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MEMOIRS 


LIEUT.-GENERAL  SCOTT,  LL.D 


ritt^n   trg   li 


IN    TWO     VOLUMES 


VOLUME   II. 


ISTEW  YOEK: 
SHELDON   &  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS, 

335    BROADWAY, 
1864. 


4?  5? 


ENTEEBD,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1864,  by 

WINFIELD    SCOTT, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


JOHN   F.   TROW, 

STEREOTYPER,  AND  ELECTROTYPER, 

46,  48,  &  50  Greene  St.,  New  York. 


C.  8.  WESTCOTT  &  Co., 

PKINTER8, 

79  John  St.,  N.  Y. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  II. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PAGB 

SCOTT  ORDERED  BACK  TO  BRITISH  FRONTIERS — TURMOIL  RENEWED 

—MAINE  BOUNDARY, 331 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

POLITICS — GENEKAL-IN-CHIEF  —  STOPS  UNLAWFUL  PUNISHMENTS- 
ATTEMPTS  TO  ABOLISH  HIS  RANK  AND  TO  REDUCE  HIS  PAY — 
MR.  ADAMS  AND  MR.  C.  J.  INGERSOLL, 355 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

LETTER  ON  SLAVERY— TRACTS  ON  PEACE  AND  WAR— MR.  POLK 

PRESIDENT, 370 

% 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
WAR  WITH  MEXICO — GENERAL  TAYLOR, 

CHAPTER  XXVIL 

SCOTT  ORDERED  TO  MEXICO — VISITS  CAMARGO — RE-EMBARKS  FOR 

VERA  CRUZ, 397 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

SIEGE  AND  CAPTURE  OF  VERA  CRUZ  AND  THE  CASTLE  OF  SAN  JUAN  .  "~ 
DE  ULLOA, \jtl5 


Contents. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

PAGH 

BATTLES  OF  CERRO  GORDO,  JALAPA,  PEROTE  AND  PEUBLA— HALTS—  ^ 
VISIT  TO  CHOLULA, <^430 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

ADVANCE  ON  THE  CAPITAL — HALT  AT  AYOTLA — RECONNAISSANCES — 

SAN  AUGUSTIN — CONTRERAS, 459 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
VICTORIES  OF  CONTRERAS — SAN  ANTONIO — CHURUBUSCO,        .       ./  477 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

ARMISTICE  —  NEGOTIATIONS — HOSTILITIES  RENEWED — BATTLE  OF 
MOLINOS  DEL  REY— CAPTURE  OF  CHAPULTEPEC  AND  MEXICO,  .  50b 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

BRILLIANT  ALLUSION  TO  THE  CAMPAIGN— RETALIATORY  MEASURES 
— MARTIAL  LAW — SAFEGUARDS — PROCLAMATION — DEFENCE  OF 
PUEBLA, 538 

CHAPTER  XXXIV.  « 

QUESTION  OF  FREE  QUARTERS — SYSTEM  OF  FINANCE — SPREAD  OF 
THE  TROOPS, 552 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

SUPPRESSION  OF  OUTLAWS — PEACE  COMMISSIONER — TREATY  SIGNED 
— MEXICAN  OVERTURES — COURT  OF  INQUIRY,  ....  574 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

RECEPTIONS  AT  NEW  YORK  AND  ELIZABETH — OTHERS  DECLINED — 
BAD  HEALTH— THANKS  or  CONGRESS,  ETC.,  .  .  .  .585 


CHAPTEE    XXIII. 

SCOTT     OEDEEED     BACK     TO    BEITTSH     FEONTIEE6 TUEMOIL 

RENEWED MAINE   BOUNDARY. 

IT  has  been  said  that  the  autobiographer  had  in 
tended  to  accompany  the  emigration  farther  west  than 
the  Ohio,  to  help  it  through  any  unforeseen  difficulties 
on  the  route ;  but  short  of  that  point  he  received  des 
patches  from  "Washington  telling  him  that  the  Cana 
dian  patriots  (taking  advantage  of  his  absence  in  the 
South)  had,  in  great  numbers,  reorganized  their  secret 
lodges  all  along  the  frontiers,  and  would  renew  their 
attempts  to  break  into  the  Canadas  on  the  return  of 
frost,  and  he  was  directed  to  hasten  thither,  arranging 
with  the  Governors  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  in  route, 
the  supply  of  such  uninfected  volunteers  as  might  be 


332  Back  on  th»  British  frontiers. 

needed  to  maintain  the  obligations  of  neutrality  toward 
Great  Britain. 

Accompanied  by  Captain  Robert  Anderson,  Scott 
rapidly  .visited-  Frankfort  and  Colnmbns;  made  con 
tingent  {RTattg.emer.its  for  volunteers  that  might  be 
wanted,  and  also  with  the  United  States'  District 
Attorney  of  Ohio  for  the  assistance  of  his  deputies  and 
marshals  in  the  arrest  of  leading  oifenders.  Several  of 
these,  accompanied  by  a  deputy  marshal,  he  pursued 
for  days.  Though  he  lost'  not  a  moment  on  the  route, 
he  arrived  but  in  time  at  Cleveland,  Sandusky,  and 
Detroit,  respectively,  to  stop  and  disperse  multitudes 
of  frenzied  citizens,  by  the  means  used  in  the  previous 
winter,  and  thence  proceeded  down  the  frontiers  via 
the  places  named,  to  Buffalo,  Oswego,  Sackett's  Har 
bor,  Ogdensburg,  and  Plattsburg,  to  the  northern  fron 
tier  of  Yermont — meeting  like  assemblages  and  suc 
cesses  everywhere. 

At  the  point  farthest  east  he  heard  of  the  forward 
movement  of  the  State  of  Maine  on  the  Aroostook  ques 
tion,  and  fortunately  was  sufficiently  out  of  work  to 
hasten  to  Washington  for  instructions  on  this  new  diffi 
culty — one  entirely  independent  of  Canadian  patriots 
and  sympathizers. 


A  New  Frontier  Trouble.  333 

The  autobiographer  reported  himself  in  pers^p  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  without  having  been  in  a  recum 
bent  position  in  eighty  hours.  Every  branch  of  the 
Government  felt  alarmed  at  the  imminent  hazard  of 
a  formidable  war — but  little  having  been  done  jn  a 
twenty-four  years'  peace  to  meet  such  exigency. 

Though  the  moments  were  precious,  Scott  was  de 
tained  several  days  to  aid  by  explanations  and  argu 
ments  the  passage  of  two  bills — one  to  authorize  the 
President  to  call  out  militia  for  six,  instead  of  three 
months,  and  to  accept  fifty  thousand  volunteers;  the 
other  to  place  to  his  credit  ten  millions  of  dollars  extra. 
For  that  purpose,  he  (Scott)  was  taken  into  conference 
with  the  chairmen  of  the  committees  on  foreign  and 
military  affairs,  of  both  Houses  of  Congress,  and  he 
may  add,  excusably,  he  hopes,  that  but  for  his  exposi 
tions,  and  the  known  fact  that  the  whole  management 
of  the  difficulty  in  question  would  devolve  on  him,  the 
bills  would  not  have  become  laws ;  for,  besides  a  hesi 
tancy  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  a  decided 
majority  of  the  Senate  was  opposed  to  the  Adminis 
tration. 

In  taking  leave  of  Mr.  Yan  Buren  and  Mr.  Secre 
tary  Poinsett,  in  order  that  there  might  be  no  "  unto- 


334  Hastens  to  Washington. 


"  mistake,  Scott  respectfully  said:  "Mr.  Presi 
dent,  if  you  want  war,  I  need  only  look  on  in  silence. 
The  Maine  people  will  make  it  for  yon  fast  and  hot 
enough.  I  know  them  ;  but  if  peace  be  your  wish,  I 
can  give  no  assurance  of  success.  The  difficulties  in 
its  way  will  be  formidable."  "  Peace  with  honor,"  was 
the  reply;  and  that  being  Scott's  own  wish  —  looking 
to  the  great  interests  of  the  country  —  he  went  forward 
with  a  hearty  good  will. 

Always  accompanied  by  the  gallant  Captain  Robert 
Anderson,  and  now  rejoined  by  Lieutenant  Keyes, 
Aide-de-Camp,  the  autobiographer,  with  carte  ~blanche^ 
hastened  toward  Maine  —  stopping  in  Boston  long 
enough  to  arrange  a  contingent  call  for  militia  and 
volunteers  with  the  patriotic  and  most  accomplished 
Governor  —  Edward  Everett  —  who,  at  the  presentation 
to  the  executive  council  overwhelmed  the  sleepless 
general  by  this  address  : 

"  GENERAL  : 

"  I  take  great  pleasure  in  introducing  you  to  the 
members  of  the  Executive  Council  of  Massachusetts  ;  I 
need  not  say  that  you  are  already  known  to  them  by 
reputation.  They  are  familiar  with  your  fame  as  it  is 


Honors  in  Boston.  335 

recorded  in  some  of  the  arduous  and  honorable  fields 
of  the  country's  struggles.  We  rejoice  in  meeting  you 
on  this  occasion,  charged  as  you  are  with  a  most  mo 
mentous  mission  by  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
We  are  sure  you  are  intrusted  with  a  duty  most  grate 
ful  to  your  feelings — that  of  averting  an  appeal  to 
arms.  We  place  unlimited  reliance  on  your  spirit, 
energy,  and  discretion.  Should  you  unhappily  fail  in 
your  efforts,  under  the  instructions  of  the  President, 
to  restore  harmony,  we  know  that  you  are  equally  pre 
pared  for  a  still  more  responsible  duty.  Should  that 
event  unhappily  occur,  I  beg  you  to  depend  on  the  firm 
support  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts." 

The  general  replied  most  respectfully,  and  con 
cluded  with  assuring  the  Governor  and  council  that  the 
Executive  of  the  United  States  had  full  reliance  on  the 
patriotism  and  public  spirit  of  Massachusetts,  to  meet 
any  emergency  which  might  arise. 

From  that  scene  Scott  was  next  taken  to  the  popu 
lar  branch  of  the  legislature,  where  he  was  also  hand 
somely  received  —  another  life -long,  valued  friend, 
Robert  C.  Winthrop,  subsequently  distinguished  in 
both  Houses  of  Congress,  in  the  chair. 


336  Excitement  at  Portland. 

Arriving  at  Portland,  Scott  met  his  first  difficulty. 
The  whole  population,  it  seemed,  had  turned  out  to 
greet  him.  All  being  in  favor  of  war,  or  the  peaceful 
possession  of  the  Aroostook,  the  "  disputed  territory," 
all  looked  to  him  to  conquer  that  possession  at  once, 
as  they  had  become  tired  of  diplomacy,  parleys,  and 
delays.  Many  of  his  old  soldiers  of  the  last  war  with 
Great  Britain  were  in  the  crowd;  and  although  no 
man  is  a  hero  in  the  estimation  of  his  valet  de  chambre, 
the  feeling  is  quite  otherwise  with  a  commander's  old 
brothers  in  arms.  These  now  exaggerated  Scott  into 
the  greatest  man-slayer  extant; — one  who  had  killed 
off,  in  the  Canadas,  more  men  than  Great  Britain  had 
there  in  that  war. 

Loud  calls  were  made  for  a  speech,  a  speech  !  But, 
too  young  in  diplomacy  to  have  acquired  the  art  ol 
using  language  to  conceal  his  thoughts,  the  missionary 
of  peace  took  refuge  in  silence,  being,  really,  much 
oppressed  with  a  cold  and  hoarseness.  The  word  peace 
he  had  to  hold  in  petto,  to  be  suggested  in  the  gentlest 
and  most  persuasive  accents  to  the  hostile  ears  of  the 
Governor  and  his  council  at  Augusta,  the  capital  of 
Maine. 

Scott  found  a  bad  temper  prevailing  at  Augusta. 


Maine  and  New  Brunswick  lent  on  War.     337 

The  legislature  was  in  session,  and  the  Democrats  domi 
nant  in  every  branch  of  the  Government. 

In  the  legislature  the  weight  of  talent  and  informa 
tion,  however,  was  with  the  Whig  minority.  Hence 
they  were  much  feared ;  for,  having  recently  been  in 
power,  the  least  error  on  the  side  of  the  Democrats, 
might  again  give  them  the  State.  The  popular  cry- 
being  for  war,  the  Whigs  were  unwilling  to  abandon 
that  hobby-horse  entirely;  but  the  Democrats  were 
the  first  in  the  saddle  and  rode  furiously. 

The  State  of  Maine  and  the  Province  of  ISTew 
Brunswick  were  fast  approaching  actual  hostilities, 
and  if  Scott  had  been  a  few  days  later  in  coming  upon 
the  scene,  the  troops  of  the  two  countries  would  have 
arrived,  and  crossed  bayonets  on  the  disputed  territory 
— a  strip  of  land  lying  between  acknowledged  boun 
daries,  without  any  immediate  value  except  for  the  fine 
ship-timber  in  which  it  abounded.  The  cutting  of 
these  venerable  trees  by  British  subjects  led  Maine 
to  send  a  land  agent,  with  a  posse,  to  drive  off  the 
trespassers.  The  agent  was  seized  and  imprisoned,  for 
a  time,  in  the  Province.  Much  angry  correspondence 
ensued  between  the  two  Governors,  followed  by  omi 
nous  silence  and  war  preparation. 
15 


338  Conciliatory  Measures  Commenced. 

Scott  soon  perceived  that  the  only  hope  of  pacifica 
tion  depended  on  his  persuading  the  local  belligerents 
to  stand  off  the  territory  in  question  for  a  time,  and  to 
remit  the  whole  question  in  issue  to  the  two  paramount 
Governments  at  "Washington  and  London,  from  which 
it  had  been  improperly  wrested,  by  the  impatience  of 
Maine  at  the  dilatoriness  of  American  diplomacy. 

He  took  up  his  quarters  at  the  same  house,  in  Au 
gusta,  with  His  Excellency  and  other  leading  Demo 
crats,  and  sat  in  the  midst  of  them  three  times  a  day 
at  the  same  public  table.  By  degrees  he  won  their 
confidence.  He  was  known  to  them  as  the  representa 
tive,  in  the  special  matter,  of  their  friends  of  the  same 
party  at  Washington. 

The  intrinsic  difficulties  to  be  dealt  with  in  the 
mission  were  much  aggravated  by  a  new  element  just 
thrown  in  by  federal  authority  and  published  at  the 
time  in  all  the  papers,  viz. : 

"MEMORANDUM. 

"  Her  Majesty's  authorities  consider  it  to  have  been 
understood  and  agreed  upon  by  the  two  Governments, 
that  the  territory  in  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and 


Measures  cut  Washington.  339 

the  United  States,  on  the  northeastern  frontier,  should 
remain  exclusively  under  British  jurisdiction  until  the 
final  settlement  of  the  boundary  question. 

"  The  United  States'  Government  have  not  under 
stood  the  above  agreement  in  the  same  sense,  but  con 
sider,  on  the  contrary,  that  there  has  been  no  agree 
ment  whatever  for  the  exercise,  by  Great  Britain,  of 
exclusive  jurisdiction  over  the  disputed  territory,  or 
any  portion  thereof,  but  a  mutual  understanding  that, 
pending  the  negotiation,  the  jurisdiction  then  exercised 
by  either  party,  over  small  portions  of  the  territory  in 
dispute,  should  not  be  enlarged,  but  be  continued  mere 
ly  for  the  preservation  of  local  tranquillity  and  the  pub 
lic  property,  both  forbearing  as  far  as  practicable  to 
exert  any  authority,  and,  when  any  should  be  exercised 
by  either,  placing  upon  the  conduct  of  each  other  the 
most  favorable  construction. 

"  A  complete  understanding  upon  the  question,  thus 
placed  at  issue,  of  present  jurisdiction,  can  only  be  ar 
rived  at  by  friendly  discussion  between  the  Govern 
ments  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain;  and, 
as  it  is  confidently  hoped  that  there  will  be  an  early 
settlement  of  the  question,  this  subordinate  point  of 
difference  can  be  of  but  little  moment. 


340  Aggravation  of  Difficulties. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  the  Governor  of  the  Province 
of  New  Brunswick  and  the  Government  of  the  State 
of  Maine,  will  act  as  follows :  Her  Majesty's  officers 
will  not  seek  to  expel,  by  military  force,  the  armed 
party  which  has  been  sent  by  Maine  into  the  district 
bordering  on  the  Aroostook  River;  but  the  Govern 
ment  of  Maine  will,  voluntarily,  and  without  needless 
delay,  withdraw  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  disputed 
territory  any  armed  force  now  within  them;  and  if 
future  necessity  should  arise  for  dispersing  notorious 
trespassers,  or  protecting  public  property  from  depre 
dation  by  armed  force,  the  operation  shall  be  conduct 
ed  by  concert,  jointly  or  separately,  according  to  agree 
ments  between  the  Governments  of  Maine  and  New 
Brunswick. 

"  The  civil  officers  in  the  service  respectively  of 
New  Brunswick  and  Maine,  who  have  been  taken  into 
custody  by  the  opposite  parties,  shall  be  released. 

"  Nothing  in  this  memorandum  shall  be  construed 
to  fortify  or  to  weaken,  in  any  respect  whatever,  the 
claim  of  either  party  to  the  ultimate  possession  of  the 
disputed  territory. 

"  The  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  Her  Britannic 
Majesty  having  no  specific  authority  to  make  any  ar 


Statement  of  the  Case.  341 

rangement  on  the  subject,  the  undersigned  can  only 
recommend,  as  they  now  earnestly  do,  to  the  Govern 
ments  of  New  Brunswick  and  Maine,  to  regulate  their 
future  proceedings  according  to  the  terms  herein  set 
forth,  until  the  final  settlement  of  the  territorial  dis 
pute,  or  until  the  Governments  of  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  shall  come  to  some  definite  conclu 
sion  on  the  subordinate  point  upon  which  they  are  now 
at  issue. 

"  JOHN  FOKSYTH,  Secretary  of  State 
of  the  United  States  of  North  America. 

"H.  S.  Fox,  R.  B.  M.  Envoy 
Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary. 

"WASHINGTON,  February  27,  1839." 

This  memorandum  gave  great  offence  to  the  author 
ities  and  people  of  Maine.  They  were  required  to 
withdraw  their  forces  from  the  territory  in  dispute 
simply  on  the  promise  that  British  officers  would  not 
seek  to  expel  them  ~by  force! — without  any  reciprocal 
obligation ; — the  other  party  being  left  free  to  remain ; 
to  fortify  themselves;  to  continue  their  depredations, 
undisturbed,  and  for  an  indefinite  time !  This  bungle 
Scott  had  first  to  adjust  between  Democratic  authorities 


342  Harvey  and  Scott  Old  Friends. 

— State  and  Federal — he  being  himself  a  "Whig !  It 
was  no  easy  thing  to  find  a  solvent  for  such  knarled 
perplexities,  foreign  and  domestic.  Fortunately  acci 
dental  circumstances  in  his  history  supplied  the  desid 
eratum. 

The  Governor  of  the  Province,  New  Brunswick, 
was,  at  the  time,  the  distinguished  Lieutenant-General, 
Sir  John  Harvey,  of  the  British  army,  the  same  who  in 
the  campaign  of  1813  was  adjutant-general  in  Upper 
Canada  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  (See  above, 
p.  99  and  note.) 

The  report  of  Colonel  Harvey's  kindness  to  such 
American  officers  and  men  as  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  made  him  an  object  of  respect  and  kindness 
throughout  our  ranks.  Harvey  and  Scott  being  lead 
ers,  and  always  in  front,  exchanged  salutes  several 
times  on  the  field,  and  once,  when  out  reconnoitring, 
Scott's  escort  cut  off  the  Englishman  from  his  party. 
A  soldier,  taking  a  deadly  aim,  would,  certainly,  have 
finished  a  gallant  career,  if  Scott  had  not  knocked  up 
the  rifle — saying,  Don't  kill  our  prisoner  !  But  though 
a  prisoner  for  a  moment,  Harvey,  by  a  sudden  move 
ment,  spurred  his  charger  and  escaped  into  a  thicket, 
unhurt,  notwithstanding  the  many  rifle  balls  hastily 


Semi-Official  Correspondence.  343 

thrown  after  him.  This  was  the  second  time  that  he 
had  escaped  from  captivity,  and  Scott  now  gave  strict 
orders  never  to  spare  again  an  enemy  so  active  and 
dangerous. 

It  so  happened  that  in  leaving  the  Cherokee  coun 
try,  the  major-general  received  a  friendly  letter  from 
the  lieutenant-general,  which,  from  the  want  of  time, 
remained  unanswered  when  the  former  arrived  at 
Augusta. 

The  reply  to  that  letter,  semi-official,  was  followed 
by  a  rapid  interchange  of  like  communications,  the 
Governor  of  Maine  reading  all  that  was  written  by  the 
correspondents.  By  degrees  Scott  won  over  to  his 
pacific  views  the  dominant  party — only  that  it  hesi 
tated  lest  the  Whigs  should  shift  about,  agitate  against 
any  compromise  and  thereby  regain  the  State.  This 
apprehension  was  mentioned  to  Scott  by  the  Governor, 
in  the  presence  of  the  aged  treasurer,  an  honest  man, 
but  a  bigot  in  politics.  Scott,  who  had  not  approached 
the  Whigs  in  the  Legislature,  who,  indeed,  had  shunned 
him  as  a  Democrat ; — nor  had  he  expressed  a  party  sen 
timent  to  anybody  after  his  leaving  Washington — now 
asked  permission  of  Governor  Fairfield  to  speak  to  his 
leading  opponents  in  that  body — adding  that  he  him- 


3M  Critical  Management  of  Parties. 

self  being  a  Whig,  might  bring  them  out,  openly,  in 
support  of  pacific  measures.  At  this  declaration  of 
party  bias,  the  good  old  treasurer  was  thrown  into  a 
most  ludicrous  attitude  of  surprise  and  consternation, 
which  caused  his  Excellency,  though  himself,  at  first, 
a  little  startled,  to  laugh  most  heartily.  This  burst  of 
good  humor,  in  which  the  treasurer  eventually  joined, 
was  a  positive  gain  in  the  right  direction.  (All  the 
details  of  this  negotiation  cannot  yet  be  given.  There 
was,  however,  no  bribery.) 

To  bring  those  leading  "Whigs  and  Scott  together 
required  dexterous  management ;  for  if  that  had  hap 
pened  without  the  presence  of  leading  Democrats,  a 
suspicion  of  foul  play  would  have  been  excited.  Scott, 
therefore,  induced  Senator  Evans,  just  from  Washing 
ton,  to  invite  them,  the  Governor  and  several  State 
Councillors  to  sup  with  him  at  Gardiner,  a  little  below 
Augusta.  The  envoy  took  charge  of  his  Democratic 
friends  in  a  government  sleigh.  All  the  topics  he  in 
tended  to  urge  upon  the  Whig  leaders  were  given  and 
discussed  in  the  vehicle.  The  night  was  brilliant,  and 
so  was  the  entertainment.  Mr.  Evans — a  distinguished 
Whig,  as  everybody  knew  —  placed  his  Democratic 
guests  a*  Li  a  end  of  the  table,  and  Scott,  with  the 


Progress  of  Peace  Measures.  345 

Whigs  around  him,  at  the  other.  The  latter  were 
sulky,  and  Scott's  blandishments,  in  doing  the  honors 
of  his  position,  failed  to  open  the  way  to  the  main  busi 
ness  of  the  evening — next  to  the  supper — when,  on  a 
beckon,  the  master  of  the  feast  came  to  the  rescue,  and 
whispered  to  the  Whigs  (capital  fellows!)  that  the 
representative  of  President  Yan  Buren,  near  them, 
was  as  good  a  Whig  as  the  best  of  them !  Another 
ludicrous  surprise !  Compliments  and  cordiality  en 
sued  at  once,  and  viands  and  business  were  discussed 
together  to  the  content  of  all  parties.  The  Governor 
understood  the  object  of  the  Senator's  whispers,  and 
plainly  saw  that  Scott  had  succeeded.  A  feast  is  a 
great  peacemaker — worth  more  than  all  the  usual  arts 
of  diplomacy.  Scott  had  also,  from  the  first,  received 
good  assistance  from  the  Honorable  Albert  Smith,  of 
Portland,  afterward  a  member  of  Congress,  who,  hap 
pening  to  be  in  Augusta,  gave  him  the  temper  and 
bias  of  many  particular  Democrats  whom  it  was  neces 
sary  to  conciliate. 

The  work  was  done.  Virtually  nothing  remained, 
but  the  synthetic  process  of  gathering  up  all  the  par 
ticular  results  into  one  general  act  of  amnesty  and  good 

will.     Sir  John  Harvey  was  of  a  too  elevated  character 
15* 


346  Negotiations  Successful. 

to  be  fastidious  about  non-essentials.  On  being  sound 
ed,  he  had  concurred  at  once  with  Scott  on  all  essen 
tials,  and  Governor  Fairfield  and  council  having  no 
longer  anything  to  fear  from  perversity  on  the  part  of 
the  Whigs,  now  sent  in  a  message,  March  12,  to  the 
Legislature,  of  which  this  is  an  extract : 

"What  then  shall  be  done?  The  people  of  the 
State  surely  are  not  desirous  of  hurrying  the  two  na 
tions  into  a  war.  Such  an  event  is  anxiously  to  be 
avoided,  if  it  can  be  without  dishonor.  We  owe  too 
much  to  the  Union,  to  ourselves,  and,  above  all,  to  the 
spirit  and  principles  of  Christianity,  to  bring  about  a 
conflict  of  arms  with  a  people  having  with  us  a  common 
origin,  speaking  a  common  language,  and  bound  to  us 
by  so  many  ties  of  common  interest,  without  the  most 
inexorable  necessity.  Under  these  circumstances  I 
would  recommend  that,  when  we  are  fully  satisfied, 
either  by  the  declarations  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor 
of  New  Brunswick,  or  otherwise,  that  he  has  abandoned 
all  idea  of  occupying  the  disputed  territory  with  a  mili 
tary  force,  and  of  attempting  an  expulsion  of  our  party, 
that  then  the  Governor  be  authorized  to  withdraw  our 
military  force,  leaving  the  land-agent  with  a  posse, 


Peace  Restored.  347 

armed  or  unarmed,  as  the  case  may  require,  sufficient 
to  carry  into  effect  your  original  design — that  of  driving 
out  or  arresting  the  trespassers,  and  preserving  and 
protecting  the  timber  from  their  depredations." 

The  Legislature,  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month, 
passed  an  act  in  accordance  with  the  message,  and  the 
next  day  Scott  despatched  by  his  line  of  couriers, 
to  meet  Sir  John's  line  at  the  border,  the  following 
papers : 


From  the  Augusta  (Me.)  Journal,  March  26,  1839. 

"  The  War  Ended. — Important  Correspondence. 

HEADQUARTERS,  EASTERN  DIVISION  ) 
TJ.  S.  ARMY,  AUGUSTA,  ME.,  V 
March  21,  1839.  ) 

"  i  The  undersigned,  a  Major-General  in  the  Army 
of  the  United  States,  being  specially  charged  with  main 
taining  the  peace  and  safety  of  their  entire  northern 
and  eastern  frontiers,  having  cause  to  apprehend  a  col 
lision  of  arms  between  the  proximate  forces  of  New 
Brunswick  and  the  State  of  Maine  on  the  disputea 


348  Terms  of  Adjustment. 

territory,  which  is  claimed  by  both,  has  the  honor,  in 
the  sincere  desire  of  the  United  States  to  preserve  the 
relations  of  peace  and  amity  with  Great  Britain — rela 
tions  which  might  be  much  endangered  by  such  unto 
ward  collision — to  invite  from  his  Excellency  Major- 
General  Sir  John  Harvey,  Lieutenant-Governor,  etc., 
etc.,  a  general  declaration  to  this  effect : 

"  '  That  it  is  not  the  intention  of  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Province  of  New 
Brunswick,  under  the  expected  renewal  of  negotiations 
between  the  cabinets  of  London  and  Washington  on 
the  subject  of  the  said  disputed  territory,  without  re 
newed  instructions  to  that  effect  from  his  Government, 
to  seek  to  take  military  possession  of  that  territory,  or 
to  seek,  by  military  force,  to  expel  therefrom  the  armed 
civil  posse  or  the  troops  of  Maine. 

" c  Should  the  undersigned  have  the  honor  to  be 
favored  with  such  declaration  or  assurance,  to  be  by 
him  communicated  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor  of 
the  State  of  Maine,  the  undersigned  does  not  in  the 
least  doubt  that  he  would  be  immediately  and  fully  au 
thorized  by  the  Governor  of  Maine  to  communicate  to 
his  Excellency,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  Bruns 
wick,  a  corresponding  pacific  declaration  to  this  effect : 


Terms,  etc.  349 

" 4  That,  in  the  hope  of  a  speedy  and  satisfactory 
settlement,  by  negotiation,  between  the  Governments 
of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  of  the  principal 
or  boundary  question  between  the  State  of  Maine  and 
the  Province  of  JSTew  Brunswick,  it  is  not  the  intention 
of  the  Governor  of  Maine,  without  renewed  instructions 
from  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  to  attempt  to  disturb 
by  arms  the  said  Province  in  the  possession  of  the 
Madawaska  settlements,  or  to  attempt  to  interrupt  the 
usual  communications  between  that  Province  and  Her 
Majesty's  Upper  Provinces ;  and  that  he  is  willing,  in 
the  mean  time,  to  leave  the  questions  of  possession  and 
jurisdiction  as  they  at  present  stand — that  is,  Great 
Britain  holding,  in  fact,  possession  of  a  part  of  the  said 
territory,  and  the  Government  of  Maine  denying  her 
right  to  such  possession ;  and  the  State  of  Maine  hold 
ing,  in  fact,  possession  of  another  portion  of  the  same 
territory,  to  which  her  right  is  denied  by  Great  Britain. 

"  '  With  this  understanding,  the  Governor  of  Maine 
will,  without  unnecessary  delay,  withdraw  the  military 
force  of  the  State  from  the  said  disputed  territory — 
leaving  only,  under  a  land  agent,  a  small  civil  posse, 
armed  or  unarmed,  to  protect  the  timber  recently  cut, 
and  to  prevent  future  depredations. 


350  Terms,  etc. 

" '  Reciprocal  assurances  of  the  foregoing  friendly 
character  having  been,  through  the  undersigned,  inter* 
changed,  all  danger  of  collision  between  the  immediate 
parties  to  the  controversy  will  be  at  once  removed,  and 
time  allowed  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  to 
settle  amicably  the  great  question  of  limits. 

"  *  The  undersigned  has  much  pleasure  in  renewing 
to  his  Excellency  Major-General  Sir  John  Harvey, 
the  assurances  of  his  ancient  high  consideration  and 
respect. 

" «  WINFIELD  SCOTT/ 


"  To  a  copy  of  the  foregoing,  Sir  John  Harvey  an 
nexed  the  following : 

"  '  The  undersigned,  Major-General  Sir  John  Har 
vey,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Her  Britannic  Majesty's 
Province  of  New  Brunswick,  having  received  a  propo 
sition  from  Major-General  Winfield  Scott,  of  the  United 
States'  Army,  of  which  the  foregoing  is  a  copy,  hereby, 
on  his  part,  signifies  his  concurrence  and  acquiescence 
therein. 

"  i  Sir  John  Harvey  renews  with  great  pleasure  to 


Terms,  etc.  351 

Major-General  Scott  the  assurances  of  his  warmest  per 
sonal  consideration,  regard,  and  respect. 


J.  HARVEY. 


"  *  GOVERNMENT  HOUSE,  FREDERICTON, 
NEW  BRUNSWICK,  March  23,  1839.' 


"  To  a  paper  containing  the  note  of  General  Scott, 
and  the  acceptance  of  Sir  John  Harvey,  Governor  Fair- 
field  annexed  his  acceptance  in  these  words : 

• 

"'EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,          t 
AUGUSTA,  March  25,  1839.    J 

"  c  The  undersigned,  Governor  of  Maine,  in  consid 
eration  of  the  foregoing,  the  exigency  for  calling  out 
the  troops  of  Maine  having  ceased,  has  no  hesitation  in 
signifying  his  entire  acquiescence  in  the  proposition  of 
Major-General  Scott. 

"  '  The  undersigned  has  the  honor  to  tender  to 
Major-General  Scott  the  assurance  of  his  high  respect 
and  esteem. 

"  '  JOHN  FAIRFIELD.' 

"  We  learn  that  General  Scott  has  interchanged  the 
acceptances  of  the  Governor  and  Lieutenant-Govern  or, 


352  Terms,  etc. 

and  also  that  Governor  Fairfield  immediately  issued 
orders  recalling  the  troops  of  Maine,  and  for  organizing 
the  civil  posse  that  is  to  be  continued,  for  the  time,  in 
the  disputed  territory.  The  troops  in  this  town  will 
also  be  immediately  discharged." 

With  Sir  John's  acceptance  came  this  letter : 

"  MY  DEAR  GENERAL  SCOTT  : 

"Upon  my  return  from  closing  the.  session  of  the 
Provincial  Legislature,  I  was  gratified  by  the  receipt 
of  your  very  satisfactory  communication  of  the  21st 
instant.  My  reliance  upon  you^  my  dear  General,  has 
led  me  to  give  my  willing  assent  to  the  proposition 
which  you  have  made  yourself  the  very  acceptable 
means  of  conveying  to  me ;  and  I  trust  that  as  far  as 
the  Province  and  the  State  respectively  are  concerned, 
an  end  will  be  put  by  it  to  all  border  disputes,  and  a 
way  opened  to  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  national 
question  involved.  I  shall  hope  to  receive  the  con 
firmation  of  this  arrangement  on  the  part  of  the  State 
of  Maine  at  as  early  a  period  as  may  be  practicable." 

Dr.    W.   E.    Channing,    a    leading    philanthropist 


Eloquent  Commendation.  353 

scholar,  orator,  and  divine,  of  his  day,  in  the  preface  to 
his  Lecture  on  War  (1839),  devoted  two  paragraphs  to 
the  honor  of  the  autobiographer's  peace  labors,  in  these 
words  : 

"  To  this  distinguished  man  belongs  the  rare  honor 
of  uniting  with  military  energy  and  daring,  the  spirit 
of  a  philanthropist.  His  exploits  in  the  field,  which 
placed  him  in  the  first  rank  of  our  soldiers,  have  been 
obscured  by  the  purer  and  more  lasting  glory  of  a 
pacificator,  and  of  a  friend  of  mankind.  In  the  whole 
history  of  the  intercourse  of  civilized  with  barbarous 
or  half  -  civilized  communities,  we  doubt  whether  a 
brighter  page  can  be  found  than  that  which  records 
his  agency  in  the  removal  of  the  Cherokees.  As  far  as 
the  wrongs  done  to  this  race  can  be  atoned  for,  General 
Scott  has  made  the  expiation. 

"  In  his  recent  mission  to  the  disturbed  borders  of 
our  country,  he  has  succeeded,  not  so  much  by  policy 
as  by  the  nobleness  and  generosity  of  his  character,  by 
moral  influences,  by  the  earnest  conviction  with  which 
he  has  enforced  on  all  with  whom  he  has  had  to  do, 
the  obligations  of  patriotism,  justice,  humanity,  and 
religion.  It  would  not  be  easy  to  ~Jid  among  us  a  man 


354  Commendation,  etc. 

who  has  won  a  purer  fame ;  and  I  am  happy  to  offer 
this  tribute,  because  I  would  do  something,  no  matter 
how  little,  to  hasten  the  time  when  the  spirit  of  Chris 
tian  humanity  shall  be  accounted  an  essential  attribute 
and  the  brightest  ornament  of  a  public  man. 

"  He  returns  to  Washington,  and  is  immediately 
ordered  to  the  Cherokee  nation,  to  take  charge  of  the 
very  difficult  and  hazardous  task  to  his  own  fame  of 
removing  those  savages  from  their  native  land.  Some 
of  his  best  friends  regretted,  most  sincerely,  that  he 
had  been  ordered  on  this  service;  and,  knowing  the 
disposition  of  the  world  to  cavil  and  complain  without 
cause,  had  great  apprehensions  that  he  would  lose  a 
portion  of  the  popularity  he  had  acquired  by  his  dis 
tinguished  success  on  the  Canadian  frontier.  But, 
behold  the  manner  in  which  this  last  work  has  been 
performed !  There  is  so  much  of  noble  generosity  of 
character  about  Scott,  independent  of  his  skill  and 
bravery  as  a  soldier,  that  his  life  has  really  been  one 
of  romantic  beauty  and  interest." 


CHAPTEE    XXIY. 

POLITICS GENEKAL-IN-CHIEF STOPS     UNLAWFUL     PUNISH 
MENTS ATTEMPTS   TO  ABOLISH    HIS    RANK   AND   TO   BE- 

DUCE     HIS     PAY ME.     ADAMS     AND     MR.     C.     J.     INGEK- 

SOLL. 

IT  was  about  this  time  that  the  autobiographer  was, 
without  wish  or  agency  on  his  part,  brought  into  the 
arena  of  party  politics,  although  long  before  a  quiet 
Whig.  A  convention  of  delegates  of  that  party  met 
early  in  December,  1839,  at  Harrisburg,  to  select  can 
didates  for  the  Presidency  and  Vice-Presidency  at  the 
election  in  November  of  the  following  year. 

Mr.  Clay,  the  head  of  the  party,  and  General  Har 
rison  were  the  principals  before  the  convention.  Scott 
had  also  a  respectable  number  of  supporters  (the  dele- 


356  Ilarrisburg  Convention. 

gates  of  five  States,  including  those  of  New  York)  in 
that  body ;  but  Scott  wrote  a  number  of  letters  to  mem 
bers,  friends  of  Mr.  Clay,  to  be  seen  by  all,  expressing 
the  hope  that  the  latter  might,  with  any  prospect  of 
success,  before  the  people,  be  selected  as  the  candidate, 
and  if  not,  that  General  Harrison  might  be  the  nominee. 

So  far  as  respects  the  younger,  or  third  candidate, 
himself,  the  result  is  not,  at  this  day,  worth  a  single 
remark.  But  the  accidental  circumstances  which  final 
ly  ruled  the  convention,  are  too  curious  within  them 
selves,  as  well  as  too  important  to  the  future  of  the 
country,  to  be  longer  suppressed. 

There  was  abundant  evidence  from  the  beginning 
of  the  convention  that  Scott  was  the  second  choice  of  a 
great  majority  both  of  the  Clay  and  Harrison  members ; 
but  Mr.  Leigh  (the  Honorable  B.  W.),  who  led  the 
Virginia  delegation,  and  that  led  the  other  Clay  dele 
gations — all  Southern  and  Southwestern  men; — by  a 
singular  infelicity,  contrived  that  those  delegations 
should  lose  both  their  first  and  second  preferences. 
The  supporters  of  Scott,  after  a  great  many  ballotings, 
communicated  to  the  separate  assemblages  of  the  Clay 
men,  that  if  the  latter  did  not,  after  the  next  vote,  come 
over  to  Scott,  their  known  second  choice,  they,  the 


Convention  Contmued.  357 

New  Yorkers  and  associates,  would,  in  that  case,  next 
vote  for  Harrison,  their  second  choice.  Here  the 
strangeness  alluded  to  must  be  told. 

Mr.  Leigh — a  man  of  perfect  uprightness  of  charac 
ter,  of  high  abilities ;  and  early  in  life  a  passionate  and 
successful  cultivator  of  polite  literature — had  now,  and 
for  many  years  before,  become  the  slave  of  his  profes 
sion — without  any  diminution  of  business,  but  with  a 
yearly  decrease  of  fees  and  increase  of  family  —  so 
fagged,  for  twelve  and  fourteen  hours  a  day,  that  his 
acquaintance  with  the  advancing  world,  literature,  and 
politics,  did  not  extend  beyond  the  narrow  circle  of 
Richmond.  Being  without  a  rival  in  that  sphere,  and 
now  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  three  days  north  of 
Washington ; — conscious  of  the  purity  of  his  intentions, 
and  having  made  up  his  own  mind  that  Mr.  Clay  ought 
to  be  the  next  President,  he  carefully  avoided  every 
body  likely  to  perplex  and  distress  him  with  the  con 
trary  wishes  or  calculations. 

Congress  met  three  days  before  the  convention. 
The  Whig  members  of  the  former,  desirous  of  con 
versing  understandingly  with  their  friends  as  they 
passed  through  Washington  to  Harrisburg,  held  *  in 
formal  meetings,  by  States,  and  came  to  the  conclusion, 


358  Convention  Continued. 

after  inquiry  and  reflection,  that  Mr.  Clay  could  scarce 
ly  carry  a  district  represented  by  one  of  them — Mit 
chell,  alone,  being  confident  that  his,  the  Lockport  or 
Niagara  District  of  New  York,  would  vote  for  the  illus 
trious  Kentuckian;  but  Mitchell  could  not  be  relied 
upon ;  for  he  was  long  before  the  election  put  into  the 
State  prison  as  a  forger. 

Mr.  Leigh,  apprehending  such  interference  at  Wash 
ington,  and  true  to  his  provincial  superiority,  quietly 
passed  down  the  James  Kiver  and  up  the  Chesapeake 
Bay,  through  Baltimore,  with  a  large  number  of  depen 
dent  delegates,  to  Harrisburg  —  where  he  was  taken 
possession  of  by  two  veteran  and  inveterate  Clay  sup 
porters  from  the  city  of  New  York  (traders  in  politics, 
but  not  members  of  the  convention),  who  so  mesmer 
ized  him  that  he  could  not  believe  a  word  said  to  him 
by  men  of  the  highest  standing  in  the  North  and  East. 
Hence,  when  the  message,  just  mentioned,  was  received 
by  the  Clay  supporters,  that  is,  by  Mr.  Leigh,  who  was 
not  only  the  organ,  but  the  sole  voice  of  that  party,  his 
mesmerizers  told  him  to  treat  it  with  contempt,  that  it 
was  a  mere  fetch,  and  that  the  Scott  delegates  would 
be  obliged  in  a  few  ballots  more  to  vote  for  Mr.  Clay. 

This  assurance  was  speedily  falsified,  and  then  some 


Harrison's  Nomination.  359 

of  the  dupes,  including  Mr.  Leigh  himself — wished  to 
move  for  a  reconsideration  of  the  vote;  but  Scott's 
friends  very  judiciously  said,  "No ;  it  is  too  late.  Har 
rison's  name,  as  our  nominee,  will,  in  five  minutes,  be 
on  the  wings  of  the  winds  to  all  parts  of  the  Union, 
and  now  to  nominate  another  would  distract  the  party 
and  make  us  contemptible." 

But  the  nomination  and  success  of  General  Harri 
son,  if  his  life  had  been  spared  some  four  years  longer, 
would  have  been  no  detriment  to  his  country.  With 
excellent  intentions  and  objects,  and  the  good  sense  to 
appoint  able  counsellors,  the  country  would  not  have 
been  retarded  in  its  prosperity,  nor  disgraced  by  cor 
ruption  in  high  places.  No  one  can,  of  course,  be  held 
responsible  for  sudden  deaths  among  men.  A  single 
month  in  office,  ended  President  Harrison's  life,  when 
the  affecting  plaint  of  Burke  occurred  to  all :  "  "What 
shadows  we  are,  what  shadows  we  pursue !  " 

Mr.  Leigh's  great  error  at  Harrisburg  is  yet  to  be 
narrated,  and  referred  to  the  same  virtues  combined 
with  the  inaptitude  of  one  long  ignorant  of  the  world. 
All  the  able  men  who  voted  early  or  late  for  Harrison, 
were  inclined  to  name  Mr.  Leigh,  as  a  slight  indemnifi 
cation  to  Mr.  Clay,  for  the  Vice-Presidency ; — but  Mr 


360  Tyler  for  the  Vice- Presidency. 

Tyler,  of  the  same  delegation,  wept  audibly  for  the  loss 
of  Virginia's  candidate,  and  intrigued  quietly  with  the 
weaker  brethren  to  secure  that  honor  for  himself.  Mr. 
Leigh  being  sole  committee  man  of  his  delegation  on 
the  selection  of  candidates,  and  the  reverenced  adviser 
of  many  others,  delicately  hesitated  about  receiving  the 
nomination,  and  worse,  from  delicacy  toward  a  col 
league,  neglected  to  tell  distant  members  how  utterly 
unfit  Mr.  Tyler  was  for  the  second  place  in  the  Govern 
ment — nobody,  of  course,  thinking  of  a  vacancy  in  the 
presidential  chair, — a  case  that  had  never  occurred. 
Thus  by  the  double  squeamishness  of  a  good  man,  the 
United  States  lost  an  eventual  President  not  inferior 
to  more  than  one  man  that  had  ever  filled  that  high 
place. 

Of  Mr.  Tyler's  administration  of  the  executive 
branch  of  the  Government,  but  little  will  be  said  here. 
He  soon  committed  the  grossest  tergiversation  in  poli 
tics,  from  the  fear  of  Mr.  Clay  as  a  competitor  for  the 
succession,  and  to  win  that  for  himself,  all  the  patron 
age  of  the  Government,  all  the  chips,  shavings,  and 
sweepings  of  office,  down  to  the  lowest  clerkship,  the 
posts  of  messengers  and  watchmen,  were  brought  into 
market  and  bartered  for  support  at  the  next  election. 


Macomb  Dies — Scott  General-in-Chief.       361 

To  the  honor  of  the  country,  Mr.  Tyler  was  allowed  to 
relapse  into  a  private  station. 

In  June,  1841,  Scott  was,  on  the  death  of  Major- 
General  Macomb,  called  to  reside  in  Washington  as 
the  General-in-Chief  of  the  entire  army.  In  that 
capacity  he  made  several  ordinary  tours  of  inspection, 
but  nothing  occurred  in  the  next  five  years  that  called 
him  to  any  mission  of  importance.  Many  specimens 
of  orders  might  be  given  to  show  his  regard  for  the  sol 
dier,  as  well  as  love  of  military  discipline  and  efficiency ; 
but  they  would  not  be  interesting  to  the  general  reader. 
One  only  will  here  be  inserted  to  exhibit  his  long  per 
severing  and  successful  efforts  to  stop  arbitrary,  that  is, 
illegal,  punishments  in  the  army. 


GENERAL  ORDERS.  )  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 

£r0  53  \  WASHINGTON,  August  20,  1842. 

1.  ...  Intimations,  through  many  channels,  re 
ceived  at  General  Headquarters,  lead  to  more  than  a 
suspicion  that  blows,  kicks,  cuffs,  and  lashes,  against 
law,  the  good  of  the  service  and  the  faith  of  Govern 
ment,  have,  in  many  instances,  down  to  a  late  period, 
16 


362     Orders  to  Suppress  Unlawful  Punishments. 

been  inflicted  upon  private  soldiers  of  the  army  by  their 
officers  and  non-commissioned  officers. 

2.  ...  Inquiries  into  the  reported  abuses  are  in 
progress,  with  instructions,  if  probable  evidence  of  guilt 
be  found,  to  bring  the  offenders  to  trial. 

3.  ...  It  is  well  known  to  every  vigilant  officer 
that  discipline  can  be  maintained  ( — and  it  shall  be  so 
maintained — )  l>y  legal  means.     Other  resorts  are,  in 
the  end,  always  destructive  of  good  order  and  subordi 
nation. 

4.  ...  Insolence,   disobedience,    mutiny,    are    the 
usual  provocations  to  unlawful  violence.      But  these 
several  offences  are  denounced  by  the  6th,  7th,  and  9th 
of  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  and  made  punishable 
by  the  sentence  of  courts-martial.     Instead,  however, 
of  waiting  for  such  judgment,  according  to  the  nature 
and  degree  of  guilt,  deliberately  found — the  hasty  and 
conceited — losing  all  self-control  and  dignity  of  com 
mand — assume  that  their  individual  importance  is  more 
outraged  than  the  majesty  of  law,  and  act,  at  once,  as 
legislators,  judges,  and  executioners.     Such  gross  usur 
pation  is  not  to  be  tolerated  in   any  well-governed 
army. 

5.  ...  For  insolent  words,  addressed  to  a  superior, 


Orders  Continued.  363 

let  the  soldier  be  ordered  into  confinement.  This,  of 
itself,  if  followed  by  prompt  repentance  and  apology, 
may  often  be  found  a  sufficient  punishment.  If  not,  a 
court  can  readily  authorize  the  final  remedy.  A  delib 
erate,  or  unequivocal  breach  of  orders,  is  treated  with 
yet  greater  judicial  rigor ;  and,  in  a  clear  case  of  mu 
tiny,  the  sentence  would,  in  all  probability,  extend  to 
life.  It  is  evident,  then,  that  there  is  not  even  a  pre 
text  for  punishments  decreed  on  individual  assumption, 
and  at  the  dictate  of  pride  and  resentment. 

6.  ...  But  it  may  be  said,  in  the  case  of  mutiny, 
or  conduct  tending  to  this  great  crime — that  it  is  neces 
sary  to  cut  down,  on  the  spot,  the  exciter  or  ringleader. 
First  order  him  to  be  seized.  If  his  companions  put 
him  into  irons  or  confinement,  it  is  plain  there  is  no 
spread  of  the  dangerous  example.  But,  should  they 
hesitate ; — or  should  it  be  necessary  in  any  case  of  dis 
obedience,  desertion,  or  running  away — the  object  being 
to  secure  the  person  for  trial ; — as  always  to  repel  a 
personal  assault,  or  to  stop  an  affray — in  every  one  of 
these  cases  any  superior  may  strike  and  wound ;  but 
only  to  the  extent  clearly  necessary  to  such  lawful  end. 
Any  excess,  wantonly  committed  beyond  such  meas 
ured  violence,  would,  itself,  be  punishable  in  the  supe- 


364  Subject  Continued. 

rior.  No  other  case  can  possibly  justify  any  superior 
in  committing  violence  upon  the  body  of  any  inferior, 
without  the  judgment  of  a  court — except  that  it  may 
sometimes  be  necessary,  by  force,  to  iron  prisoners  for 
security,  or  to  gag  them  for  quiet. 

T.  .  .  .  Harsh  and  abusive  words,  passionately  or 
wantonly  applied  to  unoffending  inferiors,  is  but  little 
less  reprehensible.  Such  language  is,  at  once,  unjust, 
vulgar,  and  unmanly ;  and,  in  this  connection,  it  may 
be  useful  to  recall  a  passage  from  the  old  General  Regu 
lations  for  the  Army  (by  Scott) : 

"  The  general  deportment  of  officers  toward  juniors 
or  inferiors  will  be  carefully  watched  and  regulated. 
If  this  be  cold  or  harsh,  on  the  one  hand,  or  grossly 
familiar  on  the  other,  the  harmony  or  discipline  of  the 
corps  cannot  be  maintained.  The  examples  are  numer 
ous  and  brilliant,  in  which  the  most  conciliatory  man 
ners  have  been  found  perfectly  compatible  with  the- 
exercise  of  the  strictest  command ;  and  the  officer  who 
does  not  unite  a  high  degree  of  moral  vigor  with  the 
civility  that  springs  from  the  heart,  cannot  too  soon 
choose  another  profession  in  which  imbecility  would 
be  less  conspicuous,  and  harshness  less  wounding  and 
oppressive."  (Edition  1825.) 


Subject  Continued.  365 

8.  ...  Government  not  only  reposes  "  special  trust 
and  confidence  in  the  patriotism,  valor,  fidelity,  and 
abilities  of"  army  officers,  as  is  expressed  on  the  face 
of  commissions ;  but  also  in  their  self-control,  respect 
for  law  and  gentlemanly  conduct  on  all  occasions.     A 
failure  under  either  of  those  heads  ought  always  to  be 
followed  by  the  loss  of  a  commission. 

9.  ...  At  a  time  when,  notwithstanding  the  small- 
ness  of  the  establishment,  thousands  of  the  most  prom 
ising  youths  are  desirous  of  military  commissions,  the 
country  has  a  right  to  demand — not  merely  the  usual 
exact  observance  of  laws,  regulations,  and  orders,  but 
yet  more — that  every  officer  shall  give  himself  up  en 
tirely  to  the  cultivation  and  practice  of  all  the  virtues 
and  accomplishments  which  can  elevate  an  honorable 
profession.     There  is  in  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
neither  room,  nor  associates,  for  the  idle,  the  ignorant, 
the  vicious,  the  disobedient.     To  the  very  few  such, 
thinly  scattered  over  the  service — whether  in  the  line 
or  the  staff — these  admonitions  are  mainly  addressed ; 
and  let  the  vigilant  eye  of  all  commanders  be  fixed 
upon  them.     No  bad  or  indifferent  officer  should  re 
ceive  from  a  senior  any  favor  or  indulgence  whatso 
ever. 


366  Scotfa  R<mk  and  Pay  Attacked. 

10.  ...  The  attention  of  commanders  of  depart 
ments,  regiments,  companies,  and  garrisons  is  directed 
to  the  101st  of  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  which  re 
quires  that  the  whole  series  shall  be  read  to  the  troops 
at  least  once  in  every  six  months. 

WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

In  this  interval  of  comparative  inactivity,  high  army 
rank  again  came  to  be  considered  useless  and  burden 
some.  Several  movements  were  made  in  the  House 
of  Representatives,  to  cut  down  Scott's  long-fixed  pay 
and  emoluments,  and  one,  quite  formidable,  in  its  in 
ception,  to  abolish  his  office. 

A  previous  motion  to  reduce  his  pay,  etc.,  was 
defeated  by  a  side  battery,  opened  by  the  Hon. 
Charles  J.  Ingersoll,  member  of  the  House  from  Phila 
delphia.  There  was  another  bill  lying  on  the  clerk's 
table  touching  the  daily  compensation  of  the  members 
of  both  Houses  of  Congress,  and  Mr.  Ingersoll  argued 
that  the  latter  should  first  become  a  law,  before  Con 
gress  could,  with  decency,  cut  down  the  pay  of  the 
army. 

Both  propositions  affecting  Scott  came  to  a  definite 
vote  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  March,  1844. 


Mr.  Adams's  Defence.  367 

Mr.  Adams  (J.  Q.)  "  felt  bound  to  declare  that  lie 
did  think  it  a  very  ill  reward  for  the  great  and  eminent 
services  of  that  officer  [Scott]  during  a  period  of  thirty- 
odd  years,  in  which  there  were  some  as  gallant  exploits 
as  our  history  could  show,  and  in  which  he  had  not 
spared  to  shed  his  blood,  as  well  as  for  more  recent  ser 
vices  of  great  importance  in  time  of  peace — services  of 
great  difficulty  and  great  delicacy — now  to  turn  him 
adrift  at  his  advanced  age." 

In  respect  to  the  reduction  of  his  pay,  etc.,  Mr. 
Adams  "  could  not  a  moment  harbor  in  his  heart  the 
thought  that  General  Scott,  if  he  had  received  from 
Government  thousands  of  dollars  more  than  he  had, 
would  have  received  one  dollar  which  he  did  not  rich 
ly  deserve  at  the  hands  of  his  country." — National 
Intelligencer,  March  30,  1844. 

"  Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll  wished  to  add  but  a  single 
word.  Perhaps  he  was  the  only  member  present  who 
could  recollect  the  day  when  this  same  General  Scott 
had  been  the  first  man  to  show  that  the  disciplined 
soldiery  of  our  own  country  were  fully  able  to  cope 
with  the  trained  troops  of  a  foreign  nation.  When 
gentlemen  were  about  to  legislate  General  Scott  out 


368  Mr.   C.  J.  IngersoWs  Defence. 

of  office,  lie  must  be  permittejd  to  add  one  consideration 
to  those  which  had  so  properly  been  stated  by  the  ven 
erable  gentleman  from  Massachusetts  (Mr.  Adams),  and 
it  was  this:  That,  while  we  were  sitting  here  very 
coolly  giving  votes  to  legislate  General  Scott  out  of 
office,  we  ought  not  quite  to  forget  that  it  was  by  vir 
tue  of  his  brave  achievements  we  possessed  the  oppor 
tunity  of  voting  here  at  all.  It  was  easy  for  gentlemen 
to  call  those  (  caterpillars '  who,  in  the  hour  of  peril, 
had  been  the  l  pillars '  of  the  public  trust.  He  should 
be  sorry  indeed  that  this  blow  should  fall  upon  the 
man  who  had  struck  the  first  blow  in  that  straggle 
through  which  alone  this  Government  had  been  pre 
served  in  being  down  to  this  hour.  But  it  was  obvious 
that  neither  office  nor  officer  was  in  the  slightest  dan 
ger." — National  Intelligences ',  March  30,  ISM. 

Both  propositions  were  voted  down  by  large  ma 
jorities. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  Mr.  Adams  and  Mr.  In- 
gersoll,  in  a  common  service  of  six  years  on  the  same 
floor  of  Congress,  scarcely  ever  before  agreed  on  any 
subject  whatever.  Indeed  Mr.  0.  J.  Ingersoll'  was  an 
object  of  unusual  hatred  with  the  Whig  party  general- 


Reunions  at  Mr.  IngersoWs  Table.  369 

ly.  Dr.  Johnson  "  loved  a  good  hater,"  and  Mr.  Inger 
soll,  to  do  him  justice,  fully  repaid  the  Whigs  in  kind. 
Yet  he  was  always  to  the  autobiographer  a  valuable 
friend.  Their  acquaintance  and  friendship  commenced 
early  in  the  War  of  1812,  when  no  man,  in  the  House 
of  Representatives,  struck  more  valiantly  for  his  coun 
try  than  Mr.  Ingersoll. 

During  a  residence  of  some  three  years  in  Phila 
delphia,  beginning  in  1819,  and  always  afterward, 
when  on  a  visit  to  that  city,  Scott,  perhaps  never  failed, 
a  single  Sunday,  to  be  invited  to  Mr.  Ingersoll's  hos 
pitable  table,  after  the  second  church,  where  were  met 
the  usual  guests  —  Judge  Hopkinson,  the  author  of 
Hail  Columbia;  Nicholas  Biddle  (two  of  the  most  ac 
complished  and  amiable  men  in  America),  Joseph 
Bonaparte,  James  Brown,  Ex-Senator  and  Minister  to 
France,  and  any  stranger  of  eminence  that  might  be 
passing  through.  In  all  these  agreeable  reunions,  Mr. 
Ingersoll,  a  good  scholar  and  linguist,  bore  his  part 
well — giving  and  receiving  pleasure. 


CHAPTER    XXY. 

LETTER   ON    SLAVERY— TRACTS    ON   PEACE    AND    WAR MR. 

POLK   PRESIDENT. 

SCOTT'S  views  on  the  question  of  negro  slavery  are 
strongly  alluded  to,  but  not  fully  developed,  in  the 
foregoing  narrative.  Begging  the  reader  to  forgive  a 
partial  repetition  of  the  same  ideas  and  expressions,  he 
inserts  his  formal  letter  on  the  subject  here : 

WASHINGTON,  February  9,  1843. 

DEAR  SIR: 

I  have  been  waiting  for  an  evening's  leisure  to 
answer  your  letter  before  me,  and,  after  an  unreason 
able  delay,  am  at  last  obliged  to  reply  in  the  midst  of 
official  occupations. 


Sentiments  on  Slavery.  371 

That  I  ever  have  been  named  in  connection  with 
the  Presidency  of  the  United  States,  has  not,  I  can  as 
sure  you^  the  son  of  an  ancient  neighbor  and  friend, 
been  by  any  contrivance  or  desire  of  mine ;  and  cer 
tainly  I  shall  never  be  in  the  field  for  that  high  office 
unless  placed  there  ly  a  regular  nomination.  Not, 
then,  being  a  candidate,  and  seeing  110  near  prospect 
of  being  made  one,  I  ought,  perhaps,  to  decline  trou 
bling  you  or  others  with  my  humble  opinions  on  great 
principles  of  State  Rights  and  Federal  Administration ; 
but  as  I  cannot  plead  ignorance  of  the  partiality  of  a 
few  friends,  in  several  parts  of  the  Union,  who  may,  by 
possibility,  in  a  certain  event,  succeed  in  bringing  me 
within  the  field  from  which  a  Whig  candidate  is  to  be 
selected,  I  prefer  to  err  on  the  side  of  frankness  and 
candor,  rather  than,  by  silence,  to  allow  any  stranger 
unwittingly  to  commit  himself  to  my  support. 

Your  inquiries  open  the  whole  question  of  domes 
tic  slavery,  which  has,  in  different  forms,  for  a  number 
of  years,  agitated  Congress  and  the  country. 

Premising  that  you  are  the  first  person  who  has 
interrogated  me  on  the  subject,  I  give  you  the  basis  of 
what  would  be  my  reply  in  greater  detail,  if  time  allowed 
and  the  contingency  alluded  to  above  were  less  remote. 


372  Sentiments  on  Slavery. 

In  boyhood,  at  William  and  Mary  College,  and  in 
common  with  most,  if  not  all,  my  companions,  I  be 
came  deeply  impressed  with  the  views  given  by  Mr. 
Jefferson,  in  his  "Notes  on  Yirginia,"  and  by  Judge 
Tucker,  in  the  Appendix  to  his  edition  of  Blackstone's 
Commentaries,  in  favor  of  a  gradual  emancipation  of 
slaves.  That  Appendix  I  have  not  seen  in  thirty  odd 
years,  and,  in  the  same  period,  have  read  scarcely  any 
thing  on  the  subject;  but  my  early  impressions  are 
fresh  and  unchanged.  Hence,  if  I  had  had  the  honor 
of  a  seat  in  the  Yirginia  Legislature  in  the  winter  of 
1831-?2,  when  a  bill  was  brought  forward  to  carry  out 
those  views,  I  should  certainly  have  given  it  my  hearty 
support. 

I  suppose  I  scarcely  need  say  that,  in  my  opinion, 
Congress  has  no  color  of  authority,  under  the  Constitu 
tion,  for  touching  the  relation  of  master  and  slave  with 
in  a  State. 

I  hold  the  opposite  opinion  in  respect  to  the 
District  of  Columbia.  Here,  with  the  consent  of  the 
owners,  or  on  the  payment  of  "just  compensation," 
Congress  may  legislate  at  its  discretion.  But  my  con 
viction  is  equally  strong  that,  unless  it  be  step  by  step 
with  the  Legislatures  of  Yirginia  and  Maryland,  it 


Subject  Continued.  373 

would  be  dangerous  to  both  races  in  those  States  to 
touch  the  relation  between  master  and  slave  in  this 
District. 

I  have  from  the  first  been  of  opinion  that  Congress 
was  bound  by  the  Constitution  to  receive,  to  refer,  and 
to  report  upon  petitions  relating  to  domestic  slavery  as 
in  the  case  of  all  other  petitions ;  but  I  have  not  failed 
to  see  and  to  regret  the  unavoidable  irritation  which 
the  former  have  produced  in  the  Southern  States,  with 
the  consequent  peril  to  the  two  colors,  whereby  the 
adoption  of  any  plan  of  emancipation  has  everywhere 
among  us  been  greatly  retarded. 

