the people in the plaza of the village, and declaring them absolved from allegiance to the Mexican government. He caused the alcalde, and some other officers, to take the oath of allegiance. On August 18th, Gen. Kearney entered and took possession of Santa Fé, being courteously received by the lieutenant-governor, Vigil, who remained after Armijo's flight. The mass of the popula-, tion professed to be satisfied with the change of government; and the chiefs of the Pueblos Indians, came in soon after to give in their adhesion, and express their satisfaction at the arrival of the Americans.

The civil government which General Kearney established in New Mexico, was successfully administered without opposition till the month of December; when the authorities received information of a contemplated insurrection. On the 14th of January, 1847, Governor Brent, who had been selected for that office was brutally murdered, with five other civil officers of the territory at San Fernado de Taos, a pueblo about fifty miles northward of Santa Fé. Throughout the northern part of the province, the Indians and New Mexicans murdered every American upon whom they could lay hands, and likewise all Mexicans who held office under the new gov

ernment.

The rebellion now became truly formidable. On the 23d of January, Colonel Price with 350 men, marched for the valley of Taos. The next day he fell in with the enemy about 1500 in number, near Canada, a small village north of Santa Fé, and routed and dispersed them. He continued his march up the valley of the Rio del Norte, and was reinforced by Captain Burgwin, so that his whole command now amounted to 479 men. On the 3d of February, after a passage through a deep snow, Colonel Price arrived at Taos, the place where Governor Brent and his companions were massacred. The next day, the Americans made an attack on this place, which was obstinately defended by the Indians. They were, however, compelled to sue for peace, which was granted them on condition of delivering up the ringleaders of the insurrection, which they did; and of the five principal

leaders, but one escaped death. By this action the rebellion was quelled; the loss of the insurgents was 150 killed, besides a large number wounded. The Americans had seven killed, and forty-six wounded, many of whom died, among the number was Captain Burgwin.

142. Military Operations in California.

In the autumn of 1845, Captain John C. Fremont, who had previously made two exploring expeditions to the west of the Rocky mountains, started again on a new expedition, one object of which was to discover, if possible, a new route to Oregon, south of the one usually travelled by emigrants. In the latter part of January, 1846, he arrived within one hundred miles of Monterey, in California. As his animals needed recruiting, he determined to halt for this purpose. Aware of the difficulties between the American and Mexican governments, Captain Fremont left his party, and in person applied to the commandant of the province, General De Castro, for permission to remain during the winter. This, after some hesitation, was granted. It soon, however, appeared that De Castro was endeavouring to raise the province against him; and Fremont bravely mached his small party of sixty-two backwoodsmen to within thirty miles of Monterey, took a position on the Sierra Nevada, hoisted the American flag, and prepared for resistance. He was not, however, molested, and in March he started for Oregon.

On the 9th of May, Fremont was overtaken by Lieutenant Gillespie of the marines, who had crossed the continent from Vera Cruz to Mazatlan, bearing a letter from Mr. Buchanan, and a private one from Senator Benton. From certain passages in these letters, Fremont felt himself authorized to return to the vicinity of the Sacramento. Upon his arrival at the bay of San Francisco, he found that, after his retreat from his posi tion on the Sierra Nevada, De Castro had taken steps to

exper all the American settlers from the territory. This determined Fremont to put a stop to his proceedings, by overthrowing the Mexican authority in California.

Being assisted by the American residents, Captain Fremont on the 15th of June surprised Sonoma, the rendezvous of the Mexican forces, captured General Vallejo and other officers, nine pieces of cannon, 250 stand of muskets, and other military stores. On the 4th of July, Fremont called the American settlers together at Sonoma, and advised them to declare themselves independent of Mexico, and to continue the war as the only means to insure their safety. His advice was followed, and the revolutionary flag was at once displayed.

