too liberal on our part by the President and his advisers, as well as by many others at a distance, particularly by those who do not understand the position which we occupied, (otherwise they might come to a different conclusion in regard to the matter,) yet, on due reflection, I see nothing to induce me to regret the course I pursued. The proposition on the part of General Ampudia, which had much to do in determining my course in the matter, was based on the ground that our government had proposed to his to set- tle existing difficulties by negotiation, (which I knew was the case, without knowing the result,) which was then under con- sideration by the proper authorities, and which he (General Ampudia,) had no doubt would result favourably, as the whole of his people were in favour of peace. If so, I considered the further effusion of blood not only unnecessary, but improper. Their force was also considerably larger than ours ; and, from the size and position of the place, we could not completely invest it ; so that the greater portion of their troops, if not the whole, had they been disposed to do so, could, any night, have abandoned the city at once, entered the mountain passes, and effected their retreat, do what we could ! Had we been put to the alternative of taking the place by storm, (which there 270 taylor's views on the war. is no doubt we should have succeeded in doing,) we should, in all probability, have lost fifty or one hundred men in killed, besides the wounded, which I wished to avoid, as there ap- peared to be a prospect of peace, even if a distant one. I also wished to avoid the destruction of women and children, which must have been very great, had the storming process been resorted to. Besides, they had a very large and strong fortification, a short distance from the city, which, if carried with the bayonet, must have been taken at great sacrifice of life ; and, with our limited train of heavy or battering artillery, it would have required twenty or twenty-five days to take it by regular approaches. That they should have surrendered a place nearly as strong as Quebec, well fortified under the direction of skilful engi- neers, their works garnished with forty-two pieces of artillery, abundantly supplied with ammunition, garrisoned by 7000 re- gulars and 2000 irregular troops, in addition to some thousand citizens capable of, and no doubt actually, bearing arms, and aiding in its defence, to an opposing force of half their number, scantily supplied with provisions, and with a light train of ar- tillery, is among the unaccountable occurrences of the times. I am decidedly opposed to carrying the war beyond Saltillo in this direction, which place has been entirely abandoned by the Mexican forces, all of whom have been concentrated at San Luis Potosi ; and I shall lose no time in taking possession of the former as soon as the cessation of hostilities referred to expires, which I have notified the Mexican authorities will be the close on the 13th instant, by direction of the President of the United States. If we are (in the language of Mr. Polk and General Scott) under the necessity of " conquering a peace," and that by tak- ing the capital of the country, we must go to Vera Cruz, take that place, and then march on the city of Mexico. To do so in any other direction, I consider out of the question. But, admitting that we conquer a peace by doing so, say at the end of the next twelve months, will the amount of blood and treasure, which must be expended in doing so, be compensated HIS PLAN OF SECURING PEACE. 271 by the same ? I think not — especially, if the country we sub- due is to be given up ; and I imagine there are but few indi- viduals in our country who think of annexing Mexico to the United States. I do not intend to carry on my operations (as previously stated) beyond Saltillo, deeming it next to impracticable to do so. It then becomes a question as to what is best to be done. It seems to me, the most judicious course to be pursued on our part, would be to take possession at once of the line we would accept by negotiation, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, and occupy the same, or keep what we already have possession of ; and that, with Tampico, (which I hope to take in the course of next month, or as soon as I can get the means of transportation,) will give us all on this side of the Sierra Madre, and as soon as I occupy Saltillo, will include six or seven states or provinces, thus holding Tampico, Vic- toria, Monterey, Saltillo, Monelova, Chihuahua, (which, I pre- sume, General Wool has possession of by this time) Santa Fe, and the Californias, and say to Mexico, " drive us from the country!" — throwing on her the responsibility and expense of carrying on offensive war — at the same time closely blockading all her ports on the Pacific and the Gulf. A course of this kind, if persevered in for a short time, would soon bring her to her proper senses, and compel her to sue for peace — pro- vided there is a government in the country sufficiently stable for us to treat with, which I fear will hardly be the case for many years to come. Without large reinforcements of volun- teers from the United States, say ten or fifteen thousand, (those previously sent out having already been greatly reduced by sickness and other casualties), I do not believe it would be advisable to march beyond Saltillo, which is more than two hundred miles beyond our depots on the Rio Grande, a very long line on which to keep up supplies (over a land route in a country like this) for a large force, and certain to be attended with an expense which it will be frightful to contemplate, when closely looked into. From Saltillo to San Luis Potosi, the next place of import- 272 STATEMENT OF HIS DIFFICULTIES. ance on the road to the city of Mexico, is three hundred miles, one hundred and forty badly watered, where no supplies of any kind could be procured for men or horses. I have informed the war department that 20,000 efficient men would be neces- sary to insure success if we move on that place, (a city con- taining a population of 60,000, where the enemy could bring together and sustain, besides the citizens, an army of 