Service Afloat and Ashore during the Mexican War

Front matter

u , . . — - — : ■■•-•■ ■ ' ,-•:;.'■'■•'-■ _.' ' '■ ■■■.- L— ■■■■•■■ i JILLIAM H. MOORE &. CO.S PUBLICATIONS. | TH^FOOT-PRINTS OF THE CREATOR, or the Aster- S olepis of Stromness. By Hugh Miller, author of the : " Old Red Sandstone." From the third London edition. ■ With a Sketch of the Author's Life and an Estimate of his : Writings. By Sir David Brewster, Bart., LL. D., F.R. S. : "We know not when we have been so much surprised as in examin- ' ■. ing this beautiful work, and in reflecting upon the beautiful style in ' '. which the Cincinnati publishers have issued it. " The author of the work before us is an eminent example of what the ' . all-conquering powers of application and perseverance can accomplish. ) His youth was passed in poverty, and he enjoyed none but the most ' ; limited means of instruction.

While serving his time as a common , 1 1 mason his mind was aroused to the wonders of geology, aud he ' soon commenced his investigations in its fascinating paths. By his ! own unaided exertions, Mr. Miller has raised himself up among the ! ) great geologists of the world, and has acquired a reputation among the . ; eminent men of his age, of which any scientific man might be proud. "We advise those who wish to read one of the most delightful books ; that science ever produced, those Christians who wish to see how ) developments of science sustain written revelation, and all who wish ) instruction in one of the noblest of sciences, to possess themselves of : ; Hugh Miller's "Foot- Prints of the Creator." — Louisville Journal. JUST READY: SCENES AND LEGENDS OE THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND. By UlOn DULLER, Author of "Footprints of the Creator," " FirBt impresBione of England I and its People," etc.

"A highly amusing and interesting book, written by a remarkable , ) man, who will infallibly be well known." — Leigh Hunt's Journal. i "A very pleasing and interesting book. The style has a purity and { elegance which remind one of Irving, or of Irving's master, Gold ( smith." — Spectator. { " Mr. Miller is evidently a man of singular reflective powers, deep : I and enthusiastic feelings, and no small share of both humor and : pathos." — Chambers' Journal. " We know of no living author whose pages breathe so much of the ) freshness and enthusiasm oi L,.ni us, coupled with a vigorous and manly ) common-sense. His earnestness is contagious, and we feel that we are ight into fellowship with a genuine, living man, whose robust and : / healthy soul has been matured in the bracing air and the glorious / scenery of the Highlands of Scotland."— Christian Clironicle.

Preface

The writer of the following pages was attached to one of the vessels of war of the Home Squadron (then under the command of Commodore Conner), at the breaking out of the late war be tween the United States and Mexico. After an active participa tion in the scenes " Afloat," to which the war gave rise, he was dispatched, upon the fall of Vera Cruz, to the seat of the Mexican government, on a mission connected with the exchange of prisoners. In the prosecution of this mission, he joined the army of General Scott at Jalapa, soon after the battle of Cerro Gordo, and marched with it to Puebla. Here he became attached to the stars of Gene ral Worth, as a volunteer aid-de-camp ; marched with this officer to the valley of Mexico, and continued a member of his military family, until the triumphant entry of the army into the enemy's capital.

He was, consequently, six months in the country ; during which period, he mixed freely with the inhabitants, and made him self familiar with their history, manners, customs, etc The following pages are the result of this joint connection with the army and navy, and of this interesting journey, made in one of the most unique and interesting countries of which we have any account. The writer was exceedingly struck with the novelty, and grandeur of the scenery in this terra incognita, and with the many phases of society, entirely new to him, which he encountered at every step. If he has not succeeded in impressing the reader as forcibly, the fault has been rather with himself, than with his subject. Many interesting social and political questions were presented to him, as he contemplated the great disparity between the two people, in their civilization, and in the progress they had severally made in the arts ; and his object has been, by a hasty sketch of the physi- (v) VI

PREFACE.

