demanded and received the earliest consideration. On the last day of his official term, President Tyler had sent a messenger to the Texan Government, with a copy of the joint resolutions of the American Congress,' in favor of annexation. These were considered by a convention of delegates, called for the purpose of forming a State Constitution for Texas. That body approved of the measure, by resolution, on the 4th of July, 1845. On that day Texas became

one of the States of our Confederation. The other momentous subject (the claims of Great Britain to certain portions of Oregon), also received prompt attention. That vast territory, between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific, had been, for some time, a subject of dispute between the two countries. In 1818, it was mutually agreed that each nation should equally enjoy the privileges of all the bays and harbors on the coast, for ten years. This agreement was renewed in 1827, for an indefinite time, with the stipulation, that either party might rescind it by giving the other party twelve months' notice. Such notice

2

The communication was made through A. J. Donelson, the "American" candidate for VicePresident of the United States, in 1856, who was our Chargé d'Affaires to the Texan Government. Captain Grey, of Boston, entered the mouth of the Columbia River in 1792, and Captains Lewis and Clarke explored that region, from the Rocky Mountains westward, in 1804-'5. In 1811, the late J. J. Astor established a trading station at the mouth of the Columbia River. The British doctrine, always practiced by them, that the entrance of a vessel of a civilized nation into the mouth of a river, gives title, by the right of discovery, to the territory watered by that river and its tributaries, clearly gave Oregon to 54 degrees 40 minutes, to the United States, for the discovery of Captain Grey, in 1792, was not disputed.

was given by the United States in 1846, and the boundary was then fixed by treaty, made at Washington city, in June of that year. Great Britain claimed the whole territory to 54° 40′ north latitude, the right to which was disputed by the United States. The boundary line was finally fixed at latitude 49'; and in 1848, a territorial government was established. In March, 1853, Oregon was divided, and the northern portion was made a separate domain, by the title of Washington Territory.

The annexation of Texas, as had been predicted, caused an immediate rupture between the United States and Mexico; for the latter claimed Texas as a part of its territory, notwithstanding its independence had been acknowledged by the United States, England, France, and other governments. Soon after [March 6, 1845] Congress had adopted the joint resolution for the admission of that State into the Union,' General Almonte, the Mexican minister at Washington, formally protested against that measure, and demanded his passports. On the 4th of June following, General Herrera, President of Mexico, issued a proclamation, declaring the rights of Mexico, and his determination to defend them by arms, if necessary. But, independent of the act complained of, there already existed a cause for serious disputes between the United States and Mexico. Ever since the establishment of republican government by the latter, in 1824, it had been an unjust and injurious neighbor. Impoverished by civil wars, its authorities did not hesitate to replenish its Treasury by plundering American vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, or by confiscating the property of American merchants within its borders. The United States government remonstrated in vain, until, in 1831, a treaty was formed, and promises of redress were made. But aggressions continued; and in 1840, the aggregate amount of American property which had been appropriated by Mexicans, was more than six millions of dollars. The claim for this amount remained unsettled' when the annexation of Texas occurred [July 4, 1845], and peaceful relations between the two governments were suspended.

The President being fully aware of the hostile feelings of the Mexicans, ordered [July] General Zachary Taylor,* then in command of troops in the South-West, to proceed to Texas, and take a position as near the Rio Grande," as prudence would allow. This force, about fifteen hundred strong, was called the "Army of Occupation," for the defense of Texas. At the same time, a strong squadron, under Commodore Conner, sailed for the Gulf of Mexico, to protect American interests there. General Taylor first landed on the 25th of July on St. Joseph's Island, and then embarked for Corpus Christi, a Mexican

1 Page 478.

2 Pronounced May-hee-co by the Spaniards.

3 Commissioners appointed by the two governments to adjust these claims, met in 1840. The Mexican commissioners acknowledged two millions of dollars, and no more. In 1843 the whole amount was acknowledged by Mexico, and the payment was to be made in instalments of three hundred thousand dollars each. Only three of these instalments had been paid in 1845, and the Mexican government refused to decide whether the remainder should be settled or not.

Taylor's actual rank in the army list was only that of Colonel. He had been made a Brigadier-General by brevet, for his good conduct in the Florida War [page 468]. A title by brevet is only honorary. Taylor held the title of Brigadier-General, but received only the pay of a Colonel. Great or Grand river. Also called Rio Bravo del Norte-Brave North river. There the flag of the United States was first displayed in power over Texas soil.

village beyond the Nueces, and near its mouth. There he formed a camp [September, 1845], ånd remained during the succeeding autumn and winter. It was during the gathering of this storm of war on our south-western frontier, that the difficulties with Great Britain, concerning Oregon, occurred, which we have already considered.

