MUSTERING THE VOLUNTEERS.

851

CHAPTER VIII.

Army of the Centre.-Gen. Wool's march.-Battle of Buena
Vista.

May 19.

Wool's

1. TO GEN. WOOL the administration wisely confided FT IV. the principal share in mustering and preparing for the P'D III. service the volunteers. His orders, dated May 29th, CH. VIII. he received at Troy;-left immediately for Washington,-from thence moved through the states of Ohio, 1846 Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi; Gen. -meeting the enlisted volunteers at designated places orders. of rendezvous, and inspecting and admitting them, if suitable men, into the army. These distances were July 16. accomplished, and twelve and a half regiments, (two weeks of cavalry,) making about 12,000 men, were inspected, miles tramustered into the service, and sent towards their destined places, by the 16th of July.

66

In six

8,000

versed,

and

12,000 men mu3 tered.

Aug. 1.

at La

Matagor

2. About 9,000 of these recruits, went to the Rio Grande to reinforce the army of Gen. Taylor. Those to form the “ Army of the Centre" were by different Gen. W. routes to rendezvous at Bexar ;-some going the far Vaea (on circuit of Little Rock, in Arkansas, and some by the da Bay.) Gulf through La Vaea. At Bexar began that drill and strict discipline of the volunteers which made Gen Gen. Wool's corps, whether resting or moving, a camp discipline of instruction; and which, together with his great lar with care that every article necessary to health and efficiency should always be prepared and ready, gave to it the praise of being "a model army."

His

3. Gen. Wool's destination was Chihuahua. force, amounting to 500 regulars and 2,440 volun

CHAPTER VIII.-1. Give an account of Gen. Wool's movements in mustering the volunteers.-2. How many of these went to Gen. Taylor? Where were those for the Army of the Centre to rendezvous, and by what routes? What gave to Gen. Wool's corps the credit of being a "model arniv?"-3. De scribe the army's march.

Wool's

(unpopu

nis men

at the

time.

2

3

352

Gen.

leaves

crosses

GEN. WOOL'S MARCH.

P'T IV. teers, crossed the Rio Grande at Presidio, on a flying PDII. bridge prepared for the purpose. From this fertile CH. VI. spot they marched westward 26 miles, to Nava, over a dead level,-without finding a drop of water or a 1846. human habitation. The troops, in crossing the Sierras Wool of San José and Santa Rosa, encountered steep rocky Bexar ascents and deep mountain gorges; and often, before the R. G. their 300 heavy-laden wagons could pass, roads must be repaired or made. Sometimes, as the army appeared, the ignorant people of the country, taken by surprise, believed that the robber-bands of Mexico were upon them. The shrieking women would run from their houses, and embrace the crosses by the wayside, - probably where some friend had been killed, whose fate they expected to share.

at Pre

4. But, by the better-informed, Gen. Wool's approach was hailed with joy. He protected the quiet and the Oct. 81. weak against the lawless and the strong; and as he Wool at passed on through San Fernando and Santa Rosa, to Mon Monclova, his advance was heralded as that of a

Gen.

under

during

the ar

At

clova. friend. He there peacefully unfurled the American (Troops flag over the government-house of the province. dri Monclova, Gen. Taylor communicated to him the capture and armistice of Monterey. Here also he learned mistice; that the projected route to Chihuahua was impracticaalways ble. Both he and Gen. Taylor believed that it would ed with- be unwise thus to withdraw his force from the seat of cities and war; since the conquest of New Leon and Coahuila, villages.) already achieved, gave to the Americans the command of Chihuahua.

they are

encamp

out the

Nov. 28.

5. On the 25th of November, Gen. Wool marched upon Parras, -Gen. Taylor advising him to establish to Dec., a post in that fertile region, and collect provisions, of March which his army were in need, and which the country Mon about Monterey could not supply. At Parras, Gen. Parras. Wool was received with all the courtesy due to a dis

from

elova to

tinguished guest. The strictness of his discipline was

4. To whom did Gen. Wool afford protection? How was his advance regarded by the well-informed Mexicans? What did he learn at Monclova ?-5. Why did he march to Parras ? What was the effect of his discipline?

not only improving his army, but, by imparting the PT IV.
new feeling of security to a people, so long the victims P'D II.
of anarchy, he was winning their affections, and giving CH. VUL
them desires for a better government. Stores came in
abundantly, and the necessities of the two armies were
fully supplied.

taken.

