c ^ <34fJ ^L6 ^^ /^oT/ HIBRtI RY OF CONGRESS Jj luip; ^opriglit |[o. ^#., \ UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. | 1||| illll] 'Ill ti 11 I'l'i 1 11 ll 1''! STOEIES OF THE WAR OF 1812, AND THE MEXICAN WAR. WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. PHILADELPHIA: J. & J. L. GIHON, No. 98 CHESNUT STREET. 18 52. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by J. & J. L. GIHON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE. The following pages contain a collection of Stories of the War of 1812, with Great Britain ; and of the Recent "War, with the Republic of Mexico. Rightly considered, the first of these national wars was a supplement to the glorious War of Independence. Up to the time when our government boldly threw down the gauntlet of defiance to the most powerful nation of Europe, in defence of Free Trade and Sailor's Rights, the British nation regarded us as re- volted subjects, successful for the moment, but des- tined always to be governed by British influence and ultimately to be reconquered. The events of the second war with Great Britain finished what the first had begun, and set the seal on our Independence. From the period of its conclusion, (3) PREFACE. our flag was respected by Britain and all other na- tions. Our naval prowess was recognized as a fixed fact. The recent war with Mexico has taught the world another lesson. It has shown that with a standing army of very few men, and a good militia system, the republic is capable of raising large and efficient armies,, and conquering a military republic, of immense population, wealth, and resources, possessing a power- ful standing army ; accustomed, in consequence of the distracted state of the country, to frequent action and constant discipline. The wars which teach these lessons are worthy the attention of the youth of our country ; and we have endeavored to render these stories of the wars suffi- ciently attractive to win that degree of attention and interest which will insure a future study of Ame- rican history. THE WAR OF 1812. SUEKENDEE OF DETEOIT. In June, 1812, the United States de- clared war against Great Britain. The chief cause of the war was the impress- ment of American seamen by the British. General Hull, with twenty-five hundred men, took post at Detroit, in Michigan. Soon afterward, the British general, Brock, with thirteen hundred men, appeared before Detroit, erected batteries, and summoned Hull to surrender. He refused, and the British opened their fire upon (T) 8 SURRENDER OF DETROIT. the works. On the 26th, they crossed the river and moved forward to the attack. The American troops were pre- pared to receive them, and eager for the conflict. But as the British approached, Hull ordered his men to retire into the fort, and hoisted a white flag. In a short time, terms of surrender were agreed upon, and the whole American army, with all its ammunition and stores were given up to the British. This surrender excited the indignation of the people. Hull was accused of cowardice, tried by a court martial, and sentenced to be shot. The President, however, in consideration of his age and services, remitted the punishment, but ordered his name to be stricken from the rolls of the army. BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN. Early in October, 1812, about three thousand five hundred men, under com- mand of General Van Eensselaer, were assembled on the Niagara frontier. Ge- neral Van Eensselaer resolved to make an attack on the British position at Queenstown, eight miles below Niagara Falls. At daybreak on the 13th of Oc- tober, the troops began to embark to cross the river. The British opened a fire upon them, which was returned by the American batteries. Colonel Yan Eensselaer, with about one hundred men, reached the shore, and stormed the fort (11) 12 BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN. of the British, though not without severe loss. The Americans drove the enemy from the field, and the victory was sup- posed to be gained, when another rein- forcement arrived, and the conflict was renewed. At this critical moment, Ge- neral Van Eensselaer crossed the river to bring a reinforcement for his gallant little band, and found that the militia would not obey his orders. Colonel Christie maintained the fight on the op- posite shore, against overwhelming num- bers, until seeing no hope of relief, he surrendered the remnant of his force. The Americans lost one thousand men in all, in this battle. The loss of the enemy was somewhat less, but their noble com- mander, the gallant Brock, was slain. j'Afl ml life DEFENCE OF FOET HAERISON. Fort Harrison was a post on the Wa- bash, river, in the heart of the Indian country. It consisted of two blockhouses, stockade works, and a few buildings for stores or magazines. In September 1812, sixteen men, under the command of Cap- tain Zachary Taylor, formed the garrison of this post. On the 3d of September, two men, who were working in the field near it, were murdered by the Indians, and on the night of the 4th, the savages set fire to one of the blockhouses, and commenced an