By a dispatch dated January 13, 1846, the Secretary of War ordered General Taylor to advance from Corpus Christi to near the mouth of the Rio Grande, opposite the Spanish city of Matamoras, because Mexican troops were then gathering in that direction, with the evident intention of invading Texas. This was disputed territory between Texas and the Mexican province of Tamaulipas; and when, on the 25th of March, he encamped at Point Isabel, on the coast, about twenty-eight miles from Matamoras, General Taylor was warned by the Mexicans that he was upon foreign soil. Regardless of menaces, he left his stores at Point Isabel, under Major Monroe and four hundred and fifty men, and with the remainder of his army advanced [March 28, 1846] to the bank of the Rio Grande, where he established a fortified camp, and commenced the erection of a fort.'

President Herrera's desire for peace with the United States made him unpopular, and the Mexican people elected General Paredes' to succeed him. That officer immediately dispatched General Ampudia' with a large force, to Matamoras, to drive the Americans beyond the Nueces. Ampudia arrived on the 11th of April, 1846, and the next day he sent a letter to General Taylor, demanding his withdrawal within twenty-four hours. Taylor refused compliance, and continued to strengthen his camp. Ampudia hesitated; and on the 24th of that month he was succeeded in command by the more energetic Arista, the commander-in-chief of the northern division of the army of Mexico, whose reported reinforcements made it probable that some decisive action would soon take place. This change of affairs was unfavorable to the Americans, and the situation of the "Army of Occupation" was now becoming very critical. Parties of armed Mexicans had got between Taylor and his stores at Point Isabel, and had cut off all inter-communication. Arista's army was hourly gathering strength; and already an American reconnoitering party, under Captain Thornton,' had been killed or captured [April 24] on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. This was the first blood shed in

THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

When he had nearly completed the fort opposite Matamoras, General Taylor hastened [May 1], with his army, to the relief of Point Isabel, which was menaced by a large Mexican force collected in his rear. He left a regiment

'It was named Fort Brown, in honor of Major Brown, the officer in command there. It was erected under the superintendence of Captain Mansfield, and was large enough to accommodate about two thousand men. 2 Pronounced Pa-ray-dhes. • Pronounced Ah-rees-tah.

3 Pronounced Am-poo-dhee-ah.

General Taylor had been informed that a body of Mexican troops were crossing the Rio Grande, above his encampment, and he sent Captain Thornton, with sixty dragoons, to reconnoitre. They were surprised and captured. Sixteen Americans were killed, and Captain Thornton escaped by an extraordinary leap of his horse.

"General Taylor was apprised of this force of fifteen hundred Mexicans, by Captain Walker,

of infantry and two companies of artillery, under Major Brown (in whose honor, as we have just observed, the fortification was named), to defend the fort, and reached Point Isabel the same day, without molestation. This departure produced great joy in Matamoras, for the Mexicans regarded it as a cowardly retreat. Preparations were immediately made to attack Fort Brown; and on the morning of the 3d of May [1846], a battery at Matamoras opened a heavy cannonade and bombardment upon it, while quite a large body of troops crossed the river, to attack it in the rear. General Taylor had left orders that, in the event of an attack, and aid being required, heavy signal-guns should be fired at the fort. For a long time the little garrison made a noble defense, and silenced the Mexican battery; but when, finally, the enemy gathered in strength in the rear, and commenced planting cannons, and the heroic Major Brown was mortally wounded,' the signals were given [May 6], and Taylor prepared to march for the Rio Grande. He left Point Isabel on the evening of the 7th, with a little more than two thousand men, having been reinforced by Texas volunteers, and marines from the American fleet then blockading the mouth of the Rio Grande. At noon, the next day [May 8], they discovered a Mexican army, under Arista, full six thousand strong, drawn up in battle array uron a portion of a prairie flanked by ponds of water, and beautified by trees, which gave it the name of Palo Alto. As soon as his men could take refreshments, Taylor formed his army, and pressed forward to the attack. For five hours a hot contest was maintained, when, at twilight, the Mexicans gave way and fled, and victory, thorough and complete, was with the Americans. It had been an afternoon of terrible excitement and fatigue, and when the firing ceased, the victors sank exhausted upon the ground. They had lost, in killed and wounded, fifty-three; the Mexicans lost about six hundred.