6. In the mean time Gen. Taylor had proceeded to Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, expecting to co- 1846. operate with Gen. Patterson and a naval force in the Nov. 14. reduction of Tampico. But that place had surrender- Tampico ed to Commodore Conner on the 14th of November, without Gen. Butler was left in command at Monterey. Sal- shed, tillo, the capital of Coahuila, of which the Americans had taken peaceable possession on the 17th, was garrisoned, and commanded by Gen. Worth.

blood

by the

courage and con duct of

Mrs.

Dec. 17.
on.

An ex-
press
from

Worth,

7. The changeful Mexicans having now displaced Chase, Paredes, and given full power to Santa Anna, he had the Am concentrated a force of 22,000 at San Luis Potosi. consul.) Gen. Worth, 60 miles in advance of Monterey, and 200 from Taylor at Victoria, now received the startling intelligence, that this army was immediately to be brought down upon him; he having but 900 men. He sent a rapid express, entreating Wool to hasten to his aid with his whole force. In two hours Gen. Gen. Wool was in motion with his entire column, and his long leaves train of wagons. Only fourteen of his soldiers were his rapid unable, on account of ill-health, to move. Such was ment. the gratitude of the protected people, that the ladies of Parras came forward and voluntarily took these sick soldiers to their houses. In four days the army marched 120 miles, to Agua Nueva, twenty-one miles in advance of Saltillo.

8. Gen. Taylor, while at Victoria, learned that the city of Mexico was to be approached by Vera Cruz;

6. Give an account of the arrangements detailed in paragraph 6th.-7. What do you now learn of Santa Anna? What alarmed Gen. Worth, and what express did he send? What was done by Gen. Wool? What remarkable proof of gratitude did he receive from the ladies of Parras? What position was taken by Gen. Woo.?-8. What disagreeable intelligence was received by Taylor?

Wool

Parras;

move

3

3

354

persedes

Taylor.

PERILOUS POSITION.

PT IV. and that Gen. Scott, appointed to conduct this inP'D III. vasion, would, as his senior, supersede him in the CH. VIII. Mexican command. It was from Taylor's army that Scott's force was to be drawn. Gen. Scott therefore Scotts ordered from Gen. Taylor most of his efficient troops, leaving him,-till more could be sent by government, "to stand on the defensive." Taylor, whatever might have been his feelings, promptly obeyed the order; Generals and dispatched to Vera Cruz the greater part of his W regular troops, and volunteers. This order reached are strip- the forces of Gen. Wool also. But with the remains ped of their of their force, these two generals met, and bore back the shock, of the most formidable army which Mexico had ever sent to the field.

Taylor

and

forces.

9. Gen. Taylor now learned that Santa Anna, by decided demonstrations, was threatening him. Leaving a small garrison at Monterey, he advanced south with about 300 men to the camp of Wool at Agua 1847. Santa Nueva. Their whole force, officers and men, was proaches. 4,690, and Santa Anna was approaching with more than four times that number, besides 3,000 regular of force. cavalry under Gen. Minon, and 1,000 under Gen. Urrea, sent in advance, to turn the American position, destroy their stores, and cut off their retreat.

Anna ap

Great in

equality

10. The army remained encamped at Agua Nueva until the afternoon of the 21st of February. Santa Santa Anna was approaching. The camp at Agua Nueva Anna de- was then broken up, and Santa Anna, believing that drawn to his foes were flying in dismay, eagerly pursued, till he Dusition. was drawn to the mountain-gorge of Angostura, pre

ceived, is

a bad

viously chosen by the American generals, as the place for the battle. Gen. Wool was left by Taylor the active commander at Buena Vista; while he, anxious for his stores menaced by Minon, went to Saltillo.

11. On the morning of the 22d, Gen. Wool drew

8. What was his conduct? Was Gen. Wool affected by the government order? What did the two generals effect with the remainder of their force?-9. What was now the position and force of the Mexican and American armies ?-10. What occurred on the afternoon of the 21st of February ?-11. What on the morning of the 22d ?