assault. Captain Taylor, though suffering from sickness displayed (15) 16 DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON. the greatest coolness and resolution. Two of his men leaped over the stockade and fled, and the others were seized with a panic. But he restored their hopes, and by tearing off the roof of the bar- racks, and other means, succeeded in quenching the fire. The savages poured a steady fire into the fort. The invalids of the garrison returned it, and the con- flict was fierce and desperate until day- break, when the enemy retreated beyond the reach of the fort. They beleagured the garrison, however, for twelve days, when a large body of troops arrived, and forced them to raise the siege. SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 95 the 23d they assaulted the city on two sides, and their batteries made terrible havoc among the Mexicans. The Texan rangers cut their way through the houses with pickaxes, and the fighting in the streets became dreadful and destructive. The Mexicans were collected in the heart of the city, and to that point the Ameri- cans advanced. Night put an end to the fighting, and the next morning, the Mexican general proposed to surrender the city. Officers from both sides met and agreed to certain terms. Then the Mexican army marched out of the city, and the Americans entered and took possession of it. So it seemed that no- thing could stop the progress of General Taylor and his men. BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. The Mexicans, though beaten so often, did not lose their spirits. Their great general, Santa Anna, soon collected an army of more than twenty thousand men, and advanced towards Monterey. Now General Taylor's army was much reduced in numbers, and the most of his troops were volunteers, who had never been in battle. But he resolved to await the attack of the great Mexican army at a place called Buena Yista. On the 22d of February, Santa Anna appeared and attacked the Americans; but was re- pulsed. The great battle was fought on (96) BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 99 the next day. It commenced early in the morning, and continued until night put an end to the work of death. The Mexicans almost overwhelmed the little army under General Taylor; but each man fought like a hero, and every attack of the enemy was repulsed. Captain Bragg gave them plenty of grape-shot. Three times during the day, was the American army saved by the skill and effect with which the artillery was ma- naged. At length night came, and the exhausted troops sank down on the field. The next morning, the Mexican army had retreated and could not be found. General Taylor had therefore gained a victory over an army more than four times as large as his own. DONIPHAN'S MARCH, The Americans, under the commanrl of General Kearney, having taken pos- session of New Mexico, Colonel Doniphan with a regiment of mounted riflemen, was ordered to march to Chihuahua, and join General Wool. The country be- tween Santa Fe and Chihuahua was very little known, and therefore when Colonel Donii)han set out he did not expect to encounter the toils and dangers he after- wards met. A vast and dreary desert was to be traversed, and a hostile people to be dealt with. Colonel Doniphan be- gan his march on the 17th of December, (100) M' &U P I It ■i DONIPHAN S MARCH. 103 1846, and soon after reached the tract of country called by the Mexicans the ''desert of death/^ where the bones of murdered men and famished animals were strewn along the road, and where not a drop of water nor a blade of grass met the eyes of the traveller. After passing through this desert, the troops reached Bracito, where they repulsed an attack made by the Mexicans. Doni- phan was reinforced soon after, and marched for Chihuahua. Near that place he again defeated the enemy. He remained six weeks at Chihuahua, and seeing nothing of General Wool, marched to meet General Taylor. CAPTURE OF TAOS. After Colonel Doniphan left Santa Fe, the Mexicans rose and killed Gover- nor Aent and five other Americans. Other murders followed. The Mexicans collected a large army, and strongly for- tified a village called Pueblo de Taos. Colonel Price, with four hundred and fifty men, after defeating a portion of the enemy, marched to attack Pueblo de Taos, on the 4th of February. The greater part of the enemy were posted in a stone church. Against this church. Colonel Price brought his guns to play, but could not reduce it. An assault was repulsed. (104) CAPTURE OF TAOS. 107 But ladders being planted, the troops cut small holes with their axes and threw fire into the church. A breach was then made in its walls, and a storm- ing party plunged through it to attack the enemy, who then fled. The Ameri- cans pursued and killed all they over- took. About one hundred and fifty Mexicans were killed. The next day, the survivors sued for mercy, and the insurrection was at an end. CONQUEST OF OALIFOENIA. Upon the breaking out of the war with Mexico, orders were sent to Commodore Sloat, who commanded the squadron of United States vessels in the Pacilic, to take possession