50,000) a force which, I apprehend, will hardly be collected by us, with the train necessary to feed it, as well as to transport va- rious other supplies, particularly ordnance and munitions of war. In regard to the armistice, which would have expired by limitation in a few days, we lost nothing by it, as we could not movje even now, had the enemy continued to occupy Saltillo ; for, strange to say, the first wagon which has reached me since the declaration of war was on the 2d instant, the same day on which I received from Washington an acknowledgment of my despatch announcing the taking of Monterey ; and then I re- ceived only one hundred and twenty-five, so that I have been, since May last, completely crippled, and am still so, for want of transportation. After raking and scraping the country for miles around Camargo, collecting every pack mule and other means of transportation, I could bring here only 80,000 rations, (fifteen days' supply,) with a moderate supply of ordnance, ammunition, &c, to do which, all the corps had to leave behind a portion of their camp equipage necessary for their comfort, and, in some instances, among the volunteers, their personal baggage. I moved in such a way, and with such limited means, that, had I not succeeded, I should no doubt have been severely reprimanded, if nothing worse. I did so to sustain the administration, * * * * # # # * # Of the two regiments of mounted men from Tennessee and Kentucky, wlio left their respective states to join me, in June, the kilter has just reached Camargo ; the former had not got to Matamoros at the latest dates from there. Admitting that they will be as long in returning as in getting here, (to say no- POPULAR APPROBATION OF TAYLOR. 273 thing of the time necessary to recruit their horses) and were to be discharged in time to reach their homes, they could serve in Mexico but a very short time. The foregoing remarks are not made with the view of finding fault with any one, but to point out the difficulties with which I have had to contend. Monterey, the capital of New Leon, is situated on the San Juan river, where it comes out of the mountains, the city (which contains a population of about twelve thousand) being in part surrounded by them, at the head of a large and beautiful val- ley. The houses are of stone, in the Moorish style, with fiat roofs, which, with their strongly enclosed yards and gardens, in high stone walls all looped for musketry, make them each a fortress within itself. It is the most important place in Northern Mexico, or on the east side of the Sierra Madre, commanding the only pass or road for carriages from this side, between it and the Gulf of Mexico, to the table lands of the Sierra, by or through which the city of Mexico can be reached. I much fear I shall have exhausted your patience, before you get half through this long and uninteresting letter. If so, you can only commit it to the flames, and think no more about it, as I write in great haste, besides being interrupted every five minutes ; so that you must make great allowances for blots, interlineations, and blunders, as well as want of connection in many parts of the same. Be so good as to present me most kindly to your excellent lady, and accept my sincere wishes for your continued health, prosperity, and fame. I remain, truly and sincerely, your friend, Z. Taylor. It is conceived that the foregoing correspondence thoroughly sustains General Taylor in the apparently liberal terms which he allowed Ampudia in the capitulation of Monterey. Public opinion sustained him from the first ; and, it is believed, that there are few now so bold as to except to his course. If so, it is the only instance in the many and arduous tasks which he has executed since the commencement of the Mexican war, 274 taylor's forces at Monterey. which even his enemies could seize upon as worthy of exception. Tried in every emergency, he has been found equal to the trust reposed in him. So has the nation felt, so has it spoken, when, with one indignant voice, it crushed a suggestion that he should be superseded in the field of his many extraordinary trials and triumphs. CHAPTER XV. Taylor's Force after the Capitulation of Monterey — Reflections on his Course- Advices from Washington — Instructions regarding Supplies — Regarding an Expedition against the Coast — Further Correspondence — Taylor's Replies — Opinions regarding his own future Operations — Regarding the Force requisite to invest Vera Cruz — Assertion of his Rights as Commander — Answer to the Secretary respecting forced Supplies — General Wool's Entry into Monclova. The correspondence of General Taylor, given in the pre- ceding pages, for the purpose of elucidating the single subject of the capitulation of Monterey, contains, also, references to other matters which have not yet been presented in a narrative form. To these it is necessary to revert, in order that the posi- tion of the army under Taylor's command, and the plans of the War Department, affecting its strength and movements, may be fully understood. The capture of Monterey found the army reduced at that place to an effective force of about five thousand five hundred men. This small number was soon further diminished by sick- ness, occasioned by the climate, the season, and hardship, to which more than two-thirds of the men were wholly unused. General Taylor's letters have shown that, had no armistice been agreed upon, he would still have been unable to make any im- portant hostile demonstration far beyond Monterey. It is true that a large body of volunteers was at different points on the Rio Grande ; but the difficulty of subsistence, on a line already extended one hundred and fifty miles, forbade the immediate FAILURE OF PEACE OVERTURES. 