I  own,  myself,  no  slave ;  but  never  have  attached 
blame  to  masters  for  not  liberating  their  slaves — well 
knowing  that  liberation,  without  -the  means  of  sending 
them  in  comfort  to  some  position  favorable  to  "  the  pur 
suit  of  happiness,"  would,  in  most  cases,  be  highly  inju 
rious  to  all  around,  as  well  as  to  the  manumitted  fami 
lies  themselves — unless  the  operation  were  general  and 
under  the  auspices  of  prudent  legislation.  But  I  am 
persuaded  that  it  is  a  high  moral  obligation  of  masters 
and  slaveholding  States  to  employ  all  means,  not  in 
compatible  with  the  safety  of  both  colors,  to  meliorate 
slavery  even  to  extermination. 


BT4  Subject  Continued. 

It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  general  melioration 
has  been  great,  and  is  still  progressive,  notwithstand 
ing  the  disturbing  causes  alluded  to  above.  The  more 
direct  process  of  emancipation  may,  no  doubt,  be  earlier 
commenced  and  quickened  in  some  communities  than 
in  others.  Each,  I  do  not  question,  has  the  right  to 
judge  for  itself,  both  as  to  time  and  means,  and  I  con 
sider  interference  or  aid  from  without,  except  on  invi 
tation  from  authority  within,  to  be  as  hurtful  to  the 
sure  progress  of  melioration,  as  it  may  be  fatal  to  the 
lives  of  vast  multitudes  of  all  ages,  sexes,  and  colors. 
The  work  of  liberation  cannot  be  forced  without  such 
horrid  results.  Christian  philanthropy  is  ever  mild 
and  considerate.  Hence  all  violence  ought  to  be  depre 
cated  by  the  friends  of  religion  and  humanity.  Their 
persuasions  cannot  fail  at  the  right  time  to  free  the 
master  from  the  slave,  and  the  slave  from  the  master ; 
perhaps  before  the  latter  shall  have  found  out  and 
acknowledged  that  the  relation  between  the  parties 
had  long  been  mutually  prejudicial  to  their  worldly 
interests. 

There  is  no  evil  without,  in  the  order  of  Provi 
dence,  some  compensating  benefit.  The  bleeding 
African  was  torn  from  his  savage  home  by  his  fero- 


Subject  Continued.  375 

cious  neighbors,  sold  into  slavery,  and  cast  upon  this 
continent.  Here,  in  the  mild  South,  the  race  has 
wonderfully  multiplied,  compared  with  anything  ever 
known  in  barbarous  life.  The  descendants  of  a  few 
thousands  have  become  many  millions ;  and  all,  from 
the  first,  made  acquainted  with  the  arts  of  civiliza 
tion,  and,  above  all,  brought  under  the  light  of  the 
Gospel. 

From  the  promise  made  to  Abraham,  some  two 
thousand  years  had  elapsed  before  the  advent  of  our 
Saviour,  and  the  Israelites,  the  chosen  people  of  God, 
were,  for  wise  purposes,  suffered  to  remain  in  bondage 
longer  than  Africans  have  been  on  our  shore.  This 
race  has  already  experienced  the  resulting  compen 
sations  alluded  to;  and,  as  the  white  missionary  has 
never  been  able  to  penetrate  the  dark  regions  of  Africa, 
or  to  establish  himself  in  its  interior,  it  may  be  within 
the  scheme  of  Providence  that  the  great  work  of  spread 
ing  the  Gospel  over  that  vast  continent,  with  all  the 
arts  and  comforts  of  civilization,  is  to  be  finally  accom 
plished  by  the  black  man  restored  from  American 
bondage.  A  foothold  there  has  already  been  gained 
for  him,  and  in  such  a  scheme  centuries  are  but  as 


376  Subject  Continued. 

seconds  to  Him  who  moves  worlds  as  man  moves  a 
finger. 

I  do  but  suggest  the  remedies  and  consolations 
of  slavery,  to  inspire  patience,  hope,  and  charity  on  all 
sides.  The  mighty  subject  calls  for  the  exercise  of  all 
man's  wisdom  and  virtue,  and  these  may  not  suffice 
without  aid  from  a  higher  source. 

It  is  in  the  foregoing  manner,  my  dear  sir,  that  I 
have  long  been  in  the  habit,  in  conversation,  of  express 
ing  myself,  all  over  our  common  country,  on  the  ques 
tion  of  negro  slavery,  and  I  must  say  that  I  have  found 
but  very  few  persons  to  differ  with  me,  however  oppo 
site  their  geographical  positions. 

Such  are  the  views  or  opinions  which  you   seek. 
I  cannot  suppress  or  mutilate  them,  although  now 
liable  to  be  more  generally  known.     Do  with  them 
what  you  please.     I  neither  court  nor  shun  publicity. 
I  remain,  very  truly,  yours, 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
T.  P.  ATKINSON,  ESQ.,  Danville,  Virginia. 


Peace  and  War.  377 

Peace  and  War. 

WASHINGTON,  March  24,  1845. 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  21st  instant, 
accompanied  by  certain  proceedings  of  the  General 
Peace  Convention. 

My  participation  in  war,  as  well  as  endeavors  on 
several  occasions  to  preserve  peace,  without  sacrificing 
the  honor  and  the  interests  of  my  country,  are  matters 
of  public  history.  These  antecedents,  together  with 
my  sentiments  on  the  abstract  question  of  peace  and 
war,  inserted  a  year  ago  in  a  Peace  Album,  and  since 
published,  I  learn,  in  several  journals,  might  be  offered 
as  a  sufficient  reply  to  your  communication. 

I  have  always  maintained  the  moral  right  to  wage 
a  just  and  necessary  war,  and,  consequently,  the  wis 
dom  and  humanity,  as  applicable  to  the  United  States, 
in  the  present  state  of  the  world,  of  defensive  prepara 
tions.  If  the  principal  nations  of  the  earth  liable  to 
come  in  conflict  with  us  in  our  natural  growth  and 
just  pursuits,  can  be  induced  to  disarm,  I  should  be 
happy  to  see  the  United  States  follow  the  example. 
But  without  a  general  agreement  to  that  effect,  and  a 
strong  probability  that  it  would  be  carried  out  in  good 


378  Peace  and  War. 

faith  by  others,  I  am  wholly  opposed  to  giving  up 
home  preparation,  and  the  natural  and  Christian  right 
of  self-defence. 

The  published  sentiments  alluded  to  may  not  have 
fallen  under  your  observation.     I  enclose  a  copy. 
I  remain  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

W1NFIELD  SCOTT. 

J.  C.  BECKWITH,  ESQ.,  Corresponding  Secretary. 
[Written  in  a  Peace  Album.] 

Peace  and  War. 

If  war  be  the  natural  state  of  savage  tribes,  peace 
is  the  first  want  of  every  civilized  community.  "Wat 
no  doubt  is,  under  any  circumstances,  a  great  calamity ; 
yet  submission  to  outrage  would  often  be  a  greater 
calamity.  Of  the  two  parties  to  any  war,  one,  at  least, 
must  be  in  the  wrong — not  unfrequently  both.  An 
error  in  such  an  issue  is,  on  the  part  of  chief  magis 
trates,  ministers  of  state,  and  legislators  having  a 
voice  in  the  question,  a  crime  of  the  greatest  magni 
tude.  The  slaying  of  an  individual  by  an  individual 


Mr.  Polk  Elected  President.  3Y9 

is,  in  comparative  guilt,  but  a  drop  of  blood.  Hence 
the  highest  moral  obligation  to  treat  national  differences 
with  temper,  justice,  and  fairness ;  always  to  see  that 
the  cause  of  war  is  not  only  just  but  sufficient;  to  be 
sure  that  we  do  not  covet  our  neighbor's  lands,  "  nor 
any  thing  that  is  his ; "  that  we  are  as  ready  to  give  as 
to  demand  explanation,  apology,  indemnity ;  in  short, 
we  should  especially  remember,  "  All  things  whatsoever 
ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to 
them."  This  divine  precept  is  of  universal  obligation : 
it  is  as  applicable  to  rulers,  in  their  transactions  with 
other  nations,  as  to  private  individuals  in  their  daily 
intercourse  with  each  other.  Power  is  intrusted  by 
"  the  Author  of  peace  and  lover  of  concord,"  to  do 
good  and  to  avoid  evil.  Such,  clearly,  is  the  revealed 

will  of  God. 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

WASHINGTON,  April  26,  1844. 

On  the  approach  of  the  next  Presidential  election, 
it  was  agreed  by  all  Whigs,  the  chances  of  success 
seeming  favorable,  to  leave  the  field  without  a  conven 
tion  to  Mr.  Clay ;  but  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  and  in 
augurated  March  4,  184:5. 


380          Hypocrisy  Weakness  when  Detected. 

Mr.  Tyler,  doubtless,  like  several  of  his  successors, 
was  weaker  in  office  than  Mr.  Polk,  whose  little 
strength  lay  in  the  most  odious  elements  of  the  human 
character — cunning  and  hypocrisy.  It  is  true  that 
these  qualities,  when  discovered,  become  positive  weak 
nesses  ;  but  they  often  triumph  over  wisdom  and  virtue 
before  discovery.  It  may  be  added  that  a  man  of 
meaner  presence  is  not  often  seen.  He  was,  however, 
virtually,  the  nominee  of  General  Jackson. 


CHAPTEE    XXVI. 

WAK   WITH   MEXICO — GENERAL   TAYLOR. 

HOSTILITIES  with  Mexico,  might,  perhaps,  have  been 
avoided ;  but  Texas  lay  between — or  rather  in  the  scale 
of  war. 

At  an  advanced  stage  of  the  diplomatic  quarrel, 
Brigadier-General  Taylor  was  ordered,  with  a  respect 
able  number  of  regular  troops,  to  Corpus  Christi,  near 
the  Mexican  frontier,  as  a  good  point  of  observation. 
This  selection  of  the  commander  was  made  with  the 
concurrence  of  the  autobiographer,  who,  knowing  him 
to  be  slow  of  thought,  of  hesitancy  in  speech,  and  un 
used  to  the  pen,  took  care,  about  the  same  time,  to 
provide  him,  unsolicited,  with  a  staff  officer,  Captain 


382         General  Taylor  and  his  Counterpart. 

(subsequently,  Lieutenant-Colonel)  Bliss,  his  exact  com 
plement,  who  superadded  modest,  quiet  manners,  which 
qualities  could  not  fail  to  win  the  confidence  of  his 
peculiar  commander,  and  on  which  usefulness  entirely 
depended.  The  whole  intent  was  a  success :  the  com 
bination  of  the  general  and  the  chief  of  his  staff  work 
ing  like  a  charm.  Though,  perhaps,  somewhat  in 
advance  of  chronology,  a  little  fuller  sketch  of  one  of 
the  most  fortunate  of  men,  may  here  not  be  out  of 
place.  The  autobiographer  knew  him  well. 

General  Taylor's  elevation  to  the  Presidency,  the 
result  of  military  successes,  though  a  marvel,  was  not  a 
curse  to  his  country.  Mr.  "Webster,  in  his  strong  idio 
matic  English,  said  of  the  nomination  that  it  was  "  not 
fit  to  be  made;"  but  probably  he  would  have  been 
equally  dissatisfied  with  any  candidate  other  than  him 
self. 

With  a  good  store  of  common  sense,  General  Tay 
lor's  mind  had  not  been  enlarged  and  refreshed  by 
reading,  or  much  converse  with  the  world.  Rigidity 
of  ideas  was  the  consequence.  The  frontiers  and  small 
military  posts  had  been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite 
ignorant,  for  his  rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignor 
ance.  His  simplicity  was  childlike,  and  with  innumer- 


Invincible  in  Honesty  and  Prejudices.        383 

able  prejudices — amusing  and  incorrigible — well  suited 
to  the  tender  age.  Thus  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  the  head ; — or  an  officer  to  leave 
the  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out 
side  pocket — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb — perhaps,  something  worse, 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft-repeated  phrase, 
"  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs."  Any  allusion  to  litera 
ture  much  beyond  good  old  Dilworth's  Spelling  Book, 
on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a  sword,  was  evidence,  with 
the  same  judge,  of  utter  unfitness  for  heavy  marchings 
and  combats.  In  short,  few  men  have  ever  had  a  more 
comfortable,  labor-saving  contempt  for  learning  of  every 
kind.*  Yet  this  old  soldier  and  neophyte  statesman, 
had  the  true  basis  of  a  great  character : — pure,  uncor- 
rupted  morals,  combined  with  indomitable  courage. 
Kind-hearted,  sincere,  and  hospitable  in  a  plain  way, 
he  had  no  vice  but  prejudice,  many  friends,  and  left 
behind  him  not  an  enemy  in  the  world — not  even  in 

*  Maryborough,  one  of  the  greatest  generals  of  any  age,  and  the  first 
diplomat  and  courtier  of  his  own,  was  also  without  science  and  literature — 
knowing  nothing  of  history  except  the  little  he  picked  up  at  the  acting  of 
Borne  of  Shakspeare's  dramas. 


384  Scott  Thought  of  for  the  War. 

the  autobiographer,  whom,  in  the  blindness  of  his  great 
weakness,  he — after  being  named  for  the  Presidency — 
had  seriously  wronged. 

Ought  this,  charitably,  to  be  supposed  an  uncon 
scious  error,  or  placed  to  a  different  account  ? 

"  To  keep  the  proud  thy  friend,  see  that  thou  do  him  not  a  service: 

For,  behold,  he  will  hate  thee  for  his  debt." 

Prov.  Philosophy. 

As  early  as  May,  1846,  when  it  was  known  that  the 
Mexicans  had  assumed  a  threatening  attitude  on  the 
Rio  Grande,  an  inclination  to  send  Scott  to  that  fron 
tier  was  intimated.  He  replied,  1.  That  it  was  harsh 
and  unusual  for  a  senior,  without  reinforcements,  to 
supersede  a  meritorious  junior;  2.  That  he  doubted- 
whether  that  was  the  right  season,  or  the  Rio  Grande 
the  right  basis  for  offensive  operations  against  Mexi 
co  ;  and  suggested  the  plan  of  conquering  a  peace 
which  he  ultimately  executed. 

Leading  Democrats  took  alarm  at  the  appointment 
of  a  Whig  to  so  high  a  trust — fearing,  as  they  did  him 
the  honor  to  say — his  "  knack  at  success,"  and  caused 
Mr.  Polk  to  doubt  and  reject  his  views.  W hereupon 
Scott  intimated  that  without  the  approval  of  his  plan 
of  campaign,  and  the  steady  confidence  and  support 


Laid  Aside  and  Maligned.  385 

of  the  Government,  he  would  not  be  able  to  conduct 
any  expedition  to  advantage;  for  soldiers  had  a  far 
greater  dread  of  a  fire  upon  the  rear,  than  of  the  most 
formidable  enemy  in  front.  The  President  at  once 
caused  him  to  be  relieved  from  the  proposed  mission. 

At  this  period,  Scott  usually — as  always  in  trou 
blous  times — spent  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  hours  a 
day  in  his  office,  happened,  on  being  called  upon  by 
the  Secretary  of  War  to  be  found  arbsent.  In  explan 
ation,  Scott  hurriedly  wrote  a  note  to  say  that  he  was 
back  in  the  office,  having  only  stepped  out,  for  the  mo 
ment,  to  take — regular  meals  being  out  of  the  question 
— "  a  hasty  plate  of  soup."  This  private  note  being 
maliciously  thrown  into  party  newspapers,  all  the  wit 
lings — forgetting  their  own  hasty  pudding,  fastened 
upon  it,  with  much  glee,  and  also  tried  their  clumsy 
wit  on  the  phrase  "  conquer  a  peace ; "  but  not  after 
the  early  fact,  as  also  on  the  "  fire  upon  the  rear ; "  but 
never  after  the  fire  of  the  enemy  and  that  of  the 
Administration,  on  front  and  rear,  had  been  silenced 
by  the  campaign  of  1847. 

These  were  no  trivialities  in  their  day ;  for,  by  the 
aid  of  party  madness  and  malice  they  came  very  near 
destroying  Scott's  usefulness  in  the  Mexican  war. 
17 


386  Honors — Swords — Medals. 

Taylor's  early  successes  on  this  side  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  so  handsomely  reported  by  Bliss,  won  him 
great  favor  with  the  country.  A  resolution  giving  him 
the  thanks  of  Congress,  and  a  sword  was  promptly  in 
troduced.  Scott  hastened  to  address  a  circular  (private) 
note  to  a  dozen  members  of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress 
• — including  the  Kentucky  Senators,  and  Mr.  Jefferson 
Davis — arguing  that  the  gold  medal  ought  to  be  sub 
stituted  for  the  sword — being  the  higher  honor,  and 
eminently  Taylor's  due.  The  suggestion  was  adopted, 
and  further  to  show  that  Scott  did  not  neglect  the  hero 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  he  annexes  the  following  report : 


"HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY, 
WASHINGTON,  July  25,  1846. 

"  HON.  W.  L.  MAKCY,  Secretary  of  War : 


[Endorsed  ~by  Major- General  Scott,  on  the  Resolu 
tion  of  Congress  voting  a  medal  to  Major- General 
Taylor,  which  Resolution  the  Secretary  had  referred 
to  General  Scott.'] 

• 

"As  medals  are  among  the  surest  monuments  of 
history,  as  well  as  muniments  of  individual  distinction, 


Numismatics.  387 

there  should  be  given  to  them,  besides  intrinsic  value 
and  durability  of  material  the  utmost  grace  of  design, 
with  the  highest  finish  in  mechanical  execution.  All 
this  is  necessary  to  give  the  greater  or  adventitious 
value ;  as  in  the  present  instance,  the  medal  is  to  be, 
at  once,  an  historical  record  and  a  reward  of  distin 
guished  merit.  The  credit  of  the  donor  thus  becomes 
even  more  than  that  of  the  receiver  interested  in  ob 
taining  a  perfect  specimen  in  the  fine  arts. 

"  The  within  resolution  prescribes  gold  as  the  mate 
rial  of  the  medal.  The  general  form  (circular)  may  be 
considered  as  equally  settled  by  our  own  practice,  and 
that  of  most  nations,  ancient  and  modern.  There  is, 
however,  some  little  diversity  in  diameter  and  thickness 
in  the  medals  heretofore  ordered  by  Congress,  at  differ 
ent  periods,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  cabinets  of  the  "War 
and  E"avy  Departments.  Diversity  in  dimensions  is 
even  greater  in  other  countries. 

"  The  specific  character  of  the  medal  is  shown  by 
its  two  faces,  or  the  face  and  the  reverse.  The  within 
resolution  directs  c  appropriate  devices  and  inscriptions 
thereon.' 

"  For  the  face,  a  bust  likeness  is  needed,  to  give, 
with  the  name  and  the  rank  of  the  donee,  individual- 


388  American  Medals — Distribution. 

ity.      To   obtain   the   likeness,   a  first-rate  miniature 
painter  should,  of  course,  be  employed. 

"The  reverse  receives  the  device,  appropriate  to 
the  events  commemorated.  To  obtain  this,  it  is  sug 
gested  that  the  resolutions  and  despatches,  belonging 
to  the  subject,  be  transmitted  to  a  master  in  the  art  of 
design — say  Professor  Weir,  at  West  Point — for  a 
drawing — including,  if  practicable,  this  inscription : 

PALO    ALTO; 

KESACA    DE    LA    PALMA: 

May  8  and  9,  1846. 

"  A  third  artist — all  to  be  well  paid — is  next  to  be 
employed — a  die  sinker.  The  mint  of  the  United 
States  will  do  the  coinage. 

"  Copies,  in  cheaper  metal,  of  all  our  gold  medals, 
should  be  given  to  the  libraries  of  the  Federal  and 
State  Governments,  to  those  of  colleges,  etc. 

"  The  medals  voted  by  the  Revolutionary  Con 
gress  were  executed  —  designs  and  dies  —  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  Paris,  about  the 
year  1786.  Those  struck  in  honor  of  victories,  in  our 


Panic  among  Whig  Leaders.  389 

war  of  1812,  were  all — at  least  so  far  as  it  respected 
the  land  service — done  at  home,  and  not  one  of  them 
presented,  I  think,  earlier  than  the  end  of  Mr.  Mon 
roe's  Administration  (1825).  The  delay  principally 
resulted  from  the  want  of  good  die  sinkers.  There 
was  only  one  of  mediocre  merit  (and  he  a  foreigner) 
found  for  the  army.  "What  the  state  of  this  art  may 
now  be  in  the  United  States  I  know  not.  But  I  beg 
leave  again  to  suggest  that  the  honor  of  the  country 
requires  that  medals,  voted  by  Congress,  should  always 
exhibit  the  arts,  involved,  in  their  highest  state  of  per- 

9 

fection  wherever  found;  for  letters,  science,  and  the 
fine  arts  constitute  but  one  republic,  embracing  the 
world.  So  thought  our  early  Government,  and  Mr. 
Jefferson  —  a  distinguished  member  of  that  general 
republic. 

"  All  which  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  War." 

But  before  his  written  solicitude  about  the  medal — 
in  May — the  day  on  which  the  news  of  Taylor's  first 
victories  (two)  arrived — a  number  of  leading  "Whigs 
(not  including  Mr.  Clay  or  Mr.  "Webster)  in  a  panic, 
about  the  soup,  called  upon  the  autobiographer  to  in- 


390         Taylor  their  Presidential  Candidate. 

quire  whether  Taylor  was  a  Whig  or  not,  and  whether 
he  might  not  advantageously  be  Scott's  substitute  as 
their  next  Presidential  candidate  ?  More  amused  than 
offended  at  their  cowardice  and  candor,  Scott  gave 
emphatically,  all  the  points  in  the  foregoing  sketch 
of  the  then  rising  general,  omitting  (it  is  believed)  any 
allusion  to  his  lack  of  general  information,  and  added, 
as  a  striking  proof  of  his  honesty  this  anecdote : 

Early  in  the  times  of  Jacksonism,  in  Kentucky,  the 
demagogues  broke  the  Constitution,  and  the  supreme 
judges  of  the  State,  together ;  set  up  a  new  supreme 
court  of  their  own,  and  a  rag  bank  without  a  dollar  in 
specie — literally  to  "  emit  bills  of  credit "  in  violation  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  Money  (bills  of 
credit)  being  superabundant,  a  wild  spirit  of  speculation 
became  general  running  into  madness,  soon  followed 
by  coextensive  bankruptcy  and  ruin.  Colonel  Zachary 
Taylor  chanced  to  visit  Louisville  (his  home)  in  the 
height  of  the  speculation;  but  though  not  infected 
himself,  he  was  induced  to  endorse  a  heavy  obligation 
of  a  friend,  which,  of  course,  in  due  time  fell  upon 
him.  He  resolutely  refused  to  take  any  relief  from  the 
stop-laws  of  the  same  demagogues,  or  to  pay  in  their 
rag  currency,  and  although  a  dear  lover  of  money, 


Taylor  Forced  to  Advance.  391 

persistently  paid  Ms  endorsement  in  specie.  In  con 
tinuation,  Scott  stated  that  being  in  Louisville,  in  the 
command  of  the  Western  Department  of  the  army,  he 
gave  the  colonel  the  short  leave  of  absence  that  brought 
him  there  with  the  heavy  bags  which  finally  freed  him 
from  debt.  The  parting  with  the  cash  agonized  him 
not  a  little,  but  soon  he  recovered,  and  the  next  mo 
ment  felt  happy  in  his  double-proof  integrity. 

And  had  Scott  no  trial  of  his  own  ?  The  statement, 
just  given  fixed  Taylor  as  the  next  Whig  candidate 
for  the  Presidency;  but  Scott,  without  murmur  or 
petulance,  did  not  fail  to  make  his  backsliding  Whig 
friends  feel  their  inferiority.  Never  had  he  been 
better  self-poised,  and  to  his  last  hour  he  cannot  fail 
to  point  to  this  period  of  obloquy  on  the  part  of 
enemies  and  desertion  of  friends,  as  by  far  the  most 
heroic  of  his  life.  Happily  by  the  ruling  of  Provi 
dence,  that,  and  other  defeats  in  politics,  have  proved 
to  him  blessings  in  disguise.  Whether,  looking  to  sub 
sequent  events,  the  country  has  equally  profited  by  the 
results,  he  has  the  vanity  to  doubt. 

By  extraordinary  importunities  from  Washington, 
one  object  being  to  decry  Scott's  plea  for  adequate 
preparation,  and  his  doubts  as  to  the  line  of  opera- 


392  Takes  Monterey. 

tions  from  the  Eio  Grande — aided  by  a  letter  from 
that  man  of  rare  abilities  and  every  moral  excellence — 
John  J".  Crittenden — written  at  Scott's  desk,  and  which 
he  read  with  a  dissenting  smile — Taylor  was  told  to 
say  no  more  of  reinforcements  and  means  of  transpor 
tation  ;  but,  added  Crittenden — "  the  public  is  impa 
tient  ;  take  foot  in  hand  and  off  for  the  Halls  of  Monte- 
zuma."  Thus  stimulated,  Taylor,  against  his  own 
judgment,  marched  under  the  greatest  difficulties  upon 
the  little  village  of  Monterey,  which  he  captured  (cui 
l>ono  f)  and  became  planted — as  it  was  impracticable 
— no  matter  with  what  force,  to  reach  any  vital  part 
of  Mexico  by  that  route.  Accordingly,  Taylor  re 
mained  fast  at  Monterey  and  its  neighborhood,  with 
varying  numbers,  down  to  the  peace. 

Reliable  information  reached  Washington,  almost 
daily  (see  Taylor's  own  Reports,  Ex.  Doc.  No.  60, 
H.  of  R.,  30th  Con.,  1st  Session),  that  the  wild  volun 
teers  as  soon  as  beyond  the  Rio  Grande,  committed, 
with  impunity,  all  sorts  of  atrocities  on  the  persons  and 
property  of  Mexicans,  and  that  one  of  the  former,  from 
a  concealed  position,  had  even  shot  a  Mexican  as  he 
marched  out  of  Monterey,  under  the  capitulation.* 

*  This  case  was  one  reported  by  Taylor,  who  asked  for  advice.     And 


Disorders — Martial  Law  Suggested.          393 

There  was  no  legal  punishment  for  any  of  those 
offences,  for  bj  the  strange  omission  of  Congress, 
American  troops  take  with  them  beyond  the  limits  of 
their  own  country,  no  law  but  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  rules  and  articles  of  war. 
These  do  not  provide  any  court  for  the  trial  or  punish 
ment  of  murder,  rape,  theft,  &c.,  &c. — no  matter  by 
whom,  or  on  whom  committed. 

To  suppress  these  disgraceful  acts  abroad,  the  auto- 
biographer  drew  up  an  elaborate  paper,  in  the  form  of 
an  order — called,  his  martial  law  order — to  be  issued 
and  enforced  in  Mexico,  until  Congress  could  be  stimu 
lated  to  legislate  on  the  subject.  On  handing  this 
paper  to  the  Secretary  of  War  (Mr.  Marcy)  for  his  ap 
proval,  a  startle  at  the  title  was  the  only  comment  he 
then,  or  ever  made  on  the  subject.  It  was  soon  silently 
returned,  as  too  explosive  for  safe  handling.  A  little 
later  the  Attorney-General  called  (at  whose  instance 
can  only  be  guessed)  and  asked  for  a  copy,  and  the  law 
officer  of  the  Government  whose  business  it  is  to  speak 

what  advice  does  the  reader  suppose  the  Secretary  to  have  given  ?     To 
execute  the  brute  under  martial  law  ?    No !     Taylor  was  advised  to  send 
the  monster  home — that  is,  to  reward  him  with  a  discharge !     See  the 
same  document.     (P.  369.)    I  had  left  Washington  two  days  earlier. 
17* 


394  Proposition  not  Accepted. 

on  all  such  matters,  was  stricken  with  legal  dumbness. 
All  the  authorities  were  evidently  alarmed  at  the  prop 
osition  to  establish  martial  law,  even  in  a  foreign 
country,  occupied  by  American  troops.  Hence  they 
touched  the  subject  as  daintily  as  a  "  terrier  mumbles  a 
hedgehog."  I  therefore  was  left  in  my  own  darkness 
on  the  subject.  I  sent  the  paper,  however,  to  General 
Taylor,  telling  him  frankly,  that  it  had  been  seen  by  at 
least  two  members  of  the  cabinet,  but  that  it  was  not 
approved  or  disapproved  by  either,  and  for  that  reason 
it  was  not  enjoined  upon  him,  but  left  to  his  own  re 
sponsibility  to  adopt  it  as  his  order  or  not,  as  he  might 
think  proper. 

It  is  understood  that  Taylor  on  casting  his  eye 
slightly  over  the  paper,  and  perceiving  it  contained 
what  he  termed,  "  a  learned  commentary  on  the  mili 
tary  code,"  threw  it  aside — saying,  "  It  is  another  of 
Scott'' s  Lessons  "  or  "  Novels  " — as  his  tactics  and  mili 
tary  institutes  had  been  previously  called  by  officers  of  a 
certain  age  (not  West  Point  graduates)  who  deemed  it 
a  great  hardship,  late  in  life,  to  be  obliged,  for  the  first 
time,  to  study  the  simplest  elements  of  their  profession. 

This  paper  will  be  inserted  entire,  in  a  subsequent 
part  of  this  narrative :  1.  On  account  of  its  history 


Martial  Law  Continued.  395 

just  given ;  2.  Because,  without  it,  I  could  not  have 
maintained  the  discipline  and  honor  of  the  army,  or 
have  reached  the  capital  of  Mexico. 

The  martial  law  order  was  not  published  until  the 
autobiographer  was  fairly  out  of  the  United  States — at 
Tarnpieo.  It  was  successively  republished  at  Vera 
Cruz,  Puebla,  and  the  capital,  so  that  it  might  be 
familiarly  known  to  every  man  in  the  army,  and  in  a 
translation,  it  was  also  extensively  circulated  among 
the  people  of  the  country.  Under  it,  all  offenders, 
Americans  and  Mexicans,  were  alike  punished — with 
death  for  murder  or  rape,  and  for  other  crimes  propor 
tionally.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  order  did  not  in  the 
least  interfere  with  the  administration  of  justice  between 
Mexican  and  Mexican,  by  the  ordinary  courts  of  the 
country.  It  only  provided  a  special  American  tribunal 
for  any  case  to  which  an  American  might  be  a  party. 
And  further,  it  should  be  observed,  that  military  com 
missions  in  applying  penalties  to  convicted  felons,  were 
limited  to  "  'known  punishments,  in  like  cases,  in  some 
of  the  States  of  the  United  States  " — the  latter,  as 
such,  being  without  a  common  law,  or  a  common  crimi 
nal  code. 

Notwithstanding  the  cowardice  of  certain  high  func- 


396  Martial  Law  Adopted  in  Mexico. 

tionaries  on  the  subject,  there  has  been  no  pursuit  of 
the  author.  On  the  contrary,  it  has  been  admitted  by 
all  that  the  order  worked  like  a  charm ;  that  it  con 
ciliated  Mexicans ;  intimidated  the  vicious  of  the 
several  races,  and  being  executed  with  impartial  rigor, 
gave  the  highest  moral  deportment  and  discipline  ever 
known  in  an  invading  army. 


CHAPTEE   XXYII. 

SCOTT   OEDEEED   TO   MEXICO VISITS   CAMAEGO BEEM- 

BAEKS    FOE   YEEA   CETJZ. 

SEVEEAL  times  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1846, 
I  repeated  to  the  War  Department  my  desire  to  be 
ordered  to  Mexico  at  the  head  of  a  competent  force. 
At  length  m y  request  was  acceded  to. 

WAB  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  ) 
November  23,  1846.          \ 

SIR: 

The  President,  several  days  since,  communicated 
in  person  to  you  his  orders  to  repair  to  Mexico,  to  take 
the  command  of  the  forces  there  assembled,  and  par 
ticularly  to  organize  and  set  on  foot  an  expedition  to 
operate  on  the  Gulf  coast,  if,  on  arriving  at  the  theatre 
of  action,  you  shall  deem  it  to  be  practicable.  It  is  not 


398  Scott  Ordered  to  Mexico. 

proposed  to  control  your  operations  by  definite  and 
positive  instructions,  but  you  are  left  to  prosecute  them 
as  your  judgment,  under  a  full  view  of  all  the  circum 
stances,  shall  dictate.  The  work  is  before  you,  and  the 
means  provided,  or  to  be  provided,  for  accomplishing 
it,  are  committed  to  you,  in  the  full  confidence  that  you 
will  use  them  to  the  best  advantage. 

The  objects  which  it  is  desirable  to  obtain  have 
been  indicated,  and  it  is  hoped  that  you  will  have  the 
requisite  force  to  accomplish  them. 

Of  this  you  must  be  the  judge,  when  preparations 
are  made,  and  the  time  for  action  arrived. 
Yery  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  MARCY, 

SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 
GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

From  an  early  day— it  is  believed,  the  very  begin 
ning — the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Mr.  "Walker,  and 
Mr.  Secretary  Marcy,  were  in  favor  of  giving  me  the 
substantial  direction  of  the  war  on  land — each  having 
often  done  me  the  honor  to  express  his  fullest  confi 
dence  in  my  zeal  and  capacity  for  the  occasion. 


Interviews  of  the  President.  399 

For  a  week  prior  to  Mr.  Marcy's  letter,  President 
Polk  sent  for  me  once  or  twice  daily.  In  these  inter 
views  every  expression  of  kindness  and  confidence  was 
lavished  upon  me.  Such  was  the  warmth  and  emphasis 
of  his  professions,  that  he  fully  won  my  confidence.  I 
gave  him  a  cordial  reciprocation  of  my  personal  sym 
pathy  and  regard — being  again  and  again  assured  that 
the  country  would  be  bankrupted  and  dishonored  unless 
the  war  could  be  made  plainly  to  march  toward  a  suc 
cessful  conclusion,  and  that  I  only  could  give  to  it  the 
necessary  impetus  and  direction.  Not  to  have  been 
deceived  by  such  protestations,  would  have  been,  in  my 
judgment,  unmanly  suspicion  and  a  crime.  Accord 
ingly,  though  oppressed  with  the  labors  of  military 
preparation,  I  made  time  to  write  a  circular  to  the 
leading  Whigs  in  Congress  (a  few  days  before  their 
meeting)  to  say  how  handsomely  I  had  been  treated  by 
the  President  and  Secretary  of  "War — begging  that  the 
new  regiments  might  be  authorized  with  the  least  pos 
sible  delay,  &c.,  &c. 

In  the  very  act  of  embarking,  at  New  Orleans,  on 
the  expedition,  a  stranger,  Mr.  Hodge  of  that  city 
(since  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  and  a  resi 
dent  of  Washington),  saw  me  half  a  minute,  to  com- 


400         Attempt  to  Place  Another  over  Him. 

nranicate  a  letter  from  my  dear  friend — Alexander 
Barrow — then  a  senator  from  Louisiana — saying  that 
the  President  had  asked  for  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  in  order  to  place  Senator  Benton  over  me  in 
the  Army  of  Mexico.  I  begged  that  Mr.  Barrow  might 
be  thanked  for  his  kindness,  but  added  that  he  must  be 
mistaken  about  Mr.  Benton ;  for  if  the  rank  were 
asked  for,  it  could  only — remembering  Mr.  Folk's  as 
surances  of  support  and  reward — be  intended  for  me 
on  the  report  of  my  first  success,  and  I  continued,  a 
short  time  longer,  to  carry  on,  besides  the  official,  a 
semi-of&cial  correspondence,  with  the  "War  Department, 
for  the  President,  as  before. 

A  grosser  abuse  of  human  confidence  is  nowhere 
recorded. 

Mr.  Polk's  mode  of  viewing  the  case  seems  to  have 
been  this  :  "  Scott  is  a  Whig ;  therefore  the  Democracy 
is  not  bound  to  observe  good  faith  with  him.  Scott  is 
a  Whig  ;  therefore,  his  successes  may  be  turned  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  Democratic  party.  We  must,  how 
ever,  profit  by  his  military  experience,  and,  if  successful, 
by  the  force  of  patronage  and  other  helps,  contrive  to 
crown  Benton  with  the  victory,  and  thus  triumph  both 
in  the  field  and  at  the  polls."  This  bungling  treachery 


The  Attempt  Defeated.  401 

was  planned  during  the  precise  period  of  my  very 
friendly  interviews  with  Mr.  Polk !  ;K  ^boi  "Vecamvj 
fully  developed,  and,  in  all  essentials^  afcktftfwledged 
before  Congress.  The  lieutenant-generalcy  was,  how 
ever,  rejected,  when  Mr.  Polk  taxed  his  supporters  to 
the  utmost  to  procure  for  him  authority  to  place  a 
junior  Major-General  (Benton)  over  a  senior  (Scott), 
and  was  again  ignominiously  defeated — aided  by  the 
manly  spirit  of  the  same  small  number  of  Democrats. 

This  vile  intrigue  so  disgusted  Congress,  and  its 
defeat  so  depressed  the  zeal  and  influence  of  the  Ad 
ministration,  that  instead  of  authorizing  the  additional 
forces  needed  for  the  war  at  once,  the  augmentation 
was  delayed  till  near  the  end  of  the  session.  This  was 
the  first  fruit  of  bad  faith  or  political  blindness  ;  for,  in 
war,  time  is  always  a  great  element  of  success — some 
times  the  first. 

I  reached  the  Brazos  San  lago,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Kio  Grande,  in  Christmas  week,  and  proceeded  up  that 
river  to  Camargo,  which  place  or  vicinage  I  had  ap 
pointed  for  a  meeting  with  Major-General  Taylor  by  a 
communication  that  preceded  me  four  days ;  but,  by 
the  gross  neglect  of  the  officer  who  bore  it,  it  lost  three 
of  those  days  at  that  place.  In  the  mean  time  Taylor 


402  Scott  at  Point  Isabel,  etc. 

made  a  strange  digression,  with  a  part  of  his  troops, 
toward  Tampieo — for  it  was  fully  as  difficult  for  an 
army  to  penetrate  Mexico  from  that  point,  as  from 
Monterey.  But  in  either  case,  why  divide  his  forces  ? 

A  fatality  attended  my  communication  to  Taylor. 
It  was  most  confidential,  and  so  marked,  outside  and 
in — containing  a  sketch  of  my  views  and  intentions. 
Yet  at  the  volunteer  headquarters,  Monterey,  it  was 
opened,  freely  read  and  discussed  by  numbers — all  not 
in  a  condition  to  be  wise  or  discreet.  The  package 
being  remade,  it  was  next  forwarded  after  Taylor  by  a 
very  young  officer  with  a  few  men,  who  was  inveigled 
into  Yilla  Gran  and  slain ;  his  despatches  taken,  and 
received  by  Santa  Anna  before  Taylor  saw  the  duplicate. 

The  appointed  meeting  with  Taylor,  for  harmoniz 
ing  operations  with  him,  after  full  discussion — having 
failed,  by  reason  of  his  digression  toward  Tampieo,  and 
the  blunders  resulting  in  the  loss  of  the  despatches — 
was  a  great  disappointment  to  me.  In  them,  I  had 
said,  that  he  should  have  his  choice  of  the  two  armies, 
that  is,  either  remain  as  the  immediate  commander  in 
Northern  Mexico,  or  accompany  me  in  the  command 
of  a  division,  to  the  capital,  with  every  assurance,  in 
either  case,  of  confidence  and  support. 


Visits  Camargo — Fails  to  Meet  Taylor.       403 

I  had  now,  without  the  benefit  of  the  consultation  1 
had  sought,  to  detach  from  the  army  of  the  Bio  Grande 
such  regular  troops  as  I  deemed  indispensable  to  lead 
the  heavier  masses  of  volunteers  and  other  green  regi 
ments,  promised  for  the  descent  on  Yera  Cruz  and  the 
conquest  of  the  capital — leaving  Taylor  a  sufficient 
defensive  force  to  maintain  the  false  position  at  Mon 
terey,  and  discretion  to  contract  his  line  to  the  Rio 
Grande,  with  the  same  means  of  defence.  This  con 
traction,  with  a  view  to  economize  men  and  money,  I 
certainly  should  have  ordered  at  once,  if  Taylor  had 
been  present  to  support  me  ;  but  as  many  of  the  wise 
acres  at  Washington  still  preferred  the  short  imprac 
ticable  cut  to  "  the  Halls  of  Montezuma,"  via  Monterey 
0i 

and  San  Luis  Potosi — a  blunder,  concurred  in  at  one 
time  by  Taylor; — and  as  I  had  then  discovered  that 
my  friend  Barrow's  message  by  Mr.  Hodge  was  well 
founded — that  is,  instead  of  a  friend  in  the  President, 
I  had,  in  him,  an  enemy  more  to  be  dreaded  than  Santa 
Anna  and  all  his  hosts — I  left  the  basis  of  operations 
or  the  line  of  defence  in  that  quarter,  in  statu  quo,  but 
only  with  troops  sufficient  for  the  latter  purpose. 

Both  Taylor  and  the  Secretary  of  "War  had  vacil 
lated  on  all  those  points.     Each  for  a  time  had  inclined 


404:  Different  Bases  of  Operations. 

to  a  direct  advance  from  the  Rio  Grande.  Each  had 
glanced  at  the  Yera  Cruz  basis,  an  idea  always  mine ; 
each  had  favored  the  defensive  line  of  Monterey  or  the 
Sierra  Madre ;  and  Taylor,  a  little  later,  seemed  to 
favor  standing  on  the  defensive  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  which  he  had  left  against  his  judgment.  (See 
Executive  Doc.  No.  56.) 

The  Mexicans  had  never  any  apprehension  of  an 
effective  invasion  from  that  quarter  or  from  Tampico. 
In  respect  to  either  of  these  routes,  they  might  have 
expressed  what  the  Russians  felt  when  Napoleon 
marched  upon  Moscow :  "  Come  unto  us  with  few, 
and  we  will  overwhelm  you  ;  come  unto  us  with  many, 
and  you  shall  overwhelm  yourselves."  As  to  holding 
the  line  of  the  Sierra  Madre  or  other  line  of  defence, 
and  standing  fast,  that  would  have  been  the  worst  possi 
ble  state  of  things — "  a  little  war,"  or  "  a  war  like  a 
peace  " — a  perpetual  condition  ;  for  Santa  Anna  would 
have  regarded  it  as  a  mere  scratch  on  the  surface. 

To  compel  a  people,  singularly  obstinate,  to  sue  for 
peace^  it  is  absolutely  necessary,  as  the  sequel  in  this 
case  showed,  to  strike,  effectively,  at  the  vitals  of  the 
nation. 

The  order  for  the  troops  to  descend  from  Monterey 


Taylor's  Barbacue  Speech.  405 

to  the  sea-coast,  was  issued  at  Cainargo,  Jan.  3,  1847, 
and  I  immediately  returned  to  the  Brazos  San  Jago. 

It  was  this  order,  that,  at  first,  caused  the  gentle 
regrets  of  Taylor,  but  soon  began  to  sour  his  mind  in 
proportion  as  he  became  more  and  more  prominent  as  a 
candidate  for  the  Presidency.  Thus,  after  the  peace, 
when  coming  North,  and  running  the  gantlet  of  uni 
versal  cheers  and  praise,  the  ovation  unhinged  his 
mind,  when,  in  replying  to  a  flattering  address,  at  a 
Pascagoula  barbecue,  he  made  this  extraordinary 
speech : 

"  You  have  alluded  to  my  being  stripped  of  my 
troops  on  the  Rio  Grande ;  and  my  being  left,  as  it 
might  seem,  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  just  before  the 
battle  of  Buena  Yista,  renders  it  proper,  probably,  that 
I  should  make  a  few  remarks  in  relation  to  that  matter. 
I  received  at  Yictoria,  while  on  my  march  to  Tampico 
— a  movement  which  I  had  advised  the  War  Depart 
ment  I  should  make  for  certain  reasons — an  order  from 
the  General-in-Chief  of  the  Army  (Scott)  stripping  me 
of  the  greater  part  of  my  command,  and  particularly 
of  regular  troops  and  volunteers  well  instructed.  The 
order  was  received  by  me  with  much  surprise,  and,  I 
must  confess,  produced  the  strongest  feelings  of  regret, 


406  Analysis  of  the  Speech. 

mortification  and  disappointment,  as  I  knew  that  Santa 
Anna  was  in  striking  distance  of  my  lines,  with  an 
army  of  25,000— -probably  the  lest  appointed  men  ever 
collected  in  Mexico" 

The  harmless  errors,  both  of  fact  and  opinion,  of  a 
good  man,  ought  to  be  treated  as  a  nurse  treats  a  child 
— a  little  sick  and  a  little  spoiled — gently ;  but  if  his 
errors,  springing  from  vanity  and  self-love,  wound 
another,  the  injury  is  the  deeper  in  proportion  to  the 
standing  of  the  author,  and,  therefore,  are  to  be  dealt 
with  unsparingly. 

1.  Elated  with  flattery,  our  hero 

"  grew  vain ; 

Fought  all  his  battles  o'er  again  ; 
And  thrice  he  routed  all  his  foes,  and  thrice  he  slew  the  slain." 

He  calls  the  army  of  the  Rio  Grande  "  my  troops !  " 

2.  He  Jcnew  that  Santa  Anna,  with  an  overwhelm 
ing  force,  was  in  striking  distance. 

If  so,  he  not  only  withheld  the  fact  from  the  War 
Department  and  the  GeneraL-in-Chief,  but — I  write  it 
in  sorrow — he  actually,  up  to  the  last  moment,  gave 
the  contrary  assurance  to  both ! 

The  proof: — some  alarm,  in  front,  having  taken 


Refutation.  407 

him    from    Monterey   to    Saltillo,   lie   writes    thence, 
February  4 :   "I  found  everything  quiet  in  our  front.'"1 


"Indeed  it  is  reported  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
troops,  at  San  Luis,  have  taken  the  direction  of  Yera 
Cruz."  Ex.  Document,  56.  (Santa  Anna  had,  some 
time  before,  received  the  captured  despatches.)  Three 
days  later,  Taylor  wrote  again  (to  me)  at  the  Brazos 
San  Jago,  to  the  like  effect,  and  the  same  day, 
February  Y,  Document  56,  p.  300,  to  the  War  Depart 
ment  :  "  There  is  understood  to  be  no  considerable 
force  in  our  front,  nor  is  it  likely  that  any  serious 
demonstration  will  be  made  in  this  direction.  The 
frequent  alarms"  (in  "Worth's  and  Wood's  camps) — 
always  frequent  in  Worth's — "since  the  middle  of 
December,  seem  to  have  been  without  foundation." 
Both  of  these  letters  were  written  at  Agua  Nueva, 
some  eighteen  miles  in  advance  of  Saltillo — his  forces 
being  a  good  deal  scattered,  notwithstanding  my  ad 
monition,  in  concurrence  with  the  War  Department, 
to  hold  himself,  while  standing  on  the  defensive,  in  a 
concentrated  coil.  One  letter  more  of  the  same  tenor, 
written  (February  14),  nine  days  before  the  battle  of 


408  Refutation  Continued. 

Buena  Yista,  which  reached  the  Brazos,  when  I  was 
many  days  at  sea,  bent  on  conquest.  In  this  letter — 
same  Document,  56,  p.  308 — Taylor,  at  Agua  Nueva, 
says :  "  Everything  is  quiet  in  and  about  Saltillo." 


"Up  to  the  26th  of  January,  the  Mexican  Congress 
had  done  nothing  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  army, 
which  had  received  nothing  for  January,  and  had  but 
half  the  necessary  funds  for  December.  Rumors  reach 
our  camp,  from  time  to  time,  of  the  projected  advance 
of  a  Mexican  force  upon  this  position;  but  I  think 
such  a  movement  improbable !  " 

Those  are  sad  self-contradictions !  But  are  the  un 
charitable  beyond  the  pale  of  Christian  charity  ?  Cer 
tainly  not.  Bliss  wrote  the  despatches,  about  which 
the  general  knew  but  little,  and  remembered  less ;  and 
not  Bliss,  but  vanity,  dictated  the  barbecue  speech  in 
question. 

3.  He  had  l)een  stripped^  etc. — left  at  the  mercy  of 
the  enemy! 

Indeed!  but  the  facts:  I  left,  under  him,  a  small 
fraction  less  than  seven  thousand  men,  with  a  reason 
able  portion  of  regulars,  including  batteries  of  field 


Refutation  Continued.  409 

artillery — and  other  regiments  soon  expected,  with 
advice  to  stand  concentrated  behind  the  stone  walls 
of  Monterey,  or  to  consider  himself  at  liberty  to  take 
up  the  impregnable  line  of  the  Rio  Grande.  The 
defence  of  Texas  was  now  the  main  purpose  of  this 
army — it  having  been  shown  that  even  with  his  whole 
force  he  could  make  no  effective  impression  on  Mexico 
from  that  quarter.  With  this  preface,  my  very  suffi 
cient  defence  shall  again  be  quoted  from  reports  under 
General  Taylor's  own  signature. 

After  the  detached  troops  had  reached  the  seaboard 
he  writes,  from  Monterey,  January  27,  1847  (Ex.  Doc. 
No.  56,  p.  292),  "  the  force  with  which  I  am  left,  in 
this  quarter,  though  greatly  deficient  in  regular  troops, 
will,  doubtless,  enable  me  to  hold  the  positions  now 
occupied."  Nothing  more  had  been  enjoined,  nor  was 
expected,  witnout  large  reinforcements,  and  penetration 
had  not  been  previously  attempted,  nor  was  attempted, 
the  following  summer,  when  his  numbers  again  became 
formidable,  although  he  solicited  the  War  Department 
for  reinforcements  (in  his  letter  of  February  14,  before 
quoted),  and  says  he  is  "  urging  forward  supplies ;  for, 
if  joined  by  a  sufficient  force  of  new  regiments,  I  wish 
to  be  able  to  take  any  opportunity  that  may  offer  to 


410  Ta/ylor  Changes  Views. 

make  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Major-General  Scott's 
operations."  (All  have  heard  of  a  pavement  of  good 
intentions !)  After  awhile  he  got  the  regiments  (and 
kept  them  from  me),  making  his  numbers  eight  thou 
sand  effectives — I  being  in  Puebla  at  the  time,  with 
rather  less  than  fifty-five  hundred — in  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country — cut  loose  (by  the  want  of  numbers) 
from  the  coast,  and  only  with  one  other  small  detach 
ment,  left  at  Jalapa.  General  Taylor  now  quite  at  his 
ease,  writes  coolly  and  leisurely  to  the  War  Depart 
ment  from  Monterey,  June  16  :  "  In  my  communica 
tion  of  May  28  (Ex.  Doc.  56,  p.  387),  I  had  reason  to 
present  my  views  in  relation  to  operations  against  San 
Luis  Potosi,  at  least  in  regard  to  the  minimum  force 
(six  thousand  or  eight  thousand)  with  which  I  thought 
they  could  be  undertaken.  I  shall  prepare  the  force 
under  my  orders  for  service  in  that  direction,  should  it 
be  found  expedient  and  practicable  thus  to  operate ; 
but  [!]  I  may  be  permitted  to  question  the  utility  of 
moving,  at  a  very  heavy  expense  over  an  extremely 
long  line  and  having  no  communication  with  the  main 
column  operating  from  Yera  Cruz  [!].  If  I  were  called 
upon  to  make  a  suggestion  on  the  general  subject  of 
operations  against  Mexico,  it  would  certainly  be  to 


Mexicans  at  the  Battle  of  Buena    Vista.     411 

hold,  in  this  quarter  [Monterey]  a  defensive  line,  and 
throw  all  the  remaining  troops  into  the  other  column ! ! " 
Then  why  the  clamor  about  being  "stripped?"  why 
his  clamor  for  reinforcements  by  which  Brigadier- 
General  Cadwallader  and  three  regiments  were  di 
verted  from  me  ?  why  not  attempt  a  feint  toward  San 
Luis  Potosi,  even  if  the  advance  had  been  forced  to 
stop  at  a  fourth  or  a  fifth  of  the  distance ;  and,  above 
all — why  detain  so  long  the  reinforcements  of  Cad- 
wallader's  and  other  brigades  I  so  much  needed! !  A 
farther  delay  was  incurred  waiting  for  the  Secretary's 
concurrence,  dated  July  15,  and,  finally,  most  of  those 
reinforcements  came  to  me  long  after  the  war  was 
finished,  and  the  dictated  or  conquered  peace,  was 
actually  in  preparation  for  signature.  And  thus  my 
rivals  and  enemies  were,  at  a  late  day,  forced  to 
acknowledge,  practically,  the  justness  of  my  early 
plans,  views,  and  predictions ! 

4.  One  more  remark  on  a  point  in  the  same  barba- 
cue  speech:  Santa  Anna's  twenty-five  thousand  wett 
appointed  army  at  Buena  Vista. 

It  is  true  that  Santa  Anna  in  summoning  Taylor  to 
surrender,  gives,  to  intimidate  (a  hopeless  endeavor), 
his  strength  at  twenty-five  thousand ;  but  four  days 


412  Concentration  at  Monterey  Better. 

before  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  the  Mexican  official 
return  of  his  forces,  dated  at  Encarnacion,  puts  down 
his  total  numbers  at  fourteen  thousand  and  forty-eight, 
all  told,  including  sick  and  lame  (more  than  two  thou 
sand)  and  the  remainder,  half  famished  with  thirst  and 
hunger.  General  Taylor,  too,  giving  his  reasons  for 
not  concentrating  his  army  at  Monterey,  as  he  was  ad 
vised  to  do — preferring  the  advanced  position  of  Agua 
Nueva,  says  it  was  in  order  "  to  fight  the  Mexican 
general,  immediately  after  he  had  crossed  the  desert 
country  [about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  extent] 
which  lay  just  in  my  front,  and  before  he  could  have 
time  to  refresh  and  recruit  his  army."  This  seems  not 
to  be  bad  reasoning ;  but  suppose  the  Americans  had 
been  concentrated  within  the  strong  walls  of  Monterey ; 
— the  repulse  of  the  enemy  would  have  been  more 
certain  and  more  crippling,  with  less  loss  on  our  part, 
beside  saving  the  battle  of  Buena  Yista,  and  by  delay 
ing  Santa  Anna,  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  and  hasten 
ing  the  capture  of  "  the  Halls  of  Montezuma."  The 
victory  of  Buena  Yista,  was,  no  doubt,  glorious  .in.  it 
self,  and  resounded  as  such  all  over  America  and 
Europe ;  but,  as  has  been  said  of  the  barren  capitula 
tion  of  Monterey — cui  bono  f  It  did  not  advance  the 


Embarcation — Rendezvous  at  Lobos.          413 

campaign  an  inch,  nor  quicken  a  treaty  of  peace  an 
hour,  as  the  Mexicans  universally  regarded  it  as  a  mere 
border  affair. 

At  the  Brazos  San  Jago,  I  had  to  wait  for  the 
descent  of  the  troops  from  Monterey,  and  also  for  the 
means  of  transportation  to  Yera  Cruz.  The  general 
embarkation  was  thus  unavoidably  delayed  till  about 
February  15.  At  New  Orleans  I  fortunately  heard 
from  old  shipmasters  that  tolerable  intermediate  an 
chorage  might  be  found  in  the  terrible  northers,  be 
hind  the  Lobos  Islands — a  group  a  third  of  the  dis 
tance  from  Tampico  toward  Yera  Cruz.  Accordingly, 
I  appointed  that  group  as  the  general  rendezvous 
for  all  the  troop  and  supply  ships  of  the  expedition 
— many  of  them  being  still  due  from  New  Orleans 
and  ports  farther  North. 

Here,  at  the  distance  of  some  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  from  Yera  Cruz,  I  lay  a  few  days  with 
the  van  of  the  expedition,  till  the  greater  part  of  the 
troops  and  materiel  of  war  expected  had  come  up 
with  me.  Next  we  sailed  a  little  past  Yera  Cruz  and  , 
came  to  anchor,  March  7,  at  Anton  Lizardo,  to  take 
time  for  choosing,  after  reconnoissance,  the  best  point 
of  descent,  to  launch  our  boats  and  then  to  seize  the 


4:14  Anchors  near  Vera  Cruz. 

first  favorable  state  of  the  surf  for  debarkation — there 
being  no  harbor  at  or  near  the  city.  Ignorant  of 
President  Santa  Anna's  desperate  march  over  the 
desert,  upon  Major-General  Taylor,  we  did  not  doubt 
meeting  at  our  landing  the  most  formidable  struggle 
of  the  war.  No  precaution  therefore  was  neglected. 


CHAPTEE   XXYIII. 

SIEGE   AND    CAPTUKE    OF    VERA   CKUZ   AND   THE   CASTLE   OF 
SAN   JUAN   DE   ULLOA. 

SUCCESSFUL  as  was  every  prediction,  plan,  siege, 
battle,  and  skirmish  of  mine  in  the  Mexican  war,  I 
have  here  paused  many  weeks  to  overcome  the  repug 
nance  I  feel  to  an  entrance  on  the  narrative  of  the 
campaign  it  was  my  fortune — I  had  almost  said — mis 
fortune — to  conduct,  with  half  means,  beginning  at 
Yera  Cruz,  March  9,  and  terminating  in  the  capital 
of  the  country,  September  14,  1847,  six  months  and 
five  days.  This  feeling  is  occasioned  by  the  lively 
recollection  of:  1.  The  perfidy  of  Mr.  Polk;  2.  The 
senseless  and  ungrateful  clamor  of  Taylor,  which,  like 
his  other  prejudices,  abided  with  him  to  the  end; 


416  Enurwration  of  Disgusts. 

* 

3.  The  machinations  of  an  ex-aide-de-camp — who  owed 
his  public  status  mainly  to  my  helping  hand ;  a  vain 
man,  of  weak  principles,  and  most  inordinate  ambition. 
The  change  commenced  on  learning  that  I  had  fallen 
under  the  ban  at  Washington ;  4.  The  machinations 
of  a  Tennessee  major-general,  the  special  Mend. and 
partisan  of  Mr.  Polk  ; — an  anomaly, — without  the 
least  malignity  in  his  nature — amiable,  and  possessed 
of  some  acuteness,  but  the  only  person  I  have  ever 
known  who  was  wholly  indifferent  in  the  choice  be 
tween  truth  and  falsehood,  honesty  and  dishonesty ; — 
ever  as  ready  to  attain  an  end  by  the  one  as  the  other, 
and  habitually  boastful  of  acts  of  cleverness  at  the  total 
sacrifice  of  moral  character.  Procuring  the  nomination 
of  Mr.  Polk  for  the  Presidency,  he  justly  considered 
his  greatest  triumph  in  that  way.  These  conspirators 
— for  they  soon  coalesced — were  joined  by  like  charac 
ters — the  first  in  time  and  malignity,  a  smart  captain 
of  artillery,  whom  they  got  brevetted,  on  brevet,  more 
for  the  smoke  of  his  guns  than  their  shots,  and  to  whom 
Mr.  Polk,  near  the  end  of  his  term,  gave  the  substan 
tial  reward  of  colonel  and  inspector-general, — an  office 
that  happened  to  fall  vacant  just  then.  "The  ox 
knoweth  his  owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib." 


Subject  Continued.  417 

And  alas,  poor  human  nature !  Even  the  brave  Colonel 
Kiley,  the  hero  of  Contreras  (for  which  he  was  made  a 
brigadier  afterward),  got  the  brevet  of  major-general 
and  the  command  in  California,  by  yielding  to  the 
same  weakness.  (See  his  testimony  in  the  Pillow  in 
vestigation.)  These  appointments  proved  an  estate  to 
Riley.  The  certainty  of  such  fat  benefits,  freely  prom 
ised  by  the  conspirators,  called  into  activity  the  sordid 
passions  of  other  bribe-worthy  officers.  Hence  the 
party  of  miscreants  became  quite  respectable  in  num 
bers  alter  the  conquest.  Those  were  not  the  only  dis 
gusts.  The  master  outrage  soon  followed. 

The  offences  of  the  two  anonymous  generals  be 
coming  a  little  too  prononce,  I  arrested  both,  and  asked 
that  a  court  might  be  ordered  by  the  President  for 
their  trial.  A  court  was  ordered.  I  was  relieved  in 
the  command,  and  the  wronged  and  the  wrong-doers, 
with  stern  impartiality !  placed  before  the  tribunal ! ! 
If  I  had  lost  the  campaign  it  would  have  been  difficult 
to  heap  upon  me  greater  vexations  and  mortification. 

May  I  add,  that  while  I  was  before  the  court  ap 
pointed  by  President  Jackson,  at  Frederick,  Maryland, 
Santa  Anna  passed  by,  and  paid  me,  though  I  did  not 
see  him,  an  extravagant  compliment  ?  When  he  heard 
18* 


418        Bad  Legislation — Injured  Discipline. 

in  exile,  that  I  was  before  a  court  at  Mexico,  lie  said  to 
an  American:  "I  thank  President  Polk — I  am  re 
venged  ! " 

And  why  refer  the  appointment  of  a  court  to  Wash 
ington  ?  In  1830,  Adjutant-General  E.  Jones  was,  on 
some  slight  occasion,  arrested  by  the  General-in-Chief, 
Macomb.  The  former  had  many  friends  in  Congress, 
who  ran  a  bill  through  the  two  Houses  enacting  that, 
when  a  commanding  general  arrests  an  officer  or  be 
comes  the  prosecutor  of  one,  the  court  for  the  trial  of 
the  case  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President,  etc.  This 
provision  being  general,  has  caused  a  rent  in  the 
Administration  of  justice  in  the  army,  and  ought  to 
have  been  entitled  An  Act  to  cripple  generals  command 
ing  distant  expeditions,  and  to  unhinge  the  discipline 
(subordination)  of  armies.  Repeal  is  the  only  cure; 
but  this  error,  it  is  feared,  like  universal  suffrage,  is  a 
bourn  from  which  there  is  no  return.  That  it  placed 
me,  with  such  a  President  and  such  soldier  demagogues, 
between  the  upper  and  nether  millstones,  must  be  per 
ceived  by  all  readers ! 

March  9 — the  precise  day  when  I  had  been  thirty 
years  a  general  officer — the  sun  dawned  propitiously  on 
the  expedition.  There  was  but  little  surf  on  the  beach 


Landing  Effected.  419 

— a  necessary  condition — as  we  had  to  effect  a  landing 
from  the  open  sea.  Every  detail,  providing  for  all 
contingencies,  had  been  discussed  and  arranged  with 
my  staff,  and  published  in  orders.  The  whole  fleet  of 
transports — some  eighty  vessels,  in  the  presence  of 
many  foreign  ships  of  war,  stood  up  the  coast,  flanked 
by  two  naval  steamers  and  five  gunboats  to  cover  the 
movement.  Passing  through  them  in  the  large  pro 
peller,  the  Massachusetts,  the  shouts  and  cheers  from 
every  deck  gave  me  assurance  of  victory,  whatever 
might  be  the  force  prepared  to  receive  us. 

We  anchored  opposite  to  a  point  a  little  beyond  the 
range  of  the  guns  of  the  city  and  castle,  when  some 
fifty-five  hundred  men  instantly  filled  up  the  sixty- 
seven  surf  boats  I  had  caused  to  be  built  for  this  special 
occasion — each  holding  from  seventy  to  eighty  men — 
besides  a  few  cutters  belonging  to  the  larger  war 
vessels.  Commodore  Conner  also  supplied  steerers 
(officers)  and  sailors  as  oarsmen.  The  whole,  again 
cheering,  as  they  passed  my  ship  wearing  the  broad 
pennant,  pulled  away  right  for  the  shore,  landed  in  the 
exact  order  prescribed,  about  half  past  five  P.  M.,  with 
out  the  loss  of  a  boat  or  a  man,  and,  to  the  astonish 
ment  of  all,  without  opposition  other  than  a  few 


420  Subject  Continued. 

whizzing  shells  that  did  no  harm.  Another  trip  or 
two  enabled  the  row-boats  to  put  ashore  the  whole 
force,  rather  less  than  twelve  thousand  men,  though  I 
had  been  promised  double  the  number — my  minimum  • 
but  I  never  had,  at  any  one  time  in  the  campaign, 
more  than  thirteen  thousand  five  hundred,  until  the 
fighting  was  over,  when  I  was  encumbered  with  the 
troops  that  Taylor  found  at  last  he  could  not  use. 