of all the i3orts of Upper California. This was done, th^ people making but little resistance. Colonel Fremont, the famous explorer of the far-west, then hoisted the flag of the United States at Sonoma, a town in the northern part of California. The Mexi- can governor fled. Colonel Fremont with one hundred and fifty men, then hurried to join his force with that of Commodore (108) ^ . CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA. Ill Stockton, who had taken command of the squadron. On the 13th of August, 1846, the united forces entered the capi- tal of California — Pueblo de los Angelos. Thus the conquest of this valuable coun- try was complete. The people seemed to be very well satisfied with their con- querors. Commodore Stockton issued a proclamation, announcing that he took possession of the territory by authority of the government of the United States, and offering security and protection to all who submit to that authority. SIEGE OF VERA CRUZ. After the capture of Monterey, as the Mexicans did not seem disposed for peace, the government of the United States determined to prosecute a more decisive campaign. A large army was (112) SIEGE OF VERA CRUZ. 115 collected at Anton Lizardo, and Major- General Winfield Scott took command of it. A land and naval attack upon the city of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan UUoa was fixed upon as the first object. The fleet, under Commodore Conner, transported the army to a land- ing place selected by General Scott, and the landing was effected on the 9th of March, 1847. Four thousand five hun- dred men were thrown upon the shore at once, the Mexicans making no resist- ance. Yery soon the rest of the army was landed, and then they formed a great line around the city. Then the great guns were brought ashore and a brisk fire opened by the besiegers. The Mexicans returned the fire from the city 116 SIEGE OF VERA CRUZ. and castle. While the soldiers were do- ing this, a few small steam vessels sailed lip near to the castle and commenced firing upon it. This was a bold exploit, and if the Mexicans had been equal to the Americans in gunnery, they would have made the vessels pay for the bold- ness of their commanders. A tremen- dous fire of cannon balls and bomb-shells was kept up by the naval and land forces until the morning of the 26th of March, when the inhabitants, who had suffered much, compelled the governor to sur- render the city and castle to General Scott. Commissioners were appointed by the commanders of both armies, as is usual in such cases, and terms of capi- tulation agreed upon. The Mexican ■flll'i,' -^ m SIEGE OF VERA CRUZ. 119 troops were to march out of the city, lay- down their arms, and then march for the interior, being prisoners of war on parole, and the city and castle, with all their artillery and ammunition and public stores were to be given up to the United States troops. After the capitulation, General Worth was appointed military governor of the city, and the troops had a short rest from the constant exertions of the siege. During this siege. General Scott lost very few men ; but the enemy suffered a great deal. So that this fine city and strong castle did not cost the captors much, while it gave them an entrance to the great road leading to the city of Mexico. BATTLE OF CEERO GORDO, On the 8th of April, the van of General Scott^s army began its march from Vera Cruz, for the interior of Mexico. The troops met with no opposition until they approached a rocky pass called Cerro (120) w V\tf ^:A,!yy . BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 123 Gordo. This place, which was very strong by nature, had been carefully fortified by the Mexicans, under General Santa Anna. They thought that General Scott's men were not brave enough to venture to at- tack such a strong position, defended by about fifteen thousand well furnished and disciplined troops. But General Scott soon formed his plan of attack, and on the 17th of April, ordered his divi- sions to take their appointed positions. The next morning, the troops advanced to the attack, under an awful fire from the Mexican batteries. Colonel Harney, with a brigade of troops, rushed up the height of Cerro Gordo, on which the prin- cipal battery was erected, and after a short struggle, drove the enemy from 124 BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. tlieir works. By two o'clock in the after- noon the victory was complete. Five generals, many other officers, three thou- sa,nd soldiers, forty three pieces of can- non, and a great quantity of small arms were taken. Santa Anna, with the rem- nant of his army, fled towards the city of Mexico, pursued by General Worth. Great numbers of the Mexicans fell in the conflict and pursuit. General Scott lost about two hundred and fifty men. Among the prisoners was the brave Ge- neral La Vega, who had been captured before at Eesaca de la Palma. If all the Mexican generals had been equal to La Vega, General Scott would have had much harder fighting at Cerro Gordo. 