. cal and moral condition of Mexico ; by a review of her manners, customs, religion and laws ; and by tracing accurately, though as briefly as possible, the principal events of our naval operations, and of General Scott's campaign, to give his countrymen a coup d'œil, not only of the war itself, but of our sister republic, in her inter nal and more interesting relations. This has been a most difficult task, and one which, he fears, he has but imperfectly accomplished. With a free pen, he has sketched persons and things, as he saw them; aiming rather to present the reader with truthful, than with highly-wrought pictures. In treating of the campaign, he has not pursued the beaten track, followed with so little discretion by many of his predecessors, of bestowing indiscriminate praise upon all the actors engaged in it, but has rather sought to separate the wheat from the chafF, and bestow commendation and censure alike, where ever he has deemed them to have been deserved.

In other words, he has supposed that a candid and intelligent public would be more gratified with a reliable history of the recent brilliant campaign of their army, than with an insincere and interested account. which should merely flatter their vanity, and that of their generals. There never yet was a campaign without a blunder; and the campaign of the valley of Mexico is no exception to the rule ; and the author has not failed to point out its blunders, any more than he has failed to bring into strong relief, its more salient and brilliant points. In conclusion, he submits his work with entire confidence, to a discriminating public, which must already have been made sick, ad nauseam, by the puerilities and puffings that have been bestowed upon the Mexican war. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Geographical position of Mexico — Her plain9, mountains and climates — Glance at her social, political, and economical condition — The distribution of property among the clergy and other classes, and the political and social effects of this distribution — The miners, carriers, and Leperos — The military and their influence 7

Chapter II

Revolutions in Mexico — Biographical sketch of General Santa Anna — Enters the Spanish army as a cadet — Is employed against the patriots — Goes over to the popular cause — Makes an offer of marriage to the sister of Iturbide — His alliance declined — Pronounces against Iturbide, and heads the popular movement to overthrow the empire — Becomes the chief of several revolutions, and is finally made president — His Texan campaign; and his banishment from Mexico, in 1845 — Financial condition of Mexico, and statement of her military force on the eve of the war 23

Chapter III

The origin of the war between the United States and Mexico — The early settlement of Texas by Stephen Austin — Jealousies between the American and Mexican population — The federal system overthrown in Mexico, and a central government adopted — Zacatecas and Texas refuse to give in their adhesion to this change — Mission of Austin to the city of Mexico, and his imprisonment there — Texas declares herself independent — The massacre of Fannin, and the battle of San Jacinto — Commodore Moore and the Texan navy — The United States navy — Acknowledgment of Texan independence by the United States, and the principal powers of Europe — Negotiations and intrigues previous to annexation — Mission of Mr. Slidell and the rupture of diplomatic relations 41 CHAPTER IT. March of General Taylor from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande — Proclamation of the Mexican president — The occurrences which led to the war briefly recapitulated — The march of our race southward — Commencement svii) CONTENTS.

VIII of hostilities— The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma— Results of these battles— The commanding generals, on both sides, afterward made presidents of their respective countries — Naval operations in the Gulf of Mexico_Enemy's coast blockaded— Liberal principles of the blockade- Nature of the enemy's coast, and the difficulties encountered by the navy in operating upon it— The Sloop-of-war St. Mary's and the steamer CO Princeton

Chapter V

Mexico attempts to organize a system of privateering, but does not succeed—Loss of the United States brig Truxton, and the gallant escape of Lieutenants Hunter and Berryman— Arrival of Commodore Perry in the steamer Vixen— Occupation of Laguna, in the peninsula of Yucatan- Governor Bigelow and his levees — Address of the inhabitants to Commodore Perry— Attack of Alvarado— Fails of success by an unfortunate accident Commodore Perry sails for Tobasco — Captures the town, and makes prizes of several vessels — Author ordered to command the brig Somers — Burning of the Mexican brig Creole — Reconnoissance of Passed Assistant Suro'eon Wright, and Passed Midshipman Rogers — Capture of the latter — Loss of the United States brig Somers 80

Chapter VI

Author ordered to the flag-ship as flag-lieutenant — Reinforcement of the squadron — The campaign in the north of Mexico — Rumors of the arrival of General Scott, and of a campaign against the city of Mexico— The port of Vera Cruz described — Its harbor — The northers — Gale in the Somers — Gale in the storeship Electra, in the bight of Alvarado — The vomito — Its terrible ravages — Its characteristics 100