An  article  from  the  New  Orleans  Bulletin ,  of 
March  27,  1847,  written  by  an  intelligent  pen,  respect 
ing  the  landing  of  troops,  is  here  inserted  : 

"  The  landing  of  the  American  army  at  Yera  Cruz 
has  been  accomplished  in  a  manner  that  reflects  the 
highest  credit  on  all  concerned;  and  the  regularity, 
precision,  and  promptness  with  which  it  was  effected, 
has  probably  not  been  surpassed,  if  it  has  been  equalled, 
in  modern  warfare. 

"  The  removal  of  a  large  body  of  troops  from 
numerous  transports  into  boats  in  an  open  sea — their 
subsequent  disembarkation  on  the  sea-beach,  on  an 
enemy's  coast,  through  a  surf,  with  all  their  arms  and 
accoutrements,  without  a  single  erro.-  or  accident,  re 
quires  great  exertion,  skill,  and  sound  judgment. 


Vera  Cruz  and  Castle  Prepared.  421 

"  The  French  expedition  against  Algiers,  in  1830, 
was  said  to  be  the  most  complete  armament,  in  every 
respect,  that  ever  left  Europe ;  it  had  been  prepared 
with  labor,  attention,  and  experience,  and  nothing  had 
been  omitted  to  insure  success,  and  particularly  in  the 
means  and  facilities  for  landing  the  troops.  This  dis 
embarkation  took  place  in  a  wide  bay,  which  was  more 
favorable  than  an  open  beach  directly  on  the  ocean, 
and  (as  in  the  present  instance)  without  any  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy — yet,  only  nine  thousand  men 
were  landed  the  first  day,  and  from  thirty  to  forty 
lives  were  lost  by  accidents,  or  upsetting  of  boats ; 
whereas,  on  the  present  occasion,  twelve  thousand  men 
were  landed  in  one  day,  without,  so  far  as  we  have 
heard,  the  slightest  accident,  or  the  loss  of  a  single  life." 

The  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  its  castle,  San  Juan 
de  Ulloa,  were  both  strongly  garrisoned.  Santa  Anna, 
relying  upon  them  to  hold  out  till  the  vomito  (yellow 
fever)  became  rife,  had  returned  to  his  capital,  and  was 
busy  in  collecting  additional  troops,  mostly  old,  from 
every  quarter  of  the  republic,  in  order  to  crush  the 
invasion,  should  it  advance,  at  the  first  formidable  pass 
in  the  interior. 


422  City  Invested  lyy  Land. 

The  walls  and  forts  of  Yera  Cruz,  in  1847,  were  in 
good  condition.  Subsequent  to  its  capture  by  the 
French  under  Admiral  Baudin  and  Prince  de  Join- 
ville,  in  1838,  the  castle  had  been  greatly  extended — 
almost  rebuilt,  and  its  armament  about  doubled.  Be 
sides,  the  French  were  allowed  to  reconnoitre  the  city 
and  castle,  and  choose  their  positions  of  attack  without 
the  least  resistance — the  Mexicans  deprecating  war 
with  that  nation,  and  hence  ordered  not  to  fire  the  first 
gun.  Of  that  injunction  the  French  were  aware. 
When  •  we  approached,  in  1847,  the  castle  had  the 
capacity  to  sink  the  entire  American  navy. 

Immediately  after  landing,  I  made,  with  Colonel 
(soon  after  Brigadier-General)  Totten,  and  other  staff 
officers,  a  reconnoissance  of  the  land  side  of  the  city, 
having  previously  reconnoitred  the  water  front.  This 
was  at  once  followed  by  a  close  investment,  so  that 
there  could  be  no  communication  between  the  garrisons 
and  the  interior.  The  blockade,  by  Commodore  Con 
ner,  had  long  before  been  complete.  Grave  delibera 
tions  followed.  From  the  first  my  hope  had  been  to 
capture  the  castle  under  the  shelter  of,  and  through 
the  city.  This  plan  I  had  never  submitted  to  discus 
sion.  Several  Generals  and  Colonels — among  them 


Regular  Approaches  Preferred.  423 

Major-General  Patterson — an  excellent  second  in  com 
mand,  notwithstanding  Ms  failure  as  chief  on  the  She- 
nandoah  in  1861 — solicited  the  privilege  of  leading 
storming  parties.  The  applicants  were  thanked  and 
applauded;  but  I  forebore  saving  to  them  more.  In 
my  little  cabinet,  however,  consisting  of  Colonel  Totten, 
Chief  Engineer,  Lieutenant-  Colonel  Hitchcock,  acting 
Inspector-General,  Captain  E.  E.  Lee,  Engineer,  and 
(jet)  First  Lieutenant  Henry  L.  Scott,  acting  Adjutant- 
General — I  entered  fully  into  the  question  of  storming 
parties  and  regular  siege  approaches.  A  death-bed  dis 
cussion  could  hardly  have  been  more  solemn.  Thus 
powerfully  impressed — feeling  Mr.  Folk's  halter  around 
my  neck,  as  I  expressed  myself  at  the  time — I  opened 
the  subject  substantially  as  follows  : 

"  We,  of  course,  gentlemen,  must  take  the  city  and 
castle  before  the  return  of  the  vomito — if  not  by  head- 
work,  the  slow,  scientific  process,  by  storming — and 
then  escape,  by  pushing  the  conquest  into  the  healthy 
interior.  I  am  strongly  inclined  to  attempt  the  former 
unless  you  can  convince  me  that  the  other  is  prefer 
able.  Since  our  thorough  reconnoissance,  I  think  the 


424  Reasons  for  that  Decision. 

suggestion  practicable  with  a  very  moderate  loss  on 
our  part. 

"  The  second  method,  would,  no  doubt,  be  equally 
successful,  but  at  the  cost  of  an  immense  slaughter  to 
both  sides,  including  non-combatants — Mexican  men, 
women,  and  children — because  assaults  must  be  made 
in  the  dark,  and  the  assailants  dare  not  lose  time  in 
taking  and  guarding  prisoners  without  incurring  the 
certainty  of  becoming  captives  themselves,  till  all  the 
strongholds  of  the  place  are  occupied.  The  horrors  of 
such  slaughter,  with  the  usual  terrible  accompani 
ments,  are  most  revolting.  Besides  these  objections, 
it  is  necessary  to  take  into  the  account  the  probable 
loss  of  some  two  thousand,  perhaps,  three  thousand  of 
our  best  men  in  an  assault,  and  I  have  received  but 
half  the  numbers  promised  me.  How  then  could  we 
hope  to  penetrate  the  interior  ? "  "  For  these  rea 
sons,"  I  added,  quoting  literally — "  although  I  know 
our  countrymen  will  hardly  acknowledge  a  victory  un 
accompanied  by  a  long  butcher's  bill  (report  of  killed 
and  wounded)  I  am  strongly  inclined — policy  con 
curring  with  humanity — to  t  forego  their  loud  applause 
and  aves  vehement,'  and  take  the  city  with  the  least 
possible  loss  of  life.  In  this  determination  I  know, 


Trenches  Opened.  425 

as  Dogberry  says  truly  of  himself,  I  c  write  me  down 


My  decided  bias  in  favor  of  proceeding  by  siege, 
far  from  being  combated,  was  fully  concurred  in. 
Accordingly  Colonel  Totten,  the  able  chief  engineer, 
and  his  accomplished  assistants,  proceeded  to  open  the 
trenches  and  establish  the  batteries  deemed  necessary, 
after,  by  a  general  sweep,  every  post  and  sentry  of  the 
enemy  had  been  driven  in. 

*  When  the  victory  of  Buena  Vista  reached  Major-General  Brooke  (a 
noble  old  soldier)  commanding  at  New  Orleans,  and  a  friend  of  Major 
General  Taylor,  he  rushed,  with  the  report  in  hand,  through  the  streets  to 
the  Exchange,  and  threw  the  whole  city  into  a  frenzy  of  joy.  By  and  by, 
came  the  news  that  the  Stars  and  Stripes  waved  over  Yera  Cruz  and  its 
castle,  and  Brooke,  also  a  friend  of  mine,  was  again  eager  to  spread  the 
report.  Somebody  in  the  crowd  early  called  out :  "  How  many  men  has 
Scott  lost  ?  "  Brooke  was  delighted  to  reply — "  Less  than  a  hundred." 
"  That  won't  do,"  was  promptly  rejoined.  "  Taylor  always  loses  thousands. 
He  is  the  man  for  my  money."  Only  a  few  fault  cheers  were  heard  for 
Vera  Cruz.  The  long  butcher's  bill  was  wanted.  When  I  received  friend 
Brooke's  letter  giving  these  details,  I  own  that  my  poor  human  nature  was 
piqued  for  a  moment ;  and  I  said :  "  Never  mind.  Taylor  is  a  Louisi 
anian.  We  shall,  in  due  time,  hear  the  voice  of  the  Middle,  the  Northern, 
and  Eastern  States.  They  will  estimate  victories  on  different  principles." 
But  I  was  mistaken.  The  keynote  raised  in  New  Orleans  was  taken  up 
all  over  the  land.  Mortifications  are  profitable  to  sufferers,  and  I  record 
mine  to  teach  aspirants  to  fame  to  cultivate  humility ;  for  blessed  is  the 
man  who  expects  little,  and  can  gracefully  submit  to  less. 


426  Batteries  Ready — Summons. 

All  sieges  are  much  alike,  and  as  this  is  not  a 
treatise  on  engineering,  scientific  details  are  here  omit 
ted.  "We  took  care,  in  our  approaches  to  keep  the 
city  as  a  shield  between  us  and  the  terrible  fire  of  the 
castle ;  but  the  forts  in  the  walls  of  the  city  were  for 
midable  spitfires.  They  were  rarely  out  of  blast. 
Yet  the  approaches  were  so  adroitly  conducted,  that 
our  losses  in  them  were  surprisingly  small,  and  no 
serious  sortie  was  hazarded  by  the  garrison. 

The  arming  of  the  advanced  batteries  had  been 
retarded  by  a  very  protracted  gale  (norther)  which  cut 
off  all  communication  with  our  vessels  in  the  offing. 
Ground  was,  however,  broken  on  the  18th,  and  by  the 
22d,  heavy  ordnance  enough  for  a  beginning  being  in 
position,  the  governor  of  the  city,  who  was  also  gov 
ernor  of  the  castle,  was  duly  summoned  to  surrender. 
The  refusal  was  no  sooner  received  than  a  fire  on  the 
walls  and  forts  was  opened.  In  the  attempt  to  batter 
in  breach,  and  to  silence  the  forts,  a  portion  of  our 
shots  and  shells,  in  the  course  of  the  siege,  unavoid 
ably  penetrated  the  city  and  set  fire  to  many  houses. 
By  the  24th,  the  landing  of  additional  heavy  guns  and 
mortars  gave  us  all  the  battering  power  needed,  and  the 
next  day,  as  I  reported  to  Washington,  the  whole  was 


Overtures — Commissioners  Appointed.        427 

in  "  awful  activity."  The  same  day  there  came  a  me 
morial  from  the  foreign  consuls  in  Yera  Cruz,  asking 
for  a  truce  to  enable  them,  and  the  women  and  children 
of  the  inhabitants,  to  withdraw  in  safety.  They  had  in 
time  been  duly  warned  of  the  impending  danger,  and 
allowed  to  the  22d  to  retire,  which  they  had  sullenly 
neglected,  and  the  consuls  had  also  declined  the  written 
safe-guards  I  had  pressed  upon  them.  The  season  had 
advanced,  and  I  was  aware  of  several  cases  of  yellow 
fever  in  the  city  and  neighborhood.  Detachments  of 
the  enemy  too  were  accumulating  behind  us,  and  ru 
mors  spread,  by  them,  that  a  formidable  army  would 
soon  approach  to  raise  the  siege.  Tenderness  there 
fore  for  the  women  and  children — in  the  form  of  delay 
— might,  in  its  consequences,  have  led  to  the  loss  of  the 
campaign,  and,  indeed  to  the  loss  of  the  army — two 
thirds  by  pestilence,  and  the  remainder  by  surrender. 
Hence  I  promptly  replied  to  the  consuls  that  no  truce 
could  be  allowed  except  on  the  application  of  the  gov 
ernor  (General  Morales),  and  that  with  a  view  to 
surrender.  Accordingly,  the  next  morning  General 
Landero,  who  had  been  put  in  the  supreme  command 
for  that  purpose,  offered  to  entertain  the  question  of 
submission.  Commissioners  were  appointed  on  both 


428  City  and  Castle  Surrendered. 

sides,  and  on  the  27th  terms  of  surrender,  including 
both  the  city  and  castle  of  Ulloa,  agreed  upon,  signed 
and  exchanged.  The  garrisons  marched  out,  laying 
down  their  arms,  and  were  sent  home  prisoners  of  war 
on  parole. 

This  was  better  for  the  consuls,  women,  and  chil 
dren,  as  well  as  for  the  United  States,  than  the 
temporary  truce  that  I  rejected — notwithstanding  the 
ignorant  censure  cast  on  my  conduct,  on  that  occasion, 
by  Mr.  William  Jay,  in  his  book — Review  of  the 
Causes  and  Consequences  of  the  Mexican  War,  pp. 
202-4. 

The  surrender  of  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa, 
was  necessarily  involved  in  the  fate  of  the  city,  because 
the  enemy,  until  a  late  moment,  had  expected  the 
former  would  be  the  first  object  of  attack,  and  relying 
upon  its  impregnable  strength,  had  neglected  to  lay  in 
a  supply  of  fresh  water  and  provisions — as  these  could 
be  sent  over  daily  from  the  city.  The  capture  of  the 
latter,  therefore,  placed  the  castle  entirely  at  our  mercy. 

The  economy  of  life,  by  means  of  head-work,  to 
which,  as  has  been  seen,  Americans  were  quite  indiffer 
ent,  was  never  more  conspicuous  than  on  this  occasion. 
The  city  and  castle ;  the  republic's  principal  port  of 


Some  of  the  Fruits  of  Victory — Losses.       429 

foreign  commerce;  five  thousand  prisoners,  with  a 
greater  number  of  small  arms ;  four  hundred  pieces 
of  ordnance  and  large  stores  of  ammunition,  were  the 
great  results  of  the  first  twenty  days  after  our  landing, 
and  all  at  the  very  small  loss,  in  numbers,  of  sixty-four 
officers  and  men  killed  or  wounded.  Among  the  slain 
were  two  captains,  J.  R.  Yinton  and  W.  Alburtis, 
both  of  high  merit — Yinton,  perhaps,  the  most  accom 
plished  oificer  in  the  army.  The  enemy's  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  was  not  considerable,  and  of  other  per 
sons — citizens — not  three  were  slam — all  being  in  stone 
houses,  and  most  of  the  inhabitants  taking  refuge  in 
basements. 

The  official  report  of  those  extraordinary  successes, 
in  which  due  praise  was  bestowed  on  corps  and  officers 
by  name,  as  well  as  on  the  cooperation  of  the  navy, 
was  taken  to  Washington  by  Colonel  Totten,  of  the 
Engineers,  who  was  duly  brevetted  a  brigadier-general 
for  his  great  services  in  the  siege. 


CHAPTEE  XXIX. 

BATTLE  OF  CERRO  GORDO,  JALAPA,  PEROTE  AND  PUEBLA 
HALTS VISIT  TO  CHOLULA. 

FORTUNATELY,  the  frequency  of  the  gales,  called  north- 
ers,  had  kept  off  the  vomito,  as  an  epidemic,  though  a 
few  cases  had  occurred  in  the  city  ;  but,  unfortunately, 
the  want  of  road-power — horses  and  mules — detained 
the  body  of  the  army  at  Yera  Cruz  from  its  capture, 
March  29,  till  toward  the  middle  of  April. 

Some  wagons  and  harness  came  first,  and  by  the 
8th,  we  hitched  up  a  train  sufficient  to  put  Brigadier- 
General  Twiggs's  division,  composed  of  brigades  under 
Colonels  Harney  and  Riley,  with  Major  Talcott's  light 
battery,  all  regulars,  in  march  for  the  interior.  Major- 
General  Patterson,  commanding  a  division  of  three 


Advance  of  Two  Divisions.  431 

volunteer  brigades,  under  Brigadier-Generals  Pillow, 
Quitman,  and  Shields,  was  next  supplied  with  partial 
means  of  transportation,  and  followed  Twiggs.  Draft 
animals  and  wagons  continued  to  arrive  slowly  (more 
of  the  latter  than  the  former),  but  #eyer .  in,  sufficient 
numbers.  Hence  a  siege  train  of  six  pieces  only,  foa* 
of  which  were  heavy,  was  fitted  fo*  tho-r^ftd;,:aixd;hen^a; 
Worth's  division  of  regulars  was  detained  until  the  16th. 
Each  division  and  detachment  of  troops  had  instruc 
tions  to  take,  in  wagons,  subsistence  for  men  equal  to 
six  days,  and  oats  for  horses  equal  to  three,  besides  the 
usual  number  of  cooked  rations  for  men  in  haversacks. 

Those  supplies  were  deemed  indispensable  to  take 
the  corps  to  Jalapa,  a  productive  region,  abounding 
in  many  articles  of  food  as  well  as  in  mules,  which  we 
so  much  needed  for  the  remaining  wagons  at  Yera 
Cruz.  Some  hundreds  of  these  animals  were  pur 
chased,  and  sent  below  to  bring  up  ammunition,  medi 
cines,  hospital  stores,  clothing,  and  some  bacon,  there 
being  but  little  in  the  country,  and  fresh  beef  not 
always  to  be  had.  But  this  is  anticipating. 

Hearing  that  Twiggs,  supported  by  Patterson, 
found  himself  confronted  at  Plan  del  Eio,  some  fifty 
miles  in  the  interior,  by  a  strong  body  of  the  enemy, 


432  Scott  Called  to  the  Front. 

and  that  both  divisions  were  desirous  of  my  presence, 
I  left  Yera  ,Cruz  on  the  12th  of  April,  with  a  small 
escort  of  cavalry  under  Captain  Philip  Kearny  (who 
fell  in  1862,  a  distinguished  major-general),  and  has- 
tened  to  .the  front.  Major-General  Patterson,  though 
quite  'sick,  "had  assumed  the  command  on  joining 
Twiggs,  in-  order  to  prohibit  any  aggressive  movement 
before  my  arrival,  according  to  the  universal  wish  of 
the  troops.  No  commander  was  ever  received  with 
heartier  cheers  —  the  certain  presage  of  the  victories 
that  followed. 

The  two  advanced  divisions  lay  in  the  valley  of  the 
Plan  del  Rio,  and  the  body  of  the  enemy  about  three 
miles  off,  on  the  heights  of  Cerro  Gordo.  Reconnais 
sances  were  pushed  in  search  of  some  practicable  route, 
other  than  the  winding,  zig-zag  road,  among_the  jpurs 
of  mountains,  with  heavy  batteries  at  every  turn.  The 
reconanissances  were  conducted  with  vigor  under  Cap 
tain  Lee,  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  pioneers,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  third  day,  a  passable  way  for  light  'h^fiPriAp 
was  accomplished—  without  alarming  the  enemy  —  giv- 
°f  turninjy_the  extreme  left  of  his 


line  of  deform^  pndjgapturing  his  whole  army,  except 

higher  up  the  road. 


Orders  for  a  General  BattU. 

Santa  Anna  said,  after  the  event,  that  he  had  not  be 
lieved  a  goat  could  have  approachedhim  in  that  direc 
fion.  Hence  the  surprise  and  results  were  the  greater. 
The  time  for  aggression  being  at  hand,  I — in  order 
to  insure  harmony  by  letting  all  commanders  know 
what  each  was  expected  to  execute — issued  this  pro 
phetic  order : 


GENERAL  ORDERS, )  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 

No    ni  PLAN  DEL  Rio,  April  17,  1847. 

The  enemy  Vwhole  linfl  a?  ^t^nchments^anoVbat- 
teries  will  be  attacked  in_Jront7  and  ^at-1bhe_same  time 
turned,  eirly  in  the  day  to-morrow— probably  before 
ten  o'clock  A.  M. 

~JThe  second-(Twiggs's)  division^  regulars  is  already 
advanced~within  easy  turning  distance  toward  the  ene 
my's  lefO  That  division  has  instructions  to  move  for- 
^ward  before  daylight  to-morrow,  and  take  up  position 
across  the  national  road  in  the  enemy's  rear,  so  as  to 
cut  off  a  retreat  toward  Jalapa.  It  may  be  ree'n-, 

forced  to-day,  if  unexpectedly  attacked  in  force,  by 

~~— ~ —          „ 
regiments — one  or  two — taken  from  Shields's  brigade 

of  volunteers.     If  not,  the  two  volunteer  regiments  will 
19 


434  Details  of  the  Orders. 

march  for  that  purpose  at  daylight  to-morrow  morning, 
under  Brigadier-General  Shields,  who  will  report  to 
Brigadier-General  Twiggs  on  getting  up  with  him,  or 
to  the  general-in-chief,  if  he  be  in  advance. 

The  remaining  regiment  of  that  volunteer  brigade 
will  receive  instructions  in  the  course  of  this  day. 

•  The  first  division  of  regulars  (Worth's)  will  follow 
the  movement  against  the  enemy's  left  at  sunrise  to- 
morrow  morning. 

As  already  arranged,  Brigadier-General  Pillow's 
Jjrigade  will  march  at  six  o'clock  to-morrow  morning, 
along  the  route  he  has  careftdly  reconnoitred^agd  stand 
ready,  as  soon  as  he  hears  the  report  of  arms  on  our 
right,  or  sooner,  if  circumstances  should  favor  him,  to 
pierce  the  enemy's  line  of  batteries  at  such  point  —  the 
nearer  to  the  river  the  better  —  as  he  may  select.  --Once 
in  the  rear  of  that  line,  he  will  turn  to  the  right  or  left, 
or  both,  and  attack  the  batteries  in  reverse,  or,  if  aban-. 
doned,  he  will  pursue  the  enemywith  vigor  until  fur- 


Wall's  field  battery  and  the  cavalry  will  be  held  in 
reserve  on  the  nationaTroaolT^.  little  out  of  vie_w~and 
range  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  They  will  take  up 
that  position  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 


Details  Continued.  435 

The  enemy's  batteries  being  carried  or  abandoned, 
all  our  divisions  and  corps  will  pursue  with  vigor. 

This  pursuit  may  be  continued  many  miles,  until 
stopped  by  darkness  or  fortified  positions,  toward  Ja- 
lapa.  Consequently,  the  body  of  the  army  jsiULnot 
return  to  this  encampment ;  but  be  followed,  to-morrow 
afternoon  or  early  the  next  morning,  by  the  baggage 
trains  of  the  several  corps.  For  this  purpose,  the 
feebler  officers  and  men  of  each  corps  will  be  left  to 
guard  its  camp  and  effects,  and  to  load  up  the  latter  in 
the  wagons  of  the  corps.  A  commander  of  the  present 
encampment  will  be  designated  in  the  course  of  this 
day. 

As  soon  as  it  shall  be  known  that  the  enemy's 
works  have  been  carried,  or  that  the  general  pursuit 
has  been  commenced,  one  wagon  for  each  regiment  and 
battery,  and  one  for  the  cavalry,  will  follow,  the  move 
ment,  to  receive,  under  the  direction  of  medical  .offi 
cers,  the  wounded  and  disabled,  who  will  be  brought 
back  to  this  place  for  treatment  in  general  hospital. 

The  surgeon-general  will  organize  this  important 
service,  and  designate  that  hospital  as  well  as  the 
medical  officers  to  be  left  at  it. 

Every  man  who  marches  out  to  attack  or  pursue 


436  Exact  Execution  of  Orders. 

the  enemy  will  take  the  usual  allowance  of  ammu- 
nition,  and  subsistence_ibr ...aLlgast  two  days. 
By  command  of  Major-General  Scott. 

H.  L.  SCOTT, 

A.  A.- General. 


HEADQUARTES  OF  THE  ARMY,  PLAN  J 

DEL  Rio,  FIFTY  MILES  FROM  > 

VERA  CRUZ,  April  19,  1847.  ) 
SlE  : 

The  plan  of  attack,  sketched  in  General  Orders  No. 
Ill,  herewith,  was  finely  executed  by  this  gallant  army 
before  two  o'clock  p.  M.,  yesterday.  We  are  quite  em 
barrassed  with  the  results  of  victory — prisoners  of  war, 
heavy  ordnance,  field  batteries,  small  arms,  and  ac 
coutrements.  About  3,000jiien  laid  down  their  arms, 
with  the  usual  proportion  of  field  and  company  officers, 
besides  five  generals,  several  of  them  of  great  distinc 
tion — Pinson/Jan-ero,  La  Yega,  Noriega,  and  Obando. 
A  sixth  general,  Yasquez,  was  killed  in  defending  the 
battery  (tower)  in  the  rear  of  the  line  of  defence,  the 
capture  of  which  gave  us  those  glorious  results. 

Our  loss,  though  comparatively  small  in  numbers, 


Battle  of  C&rro  Gvrdo—B&port.  437 


has  been  serious.    ^^adier-Ge_neral._  SM 
mander  jo£>ctivity,  zeal,^^  i£.  not 

dead3  mortally  wounded.  He  is  some  five  miles  from 
me  at  the  moment.  The  field  of  operations  covered 
many  miles,  broken  by  mountains  and  deep  chasms, 
and  I  have  not  a  report  as  yet  from  any  division  or 
brigade.  Twiggs's  division^  followed  by  Shields's  (now 
Colonel  Baker's)  brigade,  are  now  at  or  near  Jalapa, 
and  Worth's  division  is  in  route  thither  ;  all  pursuing, 
with  good  results,  as  I  learn,  that  part  of  the  Mexican 
army1  j^erhaps  six  or  seven  thousand  men^jhat  fled 
before  our  right  had  carried  the  tower,  and  gained  the 
Jalapa^road.  Pillow's  briga3e~alone  is  near  me  at 
this  depot  of  wounded,  sick,  and  prisoners,  and  I  have 
time  only  to  give  from  him  the  names  of  First  Lieu 
tenant  F.  B.  Nelson,  and  Second  Lieutenant  C.  G. 
Gill,  both  of  the  2d  Tennessee  Foot  (Haskell's  regi 
ment),  among  the  killed  ;  and  in  the  brigade,  one  hun 
dred  and  six  of  all  ranks  killed  or  wounded.  Among 
the  latter,  the  gallant  Brigadier-General  himself  has  a 
smart  wound  in  the  arm,  but  not  disabled,  and  Major 
E.  Farqueson,  2d  Tennessee  ;  Captain  H.  F.  Murray, 
Second  Lieutenant  G.  T.  Sutherland,  First  Lieutenant 
W.  P.  Hale  (Adjutant),  all  of  the  same  regiment, 


4:38  Report  Continued. 

severely,  and  First  Lieutenant  "W.  Yearwood,  mortally 
wounded.  And  I  know,  from  personal  observation  on 
the  ground,  that  First  Lieutenant  Ewell,  of  the  Bines, 
if  not  now  dead,  was  mortally  wounded  in  entering, 
sword  in  hand,  the  intrenchments  around  the  captured 
tower.  Second  Lieutenant  Derby,  Topographical  En 
gineers,  I  also  saw,  at  the  same  place,  severely  wound 
ed,  and  Captain  Patten,  2d  United  States'  Infantry, 
lost  his  right  hand.  Major  Sumner,  2d  United  States' 
Dragoons,  was  slightly  wounded  the  day  before,  and 
Captain  Johnston,  Topographical  Engineers  (now 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  infantry),  was  very  severely 
wounded,  some  days  earlier,  while  reconnoitring.  I 
must  not  omit  to  add  that  Captain  Mason  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Davis,  both  of  the  Rifles,  were  among  the 
very  severely  wounded  in  storming  the  same  tower. 
I  estimate  our  total  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  may  be 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
three  hundred  and  fifty.  In  the  pursuit  toward  Ja- 
lapa  (twenty-five  miles  hence),  I  learn  we  have  added 
much  to  the  enemy's  loss  in  prisoners,  killed,  and 
wounded.  In  fact,  I  suppose  his  retreating  army  to 
be  nearly  disorganized  ;  and  hence  my  haste  to  follow, 
in  an  hour  or  two,  to  profit  by  events. 


Report  Continued.  439 

In  this  hurried  and  imperfect  report  I  must  not 
omit  to  say  that  Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  in  passing 
the  mountain  range  beyond  Cerro  Gordo,  crowned  with 
the  tower,  detached  from  his  division,  as  I  suggested 
the  day  before,  a  strong  force  to  carry  that  height, 
which  commanded  the  Jalapa  road  at  the  foot,  and 
could  not  fail,  if  carried,  to  cut  off  the  whole  or  any 
part  of  the  enemy's  forces  from  a  retreat  in  any  direc 
tion.  A  portion  of  the  1st  Artillery,  under  the  often 
distinguished  Brevet  Colonel  Childs,  the  3d  Infantry, 
under  Captain  Alexander,  the  7th  Infantry,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Plympton,  and  the  Bifles,  under 
Major  Loring,  all  under  the  temporary  command  of 
Colonel  Harney,  2d  Dragoons,  during  the  confinement 
to  his  bed  of  Brevet  Brigadier-General  P.  F.  Smith, 
composed  that  detachment.  The  style  of  execution, 
which  I  had  the  pleasure  to  witness,  was  most  brilliant 
and  decisive.  The  brigade  ascended  the  long  and 
difficult  slope  of  Cerro  Gordo,  without  shelter,  and 
under  the  tremendous  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry, 
with  the  utmost  steadiness,  reached  the  breastworks, 
drove  the  enemy  from  them,  planted  the  colors  of  the 
1st  Artillery,  3d  and  7th  Infantry — the  enemy's  flag 


440  Report  Continued. 

still  flying — and  after  some  minutes  of  sharp  firing, 
finished  the  conquest  with  the  bayonet. 

It  is  a  most  pleasing  duty  to  say  that  the  highest 
praise  is  due  to  Harney,  Childs,  Plympton,  Loring, 
Alexander,  their  gallant  officers  and  men,  for  this  bril 
liant  service,  independent  of  the  great  results  which 
soon  followed 

Worth's  division  of  regulars  coming  up  at  this  time, 
he  detached  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  F.  Smith, 
with  his  light  battalion,  to  support  the  assault,  but  not 
in  time.  The  general,  reaching  the  tower  a  few  minutes 
before  me,  and  observing  a  white  flag  displayed  from 
the  nearest  portion  of  the  enemy  toward  the  batteries 
below,  sent  out  Colonels  Harney  and  Childs  to  hold  a 
parley.  The  surrender  followed  in  an  hour  or  two. 

Major-General  Patterson  left  a  sickbed  to  share  in 
the  dangers  and  fatigues  of  the  day ;  and  after  the  sur 
render  went  forward  to  command  the  advanced  forces 
toward  Jalapa. 

Brigadier-General  Pillow  and  his  brigade  twice  as 
saulted  with  great  daring  the  enemy's  line  of  batteries 
on  our  left;  and,  though  without  success,  they  con 
tributed  much  to  distract  and  dismay  their  immediate 
opponents. 


Report  Continued.  441 

President  Santa  Anna,  with  Generals  Canalize  and 
Ampudia,  and  some  six  or  eight  thousand  men,  escaped 
toward  Jalapa  just  before  Cerro  Gordo  was  carried, 
and  before  Twiggs's  division  reached  the  national  road 
above. 

I  have  determined  to  parole  the  prisoners — officers 
and  men — as  I  have  not  the  means  of  feeding  them 
here  beyond  to-day,  and  cannot  afford  to  detach  a 
heavy  body  of  horse  and  foot,  with  wagons,  to  accom 
pany  them  to  Yera  Cruz.  Our  baggage  train,  though 
increasing,  is  not  yet  half  large  enough  to  give  an  as 
sured  progress  to  this  army.  Besides,  a  greater  num 
ber  of  prisoners  would  probably  escape  from  the  escort 
in  the  long  and  deep  sandy  road  without  subsistence — 
ten  to  one — than  we  shall  find  again  out  of  the  same 
body  of  men  in  the  ranks  opposed  to  us.  Not  one  of 
the  Yera  Cruz  prisoners  is  believed  to  have  been  in  the 
lines  of  Cerro  Gordo.  Some  six  of  the  officers,  highest 
in  rank,  refuse  to  give  their  paroles,  except  to  go  to 
Yera  Cruz,  and  thence,  perhaps,  to  the  United  States. 

The  small  arms  and  their  accoutrements,  being  of 

no  value  to  our  army  here  or  at  home,  I  have  ordered 

them  to  be  destroyed ;  for  we  have  not  the  means  of 

transporting  them.     I  am  also  somewhat  embarrassed 

19* 


442  Report  Continued. 

with  the  pieces  of  artillery — all  bronze — wMch 

we  have  captured.  It  would  take  a  brigade  and  half 
the  mules  of  this  army  to  transport  them  fifty  miles. 
A  field  battery  I  shall  take  for  service  with  the  army ; 
but  the  heavy  metal  must  be  collected  and  left  here  for 
the  present.  We  have  our  own  siege-train  and  the 
proper  carriages  with  us. 

Being  much  occupied  with  the  prisoners  and  all  the 
details  of  a  forward  movement,  besides  looking  to  the 
supplies  which  are  to  follow  from  Yera  Cruz,  I  have 
time  to  add  no  more — intending  to  be  at  Jalapa  early 
to-morrow.  We  shall  not  probably  again  meet  with 
serious  opposition  this  side  of  Perote — certainly  not, 
unless  delayed  by  the  want  of  the  means  of  transpor 
tation. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  sir,  with  high  respect, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

P.  S. — I  invite  attention  to  the  accompanying  letter 
to  President  Santa  Anna,  taken  in  his  carriage  yester 
day  ;  also  to  his  proclamation,  issued  on  hearing  that 
we  had  captured  Yera  Cruz,  etc.,  in  which  he  says : 
"If  the  enemy  advance  one  step  more,  the  national 


Cerro  Gordo — Supplemental  Report.         443 

independence  will  be  buried  in  the  abyss  of  the  past." 

We  have  taken  that  step. 

W.  S. 

I  make  a  second  postscript,  to  say  there  is  some 
hope,  I  am  happy  to  learn,  that  General  Shields  may 
survive  his  wounds. 

One  of  the  principal  motives  for  paroling  the  prison 
ers  of  war  is  to  diminish  the  resistance  of  other  garri 
sons  in  our  march. 

W.  S. 

HON.  WM.  L.  MAKCY,  Secretary  of  War. 


HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 
JALAPA,  April  23,  1847. 

SIR: 

In  forwarding  the  reports  of  commanders  which 
detail  the  operations  of  their  several  corps  against  the 
Mexican  lines  at  Cerro  Gordo,  I  shall  present,  in  con 
tinuation  of  my  former  report,  but  an  outline  of  the 
affair,  and  while  adopting  heartily  their  commenda 
tions  of  the  ardor  and  efficiency  of  individuals,  I  shall 
mention  by  name  only  those  who  figure  prominently. 


444:  Supplemental  Report  Continued. 

or,  from  position,  could  not  be  included  in  those  sub- 
reports. 

The  field  sketch  herewith,  indicates  the  positions 
of  the  two  armies.  The  tierra  caUente,  or  low  level, 
terminates  at  Plan  del  JRio,  the  site  of  the  American 
camp,  from  which  the  road  ascends  immediately  in  a 
long  circuit  among  lofty  hills,  whose  commanding 
points  had  all  been  fortified  and  garrisoned  by  the 
enemy.  His  right,  intrenched,  rested  on  a  precipice 
overhanging  an  impassable  ravine  that  forms  the  bed 
of  the  stream;  and  his  intreiichments  extended  con 
tinuously  to  the  road,  on  which  was  placed  a  formida 
ble  battery.  On  the  other  side,  the  lofty  and  difficult 
height  of  Cerro  Gordo  commanded  the  approaches  in 
all  directions.  The  main  body  of  the  Mexican  army 
was  encamped  on  level  ground,  with  a  battery  of  five 
pieces,  half  a  mile  in  rear  of  that  height  toward  Jalapa. 

Resolving,  if  possible,  to  turn  the  enemy's  left,  and 
attack  in  rear,  while  menacing  or  engaging  his  front,  I 
caused  daily  reconnaissances  to  be  pushed,  with  the 
view  of  finding  a  route  for  a  force  to  debouch  on  the 
Jalapa  road  and  cut  off  retreat. 

The  reconnaissance  begun  by  Lieutenant  Beaure- 
gard,  was  continued  by  Captain  Lee,  Engineers,  and  a 


Supplemental  Report  Continued.  445 

road  made  along  difficult  slopes  and  over  chasms — out 
of  the  enemy's  view,  though  reached  by  his  fire  when 
discovered — until,  arriving  at  the  Mexican  lines,  farther 
reconnaissance  became  impossible  without  an  action. 
The  desired  point  of  debouchure,  the  Jalapa  road,  was 
not  therefore  reached,  though  believed  to  be  within 
easy  distance ;  and  to  gain  that  point,  it  now  became 
necessary  to  carry  the  height  of  Cerro  Gordo.  The 
dispositions  in  my  plan  of  battle — general  orders  No. 
Ill,  heretofore  enclosed — were  accordingly  made. 

Twiggs's  division,  reenforced  by  Shields's  brigade  of 
volunteers,  was  thrown  into  position  on  the  17th,  and 
was,  of  necessity,  drawn  into  action  in  taking  up  the 
ground  for  its  bivouac  and  the  opposing  height  for 
our  heavy  battery.  It  will  be  seen  that  many  of  our 
officers  and  men  were  killed  or  wounded  in  this  sharp 
combat — handsomely  commenced  by  a  company  of  the 
7th  Infantry  under  Brevet  First  Lieutenant  Gardner, 
who  is  highly  praised  by  all  his  commanders  for  signal 
services.  Colonel  Harney  coming  up  with  the  rifle 
regiment  and  1st  Artillery  (also  parts  of  his  brigade) 
brushed  away  the  enemy  and  occupied  the  height — on 
which,  in  the  night,  was  placed  a  battery  of  one  24- 
pounder  and  two  24-pound  howitzers,  under  the  super- 


446  Supplemental  Report  Continued. 

intendence  of  Captain  Lee,  Engineers,  and  Lieutenant 
Hagner,  Ordnance.  These  guns  opened  next  morning, 
and  were  served  with  effect  by  Captain  Steptoe  and 
Lieutenant  Brown,  3d  Artillery,  Lieutenant  Hagner 
(Ordnance),  and  Lieutenant  Seymour,  1st  Artillery. 

The  same  night,  with  extreme  toil  and  difficulty, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Lieutenant  Tower,  Engi 
neer,  and  Lieutenant  Laidley,  Ordnance,  an  eight-inch 
howitzer  was  put  in  position  across  the  river  and  oppo 
site  to  the  enemy's  right  battery.  A  detachment  of 
four  companies,  under  Major  Burnham,  New  York  Yol- 
unteers,  performed  this  creditable  service,  which  enabled 
Lieutenant  Ripley,  2d  Artillery,  in  charge  of  the  piece, 
to  open  a  timely  fire  in  that  quarter. 

Early  on  the  18th,  the  columns  moved  to  the  gen 
eral  attack,  and  our  success  was  speedy  and  decisive. 
Pillow's  brigade,  assaulting  the  right  of  the  intrench- 
ments,  although  compelled  to  retire,  had  the  effect  I 
have  heretofore  stated.  Twiggs's  division,  storming 
the  strong  and  vital  point  of  Cerro  Gordo,  pierced  the 
centre,  gained  command  of  all  of  the  intrenchments, 
and  cut  them  off  from  support.  As  our  infantry 
(Colonel  Eiley's  brigade)  pushed  on  against  the  main 
body  of  the  enemy,  the  guns  of  their  own  fort  were 


Supplemental  tieport  Continued.  447 

rapidly  turned  to  play  on  that  force  (under  the  imme 
diate  command  of  General  Santa  Anna),  who  fled  in 
confusion.  Shields's  brigade,  bravely  assaulting  the 
left,  carried  the  rear  battery  (five  guns)  on  the  Jalapa 
road,  and  aided  materially  in  completing  the  rout  of 
the  enemy. 

The  part  taken  by  the  remainder  of  our  forces,  held 
in  reserve  to  support  and  pursue,  has  already  been 
noticed. 

The  moment  the  fate  of  the  day  was  decided,  the 
cavalry,  and  Taylor's,  and  Wall's  field  batteries  were 
pushed  on  toward  Jalapa  in  advance  of  the  pursuing 
columns  of  infantry — Twiggs's  division  and  the  Brigade 
of  Shields  (now  under  Colonel  Baker) — and  Major- 
General  Patterson  was  sent  to  take  command  of  them. 
In  the  hot  pursuit  many  Mexicans  were  captured  or 
slain  before  our  men  and  horses  were  exhausted  by  the 
heat  and  distance. 

The  rout  proves  to  have  been  complete — the  retreat 
ing  army,  except  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  being  dis 
persed  and  utterly  disorganized.  The  immediate  con 
sequences  have  been  our  possession  of  this  important 
city,  the  abandonment  of  the  works  and  artillery  at  La 
Hoya,  the  next  formidable  pass  between  Yera  Cruz  and 


448  Supplemental  Report  Continued. 

the  capital,  and  the  prompt  occupation  by  Worth's 
division  of  the  fortress  of  Perote  (second  only  to  San 
Juan  de  Ulloa),  with  its  extensive  armament  of  sixty- 
six  guns  and  mortars,  and  its  large  supplies  of  materiel. 
To  General  "Worth's  report,  annexed,  I  refer  for  details. 

I  have  heretofore  endeavored  to  do  justice  to  the 
skill  and  courage  with  which  the  attack  on  the  height 
of  Cerro  Gordo  was  directed  and  executed,  naming  the 
regiments  most  distinguished,  and  their  commanders, 
under  the  lead  of  Colonel  Harney.  Lieutenant  G.  W. 
Smith  led  the  engineer  company  as  part  of  the  storm 
ing  force,  and  is  noticed  with  distinction. 

The  reports  of  this  assault  make  favorable  mention 
of  many  in  which  I  can  well  concur,  having  witnessed 
the  daring  advance  and  perfect  steadiness  of  the  whole. 
Beside  those  already  named,  Lieutenant  Brooks,  3d 
Infantry ;  Lieutenant  Macdonald,  2d  Dragoons ;  Lieu 
tenant  Yandorn,  7th  Infantry — all  acting  staff  officers 
— Captain  Magruder,  1st  Artillery,  and  Lieutenant 
Gardner,  7th  Infantry,  seem  to  havt,  won  especial 
praise. 

Colonel  Eiley's  brigade  and  Talcott's  rocket  and 
howitzer  battery,  were  engaged  on  and  about  the 
heights,  and  bore  an  active  part. 


Supplement  Continued.  449 

The  brigade  so  gallantly  led  by  General  Shields, 
and,  after  his  fall,  by  Colonel  Baker,  deserves  high 
commendation  for  its  fine  behavior  and  success.  Colo 
nels  Foreman  and  Burnett,  and  Major  Harris,  com 
manded  the  regiments ;  Lieutenant  Hammond,  3d 
Artillery,  and  Lieutenant  Davis,  Illinois  Volunteers, 
constituted  the  brigade  staff.  These  operations,  hid 
from  my  view  by  intervening  hills,  were  not  fully 
known  when  my  first  report  was  hastily  written. 

Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  who  was  in  the  imme 
diate  command  of  all  the  advanced  forces,  has  earned 
high  credit  by  his  judgment,  spirit,  and  energy. 

The  conduct  of  Colonels  Campbell,  Haskell,  and 
"Wynkoop,  commanding  the  regiments  of  Pillow's  bri 
gade,  is  reported  in  terms  of  strong  approbation  by 
Major-General  Patterson.  I  recommend  for  a  com 
mission,  Quartermaster-Sergeant  Henry,  of  the  7th 
Infantry  (already  known  to  the  army  for  intrepidity 
on  former  occasions),  who  hauled  down  the  national 
standard  of  the  Mexican  fort. 

In  expressing  my  indebtedness  for  able  assistance 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hitchcock,  Acting  Inspector- 
General,  to  Majors  Smith  and  Turnbull,  the  respective 
Chiefs  of  Engineers  and  Topographical  Engineers — 


450  Supplement  Continued. 

to  their  Assistants,  Lieutenants  Mason,  Beauregard, 
Stevens,  Tower,  G.  W.  Smith,  McClellan,  Engineers, 
and  Lieutenants  Derby  and  Hardcastle,  Topographical 
Engineers — to  Captain  Allen,  Chief  Quartermaster, 
and  Lieutenant  Blair,  Chief  Commissary — and  to  Lieu 
tenants  Hagner  and  Laidley,  Ordnance — all  actively 
employed — I  am  compelled  to  make  special  mention 
of  the  services  of  Captain  R.  E.  Lee,  Engineer.  This 
officer,  greatly  distinguished  at  the  siege  of  Yera  Cruz, 
was  again  indefatigable,  during  these  operations,  in 
reconnaissances  as  daring  as  laborious,  and  of  the  utmost 
value.  Nor  was  he  less  conspicuous  in  planting  bat 
teries,  and  in  conducting  columns  to  their  stations  un 
der  the  heavy  fire  of  the  enemy. 

My  personal  staff,  Lieutenants  Scott,  Williams,  and 
Lay,  and  Major  Yan  Buren,  wrho  volunteered  for  the 
occasion,  gave  me  zealous  and  efficient  assistance. 

Our  whole  force  present,  in  action  and  in  reserve, 
was  eight  thousand  five  hundred ;  the  enemy  is  esti 
mated  at  twelve  thousand,  or  more.  About  three  thou 
sand  prisoners,  four  or  five  thousand  stands  of  arms, 
and  forty-three  pieces  of  artillery  were  taken.  By  the 
accompanying  return,  I  regret  to  find  our  loss  more 
severe  than  at  first  supposed,  amounting  in  the  two 


End  of  Supplement.  451 

days  to  thirty-three  officers  and  three  hundred  and 
ninety-eight  men — in  all  four  hundred  and  thirty-one, 
of  whom  sixty-three  were  killed.  The  enemy's  loss  is 
computed  to  be  from  one  thousand  to  one  thousand 
two  hundred. 

I  am  happy  in  communicating  strong  hopes  of  the 
recovery  of  the  gallant  General  Shields,  who  is  so  much 
improved  as  to  have  been  brought  to  this  place. 

Appended  to  this  report  are  the  following  papers : 

A. — General  return  by  name  of  killed  and  wounded. 

B. — Copies  of  report  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hitch 
cock,  Acting  Inspector-General  (of  prisoners  taken)  and 
accompanying  papers. 

C. — Report  of  Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  and  sub- 
reports. 

D. — Eeport  of  Major-General  Patterson,  and  re 
ports  of  brigade  commanders. 

E. — Copy  of  report  of  Brigadier-General  Worth, 
announcing  the  occupation  by  his  division  of  the  castle 
and  town  of  Perote,  without  opposition  with  an  inven 
tory  of  ordnance  there  found. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  sir,  with  high  respect, 

your  most  obedient  servant, 

WINFIELD   SCOTT. 
HON.  WM.  L.  MARCY,  Secretary  of  War. 


452    Perote  Occupied — Discharge  of  Volunteers. 

This  terrible  blow  following  closely  on  the  captures 
of  the  preceding  month,  threw  the  Mexicans  into  con 
sternation.  Jalapa  was  abandoned,  and  I  pushed 
"Worth's  division  forward  to  tread  on  the  heels  of  the 
fugitives  and  increase  the  panic. 

Approaching  Perote,  its  formidable  castle  also  open 
ed  its  gates  without  firing  a  gun,  and  the  same  divis 
ion  took  quiet  possession  of  the  great  city  of  Puebla. 
But  here  the  career  of  conquest  was  arrested  for  a  time. 

I  had  been  obliged  to  lessen  the  strength  of  a 
diminutive  army  by  leaving  respectable  garrisons  of 
regulars,  in  Yera  Cruz  and  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  de 
Ulloa.  And  now  at  Jalapa,  without  having  received 
any  reinforcements,  it  became  necessary  to  discharge 
some  four  thousand  volunteers  whose  respective  terms 
of  service  were  about  to  expire.  They  gave  notice 
that  they  would  continue  with  me  to  the  last  day,  but 
would  then  certainly  demand  discharges  and  the  means 
of  transportation  homeward.  As  any  delay  might 
throw  them  upon  the  yellow  fever,  at  Yera  Cruz,  the 
discharges  were  given  at  once. 

We  were  delayed  nearly  a  month  at  Jalapa  waiting 
for  a  partial  supply  of  necessaries  from  Yera  Cruz  by 
the  second  and  third  trips  of  our  feeble  trains,  and  with 


Garrison  Left  at  Jalapa.  45  6 

a  faint  hope  of  reinforcements.  Not  a  company  came. 
At  length,  toward  the  end  of  May,  I  marched,  with  the 
reserve,  to  join  the  advanced  division  (Worth's)  at 
Puebla — leaving  a  strong  garrison  at  Jalapa,  under 
Colonel  Childs,  to  keep  the  line  of  communication  open 
with  Yera  Cruz  as  long  as  possible.  Indeed,  at  that 
time,  I  had  not  entirely  lost  the  hope  of  receiving  new 
regiments  of  regulars  and  volunteers  in  numbers  suffi 
cient  to  maintain  our  communications  with  the  ocean 
and  home  throughout  the  campaign  by  means  of  gar 
risons  at  the  National  Bridge,  Perote,  Puebla,  and  Rio 
Frio,  as  well  as  at  Yera  Cruz  and  Jalapa. 

Waiting  for  reenfor cements,  the  halt,  at  Puebla, 
was  protracted  and  irksome.  The  Benton  intrigue  had 
so  disgusted  a  majority  of  the  two  houses  of  Congress, 
that  the  bill  authorizing  the  ten  new  .regiments  of  regu 
lars  lingered  from  the  beginning  of  December  down 
to  the  llth  of  February — the  Administration  having 
sunk  too  low  to  hasten  its  passage  a  day  in  advance  of 
the  usual  sluggish  forms  of  legislation. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  army  at  Puebla  was  not  inac 
tive.  All  the  corps,  amounting  to  about  five  thousand 
effective  men,  were  daily  put  through  their  manoeuvres 
and  evolutions.  We  were  also  kept  on  the  alert  by 


454  Puebla — No  Reinforcements. 

an  army  sometimes  of  superior  numbers,  hovering 
about  us,  and  often  assuming  a  menacing  attitude; 
but  always  ready  for  flight  the  moment  they  saw  that 
we  were  under  arms.  On  these  occasions  it  was  painful 
to  restrain  the  ardor  of  the  troops.  But  I  steadily  held 
to  the  policy  not  to  wear  out  patience  and  sole  leather 
by  running  to  the  right  or  left  in  the  pursuit  of  small 
game.  I  played  for  the  big  stakes.  Keeping  the  army 
massed  and  the  mind  fixed  upon  the  capital,  I  meant  to 
content  myself  with  beating  whatever  force  that  might 
stand  directly  in  the  way  of  that  conquest — being  moral 
ly  sure  that  all  smaller  objects  would  soon  follow  that 
crowning  event. 

The  city  of  Puebla,  washed  by  a  fine,  flowing 
stream,  is  near  the  centre  of  a  valley  of  uncommon 
fertility  and  beauty,  producing,  annually,  two  abun 
dant  crops  for  the  subsistence  of  men  and  animals — 
one  by  rains,  and  the  other  by  artificial  irrigation. 
All  the  cereals — wheat,  barley,  maize  and  rye;  all  the 
grasses,  including  clover,  lucerne,  and  timothy,  and 
all  the  fruit-trees — the  apple,  peach,  apricot  and  pear, 
grow  here  as  well  as  in  the  region  of  Frederic,  Mary 
land — the  elevation  (near  seven  thousand  feet  above 
the  ocean)  making  a  difference  in  climate,  equal  to 


Splendid  Scenery — Cholula.  455 

eighteen  or  twenty  degrees  of  latitude.  Many  objects 
within  the  horizon  of  Puebla  are  among  the  subliinest 
features  of  nature.  The  white  peak  of  Orizaba,  the 
most  distant,  may  always  be  seen  in  bright  weather. 
The  Malinche  mountain,  near  by,  is  generally  capped 
with  snow  ;  Popocatapetl  and  his  white  sister,  always, 
since  the  first  snow  fell  after  the  creation.  The  city 
itself,  with  her  hundred  steeples  and  cathedral,  in 
majestic  repose — seen  from  a  certain  elevation,  is  itself 
a  magnificent  object  in  the  general  landscape. 

During  this  halt,  every  corps  of  the  army  in  suc 
cession,  made  a  most  interesting  excursion  of  six  miles, 
to  the  ruins  of  the  ancient  city  of  Cholula,  long,  in 
point  of  civilization  and  art,  the  Etruria  of  this  conti 
nent,  and  in  respect  to  religion,  the  Mecca  of  many  of 
the  earliest  tribes  known  to  tradition.  Down  to  the 
time  of  Cortes,  a  little  more  than  three  hundred  years 
before  the  Americans,  Cholula,  containing  an  ingenious 
and  peaceable  population  of  perhaps  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  souls,  impressed  with  a  unique  type  of 
civilization,  had  fallen  off,  in  1847,  to  a  miserable 
hamlet,  its  towers  and  dwellings  of  sun-baked  bricks 
and  stucco,  in  heaps  of  ruins.  From  these  melancholy 
wrecks  are  yet  disinterred  productions  of  art  of  great 


456  Its  Past  Greatness. 

beauty  and  delicacy,  in  metals  and  porcelain,  both  for 
ornament  and  use.  The  same  people  also  manufac 
tured  cloths  of  cotton  and  the  fibre  of  the  agave  plant. 

One  grand  feature,  denoting  the  ancient  grandeur 
of  Cholula,  stands  but  little  affected  by  the  lapse  of 
perhaps  thousands  of  years — a  pyramid  built  of  alter 
nate  layers  of  brick  and  clay,  some  two  hundred  feet 
in  height,  with  a  square  basis  of  more  than  forty  acres, 
running  up  to  a  plateau  of  seventy  yards  square.  There 
stood  in  the  time  of  Cortes,  the  great  pagan  temple  of 
the  Cholulans,  with  a  perpetual  blazing  fire  on  its  altar, 
seen  in  the  night  many  miles  around.  This  the  Span 
iards  soon  replaced  by  a  Mjou  of  a  church,  something 
larger  than  the  Casa  Santa  at  Loretto,  with  a  beauti 
ful  altar  and  many  pictures.  The  ascent  to  this  pla 
teau  is  by  a  flight  of  some  hundred  and  forty  steps. 

The  prosperity  of  Cholula,  in  1520,  was  already  on 
the  decline,  having  recently  fallen  under  the  harsh 
rule  of  the  Montezumas,  and  it  now  sustained  a  heavy 
blow  at  the  hands  of  Cortes,  an  invited  guest,  who,  to 
punish  a  detected  conspiracy,  that  was  intended  to  com 
pass  the  destruction  of  his  entire  army,  massacred  more 
than  six  thousand  of  the  inhabitants,  including  most 
of  the  chiefs,  besides  destroying  entire  streets  of  houses. 


A   Visit  to  its  Ruins.  457 

An  admirer  of  scenery,  and  curious  to  view  the 
ruins  of  Cholula,  the  autobiographer,  one  bright  morn 
ing  in  June,  suddenly  determined  to  overtake  a  fine 
brigade  of  regulars  that  had  advanced  on  that  excur 
sion,  half  an  hour  before.  Even  escorted  by  a  squad 
ron  of  cavalry  this  was  an  enterprise  not  without  some 
danger,  considering  that  he  could  make  no  movement 
without  causing  several  citizens  to  fly  off  at  full  speed, 
on  fine  Andalusian  horses,  to  report  the  fact  to  detach 
ments  of  cavalry  lurking  in  the  vicinity. 

Coming  up  with  the  brigade  marching  at  ease,*  all 
intoxicated  with  the  fine  air  and  splendid  scenery,  he 
was,  as  usual,  received  with  hearty  and  protracted 
cheers.  The  group  of  officers  who  surrounded  him, 
differed  widely  in  the  objects  of  their  admiration — 
some  preferring  this  or  that  snow-capped  mountain, 
others  the  city,  and  several  the  pyramid  of  Cholula, 
that  was  now  opening  upon  the  view.  An  appeal 
from  all  was  made  to  the  general-in-chief.  He  em 
phatically  replied  :  "  I  differ  from  you  all.  My  greatest 

*  Troops,  marching  at  ease,  bear  their  arms  on  either  shoulder  or  in 
either  hand,  always  keeping  the  muzzles  of  their  arms  up,  and  are  at  lib 
erty  to  talk,  laugh,  sing  or  crack  their  jokes  to  their  heart's  content — only 
taking  care  not  to  confound  their  ranks. 

20 


4:58  Compliment  to  the  Escort. 

delight  is  in  this  fine  body  of  troops,  without  whom, 
we  can  never  sleep  in  the  Halls  of  the  Montezumas,  or 
in  our  own  homes."  The  word  was  caught  up  by  some 
of  the  rank  and  file,  marching  abreast,  and  passed 
rapidly  to  the  front  and  rear  of  the  column,  each 
platoon,  in  succession,  rending  the  air  with  its  accla 
mation. 


CHAPTEK    XXX. 

ADVANCE    ON   THE    CAPITAL HALT    AT    AYOTLA RECON 
NAISSANCES SAN   AUGTJSTIN CONTKEEA8. 

AT  length  reinforcements  began  to  approach. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclntosh  with  some  eight  hundred 
men,  escorting  a  large  train,  was  checked  and  delayed 
by  the  enemy  in  the  march  near  Jalapa;  but  being 
soon  joined  by  Brigadier-General  Cadwallader,  with  a 
portion  of  his  brigade  and  a  field  battery,  the  enemy 
was  swept  away  and  the  two  detachments  arrived  in 
safety  at  Puebla.  Major-General  Pillow  followed  with 
another  detachment  of  a  thousand  men,  and  finally 
came  Brigadier-General  Pierce  (August  the  6th)  with 
a  brigade  of  two  thousand  five  hundred. 


4:60  Advance  on  the  Capital. 

About  this  time,  when  General  Taylor  had  more 
troops  than  he  could  employ,  and  yet  clamored  for  re- 
enforcements — I  was  obliged,  by  paucity  of  numbers, 
to  call  up  the  garrison  from  Jalapa,  under  Colonel 
Childs,  to  make  up  my  entire  force  at  Puebla  including 
the  late  reinforcements,  to  about  fourteen  thousand 
men,  of  whom  two  thousand  five  hundred  were  sick  in 
hospital  (mostly  diarrhoea  cases),  and  about  six  hundred 
convalescents,  yet  too  feeble  for  an  ordinary  day's 
march.  The  latter,  and  an  equal  number  of  effective 
troops  were  designated  as  the  garrison,  under  Colonel 
Childs,  of  the  important  city  of  Puebla — the  whole 
route  to  Yera  Cruz  and  all  communications  with  home, 
being,  for  the  time,  abandoned.  We  had  to  throw 
away  the  scabbard  and  to  advance  with  the  naked 
blade  in  hand. 

The  composition  of  the  army  in  its  march  from 
Puebla  to  Mexico  was  as  follows : 

GENERAL  STAFF. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hitchcock,  Assistant  Inspector-General 
iCaptain  H.  L.  Scott,  Acting  Adjutant-General, 
^irst  Lieutenant  T.  Williams,  Aide-de-Camp. 
Brevet  First  Lieutenant  G.  W.  Lay,  Aide-de-Camp 


Composition  of  the  Army.  461 

Second  Lieutenant  Sehuyler  Hamilton,  Aide-de-Camp. 
Major  J.  P.  Gaines,  Volunteer  Aide-de-Camp. 

ENGINEER   CORPS. 

Major  J.  L.  Smith,  Chief. 

Captain  R.  E.  Lee. 

Lieutenant  P.  G.  T.  Beauregard. 

"         Isaac  I.  Stevens. 

"          Z.  B.  Tower. 
G.  W.  Smith. 

"         George  B.  McCleUan. 

"          J.  G.  Foster. 

ORDNANCE    DEPARTMENT. 

Captain  Benjamin  Huger,  Chief,  with  Siege  Train. 
First  Lieutenant  P.  V.  Hagner. 
Second  Lieutenant  C.  P.  Stone. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL   ENGINEERS. 

Major  William  Turnbull,  Chief. 

Captain  J.  McClellan. 

Second  Lieutenant  George  Thorn. 

Brevet  Second  Lieutenant  E.  L.  F.  Hardcastle. 

QUARTERMASTER'S  DEPARTMENT. 

Captain  J.  R.  Irwin,  Chiof. 
"       A.  C.  Myers. 
«       Robert  Allen. 
"       H.  C.  Wayne. 
"       J.  McKinstry 
"       G.  W.  F.  Wood. 


Composition,  etc. 


Captain  J.  Daniels, 
"       O'Hara. 
"       S.  McGowan. 


SUBSISTENCE    DEPARTMENT. 


Captain  J.  B.  Grayson,  Chief. 
"       T.  P.  Handle. 


PAY   DEPARTMENT. 

Major  E.  Kirby,  Chief. 

A.  Van  Buren. 
"      A.  G.  Bennett. 

MEDICAL   DEPARTMENT. 

Surgeon-General  Thomas  Lawson. 
Surgeon  B.  F.  Harney. 
"       R.  S.  Satterlee. 

C.  S.  Tripler. 
"       B.  Randall. 
"       J.  M.  Cuyler. 
Assistant-Surgeon  A.  F  Suter. 
"       J.  Simpson. 
"       D.  C.  DeLeon. 
"       H.  H.  Steiner. 
"  "       J.  Simons. 

"       J.  K.  Barnes,. 
"  "       L.  H.  Holden. 

"       C.  C.  Keeney. 
"  "       J.  F.  Head. 

"  "       J.  F.  Hammond. 

"       J.  M.  Steiner. 


Composition,  etc.  463 


Assistant-Surgeon  C.  P.  Deyerle. 

"  "       E.  Swift. 

Surgeon  J.  M.  Tyler,        Volunteer. 

«       McMillan,  " 

"       C.  J.  Clark. 

"       W.  B.  Halstead, 
Assistant-Surgeon  R.  Hagan,  Volunteer. 

"       H.  L.  Wheaton,          " 
Surgeon  R.  Ritchie,  1st  Volunteers. 

"        J.  Barry, 

"       Edwards, 

"       L.  W.  Jordan,  " 

"       R.  McSherry, 

"       Roberts,-  " 


CORPS. 

COLONEL  HARNEY'S  BRIGADE. 

Detachment  of  1st  Light  Dragoons,  under  Captain  Kearny. 
u  2d  "  "      Major  Sumner. 