1 'f STOKMING OF CONTEEKAS. The defeat of the Mexicans at Cerro Gordo opened the road for the United States troops as far as the city of Puebla, at which place General Scott was com- pelled to halt to refresh his men, and wait for reinforcements. On the 7th of August, he began his march for the ca- pital. General Santa Anna had fortified nearly every available place to check General Scott^s progress, and it was ne- cessary that some of the strong positions should be taken before he could proceed. One of these was Contreras, defended by General Valencia, with a great body of (127) 123 STORMING OF CONTKERAS. troops and twenty-two cannon. A de- tachment from General Scott's army at- tacked this place on the 19th of August, but could not withstand the tremendous fire of the enemy. The next morning, the detachment, which was commanded by General Smith, having gained a road in the rear of the works, advanced to the assault. Colonel Riley headed the storm- ing party, rushed up to the works under a heavy fire, and after a short struggle captured the cannon and drove the enemy before him. General Shields cut ofl" the retreat, and whole companies were forced to surrender. Thus another complete triumph was gained by the Americans. STORMING OF CHUEUBUSCO. By the capture of Contreras, the Mexi- cans were forced to concentrate at Chu- rubusco, which was still more strongly- fortified than Contreras. General Scott brought his whole army to the attack upon Churubusco, and never did men behave with more valor and heroism. The fire of the Mexicans was tremendous, and the Americans suffered much from it. But post after post was carried, and the enemy found that their superior numbers could not withstand the onset. General Worth stormed the bridge, which was the strongest part of the works, (131) 132 STORMING OF CHURUBUSCO. while General Twiggs brought his artil- lery to bear on a convent, which, how- ever, held out until General Twiggs was reinforced, when it surrendered. In the meantime. General Shields, with two brigades, encountered about four thou- sand Mexican infantry, whose flanks were protected by three thousand cavalry, and after a severe struggle defeated them. The enemy were routed in every part of the field, and pursued nearly to the gates of Mexico. This was the most glorious day's work the American army had yet performed. CAPTURE OF MOLINO DEL RET. Santa Anna saved the capital from immediate assault after the battle of Chu- rubusco, by procuring an armistice for peace negotiations. His real object was (135) 136 CAPTURE OF MOLINO DEL KEY. to gain time to prepare munitions of war and strengthen the defences of the city. General Scott discovered this, and put an end to the armistice. He then re- solved to attempt the capture of Molino del Eey, a strongly fortified and garri- soned foundry. General Worth, with three thousand one hundred and fifty men, vras detached for this service. Ge- neral Worth was ignorant of the great strength of the works, but he made skil- ful disposition and was determined to succeed. There were three assaulting columns. The first was to assail Molino del Eey, covered by the fire of some heavy artillery. The centre was to con- sist of five hundred picked men, com- manded by Major Wright. The third m CAPTURE OF MOLINO DEL REY. 139 column was commanded by Colonel M'Intosh, and consisted of the second brigade, supported by Duncan^s artillery. A strong body of troops were held in re- serve. On the morning of the 8th of September, the columns advanced to the assault, a tremendous fire from the bat- teries having shaken the walls of the enemy's works. The central position was carried after a bloody struggle, in which Major Wright and one half his force were either killed or wounded. The Mexicans had masked batteries, which the Americans could not see till they were within range of them. On the right of the field, the assailants were com- pletely successful, carrying the works, and slaughtering the enemy without 140 CAPTURE OF MOLINO DEL REY. mercy. On the left Duncan kept up a heavy fire upon the stone foundry, called Casa Mata. The assault was here re- pulsed ; but Duncan^ s artillery restored the fortune of the contest, and compelled the Mexicans to evacuate the foundry, even while they were playing triumphant music for victory. Thus General Worth was victorious in every part of the field, and the enemy were in flight. But the victory was purchased by the loss of one half of the division. The loss of the Mexicans in killed, wounded and pri- soners was immense. STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEO. By the capture of Molino del Eey, and the adjacent works, the castle of Chapul- tepec was exposed to attack upon two sides, and General Scott hastened to form his plan for the storming of it and (143) 144 STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEO. the gates of the capital. On the 12th of September, the batteries opened upon the castle, and with such effect that Santa Anna was prevented from throw- ing reinforcements into it. The Mexi- cans returned the fire, but as they were not equal to the Americans in gunnery, they did very little damage. On the 13th, the assault was made. General Quitman, with one division, advanced