The Mexican War : a history of its origin, and a detailed account of the victories which terminated in the surrender of the capital; with the official dispatches of the generals

Front matter

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Chapter I

Origin of the War with Mexico. — Settlement of Texas. — Declaration of Independence. — Santa Anna's Treaty. — Movement towards Annexation. — Correspondence of Boconegra. — Declaration x>i 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 . . Page 9

Chapter II

War inevitable. — General Scott at Washington. — Recommends an Increase of the Army. — Mission of Mr. Slidell. — Downfall of Herrera. — Departure of Slidell. — General Taylor marches from Corpus Cliristi. — Arrives at Point Isabel — In front of Matamoras. — Capture of Captain Thornton's Party. — March of General Taylor to Point Isabel — Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. — Taylor's Official Reports . 22

Chapter III

Action of Congress. — Declaration of the President. — Legislation. — General Scott's Views of the War. — His Comments on the Plan of Campaign. — His Correspondence with Secretary Marcy. — The Grounds for his Opinions. — Is ordered to remain at Washington 44

Chapter IV

Campaign of the Rio Grande continued. — Movement of the Army. — March to Monterey. — Battle of Monterey. — Armistice. — March to Saltillo. — Wool's Corps. — Tampico. — Occupation of Victoria. — Conclusion of the Campaign. — General Taylor's Despatches. — Results 56

Chapter V

Government Plan to invade Northern Mexico. — Assemblage of Troops at Fort Leavenworth. — Kearney's March to Santa Fe. — Nature of the Country. — Retreat of the Mexicans. — Arrival at Santa Fe. — Kearney's Proclamation. — Kearney departs for California. — -Wool's E.xpedition. — Assembling of the Troops at San Antonio. — The Object of the Expedition. — March to Mouclova ; to Pedas Wool joins Worth at Saltillo. —

Taylor's March to Victoria .... 76

a2 b CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

Expedition of Captain Fremont. — Arrival at Monterey, California. — Suspicions of Governor de Castro. — Fremont takes position. — Returns by Oregon. — Returns again to Monterey. — Is threatened by De Castro. — Declares War. — Capture of Mexicans. — Sails from Monterey to Diego. — Capture of the City of Angels. — Conquest of California. — Object of the Government. — Marcy's Letter to Stevenson.— ^Marcy's Orders to Kearney. — Scott's Orders. — Insurrection in New Mexico. — Murder of Bent. — Battle of Covoda. — Battle of Pueblo de Taos. — Insurrection in Cali fornia. — March of Doniphan. — Battle of Brozitos. — Capture of El Paso'^ — Battle of Sacramento. — • apture of Chihuahua. — March to Saltillo. — Arrival at New Orleans. — March of Gilpin to the Rocky Mountains Page 91

Chapter VII

General Scott ordered to Mexico. — Letter of the Secretary of War to General Taylor. — Letter of the Secretary of War to General Scott. — General Scott leaves Washington. — His Letter to General Taylor. — Plan of appointing a Lieutenant-General. — Scott reaches the Rio Grande* — Condition of things there. — Withdraws a part of Taylor's Troops in compliance with the Orders of the War Department . 110

CHAPTER Vin.

General Taylor's Movements. — Taylor's Position. — Santa Anna's Advance. — Importance of the event. — Battle of Buena Vista. — Retreat of the Mexicans. — Taylor's Official Account. — Santa Anna's Report, 119

Chapter IX

Advance of the Army to Lobos ; thence to Antonio Lizardo. — Siege and Capture of Vera Cruz. — Official Despatches. — March to the Interior. — Battle of Cerro Gordo. — Official Despatches. — Capture of Puebla, 163

Chapter X

Entrance of the American Army hito Puebla. — Mexican Account. — American Officers. — Conduct of the Army. — Situation of Puebla, — Character of the Country. — The Ancient Cholula. — Strength of the Army. — Scott's Proclamation. — Humanity of the Army.— rMission of Trist. — Reasons for remaining in Puebla. — Drilling of the Army. — Raising new Regiments. — New Volunteers. — Attack on the Train of M'lntosh. — Advance of Pierce. — Concentration of the Army . . 202

Chapter XI

Strength of the Army. — Reinforcements. — Divisions of the Army. — March from Puebla. — Hospitals of Puebla. — Volcano of Popocatapetl. —

CONTENTS. 7

Pass of Rio Frio. — View of Mexico. — Valley of Mexico. — Lakes. — Inundations. — Topography of the Valley. — Position of the Army on the ]3th of August. — Reconnoissance of the Rifles. — El Penon. — Mexicalcingo. — Turning of Lake Chalco. — March to San Augustine. — Skirmish at Bueiia Vista. — Concentration. — Position of the Army on the 18th Page 221

CHAPTER Xn.