"  3d  "  "     Major  McReynolds. 

I.— BREVET   MAJOR-GENERAL   WORTH'S  DIVISION. 

1.  COLONEL  GARLAND'S  BRIGADE. 

2d  Regiment  of  Artillery,  serving  as  Infantry. 
3d         "  "  "  " 

4th       "          of  Infantry. 
Duncan's  Field  Battery. 


4-64  Composition,  etc. 

2.  COLONEL  CLARK'S  BRIGADE. 

fith,  6th  and  8th  Regiments  of  Infantry. 
A  Light  Battery. 

II.— BREVET  MAJOR-GENERAL  TWIGGS'S  DIVISION. 

1.    BREVET    BRIGADIER-GENERAL   P.    F.    SMITH'S    BRIGADE. 

Rifle  Regiment. 

1st  Regiment  of  Artillery,  serving  as  Infantry. 

3d  Regiment  of  Infantry. 

Taylor's  Light  Battery. 

2.  COLONEL  RILEY'S  BRIGADE. 

4th  Regiment  of  Artillery,  serving  as  Infantry. 
1st  Regiment  of  Infantry. 
7th        "  " 

III.— MAJOR-GENERAL    PILLOW'S    DIVISION, 

1.    BRIGADIER-GENERAL    G.    CADWALLADER*S    BRIGADE. 

Voltigeurs. 

llth  and  14th  Infantry. 

A  Light  Battery. 

2.    BRIGADIER-GENERAL   PIERCE'S   BRIGADE!. 

9th,  12th,  and  15th  Infantry. 


Advance  on  the  Ca/pital.  465 

IV.— MAJOR-GENERAL  QUITMAN'S  DIVISION. 

1.    BRIGADIER-GENERAL   SHIELDS'S   BRIGADE. 

New  York  Volunteers. 
South  Carolina  Volunteers. 

2.    LIEUTENANT-COLONEL    WATSON'S   BRIGADE. 

A  Detachment  of  2d  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 
Detachment  of  United  States'  Marines. 

It  has  been  seen  that  the  last  body  of  recruits 
(Pierce's  brigade)  arrived  August  6,  1847.  The  army 
commenced  its  advance,  by  divisions,  on  the  7th — 
Twiggs's  division  first,  with  Harney's  brigade  of  caval 
ry  leading,  and  the  siege  train  following.  The  other 
three  divisions  successively  followed  on  the  8th,  9th, 
and  10th — each  of  the  four  divisions  making  but  a  half 
day's  march  at  the  beginning.  So  that  no  division 
(even  the  leading  or  rearmost  one)  was  ever  separated 
more  than  seven  or  eight  miles  from  support,  or  rather 
half  that  distance,  by  means  of  a  double  movement — 
one  division  advancing  and  the  other  falling  back.  By 
similar  means,  three  divisions  might  easily  have  been 
united  in  little  more  than  two  hours,  in  the  case  of  a 
formidable  attack  upon  an  interior  division. 
20* 


466  Crossed  the  Rio  Frio  Range. 

This  concatenation  of  the  advancing  corps  was 
deemed  prudent  inasmuch  as  President  Santa  Anna 
had  now  had  nearly  four  months  (since  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo)  to  collect  and  reorganize  the  entire  means 
of  the  Republic  for  a  last  vigorous  attempt  to  crush  the 
invasion.  A  single  error  on  our  part — a  single  victory 
on  his,  might  have  effected  that  great  end.*  His  vigi 
lance  and  energy  were  unquestionable,  and  his  powers 
of  creating  and  organizing  worthy  of  admiration.  He 
was  also  great  in  administrative  ability,  and  though 
not  deficient  in  personal  courage,  he,  on  the  field  of 
battle,  failed  in  quickness  of  perception  and  rapidity 
of  combination.  Hence  his  defeats. 

We  had  confidently  expected  to  -meet  him,  at  the 
latest,  in  the  defiles  of  Rio  Frio ;  but  he  preferred  re 
maining  in  coil  about  the  city  in  the  midst  of  formida 
ble  lines  of  defence  both  natural  and  artificial. 

August  10,  the  leading  division,  with  which  I 
marched,  crossed  the  Rio  Frio  range  of  mountains,  the 

*  The  Duke  of  Wellington,  with  whom  the  autobiographer  was  slightly 
acquainted,  took  quite  an  interest  in  the  march  of  this  army  from  Vera 
Cruz,  and  at  every  arrival  caused  its  movements  to  be  marked  on  a  map. 
Admiring  its  triumphs  up  to  the  basin  of  Mexico,  he  now  said  to  a  com 
mon  friend:  "Scott  is  lost.  He  has  been  carried  away  by  successes. 
He  can't  take  the  city,  and  he  can't  fall  back  upon  his  base." 


First  View  of  the  Capital.  467 

highest  point,   in  the  bed   of  the  road  between  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans. 

Descending  the  long  western  slope,  a  magnificent 
basin,  with,  near  its  centre,  the  object  of  all  our  dreams 
and  hopes — toils  and  dangers  ; — once  the  gorgeous 
seat  of  the  Montezumas,  now  the  capital  of  a  great 
Republic — first  broke  upon  our  enchanted  view.  The 
close  surrounding  lakes,  sparkling  under  a  bright  sun, 
seemed,  in  the  distance,  pendant  diamonds.  The  nu 
merous  steeples  of  great  beauty  and  elevation,  with 
Popocatepetl,  ten  thousand  feet  higher,  apparently 
near  enough  to  touch  with  the  hand,  filled  the  mind 
with  religious  awe.  Recovering  from  the  sublime 
trance,  probably,  not  a  man  in  the  column  failed  to  say 
to  his  neighbor  or  himself:  That  splendid  city  soon 
shall  ~be  ours!  All  were  ready  to  suit  the  action  to 
the  word. 

Report  No.  31. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,  SAN  AUGUSTIN,      \ 

ACAPULCO  ROAD,  NINE  MILES  FROM  MEXICO,  V 

August  19,  1847.          ) 

SIR: 

Leaving  a  competent  garrison  in  Puebla,  this  army 
advanced  upon  the  capital,  as  follows :  Twiggs's  divi- 


468  Close  Reconnoitring . 

sion,  preceded  by  Harney's  brigade  of  cavalry,  the 
Tth ;  Quitman's  division  of  volunteers,  with  a  small 
detachment  of  United  States'  Marines,  the  8th  ; 
Worth's  division,  the  9th,  and  Pillow's  division,  the 
10th — all  in  this  month.  On  the  8th,  I  overtook,  and 
then  continued  with  the  leading  division. 

The  corps  were,  at  no  time,  beyond  five  hours,  or 
supporting  distance,  apart ;  and  on  descending  into  the 
basin  of  the  capital  (seventy-five  miles  from  Puebla) 
they  became  more  closely  approximated  about  the  head 
of  Lake  Chalco,  with  Lake  Tescuco  a  little  in  front  and 
to  the  right. 

On  the  12th  and  13th,  we  pushed  reconnaissances 
upon  the  Penon,  an  isolated  mound  (eight  miles  from 
Mexico)  of  great  height,  strongly  fortified  to  the  top 
(three  tiers  of  works)  and  flooded  around  the  base  by 
the  season  of  rain  and  sluices  from  the  lakes.  This 
mound  close  to  the  national  road,  commands  the  prin 
cipal  approach  to  the  city  from  the  east.  'No  doubt  it 
might  have  been  carried,  but  at  a  great  and  dispropor 
tionate  loss,  and  I  was  anxious  to  spare  the  lives  of 
this  gallant  army  for  a  general  battle  which  I  knew  we 
had  to  win  before  capturing  the  city,  or  obtaining  the 
great  object  of  the  campaign — a  just  and  honorable  peace. 


Resolved  to  Turn  the  Lakes.  4i>9 

Another  reconnaissance  (which  I  also  accompanied) 
was  directed  the  (13th)  upon  Mexicalcingo,  to  the  left 
of  the  Pen  on,  a  village  at  a  fortified  bridge  across  the 
outlet  or  canal,  leading  from  Lake  Jochimilco  to  the 
capital — five  miles  from  the  latter.  It  might  have 
been  easy  (masking  the  Penon)  to  force  this  passage ; 
but  on  the  other  side  of  the  bridge,  we  should  have 
found  ourselves  four  miles  from  this  (San  Augustin) 
road,  on  a  narrow  causeway,  flanked  on  the  right  and 
left  by  water  or  boggy  ground. 

Those  difficulties,  closely  viewed,  threw  me  back 
upon  the  project,  long  entertained,  of  turning  the  strong 
eastern  defences  of  the  city,  by  passing  around  south 
of  Lake  Chalco  and  Jochimilco,  at  the  foot  of  the  hills 
and  mountains,  so  as  to  reach  this  point  (San  Augustin), 
and  hence  to  manoeuvre,  on  hard  ground,  though 
much  broken,  to  the  south  and  southwest  of  the  capi 
tal,  which  has  been  more  or  less  under  our  view,  since 
the  10th  instant. 

Accordingly,  by  a  sudden  inversion — Worth's  divi 
sion,  with  Harney's  cavalry  brigade,  leading — we 
marched  on  the  15th  instant.  Pillow's  and  Quitman's 
divisions  followed  closely,  and  then  Twiggs's  division, 
which  was  left  till  the  next  day  at  Ayotla,  in  order  to 


470  Arrival  at  San  Augustin. 

threaten  the  Penon  and  Mexicalcingo,  and  to  deceive 
the  enemy  as  long  as  practicable. 

Twiggs,  on  the  16th,  marching  from  Ayotla  toward 
Chalco  (six  miles),  met  a  corps  of  more  than  double 
his  numbers — cavalry  and  infantry — under  General 
Yalencia.  Twiggs  halted,  deployed  into  line,  and  by 
a  few  rounds  from  Captain  Taylor's  field  battery,  dis 
persed  the  enemy,  killing  or  wounding  many  men  and 
horses.  No  other  molestation  has  been  experienced 
except  a  few  random  shots  from  guerilleros  on  the 
heights ;  and  the  march  of  twenty-seven  miles,  over  a 
route  deemed  impracticable  by  the  enemy,  is  now  ac 
complished  by  all  the  corps — thanks  to  their  indomita 
ble  zeal  and  physical  energy. 

Arriving  here,  the  18th,  Worth's  division  and 
Harney's  cavalry  were  pushed  forward  a  league,  to 
reconnoitre  and  to  carry,  or  to  mask,  San  Antonio  on 
the  direct  road  to  the  capital.  This  village  was  found 
strongly  defended  by  field  works,  heavy  guns,  and  a 
numerous  garrison.  It  could  only  be  turned  by  in 
fantry,  to  the  left,  over  a  field  of  volcanic  stones  and 
lava ;  for,  to  our  right,  the  ground  was  boggy. 

It  was  soon  ascertained  by  the  daring  engineers, 
Captain  Mason  and  Lieutenants  Stevens  and  Tower, 


New 

that  the  point  could  only  be  approached  by  the  front, 
over  a  narrow  causeway,  flanked  with  wet  ditches  of 
great  depth.  Worth  was  ordered  not  to  attack,  but  to 
threaten  and  to  mask  the  place. 

The  first  shot  fired  from  San  Antonio  (the  18th)  killed 
Captain  S.  Thornton,  2d  Dragoons,  a  gallant  officer, 
who  was  covering  the  operations  with  his  company. 

The  same  day,  a  reconnaissance  was  commenced  to 
the  left  of  San  Augustin,  first  over  difficult  grounds, 
and  farther  on,  over  the  same  field  of  volcanic  matter 
which  extends  to  the  mountains,  some  five  miles  from 
San  Antonio,  toward  Magdalena.  This  reconnaissance 
was  continued  to-day  by  Captain  Lee,  assisted  by 
Lieutenants  Beauregard  and  Tower,  all  of  the  Engi 
neers  ;  who  were  joined  in  the  afternoon  by  Major 
Smith  of  the  same  corps.  Other  divisions  coming  up, 
Pillow's  was  advanced  to  make  a  practicable  road  for 
heavy  artillery,  and  Twiggs's  thrown  farther  in  front, 
to  cover  that  operation ;  for,  by  the  partial  reconnais 
sance  of  yesterday,  Captain  Lee  discovered  a  large 
corps  of  observation  in  that  direction,  with  a  detach 
ment  of  which  his  supports  of  cavalry  and  foot  under 
Captain  Kearny  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Griham,  re 
spectively,  had  a  successful  skirmish. 


472  Battle  of  Contreras. 

By  three  o'clock  this  afternoon,  the  advanced  di 
visions  came  to  a  point  where  the  new  road  could  only 
be  continued  under  the  direct  fire  of  twenty-two  pieces 
of  the  enemy's  artillery  (most  of  them  of  large  calibre) 
placed  in  a  strong  intrenched  camp  to  oppose  our 
operations,  and  surrounded  by  every  advantage  of 
ground,  besides  immense  bodies  of  cavalry  and  infantry 
hourly  reenforced  from  the  city,  over  an  excellent  road 
beyond  the  volcanic  field,  and  consequently  beyond  the 
reach  of  our  cavalry  and  artillery. 

Arriving  on  the  ground  an  hour  later,  I  found  that 
Pillow's  and  Twiggs's  divisions  had  advanced  to  dis 
lodge  the  enemy,  picking  their  way  (all  officers  on  foot) 
along  his  front,  and  extending  themselves  toward  the 
road  from  the  city  and  the  enemy's  left.  Captain 
Magruder's  field  battery,  of  12  and  6-pounders,  and 
Lieutenant  Callender's  battery  of  mountain  howitzers 
and  rockets,  had  also,  with  great  difficulty,  been  ad 
vanced  within  range  of  the  intrenched  camp.  These 
batteries,  most  gallantly  served,  suffered  much  in  the 
course  of  the  afternoon,  from  the  enemy's  superior 
weight  of  metal. 

The  battle,  though  mostly  stationary,  continued  to 
rage  vrith  great  violence  until  nightfall.  Brevet  Briga- 


Battle  Continued.  473 

dier-General  P.  F.  Smith's  and  Brevet  Colonel  Riley's 
brigades  (Twiggs's  division),  supported  by  Brigadier- 
Generals  Pierce's  and  Cadwallader's  brigades  (Pillow's 
division),  were  more  than  three  hours  under  a  heavy 
fire  of  artillery  and  musketry  along  the  almost  impassa 
ble  ravine  in  front  and  to  the  left  of  the  intrenched  camp. 

Besides  the  twenty-two  pieces  of  artillery,  the  camp 
and  ravine  were  defended  closely  by  masses  of  infantry, 
and  these  again  supported  by  clouds  of  cavalry  at 
hand,  hovering  in  view.  Consequently  no  decided  im 
pression  could  be  made  by  daylight  on  the  enemy's 
most  formidable  position,  because,  independently  of  the 
difficulty  of  the  ravine,  our  infantry,  unaccompanied 
by  cavalry  and  artillery,  could  not  advance  in  column 
without  being  mowed  down  by  the  grape  and  canister 
of  the  batteries,  nor  advance  in  line  without  being 
ridden  over  by  the  enemy's  numerous  cavalry.  All 
our  corps,  however,  including  Magruder's  and  Callen- 
der's  light  batteries,  not  only  maintained  the  exposed 
positions  early  gained,  but  all  attempted  charges  upon 
them,  respectively — particularly  on  Riley,  twice  closely 
engaged  with  cavalry  in  greatly  superior  numbers — 
were  repulsed  and  punished. 

From   an   eminence,  soon  after  arriving  near  the 


4:74  Battle  Continued. 

scene,  I  observed  the  church  and  hamlet  of  Contreras 
(or  Ansalda)  on  the  road  leading  up  from  the  capital 
through  the  intrenched  camp  to  Magdalena,  and  see 
ing,  at  the  same  time,  the  stream  of  reinforcements 
advancing  by  that  road  from  the  city,  I  ordered 
(through  Major-General  Pillow)  Colonel  Morgan  with 
his  regiment,  the  15th,  till  then  held  in  reserve  by 
Pillow,  to  move  forward  and  to  occupy  Contreras  (or 
Ansalda) — being  persuaded,  if  occupied,  it  would  ar 
rest  the  enemy's  reinforcements  and  ultimately  decide 
the  battle. 

Hiley  was  already  on  the  enemy's  left,  in  advance 
of  the  hamlet.  A  few  minutes  later,  Brigadier-General 
Shields  with  his  volunteer  brigade  (New  York  and 
South  Carolina  regiments — Quitman's  division)  coming 
up  under  my  orders  from  San  Augustin,  I  directed 
Shields  to  follow  and  sustain  Morgan.  These  corps, 
over  the  extreme  difficulties  of  ground — partially  cov 
ered  with  a  low  forest — before  described,  reached  Con 
treras,  and  found  Cadwallader's  brigade  in  position, 
observing  the  formidable  movement  from  the  capital, 
and  much  needing  the  timely  reenforcement. 

It  was  alrea  iy  dark,  and  the  cold  rain  had  begun 
to  fall  in  torrents  upon  our  unsheltered  troops  ;  for  the 


Battle  Continued.  475 

hamlet,  though  a  strong  defensive  position,  could  only 
hold  the  wounded  men,  and,  unfortunately,  the  new 
regiments  have  little  or  nothing  to  eat  in  their  haver 
sacks.  Wet,  hungry,  and  without  the  possibility  of 
sleep ;  all  our  gallant  corps,  I  learn,  are  fall  of  confi 
dence,  and  only  wait  for  the  last  hour  of  darkness  to 
gain  the  positions  whence  to  storm  and  carry  the  ene 
my's  works. 

Of  the  seven  officers  despatched  since  about  sun 
down,  from  my  position  opposite  to  the  enemy's  centre, 
and  on  this  side  of  the  volcanic  field — to  communicate 
instructions  to  the  hamlet — not  one  has  succeeded  in 
getting  through  these  difficulties  increased  by  darkness. 
They  have  all  returned.  But  the  gallant  and  inde 
fatigable  Captain  Lee,  of  the  Engineers,  who  has  been 
constantly  with  the  operating  forces,  is  (eleven  o'clock 
p.  M.,)  just  in  from  Shields,  Smith,  Cadwallader,  etc., 
to  report  as  above,  and  to  ask  that  a  powerful  diversion 
be  made  against  the  centre  of  the  intrenched  camp 
toward  morning. 

Brigadier-General  Twiggs  cut  off  as  above,  from 
the  part  of  his  division  beyond  the  impracticable 
ground,  and  Captain  Lee  are  gone,  under  my  orders, 
to  collect  the  forces  remaining  on  this  side  with  which 


476  Battle  Continued. 

to  make  that  diversion  at  about  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning. 

And  here  I  will  end  this  report,  commenced  at  its 
date,  and  in  another,  continue  the  narrative  of  the 
great  events  which  now  impend. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
HON.  WM.  L.  MARCY,  Secretary  of  War. 


CHAPTEE    XXXI. 

VICTOEIES    OF    CONTREKAS SAN   ANTONIO CHURTJBUSCO. 

Report  No.  32. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 
TACUBAYA,  AT  THE  GATES  OF 
MEXICO,  August  28,  1847. 

Sra: 

My  report,  No.  31,  commenced  in  the  night  of  the 
19th  instant,  closed  with  the  operations  of  the  army  on 
that  day. 

The  morning  of  the  20th  opened  with  one  of  a  series 
of  unsurpassed  achievements,  all  in  view  of  the  capital, 
and  to  which  I  shall  give  the  general  name — JBattles  of 
Mexico. 

In  the  night  of  the  19th,  Brigadier-Generals  Shields, 


478  Assault  on  Contreras  Renewed. 

P.  F.  Smith,  and  Cadwallader,  and  Colonel  Riley,  with 
their  brigades,  and  the  15th  Regiment,  under  Colonel 
Morgan,  detached  from  Brigadier  -  General  Pierce — 
found  themselves  in  and  about  the  important  position 
— the  village,  hamlet  or  hacienda,  called  indifferently, 
Contreras,  Ansalda,  San  Geronimo — half  a  mile  nearer 
to  the  city  than  the  enemy's  intrenched  camp,  on  the 
same  road,  toward  the  factory  of  Magdalena. 

That  camp  had  been,  unexpectedly,  our  formidable 
point  of  attack  in  the  afternoon  before,  and  we  had 
now  to  take  it,  without  the  aid  of  cavalry  or  artillery, 
or  to  throw  back  our  advanced  corps  upon  the  direct 
road  from  San  Augustin  to  the  city,  and  thence  force  a 
passage  through  San  Antonio. 

Accordingly,  to  meet  contingencies,  Major-General 
Worth  was  ordered  to  leave  early  in  the  morning  of 
the  20th,  one  of  his  brigades  to  mask  San  Antonio,  and 
to  march  with  the  other  six  miles,  via  San  Augustin^ 
upon  Contreras.  A  like  destination  was  given  to 
Major-General  Quitman  and  his  remaining  brigade  in 
San  Augustin — replacing,  for  the  moment,  the  garrison 
of  that  important  depot  with  -Hartley's  brigade  of  cav 
alry,  as  horse  could  not  pass  over  the  intervening  lava, 
etc.,  to  reach  the  field  of  battle. 


Assault  on  Contreras.  479 

A  diversion  for  an  earlier  hour  (daylight)  had  been 
arranged  the  night  before,  according  to  the  suggestion 
of  Brigadier-General  P.  F.  Smith,  received  through  the 
Engineer,  Captain  Lee,  who  conveyed  my  orders  to  our 
troops  remaining  on  the  ground,  opposite  to  the  enemy's 
centre — the  point  for  the  diversion  or  a  real  attack,  as 
circumstances  might  allow. 

Guided  by  Captain  Lee,  it  proved  the  latter,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Ransom  of  the  9th,  having 
with  him  that  regiment  and  some  companies  of  three 
others— the  3d,  12th,  and  Rifles. 

Shields,  the  senior  officer  at  the  hamlet,  having 
arrived  in  the  night,  after  Smith  had  arranged  with 
Cadwallader  and  Riley  the  plan  of  attack  for  the  morn 
ing,  delicately  waived  interference;  but  reserved  to 
himself  the  double  task  of  holding  the  hamlet  with  his 
two  regiments  (South  Carolina  and  New  York  Volun 
teers)  against  ten  times  his  numbers  on  the  side  of  the 
city,  including  the  slopes  to  his  left,  and  in  case  the 
enemy's  camp  in  his  rear  should  be  carried,  to  face 
about  and  cut  off  the  flying  enemy. 

At  three  o'clock  A.  M.  the  great  movement  com 
menced  on  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  camp,  Riley  lead 
ing,  followed  successively  by  Cadwallader's  and  Smith's 


480  The  Camp  carried. 

brigades,  the  latter  temporarily  under  the  orders  of 
Major  Dimick  of  the  1st  Artillery — the  whole  force 
being  commanded  by  Smith,  the  senior  in  the  general 
attack,  and  whose  arrangements,  skill,  and  gallantry 
always  challenge  the  highest  admiration. 

The  march  was  rendered  tedious  by  the  darkness, 
rain,  and  mud ;  but  about  sunrise,  Riley,  conducted  by 
Lieutenant  Tower,  Engineer,  had  reached  an  elevation 
behind  the  enemy,  whence  he  precipitated  his  columns ; 
stormed  the  intrenchments,  planted  his  several  colors 
upon  them,  and  carried  the  work — all  in  seventeen 
minutes. 

Conducted  by  Lieutenant  Beauregard,  Engineer, 
and  Lieutenant  Brooks  of  Twiggs's  Staff— both  of 
whom,  like  Lieutenant  Tower,  had,  in  the  night,  twice 
reconnoitred  the  ground — Cadwallader  brought  up  to 
the  general  assault,  two  of  his  regiments — the  Yol- 
tigeurs  and  the  llth ;  and  at  the  appointed  time  Colo 
nel  Eansom,  with  his  temporary  brigade,  conducted  by 
Captain  Lee,  Engineer,  not  only  made  the  movement 
in  front,  to  divert  and  to  distract  the  enemy,  but,  after 
crossing  the  deep  ravine,  advanced,  and  poured  into 
the  works  and  upon  the  fugitives  many  volleys  from 
his  destructive  musketry. 


Merit  of  Corps.  481 

In  the  mean  time  Smith's  own  brigade,  under  the 
temporary  command  of  Major  Dimick,  following  the 
movements  of  Riley  and  Cadwallader,  discovered,  oppo 
site  to,  and  outside  of  the  works,  a  long  line  of  Mexican 
cavalry,  drawn  up  as  a  support.  Dimick  having  at  the 
head  of  the  brigade  the  company  of  Sappers  and  Miners, 
under  Lieutenant  G.  W.  Smith,  Engineer,  who  had  con 
ducted  the  march,  was  ordered  by  Brigadier-General 
Smith  to  form  his  line  faced  to  the  enemy,  and  in  a 
charge,  against  a  flank,  routed  the  cavalry. 

Shields,  too,  by  the  wise  disposition  of  his  brigade 
and  gallant  activity,  contributed  much  to  the  general 
results.  He  held  masses  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  sup 
ported  by  artillery,  in  check  below  him,  and  captured 
hundreds,  with  one  general  (Mendoza),  of  those  who  fled 
from  above. 

I  doubt  whether  a  more  brilliant  or  decisive  victory 
— taking  into  view  ground,  artificial  defences,  batteries, 
and  the  extreme  disparity  of  numbers — without  cavalry 
or  artillery  on  our  side — is  to  be  found  on  record.  In 
cluding  all  our  corps  directed  against  the  intrenched 
camp,  with  Shields's  brigade  at  the  hamlet,  we  posi 
tively  did  not  number  over  four  thousand  five  hundred 

rank  and  file ;  and  we  knew  by  sight,  and  since,  more 
21 


482  First  Victory  of  the  Day. 

certainly,  by  many  captured  documents  and  letters, 
that  the  enemy  had  actually  engaged  on  the  spot  seven 
thousand  men,  with  at  least  twelve  thousand  more  hov 
ering  within  sight  and  striking  distance — both  on  the 
19th  and  20th.  All,  not  Mlled  or  captured,  now  fled 
with  precipitation. 

Thus  was  the  great  victory  of  Contreras  achieved ; 
one  road  to  the  capital  opened ;  seven  hundred  of  the 
enemy  killed;  eight  hundred  and  thirteen  prisoners, 
including,  among  eighty-eight  officers,  four  generals ; 
besides  many  colors  and  standards ;  twenty-two  pieces 
of  brass  ordnance — half  of  large  calibre;  thousands  of 
small  arms  and  accoutrements;  an  immense  quantity 
of  shot,  shells,  powder,  and  cartridges ;  seven  hundred 
pack  mules,  many  horses,  etc.,  etc. — all  in  our  hands. 

It  is  highly  gratifying  to  find  that,  by  skilful  ar 
rangement  and  rapidity  of  execution,  our  loss,  in  killed 
and  wounded,  did  not  exceed,  on  the  spot,  sixty — 
among  the  former  the  brave  Captain  Charles  Hanson, 
of  the  4th  Infantry — not  more  distinguished  for  gal 
lantry  than  for  modesty,  morals,  and  piety.  Lieuten 
ant  J.  P.  Johnstone,  1st  Artillery,  serving  with  Ma- 
gruder's  battery,  a  young  officer  of  the  highest  promise, 
was  killed  the  evening  before. 


Advance  on  San  Antonio. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  incidents  of  th/ 

the  recapture,  in  their  works,  by  Captain  Drum,  ^ 

Artillery,  under  Major  Gardner,  of  the  two  brass  6- 
pounders,  taken  from  another  company  of  the  same 
regiment,  though  without  the  loss  of  honor,  at  the 
glorious  battle  of  Buena  Yista — about  which  guns  the 
whole  regiment  had  mourned  for  so  many  long  months  ! 
Coming  up  a  little  later  I  had  the  happiness  to  join  in 
the  protracted  cheers  of  the  gallant  4th  on  the  joyous 
event ;  and,  indeed,  the  whole  army  sympathizes  in  its 
just  pride  and  exultation. 

The  battle  being  won  before  the  advancing  brigades 
of  Worth's  and  Quitman's  divisions  were  in  sight,  both 
were  ordered  back  to  their  late  positions : — Worth,  to 
attack  San  Antonio,  in  front,  with  his  whole  force,  as 
soon  as  approached  in  the  rear  by  Pillow's  and  Twiggs's 
divisions — moving  from  Contreras,  through  San  Angel 
and  Coyoacan.  By  carrying  San  Antonio,  we  knew 
that  we  should  open  another — a  shorter  and  better  road 
to  the  capital  for  our  siege  and  other  trains. 

Accordingly,  the  two  advanced  divisions  and  Shields 
brigade  marched  from  Contreras,  under  the  immediate 
orders  of  Major-General  Pillow,  wrho  was  now  joined 
by  the  gallant  Brigadier-General  Pierce  of  his  division, 


482    484      Advance  on  the  Convent  of  Churiibusco. 

personally  thrown  out  of  activity,  late  the  evening  be 
fore,  by  a  severe  hurt  received  from  the  fall  of  his 
horse. 

After  giving  necessary  orders  on  the  field,  in  the 
midst  of  prisoners  and  trophies,  and  sending  instruc 
tions  to  Harney's  brigade  of  cavalry  (left  at  San  Augus- 
tin)  to  join  me,  I  personally  followed  Pillow's  com 
mand. 

Arriving  at  Coyoacan,  two  miles  by  a  cross  road, 
from  the  rear  of  San  Antonio,  I  first  detached  Captain 
Lee,  Engineer,  with  Captain  Kearny's  troop,  1st  Dra 
goons,  supported  by  the  Rifle  Regiment,  under  Major 
Loring,  to  reconnoitre  that  strong  point;  and  next 
despatched  Major-General  Pillow,  with  one  of  his 
brigades  (Cadwallader's),  to  make  the  attack  upon  it, 
in  concert  with  Major-General  Worth  on  the  opposite 
side. 

At  the  same  time,  by  another  road  to  the  left, 
Lieutenant  Stevens  of  the  Engineers,  supported  by 
Lieutenant  G.  "W.  Smith's  company  of  sappers  and 
miners,  of  the  same  corps,  was  sent  to  reconnoitre  tho 
strongly  fortified  church  or  convent  of  San  Pablo,  in 
the  hamlet  of  Churubusco — one  mile  off.  Twiggs  with 
one  of  his  brigades  (Smith's — less  the  Rifles)  and  Cap- 


Enemy's  Eight   Wing  Turned.  485 

tain  Taylor's  field  battery,  were  ordered  to  follow  and 
to  attack  the  convent.  Major  Smith,  senior  Engineer, 
was  despatched  to  concert  with  Twiggs  the  mode  and 
means  of  attack,  and  Twiggs's  other  brigade  (Biley's) 
I  soon  ordered  up  to  support  him. 

Next  (but  all  in  ten  minutes)  I  sent  Pierce  (just 
able  to  keep  the  saddle)  with  his  brigade  (Pillow's 
division),  conducted  by  Captain  Lee,  Engineer,  by  a 
third  road  a  little  farther  to  our  left,  to  attack  the  ene 
my's  right  and  rear,  in  order  to  favor  the  movement 
upon  the  convent,  and  to  cut  off  a  retreat  toward  the 
capital.  And  finally,  Shields,  senior  brigadier  to 
Pierce,  with  the  !N"ew  York  and  South  Carolina  Yolun- 
teers  (Quitman's  division),  was  ordered  to  follow  Pierce 
closely,  and  to  take  the  command  of  our  left  wing 
All  these  movements  were  made  with  the  utmost  alac 
rity  by  our  gallant  troops  and  commanders. 

Finding  myself  at  Coyoacan,  from  which  so  many 
roads  conveniently  branched,  without  escort  or  reserve, 
I  had  to  advance  for  safety  close  upon  Twiggs's  rear. 
The  battle  now  raged  from  the  right  to  the  left  of  our 
whole  line. 

Learning  on  the  return  of  Captain  Lee,  that  Shields 
in  the  rear  of  Churubusco  was  hard  pressed,  and  in 


486  San  Antonio  Approached. 

danger  of  being  outflanked,  if  not  overwhelmed,  by 
greatly  superior  numbers,  I  immediately  sent  under 
Major  Sumner,  2d  Dragoons,  the  Rifles  (Twiggs's  re 
serve)  and  Captain  Sibley's  troop,  2d  Dragoons,  then  at 
hand,  to  support  our  left,  guided  by  the  same  engineer. 

About  an  hour  earlier,  Worth  had,  by  skilful  and 
daring  movements  upon  the  front  and  right,  turned 
and  forced  San  Antonio — its  garrison,  no  doubt,  much 
shaken  by  our  decisive  victory  at  Contreras. 

His  second  brigade  (Colonel  Clarke's)  conducted 
by  Captain  Mason,  Engineer,  assisted  by  Lieutenant 
Hardcastle,  Topographical  Engineer,  turned  to  the 
left,  and  by  a  wide  sweep  came  out  upon  the  high 
road  to  the  capital.  At  this  point  the  heavy  garrison 
(three  thousand  men)  in  retreat  was,  by  Clarke,  cut  in 
the  centre  :  one  portion,  the  rear,  driven  upon  Dolores, 
off  to  the  right,  and  the  other  upon  Churubusco,  in  the 
direct  line  of  our  operations.  The  first  brigade  (Colo 
nel  Garland's),  same  division,  consisting  of  the  2d  Ar 
tillery,  under  Major  Gait,  the  3d  Artillery,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Belton,  and  the  4th  Infantry,  com 
manded  by  Major  F.  Lee,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Duncan's  field  battery  (temporarily)  followed  in  pur 
suit  through  the  town,  taking  one  general  prisoner, 


Second  Brilliant  Event  of  the  Day.         487 

the  abandoned  guns  (five  pieces),  much  ammunition, 
and  other  public  property. 

The  forcing  of  San  Antonio  was  the  second  brilliant 
event  of  the  day. 

Worth's  division  being  soon  reunited  in  hot  pursuit, 
he  was  joined  by  Major-General  Pillow,  who,  march 
ing  from  Coyoacan  and  discovering  that  San  Antonio 
had  been  carried,  immediately  turned  to  the  left  ac 
cording  to  my  instructions,  and,  though  much  impeded 
by  ditches  and  swamps,  hastened  to  the  attack  of 
Churubusco. 

The  hamlet  or  scattered  houses  bearing  this  name, 
presented  besides  the  fortified  convent,  a  strong  field- 
work  (fete  de  pont)  with  regular  bastions  and  curtains 
at  the  head  of  a  bridge  over  which  the  road  passes 
from  San  Antonio  to  the  capital. 

The  whole  remaining  forces  of  Mexico — some  twen 
ty-seven  thousand  men — cavalry,  artillery,  and  infan 
try,  collected  from  every  quarter — were  now  in,  on  the 
flanks,  or  within  supporting  distance  of  those  works, 
and  seemed  resolved  to  make  a  last  and  desperate 
stand ;  for  if  beaten  here,  the  feebler  defences  at  the 
gates  of  the  city — four  miles  off — could  not,  as  was  well 
known  to  both  parties,  delay  the  victors  an  hour.  [?] 


488          Convent  and  Bridge  Hotly  Pressed. 

The  capital  of  an  ancient  empire,  now  of  a  great 
republic ;  or  an  early  peace,  the  assailants  were  resolved 
to  win.  Not  an  American — and  we  were  less  than  a  third 
of  the  enemy's  numbers — had  a  doubt  as  to  the  result. 

The  fortified  church  or  convent,  hotly  pressed  by 

• 

Twiggs,  had  already  held  out  about  an  hour,  when 
Worth  and  Pillow — the  latter  having  with  him  Cad- 
wallader's  brigade — began  to  manoeuvre  closely  upon 
the  tete  de  pont^  with  the  convent  at  half  gunshot  to 
their  left.  Garland's  brigade  (Worth's  division),  to 
which  had  been  added  the  light  battalion  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  F.  Smith,  continued  to  advance 
in  front  and  under  the  fire  of  a  long  line  of  infantry  off 
on  the  left  of  the  bridge  ;  and  Clarke  of  the  same  di 
vision,  directed  his  brigade  along  the  road  or  close  by 
its  side.  Two  of  Pillow's  and  Cadwallader's  regiments, 
the  llth  and  14th,  supported  and  participated  in  this 
direct  movement :  the  other  (the  voltigeurs)  was  left 
in  reserve.  Most  of  these  corps — particularly  Clarke's 
brigade — advancing  perpendicularly,  were  made  to 
suffer  much  by  the  fire  of  the  tete  de  pont,  and  they 
would  have  suffered  greatly  more  by  flank  attacks  from 
the  convent,  but  for  the  pressure  of  Twiggs  on  the 
other  side  of  that  work. 


Bridge  Carried — Third  Victory.  489 

This  well-combined  and  daring  movement  at  length 
reached  the  principal  point  of  attack,  and  the  formida 
ble  tete  de  pout  was  at  once  assaulted  and  carried  by 
the  bayonet.  Its  deep  wet  ditch  was  first  gallantly 
crossed  by  the  8th  and  5th  Infantry,  commanded  re 
spectively  by  Major  Waite  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Martin  Scott — followed  closely  by  the  6th  Infantry 
(same  brigade),  which  had  been  so  much  exposed  on 
the  road — the  llth  regiment,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Graham,  and  the  14th  commanded  by  Colonel  Trous- 
dale,  both  of  Cadwallader's  brigade,  Pillow's  division. 
About  the  same  time,  the  enemy  in  front  of  Garland, 
after  a  hot  conflict  of  an  hour  and  a  half  gave  way,  in 
a  retreat  toward  the  capital. 

The  immediate  results  of  this  third  signal  triumph 
of  the  day  were  three  field  pieces,  one  hundred  and 
ninety-two  prisoners,  much  ammunition  and  two  colors 
taken  at  the  tete  depont. 

Lieutenant  I.  F.  Irons,  1st  Artillery,  aide-de-camp 
to  Brigadier-General  Cadwallader,  a  young  officer  of 
great  merit  and  conspicuous  in  battle  on  several  pre 
vious  occasions,  received  in  front  of  the  work,  a  mortal 
wound.  (Since  dead.) 

As  the  concurrent  attack  upon  the  convent  favored, 
21* 


490  The  Convent  Holds  Out. 

physically  and  morally,  the  assault  upon  the  tete  de 
pont,  so  reciprocally,  no  doubt,  the  fall  of  the  latter 
contributed  to  the  capture  of  the  former.  The  two 
works  were  only  some  four  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
apart ;  and  as  soon  .as  we  were  in  possession  of  the 
tete  de  pont,  a  captured  4-pounder  was  turned  and 
fired — first  by  Captain  Larkin  Smith,  and  next  by 
Lieutenant  Snelling,  both  of  the  8th  Infantry — several 
times  upon  the  convent.  In  the  same  brief  interval, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Duncan  (also  of  Worth's  division) 
gallantly  brought  two  of  his  guns  to  bear  at  a  short 
range  from  the  San  Antonio  road,  upon  the  principal 
face  of  the  work  and  on  the  tower  of  the  church,  which 
in  the  obstinate  contest,  had  been  often  refilled  with 
some  of  the  best  sharpshooters  of  the  enemy. 

Finally,  twenty  minutes  after  the  tete  de  pont  had 
been  carried  by  "Worth  and  Pillow,  and  at  the  end  of 
a  desperate  conflict  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  the  church 
or  convent — the  citadel  of  the  strong  line  of  defence 
along  the  rivulet  of  Churubusco — yielded  to  Twiggs's 
division,  and  threw  out  on  all  sides  signals  of  surren 
der.  The  white  flags,  however,  were  not  exhibited 
until  the  moment  when  the  3d  infantry,  under  Captain 
Alexander,  had  cleared  the  way  by  fire  and  bayonet, 


The  Convent  Carried.  491 

and  had  entered  the  work.  Captain  I.  M.  Smith  and 
Lieutenant  O.  L.  Shepherd,  both  of  that  regiment,  with 
their  companies,  had  the  glory  of  leading  the  assault. 
The  former  received  the  surrender,  and  Captain  Alex 
ander  instantly  hung  out  from  the  balcony  the  colors 
of  the  gallant  3d.  Major  Dimick  with  a  part  of  the 
1st  Artillery,  serving  as  infantry,  entered  nearly 
abreast  with  the  leading  troops. 

Captain  Taylor's  field  battery,  attached  to  Twiggs's 
division,  opened  its  effective  fire  at  an  early  moment 
upon  the  outworks  of  the  convent  and  the  tower  of  its 
church.  Exposed  to  the  severest  fire  of  the  enemy, 
the  captain,  his  officers  and  men,  won  universal  ad 
miration  ;  but  at  length  much  disabled  in  men  and 
horses,  the  battery  was  by  superior  orders  withdrawn 
from  the  action,  thirty  minutes  before  the  surrender 
of  the  convent. 

Those  corps,  excepting  Taylor's  battery,  belonged 
to  the  brigade  of  Brigadier-General  P.  F.  Smith,  who 
closely  directed  •  the  whole  attack  in  front  with  his 
habitual  coolness  and  ability  ;  while  Riley's  brigade — 
the  3d  and  Yth  Infantry,  under  Captain  T.  Morris  and 
Lieutenent-Colonel  Plympton  respectively — vigorously 
engaged  the  right  of  the  work  and  part  of  its  rear. 


492  Details — Fourth  Victory. 

At  the  moment  the  Rifles,  belonging  to  Smith's,  were 
detached  in  support  of  Brigadier-General  Shields's 
on  our  extreme  left,  and  the  4th  Artillery,  acting  as 
infantry,  under  Major  Gardner,  belonging  to  Riley's 
brigade,  had  been  left  in  charge  of  the  camp,  trophies, 
etc.,  at  Contreras.  Twiggs's  division  at  Churubusco 
had  thus  been  deprived  of  the  services  of  two  of  its 
most  gallant  and  effective  regiments. 

The  immediate  results  of  this  victory  were : — the 
capture  of  seven  field  pieces,  some  ammunition,  one 
color,  three  generals,  and  one  thousand  two  hundred 
and  sixty-one  prisoners,  including  other  officers. 

Captains  E.  A.  Capron  and  M.  I.  Burke,  and  Lieu 
tenant  S.  Hoffman,  all  of  the  1st  Artillery,  and  Captain 
J.  W.  Anderson  and  Lieutenant  Thomas  Easley,  both 
of  the  2d  Infantry — five  officers  of  great  merit — fell 
gallantly  before  this  work. 

The  capture  of  the  enemy's  citadel  was  the  fourth 
great  achievement  of  our  arms  in  the  same  day. 

It  has  been  stated  that  some  two  hours  and  a  half 
before,  Pierce's,  followed  closely  by  the  volunteer  brigade 
• — both  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Shields 
— had  been  despatched  to  our  left  to  turn  the  enemy's 
works  ; — to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  garrisons  and  to 


Battle  Behind  Bridge  and  Convent.         493 

oppose  the  extension  of  the  enemy's  numerous  corps 
from  the  rear  upon  and  around  our  left. 

Considering  the  inferior  numbers  of  the  two  bri 
gades,  the  objects  of  the  movement  were  difficult  to 
accomplish.  Hence  the  reinforcement  (the  Rifles,  etc.) 
sent  forward  a  little  later. 

In  a  winding  march  of  a  mile  around  to  the  right, 
this  temporary  division  found  itself  on  the  edge  of  an 
open  wet  meadow,  near  the  road  from  San  Antonio  to 
the  capital,  and  in  the  presence  of  some  four  thousand 
of  the  enemy's  infantry,  a  little  in  rear  of  Churubusco, 
on  that  road.  Establishing  the  right  at  a  strong  build 
ing,  Shields  extended  his  left  parallel  to  the  road,  to 
outflank  the  enemy  toward  the  capital.  But  the  ene 
my  extending  his  right  supported  by  three  thousand 
cavalry  more  rapidly  (being  favored  by  better  ground), 
in  the  same  direction,  Shields  concentrated  the  division 
about  a  hamlet  and  determined  to  attack  in  front. 
The  battle  was  long,  hot  and  varied ;  but  ultimately, 
success  crowned  the  zeal  and  gallantry  of  our  troops, 
ably  directed  by  their  distinguished  commander,  Briga 
dier-General  Shields.  The  9th,  12th,  and  15th  Regi 
ments,  under  Colonel  Eansom,  Captain  "Wood,  and 
Colonel  Morgan  respectively,  of  Pierce's  brigade  (Pil- 


494  Fifth  Victory— Details. 

low's  division),  and  the  JSTew  York  and  South  Caro 
lina  Volunteers,  under  Colonels  Burnett  and  Butler, 
respectively,  of  Shields's  own  brigade  (Quitman's 
division),  together  with  the  mountain  howitzer  battery, 
now  under  Lieutenant  Reno  of  the  Ordnance  Corps, 
all  shared  in  the  glory  of  this  action — our  fifth  victory 
in  the  same  day. 

Brigadier-General  Pierce,  from  the  hurt  of  the  even 
ing  before — under  pain  and  exhaustion — fainted  in  the 
action.  Several  other  changes  in  command  occurred 
on  this  field.  Thus  Colonel  Morgan  being  severely 
wounded,  the  command  of  the  15th  Infantry  devolved 
on  Lieutenant-Colonel  Howard ;  Colonel  Burnett  re 
ceiving  a  like  wonnd,  the  command  of  the  New  York 
Yolunteers  fell  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Baxter ;  and,  on 
the  fall  of  the  lamented  Colonel  P.  M.  Butler — earlier 
badly  wounded,  but  continuing  to  lead  nobly  in  the 
hottest  part  of  the  battle — the  command  of  the  South 
Carolina  Yolunteers  devolved — first,  on  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Dickinson,  who  being  severely  wounded  (as 
before  in  the  siege  of  Yera  Cruz),  the  regiment  ulti 
mately  fell  under  the  orders  of  Major  Gladden. 

Lieutenants  David  Adams  and  "W.  E.  Williams  of 
the  same  corps ;  Captain  Augustus  Quarles  and  Lieu- 


Brilliant  Cavalry  Charge.  495 

tenant  J".  B.  Goodman  of  the  15th,  and  Lieutenant  E. 
Chandler,  New  York  Volunteers — all  gallant  officers, 
nobly  fell  in  the  same  action. 

Shields  took  three  hundred  and  eighty  prisoners, 
including  officers ;  and  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  the 
rage  of  the  conflict  between  him  and  the  enemy,  just 
in  the  rear  of  the  tete  de  pont  and  the  convent,  had 
some  influence  on  the  surrender  of  those  formidable 
defences. 

As  soon  as  the  tete  de  pont  was  carried,  the  greater 
part  of  Worth's  and  Pillow's  forces  passed  that  bridge  in 
rapid  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy.  These  distinguished 
generals,  coming  up  with  Brigadier-General  Shields, 
now  also  victorious,  the  three  continued  to  press  upon 
the  fugitives  to  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  capital. 
Here,  Colonel  Harney,  with  a  small  part  of  his  brigade 
of  cavalry,  rapidly  passed  to  the  front,  and  charged  the 
enemy  up  to  the  nearest  gate. 

The  cavalry  charge  was  headed  by  Captain  Kearny, 
of  the  1st  Dragoons,  having  in  squadron  with  his  own 
troop,  that  of  Captain  McBeynolds  of  the  3d — making  the 
usual  escort  to  general  headquarters  ;  but,  being  early 
in  the  day  detached  for  general  service,  was  now  under 
Colonel  Harney's  orders.  The  gallant  captain  not 


496  General  Results. 

hearing  the  recall,  that  had  been  sounded,  dashed  up  to 
the  San  Antonio  gate,  sabring  in  his  way  all  who 
resisted.  Of  the  seven  officers  of  the  squadron,  Kearny 
lost  his  left  arm ;  McReynolds  and  Lieutenant  Lorimer 
Graham  were  both  severely  wounded,  and  Lieutenant 
K.  S.  Ewell,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
escort,  had  two  horses  killed  under  him.  Major  F.  D. 
Mills,  of  the  15th  infantry,  a  volunteer  in  this  charge, 
was  killed  at  the  gate. 

So  terminated  the  series  of  events  which  I  have  but 
feebly  presented.  My  thanks  were  freely  poured  out 
on  the  different  fields — to  the  abilities  and  science  of 
generals  and  other  officers — to  the  zeal  and  prowess  of 
all — the  rank  and  file  included.  But  a  reward  in 
finitely  higher — the  applause  of  a  grateful  country  and 
Government — will,  I  cannot  doubt,  be  accorded,  in  due 
time,  to  so  much  merit  of  every  sort,  displayed  by  this 
glorious  army,  which  has  now  overcome  all  difficulties 
— distance,  climate,  ground,  fortifications,  numbers. 

It  has  in  a  single  day,  in  many  battles,  as  often 
defeated  thirty-two  thousand,  men ;  made  about  three 
thousand  prisoners,  including  eight  generals  (two  of 
them  ex-presidents)  and  two  hundred  and  five  other 
officers  ;  killed  or  wounded  four  thousand  of  all  ranks 


General  Results  Continued.  497 

— besides  entire  corps  dispersed  and  dissolved;  cap 
tured  thirty-seven  pieces  of  ordnance — more  than  treb 
ling  our  siege  train  and  field  batteries — with  a  large 
number  of  small  arms,  a  full  supply  of  ammunition  of 
every  kind,  etc.,  etc. 

These  great  results  have  overwhelmed  the  enemy. 
Our  loss  amounts  to  one  thousand  and  fifty-three— 
killed,  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine,  including  sixteen 
officers ;  wounded,  eight  hundred  and  seventy-six,  with 
sixty  officers.  The  greater  number  of  the  dead  and 
disabled  were  of  the  highest  worth.  Those  under  treat 
ment,  thanks  to  our  very  able  medical  officers,  are  gen 
erally  doing  well. 

I  regret  having  been  obliged,  on  the  20th,  to  leave 
Major-General  Quitman,  an  able  commander,  with  a 
part  of  his  division — the  fine  2d  Pennsylvania  Yolun- 
teers,  and  the  veteran  detachment  of  United  States' 
Marines — at  our  important  depot,  San^_Aug3istkL  It 
was  there  that  I  had  placed  our  sick  and  wounded; 
the  siege',  supply,  and  baggage  trains.  If  these  had 
been  lost,  the  army  would  have  been  driven  almost  to 
despair ;  and  considering  the  enemy's  very  great  excess 
of  numbers,  and  the  many  approaches  to  the  depot,  it 
might  well  have  become,  emphatically,  the  post  of  honor. 


498  Politic  Forbearance. 

After  so  many  victories,  we  might,  with  but  little 
additional  loss,  have  occupied  the  capital  the  same 
evening.  [?]  But  Mr.  Trist,  commissioner,  etc.,  as 
well  as  myself,  had  been  admonished  by  the  best 
friends  of  peace — intelligent  neutrals  and  some  Amer 
ican  residents — against  precipitation ;  lest,  by  wanton 
ly  driving  away  the  government  and  others — dishonored 
— we  might  scatter  the  elements  of  peace,  excite  a  spirit 
of  national  desperation,  and  thus  indefinitely  postpone 
the  hope  of  accommodation.* 

Deeply  impressed  with  this  danger,  and  remember 
ing  our  mission — to  conquer  a  peace — the  army  very 
cheerfully  sacrificed  to  patriotism — to  the  great  wish 
and  want  of  our  country — the  eclat  that  would  have 
followed  an  entrance — sword  in  hand — into  a  great 

*  There  were  other  reasons  such  as  are  alluded  to  in  my  report  of  the 
capture  of  Vera  Cruz.  If  we  had  proceeded  to  assault  the  city  by  day 
light  our  loss  would  have  been  dangerously  great,  and  if  a  little  later  in 
the  night,  the  slain,  on  the  other  side,  including  men,  women,  and  children, 
would  have  been  frightful,  because  if  the  assailants  stopped  to  make  pris 
oners  before  occupying  all  the  strongholds,  they  would  soon  become  prison 
ers  themselves.  Other  atrocities,  by  the  victors,  are,  in  such  cases,  inev 
itable.  Pillage  always  follows,  and  seems  authorized  by  the  usage  of  war. 
Hence  I  promised  (Septem  er  13),  at  the  gates  of  Mexico,  a  contribution 
in  lieu  of  pillage,  in  order  tc  avoid  the  horrors  in  question,  and  the  conse 
quent  loss  of  discipline  and  e  iciency. 


Armistice — Negotiations.  499 


capital.  Willing  to  leave  something  to  this  republic 
of  no  immediate  value  to  us — on  which  to  rest  her 
pride,  and  to  recover  temper— I  halted  our  victorious 
corps  at  the  gates  of  the  city  (at  least  for  a  time),  and 
have  them  now  cantoned  in  the  neighboring  villages, 
where  they  are  well  sheltered  and  supplied  with  all 
necessaries. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  being  about  to  take  up 
battering  or  assaulting  positions,  to  authorize  me  to 
summon  the  city  to  surrender,  or  to  sign  an  armistice 
with  a  pledge  to  enter  at  once  into  negotiations  for 
peace — a  mission  came  out  to  propose  a  truce.  Reject 
ing  its  terms,  I  despatched  my  contemplated  note  to 
President  Santa  Anna — omitting  the  summons.  The 
22d,  commissioners  were  appointed  by  the  command 
ers  of  the  two  armies ;  the  armistice  was  signed  the 
23d,  and  ratifications  exchanged  the  24th. 

All  matters  in  dispute  between  the  two  govern 
ments  have  been  thus  happily  turned  over  to  their 
plenipotentiaries,  who  have  now  had  several  conferen 
ces,  and  with,  I  think,  some  hope  of  signing  a  treaty 
of  peace. 

There  will  be  transmitted  to  the  Adjutant-General 
reports  from  divisions,  brigades,  etc.,  on  the  foregoing 


500  Commendations. 

operations,  to  which  I  must  refer,  with  my  hearty  con 
currence  in  the  just  applause  bestowed  on  corps  and 
individuals  by  their  respective  commanders.  I  have 
been  able — this  report  being  necessarily  a  summary — 
to  bring  out,  comparatively,  but  little  of  individual 
merit  not  lying  directly  in  the  way  of  the  narrative. 
Thus  I  doubt  whether  I  have,  in  express  terms,  given 
my  approbation  and  applause  to  the  commanders  of 
divisions  and  independent  brigades ;  but  left  their  fame 
upon  higher  grounds — the  simple  record  of  their  great 
deeds  and  the  brilliant  results.* 

To  the  staff,  both  general  and  personal,  attached 
to  general  headquarters,  I  was  again  under  high  obli 
gations  for  services  in  the  field,  as  always  in  the  bureaux. 
I  add  their  names,  etc. :  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hitchcock, 
Acting  Inspector-General ;  Major  J.  L.  Smith,  Captain 
B.  E.  Lee  (as  distinguished  for  felicitous  execution  as 


*  IMera  scripta  manet.  In  this  edition  of  my  reports  of  battles,  etc., 
I,  of  course,  expunge  none  of  the  praises  therein  bestowed  on  certain  divis 
ion  and  brigade  commanders, ;  but  as  a  caution  to  future  generals-in-chief 
I  must  say  I  soon  had  abundant  reason  to  know,  that  I  had  in  haste  too 
confidently  relied  upon  the  partial  statements  of  several  of  those  command 
ers  respecting  their  individual  skill  and  prowess,  and  the  merits  of  a  few 
of  their  favorites — subordinates.  I  except  from  this  remark,  Generals 
Quitman,  Shields,  P.  F.  Smith,  N.  S.  Clarke,  Riley,  and  Cadwallader. 


Individuals  Enumerated.  501 

for  science  and  daring),  Captain  Mason,  Lieutenants 
Stevens,  Beauregard,  Tower,  G.  W.  Smith,  George  B. 
McClellan,  and  Foster — all  of  the  Engineers;  Major 
Turnbull,  Captain  J.  McClellan,  and  Lieutenant  Hard- 
castle,  Topographical  Engineers;  Captain  Huger  and 
Lieutenant  Hagner,  of  the  Ordnance ;  Captains  Irwin 
and  "Wayne,  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department ;  Cap 
tain  Grayson,  of  the  Commissariat;  Surgeon-General 
Lawson,  in  his  particular  department ;  Captain  H.  L. 
Scott,  Acting  Adjutant-General ;  Lieutenant  T.  Wil 
liams,  Aide-de-Camp,  and  Lieutenant  Lay,  Military 
Secretary. 

Lieutenant  Schuyler  Hamilton,*  another  aide-de 
camp,  had  a  week  before  been  thrown  out  of  activity 
by  a  severe  wound  received  in  a  successful  charge  of 

*  This  gallant,  intelligent  officer  being  sent  with  a  detachment  of  cav 
alry  from  Chalco  to  an  iron  foundery,  some  fifteen  miles  off,  beyond  Mira 
Flores,  to  make  contingent  arrangements  for  shots  and  shells — we  having 
brought  up  but  few  of  either,  from  the  want  of  road  power — returning, 
fell  into  an  ambuscade,  and  though  he  cut  his  way  through,  was,  while 
slaying  one  man  hi  his  front,  pierced  through  the  body  with  a  lance,  by 
another,  and  thus  thrown  hors  de  combat  for  the  remainder  of  the  cam 
paign.  In  1861,  he,  as  a  private,  was  in  one  of  the  first  regiments  of  vol 
unteers  that  hastened  to  the  defence  of  Washington ; — again  became  one 
of  my  aides-de-camp,  and,  in  succession,  a  distinguished  brigadier  and 
major-general  of  volunteers  in  the  Southwest. 


502  Enumeration  of  Individuals 

cavalry  against  cavalry,  and  four  times  his  numbers; 
but  on  the  20th,  I  had  the  valuable  services,  as  volun 
teer  aids,  of  Majors  Kirby  and  Yan  Buren,  of  the  Pay 
Department,  always  eager  for  activity  and  distinction, 
and  of  a  third,  the  gallant  Major  J.  P.  Gaines,  of  the 
Kentucky  Yolunteers. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

HON.  WM.  L.  MARCY,  Secretary  of  War. 


CHAPTEK   XXXII. 

ARMISTICE  — NEGOTIATIONS HOSTILITIES   RENEWED BAT 
TLE  OF   MOLINOS  DEL   KEY CAPTURE  OF  CHAPULTEPEO 

AND    MEXICO. 


Report  No.  33. 

HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY, 
TACUBAYA,  NEAR  MEXICO, 
September  11,  1847 

SIR: 


•\ 


I  have  heretofore  reported  that  I  had,  August  24, 
concluded  an  armistice  with  President  Santa  Anna, 
which  was  promptly  followed  by  meetings  between  Mr. 
Trist  and  Mexican  commissioners  appointed  to  treat 
of  peace. 

Negotiations  were  actively  continued  with,. as  was 


504:  Bad  Faith  of  the  Enemy. 

understood,  some  prospect  of  a  successful  result  up  to 
the  2d  instant,  when  our  commissioner  handed  in  his 
ultimatum  (on  boundaries),  and  the  negotiators  ad 
journed  to  meet  again  on  the  6th. 

Some  infractions  of  the  truce  in  respect  to  our  sup 
plies  from  the  city,  were  earlier  committed,  followed 
by  apologies  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  These  vexations 
I  was  willing  to  put  down  to  the  imbecility  of  the  gov 
ernment,  and  waived  any  pointed  demands  of  repara 
tion  while  any  hope  remained  of  a  satisfactory  termina 
tion  of  the  war.  But  on  the  5th,  and  more  fully  on  the 
6th,  I  learned  that  as  soon  as  the  ultimatum  had  been 
considered  in  a  grand  council  of  ministers  and  others, 
President  Santa  Anna  on  the  4th  or  5th,  without 
giving  me  the  slightest  notice,  actively  recommenced 
strengthening  the  military  defences  of  the  city,  in  gross 
violation  of  the  3d  article  of  the  armistice. 

On  that  information,  which  has  since  received  the 
fullest  verification,  I  addressed  to  him  my  note  of  the 
6th.  His  reply,  dated  the  same  day,  received  the  next 
morning,  was  absolutely  and  notoriously  false,  both  in 
recrimination  and  explanation.  I  enclose  copies  of  both 
papers,  and  have  had  no  subsequent  correspondence 
with  the  enemy. 


Armistice  Denounced — Hostilities.  505 

Being  delayed  by  the  terms  of  the  armistice  *more 
than  two  weeks,  we  had  now,  late  on  the  Yth,  to  begin 
to  reconnoitre  the  different  approaches  to  the  city, 
within  our  reach,  before  I  could  lay  down  any  defini 
tive  plan  of  attack. 

The  same  afternoon  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was 
discovered  hovering  about  the  Molinos  del  Rey^  within 
a  mile  and  a  third  of  this  village,  where  I  am  quartered 
with  the  general  staff  and  "Worth's  division. 

It  might  have  been  supposed  that  an  attack  upon 
us  was  intended ;  but  knowing  the  great  value  to  the 
enemy  of  those  mills  (Molinos  del  Rey\  containing  a 
cannon  foundery,  with  a  large  deposite  of  powder  in 
Casa  Mata  near  them ;  and  having  heard  two  days 
before  that  many  church  bells  had  been  sent  out  to  be 
cast  into  guns,  the  enemy's  movement  was  easily  un 
derstood,  and  I  resolved  at  once  to  drive  him  early  the 
next  morning,  to  seize  the  powder,  and  to  destroy  the 
foundery. 

Another  motive  for  this  decision — leaving  the  gen 
eral  plan  of  attack  upon  the  city  for  full  reconnaissance 
— was,  that  we  knew  our  recent  captures  had  left  the 
enemy  not  a  fourth  of  the  guns  necessary  to  arm,  all  at 

the  same  time,  the  strong  works  at  each  of  the  eight 
22 


506  Battle  of  Molino  del  Rey. 

city  gates ;  and  we  could  not  cut  the  communication 
between  the  foundery  and  the  capital  without  first 
taking  the  formidable  castle  on  the  heights  of  Chapul- 
tepec,  which  overlooked  both  and  stood  between. 

For  this  difficult  operation  we  were  not  entirely 
ready,  and  moreover  we  might  altogether  neglect  the 
castle,  if,  as  we  then  hoped,  our  reconnaissances  should 
prove  that  the  distant  southern  approaches  to  the  city 
were  more  eligible  than  this  southwestern  one. 

Hence  the  decision  promptly  taken,  the  execution 
of  which  was  assigned  to  Brevet  Major-General  Worth, 
whose  division  was  reenforced  with  Cadwallader's  bri 
gade  of  Pillow's  division,  three  squadrons  of  dragoons 
under  Major  Sumner,  and  some  heavy  guns  of  the  siege 
train  under  Captain  Huger  of  the  Ordnance,  and  Cap 
tain  Drum  of  the  4th  Artillery — two  officers  of  the 
highest  merit. 

For  the  decisive  and  brilliant  results,  I  beg  to  refer 
to  the  report  of  the  immediate  commander,  Major- 
General  Worth,  in  whose  commendations  of  the  gallant 
officers  and  men — dead  and  living — I  heartily  concur ; 
having  witnessed,  but  with  little  interference,  their 
noble  devotion  to  fame  and  to  country. 

The  enemy  having  several  times  reenforced  his  line, 


Victory.  507 

and  the  action  soon  becoming  much  more  general  than 
I  had  expected,  I  called  up,  from  the  distance  of  three 
miles,  first  Major-General  Pillow,  with  his  remaining 
brigade  (Pierce's),  and  next  Riley's  brigade  of  Twiggs's 
division — leaving  his  other  brigade  (Smith's)  in  obser 
vation  at  San  Angel.  Those  corps  approached  with 
zeal  and  rapidity ;  but  the  battle  was  won  just  as  Brig 
adier-General  Pierce  reached  the  ground,  and  had  in 
terposed  his  corps  between  Garland's  brigade  (Worth's 
division)  and  the  retreating  enemy. 