During these events, Commodore Sloat, the commander of the Pacific squadron, having been apprised of the declaration of hostilities between the United States and Mexico (which fact was unknown to Fremont), commenced taking possession of the towns upon the coast. On the 7th of July, the commodore landed 250 seamen and marines at Monterey, and took possession of the place. On the 17th of August, Commodore Stockton, who had succeeded Commodore Sloat, being joined by a party under Fremont, entered Ciudad de los Angelos, the capital of California, and took possession of the government-house without opposition. Commodore Stockton, believing the American authority to be firmly established, commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel Fremont as military commander of California.

Official declarations of war between Mexico and the United States having reached California, an insurrection broke out at Ciudad de los Angelos. The Americans

were forced to retire from that place, and were closely besieged in others. About this time, General Kearney, with about one hundred men, having penetrated through the Indian country, arrived in the vicinity of the settlements of California. Here he was attacked by the Mexicans under General Pico, who killed a number of his officers, and put his party in circumstances of extreme peril. He was, however, shortly after relieved by a reinforcement of 200 men, sent to his assistance by Commo

dore Stockton. On the 10th of January, 1847, the Americans having combined their forces, after some opposition again took possession of Ciudad de los Angelos, the capital; and on the 13th of January a convention was signed by Colonel Fremont, in the character of military commandant of California, and the Mexican authorities, by which an end was put to further hostilities.

143. Taking of Vera Cruz.

The attention of the American government was, at an early period of the Mexican war, directed to preparations for an expedition against Vera Cruz, a city of about 15,000 inhabitants, situated immediately on the shore of the gulf of Mexico. The city was strongly fortified, particularly by the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, which stands on a reef of rocks about a thousand yards in front of the city. The capture of this place was deemed important, as by it a direct route would be opened toward the Mexican capital, about three hundred miles distant. The command of the expedition was intrusted to General Scott, who was fully supplied with all the munitions of war to accomplish this object. The American troops, upward of 13,000 strong, were landed by the squadron under Commodore Conner, near Vera Cruz, without the loss of a single man; and by the 13th of March, 1847, the investment of the city was effected.

The Mexican force in Vera Cruz at the time of its investment was 3,360 men, and in the castle 1,030. Both the castle and the city were scantily supplied with provisions. The governor of the state had endeavoured to procure a supply, but, owing to dissensions, &c., in the capital, his requests were but little heeded. Nevertheless, with what he had been able to collect, General Morales determined to defend the city, hoping, it is said, that the vomito or yellow fever would soon come to his aid by sweeping off the invaders; or perhaps he might

be relieved by the approach of a Mexican army from the interior.

General Scott, having completed his preparations for bombardment, on the 22d demanded a surrender of the city. General Morales, who commanded both the city and castle, returned a peremptory refusal. Upon this, the bombardment was commenced and continued, with heavy artillery. The Americans were assisted in their work of destruction by the naval force, which was much greater than had ever before been sent into action by the United States government. For four days a shower of bomb-shells was poured into the devoted city, which, in many instances as they fell, crushed the roofs of houses, and, exploding within the Mexican dwellings, caused horrid destruction to their inmates, most of whom were women and children. Early on the 25th, the consuls of Great Britain, France, Spain, and Prussia, went to the American camp to ask permission for the neutrals—the old men, the. women, and children-to leave the city. This was refused by General Scott, on the ground that he had, as soon as the investment was completed, given them an opportunity to retire. This they did not accept ; they must therefore run the hazards attending the bombardment. The general also informed them that any further prayer must be addressed through the Mexican governor.

As soon as the consuls had returned to the city, the American batteries resumed their fire, which was continued with dreadful effect through the night and until the morning of the 26th, when the besieged sent a flag of truce, offering terms of capitulation. General Morales, it is stated, unable to endure the humiliation of this, feigned sickness, and turned over his command to General Landero, who agreed to terms of surrender. Vera Cruz, the castle, and all the munitions of war, were given up. The garrisons were permitted to retire, after laying down their arms; the officers giving their parole, for themselves and their men, not to serve during the war, until regularly exchanged. The Mexican troops were allowed to march out of the city with the honours