Mexican Line of Defence. — Position of the American and Mexican Armies. — Action of the 19th. — Position in the Hamlet of Contreras. — Position 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 Tete du Pont. — Battle of Churubusco. — Defeat of the Mexicans. — Loss. — Truce 241

CHAPTER XIIL

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 Loss. — Evacuation of Molino del Rey. — Preparations for the Attack of Chapultepec. — Erection of Batteries. — Storm of Chapultepec. — Action of the 13th. — Capture of Mexico. — Entrance into the City. — Scott's Address to the Soldiers. — Insurrection of the Leperos. — Appearance of the City.— Reflections 273

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 earher 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,

10 EMIGRATION TO TEXAS.

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

CAUSES LEADING TO INDEPENDENCE. 11

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.

12 WAR WITH MEXICO.

Such was the feeling in Texas, when Santa Anna, having completed his usurpation of the supreme power and defeated the Zacatecans, who opposed him, sent General Cos into Texas to enforce certain requisitions of the government. One of these was the execution of the Act of 1830, prohibiting the emigration of Americans into Texas. Another was the surrender of Lorenzo de Zavala, who had become a refugee in Texas, in consequence of moving a law, in the Mexican Congress, directed against church property. To enforce these demands. General Cos took possession of Antonio de Bexar. On the other hand, the Texans prepared for an armed resistance, and on the 28th of September, 1835, they attacked and defeated a party of 'Mexicans at the town of Gonzales, on the Rio Guadalupe.

Thus was commenced the war and revolution of Texas : a war which arose, on the part of Mexico, from an attempt to enforce the authority of the government de facto (without reference to the Constitution) over the province of Texas ; and on the side of Texas, in an obvious attempt to make that province virtually independent of Mexico.

On the 3d of November, 1835, the delegates of Texas assembled at San Felipe de Austin, and issued a solemn declaration against Santa Anna and other military chieftains, " who had by force of arms overthrown the Federal Institutions of Mexico, and dissolved the social compact which existed between Texas and the other members of the Mexican confederacy."

The war thus commenced between Texas and the mother country continued, with various fortune, till the 21st of April, 1836, when General Santa Anna was captured at the battle of San Jacinto, and the Mexican authority over the Texans really destroyed.

CAPTURE OF SANTA ANNA. 13

On the 2d of March previously, the Texan delegates ^ assembled at Washington on the Brazos, made a formal declaration of independence, signed a constitution, and organized a government. This independence Santa Anna, a captive in the hands of the Texan army, afterwards bound himself to " solemnly acknowledge, sanction, and ratify ;" and to use his personal and official powers to procure without delay the ratification and confirmation of that treaty by the legitimate government of Mexico.

The boundaries of Texas, as then defined, are of importance as constituting one of the grounds of claim on the part of the government of the United States against Mexico. They were declared to be as follows : —

" Beginning at the mouth of the Rio Grande ; thence up the principal stream of said river to its source ; thence due north to the 42° of north latitude ; thence along the boundary line, as defined in the treaty between the United Slates and Spain, (February, 1819,) to the beginning."

To any claim of boundary, however, resting upon this concession of Santa Anna, it is well replied, that it was made when he was under constraint, and was in its very terms of no effect till ratified by the legitimate government of Mexico. Accordingly when, a little while afterwards, Bustamente became president of Mexico, he repudiated this treaty, and recommenced the war with Texas. This war was continued, in desultory and predatory excursions, on both sides, till Texas was finally annexed to the United States.