The  accompanying  report  mentions,  with  just  com 
mendation,  two  of  my  volunteer  aids — Major  Kirby, 
Paymaster,  and  Major  Gaines,  of  the  Kentucky  Yolun- 
teers.  I  also  had  the  valuable  services,  on  the  same 
field,  of  several  other  officers  of  my  staff,  general  and 
personal:  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hitchcock,  Acting  In 
spector-General;  Captain  E.  E.  Lee,  Engineer;  Captain 
Irwin,  Chief  Quartermaster;  Captain  Grayson,  Chief 
Commissary;  Captain  H.  L.  Scott,  Acting  Adjutant- 
General;  Lieutenant  "Williams,  Aide-de-Camp ;  and 
Lieutenant  Lay,  Military  Secretary. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
HON.  WM.  L.  MABCT,  Secretary  of  War. 


608  Reconnaissances. 


Report  No.  34. 

HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY, 
NATIONAL  PALACE  OF  MEXICO, 
September  18 

SIR: 


«,    ) 

[EXICO,      > 
,  1847.      ) 


At  the  end  of  another  series  of  arduous  and  bril 
liant  operations,  of  more  than  forty-eight  hours'  con 
tinuance,  this  glorious  army  hoisted,  on  the  morning  of 
the  14th,  the  colors  of  the  United  States  on  the  walls 
of  this  palace. 

The  victory  of  the  8th,  at  the  Molinos  del  Rey,  was 
followed  by  daring  reconnaissances  on  the  part  of 
our  distinguished  engineers — Captain  Lee,  Lieutenants 
Beauregard,  Stevens  and  Tower — Major  Smith,  senior, 
being  sick,  and  Captain  Mason,  third  in  rank,  wound 
ed.  Their  operations  were  directed  principally  to  the 
south — toward  the  gates  of  the  Piedad,  San  Angel, 
(Nino  Perdido),  San  Antonio,  and  the  Paseo  de  la 
Yiga. 

This  city  stands  on  a  slight  swell  of  ground,  near 
the  centre  of  an  irregular  basin,  and  is  girdled  with  a 
ditch  in  its  greater  extent — a  navigable  canal  of  great 
breadth  and  depth — very  difficult  to  bridge  in  the 


ApproacJies  Difficult.  509 

presence  of  an  enemy,  and.  serving  at  once  for  drain 
age,  custom-house  purposes,  and  military  defence ; 
leaving  eight  entrances  or  gates,  over  arches — each  of 
which  we  found  defended  by  a  system  of  strong  works, 
that  seemed  to  require  nothing  but  some  men  and 
guns  to  be  impregnable. 

Outside  and  within  the  cross-fires  of  those  gates,  we 
found  to  the  south  other  obstacles  but  little  less  for 
midable.  All  the  approaches  near  the  city  are  over 
elevated  causeways,  cut  in  many  places  (to  oppose  us), 
and  flanked  on  both  sides  by  ditches,  also  of  unusual 
dimensions.  The  numerous  cross-roads  are  flanked  in 
like  manner,  having  bridges  at  the  intersections,  re 
cently  broken.  The  meadows  thus  checkered,  are, 
moreover,  in  many  spots,  under  water  or  marshy ;  for, 
it  will  be  remembered,  we  were  in  the  midst  of  the  wet 
season,  though  with  less  rain  than  usual,  and  we  could 
not  wait  for  the  fall  of  the  neighboring  lakes  and  the 
consequent  drainage  of  the  wet  grounds  at  the  edge  of 
the  city — the  lowest  in  the  whole  basin. 

After  a  close  personal  survey  of  the  southern  gates, 
covered  by  Pillow's  division  and  Eiley's  brigade  of 
Twiggs's — with  four  times  our  numbers  concentrated 
in  our  immediate  front — I  determined,  on  the  llth, 


510  Feint  Against  Southern  Gate. 

to  avoid  that  network  of  obstacle,  and  to  seek,  by  a 
sudden  inversion  to  the  southwest  and  west,  less  un 
favorable  approaches. 

To  economize  the  lives  of  our  gallant  officers  and 
men,  as  well  as  to  insure  success,  it  became  indispensa 
ble  that  this  resolution  should  be  long  masked  from 
the  enemy ;  and  again,  that  the  new  movement  when 
discovered,  should  be  mistaken  for  a  feint,  and  the  old 
as  indicating  our  true  and  ultimate  point  of  attack. 

Accordingly,  on  the  spot,  the  llth,  I  ordered  Quit- 
man's  division  from  Coyoacan,  to  join  Pillow  ~by  day 
light  before  the  southern  gates,  and  then  that  the  two 
major-generals  with  their  divisions,  should  ly  night 
proceed  (two  miles)  to  join  me  at  Tacubaya,  where  I 
was  quartered  with  Worth's  division.  Twiggs,  with 
Riley's  brigade  and  Captains  Taylor's  and  Steptoe's 
field  batteries — the  latter  of  12-pounders — was  left  in 
front  of  those  gates  to  manoeuvre,  to  threaten,  or  to 
make  false  attacks,  in  order  to  occupy  and  deceive  the 
enemy.  Twiggs's  other  brigade  (Smith's)  was  left  at 
supporting  distance  in  the  rear  at  San  Angel,  till  the 
morning  of  the  13th,  and  also  to  support  our  general 
depot  at  Mixcoac.  The  stratagem  against  the  south 
was  admirably  executed  throughout  the  12th  and  down 


Attack  on  Chapultepec.  511 

to  the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  when  it  was  too  late  for 
the  enemy  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  his  delusion. 

The  first  step  in  the  new  movement  was  to  carry 
Chapultepec,  a  natural  and  isolated  mound  of  great 
elevation,  strongly  fortified  at  its  base,  on  its  acclivi 
ties  and  heights.  Besides  a  numerous  garrison,  here 
was  the  military  college  of  the  republic,  with  a  large 
number  of  sub-lieutenants  and  other  students.  Those 
works  were  within  direct  gunshot  of  the  village  of 
Tacubaya,  and,  until  carried,  we  could  not  approach 
the  city  on  the  west  without  making  a  circuit  too  wide 
and  too  hazardous. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  night  (that  of  the  llth), 
heavy  batteries  within  easy  ranges  were  established. 
"No.  1,  on  our  right,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Drum,  4th  Artillery  (relieved  the  next  day  for  some 
hours  by  Lieutenant  Andrews  of  the  3d),  and  No.  2, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Hagner,  Ordnance — both 
supported  by  Quitman's  division.  !N~os.  3  and  4,  on 
the  opposite  side,  supported  by  Pillow's  •  division,  were 
commanded,  the  former  by  Captain  Brooks  and  Lieu 
tenant  S.  S.  Anderson,  2d  Artillery,  alternately,  and 
the  latter  by  Lieutenant  Stone,  Ordnance.  The  bat 
teries  were  traced  by  Captain  Huger,  Ordnance,  and 


512  Concentrat^on  of  Forces. 

Captain  Lee,  Engineer,  and  constructed  by  them  with 
the  able  assistance  of  the  young  officers  of  those  corps 
and  of  the  artillery. 

To  prepare  for  an  assault,  it  was  foreseen  that  the 
play  of  the  batteries  might  run  into  the  second  day; 
but  recent  captures  had  not  only  trebled  our  siege 
pieces,  but  also  our  ammunition ;  and  we  knew  that 
we  should  greatly  augment  both  by  carrying  the  place. 
I  was,  therefore,  in  no  haste  in  ordering  an  assault  be 
fore  the  works  were  well  crippled  by  our  missiles. 

The  bombardment  and  cannonade,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Captain  Huger,  were  commenced  early  in  the 
morning  of  the  12th.  Before  nightfall,  which  neces 
sarily  stopped  our  batteries,  we  had  perceived  that  a 
good  impression  had  been  made  on  the  castle  and  its 
outworks,  and  that  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  had  re 
mained  outside,  toward  the  city,  from  an  early  hour, 
to  avoid  our  fire,  but  to  be  at  hand  on  its  cessation  in 
order  to  reenforce  the  garrison  against  an  assault.  The 
same  outside  force  was  discovered  the  next  morning 
after  our  batteries  had  reopened  upon  the  castle,  by 
which  we  again  reduced  its  garrison  to  the  minimum 
needed  for  the  guns. 

Pillow  and  Quitman  had  been  in  position  since 


All  Ready  for  the  Assault.  513 

early  in  the  night  of  the  llth.  Major-General  "Worth 
was  now  ordered  to  hold  his  division  in  reserve,  near 
the  foundery,  to  support  Pillow  ;  and  Brigadier-General 
Smith,  of  Twiggs's  division,  had  just  arrived  with  his 
brigade  from  Piedad  (two  miles),  to  support  Quitman. 
Twiggs's  guns  before  the  southern  gates,  again  re 
minded  us,  as  the  day  before,  that  he,  with  Riley's 
brigade  and  Taylor's  and  Steptoe's  batteries,  was  in 
activity  threatening  the  southern  gates,  and  thus  hold 
ing  a  great  part  of  the  Mexican  army  on  the  defensive. 

Worth's  division  furnished  Pillow's  attack  with  an 
assaulting  party  of  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  volun 
teer  officers  and  men,  under  Captain  McKenzie,  of  the 
2d  Artillery ;  and  Twiggs's  division  supplied  a  similar 
one,  commanded  by  Captain  Casey,  2d  Infantry,  to 
Quitman.  Each  of  these  little  columns  was  furnished 
with  scaling  ladders. 

The  signal  I  had  appointed  for  the  attack  was  the 
momentary  cessation  of  fire  on  the  part  of  our  heavy 
batteries.  About  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
13th,  judging  that  the  time  had  arrived,  by  the  effect 
of  the  missiles  we  had  thrown,  I  sent  an  aide-de-camp 
to  Pillow,,  and  another  to  Quitman,  with  notice  that 
the  concerted  signal  was  about  to  be  given.  Both 
22* 


514  Outworks  Carried. 

columns  now  advanced  with  an  alacrity  that  gave 
assurance  of  prompt  success.  The  batteries,  seizing 
opportunities,  threw  shots  and  shells  upon  the  enemy- 
over  the  heads  of  our  men  with  good  effect,  particularly 
at  every  attempt  to  reenforce  the  works  from  without 
to  meet  our  assault. 

Major-General  Pillow's  approach  on  the  west  side, 
lay  through  an  open  grove  filled  with  sharpshooters, 
who  were  speedily  dislodged  :  when,  being  up  with  the 
front  of  the  attack,  and  emerging  into  open  space  at 
the  foot  of  a  rocky  aoclivity,  that  gallant  leader  was 
struck  down  by  an  agonizing  wound.  The  immediate 
command  devolved  on  Brigadier-General  Cadwallader, 
in  the  absence  of  the  senior  brigadier  (Pierce)  of  the 
same  division — an  invalid  since  the  events  of  August 
19.  On  a  previous  call  of  Pillow,  "Worth  had  just  sent 
him  a  reenforcement — Colonel  Clarke's  brigade. 

The  broken  acclivity  was  still  to  be  ascended,  and 
a  strong  redoubt,  midway,  to  be  carried,  before  reach 
ing  the  castle  on  the  heights.  The  advance  of  our 
brave  men,  led  by  brave  officers;  though  necessarily 
slow,  was  unwavering,  over  rocks,  chasms,  and  mines, 
and  under  the  hottest  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry. 
The  redoubt  now  yielded  to  resistless  valor,  and  the 


Ditches  Entered — Ladders.  515 

shouts  that  followed  announced  to  the  castle  the  fate 
that  impended.  The  enemy  were  steadily  driven  from 
shelter  to  shelter.  The  retreat  allowed  not  time  to  fire 
a  single  mine,  without  the  certainty  of  blowing  up 
friend  and  foe.  Those  who,  at  a  distance,  attempted 
to  apply  matches  to  the  long  trains,  were  shot  down  by 
our  men.  There  was  death  below,  as  well  as  above 
ground.  At  length  the  ditch  and  wall  of  the  main 
work  were  reached ;  the  scaling  ladders  were  brought 
up  and  planted  by  the  storming  parties ;  some  of  the 
daring  spirits,  first  in  the  assault,  were  cast  down — 
killed  or  wounded ;  but  a  lodgment  was  soon  made ; 
streams  of  heroes  followed ;  all  opposition  was  over 
come,  and  several  of  our  regimental  colors  flung  out 
from  the  upper  walls,  amidst  long-continued  shouts 
and  cheers,  which  sent  dismay  into  the  capital.  ~No 
scene  could  have  been  more  animating  or  glorious. 

Major-General  Quitman,  nobly  supported  by  Brig 
adier-Generals  Shields  and  Smith  (P.  F.),  his  other 
officers  and  men,  was  up  with  the  part  assigned  him. 
Simultaneously  with  the  movement  on  the  west,  he  had 
gallantly  approached  the  southeast  of  the  same  works 
over  a  causeway  with  cuts  and  batteries,  and  defended 
by  an  army  strongly  posted  outside,  to  the  east  of  the 


516  Victory. 

works.  Those  formidable  obstacles  Quitman  had  to 
face,  with  but  little  shelter  for  his  troops  or  space  for 
manoeuvring.  Deep  ditches,  flanking  the  causeway, 
made  it  difficult  to  cross  on  either  side  into  the  adjoin 
ing  meadows,  and  these  again  were  intersected  by  other 
ditches.  Smith  and  his  brigade  had  been  early  thrown 
out  to  make  a  sweep  to  the  right,  in  order  to  present  a 
front  against  the  enemy's  line  (outside),  and  to  turn  two 
intervening  batteries,  near  the  foot  of  Chapultepec. 

This  movement  was  also  intended  to  support  Quit- 
man's  storming  parties,  both  on  the  causeway.  The 
first  of  these,  furnished  by  Twiggs's  division,  was  com 
manded  in  succession  by  Captain  Casey,  2d  Infantry, 
and  Captain  Paul,  7th  Infantry,  after  Casey  had  been 
severely  wounded ;  and  the  second,  originally  under 
the  gallant  Major  Twiggs,  Marine  Corps,  killed,  and 
then  Captain  Miller,  2d  Pennsylvania  Yolunteers.  The 
storming  party,  now  commanded  by  Captain  Paul, 
seconded  by  Captain  Roberts  of  the  Rifles,  Lieutenant 
Stewart,  and  others  of  the  same  regiment,  Smith's  bri 
gade,  carried  the  two  batteries  in  the  road,  took  some 
guns,  with  many  prisoners,  and  drove  the  enemy  posted 
behind  in  support.  The  New  York  and  South  Carolina 
Yolunteers  (Shields's  brigade),  and  the  2d  Pennsylvania 


Details.  51T 

Volunteers,  all  on  the  left  of  Quitman's  line,  together 
with  portions  of  his  storming  parties,  crossed  the  mead 
ows  in  front  under  a  heavy  fire,  and  entered  the  outer 
enclosure  of  Chapultepec  just  in  time  to  join  in  the  final 
assault  from  the  west. 

Besides  Major-Generals  Pillow  and  Quitman,  Brig 
adier-Generals  Shields,  Smith,  and  Cadwallader,  the 
following  are  the  officers  and  corps  most  distinguished 
in  those  brilliant  operations :  The  Yoltigeur  regiment, 
in  two  detachments,  commanded  respectively  by  Colo 
nel  Andrews  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Joseph  Johnston 
— the  latter  mostly  in  the  lead,  accompanied  by  Major 
Caldwell ;  Captains  Barnard  and  C.  J.  Biddle,  of  the 
same  regiment — the  former  the  first  to  plant  a  regimen 
tal  color,  and  the  latter  among  the  first  in  the  assault ; 
— the  storming  party  of  Worth's  division,  under  Cap 
tain  McKenzie,  2d  Artillery,  with  Lieutenant  Selden, 
8th  Infantry,  early  on  the  ladder  and  badly  wounded ; 
Lieutenant  Armistead,  6th  Infantry,  the  first  to  leap 
into  the  ditch  to  plant  a  ladder ;  Lieutenant  Rogers, 
of  the  4th,  and  J.  P.  Smith,  of  the  5th  Infantry— both 
mortally  wounded;  the  9th  Infantry,  under  Colonel 
Ransom,  who  was  killed  while  gallantly  leading  that 
gallant  regiment ;  the  15th  Infantry,  under  Lieutenant- 


518  CTia/pultepec  Carried. 

Colonel  Howard  and  Major  Woods,  with  Captain  Chase, 
whose  company  gallantly  carried  the  redoubt,  midway 
up  the  acclivity; — Colonel  Clarke's  brigade  (Worth's 
division),  consisting  of  the  5th,  8th,  and  part  of  the 
6th  regiments  of  infantry,  commanded  respectively  by 
Captain  Chapman,  Major  Montgomery,  and  Lieutenant 
Edward  Johnson — the  latter  specially  noticed — with 
Lieutenants  Longstreet  (badly  wounded,  advancing, 
colors  in  hand),  Pickett,  and  Merchant — the  last  three 
of  the  8th  Infantry; — portions  of  the  United  States' 
Marines,  New  York,  South  Carolina,  and  2d  Pennsyl 
vania  Volunteers,  which,  delayed  with  their  division 
(Quitman's)  by  the  hot  engagement  below,  arrived  just 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  assault  of  the  heights ; 
particularly  a  detachment,  under  Lieutenant  Reed, 
[New  York  Volunteers,  consisting  of  a  company  of  the 
same,  with  one  of  marines ;  and  another  detachment, 
a  portion  of  the  storming  party  (Twiggs's  division, 
serving  with  Quitman),  under  Lieutenant  Steele,  2d 
Infantry,  after  the  fall  of  Lieutenant  Gantt,  7th  In 
fantry. 

In  this  connection,  it  is  but  just  to  recall  the  deci 
sive  effect  of  the  heavy  batteries,  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4, 
commanded  by  those  excellent  officers,  Captain  Drum, 


Details.  519 

4th  Artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Benjamin  and 
Porter  of  his  own  company ;  Captain  Brooks  and  Lieu 
tenant  Anderson,  2d  Artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenant 
Russell,  4th  Infantry,  a  volunteer ;  Lieutenants  Hagner 
and  Stone,  of  the  Ordnance,  and  Lieutenant  Andrews, 
3d  Artillery  —  the  whole  superintended  by  Captain 
Huger,  Chief  of  Ordnance  with  this  army,  an  officer 
distinguished  by  every  kind  of  merit.  The  Mountain 
Howitzer  Battery,  under  Lieutenant  Reno,  of  the  Ord 
nance,  deserves  also  to  be  particularly  mentioned. 
Attached  to  the  Yoltigeurs,  it  followed  the  movements 
of  that  regiment,  and  again  won  applause. 

In  adding  to  the  list  of  individuals  of  conspicuous 
merit,  I  must  limit  myself  to  a  few  of  the  many  names 
which  might  be  enumerated : — Captain  Hooker,  Assist 
ant  Adjutant-General,  who  won  special  applause,  suc 
cessively,  in  the  staff  of  Pillow  and  Cadwallader ;  Lieu 
tenant  Lovell,  4th  Artillery  (wounded),  chief  of  Quit- 
man's  staff;  Captain  Page,  Assistant  Adjutant-General 
(wounded),  and  Lieutenant  Hammond,  3d  Artillery, 
both  of  Shields's  staff,  and  Lieutenant  Yan  Dora  (7th 
Infantry),  Aide-de-Camp  to  Brigadier-General  Smith. 

Those  operations  all  occurred  on  the  west,  south 
east,  and  heights  of  Chapultepec.  To  the  north,  and 


520  Details. 

at  the  base  of  the  mound,  inaccessible  on  that  side,  the 
llth  Infantry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hebert,  the 
14th,  under  Colonel  Trousdale,  and  Captain  Magruder's 
field  battery,  1st  Artillery,  one  section  advanced  under 
Lieutenant  Jackson,  all  of  Pillow's  division,  had,  at 
the  same  time,  some  spirited  affairs  against  superior 
numbers,  driving  the  enemy  from  a  battery  in  the  roa^, 
and  capturing  a  gun.  In  these,  the  officers  and  corps 
named  gained  merited  praise.  Colonel  Trousdale,  the 
commander,  though  twice  wounded,  continued  on  duty 
until  the  heights  were  carried. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  13th,  I  repeated  the 
orders  of  the  night  before  to  Major-General  Worth,  to 
be  with  his  division  at  hand  to  support  the  movement 
of  Major-General  Pillow  from  our  left.  The  latter 
seems  soon  to  have  called  for  that  entire  division, 
standing  momentarily  in  reserve,  and  "Worth  sent  him 
Colonel  Clarke's  brigade.  The  call,  if  not  unnecessary, 
was  at  least,  from  the  circumstances,  unknown  to  me 
at  the  time;  for,  soon  observing  tl^jat  the  very  large 
body  of  the  enemy,  in  the  road  in  front  of  Major-Gen 
eral  Quitman's  right,  was  receiving  reinforcements 
from  the  city — less  than  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  east — 
I  sent  instructions  to  Worth,  on  our  opposite  flank,  to 


Details.  521 

turn  Chapultepec  with  his  division,  and  to  proceed 
cautiously  by  the  road  at  its  northern  base,  in  order, 
if  not  met  by  very  superior  numbers,  to  threaten  or  to 
attack  in  rear  that  body  of  the  enemy.  The  movement 
it  was  also  believed  could  not  fail  to  distract  and  to  in 
timidate  the  enemy  generally. 

Worth  promptly  advanced  with  his  remaining  bri 
gade —  Colonel  Garland's — Lieutenant  -  Colonel  C.  F. 
Smith's  light  battalion,  Lieutenant  -  Colonel  Duncan's 
field  battery — all  of  his  division — and  three  squadrons 
of  dragoons,  under  Major  Sumner,  which  I  had  just 
ordered  up  to  join  in  the  movement. 

Having  turned  the  forest  on  the  west,  and  arriving 
opposite  to  the  north  centre  of  Chapultepec,  "Worth 
came  up  with  the  troops  in  the  road,  under  Colonel 
Trousdale,  and  aided,  by  a  flank  movement  of  a  part 
of  Garland's  brigade,  in  taking  the  one-gun  breastwork, 
then  under  the  fire  of  Lieutenant  Jackson's  section  of 
Captain  Magruder's  field  battery.  Continuing  to  ad 
vance,  this  division  passed  Chapultepec,  attacking  the 
right  of  the  enemy's  line,  resting  on  that  road,  about 
the  moment  of  the  general  retreat  consequent  upon  the 
capture  of  the  formidable  castle  and  its  outworks. 

Arriving  some  minutes  later,  and  mounting  to  the 


522  Advance  on  the  Capital. 

top  of  the  castle,  the  whole  field  to  the  east  lay  plainly 
under  my  view. 

There  are  two  routes  from  Chapultepec  to  the  capi 
tal — the  one  on  the  right  entering  the  same  gate, 
Belen,  with  the  road  from  the  south,  via  Piedad ;  and 
the  other  obliquing  to  the  left,  to  intersect  the  great 
western,  or  San  Cosme  road,  in  a  suburb  outside  of  the 
gate  of  San  Cosme. 

Each  of  these  routes  (an  elevated  causeway)  presents 
a  double  roadway  on  the  sides  of  an  aqueduct  of  strong 
masonry,  and  great  height,  resting  on  open  arches  and 
massive  pillars,  which,  together,  afford  fine  points  both 
for  attack  and  defence.  The  sideways  of  both  aque 
ducts  were,  moreover,  defended  by  many  strong  breast 
works  at  the  gates,  and  before  reaching  them.  As  we 
had  expected,  we  found  the  four  tracks  unusually  dry 
and  solid  for  the  season. 

Worth  and  Quitman  were  prompt  in  pursuing  the 
retreating  enemy — the  former  by  the  San  Cosme  aque 
duct,  and  the  latter  along  that  of  Belen.  Each  had 
now  advanced  some  hundred  yards. 

Deeming  it  all-important  to  profit  by  our  successes, 
and  the  consequent  dismay  of  the  enemy,  which  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  general,  I  hastened  to  despatch 


Two  Gates  Assaulted.  523 

from  Chapultepec,  first  Clarke's  brigade,  and  then 
Cadwallader's,  to  the  support  of  "Worth,  and  gave 
orders  that  the  necessary  heavy  guns  should  follow. 
Pierce's  brigade  was,,  at  the  same  time,  sent  to  Quit- 
man,  and  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon  I  caused 
some  additional  siege  pieces  to  be  added  to  his  train. 
Then  after  designating  the  15th  Infantry,  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Howard — Morgan,  the  colonel,  had 
been  disabled  by  a  wound  at  Churubusco — as  the  gar 
rison  of  Chapultepec,  and  giving  directions  for  the  care 
of  the  prisoners  of  war,  the  captured  ordnance  and 
ordnance  stores,  I  proceeded  to  join  the  advance  of 
"Worth,  within  the  suburb,  and  beyond  the  turn  at  the 
junction  of  the  aqueduct  with  the  great  highway  from 
the  west  to  the  gate  of  San  Cosme. 

At  this  junction  of  roads,  we  first  passed  one  of 
those  formidable  systems  of  city  defences,  spoken  of 
above,  and  it  had  not  a  gun  ! — a  strong  proof,  1.  That 
the  enemy  had  expected  us  to  fail  in  the  attack  upon 
Chapultepec,  even  if  we  meant  anything  more  than  a 
feint ;  2.  That  in  either  case,  we  designed,  in  his 
belief,  to  return  and  double  our  forces  against  the 
southern  gates,  a  delusion  kept  up  by  the  active  de 
monstrations  of  Twiggs  with  the  forces  posted  on  that 


524  8cm  Cosme  Gate  Taken. 

side ;  and  3.  That  advancing  rapidly  from  tht  reduc 
tion  of  Chapultepec,  the  enemy  had  not  time  to  shift 
guns  —  our  previous  captures  had  left  him,  compara 
tively,  but  few — from  the  southern  gates. 

Within  those  disgarnished  works,  I  found  our  troops 
engaged  in  a  street  fight  against  the  enemy  posted  in 
gardens,  at  windows  and  on  housetops — all  flat,  with 
parapets.  Worth  ordered  forward  the  mountain  how 
itzers  of  Cadwallader's  brigade,  preceded  "by  skirmish 
ers  and  pioneers,  with  pick-axes  and  crow-bars,  to  force 
windows  and  doors,  or  to  burrow  through  walls.  The 
assailants  were  soon  on  an  equality  of  position  fatal  to 
the  enemy.  By  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Worth  had 
carried  two  batteries  in  this  suburb.  According  to  my 
instructions,  he  here  posted  guards  and  sentinels,  and 
placed  his  troops  under  shelter  for  the  night,  within 
the  San  Cosme  gate  (custom-house.) 

I  had  gone  back  to  the  foot  of  Chapultepec,  the  point 
from  which  the  two  aqueducts  begin  to  diverge,  some 
hours  earlier,  in  order  to  be  near  that  new  depot,  and 
in  easy  communication  with  Quitman  and  Twiggs,  as 
well  as  with  Worth. 

From  this  point  I  ordered  all  detachments  and 
stragglers  to  their  respective  corps,  then  in  advance ; 


Worth  and  Quitman  Reenforced.  525 

sent  to  Quitman  additional  siege  guns,  ammunition, 
intrenching  tools  ;  directed  Twiggs's  remaining  brigade 
(Kiley's)  from  Piedad,  to  support  Worth ;  and  Captain 
Steptoe's  field  battery,  also  at  Piedad,  to  rejoin  Quit- 
man's  division. 

I  had  been,  from  the  first,  well  aware  that  the 
western  or  San  Cosme,  was  the  less  difficult  route  to 
the  centre  and  conquest  of  the  capital ;  and  therefore 
intended  that  Quitman  should  only  manoeuvre  and 
threaten  the  Belen  or  southwestern  gate,  in  order  to 
favor  the  main  attack  by  Worth — knowing  that  the 
strong  defences  at  the  Belen  were  directly  under  the 
guns  of  the  much  stronger  fortress,  called  the  citadel, 
just  within.  Both  of  these  defences  of  the  enemy  were 
also  within  easy  supporting  distance  from  the  San 
Angel  (or  Nino  Perdido)  and  San  Antonio  gates. 
Hence  the  greater  support,  in  numbers,  given  to 
Worth's  movement  as  the  main  attack. 

Those  views  I  repeatedly,  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
communicated  to  Major- General  Quitman ;  but  being 
in  hot  pursuit,  gallant  himself,  and  ably  supported  by 
Brigadier-Generals  Shields  and  Smith — Shields  badly 
wounded  before  Chapultepec  and  refusing  to  retire — as 
Well  as  by  all  the  officers  and  men  of  the  column, 


526  The  Belen  Gate  Captured. 

Quitman  continued  to  press  forward,  under  flank  and 
direct  fires,  carried  an  intermediate  battery  of  two 
guns,  and  then  the  gate,  before  two  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  but  not  without  proportionate  loss,  increased  by 
his  steady  maintenance  of  that  position. 

Here,  of  the  heavy  battery — 4th  Artillery — Captain 
Drum  and  Lieutenant  Benjamin  were  mortally  wound 
ed,  and  Lieutenant  Porter,  its  third  in  rank,  slightly. 
The  loss  of  these  two  most  distinguished  officers  the 
army  will  long  mourn.  Lieutenants  I.  B.  Moragne 
and  William  Canty,  of  the  South  Carolina  Volunteers, 
also  of  high  merit,  fell  on  the  same  occasion — besides 
many  of  our  bravest  non-commissioned  officers  and 
men,  particularly  in  Captain  Drum's  veteran  com 
pany.  I  cannot  in  this  place,  give  names  or  numbers  ; 
but  full  returns  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of  all 
corps,  in  their  recent  operations,  will  accompany  this 
report. 

Quitman,  within  the  city,  adding  several  new  de 
fences  to  the  position  he  had  won,  and  sheltering  his 
corps  as  well  as  practicable,  now  awaited  the  return 
of  daylight  under  the  guns  of  the  formidable  citadel, 
yet  to  be  subdued. 

At  about  four  o'clock  next  morning  (September  14), 


Formal  Surrender  of  the  City.  i>27 

a  deputation  of  the  ayuntamiento  (city  council)  waited 
upon  me  to  report  that  the  Federal  Government  and 
the  army  of  Mexico  had  fled  from  the  capital  some 
three  hours  before,  and  to  demand  terms  of  capitula 
tion  in  favor  of  the  church,  the  citizens,  and  the  mum 
cipal  authorities.  I  promptly  replied,  that  I  would 
sign  no  capitulation ;  that  the  city  had  been  virtually 
in  our  possession  from  the  time  of  the  lodgments  effect 
ed  by  Worth  and  Quitman  the  day  before ;  that  I  re 
gretted  the  silent  escape  of  the  Mexican  army ;  that  I 
should  levy  upon  the  city  a  moderate  contribution,  for 
special  purposes ;  and  that  the  American  army  should 
come  under  no  terms,  not  s^Z/^-imposed — such  only  as 
its  own  honor,  the  dignity  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  spirit  of  the  age,  should,  in  my  opinion,  imperious 
ly  demand  and  impose. 

For  the  terms  so  imposed,  I  refer  the  department  to 
subsequent  general  orders,  Eos.  287  and  289  (para 
graphs  7,  8,  and  9,  of  the  latter),  copies  of  which  are 
herewith  enclosed. 

At  the  termination  of  the  interview  with  the  city 
deputation,  I  communicated,  about  daylight,  orders  to 
Worth  and  Quitman  to  advance  slowly  and  cautiously 
(to  guard  against  treachery)  toward  the  heart  of  the 


528       Stars  and  Stripes  on  National  Palace. 

city,  and  to  occupy  its  stronger  and  more  commanding 
points.  Quitman  proceeded  to  the  great  plaza  or 
square,  planted  guards,  and  hoisted  the  colors  of  the 
United  States  on  the  national  palace — containing  the 
Halls  of  Congress  and  Executive  apartments  of  Federal 
Mexico.  In  this  grateful  service,  Quitman  might  have 
been  anticipated  by  Worth,  but  for  my  express  orders, 
halting  the  latter  at  the  head  of  the  Alameda  (a  green 
park),  within  three  squares  of  that  goal  of  general 
ambition. 

The  capital,  however,  was  not  taken  by  any  one  or 
two  corps,  but  by  the  talent,  the  science,  the  gallantry, 
the  vigor  of  this  entire  army.  In  the  glorious  con 
quest,  all  had  contributed — early  and  powerfully — the 
killed,  the  wounded,  and  the  fit  for  duty — at  Yera 
Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  San  Antonio,  Churu- 
busco  (three  battles),  the  Molinos  del  Key,  and  Chapul- 
tepec — as  much  as  those  who  fought  at  the  gates  of 
Belen  and  San  Cosme. 

Soon  after  we  had  entered,  and  were  in  the  act  of 
occupying  the  city,  a  fire  was  opened  upon  us  from  the 
flat  roofs  of  the  houses,  from  windows  and  corners  of 
streets,  by  some  two  thousand  convicts,  liberated  the 
night  before,  by  the  flying  Government — joined  by, 


Unlawful  War  Punished.  529 

perhaps,  as  many  Mexican  soldiers,  who  had  disbanded 
themselves  and  thrown  off  their  uniforms.  This  unlaw 
ful  war  lasted  more  than  twenty-four  hours,  in  spite  of 
the  exertions  of  the  municipal  authorities,  and  was  not 
put  down  till  we  had  lost  many  men,  including  several 
officers,  killed  or  wounded,  and  had  punished  the  mis 
creants.  Their  objects  were  to  gratify  national  hatred ; 
and,  in  the  general  alarm  and  confusion,  to  plunder  the 
wealthy  inhabitants — particularly  the  deserted  houses. 
But  families  are  now  generally  returning ;  business  of 
every  kind  has  been  resumed,  and  the  city  is  already 
tranquil  and  cheerful,  under  the  admirable  conduct 
(with  exceptions  very  few  and  trifling)  of  our  gallant 
troops. 

This  army  has  been  more  disgusted  than  surprised 
that,  by  some  sinister  process  on  the  part  of  certain  in 
dividuals  at  home,  its  numbers  have  been,  generally, 
almost  trebled  in  our  public  papers  —  beginning  at 
Washington. 

Leaving,  as  we  all  feared,  inadequate  garrisons  at 
Yera  Cruz,  Perote,  and  Puebla  —  with  much  larger 
hospitals ;  and  being  obliged,  most  reluctantly,  from 
the  same  cause  (general  paucity  of  numbers)  to  aban 
don  Jalapa,  we  marched  [August  7-10]  from  Puebla 
23 


530  OUT  Diminishing  Numbers. 

• 
with  only  ten  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-eight 

rank  and  file.  This  number  includes  the  garrison  of 
Jalapa,  and  the  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  twen 
ty-nine  men  brought  np  by  Brigadier-General  Pierce, 
August  6. 

At  Contreras,  Churubusco,  etc.  [August  20],  we  had 
but  eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-seven  men 
engaged — after  deducting  the  garrison  of  San  Augustin 
(our  general  depot),  the  intermediate  sick  and  the  dead ; 
at  the  Molinos  del  Jftey  (September  8),  but  three  bri 
gades,  with  some  cavalry  and  artillery — making  in  all 
three  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty-one  men — were 
in  the  battle ;  in  the  two  days — September  12  and  13 — 
our  whole  operating  force,  after  deducting  again  the 
recent  killed,  wounded,  and  sick,  together  with  the 
garrison  of  Mixcoac  (the  then  general  depot)  and  that 
of  Tacubaya,  was  but  seven  thousand  one  hundred  and 
eighty ;  and,  finally,  after  deducting  the  new  garrison 
of  Chapultepec,  with  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the 
two  days,  we  took  possession  (September  14)  of  this 
great  capital  with  less  than  six  thousand  men !  And  I 
reassert,  upon  accumulated  and  unquestionable  evi 
dence,  that,  in  not  one  of  these  conflicts,  was  this 
army  opposed  by  fewer  than  three  and  a  half  times 


Results  of  Victories.  531 

its  numbers — in  several  of  them,  by  a  yet  greater 
excess. 

I  recapitulate  our  losses  since  we  arrived  in  the 
basin  of  Mexico : 

August  19,  20 :  Killed,  137,  including  14  officers. 
Wounded,  877,  including  62  officers.  Missing  (prob 
ably  killed),  38  rank  and  file.  Total,  1,052.  Septem 
ber  8:  Killed,  116,  including  9  officers.  Wounded, 
665,  including  49  officers.  Missing,  18  rank  and  tile. 
Total,  789. 

September  12,  13,  14 :  Killed,  130,  including  10 
officers.  Wounded,  703,  including  68  officers.  Missing, 
29  rank  and  -file.  Total,  862. 

Grand  total  of  losses,  2,703,  including  383  officers. 

On  the  other  hand,  this  small  force  has  beaten  on 
the  same  occasions,  in  view  of  their  capital,  the  whole 
Mexican  army,  of  (at  the  beginning)  thirty-odd  thou 
sand  men — posted,  always,  in  chosen  positions,  behind 
intrenchments,  or  more  formidable  defences  of  nature 
and  art ;  killed  or  wounded,  of  that  number,  more  than 
seven  thousand  officers  and  men  ;  taken  3,730  prisoners, 
one-seventh  officers,  including  thirteen  generals,  of 
whom  three  had  been  presidents  of  this  republic ;  cap 
tured  more  than  twenty  colors  and  standards,  seventy- 


532          Fragments  of  Santa  Anna's  Army. 

five  pieces  of  ordnance,  besides  fifty-seven  wall  pieces, 
twenty  thousand  small  arms,*  an  immense  quantity  of 
shots,  shells,  powder,  etc.,  etc. 

Of  that  enemy,  once  so  formidable  in  numbers, 
appointments,  artillery,  etc.,  twenty-odd  thousand  have 
disbanded  themselves  in  despair,  leaving,  as  is  known, 
not  more  than  three  fragments — the  largest  about  two 
thousand  five  hundred — now  wandering  in  different 
directions,  without  magazines  or  a  military  chest,  and 
living  at  free  quarters  upon  their  own  people. 

General  Santa  Anna,  himself  a  fugitive,  is  believed 
to  be  on  the  point  of  resigning  the  chief  magistracy, 
and  escaping  to  neutral  Guatemala.  A  new  President, 
no  doubt,  will  soon  be  declared,  and  the  Federal  Con 
gress  is  expected  to  reassemble  at  Queretaro,  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty-five  miles  north  of  this,  on  the  Zaca- 
tecas  road,  some  time  in  October.  I  have  seen  and 
given  safe  conduct  through  this  city  to  several  of  its 
members.  The  Government  will  find  itself  without 

*  Besides  those  in  the  hands  of  prisoners.  The  twenty  thousand  new 
muskets  (British  manufacture)  found  in  the  citadel,  were  used  in  a  novel 
way.  Iron  being  scarce  in  the  interior,  the  barrels  made  excellent  shoes 
for  our  horses  and  mules,  and  the  brass  cuffs  or  bands  were  worked  up 
into  spear  heads  for  the  color-staffs,  and  spurs  for  the  cavalry  and  all 
mounted  officers. 


Distinguished  Conduct  Noticed.  533 

resources;  no  army,  no  arsenals,  no  magazines,  and 
but  little  revenue,  internal  or  external.  Still  such  is 
the  obstinacy,  or  rather  infatuation,  of  this  people, 
that  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  the  new  authorities 
will  dare  to  sue  for  peace  on  the  terms  which,  in  the 
recent  negotiations,  were  made  known  by  our  minister 


In  conclusion,  I  beg  to  enumerate,  once  more,  with 
due  comm'endation  and  thanks,  the  distinguished  staff 
officers,  general  and  personal,  who,  in  our  last  opera 
tions  in  front  of  the  enemy  accompanied  me,  and  com 
municated  orders  to  every  point  and  through  every 
danger.  Lieutenant  -  Colonel  Hitchcock,  Acting  In 
spector  -  General  ;  Major  Turnbull  and  Lieutenant 
Hardcastle,  Topographical  Engineers ;  Major  Kirby, 
Chief  Paymaster ;  Captain  Irwin,  Chief  Quartermas 
ter  ;  Captain  Grayson,  Chief  Commissary ;  Captain  H. 
L.  Scott,  Chief  in  the  Adjutant-General's  Department ; 
Lieutenant  "Williams,  Aide-de-Camp ;  Lieutenant  Lay, 
Military  Secretary,  and  Major  J.  P.  Gaines,  Kentucky 
Cavalry,  Yolunteer  Aide-de-Camp.  Captain  Lee,  En 
gineer,  so  constantly  distinguished,  also  bore  important 
orders  from  me  (September  13)  until  he  fainted  from  a 


534  Acknowledgments  Continued. 

wound  and  the  loss  of  two  nights'  sleep  at  the  batteries. 
Lieutenants  Beauregard,  Stevens,  and  Tower,  all  wound 
ed,  were  employed  with  the  divisions,  and  Lieutenants 
G.  W.  Smith,  and  G.  B.  McClellan,  with  the  company 
of  Sappers  and  Miners.  Those  five  lieutenants  of 
engineers,  like  their  captain,  won  the  admiration  of 
all  about  them.  The  Ordnance  officers,  Captain  Huger, 
Lieutenants  Hagner,  Stone,  and  Eeno,  were  highly 
effective,  and  distinguished  at  the  several  batteries; 
and  I  may  add  that  Captain  McKinstry,  Assistant 
Quartermaster,  at  the  close  of  the  operations,  executed 
several  important  commissions  for  me  as  a  special  vol 
unteer. 

Surgeon-General  Lawson,  and  the  medical  staff 
generally,  were  skilful  and  untiring  in  and  out  of  fire, 
in  ministering  to  the  numerous  wounded. 

To  illustrate  the  operations  in  this  basin,  I  enclose 
two  beautiful  drawings,  prepared  under  the  directions 
of  Major  Turnbull,  mostly  from  actual  survey. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
HON.  WM.  L.  MARCT,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  foregoing  reports  are  taken  from  Ex.  Doc.  60 
(H.  of  K.  April  28,  1848),  beginning  at  p.  1046. 


Entrance  into  the  Capital.  535 

The  aides-de-camp  engaged  in  copying  the  original 
sheets  as  they  were  written,  said  to  me  several  times : 
"Why,  General!  you  have  understated  the  general 
result."  I  replied :  "  Mum !  If  our  countrymen  be 
lieve  what  is  given,  we  may  be  content ;  whereas  if  I 
tell  the  whole  truth,  they  may  say — 'It  is  all  a  ro 
mance.'  ': 

Under  a  brilliant  sun,  I  entered  the  city  at  the  head 
of  the  cavalry,  cheered  by  Worth's  division  of  regulars 
drawn  up  in  the  order  of  battle  in  the  Alameda,  and  by 
Quitman's  division  of  volunteers  in  the  grand  plaza 
between  the  National  Palace  and  the  Cathedral — all 
the  bands  playing,  in  succession,  Hail  Columbia^  Wash 
ington 's  March,  Yankee  Doodle,  Hail  to  the  Chief, 
etc.  Even  the  inhabitants,  catching  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  moment,  filled  the  windows  and  lined  the  para 
pets,  cheering  the  cavalcade  as  it  passed  at  the  gallop. 

On  entering  the  Palace,  the  following  order  was 
early  published  to  the  army  : 

GENERAL  ORDERS.  )  HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY, 

>  NATIONAL  PALACE  OF  MEXICO, 

No.  286.  )  September,  1847. 

The  General-in-Chief  calls  upon  his  brethren  in 
arms  to  return,  both  in  public  and  private  worship, 


536  Thanks  for  Divine  Favor. 

thanks  and  gratitude  to  God  for  the  signal  triumphs 
which  they  have  recently  achieved  for  their  country. 

Beginning  with  the  19th  of  August,  and  ending  the 
14th  instant,  this  army  has  gallantly  fought  its  way 
through  the  fields  and  forts  of  Contreras,  San  Antonio, 
Churubusco,  Molino  del  Key,  Chapultepec,  and  the 
gates  of  San  Cosme  and  Tacubaya  or  Belen,  into  the 
capital  of  Mexico. 

When  the  very  limited  numbers  who  have  per 
formed  those  brilliant  deeds  shall  have  become  known, 
the  world  will  be  astonished,  and  our  own  countrymen 
filled  with  joy  and  admiration. 

But  all  is  not  yet  done.  The  enemy,  though  scat 
tered  and  dismayed,  has  still  many  fragments  of  his 
late  army  hovering  about  us,  and,  aided  by  an  exas 
perated  population,  he  may  again  reunite  in  treble  our 
numbers,  and  fall  upon  us  to  advantage  if  we  rest  inac 
tive  on  the  security  of  past  victories. 

Compactness,  vigilance,  and  discipline  are,  there 
fore,  our  only  securities.     Let  every  good  officer  and  man 
look  to  those  cautions  and  enjoin  them  upon  all  others, 
By  command  of  Major- General  Scott. 

H.  L.  SCOTT, 
A.  A.- General. 


Passport  to  Madame  Santa  Anna.  537 

The  day  after  entering  the  capital  the  British  con 
sul-general  called  to  ask  for  an  escort  of  cavalry,  and 
a  written  passport  in  behalf  of  the  young  and  beautiful 
wife  of  President  Santa  Anna,  to  enable  her  to  follow 
her  husband.  Both  were,  of  course,  promised ;  but, 
finally,  she  only  accepted  the  passport,  deeming  that  a 
sufficient  protection. 

At  first,  I  said  to  the  consul  I  would  do  myself  the 
honor  to  make  my  respects  to  the  fair  lady  in  person ; 
but  reflecting  a  moment,  I  gave  up  the  visit,  as,  under 
the  circumstances,  it  might  by  others  be  regarded  as  a 
vaunt  on  my  part. 


CHAPTEE    XXXIII. 

BRILLIANT    ALLUSION     TO     THE     CAMPAIGN RETALIATORY 

MEASURES MARTIAL     LAW SAFEGUARDS PROCLA 
MATION DEFENCE   OF    PUEBLA. 

So  ended  the  second  conquest  of  Mexico,  which  has 
been  beautifully,  though  extravagantly  alluded  to  by  a 
distinguished  person  —  Sir  Henry  Bulwer,  sometime 
British  Minister  accredited  to  this  country.  At  the 
celebration  of  St.  Andrew's  Day,  New  York,  Novem 
ber  30, 1850,  Sir  Henry  being  called  up,  brought  into 
parallelism  two  British  subjects  with  two  Americans — 
thus: 

"  All  [present]  were  children  of  St.  Andrew,  or  to 
say  the  least,  nephews  of  St.  George.  All  were  birds 


/Sir  H.  Bulwer's  Speech.  539 

of  the  same  feather,  though  they  might  roost  oh  differ 
ent  trees;  members  of  the  same  family,  though  they 
might  be  adopted  by  different  lands.  Even  their 
national  history  was  individualized  by  the  same  names. 
Who  was  the  first  martyr  to  religious  liberty  in  Scot 
land  ?  One  PATRICK  HAMILTON  (if  he  did  not  mistake), 
who  was  burnt  in  front  of  the  College  of  St.  Salvador, 
in  Edinburgh,  by  an  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's.  Who 
was  the  foremost  amongst  the  wisest,  because  the  most 
moderate  of  the  early  champions  of  civil  liberty  in 
America?  ALEXANDER  HAMILTON,  who  perished  be 
neath  the  cliffs  of  Weehawken,  also  a  victim  to  a  bar 
barous  custom  and  the  courage  with  which  he  vindi 
cated  his  opinions.  Nor  was  this  all.  Passing  from 
the  royal  house  of  Hamilton  to  the  princely  house  of 
Buccleuch,  might  he  not  say,  in  later  and  more  recent 
times,  that  if  Waverley  and  Guy  Mannering  had  made 
the  name  of  Scott  immortal,  on  one  side  of  the  Atlan 
tic,  Cerro  Gordo  and  Churubusco  had  equally  immor 
talized  it  on  the  other.  If  the,  ^novelist  had  given  the 
garb  of  truth  to  fiction,  had  not  the  warrior  given  to 
truth  the  air  of  romance  ? " — National  Intelligencer, 
December  4,  1850. 


540  Martial  Law  Order. 

No  doubt  the  conquest  so  splendidly  alluded  to  by 
the  orator,  was  mainly  due  to  the  science  and  prowess 
of  the  army.  But  valor  and  professional  science  could 
not  alone  have  dictated  a  treaty  of  peace  with  double 
our  numbers,  in  double  the  time,  and  with  double  the 
loss  of  life,  without  the  measures  of  conciliation  perse- 
veringly  adhered  to,  the  perfect  discipline  and  order 
maintained  in  the  army.  Those  measures  heretofore 
alluded  to  are  here  recorded : 

The  martial  law  order,  often  alluded  to  above, 
page  392,  etc.,  was  first  published  at  Tampico,  February 
19,  1847.  The  second  edition  was  reprinted  at  Yera 
Cruz,  the  third  at  Puebla,  and  the  last  as  follows : 


GENERAL  ORDERS,  )  HEADQUARTERS  OF  ran  ARMY, 

NATIONAL  PALACE  OF  MEXICO, 
No-  28)7-  )  September  17,  1847. 


The  Generalrin- Chief  repullishes,  with  important  ad 
ditions,  the  General  Orders,  No.  20,  of  February 
19,  1847  (declaring  MARTIAL  LAW),  to  govern  all 
who  may  be  concerned. 

1.  It  is  still  to  be  apprehended  that  many  grave 
offences,  not  provided  for  in  the  Act  of  Congress  "  es- 


Continuation  of  the  Order.  541 

tablishing  rules  and  articles  for  the  government  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,"  approved  April  10,  1806, 
may  again  be  committed — by,  or  upon,  individuals  of 
those  armies,  in  Mexico,  pending  the  existing  war  be 
tween  the  two  Republics.  Allusion  is  here  made  to 
offences,  any  one  of  which,  if  committed  within  the 
United  States  or  their  organized  Territories,  would,  of 
course,  be  tried  and  severely  punished  by  the  ordinary 
or  civil  courts  of  the  land. 

2.  Assassination,  murder,  poisoning,  rape,  or  the 
attempt  to  commit  either ;  malicious  stabbing  or  maim 
ing  ;  malicious  assault  and  battery,  robbery,  theft ;  the 
wanton  desecration  of  churches,  cemeteries  or   other 
religious  edifices  and  fixtures;  the  interruption  of  re 
ligious  ceremonies,  and  the  destruction,  except  by  order 
of  a  superior  officer,  of  public  or  private  property ;  are 
such  offences. 

3.  The  good  of  the  service,  the  honor  of  the  United 
States  and  the  interests  of  humanity,  imperiously  de 
mand  that  every  crime,  enumerated  above,  should  be 
severely  punished. 

4.  But  the  written  code,  as  above,  commonly  called 
the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  does  not  provide  for  the 
punishment  of  any  one  of  those  crimes,  even  when  com- 


542  Martial  Law  Order. 

mitted  by  individuals  of  the  army  upon  the  persons  or 
property  of  other  individuals  of  the  same,  except  in  the 
very  restricted  case  in  the  9th  of  those  articles ;  nor  for 
like  outrages,  committed  by  the  same  class  of  individ 
uals,  upon  the  persons  or  property  of  a  hostile  country, 
except  very  partially,  in  the  51st,  52d,  and  55th  arti 
cles  ;  and  the  same  code  is  absolutely  silent  as  to  all 
injuries  which  may  be  inflicted  upon  individuals  of  the 
army,  or  their  property,  against  the  laws  of  war,  by  in 
dividuals  of  a  hostile  country. 

5.  It  is  evident  that  the  99th  article,  independent 
of  any  reference  to  the  restriction  in  the  87th,  is  wholly 
nugatory  in  reaching  any  one  of  those  high  crimes. 

6.  For  all  the  offences,  therefore,  enumerated  in 
the  second  paragraph  above,  which  may  be  committed 
abroad — in,  by,  or  upon  the  army,  a  supplemental  code 
is  absolutely  needed. 

7.  That  unwritten  code  is  Martial  Law,  as  an  addi 
tion  to  the  written  military  code,  prescribed  by  Con 
gress  in  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  and  which  un 
written  code,  all  armies,  in  hostile  countries,  are  forced 
to  adopt — not  only  for  their  own  safety,  but  for  the 
protection   of  the  unoffending   inhabitants   and  their 
property,  about   the  theatres   of  military  operations, 


The  Order  Continued.  543 

against  injuries,  on  the  part  of  the  army,  contrary  to 
the  laws  of  war. 

8.  From  the  same  supreme  necessity,  martial  law  is 
hereby  declared  as  a  supplemental  code  in,  and  about, 
all   cities,   towns,   camps,  posts,  hospitals,   and  other 
places   which    may  be  occupied   by  any  part  of  the 
forces  of  the  United  States,  in  Mexico,  and  in,  and 
about,  all  columns,  escorts,  convoys,  guards,  and  de 
tachments,  of  the  said  forces,  while  engaged  in  prose 
cuting  the  existing  war  in,  and  against  the  said  repub 
lic,  and  while  remaining  within  the  same. 

9.  Accordingly,  every  crime,  enumerated  in  para 
graph  No.  2,  above,  whether  committed — 1.  By  any 
inhabitant  of  Mexico,  sojourner  or  traveller  therein, 
upon  the  person  or  property  of  any  individual  of  the 
United  States  forces,  retainer  or  follower  of  the  same ; 
2.  By  any  individual  of  the  said  forces,  retainer  or  fol 
lower  of  the  same,  upon  the  person  or  property  of  any 
inhabitant  of  Mexico,  sojourner  or  traveller  therein; 
or  3.  By  any  individual  of  the  said  forces,  retainer  or 
follower  of  the  same,  upon  the  person  or  property  of 
any  other  individual  of  the  said  forces,  retainer  or  fol 
lower  of  the  same — shall  be  duly  tried  and  punished 
under  the  said  supplemental  code. 


The  Order  Continued. 

10.  For  this  purpose  it  is  ordered,  that  all  offenders, 
in  the  matters  aforesaid,  shall  be  promptly  seized,  con 
fined,  and  reported  for  trial,  before  military  commis 
sions^  to  be  duly  appointed  as  follows : 

11.  Every  military  commission,  under  this  order, 
will  be  appointed,  governed,  and  limited,  as  nearly  as 
practicable,  as  prescribed  by  the  65th,  66th,  67th,  and 
97th,  of  the  said  rules  and  articles  of  war,  and  the  pro 
ceedings  of  such  commissions  will  be  duly  recorded,  in 
writing,  reviewed,  revised,  disapproved  or  approved, 
and  the  sentences  executed — all,  as  near  as  may  be,  as 
in  the  cases  of  the  proceedings  and  sentences  of  courts 
martial,  provided,  that  no  military  commission  shall 
try  any  case  clearly  cognizable  by  any  court  martial, 
and  provided,  also,  that  no  sentence  of  a  military  com 
mission  shall  be  put  in  execution  against  any  individual 
belonging  to  this  army,  which  may  not  be,  according  to 
the  nature  and  degree  of  the  offence,  as  established  by 
evidence,  in  conformity  with  known  punishments,  in 
like  cases,  in  some  one  of  the  States  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

12.  The  sale,  waste  or  loss  of  ammunition,  horses, 
arms,  clothing  or  accoutrements,  by  soldiers,  is  punish 
able  under  the  3Yth  and  38th  articles  of  war.     Any 


The  Order  Continued.  545 

Mexican  or  resident  or  traveller,  in  Mexico,  who  shall 
purchase  of  any  American  soldier,  either  horse,  horse 
equipments,  arms,  ammunition,  accoutrements  or  cloth 
ing,  shall  be  tried  and  severely  punished,  by  a  military 
commission,  as  above. 

13.  The  administration  of  justice,  both  in  civil  and 
criminal  matters,  through  the  ordinary  courts  of  the 
country,  shall  nowhere  and  in  no  degree,  be  interrupted 
by  any  officer  or  soldier  of  the  American  forces,  except, 

1.  In  cases  to  which  an  officer,  soldier,  agent,  servant, 
or  follower  of  the  American  army  may  be  a  party ;  and 

2.  In  political  cases — that  is,  prosecutions  against  other 
individuals  on   the  allegations  that  they  have  given 
friendly  information,  aid  or  assistance  to  the  American 
forces. 

14.  For  the  ease  and  safety  of  both  parties,  in  all 
cities  and  towns  occupied  by  the  American  army,  a 
Mexican  police  shall  be  established  and  duly  harmon 
ized  with  the  military  police  of  the  said  forces. 

15.  This  splendid  capital — its  churches  and  religious 
worship ;  its  convents  and  monasteries ;  its  inhabitants 
and  property  are,  moreover,  placed  under  the  special 
safeguard  of  the  faith  and  honor  of  the  American  army. 

16.  In  consideration  of  the  foregoing  protection,  a 


546  The  Order  Completed. 

contribution  of  $150,000  is  imposed  on  this  capital,  to 
be  paid  in  four  weekly  instalments  of  thirty-seven  thou 
sand  five  hundred  dollars  ($37,500)  each,  beginning  on 
Monday  next,  the  20th  instant,  and  terminating  on 
Monday,  the  llth  of  October. 

17.  The  Ayuntamiento,  or  corporate  authority  of 
the  city,  is  specially  charged  with  the  collection  and 
payment  of  the  several  instalments. 

18.  Of  the  whole  contributions  to  be  paid  over  to 
this  army,  twenty  thousand  dollars  shall  be  appropri 
ated  to  the  purchase  of  extra  comforts  for  the  wounded 
and  sick  in  hospital ;  ninety  thousand  dollars  ($90,000) 
to  the  purchase  of  blankets  and  shoes  for  gratuitous 
distribution  among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army,  and 
forty  thousand   dollars   ($40,000)   reserved    for   other 
necessary  military  purposes. 

19.  This  order  will  be  read  at  the  head  of  every 
company  of  the  United  States'  forces,  serving  in  Mex 
ico,  and  translated  into  Spanish  for  the  information  of 
Mexicans. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Scott. 

H.  L.  SCOTT, 
A.  A.  General. 


General  Regulations.  547 

The  following  printed  regulations,  among  others, 
were  in  the  hands  of  the  whole  army,  and  are  here  ex 
tracted  as  subsidiary  to  the  martial  law  order : 

As  a  special  security,  any  general-in-chief,  general 
of  an  army  corps,  or  division,  is  authorized  to  give  safe 
guards  to  hospitals,  public  establishments  of  instruction, 
of  religion,  or  of  charity,  also  to  mills,  post  offices,  and 
the  like.  They  may,  further,  give  them  to  individuals 
whom  it  is  the  particular  interest  of  the  army  to  pro 
tect. 

"  Whosoever,  belonging  to  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  employed  in  foreign  parts,  shall  force  a  safe 
guard,  shall  suffer  death  "  (54th  article  of  war). 

A  safeguard  may  consist  of  one  or  more  men  of 
fidelity  and.  firmness,  generally  non-effective  sergeants 
or  corporals,  furnished  with  a  printed  or  written  paper, 
purporting  the  character  and  object  of  the  guard,  or  it 
may  consist  of  such  paper.only,  delivered  to  the  inhab 
itant  of  the  country,  whose  house,  etc.,  it  is  designed 
to  protect.  Disrespect  to  such  a  paper,  when  produced, 
constitutes  the  offence,  and  incurs  the  penalty  men 
tioned  in  the  article,  etc.,  above  cited. 

The  men  left  with  a  safeguard  may  require  of  the 


548  Use  of  Safeguards. 

persons  for  whose  benefit  they  are  so  left,  reasonable 
subsistence  and  lodging ;  and  the  neighboring  inhabit 
ants  will  be  held  responsible,  by  the  army,  for  an;y 
violence  done  them. 

The  bearers  of  a  safeguard  left  by  one  corps,  may 
be  replaced  by  the  corps  that  follows ;  and  if  the  coun 
try  be  evacuated,  they  will  be  recalled ;  or  they  may 
be  instructed  to  wait  for  the  arrival  of  the  enemy,  and 
demand  of  him  a  safe  conduct  to  the  outposts  of  the 
army. 

The  following  form  will  be  used : 

SAFEGUARD. 

BY  AUTHORITY  OF  MAJOR-GEN. (Or  Brigadier- Gen. ). 

The  person,  the  property,  and  the  family  of (or 

such  a  college,  and  the  persons  and  things  belonging  to  it ; 
such  a  mill,  etc.),  are  placed  under  the  safeguard  of  the  United 
States.  To  offer  any  violence  or  injury  to  them  is  expressly 
forbidden  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  ordered  that  safety  and  pro 
tection  be  given  to  him,  or  them,  in  case  of  need. 
Done  at  the  Headquarters  of ,  this day  of ,  18 — . 

Forms  of  safeguards  ought  to  be  printed  in  blank, 


Proclamation — Effects.  549 

headed  by  the  article  of  war  relative  thereto,  and  held 
ready  to  be  filled  up,  as  occasions  may  offer.  A  dupli 
cate,  etc.,  in  each  case,  might  be  affixed  to  the  houses, 
or  edifices,  to  which  they  relate. 

But  the  crowning  act  of  conciliation  was  the  procla 
mation  that  I  issued  at  Jalapa,  May  11,  1847,  indig 
nantly  denying  the  "  calumnies  put  forth  by  the  [Mex 
ican]  press  in  order  to  excite  hostility  against  us,"  and 
confidently  appealing  to  "  the  clergy,  civil  authorities, 
and  inhabitants  of  all  the  places  we  have  occupied." 
"  The  army  of  the  United  States,"  I  continued,  "  re 
spects,  and  will  ever  respect  private  property  and  per 
sons,  and  the  property  of  the  Mexican  Church.  Woe  to 
him  who  does  not,  where  we  are ! " — Ex.  Doc.  No.  60, 
H.  of  It.,  30tfA  Congress,  \st  Session.  Brevet  Major- 
General  "Worth,  though  hostile  to  me,  wrote  from  the 
advanced  position,  Puebla — "It  was  most  fortunate 
that  I  got  hold  of  one  copy  of  your  proclamation.  I 
had  a  third  edition  struck  off,  and  am  now  with  hardly 
a  copy  on  hand.  It  takes  admirably  and  my  doors  are 
crowded  for  it." 

**-X--X--3f**-5f* 

"  It  has  produced  more  decided  effects  than  all  the 
blows  from  Palo  Alto  to  Cerro  Gordo."— Hid,  p.  967. 


550  Santa  Anna  Besieges  Puebla. 

Retiring  from  the  capital,  Santa  Anna  collected 
several  fragments  of  his  late  army  and  laid  siege  to 
Puebla — the  garrison  of  which  being  considerably  less 
than  was  intended ;  for,  although,  on  advancing  from 
that  city  I  gave  the  strictest  orders  that  all  convales 
cents  as  well  as  the  sick  should  be  left  behind,  about 
six  hundred  of  the  former  imposed  themselves  upon 
their  medical  and  company  officers  as  entirely  restored 
to  health.  For  stationary  or  garrison  duty  they  would 
have  been  fully  qualified,  but  proved  a  burden  to  the 
advancing  columns ;  for  they  soon  began  to  break  down 
and  to  creep  into  the  subsistence  wagons  faster  than 
these  were  lightened  by  the  consumption  of  the  troops. 