upon the north-east side, while General Pillow, with another division, assailed the height on the west. The castle was garrisoned by picked troops, well supplied with ar- tillery, and commanded by the veteran, General Bravo. A determined defence was therefore expected, and the Ameri- cans nerved themselves for it. Pillow^s STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC. 147 troops dashed up the rocky height amid a heavy and destructive fire from the enemy, and so rapid was the assault that the Mexicans were driven from post to post, until they had no chance to fire their mines. General Pillow fell, severely wounded, and General Cadwalader as- sumed the command of his division. Ladders were prepared, the walls of the castle mounted, and the American flag planted upon them. In the meantime, General Quitman advanced upon the op- posite side, defeated a large detachment of the enemy, and forced his way up the height, with a rapidity and valor equal to that of the other division. A portion of his troops arrived in time to storm the walls, and enter side by side with Pil- 148 STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC. low's troops. The Mexicans fought bravely, even after the Americans had entered the fort. Few of them asked for quarter, and fewer obtained it; as the victors were exasperated at the cruelties of the Mexicans at Molino del Eey. A great many prisoners were taken, and among others, General Bravo. Thus this fine castle, which the Mexicans had looked upon as impregnable, fell into the hands of the troops, whose progress no obstacle could check. CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF MEXICO The Americans now advanced to at- tack the strong defences of the capital. By General Scott's plan, General Twiggs kept up a heavy fire upon the southern part of the city, to divert the attention of the enemy, while General Worth ad- vanced to attack the San Cosmo gate, and General Quitman the Belen gate. The troops of these divisions were ex- posed to a tremendous and destructive fire from batteries placed along the roads and at the gates. But the men now seemed insensible to danger, and pressed on with a valor that never was surpassed. (151) 152 CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF MEXICO. Many valuable officers fell at their head, and this excited a spirit of revenge among the troops, which led them to give but little quarter to the enemy. By night-fall, both gates were carried, and the conquerors had gained a foothold in the city. The next morning, while Ge- neral Scott was preparing to complete the work, the government surrendered. The Mexican army had fled from the city. On the 14th of September, the Americans entered Mexico in triumph. DEFEAT OF THE MEXICANS AT THE NATIONAL BRIDGE. The first afi'air in which General Cad- walader distinguished himself in Mexico was a skirmish at the National Bridge, during his march to join Scott at Puebla. Colonel M'Intosh had started with a train for the interior ; but being attacked by an overpowering force of the enemy, had been forced to await the arrival of Cadwalader, who, hearing of his danger, hurried up, with eight hundred men to his succor. On approaching the National Bridge, Cadwalader, at the head of the united forces, seized some heights which (155) 156 ATTACK AT THE NATIONAL BRIDGE. the enemy had previously occupied. He was here attacked by a strong force, but made good his defence, charging the Mexicans incessantly, until their strength was broken, when the bridge was passed in safety. In this action the foe lost one hundred in killed and wounded : Cadwalader about fifty. This victory was won principally by artillery, a species of force with which Cadwalader was perfectly familiar. GENERAL PIEECE. General Franklin Pierce was among the bravest of the brave who fought during the Mexican war. He took com- mand of a reinforcement of twenty-four hundred men, at Vera Cruz, shortly after the battle of Ceri-o Gordo, and set out to join General Scott, who was waiting at the city of Puebla for more troops. At the National Bridge, he was attacked by a large body of Mexicans, and narrowly escaped being killed, a ball passing through his hat. He succeeded, how- ever, in defeating the enemy, and inflict- ing upon them a heavy loss in men. He (159) 160 GENERAL PIERCE. then pushed on, and met with no inter- ruption till he arrived at Puebla. After his arrival, the commander-in-chief com- pleted his arrangements and set out for the capital. In the first attack upon Contreras, General Pierce was wounded in the knee, while leading his brigade against the enemy. But he kept the field until midnight. The next day he joined the brigade, and pressed forward among the most heroic. He had dis- mounted to leaj) a ditch, forgetting his wound, when he fainted and fell directly in the line of the enemy ^s fire. His escape from death was a miracle. CAPTURE OF MONTEREY, IN UP- PER CALIFORNIA. In June, 1846, Commodore Sloat hav- ing received information that the Mexi- cans had crossed the Rio Grande, deter- mined to take possession of the principal ports of Upper California. He sailed