Chapter VII

Mission of Commander McKenzie, of the navy, to Cuba — Return of General Santa Anna to Mexico — Great rejoicing in Vera Cruz on the occasion — He immediately put himself at the head of the ultra war party — His march northward, and the battle of Buena Vista — Arrival of General Scott with his troops and transports — He and Commodore Conner reconnoiter the city of Vera Cruz — Landing of the troops — Investment of the city — Summons and reply — Commencement of hostilities — Tattnall's assault on the Castle — The naval battery, and its destructive fire — Walls breached, and city beaten — Mexicans send a flag of truce to General Scott, and propose a surrender 117

Chapter VIII

Siege of Vera Cruz continued — Articles of capitulation signed — Surrender of the city — The Mexican army marches out, and lays down its arms — General Scott's dispatch announcing the result — General Quitman marches to the attack of Alvarado — Is anticipated by Lieutenant Hunter — Subse- CONTENTS. IX quent trial of this officer for disobedience of orders — New aspect of Vera Cruz under American rule — Capture of Tuspan — Exploration of the river of this name — Author ordered into the interior of Mexico, on a special mission — Departure from Vera Cruz — Incidents of the road — The alcalde of Santa F6 — Valley of San Juan, and encounter of General Pillow. . . 142

Chapter IX

Journey continued — Hacienda of Mango de Clavo, the residence of Santa Arum — The Mexican litera — The fair Jalapeiias — Dead body of a soldier — Night encampment and an alarm — Arrival at the Paso de Ovejas, and interview with the alcalde — The author and his horse — Arrival at Puente Nacional, and encampment in another of the houses of Santa Anna — View from the height of the Cuesta de la Calera — Traces of war visible on the road — Arrival at Plan del Rio, in the vicinity of Cerro Gordo — The place of encampment preceding the battle — The hospital and the graves of the common soldiery — Description of the battle of Cerro Gordo— Continuation of journey, and arrival at Jalapa 166

Chapter X

Description of Jalapa — The market-place — The multitude, and their costumes — The American volunteer — The luxuriance of vegetation — The peculiarity of the climate — It rains more than half the year — The exceeding transparency of the atmosphere — The baths — The washing establishments — The lavanderos and the soldiers — The author's quarters, and new messmates — Correspondence with General Scott — Arrival of Mr. Trist, as commissioner — A funeral ceremony — Captain Mason of the rifles, and the sympathy occasioned by his death 187

Chapter XI

General Santa Anna at Orizaba— His letter to President Anaya— Delay of General Scott at Jalapa— His failure to follow up his victory at Cerro Gordo— Vacillation of purpose, and final discharge of the volunteers — Postponement of campaign — Proclamation, and its effects — March of the army from Jalapa to Puebla— Scenes and incidents by the wayside— San Miguel el Soldado— La Hoya, and General Twiggs' encampment— Las Vigas— Perote and Mount Pizarro— Castle of Perote— Hacienda of San Antonio — Tepeahualco 206 m

Chapter XII

Continuation of journey from Jalapa to Puebla— The road from Tepeahualco to Ojo de Agua— Hacienda of San Jose— Napolucan ; its beautiful situation in the heart of a fertile district— The indigence of its inhabitants— the Pass of the Pinal— a famous retreat for banditti— Hacienda where General Mexia was shot— The town of Acajete— Encampment for the night—Interview with the cura and the alcalde— Ignorance of these officials— First CONTENTS. X view of the volcanoes of Puebla — Amosoque — the great spur manufactory—The plain of Puebla— Approach to the city — Our Lady of Loretto — Met by generals Worth and Quitman, and escorted into the city — Descrip tion of Puebla — Tlascala and Cholula — Puebla as a manufacturing district — Cultivation and manufacture of cotton — Other manufactures — Agriculture — Price of labor — The Mozo system 229