The  siege  was  prosecuted  with  considerable  vigor 
for  twenty-eight  days,  and  nobly  repulsed  by  our  able 
and  distinguished  commander,  Colonel  Childs,  with  his 
gallant  but  feeble  garrison,  at  all  points  and  at  every 
assault.  During  those  arduous  and  protracted  opera 
tions,  the  glory  of  our  arms  was  nobly  supported  by 
officers  and  men.  Colonel  Childs  specially  commends 
by  name — and  no  doubt  justly — the  skill,  zeal,  and 
prowess  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Black  and  Captain  Small, 
both  of  the  Pennsylvania  Volunteers ;  the  highly  ac 
conrplished  Captain  [now  Professor]  Kendrick,  United 


General  Results. 


551 


States  4th  Artillery,  chief  of  that  arm,  and  Captain 
Miller,  of  the  same  regiment ;  Lieutenant  Laidley,  of 
the  Ordnance ;  Captain  Rowe  of  the  9th  Infantry,  and 
Lieutenant  T.  G.  Ehett,  A.  C.  S.  Captain  W.  C.  De 
Hart  (Artillery),  and  Lieutenant-Go vernor  of  Puebla, 
though  in  feeble  heath,  conducted  a  sortie  with  success, 
and  was  otherwise  distinguished.  Death  soon  after 
deprived  the  service  of  this  accomplished  officer. 


CHAPTEE    XXXIY. 

QUESTION   OF    FREE    QUARTERS SYSTEM   OF    FINANCE 

SPREAD    OF    THE   TROOPS. 

EARLY  in  the  campaign  I  began  to  receive  letters 
from  Washington,  urging  me  to  support  the  army  by 
forced  contributions.  Under  the  circumstances,  this 
was  an  impossibility.  The  population  was  sparse.  We 
had  no  party  in  the  country,  and  had  to  encounter  the 
hostility  of  both  religion  and  race.  All  Mexicans,  at 
first,  regarded  us  as  infidels  and  robbers.  Hence  there 
was  not  among  them  a  farmer,  a  miller,  or  dealer  in 
subsistence,  who  would  not  have  destroyed  whatever 
property  he  could  not  remove  beyond  our  reach  sooner 
than  allow  it  to  be  seized  without  compensation.  For 


Free  Quarters — System  of  Finance.  "        553 

the  first  day  or  two  we  might,  perhaps,  have  seized 
current  subsistence  within  five  miles  of  our  route ;  but 
by  the  end  of  a  week  the  whole  army  must  have  been 
broken  up  into  detachments  and  scattered  far  and  wide 
over  the  country,  skirmishing  with  rancheros  and  regu 
lar  troops,  for  the  means  of  satisfying  the  hunger  of 
the  day.  Could  invaders,  so  occupied,  have  conquered 
Mexico  ? 

The  war  being  virtually  over,  I  now  gave  attention 
to  a  system  of  finance  for  the  support  of  the  army  and 
to  stimulate  overtures  of  peace.  The  subject  required 
extensive  inquiries  and  careful  elaboration.  My  inten 
tion  was  to  raise  the  first  year  about  twelve  millions  of 
dollars,  with  the  least  possible  pressure  on  the  industry 
and  wealth  of  the  country,  with  an.  increase  to  fifteen 
millions  in  subsequent  years.  The  plan  is  given  at 
large,  in  seven  papers  (four  reports  and  three  orders). 
See  Ex.  DOG.  No.  60,  H.  of  R.,  SOtfA  Congress,  \st 
Session,  p.  1046,  and  following.  The  orders  are  here 
omitted  and  the  finance  details,  contained  in  the  four 
reports,  also. 


554  Want  of  Troops. 

Report  No.  40. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,      ) 
MEXICO,  December  17,  1847.  \ 

SIR: 

The  troop  of  Louisiana  horse,  under  Captain  Fair- 
child,  that  so  handsomely  escorted  up  from  Yera  Cruz 
Mr.  Doyle,  the  British  Charge  d' Affaires,  being  about 
to  return  to  its  station,  I  avail  myself  of  the  opportu 
nity  to  write  to  the  department. 

I  invite  attention  to  my  order,  No.  376,  and  par 
ticularly  to  its  seventh  paragraph — import  and  export 
duties.  Since  its  publication,  I  have  seen  in  a  slip, 
cut  from  a  Yera  Cruz  newspaper  (received  here  by  a 
merchant),  what  purports  to  be  a  letter,  dated  the  17th 
ultimo,  from  the  department  to  me  on  the  same  subject. 


Major  -  General  Butler's  and  Lieutenant  -  Colonel 
Johnston's  columns  will  he  here  to-day,  to-morrow, 
and  the  next  day ;  and  in  a  week  I  propose  to  despatch 
one  column  to  San  Luis  de  Potosi.  When,  or  whether, 
I  shall  have  a  sufficient  independent  force  for  Zacate- 
cas,  is  yet,  to  me,  quite  uncertain.  The  San  Luis  col- 


Spread  of  Troops — Collection  of  Dues,  etc.     555 

tunn,  with  a  view  to  Tampico,  and  in  part  to  Zacate 
cas,  is  the  more  important,  and  may  be  enlarged  to, 
perhaps,  seven  thousand  men. 

The  following  distances  from  the  Mexican  official 
itineraries  may  be  useful :  From  the  capital  to  Quere- 
taro,  is  57  leagues,  or  142  miles ;  thence  to  Zacatecas, 
282  miles — the  two  distances  making  424.  From  the 
capital  to  San  Luis,  is  113  leagues,  or  382  miles  (Quere- 
taro  may  be  avoided),  and,  in  continuance  by  that 
route,  260  miles  to  Tampico,  or  134  to  Zacatecas. 
Thus,  from  Mexico,  via  San  Luis,  to  Tampico,  is  642 
miles,  and  to  Zacatecas,  516 ;  whereas,  the  distance 
from  Zacatecas  to  Tampico  is  but  398.  Zacatecas, 
therefore,  may  be  advantageously  reached,  or  its  trade 
opened  with  Tampico,  via  San  Luis.  The  difficulty  is, 
to  occupy  the  state  capitals  of  Guanajuato,  etc.,  with 
out  passing  through  and  including  Queretaro,  the  tem 
porary  capital  of  the  Federal  Government ;  and  1  am 
reluctant  to  disturb  that  Government  whilst  it  con 
tinues  intent  on  a  peace  with  us,  without  further 
knowledge  of  the  views  at  Washington  on  the  subject. 
That  information  I  hope  soon  to  receive ;  and,  if  in 
favor  of  covering  the  country,  to  hear  of  the  approach 
of  reinforcements  behind  the  column  of  Brigadier- 


556  Failure  to  Send  Clothing. 

General  Marshall,  now  I  suppose,  as  far  advanced  as 
Jalapa. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
HON.  SECRETARY  OF 


Report  No.  41. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 
MEXICO,  December  26,  1847 

SIR: 

As  I  had  apprehended  (in  Report  No.  37),  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Johnston's  train  has  returned  without  one 
blanket,  coat,  jacket,  or  pair  of  pantaloons,  the  small 
depot  at  Yera  Cruz  having  been  exhausted  by  the 
troops  under  Generals  Patterson,  Butler,  and  Mar 
shall,  respectively,  all  fresh  from  home  or  the  Brazos, 
and,  as  in  the  case  of  other  arrivals,  since  June,  with 
out  clothing !  The  regiments  that  came  with  me  must, 
therefore,  remain  naked,  or  be  supplied  with  very  in 
ferior  garments,  of  every  color  and  at  high  prices,  as 
we  may  possibly  be  able  to  find  the  poor  materials, 
and  cause  them  to  be  made  up  here.  This  disappoint- 


Green  Troops — Incessant  labors.  557 

ment  may  delay  any  distant  expedition  for  many 
weeks;  for  some  of  the  new  volunteers  are  already 
calling  for  essential  articles  of  clothing. 

Referring  again  to  former  letters  on  the  subject,  I 
beg  leave  to  add  that  every  old  regiment  forwarded, 
more  than  a  twelvemonth  ago,  its  usual  annual  requi 
sition  for  clothing,  which  has  never  arrived,  or  it  has 
been  issued  as  above.  With  excessive  labor  I  had 
brought  the  old  regiments — volunteers  as  well  as  regu 
lars — favored  by  our  long  and  necessary  halts  at  Yera 
Cruz,  Jalapa,  and  Puebla,  to  respectable  degrees  of 
discipline,  instruction,  conduct,  and  economy.  The 
same  intolerable  work,  at  general  headquarters,  is  to  be 
perpetually  renewed,  or  all  the  credit  heretofore  ac 
quired  by  this  army  for  moral  conduct,  as  well  as  skill 
and  prowess  in  the  field,  will  be  utterly  lost  by  new 
arrivals,  and  there  is  now  no  hope  of  bringing  up  to  the 
proper  standard  distant  posts  and  detachments.  These 
cannot  be  governed  by  any  written  code  of  orders  or 
instructions,  sent  from  a  distance.  I  do  not  mean  to 
accuse  the  reinforcements,  generally,  of  deficiency  in 
valor,  patriotism,  or  moral  character.  Far  from  it; 
but  among  all  new  levies,  of  whatever  denomination, 
there  are  always  a  few  miscreants  in  every  hundred, 


558  Pachuca  and  Toluca  Occupied. 

enough,  without  discipline,  to  disgrace  the  entire  mass, 
and  what  is  infinitely  worse — the  country  that  employs 
them.  My  daily  distresses  under  this  head  weigh  me 

to  the  earth. 

• 

I  am  about  to  send  a  detachment,  the  9th  Infantry, 
under  Colonel  "Withers,  to  Pachuca,  near  the  great 
mines  of  Eeal  del  Monte,  some  fifty  miles  to  the  north 
east.  There  is  an  assay  office  at  Pachuca,  to  which  a 
large  amount  of  silver  bullion  is  soon  to  be  brought, 
and  if  we  have  not  troops  present,  the  Federal  officers 
of  Mexico  will  seize  the  assay  duties  to  our  loss.  I 
shall  send  another  detachment  in  a  few  days  to  occupy 
Toluca,  the  capital  of  this  State,  with  the  general  ob 
ject  of  securing  the  contribution  claimed  for  our  mili 
tary  chest. — See  General  Orders,  No.  376,  paragraph 
5.  I  am  nearly  ready  to  publish  the  details  promised 
in  the  tenth  paragraph  of  that  order.  I  have  found 
them  very  difficult  to  obtain  and  to  methodize. 

There  will,  I  apprehend,  be  no  difficulty  in  collect 
ing  at  the  assay  offices  and  mints  within  our  reach  the 
ordinary  internal  dues  on  the  precious  metals.  As  to 
other  internal  dues  and  taxes  (not  abolished  by  my 
order,  JSTo.  376),  I  propose  to  find  the  net  amount  paid, 
to  the  Federal  Government,  for  example,  by  the  State 


Finance — Struggles  with  Miscreants.         559 

of  Yera  Cruz,  for  1843,  and  to  assess  that  sum,  in  mass, 
upon  the  State,  to  be  paid  into  our  military  chest,  a 
twelfth  at  the  end  of  every  month,  by  the  State  Gov 
ernment,  and  so  of  the  other  States  which  are  or  may 

. 

be  occupied  by  our  troops.  Each  State  will  be  required 
to  collect  the  amount  claimed,  according  to  the  Federal 
assessment  for  the  year  1843,  under  certain  penalties, 
which  may  be  the  seizure,  without  payment,  of  the 
supplies  needed  for  the  support  of  the  occupation,  and 
particularly  the  property  of  the  State  functionaries, 
Legislative  and  Executive,  with  the  imprisonment  of 
their  persons,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.  The  fear  is,  those  func 
tionaries  may  abdicate,  and  leave  the  States  without 
Governments.  In  such  event,  the  like  penalties  will 
be,  so  far  as  practicable,  enforced. 

The  success  of  the  system — on  the  details  of  which 
I  am  now,  with  ample  materials,  employed — depends 
on  our  powers  of  conciliation.  With  steady  troops  I 
should  not  doubt  *the  result;  but  the  great  danger 
lies  in  the  want  of  that  quality  on  the  part  of  the  new 
reinforcements,  including  the  recruits  of  the  old  regi 
ments.  The  average  number  of  disorders  and  crimes, 
always  committed  by  undisciplined  men,  with  inex 
perienced  officers,  may  destroy  the  best-concerted  plans, 


5GO  Finance,  —Annexation. 

y 

by  exasperating  the  inhabitants,  and  rendering  the 
war,  on  their  part,  national,  interminable,  and  des 
perate. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  I  do  not  propose  to  seize 
the  ordinary  State  or  city  revenues ;  as  that  would,  in 
my  humble  judgment,  be  to  make  war  on  civilization ; 
as  no  community  can  escape  absolute  anarchy  without 
civil  government,  and  all  government  must  have  some 
revenue  for  its  support.  I  shall  take  care,  however, 
to  see  that  the  means  collected  within  any  particular 
State  or  city  for  that  purpose  are  moderate  and  reason 
able. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  there  is  a  considerable 
party  in  this  country  in  favor  of  annexing  it  entire  to 
the  United  States.  How  far  that  desire  may  be  recip 
rocated  at  home,  I  know  not,  and  it  would  be  imperti 
nent  in  a  soldier  to  inquire.  I  am  here  (whilst  I  re 
main)  to  execute  the  military  orders  of  my  Government. 
But,  as  a  soldier,  I  suppose  it  to  be  my  duty  to  offer  a 
suggestion  on  the  subject,  founded  on  professional  and 
local  knowledge,  that  may  not  occur  to  the  minds  of 
statesmen  generally. 

Annexation  and  military  occupation  would  be,  if 
we  maintain  the  annexation,  one  and  the  same  thing, 


Occupation  or  Annexation?  561 

as  to  the  amount  of  force  to  be  employed  by  us ;  for  if, 
after  the  formal  act,  by  treaty  or  otherwise,  we  should 
withdraw  our  troops,  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  all 
Mexico,  or  rather  the  active  part  thereof,  would  again 
relapse  into  a  permanent  state  of  revolution,  beginning 
with  one  against  annexation.  The  great  mass  of  this 
people  have  always  been  passive  under  every  form  of 
government  that  has  prevailed  in  the  country,  and  the 
turbulent  minority,  divided  into  ins  and  outs,  particu 
larly  the  military  demagogues,  are  equally  incapable 
of  self-government,  and  delight  in  nothing  but  getting 
power  by  revolution,  and  abusing  that  power  when 
obtained. 

I  still  entertain  the  belief  that  propositions,  looking 
to  a  peace,  will  be  submitted  by  the  incoming  Govern 
ment  here,  in  all  the  next  month ;  but  that  any  conces 
sion  of  boundaries,  satisfactory  to  the  United  States, 
would,  on  the  withdrawment  of  our  forces,  create  a 
revolt,  or  the  overthrow  of  that  Government,  with  a 
nullification  of  the  treaty,  I  hold  to  be  events  more 
than  probable.  In  the  mean  time  it  would  be  highly 
advantageous  to  me,  officially,  to  have  an  early  intima 
tion  of  the  views  of  our  Government  as  to  the  terms  of 
a  treaty  that  would  now  be  satisfactory,  only  to  prevent 
24* 


562      JVb  Answer  to  Inquiries  on  the  Subject. 

a  wrong  distribution  of  the  troops  in  respect  to  those 
unknown  views. 

I  have  received  no  acknowledged  communication 
from  the  Department.  The  letter  of  the  17th  ultimo, 
published,  as  I  have  heretofore  mentioned,  in  a  Yera 
Cruz  newspaper,  has  not  come  to  hand,  but  I  am  daily 
expecting  a  mail  up  from  that  city. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
HON.  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


Report  No.  42. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,      ) 
MEXICO,  January  6,  1848.  \ 

SIR: 

Nothing  of  interest  has  occurred  since  my  report 
of  the  26th  ultimo ;  not  even  the  arrival  of  a  mail ;  but 
a  private  conveyance  brought  up  yesterday  a  letter 
from  Brigadier-General  Marshall,  representing  that  he 
was  at  Jalapa  the  22d  ultimo,  with  a  column  of  troops 
(number  not  given),  one  half  of  whom  were  on  the  sick 
report,  with  measles  and  diarrhoea,  and  that  he  had 


Measures  for  Collecting  Income.  563 

sent  back  his  train  to  Yera  Cruz  for  medicines  and 
other  supplies.  He  gave  no  day  for  the  recommence 
ment  of  his  march. 

The  number  on  the  sick  report,  in  this  basin,  is  also 
great.  In  a  total  of  14,964,  we  have  only  11,162  "  for 
duty."  The  measles  are  rife  among  the  new  volun 
teers. 

Colonel  Withers,  with  the  9th  Infantry,  occupied 
Pachuca,  quietly,  more  than  a  week  ago.  Brigadier- 
General  Cadwallader,  with  the  remainder  of  his  bri 
gade,  will  march  for  Lerma  and  Toluca  (State  capital, 
thirty-eight  miles  off,  in  a  direction  opposite  to  Pachuca) 
to-day.  The  general  object  in  occupying  the  three 
cities  is  to  commence  levying  the  assessments  for  the 
last  month,  and,  through  them,  to  enforce  peace. 
Please  see  copies  of  General  Orders,  Nos.  395-8,  here 
with.  (Giving  the  finance  details  promised  in  Order, 
No.  3T6.) 

The  tobacco  monopoly  I  have  thought  it  necessary 
to  abolish.  It  would  be  worthless  without  a  prohibi 
tion  of  the  plant  at  the  custom  houses,  and  I  doubted 
whether  our  Government,  considering  the  interests  of 
some  five  of  our  own  tobacco-growing  States,  would 
prohibit  the  importation.  Again,  to  protect  the  mo- 


564  More  Troops  Needed. 

nopoly,  including  licenses  to  cultivators,  would  require 
a  host  of  excise  men.  Probably  a  reasonable  duty  on 
importation  will  give  larger  net  receipts  for  a  year  or 
two  than  could  be  derived  in  that  time  from  any  mo 
nopoly  however  strictly  enforced. 

Like  difficulties  in  management  caused  me  to  relin 
quish  to  the  Mexican  States,  respectively,  the  stamped- 
paper  and  playing-card  monopolies.  More  than  a  sub 
stitute  will  be  found  in  the  quadrupling  of  the  direct 
assessments  on  the  States. 

From  the  want  of  sufficient  numbers  to  send,  at 
once,  columns  of  five  thousand  men  each  to  Zacatecas 
and  San  Luis  de  Potosi,  respectively,  I  next  proposed 
to  despatch  to  the  latter  place  a  force  of  seven  thousand, 
which  would  be  sufficient  to  open  the  channel  of  com 
merce  between  Tampico  and  Zacatecas,  a  distance  of 
three  hundred  and  ninety-four  miles,  and,  by  the  opera 
tion,  double,  perhaps,  the  receipts  at  that  seaport,  as 
well  as  the  interior  dues  on  the  precious  metals.  The 
commercial  wealth  of  Durango  would  soon  fall  into  the 
same  channel.  But  assuming  seven  thousand  men  as 
the  minimum  force  for  this  neighborhood,  including 
the  capital,  Chapultepec,  Pachuca,  Lerma,  and  Toluca, 
I  am  obliged  to  wait  for  further  reinforcements  to 


Poorer  Provinces  not  to  oe  Occupied.        565 

make  up  the  one  column  for  San  Luis.  The  delay  of 
Brigadier-General  Marshall,  who  had  been  expected 
daily  for  nearly  a  week,  is,  therefore,  quite  a  vexatious 
disappointment.  Possibly  before  his  arrival  (should 
the  measles  here  have  earlier  subsided),  I  may  risk  a 
column  of  five  thousand  men,  leaving,  for  a  time,  two 
intermediate  posts  vacant,  and  instruct  the  commander 
(Major-General  Butler)  to  take  into  his  sphere  of  opera 
tion  a  part  of  the  forces  belonging  to  the  base  of  the 
Rio  Grande.  A  detachment  moving  upon  Tula,  and, 
perhaps,  leaving  Victoria  to  the  left,  might  cooperate 
very  advantageously  with  the  forces  at  the  new  centre, 
San  Luis,  and  without  endangering  the  line  of  Mon 
terey,  in  which  direction,  it  is  supposed,  the  Mexicans 
cannot  have  any  formidable  number  of  organized 
troops.  To  concert  the  double  movement,  by  corre 
spondence,  would  be  the  principal  difficulty ;  but  ample 
discretion  would  be  allowed  in  my  general  instructions. 
Many  of  the  States  of  this  republic,  on  account  of 
their  remoteness  from  the  common  centre,  sparseness 
of  population,  and  inability  to  pay  more  than  a  trifle 
in  the  way  of  contributions,  are  not  worth  being  occu 
pied.  Their  influence  on  the  question  of  peace  or  war 
is,  proportionally,  inconsiderable.  As  reinforcements 


56t>          Mints  ^,<J  the  Hands  of  Foreigners. 

arrive,  I  shall  therefore  endeavor  to  occupy  only  the 
more  populous  and  wealthy  States. 

Most  of  the  mints  (all  but  two,  I  learn)  have  been 
farmed  by  foreigners  for  terms  of  years  (unexpired),  on 
the  payment  of  large  sums  in  advance.  The  principal 
mint  (here)  is  in  hands  of  the  British  Consul-General, 
who  paid  down  about  $200,000  in  February  last  for 
the  term  of  ten  years,  and  contracted  to  pay,  currently, 
one  per  centum  on  the  amount  of  coinage.  I  suppose 
myself  bound  to  respect  such  contracts  until  otherwise 
instructed.  Other  mints  pay,  I  am  informed,  one  and 
a  half  per  centum  on  the  money  turned  out.  Hence  a 
direction  in  General  Orders,  No.  395,  to  examine  the 
contracts  between  the  Mexican  Government  and  the 
several  mints.  Those  not  under  contract  will  be  as 
sessed  as  heretofore. 

By  two  conveyances  I  am  expecting  mails  up  from 
Vera  Cruz  in  two  and  four  days.  I  am  anxious  to  re 
ceive  the  views  of  the  Department  on  several  points 
of  importance  to  me  in  this  command. 

The  new  Federal  Executive  and  Congress  are,  as 
yet,  not  installed.  Both,  it  is  believed,  will  be  strongly 
inclined  to  a  peace. 

I  have  the  honor,  etc.,  etc., 

HON.  SECRETARY  OF  WAR.  WINF1ELD    SCOTT. 


Expedition  Against  the  Outlaw  Priest.       567 
Report  No.  43. 

HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY,      ) 
MEXICO,  January  13,  1848.  ) 

SIR: 

I  have  not  had  a  line  from  any  public  office  at 
Washington  of  a  date  later  than  October  26. 

The  spy  company  has  returned  from  Yera  Cruz; 
but  it  seeins  that  despatches  for  me  had  been  intrusted 
to  a  special  messenger  (I  suppose  from  Washington), 
who,  after  a  delay  of  many  days  at  Perote,  came  up 
with  the  company  to  Puebla,  where  he  again  stopped 
and  retained  all  my  letters. 

Brigadier-General  Cadwallader  has  quietly  occupied 
Toluca  and  Lerma.  As  was  known,  the  State  Govern 
ment  had  retired  (thirteen  leagues)  to  Sultepec.  The 
general  has  invited  that  Government  to  provide  for  the 
payment  of  the  assessment  upon  the  State ;  but  there 
has  not  been  yet  time  to  receive  a  reply. 

Some  days  since,  Colonel  Wynkoop,  of  the  1st 
Pennsylvania  Yolunteers,  tendered  his  services  to  go, 
with  a  few  men,  to  seize  the  guerilla  priest,  Jarauta, 
at  the  head  of  a  small  band  that  has  long  been  the 
terror  of  all  peaceable  Mexicans  within  his  reach,  and 
who  has  frequently  had  skirmishes  with  our  detach- 


568  All  Expeditions  Successful. 

ments.  The  colonel  having  missed  that  object,  heard 
that  General  Yalencia  and  staff  were  at  a  distant  haci 
enda,  and  by  hard  riding  in  the  night,  succeeded  in 
capturing  that  general  and  a  colonel  of  his  staff.  I 
consider  this  handsome  service  worthy  of  being  re 
corded. 

Colonel  Hays,  with  a  detachment  of  Texan  Hangers, 
returned  last  night  from  a  distant  expedition  in  search 
of  the  robber  priest.  In  a  skirmish,  without  loss  on 
his  part,  he  killed  some  eight  of  Jarauta's  men,  and 
thinks  that  the  priest  was  carried  off  among  the  many 
wounded. 

The  spy  company,  coming  up  from  Yera  Cruz,  had 
also  a  very  successful  affair  with  a  large  party  of  the 
enemy,  and  captured  some  forty  prisoners,  including 
three  generals. 

The  second  train,  now  out  from  Yera  Cruz  eleven- 
days,  was,  as  I  learn  by  the  enclosed  correspondence, 
attacked  by  a  numerous  body  of  the  enemy,  and  suffered 
a  loss  that  looks  like  a  disaster — the  first  that  we  have 
sustained ;  but  further  details  are  needed. 

I  have  the  honor,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
HON.  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


System  of  Finance  Successful.  569 

Report  No.  44. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,      ) 
MEXICO,  February  2,  1848.  ) 

SIR: 

Since  my  last  report  (January  13),  I  have  received 
from  the  War  Office  letters  dated  November  8  and  IT, 
and  December  14. 

My  orders,  Nos.  362,  376,  and  395  of  the  last  year, 
and  15  of  the  present  (heretofore  forwarded),  will  ex 
hibit  the  system  of  finance  I  have  established  for  the 
parts  of  the  country  occupied  by  this  army. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  export  duties  on  coins,  and 
the  prohibition  of  the  export  of  bars,  varies  materially 
from  your  instructions  of  November  IT,  acknowledged 
above.  I  hope,  for  the  reasons  suggested  in  my  report, 
No.  40  (December  IT),  the  President  may  be  induced 
to  adopt  my  views  in  respect  to  the  precious  metals. 

I  am  without  reports  from  commanders  of  depart 
ments  below,  on  the  progress  made  in  collecting  the 
direct  assessments  under  my  orders  and  circulars.  The 
ctyuntamiento  (city  council)  of  the  capital  has  charged 
itself  with  the  payment,  on  account  of  the  Federal  dis 
trict,  of  $400,000,  of  the  $668,332  per  year,  imposed 


570  War  of  Detail. 

on  the  State  of  Mexico,  and  arrangements  are  in  prog 
ress  to  meet  that  engagement.  Two  months  are  now 
due.  Brigadier-General  Cadwallader,  at  Toluca,  hopes 
soon  to  begin  to  collect,  through  the  ayuntamiento  of 
that  city,  a  large  part  of  the  remainder  of  the  monthly 
assessments,  and  I  have  sent  Colonel  Clarke  with  a 
small  brigade  to  Cueruavaca  (some  forty-three  miles 
south,  on  the  Acapulco  road),  to  complete  the  same 
collection. 

The  war  of  masses  having  ended  with  the  capture 
of  this  city,  the  war  of  detail,  including  the  occupation 
of  the  country,  and  the  collection  of  revenue,  requires  a 
large  additional  force,  as  I  suggested  in  my  despatch, 
No.  34.- 

I  see  that  I  am,  at  Washington,  supposed  to  have 
at  my  command  more  than  thirty  thousand  men.  In 
cluding  the  forces  at  Tampico,  Yera  Cruz,  on  the  line 
thence,  and  in  this  neighborhood,  our  total  does  not  ex 
ceed  twenty-four  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixteen. 
Deducting  the  indispensable  garrisons  and  the  sick,  I 
have  not  left  a  disposable  force  for  distant  expeditions 
of  more  than  four  thousand  five  hundred  men,  and  I  cfo 
not  hear  of  the  approach  of  any  considerable  reenforce- 
ment.  Seven  thousand  men  I  deem  the  minimum 


Many  Cities  to  Occupy — Peace.  571 

number  necessary  to  open  the  important  line  from 
Durango,  through  Zacatecas  and  San  Luis,  to  Tampico. 
Premising  that  I  find  it  impossible  to  obtain  from  the 
volunteers,  at  a  distance,  regular  returns,  I  send  an 
approximate  estimate  of  all  the  forces  under  my  imme 
diate  orders.  The  numbers,  among  the  volunteers, 
afflicted  with  the  measles  and  mumps,  in  this  vicinity, 
continue  to  be  very  great,  and  the  erysipelas  is  common 
among  all  the  corps. 

I  write  in  haste  by  the  express  who  carries  the  pro- 
ject  of  a  treaty  that  Mr.  Trist  has,  at  the  moment, 
signed  with  Mexican  commissioners.  If  accepted,  I 
hope  to  receive,  as  early  as  practicable,  instructions 
respecting  the  evacuation  of  this  country;  the  dispo 
sition  to  be  made  of  wagons,  teams,  cavalry,  and  artil 
lery  horses ;  the  points  in  the  United  States  to  which  I 
shall  direct  the  troops  respectively,  etc.,  etc.  (I  have 
not  yet  read  the  treaty,  except  in  small  part.)  In  the 
same  contingency,  if  not  earlier  recalled  (and  I  under 
stand  my  recall  has  been  demanded  by  two  of  my 
juniors ! ! ),  I  hope  to  receive  instructions  to  allow  me 
to  return  to  the  United  States,  as  soon  as  I  may  deem 
the  public  service  will  permit,  charging  some  other 
general  officer  with  completing  the  evacuation,  which 


572  Reenforcements  Needed. 

ought,  if  practicable,  to  be  finished  before  the  return 
of  the  vomito  /  say  early  in  May. 

In  about  forty  days  I  may  receive  an  acknowledg 
ment  of  this  report.  By  that  time,  if  the  treaty  be  not 
accepted,  I  hope  to  be  sufficiently  reenforced  to  open 
the  commercial  line  between  Zacatecas  and  Tampico. 
The  occupation  of  Queretaro,  Guanajuato,  and  Guada- 
lajura  would  be  the  next  in  importance,  and  some  of 
the  ports  of  the  Pacific,  the  third.  Meanwhile,  the  col 
lection  of  internal  dues  on  the  precious  metals,  and  the 
direct  assessments,  shall  be  continued. 

I  enclose  a  letter  from  Commodore  Shubrick,  and 
have  the  honor  to  remain,  etc.,  etc., 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

HON.  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


Report  No.  45. 

HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY,      i 
MEXICO,  February  9,  1848.  \ 

SIR: 

I  have  received  no  communication  from  the  War 
Department,  or  the  Adjutant -General's  Office,  since 


Machinators  Assured  of  Support.  573 

my  last  report  (No.  44),  dated  the  2d  instant ;  but  slips 
from  newspapers  and  letters  from  "Washington  have 
come  to  interested  parties  here,  representing,  I  learn, 
that  the  President  has  determined  to  place  me  before  a 
court,  for  daring  to  enforce  necessary  discipline  in  this 
army  against  certain  of  its  high  officers !  I  make  only 
a  passing  comment  upon  these  unofficial  announce 
ments  ;  learning  with  pleasure,  through  the  same 
sources,  that  I  am  to  be  superseded  by  Major-General 
Butler.  Perhaps,  after  trial,  I  may  be  permitted  to 
return  to  the  United  States.  My  poor  services  with 
this  most  gallant  army  are  at  length  to  be  requited  as  I 
have  long  been  led  to  expect  they  would  be. 

I  have  the  honor,  etc.,  etc., 

WIN  FIELD   SCOTT. 
HON.  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


CHAPTEE    XXXY. 

SUPPRESSION  OF  OUTLAAVS PEACE  COMMISSIONER TREATY 

SIGNED MEXICAN   OVERTURES COURT   OF    INQUIRY. 

A  CENSURE  of  Mr.  Jay,  on  my  conduct  at  Yera  Cruz, 
is  noticed  above,  at  page  428.  Another  occurs  in  his 
book  (Review  of  the  Mexican  War),  page  207.  Con 
sidering  the  gravity  of  his  character,  this  censure  also 
demands  a  passing  notice. 

Some  three  months  after  entering  the  capital  of 
Mexico  I  issued  an  order  declaring : 

"  The  highways  used,  or  about  to  be  used,  by  the 
American  troops,  being  still  infested  in  many  parts  by 
those  atrocious  bands  called  guerillas  or  rancheros, 
who,  under  instructions  from  the  late  Mexican  authori 
ties,  continue  to  violate  every  rule  of  warfare  observed 


Suppression  of  Outlays.  575 

by  civilized  nations,  it  has  become  necessary  to  an 
nounce  to  all  the  views  and  instructions  of  general 
headquarters  on  the  subject."  And  it  was  added : 
"No  quarter  will  be  given  to  known  murderers  or 
robbers,  whether  guerillas  or  rancheros,  and  whether 
serving  under  [obsolete]  commissions  or  not.  Offend 
ers  of  this  character,  accidentally  falling  into  the  hands 
of  American  troops  [that  is,  without  knowing  their 
character],  wil]  be  momentarily  held  as  prisoners,  that 
is,  not  put  to  death  without  due  solemnity,"  meaning 
(and  it  was  so  prescribed)  a  trial  by  a  council  of  three 
officers.  This  order  Mr.  Jay  denounces  as  harsh  or 
cruel. 

Now  in  charity,  Mr.  Jay  must  be  supposed  to  have 
been  ignorant  of  what  was  universally  known  in  Mex 
ico,  that  the  outlaws,  denounced  in  the  order,  never 
made  a  prisoner,  but  invariably  put  to  death  every  acci 
dental  American  straggler,  wounded  or  sick  man,  that 
fell  into  their  hands — whether  he  was  left  by  accident, 
in  hospital  or  in  charge  of  a  Mexican  family.  And 
Mr.  Jay,  no  doubt,  must  have  known  that  it  is  a  univer 
sal  right  of  war,  not  to  give  quarter  to  an  enemy  that 
puts  to  death  all  who  fall  into  his  hands. 

Rome  time  before  the  date  of  that  order,  Mr  Trist. 


576  The  Peace  Commissioner. 

our  peace  commissioner,  long  my  guest,  reopened  nego 
tiations  at  the  instance  of  the  Mexican  Government,  in 
the  hope  of  terminating  hostilities;  but  early  in  the 
negotiations  he  was  recalled.  I  encouraged  him,  nev 
ertheless,  to  finish  the  good  work  he  had  begun.  The 
Mexican  commissioners,  knowing  of  the  recall,  hesitated. 
On  application,  I  encouraged  them  also,  giving  it  as  my 
confident  belief  that  any  treaty  Mr.  Trist  might  sign 
would  be  duly  ratified  at  "Washington. 

Mr.  Trist  approached  me  at  Jalapa  under  circum 
stances  quite  adverse  to  harmony.  We  had  known 
each  other  very  slightly  at  "Washington,  with,  from 
accident,  evident  feelings  of  mutual  dislike.  With  his 
arrival  I  received  the  most  reliable  information  from 
Washington,  that  his  well-known  prejudice  against  me 
had  had  much  weight  in  his  appointment ;  and  I  re 
membered  that,  on  taking  leave  of  the  President,  he 
told  me  he  intended  or  hoped  to  send  to  reside  at  head 
quarters  with  me,  the  very  eminent  statesman,  Silas 
Wright,  as  peace  commissioner,  with  an  associate — 
leaving  me  half  at  liberty  to  believe,  I  might,  myself, 
be  the  other  commissioner.  What  could  have  been  more 
natural  ?  Writing  to  the  Secretary  of  War  on  this  sub 
ject,  May  20,  1847,  from  Jalapa,  I  said : 


Attempt  to  Subject  the  Commander  to  Him.     577 

"  The  Hon.  Mr.  Benton  has  publicly  declared,  that 
if  the  law  had  passed  making  him  General-in-Chief  of 
the  United  States  armies  in  Mexico,  either  as  lieuten 
ant-general  or  as  junior  major-general  over  seniors,  the 
power  would  have  been  given  him  not  only  of  agreeing 
to  an  armistice  (which  would,  of  course,  have  apper 
tained  to  his  position),  but  the  much  higher  one  of  con 
cluding  a  treaty  of  peace ;  and  it  will  be  remembered 
also,  that  in  my  letter  to  Major-General  Taylor,  dated 
June  12, 1846,  written  at  your  instance  [etc.],  his  power 
to  agree  to  an  armistice  was  merely  adverted  to  in  order 
to  place  upon  it  certain  limitations.  I  understand  your 
letter  to  me  of  the  14th  ultimo,  as  not  only  taking  from 
me,  the  commander  of  an  army,  under  the  most  critical 
circumstances,  all  voice  or  advice  in  agreeing  to  a  truce 
with  the  enemy,  but  as  an  attempt  to  place  me  under 
the  military  command  of  Mr.  Trist;  for  you  tell  Ine 
that  '  should  he  make  known  to  you  in  .writing,  that 
the  contingency  had  occurred  in  consequence  of  which 
the  President  is  willing  that  further  active  military 
operations  should  cease,  you  will  regard  such  notice  as 
a  direction  from  the  President  to  suspend  them  until 
further  orders  from  this  Department.'  That  is,  I  am 
required  to  respect  the  judgment  of  Mr.  Trist,  here,  on 
25 


578  t  Protest. 

passing  events,  purely  military,  as  the  judgment  of  the 
President,  who  is  some  two  thousand  miles  off! 

"  I  suppose  this  to  be  the  second  attempt  of  the  kind 
ever  made  to  dishonor  a  General-in-Chief  in  the  field 
before  or  since  the  time  of  the  French  Convention. 
That  other  instance  occurred  in  your  absence  from 
"Washington  in  June,  1845,  when  Mr.  Bancroft,  Acting 
Secretary  of  War,  instructed  General  Taylor  in  certain 
matters  to  obey  the  orders  of  Mr.  Donaldson,  Charge 
d?  Affaires  in  Texas ;  and  you  may  remember  the  letter 
I  wrote  to  General  Taylor,  with  the  permission  of  both 
Mr.  Bancroft  and  yourself,  to  correct  that  blunder." 


"Whenever  it  may  please  the  President  to  instruct 
me  directly,  or  through  any  authorized  channel,  to  pro 
pose  or  to  agree  to  an  armistice  with  the  enemy,  on 
the  happening  of  any  given  contingency,  or  to  do  any 
other  military  act,  I  shall  most  promptly  and  cheer 
fully  obey  him  ;  but  I  entreat  to  be  spared  the  personal 
dishonor  of  being  again  required  to  obey  the  orders  of 
the  chief  clerk  of  the  State  Department." 


The  Peace  Commissioner.  579 

"  To  Mr.  Trist  as  a  functionary  of  my  Government, 
I  have  caused  to  be  shown  since  his  arrival  here  every 
proper  attention.  I  sent  the  chief  quartermaster  and 
an  aide-de-camp  to  show  him  the  rooms  I  had  ordered 
for  him.  I  have  caused  him  to  be  tendered  a  sentinel 
to  be  placed,  etc.  I  shall,  from  time  to  time,  send  him 
word  of  my  personal  movements,  and  shall  continue  to 
show  him  all  other  attentions  necessary  to  the  discharge 
of  any  diplomatic  function  with  which  he  may  be  en 
trusted." 

The  coolness  between  Mr.  Trist  and  myself  was 
much  aggravated  by  accident.  He  fell  ill  at  Yera 
Cruz,  and  was  obliged  to  take  much  morphine  to  save 
life.  Hence  the  offensive  tone  of  certain  letters.  He 
several  times  relapsed.  At  Puebla,  he  was  again  dan 
gerously  ill,  and  I  placed  him  under  the  special  care 
of  his  and  my  friend,  General  Persifer  F.  Smith,  at 
whose  instance  I  visited  his  charge.  My  sympathy 
became  deeply  interested  in  his  recovery,  when  he  be 
came  my  guest  for  more  than  six  months.  I  never  had 
a  more  amiable,  quiet,  or  gentlemanly  companion.  He 
was  highly  respected  by  the  Mexican  authorities,  and 
foreign  diplomats  residing  in  Mexico.  The  United 


580  Quartering  Troops  in  Cities. 

States  could  not  have  had  a  better  representative.  I 
am  sorry  to  add  that,  poor  and  retaining  all  his  good 
habits  and  talents,  he  has  been  strangely  neglected  by 
his  Government  up  to  this  moment. 

In  occupying  the  capital  and  other  cities,  strict 
orders  were  given  that  no  officer  or  man  should  be  bil 
leted,  without  consent,  upon  any  inhabitant ;  that 
troops  should  only  be  quartered  in  the  established  bar 
racks  and  such  other  public  buildings  as  had  been  used 
for  that  purpose  by  the  Mexican  Government.  Under 
this  limitation,  several  large  convents  or  monasteries, 
with  but  a  few  monks  each,  furnished  ample  quar 
ters  for  many  Americans,  and,  in  every  instance,  the 
parties  lived  together  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  as 
was  attested  by  the  mutual  tears  shed  by  many,  at  the 
separation.  Good  order,  or  the  protection  of  religion, 
persons,  property,  and  industry  were  coextensive  with 
the  American  rule.  The  highways,  also,  were  com 
paratively  freed  from  those  old  pests,  robbers,  or  (the 
same  thing)  rancheros,  who  pillage,  murder  (often)  all 
within  their  power,  including  their  own  priests.  Every 
thing  consumed  or  used  by  our  troops  was  as  regularly 
paid  for  as  if  they  had  been  at  home.  Hence  Mexicans 
had  never  before  known  equal  prosperity ;  for  even  the 


Prosperity  under  the  New  Rule.  581 

spirit  of  revolution,  the  chronic  disease  of  the  country, 
had  been  cured  for  the  time. 

Intelligent  Mexicans,  and,  indeed,  the  great  body 
of  the  people,  felt  and  acknowledged  the  happy  change. 
Hence,  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  a  treaty  had  been 
signed,  political  overtures  from  certain  leaders  were 
made  to  the  General-in-Chief. 

Of  course,  it  was  generally  understood  that,  on  the 
ratification  ef  peace,  about  seven  tenths  of  the  whole 
rank  and  file  of  our  regulars  and  all  volunteers  would 
stand,  ipso  facto,  discharged  from  their  enlistments,  and 
also  that  all  officers  are  always  at  liberty  to  resign 
their  commissions  after  the  execution  of  the  last  order. 
With  the  addition  of  ten  or  twenty  per  centum  to  the 
American  pay,  it  would  certainly  have  been  easy  to 
organize  in  Mexico  an  army  of  select  American  officers 
and  men,  say  of  fifteen  thousand  (to  be  kept  up  to  that 
figure  by  recruits  from  home),  to  serve  as  a  nucleus, 
which,  with  an  equal  native  force,  would  suffice  to  hold 
the  .Republic  in  tranquillity  and  prosperity,  under  a 
new  Government.  The  plan  contemplated  -a  pronun- 
ciamento,  in  which  Scott  should  declare  himself  dicta 
tor  of  the  Republic  for  a  term  of  six  or  four  years, — to 
give  time  to  politicians  and  agitators  to  recover  pacific 


582  Plan  for  Continuing  that  Rule. 

habits,  and  to  learn  to  govern  themselves.  Being 
already  in  possession  of  the  principal  forts,  arsenals, 
founderies,  mines,  ports  of  entry  and  cities,  with  nearly 
all  the  arms  of  the  country,  it  was  not  doubted  that  a 
very  general  acquiescence  would  soon  have  followed. 

The  plan  was  ultimately  declined  by  Scott,  though, 
to  him,  highly  seductive  both  as  to  power  and  fortune, 
on  two  grounds :  1.  It  was  required  that  he  should 
pledge  himself  to  slide,  if  possible,  the  Republic  of 
Mexico  into  the  Republic  of  the  United  States,  which 
he  deemed  a  measure,  if  successful,  fraught  with  ex 
treme  peril  to  the  free  institutions  of  his  country,  and, 
2.  Because,  although  Scott  had,  in  his  official  Report, 
No.  41  (December  25,  1847,  page  560,  above),  sug 
gested  the  question  of  annexation,  President  Folk's 
Government  carefully  withheld  its  wishes  from  him 
thereon. 

The  following  sums  of  money  came  into  the  hands 
of  the  General-in-Chief  in  Mexico.  About  $12,000 
captured  at  Cerro  Gordo ;  $150,000  levied  at  the  capi 
tal,  in  lieu  of  pillage ;  $50,000  (nearly)  produced  by 
the  sale  of  captured  Government  tobacco,  and  two  or 
three  smaller  sums  for  licenses,  etc., — making  a  total 
of  about  $220,000.  The  following  disposition  was 


Scott  Devolves  the  Command  on  flutter.       583 

made  of  this  fund.  A  little  more  than  $63,000  for  ex- 
tra  blankets  and  shoes,  distributed  gratis  among  the 
rank  and  file ;  a  considerable  amount  given  to  wound 
ed  men  ($10  each)  on  leaving  hospital ;  about  $118,000 
remitted  to  "Washington  to  constitute  a  basis  for  an 
Army  Asylum — for  disabled  men,  not  officers,  and  the 
remainder  turned  over,  with  the  command,  to  Major- 
General  Butler. 

The  treaty  of  peace  was  signed,  February  2,  1848, 
and,  in  time,  duly  ratified  at  "Washington,  as  I  had  in 
advance  assured  the  Mexican  authorities  that  it  would 
be.  On  the  18th  of  the  same  month  I  received  the 
President's  instructions  to  turn  over  the  command  of 
the  army  in  Mexico  to  Major-General  William  O.  But 
ler  (which  I  instantly  did,  in  complimentary  terms), 
and  to  submit  myself  to  a  court  of  inquiry — and  such 
a  court  ! — Towson,  Gushing,  and  Belknap  !  * — on  its 
arrival  at  Mexico.  The  same  mail  brought  orders  re 
storing  (from  arrests)  the  three  factious  officers — Major- 

*  Brevet  Brigadier-General  Towson,  president  of  the  court,  was  duly 
brevetted  a  major-general,  and  Colonel  Belknap  brevetted  a  brigadier- 
general  for  their  acceptable  services  hi  shielding  Pillow  and  brow-beating 
Scott.  The  other  member,  General  Gushing,  in  his  pride  as  a  lawyer  and 
scholar,  covered  up  his  opinions  in  nice  disquisitions  and  subtleties  not 
always  comprehended  by  his  associates. 


584:  The  Court  of  Inquiry — Adjourns. 

Generals  Worth  and  Pillow,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Duncan*  —  to  their  former  commands  and  honors. 
Thus  a  series  of  the  greatest  wrongs  ever  heaped  on  a 
successful  commander  was  consummated — in  continu 
ation  of  the  Jackson  persecution. 

After  a  session  of  some  weeks  in  Mexico,  and  some 
progress  made  in  Pillow's  case,  the  court  was  adjourned 
to  meet  next  at  Frederick,  Maryland.  Here  the  ses 
sions  were  continued  long  enough  to  finish  the  white 
washing  of  Pillow  by  the  means  alluded  to.  The 
charges  against  Scott  had  been  withdrawn  under  his 
open  defiance  of  power  and  its  minions,  when  the  court 
was  finally  adjourned  and  dissolved. 

*  These  three  officers  were  not  strictly  confined  to  their  respective 
quarters,  as  by  law  they  must  have  been  but  for  Scott's  special  indulgence 
in  extending  the  limits  of  each,  from  the  beginning  of  the  arrest,  to  the 
city  and  its  environs. 


CHAPTEK    XXXYI. 

RECEPTIONS    AT   NEW    YORK   AND    ELIZABETH OTHERS 

DECLINED BAD    HEALTH. 

ARRIVING  at  Yera  Cruz,  on  my  way  home,  I  had  a 
right  to  select  the  best  steamer  for  my  conveyance,  and 
there  were  several  at  anchor  off  the  castle  in  the  ser 
vice  of  the  army.  But  the  same  reason  that  induced 
me  to  select  non-effectives  for  oarsmen,  the  morning 
after  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane,  and,  on  the  same 
occasion,  to  take  a  broken-down  surgeon  to  attend  me 
toward  Philadelphia,  now  caused  me  to  leave  the 
steamers  at  Yera  Cruz  for  the  benefit  of  the  corps  soon 
to  follow.  Accordingly,  I  embarked  in  a  small  sailing 
brig,  loaded  down  with  guns,  mortars,  and  ordnance 

stores. 

25* 


586  Receptions — Thanks  of  Congress. 

Sunday  morning,  May  20,  we  were,  at  daylight, 
boarded  by  the  health  officer  at  the  Narrows,  and  I 
engaged  a  rowboat  to  take  me  to  my  family  at  Eliza 
beth.  Having  the  Mexican  disease  upon  me,  I  was  in 
great  want  of  repose  and  good  nursing.  I  was,  how 
ever,  overpowered  by  deputations  from  New  York; 
visited  the  city,  and  was  honored  with  a  most  magnifi 
cent  reception  both  civic  and  military. 

At  the  instance  of  Scott,  and  in  compliment  to 
Taylor,  then  the  regular  nominee  of  the  Whigs  for  the 
Presidency,  Scott  was  limited  to  the  command  of  the 
Eastern  Department  of  the  army,  headquarters,  New 
York ;  and  the  command  of  the  Western  Department 
was  assigned  to  the  other  Major-General,  Taylor,  as  in 
the  time  of  the  two  Major-Generals,  Brown  and  Jack 
son,  in  1815,  who  commanded,  down  to  1821,  the 
"  Divisions  "  of  the  North  and  the  South  respectively. 

Joint  Resolution  expressive  of  the  Thanks  of  Congress 
to  Major- General  Winfield  Scott,  and  the  Troops 
under' his  command,  for  their  distinguished  Gal 
lantry  and  good  Conduct  in  the  Campaign  of 
eighteen  hundred  and  forty-seven. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  ly  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the   United  States  of  America, 


Thanks  of  Congress  Continued.  587 

in  Congress  assembled,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress 
be,  and  they  are  hereby,  presented  to  Winfield  Scott, 
Major  -  General  commanding  in  Chief  the  army  in 
Mexico,  and  through  him,  to  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  regular  and  volunteer  corps  under  him,  for  their 
uniform  gallantry  and  good  conduct,  conspicuously 
displayed  at  the  siege  and  capture  of  the  City  of  Yera 
Cruz  and  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  March  twenty- 
ninth,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-seven;  and  in  the 
successive  battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  April  eighteenth; 
Contreras,  San  Antonio,  and  Churubusco,  August  nine 
teenth  and  twentieth ;  and  for  the  victories  achieved  in 
front  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  September  eighth,  eleventh, 
twelfth,  and  thirteenth,  and  the  capture  of  the  metrop 
olis,  September  fourteenth,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty- 
seven,  in  which  the  Mexican  troops,  greatly  superior  in 
numbers,  and  with  every  advantage  of  position,  were 
in  every  conflict  signally  defeated  by  the  American 
arms. 

SEC.  2.  Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United 
States  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  requested  to  cause  to  be 
struck  a  gold  medal,  with  devices  emblematical  of  the 
series  of  brilliant  victories  achieved  by  the  army,  and 
presented  to  Major-General  Winfield  Scott,  as  a  testi- 


588         History  of  the  Lieutenant- Generalcy. 

mony  of  the  high  sense  entertained  by  Congress  of  his 
valor,  skill,  and  judicious  conduct  in  the  memorable 
campaign  of  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-seven. 

SEC.  3.  Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United 
States  be- requested  to  cause  the  foregoing  resolutions 
to  be  communicated  to  Major-General  Scott,  in  such 
terms  as  he  may  deem  best  calculated  to  give  effect  to 
the  objects  thereof. 

Approved,  March  9,  1848. 

It  was  enacted  in  1798,  that  a  lieutenant-general 
should  be  appointed,  and  General  Washington  accepted 
the  office.  The  next  year  the  grade  of  full  general  was 
provided  for,  and  the  law  declared  that  on  filling  the 
latter,  the  former  should  stand  repealed.  On  the  next 
meeting  of  Congress,  President  Adams  being  a  little 
dilatory  in  nominating  to  the  new  place,  the  Father 
of  his  country  died  a  lieutenant-general,  and,  conse 
quently,  the  act  providing  for  that  appointment  was 
never  repealed. 

IN  SENATE. 

February  24,  1849,  Hon.  Mr.  Fitzgerald  "asked 
and  obtained  leave  to  bring  in  a  joint  resolution  to 


The  Lieutenant- Generally  Continued.        589 

confer  upon  Major-General  Winfield  Scott  the  brevet 
rank  of  lieutenant-general,  which  was  read  and  passed 
to  a  second  reading." 

A  motion  to  read  the  resolution  a  third  time  the 
same  day  being  objected  to  by  a  single  Senator,  the 
subject  went  over  for  the  want  of  time,  Congress  being 
within  a  week  of  dissolution. 

July  29,  1850,  Hon.  Mr.  Clemens  submitted  the 
following : 

"  JZesolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs 
be  instructed  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  confer 
ring  by  law  the  brevet  rank  of  lieutenant-general  on 
Major-General  "Winfield  Scott,  with  such  additional 
pay  and  allowances  as  may  be  deemed  proper,  in 
consideration  of  the  distinguished  services  rendered  to 
the  Republic  by  that  officer  during  the  late  war  with 
Mexico." 

Eight  days  later  that  resolution  was  referred  to  the 
Senate's  Military  Committee. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  session  (September  30,  1850), 
Hon.  Jefferson  Davis,  Chairman,  reported  the  follow 
ing  resolution  on  the  same  subject : 

"  fiesolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States 
be,  and  he  is  hereby,  requested  to  refer  to  an  army 


590          Lieutenant- Generalcy  Recommended. 

board  of  officers,  to  be  designated  by  him,  the  follow 
ing  questions,  viz. : 

"  Is  it  expedient  or  necessary  to  provide  for  addi 
tional  grades  of  commissioned  officers  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States ;  and,  if  so,  what  grades,  in  addition 
to  the  present  organization,  should  be  created? " 

This  was  an  ingenious  fetch  of  Mr.  Davis,  not 
doubting  that  jealousies  in  the  service  would  give  a 
quietus  to  the  lieutenant-generalcy ;  but  when  the  report 
came  in,  though  in  reply  to  his  own  call,  he  dropped 
it  as  repugnant  to  his  cherished  hatred.  See  original 
ground  of  his  hostility,  page  198  (note),  above.  Mr. 
Davis,  moreover,  was  the  heir  to  his  father-in-law's 
prejudices  ( — General  Taylor's),  who,  for  a  long  time, 
spurned  him. 

In  pursuance  of  this  request,  the  President  of  the 
United  States  appointed  a  board  of  officers — Generals 
Jesup  (President),  "Wool,  Gibson,  Totten,  Talcott,  Hitch 
cock,  and  Colonel  Crane — who  reported  unanimously, 
as  follows : 

"  Under  the  first  inquiry  referred  to  it,  the  Board 
is  of  opinion  that  it  is  expedient  to  create  by  law  for 
the  army  the  additional  grade  of  lieutenant-general, 
and  that  when,  in  the  opinion  of  the  President  and 


Endeavors  to  Create  the  Rank.  591 

Senate,  it  shall  be  deemed  proper  to  acknowledge  emi 
nent  services  of  officers  of  the  army,  and  in  the  mode 
already  provided  for  in  subordinate  grades,  it  is  expe 
dient  and  proper  that  the  grade  of  lieutenant-general 
may  be  conferred  by  brevet." 

December  17,  1850,  that  report  was  laid  before 
the  Senate,  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Military 
Affairs,  etc. 

January  25,  1851,  Hon.  Mr.  Shields  reported  a 
joint  resolution  in  conformity  with  the  recommendation 
of  the  Military  Board. 

February  13,  1851,  the  joint  resolution  passed  the 
Senate  by  31  votes  to  16,  several  of  its  friends  (among 
them  the  Hon.  Mr.  Clemens)  being  absent. 

HOUSE   OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

March  3,  1851,  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  Hon. 
A.  H.  Stephens  to  call  up,  out  of  turn,  the  joint  reso 
lution  (about  the  ninetieth  of  the  bills,  etc.,  on  the 
Speaker's  table),  when  the  yeas  were  112,  to  72  nays ; 
several  of  the  friends  of  the  measure — among  them  the 
Hon.  Mr.  Gorman — happening  to  be  out  of  their  seats. 
The  same  motion  was  repeated  the  same  evening,  by 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Toombs,  with  a  like  result.  A  change 


592  Subject  Continued. 

of  some  eight  or  ten  votes  would  have  made  a  two- 
thirds  majority. 

IN  SENATE. 

December  8,  1851,  Hon.  Mr.  Clemens  asked  and 
obtained  leave  to  bring  in  a  joint  resolution,  "  author 
izing  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  confer  the 
title  of  lieutenant-general  by  brevet  for  eminent  ser 
vices;  which  was  read  the  first  and  second  time,  by 
unanimous  consent,  and  referred  to  the  Committee  011 
Military  Affairs."  (This  joint  resolution  is  similar  to 
the  one  on  the  same  subject  passed  by  the  Senate  at 
the  preceding  session.) 

December  23,  1851,  the  joint  resolution  was  re 
ported  back  to  the  Senate  without  amendment,  and 
slept  the  remainder  of  the  session. 

December  7,  1852,  (the  second  day  of  the  new 
session,)  Hon.  Mr.  Clemens  again  brought  up  the  same 
resolution  in  the  Senate,  and  it  passed  that  body  on 
the  21st,  by  a  vote  of  34  to  12. 

The  resolution  having  been  again  passed  by  the 
Senate  was  taken  up  in  the  House  by  the  resolute 
Judge  Bailey,  and  passed  through  all  the  forms  of 
legislation  before  resuming  his  seat. 


A  New  Struggle  for  Compensation.          593 

Mr.  Jefferson  Davis,  soon  in  the  Cabinet,  allowed 
of  no  intermission  in  his  hostility.  The  rank  could 
not  be  withheld;  but  he  next  resolved  it  should 
carry  no  additional  compensation,  however  clearly 
embraced.  Yet  he  permitted  the  question  of  com 
pensation  to  go  to  the  Attorney-General ;  but  coupled 
the  reference  with  a  volunteer  argument  of  fourteen 
pages — -against  the  claim  —  he,  himself,  being  pro 
foundly  ignorant  of  law — for  the  benefit  of  the  law- 
officer  of  the  Government !  It  is  true  he  informed 
me  that  he  had  made  the  reference ;  but  I  was  purely 
indebted  to  accident  for  my  knowledge  of  his  legal  ar 
gument. 

To  overcome  this  deadly  enemy,  my  friends  in  the 
two  Houses  of  Congress,  including  quite  a  roll  of 
Democrats,  had  again  to  push  through  all  the  forms 
of  legislation  a  declaratory  provision  that  gave  me 
what  might  reasonably  be  claimed  under  the  first 
enactment.  I  regret  being  unable  to  insert  all  the 
names  of  these  noble  Democrats ;  but  Shields  led  in 
the  Senate,  and  Clingham  in  the  House,  most  trium 
phantly. 

But  I  was  not  even  yet  out  of  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Davis.  The  declaratory  resolution  standing  alone,  he 


594:  Final  Success. 

would  certainly  have  caused  it  to  be  vetoed.  The 
danger  was  perceived  by  all  my  friends,  and  their  next 
step  was  to  embody  it  in  the  Military  Appropriation 
Bill.  Another  triumph.  It  was  the  last  hour  of  the 
administration.  The  President  and  his  whole  Cabinet 
were,  as  is  usual,  in  a  drawing-room  adjoining  the  Sen 
ate  chamber,  and  the  Secretaries  much  on  the  floor  of 
the  latter.  My  friends  appointed  several  of  their  num 
ber  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  engrossing  clerk,  lest,  in 
copying  a  great  number  of  amendments,  he  might  not 
accidentally  leave  out  my  resolution.  And  thus  it 
might  be  said  (with  due  extravagance)  of  another  old 
soldier — 

"  Thrice  he  routed  all  his  foes  and  thrice  he  slew  the  slain." 

On  the  inauguration  of  President  Taylor,  Scott, 
though  again  assuming  the  command  of  the  whole 
army,  continued  his  headquarters  at  New  York,  not 
being  called  to  Washington  on  account  of  the  personal 
hostility  of  the  President ;  but  on  the  succession  of 
President  Fillmore  (in  1850)  the  headquarters  of  the 
General-in-Chief  were  reestablished  at  Washington, 
and  there  continued  till  the  accession  of  President 
Pierce,  when  by  request  of  Scott,  there  was  another 


Nominated  for  the  Presidency.  595 

change  back  to  New  York.  Here  his  office  remained 
down  to  his  retirement  from  command,  in  1861,  though 
his  last  ten  months  on  duty — hard,  disabling  service- 
were  spent  in  Washington. 

Among  the  incidents  of  this  period,  the  autobi- 
ographer's  third  and  greatest  humiliation  in  politics 
must  not  be  omitted.  The  first  (but  slight)  happened 
in  the  Whig  Convention  at  Harrisburg,  in  1839 ;  the 
second  at  the  Philadelphia  Convention  in  1848,  that 
nominated  Taylor.  (Certain  Whigs — several  still  liv 
ing — may  thank  me  that  I  do  not  here  expose  their  vile 
tricks  on  that  occasion ;  but  I  have  long  forgiven  them.) 

In  June,  1852,  the  Whig  Convention  that  met  at 
Baltimore,  to  choose  candidates  to  be  run  in  the  fol 
lowing  November,  for  President  and  Yice-President, 
after  a  great  number  of  ballots  finally  put  the  autobi- 
ographer  in  nomination  for  the  Presidency.  His  com 
petitors,  before  that  body,  were  the  actual  President, 
Mr.  Fillmore,  and  Mr.  Webster,  Secretary  of  State. 
William  A.  Graham,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  was 
chosen  as  the  candidate  for  the  Yice-Presidency  on  the 
same  ticket,  and  General  Pierce  had,  some  time  before, 
been  made  the  Democratic  candidate  for  the  higher 
office. 


596    Indifference  of  /Some,  Hostility  of  Others. 

It  is  very  generally  held  that  the  leaders  of  a  party 
are  bound  to  support  its  regular  nominations,  particu 
larly  such  leaders  as  sought  the  honor  of  nomination 
by  the  body  appointed  to  select  candidates.  Mr.  Fill- 
more,  who  was  ambitious  of  another  executive  term, 
disregarded  this  obligation.  He,  with  several  of  his 
Cabinet,  in  a  huff,  openly  eschewed  the  nomination. 
Mr.  Webster,  already  moribond  (he  died  before  the 
election),  acted  on  the  occasion  as  if  he  had  been  cheated 
out  of  a  rightful  inheritance,  and  stimulated  his  son  and 
several  leading  friends  to  take  an  active  part  on  the 
side  of  his  resentment.  He  failed,  however,  to  influ 
ence  the  vote  of  his  noble  State. 

At  the  election,  Scott  was  signally  defeated — re 
ceiving  only  the  votes  of  Massachusetts,  Yermont, 
Kentucky,  and  Tennessee.  Yirginia,  his  dear  mother 
State,  utterly  repudiated  him — her  wiseacres  preferring 
a  succession  or  two  more  of  pliant  administrations  to 
pave  the  way  for  rebellion  and  ruin. 

The  mortification  of  the  defeated  candidate  was, 
however,  nearly  lost  in  the  following  reflections : 

1.  In  the  nomination  and  election  of  high  function 
aries,  since  the  days  of  "  modern  degeneracy  "  (Jackson- 
ism\  the  virtue  and  wisdom  of  candidates  have  had  but 


Consolations  of  Defeat.  597 

little  if  any  weight,  either  in  primary  movements  or  at 
the  polls.  It  would,  therefore,  be  illogical  to  ascribe 
Scott's  defeat  in  the  election  of  1852,  exclusively  to  his 
demerits — positive  or  comparative. 