275 advance of the army. This was a difficulty apprehended by Taylor from the first, and for which he was in no sense respon- sible. At the moment that the operations against Monterey were in progress, a change of policy, as regards the mode of procuring supplies, was recommended by the government. Advices having been received at Washington that a new effort to secure peace by negotiation had failed — the reliance on Santa Anna's pacific disposition having been misplaced — the Secretary of War wrote to General Taylor that this deter- mination on the part of the enemy suggested a change of policy in regard to our dealings with the people of the country occupied by our troops. On this particular subject the Secre- tary continued his instructions, under date of the 22d of Sep- tember, in these terms : " Public opinion, it is to be presumed, will have some influ- ence upon the decision of that congress. The progress of our arms, and the positions we may occupy when that body shall come together, cannot fail to have effect upon its action in re- gard to our proposal to negotiate. Should the campaign be successful, and our troops be in possession of important de- partments of the enemy's country, the inducement for a speedy peace will be greatly strengthened. " It is far from being certain that our military occupation of the enemy's country is not a blessing to the inhabitants in the vicinity. They are shielded from the burdens and exactions of their own authorities, protected in their persons, and fur- nished with a most profitable market for most kinds of their property. A state of things so favourable to their interests may induce them to wish the continuance of hostilities. "The instructions heretofore given have required you to treat with great kindness the people, to respect private, pro- perty, and to abstain from appropriating it to the public use without purchase at a fair price. In some respects, this is going far beyond the common requirements of civilized war- fare. An invading army has the unquestionable right to draw its supplies from the enemy without paying for them, and to require contributions for its support. It may be proper, and 24 276 INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING SUPPLIES. good policy requires that discriminations should be made in imposing these burdens. Those who are friendly disposed or contribute aid should be treated with liberality ; yet the enemy may be made to feel the weight of the war, and thereby be- come interested to use their best efforts to bring about a state of peace. " It is also but just that a nation which is involved in a war, to obtain justice or to maintain its just rights, should shift the burden of it, as far as practicable, from itself, by throwing it upon the enemy. " Upon the liberal principles of civilized warfare, either of three modes may be pursued in relation to obtaining supplies from the enemy ; first to purchase them on such terms as the inhabitants of the country may choose to exact ; second, to pay a fair price without regard to the enhanced value resulting from the presence of a foreign army ; and third, to require them as contributions, without paying or engaging to pay therefor. " The last mode is the ordinary one, and you are instructed to adopt it, if in that way you are satisfied you can get abun- dant supplies for your forces ; but should you apprehend a dif- ficulty in this respect, then you will adopt the policy of paying the ordinary price, without allowing to the owners the advan- tages of the enhancement of the price resulting from the in- creased demand. Should you apprehend a deficiency under this last mode of dealing with the inhabitants, you will be obliged to submit to their exactions, provided by this mode you can supply your wants on better terms than by drawing what you may need from the United States. Should you attempt to supply your troops by contributions, or the appro- priation of private property, you will be careful to exempt the property of all foreigners from any and all exactions whatso- ever. The President hopes you will be able to derive from the enemy's country, without expense to the United States, the supplies you may need, or a considerable part of them ; but should you fail in this, you will procure them in the most economical manner." EXPEDITION AGAINST TAMPICO. 277 The same communication of the Secretary, from which the foregoing extracts are made, sets forth the plan of the govern- ment in the prosecution of the war. This plan was subse- quently modified, but as the instructions concerning it were partially fulfilled, they are here inserted as a necessary expla- nation of General Taylor's movements. The Secretary says: "It is proposed to take possession of the department of Tamaulipas, or some of the principal places in it, at the earliest practicable period. In this enterprize, it is believed that a co- operation of our squadron in the gulf will be important, if not necessary. It is presumed that a force of about three or four thousand men will be sufficient for this purpose — one third of which should be of the regular army. " We have not now sufficiently accurate knowledge of the * country to determine definitely as to the manner of conducting this enterprize. The dangerous navigation of the gulf at this season of the year, induces the hope that a column may be advanced by land from the present base of operations — the Rio Grande ; and that it may have an occasional communica- tion with our ships in the gulf. Should this land route be adjudged impracticable, or a debarkation be preferred, two points of landing have been suggested, one at the Bay of Sant- ander, and the other at Tampico. If a force be landed at the Bay of Santander, or in the vicinity of Soto la Marina, it could probably reach, without much difficulty, some of the principal places in the department of Tamaulipas, and march to, and take possession of Tampico ; while the route is yet open to be settled, as a better knowledge of the country may indicate, it is proper to speak more in detail of the force to be employed on this service. "It is not proposed to withdraw any of that now with you in your advance into the interior, nor to divert any of the rein- forcements that you may need to carry on jour operations in that quarter. It is believed that a sufficient force of the regular army for this expedition — about one regiment — may be drawn from the sea-board, including such companies as may have been left on the lower Rio Grande, and can be spared for that 278 INSTRUCTIONS TO GEN. PATTERSON. purpose. If a column should advance beyond that river into the interior of Tamaulipas, a