MUSTERING THE VOLUNTEERS. 351 CHAPTER VIII. Army of the Centre.-Gen. Wool's march.-Battle of Buena P'D III. May 19. Wool's 1. TO GEN. WOOL the administration wisely confided PT IV. the principal share in mustering and preparing for the service the volunteers. His orders, dated May 29th, CH. VIII. he received at Troy ;-left immediately for Washington,-from thence moved through the states of Ohio, 1846. Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi; Gen. -meeting the enlisted volunteers at designated places orders. of rendezvous, and inspecting and admitting them, if suitable men, into the army. These distances were July 16. accomplished, and twelve and a half regiments, (two of cavalry,) making about 12,000 men, were inspected, mustered into the service, and `sent towards their destined places, by the 16th of July. In six weeks miles tra 3,000 versed, and 12,000 men muзtered. Aug. 1, at La Matagor 2. About 9,000 of these recruits, went to the Rio Grande to reinforce the army of Gen. Taylor. Those to form the "Army of the Centre" were by different Gen. W. routes to rendezvous at Bexar ;- -some going the far Vaea (on circuit of Little Rock, in Arkansas, and some by the da Bay.) Gulf through La Vaea. At Bexar began that drill and strict discipline of the volunteers which made Gen Gen. Wool's corps, whether resting or moving, a camp discipline of instruction; and which, together with his great care that every article necessary to health and efficiency should always be prepared and ready, gave to it the praise of being "a model army." His 3. Gen. Wool's destination was Chihuahua. force, amounting to 500 regulars and 2,440 volun CHAPTER VIII.-1. Give an account of Gen. Wool's movements in mustering the volunteers.-2. How many of these went to Gen. Taylor? Where were those for the Army of the Centre to rendezvous, and by what routes? What gave to Gen. Wool's corps the credit of being a "model army?"-3. Describe the army's march. Wool's (unpopu lar with his men at the time. 352 Gen. leaves crosses GEN. WOOL'S MARCH. PT IV. teers, crossed the Rio Grande at Presidio, on a flying PDIII. bridge prepared for the purpose. From this fertile CH. VIII. spot they marched westward 26 miles, to Nava, over a dead level,-without finding a drop of water or a 1846. human habitation. The troops, in crossing the Sierras Wool of San José and Santa Rosa, encountered steep rocky Bexar ascents and deep mountain gorges; and often, before the R. G. their 300 heavy-laden wagons could pass, roads must sidio. be repaired or made. Sometimes, as the army appeared, the ignorant people of the country, taken by surprise, believed that the robber-bands of Mexico were upon them. The shrieking women would run from their houses, and embrace the crosses by the wayside, probably where some friend had been killed, whose fate they expected to share. at Pre Wool clova. under 4. But, by the better-informed, Gen. Wool's approach was hailed with joy. He protected the quiet and the Oct. 31. weak against the lawless and the strong; and as he Wat passed on through San Fernando and Santa Rosa, to Mon- Monclova, his advance was heralded as that of a friend. He there peacefully unfurled the American (Troops flag over the government-house of the province. At drill Monclova, Gen. Taylor communicated to him the capthe ar- ture and armistice of Monterey. Here also he learned mistice; that the projected route to Chihuahua was impracticaalways ble. Both he and Gen. Taylor believed that it would ed with be unwise thus to withdraw his force from the seat of cities and war; since the conquest of New Leon and Coahuila, already achieved, gave to the Americans the command of Chihuahua. during they are encamp out the villages.) Nov. 28. 5. On the 25th of November, Gen. Wool marched upon Parras, -Gen. Taylor advising him to establish to a post in that fertile region, and collect provisions, of March which his army were in need, and which the country Mon about Monterey could not supply. At Parras, Gen. Parras. Wool was received with all the courtesy due to a dis from clova to tinguished guest. The strictness of his discipline was 4. To whom did Gen. Wool afford protection? How was his advance regarded by the well-informed Mexicans? What did he learn at Monclova ?-5. Why did he march to Parras ? What was the effect of his discipline? THE WOMEN OF PARRAS. 353 not only improving his army, but, by imparting the PT IV. new feeling of security to a people, so long the victims P'D III. of anarchy, he was winning their affections, and giving CH. VIIL them desires for a better government. Stores came in abundantly, and the necessities of the two armies were fully supplied. 1846. 6. In the mean time Gen. Taylor had proceeded to Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, expecting to cooperate with Gen. Patterson and a naval force in the Nov. 14. reduction of Tampico. But that place had surrender- Tampico ed to Commodore Conner on the 14th of November. 17th, Saltillo. Gen. Butler was left in command at Monterey. Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila, of which the Americans had taken peaceable possession on the 17th, was garrisoned, and commanded by Gen. Worth. Dec. 17. An ex press from Worth, 7. The changeful Mexicans having now displaced Paredes, and given full power to Santa Anna, he had concentrated a force of 22,000 at San Luis Potosi. Gen. Worth, 60 miles in advance of Monterey, and 200 from Taylor at Victoria, now received the startling intelligence, that this army was immediately to be brought down upon him ;-he having but 900 men. He sent a rapid express, entreating Wool to hasten Gen. to his aid with his whole force. In two hours Gen. Gen. Wool was in motion with his entire column, and his long leaves train of wagons. Only fourteen of his soldiers were his rapid unable, on account of ill-health, to move. Such was ment. the gratitude of the protected people, that the ladies of Parras came forward and voluntarily took these sick soldiers to their houses. In four days the army marched 120 miles, to Agua Nueva, twenty-one miles in advance of Saltillo. 8. Gen. Taylor, while at Victoria, learned that the city of Mexico was to be approached by Vera Cruz; 6. Give an account of the arrangements detailed in paragraph 6th.-7. What do you now learn of Santa Anna? What alarmed Gen. Worth, and what express did he send? What was done by Gen. Wool? What remarkable proof of gratitude did he receive from the ladies of Parras? What position was taken by Gen. Wool?-8. What disagreeable intelligence was received by Taylor? Wool Parras; move 354 Scott su PERILOUS POSITION. PTIV. and that Gen. Scott, appointed to conduct this inP'D III. vasion, would, as his senior, supersede him in the CH. VIII. Mexican command. It was from Taylor's army that Scott's force was to be drawn. Gen. Scott therefore persedes ordered from Gen. Taylor most of his efficient troops, Taylor. leaving him, -till more could be sent by government, "to stand on the defensive." Taylor, whatever might have been his feelings, promptly obeyed the order; Generals and dispatched to Vera Cruz the greater part of his W regular troops, and volunteers. This order reached are strip- the forces of Gen. Wool also. But with the remains their of their force, these two generals met, and bore back the shock, of the most formidable army which Mexico had ever sent to the field. Taylor and ped of forces. 1847. 9. Gen. Taylor now learned that Santa Anna, by decided demonstrations, was threatening him. Leaving a small garrison at Monterey, he advanced south with about 300 men to the camp of Wool at Agua Santa Nueva. Their whole force, officers and men, was proaches. 4,690, and Santa Anna was approaching with more equality than four times that number, besides 3,000 regular of force. cavalry under Gen. Minon, and 1,000 under Gen. Ur Anna ap Great in ceived, is rea, sent in advance, to turn the American position, destroy their stores, and cut off their retreat. 10. The army remained encamped at Agua Nueva until the afternoon of the 21st of February. Santa Santa Anna was approaching. The camp at Agua Nueva Anna de- was then broken up, and Santa Anna, believing that drawn to his foes were flying in dismay, eagerly pursued, till he position. was drawn to the mountain-gorge of Angostura, pre a bad viously chosen by the American generals, as the place for the battle. Gen. Wool was left by Taylor the active commander at Buena Vista; while he, anxious for his stores menaced by Minon, went to Saltillo. 11. On the morning of the 22d, Gen. Wool drew 8. What was his conduct? Was Gen. Wool affected by the overnment order? What did the two generals effect with the remainder of their force?-9. What was now the position and force of the Mexican and American armies ?-10. What occurred on the afternoon of the 21st of February ?-11. What en the morning of the 22d? WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 66 355 Feb. 22. VISTA. up the army for battle. The gorge was the key of PT IV. the position. Here was placed Capt. Washington's P'D III. battery. THIS WAS THE BIRTHDAY OF THE GREAT CH. VIII. WASHINGTON, and the battle-cry was to be, The memory of Washington!" From their positions the 1847. troops looked out through the gorge to the south, BUENA and beheld, issuing from clouds of dust, the long Mexican array of the Mexican host,-glittering with burnished arms, and gorgeous with many-colored draperies. As they come nearer, their delicious music charms for a moment even the stern ear of war! But the shouts of the Americans rise louder,—as Gen. Taylor, whom they regard as invincible, appears upon the field. army appears. 3 o'clock P. M.. battle begins. Mexican and w. 12. About noon the Mexicans pushed forward a party to the heights on the east, or American left. At three o'clock began the battle. Volunteer riflemen, under Col. Marshall, met the advanced Mexicans. loss, k. They made no impression upon the American lines, more while they suffered loss. Night came. The Ameri-Am. w. cans remained under arms. Two hours after mid- 4, k. 0. night the Mexicans commenced the second day's attack. than 300. 13. No language can depict the perilous condition of the comparatively few Americans who fought, and finally won the long and bloody battle of Buena Vista. Some of the volunteers fled in the early part of the day, and in endeavoring to rally them, Capt. Lincoln, aid to Gen. Wool, lost his valuable life. Once the Mexicans had turned the American left, and in that quarter were gaining the field, when they were met and repelled by Col. Jefferson Davis, with the unerring visand rifles of the Mississippi volunteers. Repeatedly the the Misbattle had been lost, but for the flying-artillery, which ans changed rapidly from point to point as it was needed. Twice Lieut. O'Brien checked masses of the enemy with his small battery, remaining in their way so long Washthat he could only save himself, leaving part of his ington. 12. What were the military operations of the afternoon of that day?-13. Relate some of the earlier incidents of the battle of Buena Vista. Col. Da sissippi O'Brien. |