2.  Scott  was  a  Whig.     The  conflicts,  however,  be 
tween  Mr.  Clay  and  President  Tyler,  combined  with 
the  ambiguous  position  of  Mr.  "Webster  ("  Where  am  I 
to  go  ? "),  had  pretty  well  run  the  party  wider  ground; 
for  Taylor,  though  nominated  on  the  same  basis,  and 
throwing  out  in  the  canvass  side  glances  at  the  other 
party,  was,  nevertheless,  a  minority  President.      The 
outsiders — Whig  office-seekers — it  is  true,  worked  like 
beavers  for  him ;  but  the  split  in  the  Democratic  ranks 
— running  two  candidates — Cass  and  Yan  Buren — de 
cided  the  election. 

3.  In  1852,  Scott  had  not  one  of  those  adventitious 
helps.     The  Democrats  were  thoroughly  united.     Their 
famished  offiee-toafar^  remembering  their  long  enjoy 
ment  of  the  flesh-pots  of  Government,  were  desperately 
bent  on  the  recovery  of  their  old  livings ;  whereas,  now 
there  was  nothing  left  for  the  outsiders,  the  universal 
Whig  office-holders,  "  a  careless  herd,  full  of  the  pas 
ture," —  "fat  and  greasy  citizens"  —  were  happy  to 
follow  the  example  of  Mr.  Fillmore  and  abstain  from 


598  Thankfulness  at  the  Result. 

any  interference  in  the  election — in  accordance,  also, 
with  the  known  principles  and  wishes  of  Scott.  Hence 
the  issue  went  against  him  as  if  l>y  default. 

For  his  political  defeats,  the  autobiographer  cannot 
too  often  return  thanks  to  God.  As  he  has  said  before, 
they  proved  benefits  to  him.  Have  they  been  such  to 
his  country  ?  This  is  a  point  that  may,  perhaps,  here 
after  be  doubted  by  calm  inquirers. 

The  following  extracts  present  a  subject  that  needs 
no  explanation : 

"  Kansas  and  Scott. 

u  Mr.  Crittenden's  resolution,  in  relation  to  sending 
General  Scott  to  Kansas,  to  take  command  of  the 
United  States  troops  there,  was  taken  up  in  the  Senate, 
yesterday,  and  warmly  discussed.  The  resolution  was 
ably  advocated  by  Senators  Crittenden,  Bell,  Clayton, 
and  Seward,  and  opposed  by  Messrs.  Brown,  of  Missis 
sippi,  Toucey,  Mallory,  and  Mason.  The  Senate  ad 
journed  without  any  decision  on  the  subject.  The 
proposition  to  send  General  Scott  to  Kansas,  with 
power  to  settle  the  difficulties  existing  there  according 
to  his  own  judgment,  appears  to  have  occurred  to  sev- 


Kansas  Difficulties.  599 

eral  persons  simultaneously.  It  was  suggested  by  the 
Albany  Evening  Journal ;  and  Hon.  Robert  C.  Win- 
throp,  in  a  letter  written  early  last  week,  in  reference 
to  the  Kansas  meeting  in  Faneuil  Hall,  says : 

" '  I  cannot  help  thinking  that,  if  the  gallant  veteran, 
who  ought  at  this  moment  to  have  been  at  the  head 
of  the  nation,  and  who  is  still  at  the  head  of  its  army — 
whose  presence  has  almost  as  often  been  the  pledge  of 
peace,  in  scenes  of  strife,  as  it  has  been  of  victory  on 
the  field  of  battle — could  be  sent  at  once  to  Kansas, 
with  full  powers  to  command  and  enforce  a  cessation  of 
lawless  violence  and  conflict,  and  to  put  down  the 
reign  of  terror  in  that  region,  the  dangers  which  now 
threaten  the  peace  of  the  whole  country  might  still  be 
averted.' 

"  But  the  administration  Senators  profess  to  believe 
that  the  Kansas  difficulty  is  <  not  much  of  a  shower,' 
and  the  only  thing  they  recommend  is  to  stop  agitating 
the  matter,  when  the  difficulties  will  settle  themselves 
of  their  own  accord.  But  the  greatest  difficulty  of  all 
they  will  find  will  be  to  stop  the  agitation.  It  must 
be  agitated  until  the  cause  of  the  agitation  shall  have 
been  removed." — New  York  Times,  June  12,  1856. 


600  Proposition  to  Send  Scott  Thither. 

"  If  General  Scott  could  be  sent  to  Kansas  with  in 
structions  to  restore  and  maintain  peace  and  order,  and 
with  a  liberal  discretion  as  to  the  means  to  be  employed 
to  effect  that  object,  we  should  feel  a  moral  certainty 
of  his  triumphant  and  glorious  success.  But  to  send 
him"  there  to  obey  the  instructions  of  Jeff.  Davis  and 
enforce  the  acts  of  the  tyrannical  bogus  Legislature 
would  be  to  lacerate  his  feelings,  tarnish  his  proud 
fame,  and  probably  hasten  his  descent  to  the  tomb. 
As  the  mere  instrument  of  Davis  and  Shannon,  Mar 
shal  Donaldson,  and  { Sheriff '  Jones,  we  do  not  see 
how  he  could  do  better  than  Colonel  Sumner  has  done, 
while  the  employment  would  be  entirely  beneath  his 
position  and  alien  to  his  character.  If  such  be  the 
work  contemplated,  we  trust  a  fitter  instrument  will 
be  selected."— New  York  Tribune,  June  12,  1856. 

During  the  thirteen  years  following  the  peace  with 
Mexico,  but  few  incidents  of  historical  interest  to  the 
autobiographer  occurred. 

As  belonging  to  the  history  of  the  times,  the  sub 
joined  letter  may  be  here  inserted. 

On  the  occasion  of  a  threatened  renewal  of  political 
agitations  in  the  Canadas,  the  autobiographer  being  in- 


The  Canada*.  601 

terrogated  on  the  subject  by  an  eminent  citizen  and  a 
friend,  replied : 


To  John  C.  Hamilton,  Esquire. 

WEST  POINT,  June  29,  1849. 

MY  DEAR  SIR: 

The  news  from  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain 
this  morning  must,  I  think,  increase  the  discontents  of 
our  neighbors  on  the  other  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  lakes  not  a  little ;  and  that  those  discontents 
may  in  a  few  years  lead  to  a  separation  of  the  Canadas, 
New  Brunswick,  etc.,  etc.,  from  England  seems  equally 
probable. 

Will  those  Provinces  form  themselves  into  an  inde 
pendent  nation,  or  seek  a  connection  with  our  Union  ? 
I  think  the  probability  is  greatly  in  favor  of  the  latter. 
In  my  judgment  the  interests  of  both  sides  would  be 
much  promoted  by  annexation — the  several  Provinces 
coming  into  the  Union  on  equal  terms  with  our  pres 
ent  thirty  States.  The  free  navigation  of  the  St.  Law 
rence  is  already  of  immense  importance  to,  perhaps,  a 
third  of  our  present  population,  and  would  be  of  great 

value  to  the  remainder, 
26 


602  The  Ccmadas. 

After  annexation,  two  revenue  cutters  below  Que 
bec  would  give  us  a  better  security  against  smuggling 
than  thirty  thousand  custom-house  employes  strung 
along  the  line  that  separates  us  from  the  British  pos 
sessions  on  our  continent.  I  am  well  acquainted  with 
that  line,  and  know  a  great  deal  about  the  interests 
and  character  of  the  Provincials.  Though  opposed  to 
incorporating  with  us  any  district  densely  peopled  with 
the  Mexican  race,  I  should  be  most  happy  to  fraternize 
with  our  northern  and  northeastern  neighbors. 

What  may  be  the  views  of  our  Executive  Govern 
ment  on  the  subject,  I  know  absolutely  nothing ;  but  I 
think  I  cannot  err  in  saying  that  two  thirds  of  our 
people  would  rejoice  at  the  incorporation,  and  the  other 
third  soon  perceive  its  benefits. 

Of  course  I  am  opposed  to  any  underhanded  meas 
ures  on  our  part,  in  favor  of  the  measure,  or  any 
other  act  of  bad  faith  toward  Great  Britain.  Her 
good  will,  in  my  view  of  the  matter,  is  only  second  to 
that  of  the  Provincials  themselves,  and  that  the  for 
mer  would  soon  follow  the  latter — considering  the  pres 
ent  temper  and  condition  of  Christendom — cannot  be 
doubted. 

The  foregoing  views  I  have  long  been  in  the  habit 


The  Canadas.  603 

of  expressing  in  conversation.     I  give  them  to  you  for 
what  they  may  be  worth. 

Faithfully  yours, 

WIN  FIELD   SCOTT. 
J.  C.  HAMILTON,  ESQ. 

Mr.  Hamilton,  a  pious  son — a  large  contributor  to 
our  early  history — in  the  Life  and  Times  of  his  father,* 
and  also  as  the  editor  of  a  recent  and  most  accurate 
edition  of  the  Federalist — with  a  splendid  introduction 
and  valuable  notes — has  had  the  kindness  to  refer  the 
autobiographer  to  the  following  interesting  facts  in  re 
gard  to  the  Canadas. 

In  the  Articles  of  Confederation -(the  llth)  it  was 
provided :  "  Canada  acceding  to  this  Confederation, 
and  joining  in  the  measures  of  the  United  States,  shall 
be  admitted  into  and  entitled  to  all  the  advantages  of 
this  Union ;  but  no  other  colony  shall  be  admitted  into 
the  same,  unless  such  admission  be  agreed  to  by  nine 
States." 

Several  attempts  were  made  to  bring  those  Prov- 

*  The  exact  title  of  this  able  work  ia—Huitory  of  the  Republic  of  the 
United  States,  as  traced  in  the  Writings  of  Alexander  Hamilton  and  of 
tiis  Contemporaries,  7  vols.  8vo. 


604     Salt  Lake  Expedition — San  Juan  Island. 

inces  (Upper  and  Lower  Canada)  into  the  Union,  down 
to  1797 ;  but  from  various  causes  they  failed,  though  a 
favorite  object  with  a  large  portion  of  the  Union. 

The  expedition  set  on  foot  by  Mr.  Secretary  Floyd, 
in  1857,  against  the  Mormons  and  Indians  about  Salt 
Lake  was,  beyond  a  doubt,  to  give  occasion  for  large 
contracts  and  expenditures,  that  is,  to  open  a  wide  field 
for  frauds  and  peculation.  This  purpose  was  not  com 
prehended  nor  scarcely  suspected  in,  perhaps,  a  year ; 
but,  observing  the  desperate  characters  who  frequented 
the  Secretary,  some  of  whom  had  desks  near  him,  sus 
picion  was  at  length  excited.  Scott  protested  against 
the  expedition  on  the  general  ground  of  inexpediency, 
and  specially  because  the  season  was  too  late  for  the 
troops  to  reach  their  destination  in  comfort  or  even  in 
safety.  Particular  facts,  observed  by  different  officers, 
if  united,  would  prove  the  imputation.  The  Governor 
of  the  Territory,  Mr.  Gumming ;  the  commander  of  the 
troops,  Brigadier  -  General  A.  S.  Johnston,  and  our 
officers,  stood  above  all  suspicion  of  complicity. 

An  incident  occurred  in  1859  on  the  Pacific  coast 
which  the  President  regarded  as  endangering  not  a 
little  our  peaceful  relations  with  Great  Britain.  At  the 
moment  when  commissioners  were  engaged  in  running 


The  Peace  of  the  Country  Jeopardized.       605 

the  boundary  line  between  the  two  countries,  but  differ 
ing  as  to  which  party  the  San  Juan  Island,  in  Puget's 
Sound,  should  be  assigned,  the  question  of  course  re 
verted  to  the  two  paramount  Governments.  Briga 
dier-General  Harney,  who  commanded  our  forces  in 
that  quarter,  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  five  Demo 
cratic  Presidents.  Full  of  blind  admiration  for  his 
patrons,  he  had  before,  in  Florida,  hung  several  In 
dians,  under  the  most  doubtful  circumstances,  in  imita 
tion  of  a  like  act  on  the  part  of  General  Jackson,  in 
the  same  quarter,  and  now,  as  that  popular  hero  gained 
much  applause  by  wrenching  Pensacola  and  all  Middle 
Florida  from  Spain,  in  time  of  peace,  Harney  probably 
thought  he  might  make  himself  President  too,  by  cut 
ting  short  all  diplomacy  and  taking  forcible  possession 
of  the  disputed  island !  Imitations  on  the  part  of  cer 
tain  people  always  begin  by  copying  defects.  Presi 
dent  Buchanan,  however,  well  knowing  the  difference 
in  power  between  Spain  and  Great  Britain,  kindly  in 
quired  of  the  autobiographer  (now  recently  a  cripple 
from  a  fall)  whether,  without  injury,  he  could  go  on  a 
mission  to  Puget's  Sound  ?  The  voyage,  ma  Panama, 
was  promptly  undertaken,  and  Scott  sailed  from  New 
York,  September  20,  1859,  in  The  Star  of  the  West. 


606     Scott  to  the  Pacific — Cheered  ty  cm  Ode. 

Arriving  in  the  Sound,  near  the  British  Governor  at 
Victoria,  a  few  courteous  notes  restored  the  island  to 
its  late  neutral  condition — the  joint  possession  of  the 
two  parties.  It  is  not  known  that  the  protege,  Har- 
ney,  was  even  reprimanded  for  his  rashness.  He  cer 
tainly  was  not  recalled,  although  the  measure  was 
suggested  by  the  writer. 

Perhaps  but  few  readers  will  complain  of  the  inser 
tion,  in  this  narrative,  of  the  following  poem,  written 
by  Mrs.  Scott,  then  in  Paris,  to  cheer  her  husband  on 
in  his  mission  of  peace.  An  English  lady,  a  friend  of 
the  authoress,  begged  permission  to  copy  the  poem, 
which  she  sent  to  the  London  Ladies'  Magazine. 

Oh,  Star  of  the  West !  throw  thy  radiance  benign, 
Unchanging  and  strong,  on  the  warrior's  way ! 

May  the  waves  that  surround  him,  by  favor  divine, 
Be  as  lustrous  and  calm  as  thine  own  cheering  ray. 

"  The  hero  of  many  a  battle  "  goes  now 

More  joyfully  forth  on  a  mission  of  peace : 
Oh  !  Star  of  the  West !  be  the  prototype  thou 

Of  success,  whose  pure  blessings  shall  never  surcease. 

God  prosper  the  barque  that  hath  borrowed  thy  name ! 

Supplications,  heartborn,  to  his  throne  are  address'd 
For  the  good,  and  the  brave,  and  the  pious,  who  claim 

Our  devotion — our  prayers — in  the  "  Star  of  the  West." 


Improvement  in  the  Medical  Staff.          607 

They  go,  all  unarm' d — save,  with  holiest  views — 

The  ills  of  ambition  and  strife  to  arrest ; 
And  the  spirit  of  St.  John  (loved  Apostle)  imbues 

Hearts,  approaching  his  Isle,  in  the  "Star  of  the  "West." 

Unarm' d  they  will  land !  'mid  contention  and  wrath ; 

But,  on  high,  'tis  decreed  that  "  Peacemakers  be  blest." 
They  will  follow,  once  more,  their  long,  long  ocean  path, 

And  regain  their  own  shores,  with  the  "  Star  of  the  West." 

Sail  on,  gallant  Scott !  true  disciple  of  virtue ! 

Whose  justice  and  faith  every  danger  will  breast 
Nor  swerve  in  the  conflict.     Heaven  will  not  desert  you, 

There  are  angels  on  guard  'round  the  "  Star  of  the  West." 

PAJJIS,  October  6, 1859. 


Of  my  many  persevering  efforts  to  improve  the 
condition  of  the  army,  and,  consequently,  its  efficiency, 
several  proofs  have  been  embodied  in  this  narrative. 
The  General  Order  reproduced  at  page  361,  had  in 
view,  mainly,  the  protection  of  the  rank  and  file 
against  the  abuses  of  commissioned  and  non-commis 
sioned  officers.  I  shall  here  add  two  other  measures 
which  greatly  improved  the  comforts  and  usefulness  of 
commissioned  officers  generally.  1.  I  claim  credit  for 
a  long  and  active  correspondence  with  military  com 
mittees  in  the  two  Houses  of  Congress,  resulting  in  the 
law  that  has  given,  since  1834,  the  cumulative  rations 


608    Meets  the  Military  Committee  of  the  House. 

to  our  medical  officers,  that  has  prevented  many  of  the 
most  valuable  from  resigning  on  obtaining  high  profes 
sional  skill  by  experience.  2.  And  I  claim  also  a 
special  agency  in  procuring  the  provision  giving,  since 
1838,  to  "  every  commissioned  officer  of  the  line  or  staff, 
exclusive  of  general  officers"  "  one  additional  ration 
per  diem,  for  every  five  years  he  may  have  served,  or 
shall  serve,  in  the  army  of  the  United  States."  For 
several  years  in  succession  I  had  written  and  pressed 
upon  the  two  military  committees  of  Congress  a  section 
to  that  effect.  Passing  through  "Washington  to  the 
Cherokee  country,  in  1838,  the  Hon.  Gouverneur  Kem- 
ble,  an  intelligent  friend  of  the  army  and  member  of 
the  House  Committee,  called  upon  me  on  the  part  of 
the  body  to  say  that,  although  they  could  report  the 
bill,  and  might  carry  it  in  the  House  against  all  oppo 
sition  ;  yet  if  the  chairman  of  the  committee  (McKay) 
and  another  radical  member  (Walter  Coles)  should 
speak  against  the  measure  in  the  House,  its  passage 
would  be  doubtful.  Hence  the  desire  that  I  should 
meet  the  committee. 

I  found  the  chairman  gruff  and  immovable.  At 
length  he  grumbled  out  — "  Have  you  not  pay 
enough?"  I  rejoined:  "Leave  me  out;  leave  out 


Officers'  Condition  Ameliorated.  609 

the  generals."  He  added,  "Agreed,"  and  thence  the 
service  ration. 

By  that  suggestion,  it  may  be  that  I  have  lost,  up 
to  the  present  time  (twenty-six  years),  the  current  re 
ceipts  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand  dollars  a  year, 
which  would  have  been  a  great  comfort  to  the  declining 
years  of  an  old  soldier,  as  the  bill  might,  in  a  year  or 
two  more,  if  not  in  1838,  have  been  passed — nothing 
being  more  reasonable — without  excluding  the  general 
officers. 

But  an  increase  of  physical  infirmities  admonishes 
me  to  bring  this  narrative  to  a  close.  Happily  but 
little  remains  to  be  added. 

In  the  Presidential  canvass  of  1860,  it  was  plainly 
seen  that  a  disruption  of  the  Union  was  imminent. 
Deeply  impressed  with  the  danger,  I  addressed  a  me 
morial  to  President  Buchanan  on  the  subject,  of  which 
the  following  are  extracts : 

"  OCTOBER  29,  1860. 

"  The  excitement  that  threatens  secession  is  caused 
by  the  near  prospect  of  a  Republican's  election  to  the 
Presidency.  From  a  sense  of  propriety,  as  a  soldier, 
I  have  taken  no  part  in  the  pending  canvass,  and,  as 
always  heretofore,  mean  to  stay  away  from  the  polls. 
26* 


610  Dangers  of  Secession. 

My  sympathies,  however,  are  with  the  Bell  and  Everett 
ticket.  "With  Mr.  Lincoln  I  have  had  no  communica 
tion  whatever,  direct  or  indirect,  and  have  no  recollec 
tion  of  ever  having  seen  his  person ;  but  cannot  believe 
any  unconstitutional  violence  or  breach  of  law,  is  to  be 
apprehended  from  his  administration  of  the  Federal 
Government. 

"  From  a  knowledge  of  our  Southern  population  it 
is  my  solemn  conviction  that  there  is  some  danger  of 
an  early  act  of  rashness  preliminary  to  secession,  viz., 
the  seizure  of  some  or  all  of  the  following  posts  :  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  on  the  Mississippi,  below  New 
Orleans,  both  without  garrisons ;  Fort  Morgan,  below 
Mobile,  without  a  garrison ;  Forts  Pickens  and  McKee, 
Pensacola  Harbor,  with  an  insufficient  garrison  for 
one ;  Fort  Pulaski,  below  Savannah,  without  a  garri 
son;  Forts  Moultrie  and  Sumter,  Charleston 'Harbor, 
the  former  with  an  insufficient  garrison,  and  the  latter 
without  any ;  and  Fort  Monroe,  Hampton  Roads, 
without  a  sufficient  garrison.  In  my  opinion  all  these 
works  should  be  immediately  so  garrisoned  as  to  make 
any  attempt  to  take  any  one  of  them,  by  surprise  or 
coup  de  main,  ridiculous. 

"  With  the  army  faithful  to  its  allegiance,  and  the 


Inauguration  to  be  Prevented.  611 

navy  probably  equally  so,  and  with  a  Federal  Execu 
tive,  for  the  next  twelve  months,  of  firmness  and  mod 
eration,  which  the  country  has  a  right  to  expect — 
moderation  being  an  element  of  power  not  less  than 
firmness — there  is  good  reason  to  hope  that  the  danger 
of  secession  may  be  made  to  pass  away  without  one 
conflict  of  arms,  one  execution,  or  one  arrest  for  trea 
son.  In  the  mean  time  it  is  suggested  that  exports 
might  be  left  perfectly  free — and  to  avoid  conflicts  all 
duties  on  imports  be  collected  outside  of  the  cities,  in 
forts  or  ships  of  war." 

The  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln  was,  per 
haps,  the  most  critical  and  hazardous  event  with  which 
I  have  ever  "been  connected.  In  the  preceding  two 
months*  I  had  received  more  than  fifty  letters,  many 
from  points  distant  from  each  other — some  earnestly 
dissuading  me  from  being  present  at  the  event,  and 
others  distinctly  threatening  assassination  if  I  dared  to 
protect  the  ceremony  by  a  military  force.  The  election 
having  been  entirely  regular,  I  resolved  that  the  Con 
stitution  should  not  be  overturned  by  violence  if  I  could 
possibly  prevent  it.  Accordingly,  I  caused  to  be  organ 
ized  the  elite  of  the  Washington  Volunteers,  and  called 


612       Measures  to  Protect  the  Inauguration. 

from  a  distance  two  batteries  of  horse  artillery,  with 
small  detachments  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  all  regu 
lars. 

In  concert  with  Congressional  Committees  of  ar 
rangements,  the  President  was  escorted  to  and  from 
the  Capitol  by  volunteers — the  regulars,  with  whom  I 
marched,  flanking  the  movement  in  parallel  streets, — 
only  I  claimed  the  place  immediately  in  front  of  the 
President  for  the  fine  company  of  Sappers  and  Miners 
under  Captain  Duane  of  the  Engineers.  To  this  choice 
body  of  men  it  was  only  necessary  to  say :  The  honor 
of  our  country  is  in  your  hands. 

With  a  view  to  freedom  of  movement,  I  remained 
just  outside  of  the  Capitol  Square  with  the  light  bat 
teries.  The  procession  returned  to  the  President's 
mansion  in  the  same  order,  and  happily  the^rovern- 
ment  was  saved. 

To  show  the  new  Administration  that  it  was  from 
no  neglect  of  mine  that  several  of  our  Southern  forts 
had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  I  drew  up  and 
submitted  the  following  defensive  statement  in  March, 
1861: 


Endeavors  to  Hold  the  Southern  Forts.      613 

Southern  Forts. 

October  29,  1860. — I  emphatically,  as  has  been  seen, 
called  the  attention  of  the  President  to  the  necessity  of 
strong  garrisons  in  all  the  forts  below  the  principal 
commercial  cities  of  the  Southern  States,  including,  by 
name,  the  forts  in  Pensacola  Harbor,  etc. 

October  31. — I  suggested  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
that  a  circular  should  be  sent  at  once  to  such  of  those 
forts  as  had  garrisons,  to  be  on  the  alert  against  sur 
prises  and  sudden  assaults.* 

After  a  long  confinement  to  my  bed,  in  New  York, 
I  came  to  this  city  (Washington),  December  12.  Next 
day  I  personally  urged  upon  the  Secretary  of  War  the 
same  views,  viz.:  strong  garrisons  in  the  Southern 
forts — those  of  Charleston  and  Pensacola  Harbors,  at 
once ;  those  on  Mobile  Bay  and  the  Mississippi,  below 
New  Orleans,  next,  etc.,  etc.  I  again  pointed  out  the 
organized  companies  and  the  recruits  at  the  principal 
depots  available  for  the  purpose.  The  Secretary  did 
not  concur  in  one  of  my  views,  when  I  begged  him  to 
procure  for  me  an  early  interview  with  the  President, 

*  Permission  not  granted. 


614        --....  Southern  Forts. 

that  I  might  make  one  effort  more  to  save  the  forts  and 
the  Union. 

By  appointment,  the  Secretary  accompanied  me  to 
the  President,  December  15,  when  the  same  topics, 
secessionism,  etc.,  were  again  pretty  fully  discussed. 
There  being,  at  the  moment,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
President,  no  danger  of  an  early  secession,  beyond 
South  Carolina,  the  President,  in  reply  to  my  argu 
ments  for  immediately  reenforcing  Fort  Moultrie,  and 
sending  a  garrison  to  Fort  Sumter,  said,  in  substance, 
the  time  had  not  arrived  for  doing  so ;  that  he  would 
wait  the  action  of  the  Convention  of  South  Carolina, 
in  the  expectation  that  a  commission  would  be  appoint 
ed  and  sent  to  negotiate  with  him  and  Congress,  re 
specting  the  secession  of  the  State  and  the  property  of 
the  United  States  held  within  its  limits ;  and  that,  if 
Congress  should  decide  against  the  secession,  then  he 
would  send  a  reenforcement,  and  telegraph  the  com 
manding  officer  (Major  Anderson)  of  Fort  Moultrie,  to 
hold  the  forts  (Moultrie  and  Sumter)  against  attack. 

And  the  Secretary,  with  animation,  added:  "We 
have  a  vessel  of  war  (the  Brooklyn)  held  in  readiness 
at  Norfolk,  and  he  would  then  send  three  hundred 
men,  in  her,  from  Fort  Monroe,  to  Charleston."  To 


Southern  Forts.  615 

• 

which  I  replied,  first,  "  That  so  many  men  could  not 
be  withdrawn  from  that  garrison,  but  could  be  taken 
from  New  York.  Next,  that  it  would  then  be  too  late, 
as  the  South  Carolina  Commissioners  would  have  the 
game  in  their  hands — by  first  using,  and  then  cutting 
the  wires ;  that,  as  there  was  not  a  soldier  in  Fort  Sum- 
ter,  any  handful  of  armed  secessionists  might  seize  and 
occupy  it,"  etc.,  etc. 

Here  the  remark  may  be  permitted,  that,  if  the 
Secretary's  three  hundred  men  had  then  (or  some  time 
later)  been  sent  to  Forts  Moultrie  and  Sumter,  ~both 
would  now  have  been  in  the  possession  of  the  United 
States,  and  not  a  battery,  below  them,  could  have  been 
erected  by  the  Secessionists.  Consequently,  the  access 
to  those  forts  from  the  sea  would  now  (the  end  of 
March,  1861)  be  unobstructed  and  free. 

"  The  plan  invented  by  General  Scott  to  stop  seces 
sion  was,  like  all  campaigns  devised  by  him,  very  able 
in  its  details  and  nearly  certain  of  general  success. 
The  Southern  States  are  full  of  arsenals  and  forts, 
commanding  their  rivers  and  strategic  points.  General 
Scott  desired  to  transfer  the  army  of  the  United  States 
to  these  forts  as  speedily  and  as  quietly  as  possible. 


616  Southern  Forts. 

• 

The  Southern  States  could  not  cut  off  communication 
between  the  Government  and  the  fortresses  without  a 
great  fleet,  which  they  cannot  build  for  years — or  take 
them  by  land  without  one  hundred  thousand  men, 
many  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  several  campaigns, 
and  many  a  bloody  siege.  Had  Scott  been  able  to 
have  got  these  forts  in  the  condition  he  desired  them 
to  be,  the  Southern  Confederacy  would  not  now  exist." 
— Part  of  the  Eulogy  pronounced  on  Secretary  Floyd, 
~by  the  Richmond  Examiner,  on  his  reception  at  that 
city. 

The  same  day,  December  15, 1  wrote  the  following 
note : 

"Lieutenant-General  Scott  begs  the  President  to 
pardon  him  for  supplying,  in  this  note,  what  he  omit 
ted 'to  say  this  morning,  at  the  interview  with. which 
he  was  honored  by  the  President.  1.  Long  prior  to 
the  Force  Bill  (March  2,  1833),  prior  to  the  issue  of 
his  proclamation,  and,  in  part,  prior  to  the  passage  of 
the  ordinance  of  nullification — President  Jackson,  un 
der  the  act  of  March  3,  1807 — '  authorizing  the  em 
ployment  of  the  land  and  naval  forces ' — caused  reen- 


Southern  Forts.  617 

* 

forcements  to  be  sent  to  Fort  Moultrie,  and  a  sloop-of- 
war  (the  Natchez),  with  two  revenue  cutters,  to  be  sent 
to  Charleston  Harbor  [all  under  Scott],  in  order  to 
prevent  the  seizure  of  that  fort  by  the  nullifiers,  and  2. 
To  insure  the  execution  of  the  revenue  laws — General 
Scott  himself  arrived  at  Charleston  the  day  after  the 
passage  of  the  ordinance  of  nullification,  and  many  of 
the  additional  companies  were  then  in  route  for  the 
same  destination. 

"President  Jackson  familiarly  said  at  the  time: 
'That,  by  the  assemblage  of  those  forces,  for  lawful 
purposes,  he  was  not  making  war  upon  South  Caro 
lina;  but  that  if  South  Carolina  attacked  them,  it 
would  be  South  Carolina  that  made  war  upon  the 
United  States.' 

"  General  Scott,  who  received  his  first  instructions 
(oral)  from  the  President,  Jackson,  in  the  temporary 
absence  of  the  Secretary  of  War  (General  Cass),  re 
members  those  expressions  well. 

"  Saturday  nigkt,  December  15,  1860." 

December  28. — Again,  after  Major  Anderson  had 
gallantly  and  wisely  thrown  his  handful  of  men  irom 
Fort  Moultrie  into  Fort  Sumter  —  learning  that,  on 
• 


618  Southern  Forts. 

demand  of  South  Carolina,  there  was  great  danger  he 
might  be  ordered  by  the  Secretary  back  to  the  less 
tenable  work,  or  out  of  the  harbor,  I  wrote  this  note  to 
the  Secretary  of  War : 

"Lieutenant-General  Scott  (who  has  had  a  bad 
night,  and  can  scarcely  hold  up  his  head  this  morning) 
begs  to  express  the  hope  to  the  Secretary  of  War — 1. 
That  orders  may  not  be  given  for  the  evacuation  of 
Fort  Sumter ;  2.  That  one  hundred  and  fifty  recruits 
may  instantly  be  sent  from  Governor's  Island  to  ree'n- 
force  that  garrison,  with  ample  supplies  of  ammunition 
and  subsistence,  including  fresh  vegetables,  as  potatoes, 
onions,  turnips,  etc ;  3.  That  one  or  two  armed  vessels 
be  sent  to  support  the  said  fort. 

"  Lieutenant-General  Scott  avails  himself  of  this 
opportunity  also  to  express  the  hope  that  the  recom 
mendation  heretofore  made  by  him  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  respecting  Forts  Jackson,  St.  Philip,  Morgan, 
and  Pulaski,  and  particularly  in  respect  to  Forts  Pick- 
ens  and  McKee,  and  the  Pensacola  Navy  Yard,  in  con 
nection  with  the  last  two  named  works,  may  be  recon 
sidered  by  the  Secretary. 

"  Lieutenant-General  Scott  will  further  ask  the  at 
tention  of  the  Secretary  to  Forts  Jefferson  (Tortugas), 


Southern  ForU.  619 

and  Taylor  (Key  West),  which  are  wholly  national — 
being  of  far  greater  value  even  to  the  most  distant 
points  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  and  the  people  on  the 
upper  waters  of  the  Missouri,  Mississippi,  and  Ohio 
Kivers',  than  to  the  State  of  Florida.  There  is  only  a 
feeble  company  at  Key  West  for  the  defence  of  Fort 
Taylor,  and  not  a  soldier  in  Fort  Jefferson  to  resist  a 
handful  of  fillibusters  or  a  rowboat  of  pirates ;  and  the 
Gulf,  soon  after  the  beginning  of  secession  or  revolu 
tionary  troubles  in  the  adjacent  States,  will  swarm 
with  such  nuisances." 

December  30. — I  addressed  the  President  again,  as 
follows : 

"Lieutenant-General  Scott  begs  the  President  of 
the  United  States  to  pardon  the  irregularity  of  this 
communication.  It  is  Sunday,  the  weather  is  bad, 
and  General  Scott  is  not  well  enough  even  to  go  to 
church. 

"  But  matters  of  the  highest  national  importance 
seem  to  forbid  a  moment's  delay,  and,  if  misled  by 
zeal,  he  hopes  for  the  President's  forgiveness. 

"  Will  the  President  permit  General  Scott,  without 
reference  to  the  War  Department,*  and,  otherwise,  aa 

*  The  Secretary  was  already  suspected. 


620  Southern  Forts. 

secretly  as  possible,  to  send  two  hundred  and  fifty  re 
cruits,  from  New  York  Harbor,  to  reenforce  Fort 
Sumter,  together  with  some  extra  muskets  or  rifles, 
ammunition,  and  subsistence. 

"  It  is  hoped  that  a  sloop-of-war  and  cutter  may  be 
ordered,  for  the  same  purpose,  as  early  as  to-morrow. 

"  General  Scott  will  wait  upon  the  President  at  any 
moment  he  may  be  called  for." 

The  South  Carolina  Commissioners  had  already 
been  many  days  in  Washington,  and  no  movement 
of  defence  (on  the  part  of  the  United  States)  was  per 
mitted. 

I  will  here  close  my  notice  of  Fort  Sumter  by 
quoting  from  some  of  my  previous  reports. 

It  would  have  been  easy  to  reenforce  this  fort  down 
to  about  the  12th  of  February.  In  this  long  delay  Fort 
Moultrie  had  been  rearmed  and  greatly  strengthened, 
in  every  way,  by  the  rebels.  Many  powerful  new  land 
batteries  (besides  a  formidable  raft)  had  been  constructed. 
Hulks,  too,  were  sunk  in  the  principal  channel,  so  as  to 
render  access  to  Fort  Sumter  from  the  sea  impracticable, 
without  first  carrying  all  the  lower  batteries  of  the 
Secessionists.  The  difficulty  of  reenforcing  had  thus 
been  increased  ten  or  twelve  fold.  First,  the  late 


Southern  Forts.  621 

President  refused  to  allow  any  attempt  to  be  made, 
because  he  was  holding  negotiations  with  the  South 
Carolina  Commissioners  ;  afterward,  Secretary  Holt 
and  myself  endeavored,  in  vain,  to  obtain  a  ship  of  war 
for  the  purpose,  and  were  finally  obliged  to  employ  the 
passenger  steamer  the  Star  of  the  West.  That  vessel, 
but  for  the  hesitation  of  the  master,  might,  as  is  gen 
erally  believed,  have  delivered  at  the  fort  the  men  and 
subsistence  on  board.  This  attempt  at  succor  failing, 
I  next  verbally  submitted  to  the  late  Cabinet,  either 
that  succor  be  sent  by  ships  of  war,  fighting  their  way 
by  the  batteries  (increasing  in  strength  daily),  or  that 
Major  Anderson  should  be  left  to  ameliorate  his  con 
dition  by  the  muzzles  of  his  guns ;  that  is,  enforcing 
supplies  by  bombardment,  and  by  bringing  to  merchant 
vessels,  helping  himself  (giving  orders  for  payment),  or, 
finally,  be  allowed  to  evacuate  the  fort,  which,  in  that 
ease,  would  be  inevitable. 

But  before  any  resolution  was  taken — the  late  Secre 
tary  of  the  Navy  making  difficulties  about  the  want 
of  suitable  war  vessels  —  another  Commissioner  from 
South  Carolina  arrived,-  causing  further  delay.  When 
this  had  passed  away,  Secretaries  Holt  and  Toucey, 
Captain  Ward  of  the  Navy  and  myself" — with  the 


Southern  Forts. 

knowledge  of  the  President  (Buchanan) — settled  upon 
the  employment,  under  the  Captain  (who  was  eager  for 
the  expedition),  of  three  or  four  small  steamers,  belong 
ing  to  the  Coast  Survey.  At  that  time  (late  in  Janu 
ary),  I  have  but  little  doubt,  Captain  "Ward  would  have 
reached  Fort  Sumter,  with  all  his  vessels.  But  he  was 
kept  back  by  something  like  a  fauce  or  armistice  made 
(here),  embracing  Charleston  and  Pensacola  Harbors, 
agreed  upon  between  the  late  President  and  certain 
principal  seceders  of  South  Carolina,  Florida,  Louis 
iana,  etc.,  and  this  truce  lasted  to  the  end  of  that  ad 
ministration. 


It  was  not  till  January  3  (when  the  first  Commis 
sioners  from  South  Carolina  withdrew)  that  the  per 
mission  I  had  solicited,  October  31,  was  obtained — to 
admonish  commanders  of  the  few  Southern  forts  (with 
garrisons)  to  be  on  the  alert  against  surprises  and  sud 
den  assaults.  (Major  Anderson  was  not  among  the 
admonished,  being  already  straitly  beleaguered.) 

January  3. — To  Lieutenant  Slemmer,  Command 
ing  in  Pensacola  Harbor : 

"  The  General-in-Chief  directs  that  you  take  meas- 


Southern  Forts.  623 

ares  to  do  the  utmost  in  your  power  to  prevent  the 
seizure  of  either  of  the  fortfe  in  Pensacola  Harbor,  by 
surprise  or  assault — consulting  first  with  the  Command 
er  of  the  Navy  Yard,  who  will,  probably,  have  received 
instructions  to  cooperate  with  you."  (This  order  was 
signed  by  Aide-de-Camp  Lay.) 

It  was  just  before  the  surrender  of  the  Pensacola 
Navy  Yard  (January  12)  that  Lieutenant  Slemmer, 
calling  upon  Commodore  Armstrong,  obtained  the  aid 
of  some  thirty  common  seamen  or  laborers  (but  no  ma 
rines),  which,  added  to  his  forty-six  soldiers,  made  up 
his  numbers  to  seventy-six  men,  with  whom  this  meri 
torious  officer  has  since  held  Fort  Pickens,  and  per 
formed  (working  night  and  day)  an  immense  amount 
of  labor  in  mounting  guns,  keeping  up  a  strong  guard, 
etc.,  etc. 

Early  in  January  I  renewed  (as  has  been  seen)  my 
solicitations  to  be  allowed  to  reenforce  Fort  Pickens ; 
but  a  good  deal  of  time  was  lost  in  vacillations.  First, 
the  President  u  thought,  if  no  movement  is  made  by 
the  United  States,  Fort  McRee  will  probably  not  be 
occupied,  nor  Fort  Pickens  attacked.  In  case  of  move 
ment  by  the  United  States,  which  will  doubtless  be 
made  known  by  the  wires,  there  will  be  corresponding 


624:  Southern  Forts. 

local  movements,  and  the  attempt  to  reenforce  will  be 
useless."  (Quotation  from  a  note  made  by  Aide-de- 
Camp  Lay,  about  January  12,  of  the  President's  reply 
to  a  message  from  me.)  Next,  it  was  doubted  whether 
it  would  be  safe  to  send  reinforcements  in  an  unarmed 
steamer,  and  the  want,  as  usual,  of  a  suitable  naval 
vessel — the  Brooklyn  being  long  held  in  reserve  at 
Norfolk  for  some  purpose  unknown  to  me.  Finally, 
after  I  had  kept  a  body  of  three  hundred  recruits  in 
New  York  Harbor  ready  for  some  time  —  (and  they 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  reenforce,  temporarily, 
Fort  Pickens,  and  to  occupy  Fort  McKee  also)  —  the 
President,  about  January  18,  directed  that  the  sloop- 
of-war  Brooklyn  should  take  a  single  company  (nine 
ty  men  from  Fort  Monroe,  Hampton  Roads),  and  re- 
enforce  Lieutenant  Slemmer,  in  Fort  Pickens,  but 
without  a  surplus  man  for  the  neighboring  fort,  Mc- 
Eee! 

The  Brooklyn,  with  Captain  Yogdes'  Company 
alone,  left  the  Chesapeake,  for  Fort  Pickens,  about 
January  22,  and  on  the  29th,  President  Buchanan, 
having  entered  into  a  quasi  armistice  with  certain 
leading  -seceders  at  Pensacola  and  elsewhere,  caused 
Secretaries  Holt  and  Toucey  to  instruct,  in  n  joint 


Southern  Forts.  625 

note,  the  commanders  of  the  war  vessels  off  Pensacola 
and  Lieutenant  Sleinmer,  commanding  Fort  Pickens, 
to  commit  no  act  of  hostility,  and  not  to  land  Cap 
tain  Vogdes'  Company  unless  that  fort  should  be  at 
tacked  ! 


It  was  known  at  the  Navy  Department  that  the 
Brooklyn,  with  Captain  Yogdes  on  board,  would  be 
obliged  in  open  sea  to,  stand  off  and  on  Fort  Pickens, 
and,  in  rough  weather,  might  sometimes  be  fifty  miles 
off.  Indeed,  if  so  at  sea,  the  fort  might  have  been  at 
tacked  and  easily  carried  before  the  reenforcement 
could  have  reached  the  beach  (in  open  sea),  where 
alone  it  could  land. 

Eespectfully  submitted, 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

HEADQUARTERS  OP  THE  ARMY,      ) 
WASHINGTON,  March  30,  1861.  ) 


WASHINGTON,  March  3,  1861 
DEAR  SIR: 

Hoping  that  in  a  day  or  two  the  new  President 

will  have  happily  passed  through  all  personal  danger, 
27 


626  Of  Four  Plcms,  which  Pursue  f 

and  find  himself  installed  an  honored  successor  of  the 
great  Washington,  with  you  as  the  chief  of  his  Cabinet 
— I  beg  leave  to  repeat  in  writing  what  I  have  before 
said  to  you  orally  —  this  Supplement  to  my  printed 
u  Views  "  (dated  in  October  last)  on  the  highly  disor 
dered  condition  of  our  (so  late)  happy  and  glorious 
Union. 

To  meet  the  extraordinary  exigencies  of  the  times, 
it  seems  to  me  that  I  am  guilty  of  no  arrogance  in  lim 
iting  the  President's  field  of  selection  to  one  of  the 
four  plans  of  procedure  subjoined  : 

I.  Throw  off  the  old  and  assume  a  new  designation 
— the  Union  Party ;  adopt  the  conciliatory  measures 
proposed  by  Mr.  Crittenden  or  the  Peace  Convention, 
and,  my  life  upon  it,  we  shall  have  no  new  case  of 
Secession;  but  on  the  contrary,  an  early  return  of 
many,  if  not  of  all  the  States  which  have  already 
broken  off  from  the  Union.  Without  some  equally 
benign  measure,  the  remaining  slaveholding  States 
will  probably  join  the  Montgomery  Confederacy  in 
less  than  sixty  days — when  this  city,  being  included 
in  a  foreign  country,  would  require  a  permanent  gar 
rison  of  at  least  thirty-five  thousand  troops,  to  protect 
the  Government  within  it. 


Of  Four  Plans,  which  Pursue  ?  627 

II.  Collect  the  duties  on  foreign  goods  outside  the 
ports  of  which  this  Government  has  lost  the  command, 
or  close  such  ports  by  act  of  Congress,  and  blockade 
them. 

III.  Conquer  the  seceded  States  by  invading  armies. 
No  doubt  this  might  be  done  in  two  or  three  years,  by 
a  young  and  able  general — a  Wolfe — a  Desaix,  or  a 
Hoche,  with  three  hundred  thousand  disciplined  men 
[kept  up  to  that  number],  estimating  a  third  for  gar 
risons,   and   the  loss   of   a  yet    greater    number    by 
skirmishes,  sieges,  battles,  and  Southern  fevers.     The 
destruction   of   life   and  property   on  the   other  side 
would   be  frightful — however  perfect  the  moral  dis 
cipline  of  the  invaders.     The  conquest  completed,  at 
that  enormous  waste  of  human  life  to  the  North  and 
Northwest,  with  at  least  $250,000,000  added  thereto, 
and   Cui  l)onof     Fifteen  devastated  Provinces!    not 
to  be  brought  into  harmony  with  their  conquerors; 
but  to  be  held  for  generations  by  heavy  garrisons,  at 
an  expense  quadruple  the  net  duties  or  taxes  which  it 
would  be  possible  to  extort  from  them,  followed  by  a 
Protector  or  an  Emperor. 


628          Literary  Honors  and  Testimonials. 

IY.  Say  to  the  seceded  States —  Wayward  Sisters, 
depart  in  peace  ! 

In  haste,  I  remain, 

Yery  truly  yours, 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
HON.  WILLIAM  H.  SEWAKD. 

But  few  contemporaries  have  been  more  highly 
complimented  with  literary  distinctions  and  testimoni 
als  of  public  esteem  than  the  autobiographer.  A  desig 
nation  of  some  of  those  precious  muniments  he  can 
not  deny  himself  the  pleasure  of  citing  in  this  narra 
tive: 

Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  conferred  the  honorary 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in  September,  1814,  and  the 
year  before  I  had  been  elected  a  member  of  the  Whig 
Society  of  the  same  college. 

Columbia  College,  New  York,  in  1850,  conferred 
on  me  the  honorary  degree  of  LL.D. 

And  in  1861,  a  like  distinction  was  superadded  by 
Harvard  College,  Massachusetts. 

A  cripple,  unable  to  walk  without  assistance  for 
three  years,  Scott,  on  retiring  from  all  military  duty, 


Testimonials.  629 

October  31,  1861  —  being  broken  down  by  recent 
official  labors  of  from  nine  to  seventeen  hours  a  day, 
with  a  decided  tendency  to  vertigo  and  dropsy,  I  had 
the  honor  to  be  waited  on  by  President  Lincoln,  at 
the  head  of  his  Cabinet,  who,  in  a  neat  and  affecting 
address,  took  leave  of  the  worn-out  soldier. 

Testimonials  followed  from  several  States,  Gov 
ernors,  and  Cities,  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  Rah- 
way,  and  Elizabeth  ;  two  from  Philadelphia  —  one 
headed  by  the  Hon.  Horace  Binney,  and  the  other  by 
the  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Ingersoll — each  signed  by  hun 
dreds  of  the  most  substantial  citizens.  A  similar  com 
pliment  was  received  from  St.  Louis,  very  numerously 
signed.  The  City  of  E"ew  York,  in  no  ordinary  terms, 
heaped  upon  the  retired  soldier  her  distinguished 
approbation.  The  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  The 
Union  Defence  Committee,  each  passed  highly  com 
plimentary  resolutions  —  the  first  presented  by  its 
venerable  President,  the  late  Peletiah  Perit,  at  the 
head  of  a  Committee,  and  the  second  by  the  eloquent 
Judge  Edwards  Pierrepont,  on  the  part  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  Defence,  headed  by  Governor  Hamilton 
Fish,  Chairman. 

I  deeply  regret  the  want  of  space  for  all  of  those 


630  Testimonials. 

beautiful  and  honorable  addresses,  and  it  would  be  in 
vidious  to  embody  a  part  only. 

In  his  first  Annual  Message  to  Congress  (Decem 
ber,  1861),  President  Lincoln,  prompted  by  his  own 
kind  and  friendly  nature,  thus  presented  the  autobi- 
ographer  to  the  two  Houses  of  Congress : 

"  Since  your  last  adjournment,  Lieutenant-General 
Scott  has  retired  from  the  head  of  the  army.  During 
his  long  life  the  nation  has  not  been  unmindful  of  his 
merits ;  yet  in  calling  to  mind  how  faithfully  and  ably 
and  brilliantly  he  has  served  his  country,  from  a  time 
far  back  in  our  history,  when  few  now  living  had  been 
born,  and  thenceforward  continually  —  I  cannot  but 
think  we  are  still  his  debtors.  I  submit,  therefore,  for 
your  consideration  what  further  mark  of  consideration 
is  due  to  him  and  to  ourselves  as  a  grateful  people." 

W.  S. 
NEW  YORK,  June  5th,  1864. 


INDEX, 


INDEX. 


ADAMS,  John  Quincy,  President  of 

U.S.,  correspondence  of  Gen. 

Scott  with,  relative  to  serving 

under  Gen.  Macomb,  211-216 

anecdote  of,  215,  216 

predicts  the  yielding  of  J.  C. 

Calhoun,  236 

speech  of,  against  reduction  of 
Scott's  pay  and  abolition  of 
his  office,  367,  368 

ALEXANDER,  Capt.  3d  Infantry,  men 
tioned  and  commended,  490. 

AMERICAN  celebration  of  the  battle 
of  New  Orleans  in  Paris,  Jan. 
8,  1816,  164-167 

ANDERSON, Captain  Robert  (afterward 
Major  &  Brig.  Gen.),  favora 
bly  mentioned  by  Gen.  Scott, 
329,  331,  334 

ANDREWS,  Col.,  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  517 

ARMISTEAD,  Brig. Gen.,  succeeds  Gen. 
Taylor,  264 

ARMISTEAD,  Lieut.,  6th  Infantry,com- 
mended,  517 

ARMY  officers  in  1809,  Capt.  Scott's 
estimate  of,  31-34. 

ARMY  officers,  who  entered  the 
army  in  1808,  general  char 
acter  of,  34-36. 

AROOSTOOK,  the   disputed   territory 
of,   threatened  with   hostile 
collisions,  337 
27* 


AROOSTOOK  difficulty,  Gen.  Scott 
summoned  to  manage,  332- 
334 

memorandum  of  Sec.  of  State  & 
H.  B.  M.  Minister  Fox,  con 
cerning,  338-340 

settled  by  the  management  of 
Gen.  Scott,  338-352 


BACHE,  Capt.  Richard,  published  let 
ters  of,  on  Gen.  Scott's  con 
duct  in  the  Black  Hawk  cam 
paign.  231,  232. 

BAKER,  Col.  E.D.,  commands  Shields' 
brigade  after  latter  is  wound 
ed,  447,  449. 

BARCELONA,  the  steamer,  offered  to 
the  "  Canadian  patriots,"  313, 
314 

hired  by  Gen.  Scott,  314 
sails  up  Niagara  river  toward 

Lake  Erie,  314 

the  British  troops  and  schooners 
threaten  to  fire  upon,  314, 
315 

Gen.  Scott's  remonstrance  con 
cerning,  315,  316 

BARNARD,  Capt  J.  G.  (since  Gen 
eral),  commended,  517 

BATHURST,  Earl,  haughty  and  inso 
lent  letter  of,  to  Sir  George 
Prevost,  75-78 


634 


Index. 


BEAUREGARD,  P.  G.  T.,  Lieut.  (Engi 
neers),  commended,  444, 450, 
471,  480,  501,  508,  534 

BELEN  Gate,  city  of  Mexico,  carried 
by  assault,  525,  526 

BENJAMIN,  Lieut.,  commended,  619 
mortally  wounded,  526 

BENTON,  Hon.  Thomas  H.,  declara 
tions  of,  concerning  treaty 
with  Mexico,  577 
intrigues  of  President  Polk  to 
make  him  Lieutenant  Gen 
eral,  398-401 

BIDDLE,  Capt.C.  J.,  commended,  517 

BIDDLE,  Hon.   Richard,  and  family 

connections,      Gen.      Scott's 

reminiscences  of,  277-280 

speech  of,  in  defence  of  Gen. 

Scott,  in  Congress,  280-284 

BLACK  Hawk  War,  early  services  of 
Brig.  Gen.  Atkinson  in,  217 
Gen.  Scott  sent  to  put  down, 
218 

BLACK,  Lieut.  Col.,  Penn.Vol.,  com 
mended  by  Col.  Childs  and 
Gen.  Scott,  550 

BLISS,  Lieut.  Col.,  chief  of  staff  to 
Gen.  Taylor,  382 

BOERSTLER,  Colonel,  with  his  entire 
force,  captured  near  Beaver 
Dam,  June  23,  1813,  93 

BOTTS,  Benjamin,  one  of  Burr's  coun 
sel,  sketch  of,  13,  14 

BOTD,  Brig  Gen.,  orders  Col.  Scott 
back  from  the  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  90 

assumes  the  chief  command  of 
the  Niagara  frontier,  93 

BRADY,  General,  with  Generals 
Worth,  Wool,  andEustis,  aids 
Gen.  Scott  in  pacifying  the 
citizens  of  the  Northern  fron 
tier,  809 

BRITISH  celebration  of  the  burning 
of  Washington,  at  Paris,  in 
1815,  162,  163 

BROADNAX,  General,of  Virginia,Gen. 
Scott  writes  to,  to  dissuade 
him  from  nullification,  245 


BROCK,   Gen.,   funeral  of,   at  Fort 

George,  67 
Lieut.  Col.  Scott  requests  Fort 

Niagara  to  fire  minute  guns 

during  funeral  of,  in  honor 

of  a  fallen  hero,  67 
pistols  presented  to  Gen.  Scott 

in  1860,  68 
BROOKE,  Maj.Gen.,  anecdote  of,  425, 

note 
BROOKLYN,  Sloop  of  War,  held  in 

reserve   for   some   unknown 

purpose,  624 

finally  sent  to  Pickens,  but  or 
dered  not  to  land  the  troops 

unless  the  fort  was  attacked, 

625 
BROOKS,  Lieut.,  commended  by  Gen. 

Scott,  480,  511,  519 
BROWN,  Maj.  Gen.,  in  command  on 

the  Niagara  frontier,  118 
directs  Gen.  Scott  to   open  a 

camp  of  instruction,  118 
makes  a  descent  on  Fort  Erie, 

July  3,  1814,  121-123 
joins  the  advance  and  bridges 

the  Chippewa,  July  5,  1814, 

127 
orders  forts  George  and  Messas- 

sauga  invested,  136 
attempts  a  stratagem,  136,  137 
is  misled  by  a  report  from  a 

militia  colonel,  137 
orders  Gen.  Scott  to  find  the 

enemy  and  beat  him,  138 
is  wounded  at  battle  of  Lundy's 

Lane,  145 

his  death  in  February,  1828, 208 
BUCHANAN,  James,  President  of  U. 

S.,  memorial  of  Gen.  Scott  to, 

in  October,  1860,  609-611 
attention  of,  called  to  the  ne 
cessity  of  strong  garrisons  to 

Southern  forts,  613 
thinks  there  is  no  danger  of  an 

early  secession,  614 
urgent  appeal  of  Gen.  Scott  to, 

for  early  reinforcements  of 

the  forts,  614,  615 


Index. 


635 


BUCHANAN,  James — 

note  of  Gen.  Scott  to,  Dec.  15, 

616,  617 
note  of  Gen.  Scott  to,  Dec.  30, 

619,  620 
truce  agreed  upon  by,  with  the 

seceders,  622-624 
vacillation  of,  and  hesitation  to 
reinforce  Forts  Pickens  and 
McRee,  623,  624 

BULWER,  Sir  Henry,brilliant  allusion 
of,  to  the  campaign,  538,  539 

BURNET,  Bishop,  introduction,  ix 

BURNETT,  Col.,  mentioned  and  com 
mended,  494 

BURNHAM,  Major,  N.  Y.  V.,  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  446 

BURR,  Aaron,  trial  of,  for  high  trea 
son,  witnessed  by  Mr.  Scott, 
12-17 

BUTLER,  Maj. Gen. William  0.,  move 
ments  of,  554,  556,  565 
supersedes   Gen.   Scott   in  the 
command   of    the    army   in 
Mexico,  573,  583 

BUTLER,  Col.,  mentioned  and  com 
mended,  494 

CAD  WALL  ADER,  Brig.  Gen.,  move 
ments  of  his  brigade,  474, 
475,  478,  479,480,488,  489, 
517,  563,  567,  570 

CAESAR'S  commentaries  on  the  Gallic 
Ware,  introduction,  xi 

CALDWELL,  Major,  commended,  517 

CALHOUN,  John  C.,  referred  to,  17, 

22 

driven  to  adopt  the  dogma  of 
State  rights,  by  President 
Jackson,  183 

CALLENDER'S,  Lieut.  (Artillery),  bat 
tery  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  472 

"CANADIAN  Patriot"  War,  tho, 
brief  sketch  of  events  in,  305- 
307 

action  of  Gen.  Scott  in  sup 
pressing,  307 

CAROLINE,  burning  of  the,  306 


CASEY,  Capt.  Silas  (since  General), 
wounded  at  Chepultepec  and 
commended,  516 

CASS,  Gen.  Lewis,  letter  of,  to  Gen. 
Scott  on  his  course  with  the 
Indians,  230 

letter  of  Gen.  Scott  to,  com 
municating  his  Preston  letter, 
237-244 

CATO,  the  censor's,  history  of  the 
first  and  second  Punic  Wars, 
introduction,  xi 

CERRO  Gordo,  battle  of,  436-451 

CHANDLER,  Gen.,  captured  at  Stony 
Creek,  June  6,  91,  92 

CHANNING,  Rev.W.  E.,  D.  D.,  eulogy 
of,  on  Gen.  Scott,  352-354 

CHAPMAN,  Captain,  5th  Infantry, 
commended,  518 

CHARGE,  as  a  military  phrase,  de 
fined,  132,  133 

CHASE,  Captain,  commended,  518 

CHAUNCEY'S,  Commodore,  strife  with 
Sir  James  Yeo  in  building 
war-ships,  113 

CHEPULTEPEC,  capture  of,  511-521 

CHEROKEES,  Gen.  Scott  ordered  to 
superintend  the  removal  of, 
317 

the  condition,  civilization  and 
relations  of,  with  the  whites 
of  North  Carolina,Tennessee, 
Alabama  and  Georgia,  318, 
319 

Gen.  Scott's  orders  to  the  white 

troops  concerning,    320-322 

Gen.  Scott's  address  to  the,  323- 

325 
good  conduct  of  the  Georgians 

in  removing,  326 
removal    of,    effected   without 
bloodshed  or  serious  suffer 
ing,  327-330 

CHEVES,  Langdon,of  South  Carolina, 
Mr.  Scott's  recollections  of, 
22 

CHILDS,  Bvt.  Col., 3d  Infantry,  com 
mended,  439,  440,  453,  460, 
550 


636 


Index. 


CHIPPEWA,  battle  of,  fought  July  5, 

1814,  127-132 

its  effect  on  the  American  peo 
ple,  134 

CHOLERA,  Asiatic,  attacks  troops  en 
route  to  Black  Hawk  War, 
218,  219 

Gen.  Scott  acts  as  physician  in, 
218,  219 

CHRYSTLER'S  Field,  disaster  at,  Nov. 
11,  109 

CICERO'S  letter  to  Lucceius,  urging 
him  to  write  an  account  of 
his  consulship,  introduction, 
xii,  xiii,  xiv 

CLARENDON,  Lord,  introduction,  ix 

CLEMENS,  Hon.  Jer.,  resolutions  of 
fered  by,  on  the  Lieut.  Gen. 
question,  589,  591,  592 

COCKBURN,  Admiral,  a  freebooter,  162 
anecdote  of,  162,  note 

COLUMBIA  College,  confers  degree 
of  LL.  D.  on  Gen.  Scott, 
1850,  628 

CONTRERAS,  battle  of,  account  of, 
472-476 

CONVICTS  in  the  city  of  Mexico  fire 
on  TJ.  S.  troops,  529 

COURT  Martial  for  the  trial  of  Capt. 
Scott,  37,  40 

CRANE,  Col.  I.  B.,  1st  Artillery,  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  330 

DAVIS,  Jefferson, attempts  to  prevent 
Gen.  Scott's  receiving  the 
rank  of  Lieut.  General,  589, 
590,  593 

permits  and  directs  the  pirating 
and  mutilation  of  Gen.  Scott's 
Tactics    and   Military   Insti 
tutes,  258,  259 
DEARBORN,  Maj.  Gen.,  in  command 

of  the  Niagara  frontier,  86 
sends  Maj.  Gen.  Lewis  to  Stony 

Creek,  91 
is   recalled  from  his  command 

by  the  war  department,  93 
holds  a  council  with  the  Seneca 
*  and  other  Indian  chiefs,  95 


DEHART,  Capt.  W.  C.  (Artillery), 
commended  by  Gen.  Scott, 
551 

DERBY,  Lieut.,  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  450 

DIFFICULTIES  encountered  by  writers 
of  -the  history  of  their  own 
times,  introduction,  xii 

DIMICK,  Major  (afterward  Colonel), 
mentioned  and  commended 
by  Gen.  Scott,  481,  491 

DRAYTON,  William,  of  South  Caroli 
na,  Mr.  Scott's  recollections 
of,  22 

DRUM,  Capt.  (Artillery),  commended, 

519 
mortally  wounded,  526 

DRUMMOND,  Lieut.  Gen.  Sir  Gordon, 
returns  to  the  field  at  Lundy's 
Lane,  bivouacks  on  it  and 
claims  a  victory,  146 

DUNCAN,  Lieut.  Col.,  of  Worth's  Di 
vision,  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  490 

DUNCAN,  Lieut. Col.,  restored  to  com 
mand  by  order  of  Pres.  Polk, 
584 

EDINBURGH  Review,  Jan.  1850,  ex 
tract  from,  on  Lamartine's 
history  of  the  French  revolu 
tion  of  1848,  introduction, 
xvii,  xviii,  xix 

May  1828,Macaulay's  views  on 
condensation  in  historic  an 
nals,  introduction,  xix,  xx 

EDWARDS,  Lewis,  Capt.  Scott's  letter 

to,  in  1811,  41,  42 
sketch  of,  42 

EVERETT,  Edward, Go v.  Mass., address 
of,  to  Gen.  Scott,  334,  335 

EWELL,  Lieut.  R.  S.,  mentioned  and 
commended,  496 

FAIRFIELD,  John,  Gov.  of  Maine, 
Gen.  Scott's  intercourse  with, 
338,  343 

dinner  party  of,  at  Senator 
Evans',  344,  345 


Index. 