part of the troops now on that line, might, it is presumed, be safely withdrawn to augment the invading column. It is not, however, intended to weaken the force on that line any further than it can, in your opinion, be safely done. " It is also proposed to put the force for the invasion of Tamaulipas under the immediate command of Major General Patterson, to be accompanied by Brigadier Generals Pillow and Shields, unless it should interfere with your previous arrange- ment with regard to these officers. To prevent delay, General Patterson will be directed to make preparations for this move- ment, so far as it can be done without disturbing your present arrangements on the Rio Grande, and proceed immediately, and without further orders from the Department, unless you ■should be of opinion that the withdrawal of the force proposed for this expedition, would interfere with your operations. This direction is given to General Patterson, because the time ne- cessary to receive information from you and return an answer from the department, may be the propitious moment for ope- rating with effect. The movement ought to be made with the least possible delay consistently with the health of the troops. It will be left to General Patterson, under your instructions, to decide whether the movement shall be by land or sea, or partly by each. It is desired that you should give him your views in regard to the last mode of prosecuting this expedition, parti- cularly as to the amount and description of force, and the quantity and kind of ordnance, &c, &c, which may be re- quired. Preparatory arrangements will be immediately ordered here for fitting out the expedition therein proposed, by which transports, provisions, &c, will be in readiness at the Brazos Santiago. By the time this communication will be received by you, it is expected that you will have reached Monterey, and perhaps Saltillo, and be able to present to the Department a satisfactory opinion of your ability to progress beyond that point. We shall anxiously look for information from you. Your advance to San Luis Potosi, if practicable, is rendered PROSECUTION OF THE WAR. 279 greatly more important by the movement contemplated to Tampico, by which you will, it is believed, be enabled to effect a co-operation with the squadron, and with the column under Major General Patterson, on a line in advance of the' Rio Grande. The squadron is now under orders to attack Tam- pico, with every prospect of success, and the probability is that the place will be captured in advance of General Patterson's movement." On the same day that General Taylor was thus addressed, the Secretary wrote to General Patterson that, unless General Taylor had made arrangements to employ him otherwise, i( was designed that the expedition against the State of Tamau- lipas should be under his immediate command. The Secretary added, " As soon as you shall learn from General Taylor that a sufficient force for the enterprize can be spared, and receive his directions in regard to it, you will lose no time in putting them in execution. If General Taylor should not give direc- tions as to moving by land or water, the choice will then be left for your determination." On the 13th of October, the Secretary addressed General Taylor in reference to the capitulation of Monterey, in which he expressed the "President's regret that it was not deemed advisable to insist on the terms first proposed." And after fur? ther remarks he proceeds to say : " As the offer recently made by the United States to open negotiations for a peace was not acceded to by the present rulers of Mexico, but reserved to be submitted to and acted on by a congress to be assembled on the 6th of December next, it was deemed by the government here highly important, that the war in the mean time should be prosecuted with the utmost vigour, to the end that they might be made sensible of the evils of its continuance, and thereby become more inclined to bring it to a speedy close. In pursuance of this policy an expedition was proposed, in my despatch of the 22d ult., for the purpose of taking possession of the entire Department of Tamaulipas, and, under the belief that it would not interfere •with your plans and operations, no doubt was entertained that 24* 280 DESIGNS OF THE GOVERNMENT. it would receive your concurrence and support. In anticipa- tion thereof, measures have been already taken to carry it out at the earliest practicable period. « &y the arrangement you have made for a temporary sus- pension of hostilities, within certain limits of the enemy's country, if continued to the end of the time stipulated, a con- siderable part of Tamaulipas will be exempted from military operations, until within a few days of the time fixed for the meeting of the Mexican Congress, and the expedition thereby delayed, or if prosecuted by the land or naval forces, might bring into question the good faith of the United States. " In the despatch before referred to, you will perceive that an attack by our naval force upon some places on the coast of Tamaulipas is also contemplated. Whatever may be the ad- vantage or the necessity of the co-operation of a land force, it must be withheld until near the close of November, if the armistice is continued to the end of the stipulated period. " The government is fully persuaded that, if you had been aware of the special reasons disclosed in the despatch of the 22d ultimo, and the intentions of the government, still enter- tained, you would not have acceded to the suspension of hos- tilities for even the limited period specified in the articles of capitulation ; but as its continuance depends on the orders of your government, you are instructed to give the requisite no- tice that the armistice is to cease at once, and that each party is at liberty to resume and prosecute hostilities without restric- tion. " The city of Monterey is regarded as an important acqui- sition. While held by a competent force, the authorities of Mexico may be considered as dispossessed of the Department of New Leon. It is therefore proposed that you should make the necessary arrangements for retaining possession of it during the war. " Not only Monterey, but the