Pass of Rio Frio.-View of Mexico.-Valley of Mexico.-Lakes.- Inundations.-Topography of the Valley.-Position of the Army on the 13th of August.-Reconnoissance of the Rifles.-El Penon.- Mexicalcingo. Turning of Lake Chalco.-March to San Augustine.— Skirmish at Buena Vista.-Concentration.-Position of the Army on Mexican Line of Defence.-Position of the American and Mexican Ar- mies.-Action of the 19th.-Position in the Hamlet of Contreras.--Po- sition of General Scott.-Arrangements for the Battle.-Distribution of the American and Mexican Forces.-Battle of Contreras.-Rout of the Mexicans. Surrender of Mexican Generals.-Recapture of the Buena Vista Guns.-Scott's Arrangements.-Evacuation of San Antonia.- Storm of the Tête du Pont.-Battle of Churubusco.-Defeat of the Peace Negotiations.-President Polk's Commission.-Mexican Conditions. -American Ultimatum.-Failure of Negotiations.-Scott's Notice to Santa Anna.-Trial and Execution of the Deserters.-Description of Chapultepec.-Of Molino del Rey.-Mexican Defences.-March of Worth.-Strength of his Corps.-Battle of Molino del Rey.-Mexican Less.-Evacuation of Molino del Rey.-Preparations for the Attack of Chapultepec.-Erection of Batteries.-Storm of Chapultepec.-Ac- tion of the 13th.-Capture of Mexico.-Entrance into the City.-Scott's Address to the Soldiers.-Insurrection of the Leperos.-Appearance of MEXICAN WAR. CHAPTER I. Origin of the War with Mexico.-Settlement of Texas.-Declaration of Independence.-Santa Anna's Treaty.-Movement towards Annexation. -Correspondence of Bocanegra.-Declaration of Almonte.-Mr. Calhoun's reasons.-Lord Aberdeen's Declaration.-The Tyler Treaty.The Joint Resolution.-Departure of Almonte.-General Taylor ordered to Texas.-Strength of the Army at Corpus Christi. TILL quite recently, the immense territory extending from the Sabine to the Rio Grande was comparatively uninhabited. Comprehending a space large enough for an empire, and within the mildest part of the temperate zone, it was yet too remote from the inhabitants of ancient Mexico on one hand, or from those of the northern Atlantic States on the other, to be reached and cultivated at an earlier period by the adventurous and advancing settlers of America. The country belonged to Mexico, but was hardly possessed by her people. A few towns immediately east of the Rio Grande, and an occasional village or settlement in the interior-such as Antonio de Bexar, Goliad, and Nacogdoches-were the only marks of improvement which indicated the civilization of the white man, or the dominion of Mexico. Nor did the aboriginal inhabitants appear much more numerous. The Camanches of the northern districts, and a few scattered and fleeting tribes, wandered over the vast territories of uninhabited Texas, but offered no very formidable obstacle to the progress of civilization. Texas was in this almost desolate condition when it attracted the roving eye of land speculation. Certain persons in the United States foresaw the rapid and inevitable movement of the United States of the North towards the Western Ocean, and sought to enhance their fortunes by obtaining grants of Texan lands from the Mexican government. Among these was Stephen Austin, who obtained a large tract, and whose name has since been attached both to a county and a town. With him, and with others to whom Mexico had made grants, came numerous parties of colonists and adventurers, who sought, like their leaders, to pursue their fortunes and avoid their adversities, by successful enterprise in a new country, and by sharing in the distribution of vast bodies of unoccupied land. The number of these adventurers rapidly increased, till they became more numerous than the Mexicans who previously inhabited the country. The difference of race, religion, and laws, was soon apparent in diversities of sentiment and objects between the old and new inhabitants. The Texan of the United States brought with him, not only greater energy and industry, but a wild and restless ambition-a more intense and speculative pursuit of future objects. Where differences so deep and original as these exist among different classes of people, they will soon become manifested in external action. The new inhabitants soon seized the direction of all public affairs, and Texas became, in fact, the possession of these adventurers from a foreign land, rather than of those ancient citizens to whose R government it professed allegiance. The power thus obtained was soon manifested in other acts. It is not in the nature of things, that a country should change its inhabitants and not also change its government. The new possessors will assume the laws and institutions to which their habits have been used and their sentiments assimilated. It was so with Texas. No sooner did the settlers from the United States possess the power, than they looked round for the means of establishing their own forms of government. In the revolutions of Mexico, so rapid and often so disastrous, the opportunities for change could never be long wanting. In the case of Texas, such an occasion was offered in the overthrow, by Santa Anna, of the Mexican Federal Government. This powerful chief being invested with the supreme magistracy, in a short time after assumed absolute power. About this time, the people of Texas having increased largely in population and resources, petitioned the Mexican Congress for admission into the confederation, as a separate State. The bearer of this petition, and a commissioner to represent their claims, was Stephen Austin. The Congress of Mexico paid no attention to the petition; but Austin imprudently wrote back to the Texan authorities, advising them to organize a State, without waiting for the consent of the government. The letter was intercepted, and Austin, on his return, arrested, carried back to the capital, and placed during a year in solitary confinement. The people of the United States who had become citizens of Texas, were naturally indignant at what they considered an outrage on the right of petition, and an insult to the dignity of their commissioner. |