Chapter XIII

Description of Puebla continued — The houses — the streets — the multitude — Singular manner of naming streets — The aguadores, or water-carriers — Snow and ice from the volcanoes — The grand plaza — The entry of General Worth into this plaza, and the extraordinary scene which there ensued — The cathedral — The burial-place of the bishops — The portraits of these, for three hundred years back — A visit to the palace of the archbishop — Gallery of paintings, and library of this establishment — Feast of Corpus Christi — A grand high mass in the cathedral — The clergy of Puebla — The churches and convents — The Paseos — The Tivoli, and its amusements — Social circles; manners, customs, etc 251

Chapter XIV

Description of Puebla continued — The lower classes — The leperos, and the ladrones, or robbers — Mexican justice — Mexican houses all closed at eight o'clock at night — The spy company organized by General Scott, and its notorious captain — Dominguez — General Worth's able and politic government of the city, and the good results arising therefrom — St. John's day — The army grows tired of inactivity — The drill grounds, and the splendid divisions of Worth and Twiggs — Sketches of the personal appearance, etc., of the principal officers — Captain Kearney sent forward under a flag of truce; author accompanies him — Excursion to the Rio Frio, and return 273

Chapter XV

Visit to the pyramid of Cholula — The massacre of Cholula — Escape of Passed Midshipman Rogers, and his arrival at Puebla — Negotiations for Peace commenced by Mr. Trist through the mediation of the British minister — Struggle between Santa Anna and congress, to evade the responsibility of undertaking these negotiations — Failure of the negotiations — Santa Anna's strategy, military and political — His resignation of the presidency, and subsequent withdrawal of his resignation — General Scott's preparations for a forward movement — Arrival of reinforcements, under generals Pillow, Pearce, and Cadwallader— Arrival of the marines under Colonel Watson— Author is appointed aid-de-camp to General Worth, and joins his military family— Misunderstanding between generals Scott and Worth CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XVI

March of the army upon the city of Mexico — General Twiggs the first to move — Is followed by General Quitman — March of General Worth — Encampment at Rio Prieto — San Martin — Pass the volcanoes of Puebla — Arrive at the Rio Frio — Summit-level of the mountains of Anahuac and first view of the valley of Mexico — Description of the valley — The ancient Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs' — Its capture by Cortez — Bernal Diaz' account of some of the wonders of the ancient city — Spots rendered famous by the siege of Cortez, identified — Description of the march of Cortez, upon his first entry into the city of Mexico 320

Chapter XVII

Continuation of the description of the ancient Tenochtitlan — Comparison of the topography of the ancient, with that of the modern city — Gradual drying up of the lakes — The causeways — The enemy's position and plau of defense — The Penon and Mexicalcingo reconnoitered by the engineers, and General Scott's plan of attack — The reconnoissance of Chalco by General Worth, and its consequences — Singular scenery of the lake — Picturesque towns on its borders — Semi-barbarism of the inhabitants — General Worth's letter to General Scott recommending the route by lake Chalco — Colonel Duncan's letter to the "Pittsburgh Post" — General Scott's order No. 349 — Correspondence between generals Scott and Worth — Arrest of the latter by the former, etc. — Secretary Marcy 's letter 347

Chapter XVIII

Continuation of the campaign — March of the army, by the way of Chalco, to San Augustin — Halt at San Gregorio — The Padre of the village and his flock — Borders of Lake Xochimilco — Division halts at Tetelco to reconnoiter — Enters San Augustin, the base of our new line of operations — Concentration of our forces at San Augustin — Movements of the enemy — Worth takes position before San Antonio — Pillow moves in the direction of Contreras — Smith's great victory at this place — An interior view of the enemy's camp, and the spectacle of discord there witnessed 3""

Chapter XIX

Worth's encampment before San Antonio — Storming of this place — March of the army upon Churubusco — Worth commands the right of attack — The battle of Churubusco— The storming of the tete de pont, and the fall of San Pablo — Consequent defeat and rout of the enemy — Gathering together the wounded, and burial of the dead — March of Scott and Worth upon Tacubaya— The policy of fighting the battle of Churubusco considered, as also our failure to enter the city of Mexico— Armistice CONTENTS.