State of New Leon may, it is presumed, be regarded as a conquered country, and, as a con- sequence, the civil authorities of Mexico are in a measure superseded, or, at least, subject to your control. You will PLAN AGAINST VERA CRUZ. 281 give this subject your consideration, and permit only such civil functionaries to retain and exercise power as are well disposed ( towards the United States. " It is an object of much interest to the government to be put in possession of your views as to your future operations. "The season for carrying on military operations in the enemy's country lying on the gulf has now arrived. It is deemed important that we should have possession of the whole of Tamaulipas before the meeting of the Mexican Congress in December. It is hoped that the expedition for that purpose, suggested in my communication of the 22d of September, can be organized and sent forward without at all interfering with the contemplated operation of the forces under your immediate command. " Among the officers presented to your consideration to be employed in this expedition was Brigadier General Shields. Attention was directed to him, by the knowledge that he had become acquainted with some of the principal inhabitants of Tamaulipas, and by that means had acquired information which would have been useful in conducting the enterprize. He has, however, since received orders to join General Wool, and probably cannot be conveniently recalled. If this can be done, and another brigadier sent to General Wool, it might be ad- vantageous to the public service to make the exchange. This is, however, left entirely to yourself. As to the employment of Major General Patterson, and Brigadier General Pillow, the wishes of the President and Department are unchanged. "It is under consideration by the government, though not yet fully determined, to land a considerable force in the vici- nity of Vera Cruz, and invest that city. Should this be un- dertaken, a larger force of regular troops will be required than that assigned to the Tamaulipas expedition. It is desired to know if, in your opinion, a detachment of two thousand of this description of force can be spared for that purpose from those under your command, without essentially interfering with your plans and operations. It is not desired or intended to weaken the force with you at Monterey, or to embarrass you by divert- 282 LETTER TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT. ing troops from the Rio Grande, which you may deem neces- sary as reinforcements to the execution of your own contem- plated operations." In answer to the instructions of the Secretary, under date of the 22d of September, General Taylor wrote on the 13th of October that, under the terms of the capitulation, he could not detach a force south of a line from Linares to San Fer- nando. He therefore requested modified instructions. On the 15th of October, General Taylor wrote the following full, very able, and spirited letter to the War Department. It merits attention on three grounds : 1st, the views of the author con- cerning his own movements ; 2d, concerning an attack on Vera Cruz ; and, 3d, concerning his rights as commander. On the second head, experience has now justified his decided opinions. Had the operations against Mexico, through Vera Cruz, been effected by an army of twenty-five thousand men, it is unnecessary to say that, although the ultimate result might not have been different, the immediate effect of the presence of such a force would probably have saved time and treasure, and certainly the sacrifice of thousands of lives. HeaJ-Quarters, Army of Occupation. Camp near Monterey, Oct. 15, 1846. " Sir: — In my acknowledgment, dated the 12th instant, of the instructions of the Secretary of War, of September 22d, I briefly stated that the detachment to Tampico could not be made without contravening the convention of Monterey. Other reasons and more detailed views on this point and the general question of the campaign, I left to a subsequent com- munication, which I have now the honour to submit for the in- formation of the General-in-Chief and the Secretary of War. Such a point has been reached in the conduct of the war and the progress of our arms, as to make it proper to place my impressions and convictions very fully before the government. " I wish to remark, first of all, that I have considered Bri- gadier General Wool, though formally under my orders, yet as charged by the government with a distinct operation, with PROPOSED ADVANCE ON SAN LUIS. 283 which I was not at liberty to interfere. Though greatly in doubt as to the practicability of his reaching Chihuahua with artillery, and deeming the importance of the operation at any rate to be not at all commensurate with its difficulty and ex- pense, I have accordingly refrained from controlling his move- ments in any way. His force, therefore, forms no element in my calculations, particularly as it now is, or soon will be, en- tirely beyond my reach. " The Mexican army under General Ampudia has left Sal- tillo, and fallen back on San Luis Potosi — the last detachment, as I understand, being under orders to march to-day. General Santa Anna reached San Luis on the 8th instant, and is en- gaged in concentrating and organizing the army at that point. Whether the withdrawal of the forces to San Luis be intended to draw us into the country, far from supplies and support, or whether it be a political movement, connected with Santa Anna's return to power, it is impossible to say ; it is sufficient for my present argument to know that a heavy force is assem- bling in our front. Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila, is virtu- ally in our possession, and can be occupied, if necessary, the moment the convention is at an end. The occupation of Sal- tillo will lengthen our line seventy-five miles, but, on the other hand, may enable us to draw at least a portion of our bread- stuffs from the country. San Luis is about three hundred miles from Saltillo, perhaps more. " San Luis is a city of some 60,000 inhabitants, in a country abundant in resources, and at no great distance from the heart of the Republic, whence munitions of war and reinforcements can readily be drawn. It is at the same time nearly six hun- dred miles from the Rio Grande, which must continue to be the base of our operation, at least until we reach San Luis. "In view of the above facts, I hazard nothing in saying, that a column to move on San Luis from Saltillo, should, to ensure success, be at least 20,000 strong, of which 10,000 should be regular troops. After much reflection, I consider | the above as the smallest number of effective troops that could be employed on this service without incurring the hazard of 284 taylor's force inadequate. disaster and perhaps defeat. There would be required, be- sides, to keep open our long line, protect the depots, and se- cure the country already gained, a force of 5000 men — this, without including the force necessary to send to Tampico to take or hold that place. "The above estimate may seem large, when it is remem- bered that important results have been gained with a much smaller force. But we have hitherto operated near our own base, and the Mexicans at a great distance from theirs. Sal- tillo may be considered about equidistant from the Rio Grande and San Luis. Every day's march beyond it lengthens our already long line and curtails theirs — weakens us, and gives them strength. Hence the movement should not be undertaken except with a force so large as to render success certain. " In the above calculation I have supposed the Mexicans able to concentrate at San Luis a force of 40,000 to 50,000 men. With tolerable stability in the government, I doubt not their ability to do this, and it is not safe to assume any less number as a basis. " The force of twelve months' volunteers has suffered greatly from disease. Many have died, and a great number have been discharged for disability. So much has their effective strength been reduced by this cause and present sickness that, in the absence of official returns, I am satisfied that five hundred men per regiment would be a large average of effectives among the volunteers. This would give, including the cavalry, a force a little short of 9000 men, or, adding 4000 regulars, (our pre- sent strength is not 3000,) a total force of 13,000. Leaving the very modernte number of 3000 to secure our rear, I should not be able to march from Saltillo, with present and expected means, at the head of more than 10,000 men — a number, which, from considerations above stated, I deem to be entirely inadequate. " And now I come to the point presented in the Secretary's letters. A simultaneous movement on San Luis and Tampico is there suggested ; but it will readily be seen that, with only half the force which I consider necessary to march on one V i E w s <> P r i 11 i>i; o v i; i; a no .n a . -J-.". point, it is quite impossible to march on both, ami that nothing short of an effective fpr^je ?f j25 4 QQ0 Up 30,000 men would, on military principles, justify the double m«.\ etpent. And it is to be remarked, that the possession of T^ampicp is indispensable in case we advance to San Luis, for the line hence to the latter place is entirely too long- to be maintained pei in.in. ■atly, and must be abandoned for the shorter one from Tampico, the moment San Luis is taken. "I have spoken only of the number of troops deenie cessary for the prosecution of the campaign beyond Saltillo. It will be understood that largely increased meaps and mate- rial of every kind will be equally necessary to render the army efficient, such as cavalry and artillery horses, means of trans- portation, ordnance stores, ^vi . "The Department may be assured that the above views have not been given without mature reflection, and ha\< the result of experience and careful inquiry. It will be for the government to determine whether the war shall be prosecuted by directing an active campaign against San Luis and the capital, or whether the country already gained shall be held, and a defensive attitude assumed. In the latter case, tie eral line of the Sierra Mad re might very well be taken ; but even then, with the enemy in force in my front, it might be ^imprudent to detach to Tampico so large a force as bOOO or 4000 men, particularly of the description required for that ope- ration. If the co-operation of the army, therefore, be deemed essential to the success of the expedition against Tampico, I trust that it will be postponed for the present. " I have not been unmindful of the importance of taking Tampico, and have at least once addressed the Department on the subject. Nothing but the known exposure of the place to the ravages of the yellow fever prevented me from organizing an expedition against it last summer. I knew that, if taken, it could not with any certainty be held, and that the cause would not be removed before the last of November or the fust of December. " It may be expected that I should give my views as to the 286 PLAN AGAINST THE CAPITAL. policy of occupying a defensive line, to which I have above alluded. I am free to confess that, in view of the difficulties and expense attending a movement into the heart of the coun- try, and particularly in view of the unsettled and revolutionary character of the Mexican Government, the occupation of such a line seems to me the best course that can be adopted. The line taken might either be that on which we propose to insist as the boundary between the Republics — say the Rio Grande — or the line to which we have advanced, viz., the Sierra Madre, including Chihuahua and Santa Fe. The former line could be held with a much smaller force than the latter; but even the line of the Sierra Madre could be held with a force greatly less than would be required for an active campaign. Monterey controls the great outlet from the interior; a strong garrison, at this point, with an advance at Saltillo, and small corps at Monclova, Linares, Victoria, and Tampico, would effectually cover the line. " I have limited my remarks to the position of the army on this frontier, and the requirements of a campaign against San Luis Potosi ; the suggestions in the Secretary's letter being confined to this general theatre of operations. Should the Government determine to strike a decisive blow at Mexico, it is my opinion that the force should land near Vera Cruz or Al- varado, and, after establishing a secure depot, march thence on the capital. The amount of troops required for this service would not fall short, in my judgment, of 25,000 men, of which at least 10,000 should be regular troops. "In conclusion, I feel it my duty to make some remarks, which I would gladly have been spared the necessity of sub- mitting. I feel it due to ray position, and to the service, to record my protest against the manner in which the Department has sought to make an important detachment from my com- mand, specifically indicating not only the general officers, but,, to a considerable extent, the troops that were to compose it. While I remain in command of the army against Mexico, and am therefore justly held responsible by the Government and the country for the conduct of its operations, I must claim the SUBJECT OF FORCED SUPPLIES. 