366

VERA CRUZ TAKEN.

PT IV. this perilous enterprise. He was, on the 18th of NoP'DIII. vember, notified by Secretary Marcy of his appointCH. XI. ment, and directed to draw his force chiefly from 1846. Gen. Taylor. Santa Anna was lying with 22,000 Scott's men at San Luis Potosi. It would have seemed orders. probable that he would have turned towards Vera Cruz, and uniting with forces in that vicinity, oppose,

Nov. 18.

as he might have done, with an army of more than 1847.30,000, the landing of Gen. Scott;-rather than to Feb. 22 march against Gen. Taylor. But (as Scott learned Battle of after landing) Santa Anna chose the latter, and was Vista. defeated at Buena Vista.

and 23.

Buena

barks his

2. The rendezvous of the several corps, which were to compose the invading army, was the island of Lobos, 125 miles from Vera Cruz. Necessary deMarch 7. lays, however, occurred; and it was not until the 7th Scott em of March, that Gen. Scott embarked with his troops army. on board the transporting squadron, which was commanded by Com. Conner. Reaching Vera Cruz on the 9th, he, with admirable order, debarked his whole army on the west side of the island of Sacrificios. Sacrifi Having vainly summoned the garrison to surrender, cios. Scott, with the aid of his able engineers, of whom Col. Totten was chief, planted his batteries; and com18th, be-menced, on the night of the 18th, a tremendous bomcannon- bardment of the city. The fleet lent its aid, although ade. exposed to the fire of the castle.

9th,

lands at

gins the

3. On the night of the 27th, Vera Cruz, with the strong castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, -the principal comMarch mercial port and the strongest fortress in Mexico, were The city surrendered, with 5,000 prisoners, (dismissed on paders. role,) and 500 pieces of artillery. Two meritorious

surren

American officers, Captains Alburtis and Vinton, with ten privates, were killed. Capt. Swift, one of the brightest ornaments of the service, who had organized

CHAPTER XI.-1. Of what was Gen. Scott notified, and what directed to do? What is here stated concerning Santa Anna's position and movements ?-2. Give some account of the embarkation and landing of Scott's army. Of the attack on Vera Cruz.-3. Of the surrender. Of the loss of officers and

men.

CH. XL.

a company of sappers and miners,-too eager in duty PT IV. for his impaired health, fainted at the head of his P'DIIL corps, from over-exertion; and died in the hospital. The discipline of Gen. Scott's army was strict, and no invasion of private rights was permitted.

(Captain Hunter, with val

disrespect

perior,

4. Com. Perry succeeded Conner in command of the wor, but Gulf squadron. Alvarado on the south was captured, to his su and Tuspan on the north. The American government took Al about this time adopted the policy of drawing a reve- varado.) nue from the conquered ;-lest by too much lenity, in paying for all needed supplies, the war should become a pecuniary advantage to the Mexicans, and thus peace be deferred. American revenue officers were appointed, and impost duties collected in the captured ports.

April 8. leaves

Army

Vera Cruz.

5. On the 8th of April, Gen. Scott, leaving a garrison in Vera Cruz, sent forward the advance of his army under Gen. Twiggs, on the road to Jalapa. At the base of the grand eastern chain of the Cordilleras, the other divisions of the army came up, and the commander established a camp at Plan del Rio. Then lay before him an arduous and difficult ascent through a mountain-gorge. Across this way, and on the heights which commanded it, bristled the artillery of the invaded foe, 12,000 strong, commanded by Santa Anna, who declared that he would die fighting rather than "the American hosts should proudly tread the CERRO imperial capital of Azteca."

April 18.

GORDO. M. force 12,000. Am. 8,500.

M. loss,

about

1,100.

6. Gen. Scott found that the Mexican position was so commanded by the batteries of the lofty height of Cerro Gordo that approach in front was impracticable. k. and w. But, aided by the skill of his engineers, Lee and Beauregard, he turned to the left, causing to be made a 3.000. new road, by which,-ascending along difficult slopes, and over deep chasms, his army might reach the rear

4. What places were captured by the navy? What was done in reference to collecting a revenue?-5. To what point did Gen. Scott move, and what was his position in regard to the Mexican army?-6. What great advantage was here gained by the American skill in engineering, and the sagacious foresight of the commander?

prisoners

Am. k.

and w

430.

PT IV. of the enemy's camp. After three days of secret laP'D III. bor, the road was made. On the 17th of April, the CH. XI. commander published a general order for the next

Storming

camp.

day, showing how the battle was to be gained,-how the flying were to be pursued, and how the greatest advantage was to be reaped from the victory. All was done as he commanded.