Chapter XX

The Armistice continued — Exchange of letters between Santa Anna and Rejon — The trickery put in play by the former, to dupe General Scott — Armistice promulgated to both armies — Negotiations for peace — Amusing diplomacy — Rupture of negotiations — Stoning of the American wagons, in the city of Mexico, by the populace — The armistice declared at an end — Sharp correspondence between General Scott and General Santa Anna — The village of Tacubaya described — Execution of the deserters captured at Churubusco — Reflections upon the campaign — Events preceding the battle of Molino del Rey 414

Chapter XXI

Battle of Molino del Rey — Order of battle — Desperate charges of Wright and Mclntosh — Great slaughter that ensued — Duncan's light artillery repulses a charge of the enemy's horse — Piercing the enemy's center, and carrying of the Molino — Fall of the Casa-Mata — Total rout of the enemy — Reflections upon this battle — Its consequences — Bombardment and storming of Chapultepec 436

Chapter XXII

Battles of the causeways— Worth's operations on the causeway of San Cosme. — Quitman's operations on the causeway of Chapultepec — Entrance of the army into the city of Mexico — The post of honor given to General Quitman on this occasion — Insurrection of the populace Suppression of the insurrection — Santa Anna vacates the presidency and expatriates himself— Meeting of the Mexican congress and ratification of peace — Reflections upon the war and its results 456 Am,™ ?..Æ.§9

Chapter I

Geographical position of Mexico — Her plains, mountains and climates — Glance at her social, political, and economical condition — The distribution of property among the clergy and other classes, and the political and social effects of this distribution — The miners, carriers, and Leperos — The military and their influence. Mexico is the most southern of the States of the North Ameri can continent, being bounded on the north and east by the United States, and on the south by Guatimala or Central America and the British Province of Honduras. It is of vast dimensions, and possesses every variety of climate and soil. The Cordilleras of the Andes run through its whole extent from North to South, and divide the country into what is called the Tierras Temjdadas, and the Tierras Calientes, or the temperate and torrid regions.

The tierras templadas consist of immense plains, at a medium elevation of about seven thousand feet above the level of the sea, of no very great width, but extending longitudinally many hundred miles. These plains are generally so level that one may travel in a wheel carriage on them from Oaxaca to Santa Fe, in New Mexico. o Magnificent mountains traverse them in various directions, diver sifying the country with bold and picturesque scenery, and in some instances shooting their conical peaks far above the region of per petual snow. The tierras calientes lie on the Atlantic and Pacific borders of the state, at the bases of this immense plateau. They consist of alternate tracts of fertile and barren soil, lying but a few feet above the level of the sea. Spurs, shooting off from the great Cordilleras, occasionally run into these, forming beautiful and picturesque valleys and meadows ; and plateaus of all grades of intermediate elevation, rise step above step between them and the great plain above.

The climate of the table lands is a medium between the rigors of the frigid, and the scorching heats of the torrid zone. It is a little colder during the winter than the summer, but vegetation proceeds all the year round. Frosty nights and mornings prevail from November until March, causing the wayfarer to wrap his cloak more tightly around him ; but the sun, when he has risen a few degrees above the horizon, uniformly dispels this sensation of chilliness, and warms all nature into life again. On the other hand, the climate of the tierras calientes is one of almost unmitigated heat, especially in the more southern parts of the Republic. It thus appears that the physical conformation of Mexico divides it into two great regions, as separate and distinct as though they did not belong to the same country ; and we shall see, as we proceed, that this diversity of natural scenery and climate pro duces, as might be expected, a marked effect upon the character and pursuits of the people.

The population of Mexico is estimated at about eight mil lions. It is probably rather above than below this estimate ; although it is impossible to say with accuracy, as there are no regular statistics of any kind kept in the country. Mexico has been independent, now, thirty years — a short space of time in the life of a nation. From the conquest by Hernando Cortez down to the period of the first revolution in France, the Spanish colonies in America had been governed with great success by the mother country — so far as success may be said to consist in preserving the statum in quo, uninterrupted by turbulence or commotion of any kind, on the part of the colonists. But the new born ideas of liberty which became fashionable in France toward the close of the last century, found their way into these colonies, in greater or less profusion, in spite of the Inquisition, and of the iron despotism of Viceroys, and Audiencias Reales.