287 i right of organizing all detachments from it, and regulating the ■ time and manner of their service. Above all do I consider it • important that the Department of War should refrain from cor- , responding directly with my subordinates, and communicating i orders and instructions on points which, by all military precept : and practice, pertain exclusively to the general-in-chief com- . mand. Confusion and disaster alone can result from such a course. The reason alleged, viz., the loss of time in commu- nicating with General Patterson, has no application ; for the Secretary's despatch came from that officer to my head-quarters ! in sixty hours, and he could not move, at any rate, without drawing largely upon this column for artillery and regular tro6ps. "I beg it may be understood that my remarks have no per- sonal application. It is quite probable that, in the event of making such a detachment, I would have placed it under Ma* jor General Patterson ; but I conceive that this mode of regu- lating details, and' ordering detachments direct from the De- partment of War, is a violation of the integrity of the chief command in the field, pregnant with the worst evils, and against which I deem it my duty respectfully but earnestly to protest. " I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. Taylor, Major Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C." I On the subject of forced supplies from the enemy's country, General Taylor, on the 26th of October, replied to the Secre- tary's suggestions in his letter of the 22d of September, that it would have been impossible before, and was then, to sustain the army to any extent by forced contributions of money or supplies. The country between the Rio Grande and Sierra Madre being poor, furnishing only corn and beef, these arti- cles were obtained at moderate rates ; but if a different system had been adopted, it was certain, in General Taylor's opinion,/ that they would not have been procured at all in sufficient quan- 25 288 GENERAL WOOL'S DIVISION. tities. The prompt payment in cash for the few articles of sup ply drawn from the country neutralized much of the unfriendly feeling with which the army was regarded, and contributed greatly to facilitate operations. The people had it in their power, at any time, to destroy their crops, and would undoubt- edly have done so, rather than see them taken forcibly. Added to which they would have had no inducements to plant again. The prices paid were reasonable, being, in almost all cases, the prices of the country. General Taylor added, to these views, " should the army, in its future operations, reach a portion of the country which may be made to supply the troops with advantage, I shall not fail to conform to the wishes and instructions of the department in this particular." In compliance with instructions of the government, General Taylor formally notified the Mexican general-in-chief that the armistice would cease on the 13th of November. The movements of General Wool's Division, in Northern Mexico, have not yet been noticed in the recital of General Tay- lor's operations, as they had, until the winter of 1846, no im- mediate connection with them. In November, however, Ge- neral Wool had approached near enough to General Taylor's position to make his further advance important to the latter. The force under General Wool consisted of Kentucky, Illinois, and Arkansas volunteers, chiefly cavalry, and a battalion of regular artillery, with six field-pieces, the whole number of men being about twenty-four hundred. This column had pur- sued a very long and fatiguing march, sustaining with great fortitude its share in the invasion of Mexico. It reached Mon- clova, distant in a direct line about one hundred miles north of Saltillo, and about seventy miles north-west of Monterey, on the 31st of October. worth's march to saltili.o. 2*9 CHAPTER XVI. Me overcome; and not a soldier pre- sent, said he, (pointing to the regiment before him,) but felt then willing to die rather than yield an inch. It was not, continued Colonel Davis, alone on the battle-field that we learned to love General Taylor. The excitement of the car- nage over, the same soul that could remain unmoved when his friends were fall- ing like leaves around him, who could look unblanched upon the front of the thundering artillery, became the poor soldier's most sympathizing friend ; and the eye, so stern in battle, was as mild as the tender-hearted matron's." ANECDOTES OF TAYLOR. 