to Monterey in the frigate Savannah, and was there joined by the Cyanne and Le- vant, vessels of war. Having examined the defences of the small town, and com- pleted the arrangements for capturing it, the commodore sent Captain Mervine to demand its surrender. The Mexican commandant replied that he was not authorized to surrender the town, and (179) 180 CAPTURE OF MONTEREY. referred Commodore Sloat to Governor Castro. Captain Mervine then landed two hundred and fifty seamen and ma- rines, hoisted the star-spangled banner amid cheers from the troops and by- standers, and a national salute from the squadron. Commodore Sloat then issued a proclamation, announcing that war existed between the United States and Mexico, and the arms of the United States would be carried throughout California. The conquest was subsequent- ly completed as just related, by the great exertions of Commodore Stockton, who succeeded Sloat, and landed men from his fleet, marched to the relief of Kearney, fought pitched battles with the enemy, and never left the affair until the con- quest of the country was fully effected. 1^ O CO O P^ »-? H EH <1 CQ BATTLE OF SAN GABRIEL. General Kearney with his small, and almost worn-out force, reached San Diego just in time to join Commodore Stockton in carrying out a plan for reducing the Californians to submission. On the 29th of December, the little army, consisting of about six hundred men — the greater part of them being seamen, started from San Diego, to march toward Puebla de los Ingelos, the capital and chief city of California. They had proceeded about one hundred and ten miles toward the Eio San Gabriel, when they found about ^ six hundred mounted men, with four (183) 184 BATTLE OF SAN GABRIEL. pieces of artillery, drawn up to dispute the passage of the river. On the 8th of January, 1847, the necessary arrange- ments having been made, the Americans waded across the river, reserved their fire until they reached the opposite bank, repelled a charge of the enemy, and then charged them in gallant style. After an action of an hour and a half, the enemy were driven from the field, on which the conquerors encamped for the night. The loss of the Californians was severe. This battle, fought by the seamen and marines of Commodore Stockton, is justly regarded as one of the most extraordinary exploits of the whole Mexican war, which, as we have seen, abounded in all sorts of romantic and heroic achievements. GENERAL SHIELDS AT CERRO GORDO. General James Shields distinguished himself in several battles during the Mexican war, and was severely wounded upon two occasions. In the great battle of Cerro Gordo, General Shields, with his brigade of volunteers, was directed to storm the height west of the principal battery of the Mexicans, which com- manded the Jalapa road. The order was promptly and bravely executed. The volunteers advanced up the height with all the steadiness and courage of vete- rans, and carrying the height drove the enemy along the Jalapa road. As Ge- neral Shields was advancing with his (187) 188 GENERAL SHIELDS AT CERRO GORDO. men, lie was shot through the lungs. This paralyzed him, and he was carried off the field. The wound was at first thought to be mortal, but it happily proved to be otherwise. The general recovered and joined the army in time to share in the glory of the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, and the Garitas of Mexico. General Shields is something more than a mere warrior. After the conclusion of the war, we find him assisting in the de- liberation of the highest legislative body in the country, the senate of the United States. He is not a native of our country, but like the brave General Montgomery, who fell at the storming of Quebec, he is one of our adopted citizens. He was born in Ireland. THE AMEEICAN ARMY IN THE CAPITAL. After the flag of the United States had been planted upon the National Palace of the capital, by General Quit- man, General Scott, with the main army, entered the city. The officers were dressed in full uniform, the military bands poured forth the '' Star-Spangled Banner,'^ and *'Hail Columbia, ^^ and every thing was arranged in such a manner as to gratify the toil-worn, but triumphant troops. The Mexicans were now disposed to listen to the overtures of peace made by (191) 192 AMERICAN ARMY IN THE CAPITAL. the commissioner, Mr. N. P. Trist. They appointed commissioners, who met Mr. Trist, at Guadalupe Hidalgo. After con- siderable discussion, a treaty of peace was agreed upon, by which New Mexico, Upper California, and the territory be- tween the Neuces and Rio Grande were ceded to the United States. This treaty was ratified by the two governments, and in the spring of 1848, the American army evacuated Mexico. The Mexican war thus brought to a close forms one of the most brilliant epochs in the military history of our country. It was signalized by astonish- ing displays of bravery and military skill ; and added to our union, several states, among which is California, the richest gold region in the world. )j^ifiiiM('/f}^(gi^., ^^-'^f^^^ ', \l-^>/1^^'/^ ^m. 'i1m\ \i\^ *"\\t^^^\ -1W^^