Complete history of the late Mexican war/The Armistice
THE ARMISTICE.
The undersigned, appointed respectively, the first three by Major-general Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States, and the last two by his Excellency D. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of the Mexican Republic, and commander-in-chief of its armies, met with full powers, which were fully verified in the village of Tucubaya, on the 23d day of August, 1847, to enter into an armistice for the purpose of giving the Mexican government an opportunity of receiving propositions of peace from the commissioners appointed by the President of the United States, and now with the American army; when the following articles were agreed upon:
Art. 1. Hostilities shall instantly and absolutely cease between the armies of the United States of America and the United Mexican States, within thirty leagues of the capital of the latter States, to allow time to the commissioners appointed by the United States and the commissioners to be appointed by the Mexican Republic to negotiate.
2. The armistice shall continue as long as the commissioners of the two governments may be engaged on negotiations, or until the commander of either of the said armies shall give formal notice to the other of the cessation of the armistice for forty-eight hours after such notice.
3. In the mean time, neither army shall, within thirty leagues of the city of Mexico, commence any new fortification or military work of offence or defence, or do any thing to enlarge or strengthen any existing work or fortification of that character within the said limits.
4. Neither army shall be reinforced within the same. Any reinforcements in troops or munitions of war, other than subsistence now approaching either army, shall be stopped at the distance of twenty-eight leagues from the city of Mexico.
5. Neither army, nor any detachment from it, shall advance beyond the line it at present occupies. 6. Neither army, nor any detachment or individual of either, shall pass the neutral limits established by the last article, except under a flag of truce bearing the correspondence between the two armies, or on the business authorized by the next article; and individuals of either army, who may chance to straggle within the neutral limits, shall, by the opposite party, be kindly warned off, or sent back to their own armies under flags of truce.
7. The American army shall not, by violence, obstruct me passage from the open country into the city of Mexico, of the ordinary supplies of food necessary to the consumption of its inhabitants, or the Mexican army within the city; nor shall the Mexican authorities, civil or military, do any act to obstruct the passage of supplies from the city or country, needed by the American army.
8. All American prisoners of war remaining in the hands of the Mexican army, and not heretofore exchanged, shall immediately, or as soon as practicable, be restored to the American army, against a like number, having regard to rank, of Mexican prisoners captured by the American army.
9. All American citizens who were established in the city of Mexico prior to the existing war, and who have since been expelled from that city, shall be allowed to return to their respective business or families therein, without delay or molestation.
10. The better to enable the belligerent armies to execute these articles, and to favor the great object of peace, it is further agreed between the parties, that any courier with despatches that either army shall desire to send along the line from the city of Mexico or its vicinity, to and from Vera Cruz, shall receive a safe conduct from the commander of the opposing army. 11. The administration of justice between Mexicans, according to the general and state constitutions and laws, by the local authorities of the towns and places occupied by the American forces, shall not be obstructed in any manner.
12. Persons and property shall be respected in the towns and places occupied by the American forces. No person shall be molested in the exercise of his profession: nor shall the services of any one be required without his consent. In all cases where services are voluntarily rendered, a just price shall be paid, and trade remain unmolested.
13. Those wounded prisoners who may desire to remove to some more convenient place, for the purpose of being cured of their wounds, shall be allowed to do so without molestation, they still remaining prisoners.
14. The Mexican medical officers who may wish to attend the wounded shall have the privilege of doing so, if their services be required.
15. For the more perfect execution of this agreement, two commissioners shall be appointed, one by each party, who, in case of disagreement, shall appoint a third.
16. This convention shall have no force or effect, unless approved by their excellencies, the commanders respectively of the two armies, within twenty-four hours, reckoning from the sixth hour of the 23d day of August, 1847.
| A. Quitman, Maj. Gen. U. S. A. | |
| Persifor F. Smith, Brig. Gen. | |
| Franklin Pierce, Brig. Gen. U. S. A. | |
| Ignacio de Mara y Villamil. | |
| Benito Quijano. |
It is believed that the whole force of the Mexicans, in these brilliant engagements, was about thirty-two thousand men. They lost between five and six thousand, including thirteen generals and forty-five pieces of cannon. Our army consisted of seven thousand, eleven hundred of whom were killed or wounded. What a terrible slaughter!
After the armistice was agreed upon, various meetings took place between Mr. Trist, the American minister, and Mexican Commissioners, and endeavors were made to effect a treaty of peace, until September 2d, when Trist handed in his ultimatum in reference to the boundary line, and the Commissioners were to meet again on the 16th.
Some infractions of the truce were made by the enemy, in reference to our supplies from the city; but the Mexicans apologized.
It appears that as soon as the propositions of Trist were considered in a grand council of ministers and others. Santa Anna, on the 4th and 5th., without giving any notice to General Scott, commenced again fortifying the city, directly in opposition to the armistice. Scott immediately sent him a note, which was answered in a false and impudent manner.
Our arrangements were delayed more than two weeks by the armistice. It is probable that Santa Anna only entered into it for the purpose of gaining time.