The example of the United States, too, had a powerful influence upon them ; and the consequence was, that when Napoleon, by force and fraud, took possession of Spain, procured the abdication of the weak Charles IV, and proclaimed his brother Joseph king, the liberal ideas which the colonists had been gradually imbibing be gan to produce their effect. The Grito, or Shout of Dolores — as the first cry of liberty in Mexico is called — was raised on the night of the 16th September, 1810, by Hidalgo and Morales. A sanguinary struggle of eleven years ensued — similar in many of its important features to our own revolution — until 1821, when the Spaniards, beaten at all points, were forced to evacuate the country. On the 27th September, in this year, the Mexican flag was hoisted, for the first time, on the Viceregal Palace of Mexico.

A regency was immediately established under Don Augustin Iturbide, who had been a colonel of infantry in the Spanish army, and who, toward the close of the struggle, pronounced* against the royal cause, and went over to the patriots with all his forces. — This pronunciamiento, so fatal an example in Mexican history, is styled the pronunciamiento of Iguala, from the place where it oc curred ; and Iturbide, notwithstanding his subsequent career, has been elevated to an honorable niche in the temple of Mexican his tory, being styled the " Hero of Iguala." As might have been expected, he who had betrayed his master for the people, very soon betrayed the people to become their master. The hero of Iguala had not been installed many months in the regency before he declared himself " Emperor of Mexico," established guards, erected palaces — or rather converted into palaces several of the magnificent public buildings with which the capital was already supplied — and otherwise surrounded himself by the pomp and circumstance of an imperial court.

His dynasty was of short duration, however, as he was soon hurled from power by a general uprising of the people, whose confidence he had abused. He was banished, and undeservedly pensioned ; but returning in dis guise from his banishment soon afterward, with the view to regain * A word of explanation is necessary here, to the uninitiated reader of Mexican history. When one revolts against the government, in Mexico, he is said to pronounce; and a revolution is called a pronunciamento. The first step in a pronunciamento is, for the chief who revolts, to issue a manifesto, declaring that he and his party no longer recognize the authority of the party in power. The next step is, to put forth what is called the plan — that is to say, an elaborate declaration of the policy and principles of the revolutionary party.

The pronunciatniento a.nd the plan being issued, the new party is ready to begin the struggle for ascendency. his power, he was recognized and shot. This was the first essay of self-government in Mexico ! an essay which surprises us, at the first view; but which upon a little reflection appears quite natural. Iturbide's movement marked the commencement of a new era and a new struggle in Mexico ; a struggle which has not yet ended. It was not the movement of an individual merely, striving for self-aggrandizement, but of a then strong and powerful party. Mexico, although she had achieved her independence of Spain, when she hoisted her newly-formed flag on the ancient palace of the Viceroys, had achieved nothing more. She had not, nor has she yet, achieved her liberty — the struggle for this did but com mence, when the struggle for independence ceased.

The war of the revolution having broken up the old organiza tions, and resolved the various parties into their original elements, it remained to be seen whether these elements would coalesce, so far as to form a harmonious government. A year's experience under the regency and empire of Iturbide, proved that they would not ; and if we scrutinize a little more closely the nature and constitution of the population of Mexico at this period, we shall perceive the reasons why they did not. In the United States, it was the most natural thing in the world, that we should betake ourselves quietly to our republican forms of government, so soon as we had achieved our independence. These forms already existed, and we had been for several generations accustomed to them. Our colonial organizations had been ultra democratic in their commencement, and had so continued, with rare exceptions, to the period of our revolution.

We were all equals, politically, and very nearly so, socially. There were no orders of nobility established among us, and almost the only pursuits were those of agriculture and commerce; pursuits which tend eminently to equalize men, and to train them to the same modes of thought and action. All was harmony with us, therefore, and nothing was more easy than the fusion of parties when it became neces sary for us to form a government. As for our principles, there was no fundamental difference among us in regard to them. Not so with the Mexicans. They had been governed by the most despotic power of Europe for three centuries; in other words, for nine generations. What an apprenticeship to servitude ! Du'rinothis lonoperiod of the domination of Priests and Viceroys, all the lio-hts of science and learning, not to say of civilization, had been carefully shut out from them.