History of the War between the United States and Mexico
Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by
DERBY MILLER & CO.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States,
for the Northern District of New York.
THOMAS B. SMITH, STEREOTYPER,
216 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y.
This Work is Dedicated
TO
The American Army
BOTH REGULARS AND VOLUNTEERS,
WHOSE GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY WERE SO OFTEN MANIFESTED
DURING THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR WITH MEXICO; AND THE
RECORD OF WHOSE ACHIEVEMENTS WILL CONSTITUTE,
THROUGH ALL FUTURE TIME, ONE OF THE MOST
ATTRACTIVE FEATURES OF OUR MILITARY
AND NATIONAL HISTORY.
| CONTENTS | |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| ORIGIN AND CAUSES OF THE WAR. | |
| Page | |
| The Government and People of the United States — Revolutions in Mexico — Claims of American citizens — Negotiations — Warlike feelings — Settlement of Texas — Revolution — Proposition for Annexation to the United States — Treaty of President Tyler — Joint Resolutions — Admission of Texas — Her Boundaries — March of General Taylor to the Rio Grande — Hostile Demonstrations on the part of Mexico — Capture of Thornton and his party | 15 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| BATTLES ON THE RIO GRANDE. | |
| The intelligence of Thornton's Capture received in the United States — Fears for the Safety of General Taylor — Proceedings of Congress — Preparations for War — Prompt response to the call for Volunteers — The Army of Occupation — Skirmishing — March to Point Isabel — Bombardment of Fort Brown — Battle of Palo Alto — Resaca de la Palma — Capture of Matamoras, and other Mexican Towns on the Rio Grande | 89 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO. | |
| Fremont's Expedition — Jealousy of the Mexican Authorities — Affair at Sonoma — Declaration of Independence — The Pacific Squadron — Capture of all the prominent points in the Californias March of the Army of the West from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Ftt Conquest of New Mexico — Departure of General Kearny for California — Counter Revolution — Battle of San Pascual — Passage of the San Gabriel — Ciudad de los Angelos — Arrival of Troops, and complete occupation of the Country | 123 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| MONTEREY. | |
| Censure of General Arista — Arrival of Volunteers on the Rio Grande — Proclamation — Difficulty in procuring Transportation and Supplies — Advance of the Army — Encounter at Ramos — Defences of Monterey — Skirmish at San Jeromino — Storming of Federacion Hill and the Soldada — Diversion in the lower part of the Town — The Enemy's line of defence penetrated — Terrible slaughter among the Assailants — Capture of the Bishop's Palace — The Americans in the City — Street-fighting — Capitulation | 149 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| WOOL'S COLUMN. | |
| Terms of the Capitulation at Monterey — Armistice — Revolution in Mexico — Return of Santa Anna — Proposition to Negotiate — Evacuation of Monterey — Concentration of troops at San Antonio de Bexar — March of General Wool — Change of Route — Monclova — Termination of the Armistice — Occupation of Saltillo, Parras, and Tampico — The Mexican Army at San Luis Potosi — Threatened Attack on Saltillo — March to Victoria | 178 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE GULF. | |
| The American Navy — The Home Squadron — Blockade of the Mexican Ports — Loss of the Truxton — Laws passed by the Government of Mexico to encourage Privateering — Attempt against Alvarado — Attack on Tabasco — Occupation of Tampico — Burning of the Creole — Wreck of the Somers — Capture of Laguna | 195 |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| BUENA VISTA. | |
| General Scott ordered to Mexico — Expedition to Vera Cruz — Withdrawal of Troops from the Army under General Taylor — Surprise of Arkansas and Kentucky Cavalry at Encarnacion — Advance of Sanla Anna from San Luis Potosi — The Pass of Angostura — Buena Vista — Position of the American Troops — Approach of the Enemy — The Battle — Bravery of the Volunteers — Skirmish near Saltillo — Disastrous retreat of the Mexican Army — Attack on the Wagon Trains — Pursuit of Urrea | 206 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| SAN JUAN DE ULUA. | |