637 


FAIRFIELD,  John — 

message  of,  346,  347 
acquiescence  of,  in  Gen.  Scott's 
proposition,  351 

FINANCE,  system  of.  organized  for 
the  army  in  Mexico  by  Gen. 
Scott,  553-572 

FLOYD,  John  B.,  Secretary  of  War, 
Utah  expedition  of,  fraudu 
lent,  604 
note  of  Gen.  Scott  to,  617-619 

FORCED  Contributions,  impossibility 
of  supporting  the  army  in 
Mexico  by,  552 

FORSYTH,  Hon.  John,  joint  memoran 
dum  of,  with  Mr.  Fox,  338- 
341 

FORT  George,  capture  of.  by  Col. 
Scott,  87-91 

FOSTER,  Lieut.  (Engineers),  (since 
Gen.),  mentioned  and  com 
mended,  501 

FOSTER,  William  S.,  Colonel  4th 
Infantry,  commended  by 
Gen.  Scott,  330 

Fox,  H.  S.,  H.B.M.  minister's  mem 
orandum,  with  Mr.  Forsyth, 
338,  341 

FRENCH  and  German  memoirs 
(pour  servir  d  Vhistoire), 
introduction,  xi 

FRENCH  Mills,  American  army  win 
ter  at,  109 

GAINES,  Maj.  Gen.,  conduct  of, 
toward  the  Florida  Indians, 
261,  262 

GAINES,  Maj.  J.  P.,  mentioned  and 
commended,  502,  507,  533 

GANTT,  Lieut.,  7th  Infantry,  killed 
at  Chepultepec,  518 

GARDNER,  Bvt.  1st  Lieut.,  commend 
ed  by  Gen.  Scott,  445,  448 

GRAHAM,  Lieut. Col.,  mentioned  and 
commended  by  Gen.  Scott, 
471,  489 

GRAYSON,  Capt.,  chief  commissary, 
commended  by  Gen.  Scott, 
501,  507,  533 


I  GREENWAY,  Dr.   James,  brief  bio 
graphical  sketch  of,  4-6 

HAGNER,  Lieut.  (Ordnance),  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  446, 
450,  501,  510,  519,  533 

HAMILTON,  Gov.  of  S.  C.,  anecdote 
of,  249,  250 

HAMILTON,  John  C.,  letter  of  Gen. 
Scott  to,  and  extract  from 
articles  of  confederation  by, 
on  annexation  of  Canada, 
601-603 

HAMILTON,  Lieut.  Schuyler,  men 
tioned  and  commended,  501 

HAMMOND,   Lieut.,  commended,  519 

HAMPTON,   Maj.   Gen.,  Gen.   Scott's 

reminiscences  of,  50 
his  interview   with  Dr.  Eustis, 
Secretary  of  War,  51 

HANSON,  Hon.  A.  C.,  of  Maryland, 
his  speech  justifying  Earl 
Bathurst,  78-81 

HARGRAVE,  James,  defended  by 
Scott  when  attacked  by  a 
drunken  bully,  7 

HARNEY,  Col.  (afterward  General), 
his  movements,  439,  440, 
445,  465,  470,  478,  495 

HARVARD  College  confers  degree  of 
LL.  D.  on  Gen.  Scott,  1861, 
628 

HARVEY,  Lt.  Col.,  portrait  of  his  wife 

returned  by  Col.  Scott,  99 
note  concerning,  99,  100 

HARVEY,  Sir  John,  Lieut.  Gen., 
Gov.  New  Brunswick,  Gen. 
Scott's  reminiscences  of,  342, 
343 

Gen.    Scott's     correspondence 
with,  347-352 

HAYS,  Col.  (Texan  Rangers),  pur 
sues  and  skirmishes  with 
the  guerilla  priest  Jarauta, 
568 

HEBERT,  Phil.,  Lieut.,  commended, 
520 

HITCHCOCK,  Lt.  Col.  E.  A.  (afterward 
Maj.  Gen.),  mentioned  and 


638 


Index. 


commended,  423,  449,  500, 

507,  533 
HOOKER,  Capt.  Joseph,  commended, 

519 
HOWARD,  Lt.  Col.,  mentioned  and 

commended,  494,  518,  523 
HUGER,  Capt.,  mentioned  and  com 
mended,  501,  511,  512,  519, 

533 
HUMBOLDT,  Baron  Von,  visits  Gen. 

Scott  repeatedly,  161 

INDIAN  testimony  in  Indian  courts, 

among  the  Creeks,  45 
INDIANS    at    Rock    River,    Scott's 

management  of,  221,  222 
honorable  conduct  of  some,  pris 
oners,  222,  223 

incident  relative  to  one,  a  mur 
derer,  223-226 
Keokuk,  the  able  chief  of,  223, 

227 

conference  with,  226,  227 
festival  and  dances  of,  228,  229 
INFIDELITY   in   William   and   Mary 

College  in  1805,  &c.,  10 
INGERSOLL,  Chas.  J.,  speech  of  in  de 
fence  of  Gen.  Scott's  office 
of  General-in-Chief,  367,  368 
reminiscences  of,  by  Gen.  Scott, 

368,  369 

IRWIN,  Capt.,  Chief  Q.  M.,  commend 
ed  by  Gen.  Scott,  501,  507, 
533 

JACKSON,  Gen.  Andrew,  history  of 
the  controversy  between  him 
and  Gen.  Scott,  196-203 
Gen.  Scott's  letter  to,  201 
his  letter  to  Gen.  Scott,  202 
gives  Gen.  Scott  carte  blanche 
to  thwart  the  designs  of  the 
milliners,  234,  235 
manifests  his  dislike   for  Gen. 

Scott  at  his  own  table,  260 
orders   Gen.  Jesup  to  succeed 
Gen.  Scott,  and  Scott  to  be 
brought  before  a  court  of  in 
quiry,  264 


JACKSON,  Gen.  Andrew — 

sketch  of  his  civil  and  military 
career  by  Gen.  Scott,  265-269 
will  not  approve  or  set  aside 
the  finding  of  the  court  of 
inquiry  in  the  case  of  Gen. 
Scott,  273,  274 

review  of  his  arrest  of  Judge 

Hall,  by  Gen.  Scott,  284-299 

his  death  announced  at  West 

Point  by  Gen.  Scott,  300 
JACKSON,  Lieut.,  commended,  520 
JACOBS,  Capt.,  and  Young  Brant,  at 
tempt    to    kill    Lieut.    Col. 
Scott,  64-66 
JALAPA  abandoned  by  the  Mexicans 

on  Scott's  approach,  452 
delay  at,  for  reinforcements,452 
JAY,  William,   criticisms    on    Gen. 
Scott's  management  in  the 
Mexican  War,  428 
criticisms    on   Scott's    guerilla 

order  considered,  574,  575 
JEFFERSON,   Thomas,   President  of 
the  U.S.,  submits  Burr's  case 
to  Congress,  16 
issues  a  proclamation,  July  2, 

1807,  interdicting   our    har 
bors  and  rivers  to  all  British 
vessels,  18 

restores  prisoners  captured  by 

Scott,  21 
interview  of  Mr.  Scott  with,  in 

1808,  25 

broached  the  doctrine  of  f^ate 
Rights   from    opposition    to 
Washington,  181,  182 
JESUP'S,  General,  battalion,  success 
of,  at  Lundy's  Lane,  141 

scatters  the  Creeks  by  a  too  has 
ty  movement,  263 

denounces  Gen.   Scott  to  the 
President,  263 

is  appointed  his  successor,  264 

fails  signally,  is  removed,  and 
retracts  his  charges  against 
Scott,  264 
JOHNSON,  Dr.  Samuel,  views  of,  in 
relation  to  contemporary  bi- 


Index. 


639 


ography,  &c.,  in  his  life  of 
Addison,  introduction,  xvi, 
xvii 

JOHNSON,  Lieut.  Edward,  commend 
ed,  518 

JOHNSTON,  Lieut.  Col.  A.  Sydney, 
movements  of,  554,  556 

JoHNSTON,Col.  Joseph  E.,  commend 
ed  by  Gen.  Scott,  517 

KEARNY,  Philip,  Capt.  (afterward 
Major  General),  commended 
by  Gen.  Scott,  432, 471,  495, 
496 

KENDEICK,  Capt.  (since  Professor), 
(4th  Artillery),  commended 
by  Gen.  Scott,  550 

KETES,  Lieut.  Erasmus  D.  (afterward 
Gen.),  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  330,  334 

KING,  Rufus,  resolution  of,  for  grad 
ual  emancipation,  187-189 

KIRBY,  Major  E.,  mentioned  and 
commended,  502,  507,  533 

KOSCIUSKO,  Gen.  Scott  corresponds 
with,  160 

LAFAYETTE,  General,  visited  by  Gen. 
Scott,  160 

LAIDLEY,  Lieut.  (Ordnance),  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  446, 
450,  451 

LAY,  Lieut.,  mentioned  and  com 
mended,  501,  507,  533 

LEE,  R.  E.,  Captain  (afterward  Colo 
nel),  mentioned  and  com 
mended,  423,  432,  444,  446, 
450,  471,  473,  479,  480,  484, 
485,  500,  507,  508,  533 

LEIGH,  Hon.  Benj.  Watkins,  sent  as 

a  commissioner  to  S.  C.  246 
letter  of,    to  E.  D.  Mansfield, 

255,  257 

mistakes  of,  at  the  Harrisburg 
Convention,  356,  360 

LINCOLN,  Abraham,  President  U.  S., 
Gen.  Scott's  measures  to  se 
cure  the  safe  inauguration  of, 
611,  612 


|  LINCOLN,  Abraham,  President  U.  S., 
statement  to  the  administration 
of,  concerning  Scott's  previ 
ous  action,  612,  625 

LINDSAY,  Colonel  William,  2d  Ar 
tillery,  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  330 

LONG  SAUT,  the,  rudeness  of  a 
Catholic  Priest  at,  69 

LONGSTREET,  Lieut.,  8th  Inf.,  com 
mended,  518 

LOSSES  of  U.  S.  troops  between 
Puebla  and  Mexico,  530,  531 

LOSSES  of  Mexican  army,  531,  532 

LOVELL,  Mansfield,  Lieut.,  com 
mended,  519 

LOWNDES,  William,  of  South  Caro 
lina,  Mr.  Scott's  recollections 
of,  22 

LUDLOW,  Edmund,  introduction,  ix 

LUNDY'S  Lane,  battle  of,  account  of, 
139-146 


MACOMB,  Major  Gen.,   intrigues  of 
Mr.  Rush  and  others  to  se 
cure  his  appointment  as  Gen- 
eral-in-chief,  209,  211 
he  is  appointed,  211 
objection  of  Gen.  Scott  to  serve 

under  him,  211,  216 
presides  over  the  court  of  in 
quiry  in  Gen.  Scott's  case, 
270 

MCCLELLAN,  Lieut.  George  B.  (after 
ward  Major  General),  com 
mended,  450,  501,  534 

McCLURE,  Brig.  Gen.,  evacuates 
Fort  George,  and  burns  New- 
wark,  New  Niagara,  105 

MclNTOSH,  Lt.  Col.,  has  a  skirmish 
with  the  enemy  near  Jalapa, 
459 

MCKINSTRY,  Justus,  Capt.,  A.  Q.  M., 
commended,  534 

MADISON,  Bishop,  his  injudicious 
management  in  regard  to  in 
fidel  works,  10 

MAGRUDER,  Captain  (artillery),  com- 


640 


Index. 


mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  472,  I 
473,  520 

MARBOIS,  M.  Barbe,  Gen.  Scott's  ac 
quaintance  with,  161,  162 

MARCY,  Gov.  W.  L.,  accompanies 
Gen.  Scott  to  the  Niagara 
frontier,  308 

MARSHALL,  Brig.  Gen.,  at  Jalapa 
with  a  column  of  sick  troops, 
Dec.  22,  1847,  562 

MARTIAL  Law  order  of  Gen.  Scott 
published  in  Mexico,  540- 
549 

MARTIN,  Luther,  one  of  the  counsel 
for  Burr's  defence,  13 

MASON,    Winfield,    heir    of    John 

Winfield,  3 

married    a    daughter    of    Dr. 
Greenway,  3 

MASON,  Capt.  (Engineers),  commend 
ed  by  Gen.  Scott,  470,  501 

MAY,  John  F.  references  to,  11,  12, 
note 

MEDAL,  gold,  presented  to  Gen.  Scott 
by  President  Monroe  by  or 
der  of  Congress,  191 
left  in  the  City  Bank  of  New 
York,  by  the  robbers,  192, 
193 

MERCHANT,  Lieut.,  8th  Inf.,  com 
mended,  518 

MEXICO,  good  order  in,  under  Gen. 
Scott's   administration,    580, 
581 
presidency  of,  offered  to  Gen. 

Scott,  581,  582 
city  of,  surrendered,  527 

MILITIA  of  New  York,  cowardice  of, 
at  Lewiston,  Oct.  12,  1812, 
60 

MILLER,  Capt.  (4th  Artillery),  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  551 

MOLINOS  del  Key,  battle  of,  report 
of  by  Gen.  Scott,  505-507 

MONTESQUIEU'S  Lettres  Persanes, 
smallness  of,  int.  xvii 

MONTGOMERY,  Major,  8th  Inf.,  com 
mended,  518 

MORGAN,  Col.,  ordered  to  move  for 


ward  and  occupy  Contreras, 
474,  478,  493,  494 
disabled  by  a  wound  at  Churu- 

busco,  523 

MOSES  and  Joshua,  as  autobiograph 
ic  writers,  introduction,  xi 

NAPOLEON,  remark  of,  after  his  ab 
dication,  introduction,  xx 

NARES,  life  of  Lord  Burleigh,  size 
of,  introduction,  xvii 

NASSAU  Hall,  Princeton,  confers  de 
gree  of  A.  M.  on  Gen.  Scott, 
1814,  628  l 

NICHOLAS,  Judge  S.  S.,  essays  of, 
reviewed  by  Gen.  Scott,  284- 
289 


OGILVIE,  James,  as  a  teacher  and 
lecturer,  8,  9 

PAGE,  Captain,  commended,  519 

PAIN,  Farmer,  the  Robinson  Crusoe 
of  the  Gut  of  Canso,  account 
of,  82-85 

PAINE,  Mr.,  a  volunteer  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  incident  of,  220 

PATTERSON,  Major  General,  assumes 
command  of  division,  though 
sick,  432,  440 

PAYNE,  Major  M.  M.,  Act.  Insp. 
General,  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  329 

PEACE,  letter  and  brief  essay  of  Gen. 
Scott  on,  377-379 

PEN  ON,  the,  a  fortified  mound  of, 
great  height,  commanding 
the  eastern  approach  to  Mex 
ico,  468,  470 

PEROTE,  Castle  of,  surrendered  to 
Scott  without  firing  a  gun,  452 

PETIGRU,  James  L.,  of  S.  C.,  referred 
to,  244 

PICKETT,  Lieut.,  8th  Inf.,  commend 
ed,  518 

PIERCE,  Brig.  Gen.  Franklin,  ar 
rives  at  Puebla  with  2,500 
men,  459,  465 


Index. 


641 


PIERCE,  Brig.  Gen.  Franklin — 

movements  at  Contreras,  &c., 

483,  484,  485,  494 
PILLOW,   Gen.  Gideon  J.,  procures 
Mr.  Folk's  nomination,  416 

Gen.  Scott's  estimate  of  his 
character,  416 

ordered  to  attack  at  Cerro 
Gordo,  434 

is  wounded  in  that  battle,  437, 
440 

brigade  compelled  to  retire  in 
that  battle,  446 

brings  up  a  reinforcement  of 
1,000  men,  459 

movements  of  division  of,  468, 
469,  471,  472,  474,  483, 487, 
488,  495,  509,  510,  512,  513 

movements  of  his  division,  514, 
517,  520 

relieved   from  arrest    and    re 
stored  to  command  by  order 
of  President  Polk,  584 
PLAN  del  Rio.  Mexico,  enemy  con 
front  Twiggs  at,  431,  432 

a  valley  three  miles  from  Cerro 
Gordo,  432 

topography  of,  444 
PLINY,  the  younger's,  letter  to  Taci 
tus,  introduction,  xiv-xvi 
POLK,    James   Knox,   President    of 
U.  S.,   Scott's   estimate   of, 
380 

duplicity  and  intrigues  of,  398- 
401 

nomination  of,  procured  by 
Gen.  Pillow,  416 

perfidy  of,  415-418 
POLYBIUS    an   autobiographer,    in 
troduction,  xi 
PORTER,  Lieut.,  commended,  519 

wounded,  526 

PRESTON,  Hon.  William  C.,  letter  of 
Gen.  Scott  to,  on  nullifica 
tion,  239-244 

sketch  of,  237 

PREVOST,  Lieut.  Gen.  Sir  George, 
discourtesy  of,  71 

retains  prisoners  whom  he  be 


lieves   to    have    been    born 

British  subjects,  72 
PUEBLA,  stay  of  the  army  at,  453- 

455 
besieged  by   Santa   Anna,  but 

the  besieging  party  repulsed, 

350 
PUNISHMENTS  in  the  army,  arbitrary 

and  illegal,  Gen.  Scott's  order 

concerning,  361-366 

QDEENSTOWN  Heights,  battle  of,  66- 

63 
QUITMAN,   Major  Gen.,    movements 

of  the  division  of,  468,  469, 

478,  483,  497,  512,  513 
movements  of  his  division,  515, 

517,  522,  524,  525,  526,  527, 

528,  535 

RANSOM,  Col.,  commands  a  brigade 
at  Contreras,  580,  493,  517 

RENO,  Lieut.  (Ordnance),  (afterward 
General),  commended,  494, 
519,  534 

RETZ,  Cardinal  de,  apology  of,  for 
writing  his  own  memoirs,  in 
troduction,  vii 

RHETT,  T.  G.,  Lieut.,  A.  C.  S.,  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  551 

RIALL,  Major  General,  reported  as 

returning  to  LewivSton,  137 
is  met  at  Lundy's  Lane,  139 
is  wounded  and  captui-ed  in  the 
battle,  141,  148 

Richmond  Examiner,  testimony  of, 
to  what  would  have  resulted 
had  Scott's  plans  been  adopt 
ed,  615,  616 

RILEY,  Colonel  (afterward  General), 

criticised  and  commended  by 

Gen.   Scott,  417,    446,  448, 

472,  473,  478,  479,  480,  491 

movements  of  his  brigade,  492 

RINGGOLD,  Major,  remark  of,  at  the 
fire  in  Charleston,  251 

RIPLEY,  Brig.  Gen.,  takes  command 
at  Lundy's  Lane,  when  Scott 
is  wounded,  145 


Index. 


RIPLEY,  Brig.  Geii. — 

abandons  the  field,  146 

RIPLEY,  Lieut,  (since  General),  2d 
Artillery,  commended  by 
Gen.  Scott,  446 

ROBINSON,  David,  law  tutor  of  Mr. 
Scott,  11,  12 

ROWE,  Captain  (9th  Infantry),  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  551 

RUFFIN,  Thomas,  incident  of,  11, 12, 
note 

SAN  Augustin,  reconnoissances  to  the 

left  of,  471 

SAN  Cosine,  gate  of,  City  of  Mexico, 
carried  by  assault,  522-524 
SANTA  Anna,  President  of  Mexico, 
attacks  Taylor  at  Agua 
Nueva,  and  Buena  Vista, 
411,  412 

states  his  force  at  25,000  men, 
411 

his  real  force  only  14,048,  412 

his  remarks  in  regard  to  Gen. 
Scott,  417,418 

estimate  of  his  character  by 
Gen.  Scott,  466 

note  offering  an  armistice  sent 
to,  by  Gen.  Scott,  499 

violates  the  armistice,  504 

a  fugitive,  532 

besieges  Puebla,  but  is  repulsed, 

550 

SCOTT,  Henry  L.,  Lieut,  and  Aide-de- 
Camp,  commended  by  Gen. 
Scott,  330,  423,  450,  501, 
507,  533 

SCOTT,  Mrs.  Ann  Mason,  her  mar 
riage  in  1780,  1 

her  ancestry  and  family,  3 
SCOTT,  Mrs.  M.  M.,  poem  of,  on  her 
husband's  voyage  to  the  Pa 
cific  to  settle  the  San  Juan 
Island  difficulty,  606,  607 
SCOTT,  William,  his  ancestry,  1,  2 

marries  Ann  Mason,  in  1780,  1 

a  lieutenant  and  captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  army,  and  a 
successful  farmer,  2 


SCOTT,  William- 
dies  when  Winfield  is  six  years 

of  age,  2 

SCOTT,  Winfield,  his  determination 
to  write  memoirs  of  his  own 
times,  how  occasioned,  in 
troduction,  xxi 

difficulties  and  delays  encoun 
tered,  introduction,  xxi 

object  of  his  memoirs,  introduc 
tion,  xxi 

his  beau  ideal  of  the  size  proper 
for  his  memoirs,  introduction, 
xxii 

date  and  place  of  his  birth,  1 

school  and  college  life,  6 

protects  his  early  teacher,  Jas. 
Hargrave,  from  a  drunken 
bully,  7 

his  recollections  of  James  Ogil- 
vie,  another  teacher,  8,  9 

enters  William  and  Mary  Col 
lege  in  1805,  9 

studies  pursued  in  college,  9 

present  at  the  trial  of  Aaron 
Burr  for  high  treason,  12-17 

volunteers  as  a  coast  guard, 
July  3,  1807,  19 

captures  two  midshipmen  and 
six  oarsmen,  20 

meets  Captain  Fox,  one  of 
these  midshipmen,  in  1816, 
21 

goes  to  South  Carolina  in  Oc 
tober,  1807,  intending  to 
practise'  law  in  Charleston, 
22 

his  reminiscences  of  South  Ca 
rolina  statesmen,  22,  23 

embarks  for  Washington,  via 
New  York,  to  seek  a  com 
mission,  24 

interview  with  President  Jef 
ferson  in  1808,  25 

returns  to  Petersburg,  Ya.,  to 
practise  law,  26 

his  reminiscences  of  Judge 
Taylor,  26,  27 

commissioned  captain  of  light 


Index. 


643 


or  flying   artillery,   May    3, 

1808,  29 

ordered  to  Norfolk  to  embark 

for  New  Orleans,  29 
sails  for  New  Orleans  Feb.  4, 

1809,  30 

reaches  New  Orleans  April  1, 
1809,  30 

returns  to  Virginia  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1809,  31 

rejoins  the  army  in  November, 

1809,  31 

his    estimate    of   the    leading 

army   officers   of  that  date, 

31-34 
tried     by     court-martial,    and 

found  partially  guilty,  37-40 
his  statement  of  the  case,  and 

remarks  on  the  findings,  37- 

40 
returns   again   to   Virginia    hi 

1810,  and    is    domesticated 
with    Hon.    Benj.    Watkins 
Leigh,  41 

his  letter  to  Lewis  Edwards, 
42,  43 

rejoins  the  army  at  Baton 
Rouge  in  the  autumn  of  1 8 1 1 , 
43 

tour  through  the  Indian  coun 
try,  44,  45 

appointed  judge  advocate  in  the 
trial  of  a  colonel,  45 

member  of  General  Hampton's 
staff,  46 

sails  for  Baltimore  as  one  of 
General  Hampton's  suite, 
May  20,  1812,  47 

narrowly  escapes  capture  off 
the  Capes  of  Virginia,  48 

promoted  to  a  lieutenant  colo 
nelcy,  June  21,  1812,  50 

reminiscences  of  Major-General 
Hampton,  51 

ordered  to  Philadelphia  to  col 
lect  and  prepare  troops  for 
the  field,  52 

obtains  orders  to  proceed  to 
Niagara,  53 


SCOTT,  Winfield— 

reflections  on  war,  53 

reports  to  Brig.  Gen.  Smyth, 
near  Buffalo,  Oct.  4,  1812, 
54 

aids  in  cutting  out  two  British 
vessels  at  Fort  Erie,  55,  56 

moves  down  to  Lewiston,  Oct. 
11,  and  reports  to  Major- 
Gen.  Van  Rensselaer,  56 

applies  to  share  in  the  expedi 
tion  to  storm  the  heights  of 
Queenstown,  but  is  refused, 
unless  he  will  serve  under 
Lieut.  Col.  Van  Rensselaer, 
his  junior,  which  he  declines 
to  do,  56,  57 

he  volunteers,  when  the  other 
officers  are  disabled,  to  cross 
and  take  command,  and 
fights  the  battle  of  Queens- 
town  heights,  57-63 

twice  repulses  the  enemy,  and 
forms  to  await  reinforce 
ments,  59,  60 

the  militia  refusing  to  cross  and 
his  troops  being  unwilling  to 
retreat,  he  resolves  to  make 
as  desperate  a  resistance  as 
possible,  but  is  finally  over 
powered  and  compelled  to 
surrender,  61,  62 

is  marched  to  Newark  (since 
Niagara)  as  a  prisoner,  63. 

his  rencontre  with  the  Indians 
Jacobs  and  Brant,  64-66. 

his  rescue  by  Captain  Coffin 
and  the  guard,  66 

his  interview  with  General 
Sheaffe,  66,  67 

requests  Fort  Niagara  to  fire 
minute  guns  in  honor  of  Gen. 
Brock,  67 

Gen.  Brock's  pistols  presented 
to  him  in  1860  by  W.  E. 
Baldwin,  68 

taken  as  a  prisoner  to  Prescott, 
C.  W.,  69 

courtesy  of   Colonel    Pearson 


644 


Index. 


and  other  British  officers  to, 
70,  71 

discourtesy  of  Lieut.  Gen.  Sir 
George  Prevost,  71 

remonstrates  against  his  re 
taining  and  sending  to  Eng 
land  for  trial  prisoners  whom 
he  declares  born  British  sub 
jects,  72 

on  his  return  to  Washington, 
Jan.  1813,  reports  this  con 
duct  to  the  secretary  of  war, 
73,  74 

at  his  solicitation,  Congress 
passes  an  act  of  retaliation,  75 

in  May,  1813,  he  selects  and 
confines  an  equal  number  of 
English  soldiers  as  hostages, 
75 

finds  in  1815  that  the  British 
government  have  released 
the  retained  soldiers,  notwith 
standing  their  threats,  81 

dails  from  Quebec  for  Boston, 
Nov.  20,  1812 

enters  the  Gut  of  Canso,  Dec. 
13,  1812,  82 

his  account  of  Mr.  Pain,  a 
second  Kobinson  Crusoe,  82- 
85 

obtains  supplies  from  farmer 
Pahi,  85 

arriving  in  Washington,  hi 
Jan.  1813,  finds  himself  ex 
changed,  86 

appointed  adjutant-general  with 
rank  of  colonel,  and  pro 
moted  to  the  colonelcy  of  his 
regiment  in  March,  1813,  86 

reports  to  Major  Gen.  Dear 
born  on  the  Niagara  frontier, 
and  organizes  his  staff  for 
effective  service,  87 

leads  the  forlorn  hope  in  the 
capture  of  Fort  George,  87- 
91 

has  his  collar-bone  broken  and 
is  bruised  by  the  explosion 
of  the  magazine,  89 


SCOTT,  Winfield— 

after  the  capture  of  the  Ibrt,  is 
recalled  from  the  pursuit  of 
the  enemy  by  Brig.  Gen. 
Boyd,  90 

commands  the  rear  guard  on  the 
retreat  from  Stony  Creek  to 
Fort  George,  92,  93 

makes  the  farewell  address  to 
Gen.  Dearborn,  93 

leads  several  skirmishes,  &c., 
94,  95 

opens  the  council  with  the  In 
dians,  95 

instructs  the  Indians  not  to  kill 
prisoners  or  scalp  the  dead, 
96 

resigns  the  adjutant-generalcy 
about  midsummer,  98 

in  connection  with  Commodore 
Chauncey  makes  a  descent 
upon  Burlington,  and  after 
ward  upon  York  (now  To 
ronto)  and  captures  the  ene 
my's  stores,  98,  99 

sends  General  Sheaffe  his  pub 
lic  and  private  papers,  and 
Lieut.  Col.  Harvey  the  minia 
ture  of  his  wife,  99 

left  at  Fort  George  with  a  small 
force  by  Wilkinson,  100 

makes  great  exertions  to  put  it 
in  a  state  of  defence,  100 

finds  the  enemy  have  abandon 
ed  the  peninsula,  and  applies 
to  Gen.  Wilkinson  to  send 
boats  to  meet  him  at  the 
mouth  of  Genesee  river,  leav 
ing  McClure  and  the  militia 
at  Fort  George,  101-104 

reports  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
his.  movements,  104-106 

overtakes  Wilkinson's  army  at 
Waddington,  Nov.  6,  107 

captures  Fort  Matilda,  108 

has  a  sharp  action  with  Lieut. 
Col.  Dennis  at  Hooppole 
Creek,  Nov.  11,  108,  109 

his  reflections  on  the  punish- 


Index. 


645 


ment  due  to  the  incapacity 
of  commanders,  1 1 0,  1 1 1 

called  to  Washington  by  the 
President  in  November  1813, 
115 

sent  back  to  command  the 
Niagara  district,  115,  116 

remains  for  two  months  at  Al 
bany,  116,  117 

is  made  brigadier  general,  the 
middle  of  March,  1814,  117 

reports  to  Major  Gen.  Brown, 
near  Buffalo,  March  24, 
1814,  118 

instructs  and  drills  the  troops 
very  thoroughly,  orally  and 
by  written  orders,  119-121 

encounters  imminent  peril  of 
drowning  in  attacking  Fort 
Erie,  123 

pursues  the  enemy  sixteen  miles 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1814, 
124-126 

fights  the  battle  of  Chippewa 
on  the  5th  of  July,  127-132 

pursues  Riall  on  the  7th  of 
July,  135 

fights  the  battle  of  Lundy's 
Lane,  139-146 

guides  General  Brown  in  the 
darkness  to  the  foot  of  the 
lane,  142 

is  severely  wounded  and  car 
ried  off  the  field,  145 

is  promoted  to  the  rank  of  ma 
jor  general,  147 

is  carried  to  Buffalo,  and  thence 
successively  by  slow  stages 
and  with  considerable  stops 
to  Batavia,  Geneva,  Albany, 
New  York,  Princeton,  Phila 
delphia  and  Baltimore,  148- 
152 

is  voted  a  gold  medal  by  Con 
gress,  152 

is  offered  a  command  at  New 
Orleans,  153 

is  made  president  of  a  board  of 
tactics,  154 


SCOTT,  Wiufield — 

presides  over  a  court  of  inquiry 
in  the  case  of  Gen.  Winder, 
154 

is  a  member  and  president  of 
the  board  for  reduction  of 
officers  in  the  army,  and 
offered  the  position  of  Secre 
tary  of  War,  either  perma 
nently  or  ad  interim,  but 
declines,  156 

sails  for  Europe  with  limited 
diplomatic  functions,  157 

his  experiences  and  observa 
tions  there,  157-167 

sets  on  foot  a  celebration  of  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans  in  Par- 
ia,l*4 

gives  a  toast  reflecting  on  Sir 
Edward  Pakenham,  167 

causes  the  publication  of  the 
proceedings  in  a  London  pa 
per,  167 

dines  with  Lord  Holland  seve 
ral  tunes,  168 

rebukes  the  captain  of  the  Bel- 
lerophon  at  his  table,  170 

visits  John  Parish,  Esq.,  of 
Bath,  170 

his  interview  with,  and  remin 
iscences  of,  Lady  Johnson, 
formerly  Miss  Franks,  171- 
174 

his  reflections  on  peace  and 
war,  175-177 

his  views  on  the  abolition  ex 
citement,  177-180 

he  regards  the  doctrine  of  State 
rights  as  one  cause  of  the  re 
bellion,  180-183 

holds  slavery  as  wrong  in  the 
abstract,  184 

view  of  the  evils  of  abrupt  abo 
lition  of  slavery,  184-186 

regards  gradual  emancipation 
preferable,  186 

history  of  the  movements  for 
this  made  by  Hon.  Rufus 
King,  &c.,  186-189 


646 


Index. 


SCOTT,  Winfield — 

his  marriage  with  Miss  Maria 
Mayo,  191 

presentation  of  gold  medal  to, 
by  President  Monroe,  192 

his  reply  to  President  Monroe's 
address,  192 

is  presented  with  a  sword  by 
the  State  of  Virginia,  through 
Gov.  Pleasants,  193, 194 

sword  presentation  to,  by  Gov. 
Tompkins,  on  behalf  of  New 
York,  194-196 

his  replies  to  Gov.  Pleasants 
and  Gov.  Tompkins,  193-196 

his  difficulty  with  Gen.  Jack 
son,  196-203 

publication  of  his  "  Scheme  for 
Restricting  the  use  of  Ar 
dent  Spirits  hi  the  United 
States,"  and  its  result  in  pro 
moting  the  formation  of  tem 
perance  societies  throughout 
the  country,  204,  205 

prepares  his  "  General  Regula 
tions  "  or  "  Military  Insti 
tutes  for  the  Army,"  Wl 81 8, 
and  his  "  Tactics  "  and  "  Mi 
litia  Organization,"  in  1826, 
205,  206 

intrigues  to  prevent  his  ap 
pointment  to  succeed  Gen. 
Brown  as  general-in-chief,  in 
1828,  208-211 

his  correspondence  with  Presi 
dent  Adams  on  the  subject, 
211-216 

ordered  to  the  Northwest  on 
account  of  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  21 8 

acts  as  physician  to  his  troops 
attacked  with  Asiatic  cholera, 
219 

reaches  Prairie  du  Chien,  and 
finds  the  Indians  defeated 
and  the  war  over,  219 

his  management  of  and  confer 
ences  with  the  Indians,  221- 
229 


SCOTT,  Winfield — 

letters  of  Gen.  Cass  and  Capt. 
Richard  Bache,  on  conduct 
of,  230-232 

visits  West  Point,  symptoms  of 
cholera,  233,  234 

called  to  Washington,  and  sent 
at  once  South  to  counteract 
the  designs  of  the  nullifiers, 
234-236 

calls  upon  ex-President  Adams 
— Adams'  prediction,  235, 
236 

his  movements  at  Charleston, 
238 

visits  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  se 
cures  the  Arsenal,  236 

spends  some  time  at  Savannah, 
237 

his  letter  to  the  Hon.  Wm.  C. 
Preston,  with  letter  to  Secre 
tary  Cass  communicating  it, 
237-244 

revisits  Charleston  Harbor  se 
cretly,  244 

finding  a  suspension  of  the  re 
bellion  determined  upon  by 
its  authors,  returns  tempora 
rily  to  New  York,  via  Wil 
mington,  244,  245 

re-embarks  for  Charleston  hi 
January,  245 

writes  to  Gen.  Broadnax,  to 
dissuade  Virginia  from  nul 
lification,  &c.,  245 

meets  Hon.  B.  W.  Leigh,  com 
missioner  from  Va.  at  Charles 
ton,  246 

his  policy  of  forbearance  and 
conciliation,  and  its  effect, 
247-255 

sends  assistance  at  a  fire  in 
Charleston, '2  50-2  5  2 

letter  of  Hon.  B.  W.  Leigh  to 
E.  D.  Mansfield,  in  regard  to 
his  management  at  Charles 
ton,  255-257 

piracy  and  mutilation  of  his 
Tactics  and  Military  Institutes 


Index. 


647 


under  the  direction  of  Jeffer 
son  Davis  and  others,  258- 
259 

embarrassed  by  the  foolish  mis 
management  of  Gen.  Gaines, 
262 

foiled  of  success  by  Major 
General  Jesup's  hasty  action, 
263 

is  denounced  by  Gen.  Jesup, 
who  is  ordered  to  supersede 
him,  263,  264 

is  brought  before  a  court  of  in 
quiry,  consisting  of  Gens. 
Macomb,  Atkinson  and 
Brady,  270 

his  defence  before  the  court  of 
inquiry,  270-273 

his  acquittal  by  the  court,  the 
decision  of  which  President 
Jackson  neither  sets  aside 
nor  approves,  273 

is  offered  a  public  dinner  by 
his  friends  in  New  York  and 
elsewhere,  in  honor  of  his 
acquittal,  but  declines  on  ac 
count  of  the  state  of  the 
country,  276,  277 

reminiscences  of  the  Biddle 
family,  277-280 

speech  of  Hon.  Richard  Biddle 
in  Congress,  in  defence  of, 
280-284 

review  of  Judge  Nicholas'  Es 
says  on  Martial  Law,  dis 
cussing  Gen.  Jackson's  arrest 
of  Judge  Hall  at  New  Orleans 
by,  284-297 

announces  Gen.  Jackson's  death 
at  West  Point,  300 

friendly  relations  of,  with  Pres 
ident  Van  Buren,  301-304 

at  Washington  a  guest  of  the 
President,  Jan.  4, 1838,  306, 
307 

ordered  instantly  to  the  fron 
tier,  307 

prevails  on  Gov.  Marcy  and 
Adj.  Gen.  McDonald  to  ac 


company  him  to  the  scene  of 
difficulties,  308 

visits  repeatedly  all  parts  of 
the  frontier,  310 

addresses  gatherings  of  citizens 
at  all  points,  308 

assisted  by  Gens.  Brady,  Worth, 
Wool  and  Eustis,  309 

brief  summary  of  his  addresses, 
and  their  success,  310-313 

the  connection  of,  with  the 
steamer  Barcelona,  313-317 

effective  remonstrance  of,  to 
the  British  authorities  against 
firing  upon  the  Barcelona, 
315,317 

is  ordered  to  superintend  the 
removal  of  the  Cherokees, 
317 

arrives  at  the  Cheroke*e  agency 
on  the  Hiawassee,  319 

his  general  orders  to  the  white 
troops,  320-322 

his  address  to  the  Cherokees, 
323-325 

his  account  of  the  removal  of 
the  Cherokees,  326-330 

ordered  back  to  Canada  fron 
tier,  331 

visits  Frankfort,  Ky.,  and  Co 
lumbus,  0.,  to  make  contin 
gent  arrangements  for  volun 
teers,  332 

quiets  the  disturbance,  332 

goes  to  Washington  for  instruc 
tions  on  the  Aroostook  diffi 
culty,  332,  333 

aids  in  the  passage  of  two  bills, 
one  calling  out  the  militia  for 
six  months,  the  other  appro 
priating  ten  millions  of  dol 
lars  extra,  333 

Governor  E.  Everett's  address 
to  him,  and  his  reply,  334, 
335 

is  called  upon  for  a  speech  at 
Portland,  Me.,  but  declines, 
336 

finds  great  irritation   and   ex- 


648 


Index. 


citement  at  Augusta,  the 
capital,  336-338 

the  trouble  of,  increased  by  the 
publication  of  the  memoran 
dum  between  the  Secretary 
of  State  and  H.  B.  M.  Minis 
ter,  Mr.  Fox,  338-341 

reminiscences  of  Sir  John 
Harvey,  342,  343 

correspondence  with  Sir  John 
Harvey,  347-352 

effects  a  reconciliation  between 
Gov.  Fairfield  and  Lieut. 
Gov.  Harvey,  345-352 

management  of  Whig  legisla 
tors  at  Senator  Evans'  dinner 
party,  344,  345 

eulogy  of  Dr.  W.  E.  Channing 
on,  352-354 

one  of  the  candidates  for  the 
Presidency  at  the  National 
Convention  in  1839,  355- 
359 

his  supporters  go  over  to  Gen. 
Harrison,  359 

estimate  of  Gen.  Harrison,  359 

estimate  of  John  Tyler,  360, 
361 

becomes  Gen. -in-Chief  of  the 
Army  in  June,  1841,  361 

his  general  orders  on  arbitrary 
and  illegal  punishments  in 
the  army,  361-366 

attempts  made  to  abolish  his  of 
fice,  and  to  cut  down  his  pay 
and  emoluments,  366-368 

defence  of,  by  John  Q.  Adams 
and  Charles  J.  Ingersoll,  367, 
368 

reminiscences  of  Charles  J. 
Ingersoll,  369 

letter  of,  on  slavery,  to  T.  P. 
Atkinson,  370-376 

letter  and  essay  on  peace  by, 
377-379 

estimate  of  the  character  of 
James  K.  Polk,  380 

sends  Gen.  Taylor  to  Corpus 
Christi,  381 


SCOTT,  Winfield— 

estimate  of  Gen.  Taylor's  char 
acter,  382-384 

proposition  to  send  him  to  the 
Rio  Grande ;  Democrats  ob 
ject,  384 

the  "hasty  plate  of  soup," 
"  conquering  a  peace,"  a 
"  fire  upon  the  rear,"  385 

the  gold  medal  to  Gen.  Taylor, 
his  suggestions  concerning  it, 
386-389 

hig  commendation  of  Gen. 
Taylor's  honesty  to  the  com 
mittee,  390,  391 

his  martial  law  order,  to  sup 
press  the  outrages  of  volun 
teers  in  Mexico — not  ap 
proved  by  the  President  or 
Secretary  of  War,  393,  394 

sends  it  to  Gen.  Taylor,  who 
throws  it  aside,  394 

subsequently  published  and 
enforced  by,  in  Mexico,  395, 
396 

the  martial  law  order  of,  as 
published,  540-549 

is  ordered  to  Mexico,  by  the 
War  Department,  397,  398 

Mr.  Folk's  duplicity  and  in 
trigues  to  appoint  Col.  Ben- 
ton  Lieut. -General  and  place 
him  over  Gen.  Scott,  398- 
401 

fails  to  meet  Gen.  Taylor,  and 
his  communications  -with  him 
are  captured  by  the  Mexicans, 
402,  403 

orders  a  part  of  Taylor's  force 
to  descend  to  the  sea  coast 
to  join  his  army  in  an  attack 
on  Vera  Cruz,  404,  405 

Gen.  Taylor's  complaint  con 
cerning  this  order  of,  405, 
406 

reply  of,  to  Gen.  Taylor's  com 
plaints,  406-413 

rendezvous  of  his  transports  at 
the  Lobos  islands,  413 


Index. 


649 


SCOTT,  Winfield— 

his  attack  upon  and  capture  of 

Yera  Cruz  and  the  Castle  of 

San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  413-430 
troubles  of,  in  relation  to  the 

Mexican  campaign,  415-418 
makes  a  reconnoissance  of  Vera 

Cruz,  with  Col.  Totten,  422 
issues  General  Orders  No.  Ill, 

giving  plan  of  battle  of  Cerro 

Gordo,  433 
report  of  the  battle  of  Cerro 

Gordo,    April  19,    1847,  by, 

436-443 

supplemental  report  of  the  bat 
tle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  April  23, 

by,  443-451 
surrender  of  Jalapa  and  Perote, 

to,  452 
delay  at  Jalapa  and  Puebla, 

452-455 

visits  Cholula,  455-458 
composition  of  his  army  from 

Puebla  to  Mexico,  460-465 
crosses  the  Rio  Frio  range  of 

mountains,  466 
his  first  view   of  the  city  of 

Mexico,  467 
reconnoitres    towards   Mexico, 

467-469 
resolves  to  turn  the  lakes,  469, 

470 

arrives  at  San  Augustin,  470 
makes  further  reconnoissances, 

471 
report  of  the  battle  of  Contre- 

ras,  472-476 
report   of  the   battles   of  San 

Antonio,     Churubusco,    &c. 

477-502 
report  of  infraction  of  armistice, 

and    battle    of   Molino   del 

Key,  505-507 
report   of  reconnoissances,  the 

capture  of  Chepultepec,  the 

carrying  of  the  San  Cosme 

and  Belen  gates,  and  the  sur 
render  of  the  city  of  Mexico, 

508-534 

28 


SCOTT,  Winfield— 

general  orders  issued  by,  on 
entering  the  city  of  Mexico, 
535,  536 

grants  a  passport  to  the  wife 
of  Santa  Anna,  537 

issues  a  conciliatory  proclama 
tion  at  Jalapa,  May  11, 1847, 
549 

is  urged  to  support  the  army 
by  forced  contributions,  but 
finds  it  impossible,  552 

system*  of  finance  in  Mexico, 
instituted  by,  553-572 

his  Report  No.  40,  giving  dis 
tances  to  provincial  capitals, 
554-556 

his  Report  No.  41,  detailing  a 
part  of  his  financial  plan, 
556-562 

his  recall  demanded  by  disaf 
fected  officers,  571 

learns  that  he  is  to  be  placed 
before  a  court  martial  for 
daring  to  enforce  discipline 
against  high  officers,  573 

is  superseded  by  Gen.  W.  0. 
Butler,  573 

his  intercourse  with  Mr.  Trist, 
U.  S.  Commissioner  to 
Mexico,  575-580 

maintains  order  in  Mexico,  580, 
581 

is  offered  the  Presidency  of 
that  Republic,  but  declines, 
581,  582 

money  received  by,  in  Mexico, 
how  disposed  of,  582,  583 

instructed  to  submit  himself  to 
a  court  of  inquiry,  consisting 
of  Maj.  Gen.  Towson,  and 
Brig.  Gens.  Belknap  and 
Cushing,  583 

court  of  inquiry  sits  some 
weeks  in  Mexico,  and  then 
adjourns  to  Frederick,  Md., 
584 

charges  against,  in  court  of  in 
quiry,  withdrawn,  584 


650 


Index. 


SCOTT,  Winfield— 

sails  from  Vera  Cruz,  and 
arrives  in  New  York,  May 
20,  1848,  585,  586 

command  limited  to  the  Eastern 
Department  of  the  army,  at 
his  own  instance,  and  in  com 
pliment  to  Gen.  Taylor,  to 
whom  the  Western  Depart 
ment  was  assigned,  586 

resolutions  of  thanks  to,  passed 
by  Congress,  586-£88 

the  action  of  Congress  and  the 
Cabinet,  in  regard  to  con 
ferring  the  Lieutenant  Gen 
eralship  upon,  588-594 

his  headquarters  in  New  York, 
from  1849  to  1850,  and  from 
1852  to  1861,  and  in  Wash 
ington  from  1850  to  1852, 
and  from  Jan.  to  Nov.  1861, 
594,  595 

nominated  for  the  Presidency 
in  June,  1852,  595 

opposition  of  Mr.  Fillmore  and 
Mr.  Webster  to,  596 

his  defeat,  reflections  concern 
ing,  596-598 

proposition  to  send  him  to 
Kansas  in  1856  to  quiet  the 
border  troubles  there,  dis 
cussed  in  the  N.  Y.  Times 
and  Tribune,  598-600 

letter  of,  to  John  C.  Hamilton 
in  regard  to  annexation  of 
Canada,  601-603 

protests  against  Floyd's  Utah 
Expedition,  604 

is  sent  to  Puget's  Sound  to  set 
tle  the  San  Juan  Island  diffi 
culty,  604-606 

measures  urged  and  secured 
by,  to  improve  the  condition 
and  efficiency  of  the  army, 
607-609 

his  memorial  to  President  Bu 
chanan  on  the  danger  of  a 
disruption  of  the  Union,  in 
October,  1860,  609-611 


SCOTT,  Winfield— 

action  of,  at  the  inauguration 
of  President  Lincoln,  611. 
612 

'  his  statement  of  measures  he 
had  recommended  to  the 
administration  of  Mr.  Bu 
chanan,  in  relation  to  seces 
sion,  submitted  to  Mr.  Lin 
coln's  administration,  March, 
1861,  612-625 

letter  of,  to  W.  H.  Seward, 
March  3,  1861,  625-628 

literary  honors  conferred  upon, 
628 

retires  from  active  duty,  Oct. 
31,  1861,  628,  629 

testimonials  from  States  and 
Cities  to,  629 

President  Lincoln's  allusion  to, 
in  his  first  annual  message, 
Dec.  1861,  630 

SEMINOLE  War,  the,  commenced  Dec. 
28,  1835,  and  lasted  seven 
years,  260 

SENECA  and  other  Indians  attack  the 
hostile  Indians  and  take  pris 
oners,  96,  97 

SEWARD,  William  H.,  Secretary  of 
State,  letter  of  Gen.  Scott 
to,  625-628 

SEYMOUR,  Lieut.  (1st  Artillery),  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  446 
SHEAFFE,  General,  interview  with,  at 
Newark   (now  Niagara),  66, 
67 

papers  returned  by  Col.  Scott, 

99 

SHEPHERD,  Lieut.  0.  L.,  3d  Infantry, 
commended  by  Gen.  Scott, 
491 

SHIELDS,  Brig.  Gen.,  efforts  of,  to 
procure  action  on  Scott's  ap 
pointment  as  Lieut.  General, 
591,  593 

severely  wounded  at  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  437,  447 

resumes  his  command,  move 
ments  of,  at  Contreras,  &c., 


Index.  . 


651 


474,475,  477,  479,  483,  492, 

493,  495 
gallant  conduct  of,  at  Contreras, 

481,  485 
movements  of  his  division,  515, 

516,  517,  525 
SIMMONS,  Caton,  of  South  Carolina, 

Mr.  Scott's  recollections  of,  22 
SLAVERY,  letter  of  Gen.  Scott  to  T. 

P.  Atkinson  on,  370-376 
SLAVES,  newly   imported,  incidents 

concerning,  23,  24 
SLEMMER,    Lieut.,     order    of    Gen. 

Scott  to,  622,  623 

SMALL,  Captain,   Penn.  Vol.,   com 
mended   by  Col.  Childs  and 

Gen.  Scott,  550 
SMITH,  C.  F.,  Lieut.  Col.  (afterward 

Brig.  Gen.),  440,  449,  471, 

488 
SMITH,  G.  W.,   Lieut.,  commended 

by  Gen.  Scott,  450,481,484, 

501,  534 
SMITH,  Major  J.  L.,  mentioned  and 

commended,  500 
SMITH,  Gen.  Persifer  F.,  movements 

of  his  division,  515,  517 
mentioned      and    commended, 

439,  473,  478,  479,  484,  491, 

579 

SMITH,  Capt.  I.  M.,  3d  Infantry,  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  491 
SMYTH,  Brig.    Gen.  Alexander,   re 
miniscences  of,  54,  note 
SOLDIERS  of  British  birth,  released 

by  the  British  government  in 

1815,  81 
STEAMER,  the  first  that  descended  the 

Mississippi   to  New  Orleans, 

seen  by  Scott,  Dec.  25, 1811, 

46 

STEELE,  Lieut.,  2d  Inf.,  commend 
ed,  518 
STEPTOE,  Capt.,  and  Lieut.  Brown, 

commended  by  Gen.  Scott, 

446 
STEVENS,  Lieut.  Isaac  I.  (afterward 

Major     Gen.),    commended, 
50,  470,  484,  501,  508,  534 


STONE,  Chas.  P.,  Lieut.,  commend 
ed,  519,  534 

SUIT,  brought  by  slaves  to  recover 
their  freedom,  sketch  of,  27, 
28 

SUMNER,  Chas.,  anecdote  of,  189,  190 

SDMNEK,  Major  E.  V.  (afterward 
Major  General),  wounded 
April  17,  1847,  438,  486 

SWIFT,  Jonathan,  Dean,  &c.,  intro 
duction,  ix  &  x 

his  pamphlet,  Conduct  of  the 
Allies,  and  its  influence,  in 
troduction,  x 

bis  Last  four  Years  of  Queen 
Anne,  introduction,  x 

SYLLA'S  twenty-two  Books  of  Com 
mentaries,  introduction,  x 

TAYLOR,  George  Keith,  Mr.  Scott's 

reminiscences  of,  26-29 
TAYLOR,   Brig.  Gen.  Zachary,   suc 
ceeds  Gen.  Jesup  in  Florida, 
and  wins  the  battle  of  Oke- 
chobee,  264 

sent  to  Corpus  Christi,  on  the 
Mexican  frontier,  381 

Gen.  Scott  sends  Capt.  (after 
ward  Lt.  Col.)  Bliss  to  him 
as  Chief  of  Staff,  382 

Gen.Scott's  estimate  of. 382-384 

Gen.  Scott's  suggestions  in  re 
gard  to  a  medal  for,  386-389 

nominated  for  the  Presidency, 
389,  390 

Scott  commends  his  honesty  to 
the  Committee,  390,  391 

outrages  of  his  volunteer  troops 
on  the  Rio  Grande,  392 

vacillation  of,  in  regard  to  the 
point  of  attack,  403,  404 

complains  of  Gen.  Scott's  strip 
ping  him  of  his  troops,  405 , 
406 

reply  of  Gen.  Scott  to  this  ac 
cusation  of,  406-413 
TAYLOR,  Capt.  (Artillery),  mentioned, 

491 
TEMPLE,  Sir  William,  introduction,  ix 


652 


Index. 


TESTIMONIALS  presented  to  Gen. 
Scott  from  States,  Cities,  &c. 
629 

TOMPKINS,  Gov.  D.  D.,  speech  of,  in 
presenting  a  sword  to  Gen. 
Scott,  194-196 

TOTTEN,    Colonel    (afterward    Brig. 
Gen.),  aids  Gen.  Scott  in  re- 
connoissance  of   Vera  Cruz, 
422 
mentioned,  423,  425,  429 

TOWER,  Zealous  B.,  Lieut,  (since 
General),  commended  by 
Gen.  Scott,  446,  450,  470, 
471,  480,  501,  508,  633 

TRIST,  Nicholas,  U.  S.  commissioner 
to  Mexico,  mentioned,  571, 
575,  576,  577 

TROUSDALE,  Col.,  of  Cadwallader's 
brigade,  mentioned  by  Gen. 
Scott,  489,  520 

TURNBULL,  Major,  Topographical 
Engineers,  commended  by 
Gen.  Scott,  449,  501,  533 

TWEEDALE,  Marquess  of,  is  pursued 
by  Scott  sixteen  miles,  July 
4,  1814,  124-126 
note  concerning,  126,  note 

TWIGGS,  Brig.  Gen.  D.  E.,  commands 
a  division,  his  movements, 
430-432,  439,  441,  445,  465, 
467,  469,  471,472,483,484, 
486,  488,  490 

attacks   and     disperses  Valen 
cia's  corps,  470 

movements  of  his  division,  492, 
509,  510,  523,  524 

TYLER,  John,  Vice  President,  in 
trigues  for  the  nomination, 
360 

Gen.  Scott's  account  of  his  ad 
ministration,  360,  361 

VAN  BUREN,  Major  Abram  P.,  com 
mended  by  Gen.  Scott,  450, 
502 

VAN  BUREN,  Martin,  President  of 
U.  S.,  relations  of,  with  Gen. 
Scott,  301-305 


VAN  DORN,  Earl,  Lieut.,  commended, 
619 

VAN  RENSSELAER,  Colonel  (the  self- 
styled),  establishes  himself 
on  Navy  Island,  305,  306 

VERPLANCK,  Gulian  C.,  article  by, 
in  Analectic  Magazine,  for 
Dec.,  1814,  111 

VINTON,  Capt.  J.  R.,  &  Capt.  W. 
Alburtis,  killed  at  attack  on 
Vera  Cruz,  429 

VIRGINIA,  Legislature  of,  assumes 
the  part  of  mediator  between 
the  government  and  S.  C.,  246 

WEBSTER,  Daniel,  remark  of,  con 
cerning  Taylor's  nomination, 
382 

WHITELOCKE,  Bulstrode,  introduc 
tion,  ix 

WICKHAM,  John,  one  of  Burr's  coun 
sel  in  the  trial  for  high  trea 
son,  13 

WILDS,  Judge,  of  South  Carolina, 
Mr.  Scott's  recollections  of, 
23 

WILKINSON  and  Hampton  factions 
in  the  army,  the,  36,  37 

WILKINSON'S  treason  now  fully  es 
tablished,  40, 41 

WILKINSON,  Maj.  Gen.,  takes  com 
mand  at  Fort  George,  Sept. 
4,  1813,  100 
moves  down  Lake  Ontario,  Oct. 

2,  100 

proposes    to   attack  Montreal, 
106 

WILLIAMS,  Gen.  D.  R.,  referred  to, 
52  &  note 

WILLIAMS,  Lieut.  Thomas  (after 
ward  Brig.  Gen.),  commend 
ed  by  Gen.  Scott,  450,  601, 
507,  633 

WILSON,  Lt.  Col.  John  Moryllion, 
wounded  at  Chippewa,  148 
&  note 

WINDER,   Gen.,  captured   at   Stony 

Creek,  June  6,  91,  92 
note  concerning,  92 


Index. 


653 


WINTHROP,  Robert  C.,  speaker  of 
Mass.  Assembly,  welcomes 
Gen.  Scott,  333 

WIRT,  William,  coadjutor  to  the  TJ. 
S.  District  Attorney  in  Burr's 
trial,  14,  15 

WITHERS,  Col.,  9th  Infantry,  move 
ments  of,  558,  563 

WOODS,  Major,  commended,  518 

WORONZOW,  Count,  intimacy  of  Gen. 

Scott  with,  165 

anecdote  of,  and  the  Emperor 
Alexander,  165,  166,  note 

WORTH,  Brig.  Gen.  W.  J.,  succeeds 
Gen.  Armistead,  and  patches 
up  a  treaty  with  the  Indians, 


WORTH,  Brig.  Gen.  J.  W.— 

movements    of    his    division, 

468,  469,  470,  478,  483,  486, 
487,  488,  492,  495,  510,  513, 
514,520,  521,522,523,  524, 
525,  527,  528 

writes  to  Gen.  Scott  commend 
ing  his  Jalapa  proclamation, 
549 

relieved  from  arrest  by  order  of 

President  Polk,  584 
WYNKOOP,  Col.,  1st  Penn.VoL,  cap 
tures  Gen.  Yalencia,  567,  568 

XENOPHON'S  memoirs  of  the  retreat 
of  the  ten  thousand,  intro 
duction^  xi 


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4      SCHOOL  AND  COLLEGE  TEXT-BOOKS 

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6  SCHOOL  AND    COLLEGE   TEXT-BOOKS 

ance  in  books  for  instruction,  they  will  rank  as  models.  10th.  The 
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These  books  are  text-books  almost  wherever  they  are  known.  The 
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PUBLISHED  BY  SHELDON  AND  COMPANY.  7 

THOMSON'S  LAWS  OF  THOUGHT. 

An    Outline    of  the    Necessary    Laws    of   Thought:    A 

TREATISE  ON  PURE  AND  APPLIED  LOGIC.  By  WILLIAM  THOMSON, 
D.D.,  Provost  of  the  Queen's  College,  Oxford.  1  vol.  12mo.  Cloth. 
Price  $1.50. 

This  book  has  been  adopted  as  a  regular  text-book  in  Harvard, 
Yale,  Rochester.  New  York  University,  etc. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  an  American  edition  of  'Thomson's  Outline  of 
the  Laws  of  Thought,'  and  one,  too,  which  equals,  even  in  outward 
appearance,  the  English  copy.  In  my  opinion,  it  is  the  most  useful 
and  satisfactory  of  the  many  treatises  on  logic  which  have  appeared 
within  the  last  few  years.  Though  not  expressly  designed  and  ar 
ranged  for  use  as  a  text-book,  few  teachers  will  object  to  it  on  this 
account;  many,  indeed,  will  prefer  it,  as  it  has  less  the  character  of  a 
book  made  to  order." — James  Walker,  Ex-Pres.  of  Harvard  College. 

"  It  is  one  of  the  most  important  treatises  upon  logic  that  have  ap 
peared  in  England  during  the  present  century,  and  as  such  received 
the  high  commendation  of  so  severe  a  critic  as  the  late  Sir  William 
Hamilton.  Clear,  comprehensive,  and  accurate,  it  is  admirably  adapted 
for  use  as  a  manual  of  instruction,  while  it  contains  enough  of  the 
fruits  of  successful  research  and  original  speculation  to  give  its  author 
rank  among  the  discoverers  in  science.  Four  editions  of  the  work  have 
already  appeared  in  England,  where  it  has  also  been  adopted  in  many 
seminaries  as  a  text-book ;  and  it  needs  only  to  be  known  in  order  to 
be  received  with  equal  favor  in  the  United  States." — Francis  Bowen, 
Prof,  of  Logic,  etc.,  in  Harvard  College. 

WHATELY'S  ELEMENTS  OF  LOGIC. 

By  RICHARD  WHATELY,  D.D.,  Archbishop  of  Dublin.     New  revised 

Edition,  with  the  Author's  last  Additions.     Large  12mo.     484  pp. 

Price  $1.60. 

"  This  work  (Elements  of  Logic)  has  long  been  our  text-book  here. 
The  style  in  which  you  have  published  this  new  edition  of  so  valuable 
a  work  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired  in  regard  of  elegance  and  con 
venience." — Professor  Dunn,  Brown  University. 

11  Its  merits  are  now  too  widely  known  to  require  an  enumeration  of 
them.  The  present  American  edition  of  it  is  conformed  to  the  ninth 
English  Edition,  which  was  revised  by  the  author,  and  which  contains 
Fcverol  improvements  on  the  former  issues." — North  American  Review. 

Questions  Adapted  to  Whately's  Elements  of  Logic,  for 

the  use  of  Schools  and  Colleges.     Prepared  by  a  Teacher.     12mo. 
In  paper  covers.     Price  15  cents. 


8  SCHOOL  AND   COLLEGE  TEXT-BOOKS. 

WHATELY'S  ELEMENTS  OF  RHETORIC. 

Comprising  an  Analysis  of  the  Laws  of  Moral  Evidence  and  of  Persua 
sion,  with  Rules  for  Argumentative  Composition  and  Elocution, 
New  Edition,  revised  by  the  Author.  Large  12mo.  546  pp. 
Price  $1.50. 

"  The  Elements  of  Rhetoric  has  become  BO  much  a  standard  work 
that  it  might  seem  superfluous  to  speak  of  it.  In  short,  we  should  not 
dream  of  teaching  a  College  class  from  any  other  book  on  Rhetoric. 
Communion  with  Whately's  mind  would  improve  any  mind  on  earth." 
— Presbyterian  Quarterly  Review. 

Questions  Adapted  to  Whately's  Elements  of  Rhetoric, 

for  the  use  of  Schools  and  Colleges.     Prepared  by  a  Teacher.    In 
paper  covers.     12mo.     Price  15  cents. 

The  above  are  the  editions  formerly  published  by  JAMES  MUNEOB 
&  Co.,  Boston,  and  the  best  in  the  market.  They  are  used  in  all  the 
principal  Colleges  and  Academies  of  the  United  States. 

THE  ELEMENTS  OF  INTELLECTUAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

By  FRANCIS  WAYLAND,  D.D.     1  vol.    12mo.    Price  $1.50. 

This  clearly  written  book,  from  the  pen  of  a  scholar  of  eminent  abil  - 
ity,  and  who  has  had  the  largest  experience  in  the  education  of  the 
human  mind,  is  unquestionably  at  the  head  of  text-books  in  Intellect 
ual  Philosophy.  It  contains  the  substance  of  Lectures  during  several 
years,  delivered  to  the  classes  in  Intellectual  Philosophy  in  Brown 
University.  Being  intended  to  serve  the  purposes  of  a  text-book,  the 
important  truths  of  the  science  have  been  presented  and  illustrated, 
rather  than  the  inferences  which  may  be  drawn  from  them,  or  the  doc- 
trines  which  they  may  presuppose.  The  compass  of  the  volume  is 
adapted  to  the  time  usually  allotted  to  the  study  of  this  subject  in  the 
colleges  and  higher  seminaries  of  our  country.  It  is  divided  into  eight 
chapters  on  the  following  subjects :  The  Perceptive  Faculties — Con- 
sciousness,  Attention,  and  Reflection — Original  Suggestion,  or  the 
Intuitions  of  the  Intellect — Abstraction — Memory,  Reasoning — Imagi 
nation — Taste — also  an  Appendix  of  interesting  matter.  The  author's 
practical  suggestions  on  the  cultivation  of  the  several  faculties  of  the 
mind,  aiding  the  student's  efforts  to  discipline  and  strengthen  his  intel 
lectual  energies,  and  the  numerous  references  to  books  of  easy  access, 
specifying  the  places  where  topics  treated  of  are  more  fully  discussed, 
make  this  book  a  valuable  addition  to  the  readable  books  of  any 
teacher  or  professional  man. 


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