At two o'clock in the morning of the 9th of May, the deep slumbers of the little army were broken by a summons to renew the march for Fort Brown. They saw no traces of the enemy until toward evening, when they discovered them strongly posted in a ravine, called Resaca de la Palma,' drawn up battle order. A shorter, but bloodier conflict than that at Palo Alto, the previous day, ensued, and again the Americans were victorious. They lost, in killed and wounded, one hundred and ten; the Mexican loss was at least one thousand. General La Vega' and a hundred men were made prisoners, and

the celebrated Texas Ranger, who had been employed by Major Monroe to keep open a communication between Point Isabel and Taylor's camp. Walker had fought them with his single company, armed with revolving pistols, and after killing thirty, escaped, and, with six of his men, reached Taylor's camp.

He lost a leg by the bursting of a bomb-shell [note 2, page 296], and died on the 9th of May. He was born in Massachusetts in 1788; was in the war of 1812; was promoted to Major in 1843; and was fifty-eight years of age when he died.

2

Among the fatally wounded was Captain Page, a native of Maine, who died on the 12th of July following, at the age of forty-nine years. Also, Major Ringgold, commander of the Flying Artillery, who died at Point Isabel, four days afterward, at the age of forty-six years.

Pronounced Ray-sah-kah day la Pal-mah, or Dry River of Palms. The ravine is supposed to be the bed of a dried-up stream. The spot is on the northerly side of the Rio Grande, about threa miles from Matamoras. In this engagement, Taylor's force was about one thousand seven hundred; Arista had been reinforced, and had about seven thousand men.

4

Lay Vay-goh. He was a brave officer, and was captured by Captain May, who, rising in his

eight pieces of cannon, three standards, and a quantity of military stores, were captured. The Mexican army was completely broken up. Arista saved himself by solitary flight, and made his way alone across the Rio Grande. After suffering a bombardment for one hundred and sixty hours, the garrison at Fort Brown were relieved, and the terrified Mexicans were trembling for the safety of Matamoras.

When intelligence of the first bloodshed, in the attack upon Captain Thornton and his party, on the 24th of April, and a knowledge of the critical situation of the little Army of Occupation, reached New Orleans, and spread over the land, the whole country was aroused; and before the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma [May 8, 9] were known in the States, Congress had declared [May 11, 1846] that, "by the act of the Republic of Mexico, a state of war exists between that government and the United States;" authorized the President to raise fifty thousand volunteers, and appropriated ten millions of dollars [May 13] toward carrying on the contest. Within two days, the Secretary of War and General Scott' planned [May 15] a campaign, greater in the territorial extent of its proposed operations, than any recorded in history. A fleet was to sweep around Cape Horn, and attack the Pacific coast of Mexico; Army of the West" was to gather at Fort Leavenworth, invade New Mexico, and co-operate with the Pacific fleet; and an "Army of the Center" was to rendezvous in the heart of Texas, to invade Old Mexico from the north. On the 23d of the same month [May], the Mexican government made a formal declaration of war against the United States.

an "

When news of the two brilliant victories reached the States, a thrill of joy went throughout the land, and bonfires, illuminations, orations, and the thunder of cannons, were seen and heard in all the great cities. In the mean while, General Taylor was in Mexico, preparing for other brilliant victories. He crossed the Rio Grande, drove the Mexican troops from Matamoras, and took possession of that town on the 18th of May. There he remained until the close of August, receiving orders from government, and reinforcements, and preparing to march into the interior. The first division of his army, under General Worth, moved toward Monterey on the 20th. Taylor, with the remainder (in all, more than six thousand men), followed on the 3d of September; and on the 9th, the whole army encamped within three miles of the doomed city, then

stirrups, shouted, "Remember your regiment! Men, follow!" and, with his dragoons, rushed forward in the face of a heavy fire from a battery, captured La Vega, killed or dispersed the gunners, and took possession of the cannons. 1 Page 485.

2

A strong United States post on the southern bank of the Missouri River, on the borders of the Great Plains. These plains extend to the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

At San Antonia de Bexar, the center of Austin's settlement [note 5, page 477], south of the Colorado river.

* On the 30th of May he was rewarded for his skill and bravery by a commission as MajorGeneral, by brevet. See note 4, page 480.

William J. Worth was born in Columbia county, New York, in 1794. He was a gallant soldier during the War of 1812-15; was retained in the army, and for his gallantry at Monterey, was made a Major-General by brevet, and received the gift of a sword from Congress. He was of great service during the whole war with Mexico. He died in Texas in May, 1849.

6 Pronounced Mon-tar-ray. It is the capital of New Leon.

The principal officers with General Taylor, at this time, were Generals Worth, Quitman, Twiggs, Butler, Henderson, and Hamer.