| The Island of Lobos — Rendezvous of American Forces — Offer to negotiate — Vera Cruz — Castle of San Juan De Ulua — Landing of the Troops under General Scott — Skirmishing — Line of Investment — Bombardment — Effect of the Fire — Affair at the Puente del Midois — Dragoon fight at Madellin — Capitulation of the City and Castle — Capture of Alvarado — Advance of the Army into the Interior — Opening of the Mexican Ports | 244 |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| SCOTT AT CERRO GORDO. | |
| Return of Santa Anna to the city of Mexico — Fortifications at Cerro Gordo — Arrival of the American Army at the Rio del Plan — Storming the Heights — The Enemy routed — Capture of Jalapa and Perote — The Guerilleros — Proclamation of General Scott — Entrance of the Americans into Puebla — Warlike proceedings of the Mexican government — Skirmishing on the road from Vera Cruz — The Army reinforced — March towards the Mexican Capital | 268 |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| DONIPHAN'S MARCH. | |
| The Missouri Volunteers — Expedition against the Navajos — Orders to join General Wool — La Jornada del Muerto — Skirmish at Bracito — El Paso del Norte — Fortifications of the Enemy at the Pass of Sacramento — The Battle — Flight of the Mexicans — Entrance into the City of Chihuahua — March to Monterey — Return Home | 305 |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| REVOLT IN NEW MEXICO. | |
| Disaffection among the inhabitants of New Mexico — Murder of Governor Bent and others — March of Colonel Price — Defeat of the enemy at Cañada — Affair at Moro — The Pass of Embudo — Storming of Puebla de Taos — Suppression of the Revolt — Depredations in the Valley of the Moro — Skirmishes with the Marauders — Quiet restored in the Province | 321 |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO. | |
| Route from Puebla — The Valley of Mexico — Fortifications — Turning Lake Chalco — Affair at Oka Laka — March of Major Lally from Vera Cruz to Jalapa — Arrival of the American army at San Augustin — Attempt to reach the San Angel road — Crossing the Pedregal — The Night Bivouac — Storming the Intrenchments at Contreras — The Enemy driven from San Antonio — Battle of Churubusco — The Victors at the Gates of the Capital | 334 |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| EL MOLINO DEL REY. | |
| The Armistice — Fruitless attempt at Negotiation — Bad faith of the Mexican authorities — Political dissensions — Violation and Rupture of the Truce — Correspondence between General Scott and Santa Anna — Reconnaissances — Assault of El Molino del Rey and Casa de Mata — Severity of the Action — The Enemy driven from their position | 374 |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| CAPTURE OF MEXICO | |
| Preparations for a final attack on the City and its defences — Heavy Batteries planted — The Cannonade — Storming of Chapultepec — Advance of General Quitman to the Garita de Bélen and the Ciudadela — Operations of General Worth on the San Cosmé Causeway — Flight of Santa Anna and his Army — Entrance of General Scott into the Capital — The Leperos — Quiet restored in the City — Change in the Mexican Administration | 398 |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| THE ARMY UNDER TAYLOR. | |
| The American forces on the line of the Sierra Madre, and in the Valley of the Rio Grande — Correspondence between General Taylor and General Mora y Villamil — The Texan Rangers — Expedition to Huejutla — Part of General Taylor's forces ordered to Vera Cruz — Position of the Troops — The command transferred to General Wool | 433 |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| THE GULF SQUADRON. | |
| Expedition against Tuspan — Capture of the Town — The Carmelita — Recapture of Tabasco — Repeated Skirmishes with the Enemy — Affair at Timulte — Abandonment of the City — Difficulties in Yucatan | 445 |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| CLOSING SCENES OF THE WAR. | |
| Defence of Puebla — Occupation of the Prominent Points on the National Road — March of General Lane to the Relief of Colonel Childs — Battle of Huamantla — Attack on Atlixco — The Guerilleros — Opening of General Scott's Communications — The Mexican Congress and Government — Negotiations Resumed — The Army in the Capital — Orders for the Collection of Taxes — Expedition to Tehuacan — Affairs in California — Capture of Guayamas and Mazatlan — Defence of La Paz and San José — March of General Price upon Chihuahua — Storming of Santa Cruz de Rosales | 454 |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| TREATY OF PEACE. | |
| Firmness of the Mexican Administration — Treaty of Peace concluded — Skirmishes — Expedition of General Lane — Ratification of the Treaty — Evacuation of Mexico by the American Troops — Reflections — The Territory Acquired — Capacity of our Country for War — Conclusion | 491 |