7. About noon the steep ascent was won. The heights of Cerro Gordo were stormed by Twiggs' briof the gade, -and the enemy's camp, by a party led by enemy's Col. Harney, Gen. Shields,-(severely wounded,) and by Col. Riley. At two o'clock, P. M., the enemy were put to flight,- -more than a thousand having fallen. Santa Anna and a part of his army had fled, and the eager pursuit had commenced. Scott, in his orders before the battle, had directed that the pursuers should each take two days' subsistence, and that wagons with stores should immediately follow, so that they need not return.

April 22.

8. On the 19th, the pursuing squadrons entered and took possession of Jalapa. On the 22d, having now attained the summit of the eastern Cordilleras, 1847. General Worth displayed the American banner from Worth the unresisting castle of Perote, the strongest fortress town and in Mexico, next to San Juan d'Ulloa. Thus by vigPerote. orously following up this remarkable victory, the enemy were unable to recover in time to make a stand in this, their strongest inland post; and thus, other battles were saved.

takes the

castle of

9. Three thousand prisoners were taken at Cerro Gordo, among whom were four generals. General Scott dismissed them all upon parole, having neither (54 pieces food to sustain, nor men to guard them. Santa and mor- Anna's equipage and papers were secured. From taken at Perote the army passed onwards, through that great table-valley between the grand chains of the Cordil

ofcannon

tar were

Perote.)

6. What was his general order?-7. Give a sketch of the battle of Cerro Gordo. The pursuit of the flying. 8. Of the places now occupied by the Americans.-9. What was taken at Cerro Gordo? What is here related of Puebla ?

leras, called "Terras Frias," or the cold country. PT IV. On the morning of the 15th of May, the advance un- P'D III. der Worth entered Puebla, the second city of Mexico, CH. XII. containing 80,000 inhabitants. Eagerly did the Mex- 1847 ican men and women look out from their balconies, and from the roofs of their houses, to see these mighty conquerors. War-worn, and habited in the sober gray of the American army, the Mexicans accustomed to a gaudy uniform, looked upon them with disappointment; and could find no reason but one for their success. Their leaders," said they, are gray

headed men."

66

CHAPTER XII.

(700 died

1800 were

time in

at Pueb

State of the Army.—Its March.-Contreras.-Churubusco. 1. THE American Executive about this time, sent Nicholas P. Trist, as an agent to make the experiment, whether Mexico would now treat for peace. But the olive-branch was again rejected. The interruption of the army's activity caused by this unavail- at Perote, ing effort for peace, was opportune. Its numbers at one were lessened by sickness; for the climate though hospital pleasant, proved so unhealthy, that hundreds were in la, and hospitals, and many died. The time for which large serted in numbers of the volunteers were enlisted, expired; and many had deserted. Congress had, however, passed year.) a law, February 11th, 1847, authorizing ten new regiments; and these being raised, reinforcements were sent by the way of Vera Cruz; and although not in sufficient numbers to admit of leaving such garrisons behind as would keep open his line of supplies, yet General Scott determined to move forward.

CHAPTER XII-1. What experiment was now made by the American Executive ? What was now the condition of the

army?

1700 de

little

more

than a

370

P'D III.

Scott's

THE VALLEY OF MEXICO.

P'T IV. 2. On the 7th of August he marched from Puebla with 10,728 men, leaving more than 3,000 in hosCH. XI. pitals, and as a garrison under Col. Childs. Keeping the several columns into which he had divided Aug; the army, within supporting distance, and himself acmarch companying the van, General Scott moved forth with Puebla his little army;-like a second Cortez, to encounter the Ter- the unknown numbers which would be brought against him, at the coming death-struggle of an infuriated nation.

from

through

ras Frias.

3. The march of the Americans was now through a beautiful and cultivated region, whose abundant waters flowed pure and cool. Soon they began to ascend the gradual slope of the great Cordilleras of Anahuac, central between the east and western oceans. First On the third day, their toilsome march wound up the grand through steep acclivities. At length they reached Valley. the summit; and three miles beyond Rio Frio, burst

Aug. 10.

view of

Advance

at

Ayotla.

upon their gaze, all the glories of the grand valley of Mexico. Spreading far round and beneath, were its mingled lakes, plains, cities, and cloud-capped mountains. The giant peak of Popocatapetl was far to their left; before them lay the lake Tezcuco; and beyond it, the domes and towers of the city of the Montezumas.

4. On the 11th, the advance commanded by Gen. Aug. 11. Twiggs, rested at Ayotla, north of lake Chalco, and fifteen miles from the capital. The remaining corps were soon concentrated at small distances; some on the lake's eastern border. The ground-plot of the city had formerly been an island. What was once the lake on which it stood, was now an oozy marsh. Long straight causeways, easily raked by artillery, led through this marsh to the several gates, from the great roads by which the city was approached; and much the longest was that connected with the road

2. In what manner did General Scott with his army go forth from Puebla ?--3. Describe the march of the army and the appearance of the country.-4. Where did the army rest, and what was their position in regard to the Mexican capital?