331 tatlor's humanity and good nature. A correspondent of the Montgomery (Alabama) Journal, says that General Taylor lately had occasion to visit Point Isabel, after the battle of Buena Vista, and the captain of the steamboat had reserved a suite of state-rooms for the Gen- eral's accommodation. There were several sick and wounded volunteers on the boat, en route for New Orleans, who had to take the wayfare incident to a crowded boat, and particularly so on this occasion. General Taylor saw all this, and at once ordered these men to be placed in his state-rooms, and proper atten- tion paid them. It was rather a cold, rainy day when this occurred. The deck bands and many others on the boat did not know General Taylor. The wind blew high, and the firemen had raised a sail in front of the boilers to protect themselves from the rain, and under this sail there were some old mattrasses; here General Taylor laid down and went to sleep. At supper time great inqui- ries were made for the General, and servants sent off to look him up. But he could not be found ! At last some one going below, inquired of a fireman if he had seen any thing of such and such a man — the fireman said no, but added, " there is a clever old fellow asleep there under the sail, in front of the fire !" It was General Taylor. Yes, sweet indeed, must have been the sleep of such a man, who has the heart to change places with the poor sick soldier, as General Taylor did on this occasion ; such humanity stands out in bold relief, and greatly mitigate the evils incident to war. The following, from the Picayune, speaks for itself: — "The parting scene between the Mississippi Regiment and General Taylor, we are told, was affect- ing in the extreme. As the men marched by him to return to their homes, overpowered with a recollection of the high deeds which had endeared them to him, and with their demonstrations of respect and affection, he attempted in vain to address them. With tears streaming down his furrowed cheeks, all he could say was, > Go on boys — go on — I can't speak !' " "J. E. D.," the Monterey correspondent of the New Orleans Picayune, tells the following story : " Did you ever see a collection of men that could not turn out a specimen of what is generally termed ' a character V If you ever did, you can, to make use of a vulgarism, ' beat my time' considerably, for I never did, and what is more, never expect to. The next door to my quarters a company of Virginia volun- teers are stationed, and as they turn out to roll-call and drill I have a good op- portunity of observing them. I had noticed among the men a short, thick-set Irishman, whose head seemed to have settled down between his shoulders a trifle too far to permit him to sit as a model for a sculptor, although he will answer very well for a soldier. There was something so odd about his appearance and jn his manner of performing the manual, that I was convinced he was « a cha- racter,' and upon expressing my belief of that fact, I discovered that I was not far wrong, the following anecdote being related of him : " « Plaze sir,' said the soldier, touching his hat to his captain, « whin will we be paid off, sir?' < In a few days, Patrick,' replied the officer. ' Yis, sir,' con- tinued Pat, ' and whin, sir, will we be after Santy Anny, the blackguard V 'That's more than lean tell you, Patrick ; it's rather hard to tell when or where he will show himself,' replied the officer. < Yis, sir, thank you kindly, sir, we'll be paid off in a few days any ways, however,' said Pat, as he touched his hat again and retired. In a few days he appeared again and opened the 332 ANECDOTES OF TAYLOR. conversation with — ' If ye plaze, sir, divil the copper we have been paid yet' sir.' ' I know it, Patrick,' was the reply of the officer, ■ but I can't help it ; they are waiting for the paymaster to arrive.' ' Oh, it's the paymasther we're a waitin' for, is it ! and what the divil 's the excuse he has for not bein' here, when he's wanted ! What's the use of a paymasther if he isn't on the spot when he 's wanted !' said Pat, beginning to wax indignant at having to wait so long for his < tin.' " The circumstance caused him much uneasiness, and, after cogitating the matter over and over, he was struck with a luminous idea, and announced to his comrades that he'd have his money before you could say 'thread on my coat.' One morning immediately after breakfast, off posted Pat to General Tay- lor's camp, and on approaching his tent inquired of a soldier standing by where the General's 'shanty' was. 'That's his tent,' said the sentinel, pointing out the General's quarters. 'And is that the Gineral's tent!' said Pat, taking off his hat and rubbing his hand over his hair, which had been cut to the degree of shortness peculiar to natives of Erin's green isle. 'And where 's the Gineral's old grey horse!' inquired Pat. 'There,' replied the soldier, indicating the spot where the old horse stood lazily whisking the flies away with his tail. 'And is that the old horse!' again inquired the sprig of Erin, with great awe, ' an' where, if you plaze sir, is the old gintleman, himself!' continued Pat. ' There he sits under that awning,' answered the soldier. ' What,' exclaimed Pat, in almost a whisper, and in a tone amounting to reverence, 'an' is this the old gintleman!' « Yes,' said the soldier, walking away, ' that 's General Taylor.' After gazing upon the' war-worn veteran' in silent admiration for a while, he at last mustered sufficient courage to approach him. • I beg your pardon, Gineral, but you'll plaze to excuse the bit of liberty I 'm taking in presuming to call on your honour, but if ye plaze, sir, I came on a little matther of business, bein' as I thought maybe you might be afther helpin' us out of a little bit of a scrape.' " « Well,' said the General kindly, 'what is the trouble, and what do you wish !' "•If you plaze, sir, I 'd like to know when the hands will be paid off, sir!' "' When the hands will be paid off!' repeated the General, a little puzzled. " « Yis, sir, if ye plaze to have the goodness. The hands have had divil the tint of wages since they 've been in the country.' <" Oh, I understand, you 're a volunteer, and wish to know when you'll be paid off. Well, my good fellow, you must apply to your company officers for that information, I have nothing to do with it.' " ' Bcggin' your pardon, sir, I did ax the boss about it, but he didn't give me no sort of satisfaction about it, and so I told the other hands I 'd fix it ; an' bein' as you're the head boss, I thought I 'd be comin' over here to see if you could- n't give us some satisfaction.' " The ' head boss' being unable to relieve the anxiety of Pat, the latter retired to the ' other hands,' having the satisfaction of saying that although he had failed in the object of his mission, he had seen the 'head boss,' his 'shanty,' and the old gray horse,' which was ' glory enough for one day.' " THE END. LIBRARY OF CON3RESS III!, II III; II II 1 1 1 II 1 III il j 1 1|! II ill 007 616 282 7 M