While things were in this state — the mother country contending for its continued dominion, and the young province for absolute independence — the Question of Annexation (as it is politically called) arose both in

B

14 ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.

the United Slates and Texas. The inhabitants of the latter, we have said, were chiefly citizens of the United States — persons whom past adversities or future hopes had impelled to this new region in pursuit of fortune or adventure. If it was natural for them thus to pursue these new objects, it was equally natural that they should desire to remain politically and socially connected with the land of their birth and the home of their associations. \Srccordingly, as early as the 4th of August, 1837, soon after she declared her independence, Texas proposed to annex herself to the United States.^ The then president of this country, Mr. Van Buren, declined the terms, for reasons which were alike honorable to his sagacity as a man, and his principles as a statesman. He declared, that so long as we were bound by a treaty of amity and commerce with Mexico, to annex Texas would necessarily involve the question of war ; and that a disposition to espouse the quarrel with Mexico was at variance with the spirit of the treaty, and with the policy and welfare of the United Slates.^

Texas continued negotiations with the United States, with Great Britain, France, and Mexico — the object of which was to procure the acknowledgment of her independence by Mexico, or her protection by some more powerful government. Thus matters continued — a partial war at one time, and a series of negotiations at another — till the administration of President Tyler revived the plan of annexation. On the 6th of October, 1843, the Hon. A. P. Upshur, Secretary of State, proposed to the Texan envoy the renewal of negotiations for the annexation of

* Vide State Papers. * Idem.

BOCANEGRA S LETTER. 15

Texas to the United States ; which was accepted by the Texan executive.

In the mean while, the subject had been discussed in the newspapers, and the Mexican government availed itself of this information to make a formal declaration of its views on this important point. Mr. Bocanegra, the Mexican Minister of Foreign Relations, addressed a note^ (August 23, 1843) to Waddy Thompson, our minister in Mexico, of which the following is a passage : —

" And if a party in Texas is now endeavoring to effect its incoi-poration with the United States, it is from a consciousness of their notorious incapability to form and constitute an independent nation, without their having changed their situation, or acquired any right to separate themselves from their mother country. His Excellency the Provisional President, resting on this deep conviction, is obliged to prevent an aggression, unprecedented in the annals of the world, from being consummated ; and if it he indispensable for the Mexican nation to seek security for its rights at the expense of the disasters of war, it will call upon God, and rely on its own efforts for the defence of its just caused

This declaration was a notice to the American government of the effects to he anticipated from the annexation, and fully justified the sagacity and firmness of Mr. Van Buren. It was replied to, by Mr, Waddy Thompson, in a haughty note, affirming that the notice of the Mexican minister was a threat, or a warning ; but silent as to the attitude really assumed by the United States.

A short time subsequent to this correspondence, and

* State Papers — Letter of Bocanegra.

16 a.lmonte's letter.

as if to prevent any misunderstanding of the meaning of Mexico, General Almonte, Mexican minister at Washington, addressed a note to Mr. Upshur, Secretary of State, of which the following passage is a part : —

" But if, contrary to the hopes and wishes entertained by the government of the undersigned for the preservation of the good understanding and harmony which should reign between the two neighboring and friendly republics, the United States should, in defiance of good faith, and the principles of justice which they have constantly proclaimed, commit the unheard-of act of violence of appropriating to themselves an integrant part of the Mexican territory, the undersigned, in the name of his nation, and now for them, protests in the most solemn manner against such an aggression ; and he moreover declares, by express order of his government, that on sanction being given by the Executive of the Union to the incorporation of Texas into the United States, he will consider his mission ended, seeing that, as the Secretary of State will have learned, the Mexican government is resolved to declare war as soon as it receives intimation of such an act.^^^

Long previous to actual annexation, it will be observed, the Mexican government had officially informed -the Executive of the United States, that war must inevitably result from that act. It cannot, therefore, be said, with any regard to truth, that the government of the United States, in annexing Texas, did not have reason to anticipate that result, and did not neglect that preparation which such anticipations required of a prudent administration.^

' General Almonte's Letter, dated November 3d, 1843. " In fact they made none till the war was commenced.

LORD Aberdeen's letter. 17

The plan of annexation, notwithstanding these explicit declarations of the Mexican government, was anxiously and sedulously pursued by the Executive of the United Stales. Mr. J. C. Calhoun, who had succeeded Mr.. Upshur^ as Secretary of State, signed with the Ministers Plenipotentiary of Texas (Messrs. Van Zandt and Henderson) a Treaty of Annexation, on the 12th of April, 1844. In the same month, the Secretary of State (Mr. Calhoun) advised the Charge d' Affaires in Mexico, " that, the step had been forced on the government of the United States in self-defence, in consequence of the policy adopted by Great Britain in reference to the abolition of slavery in Texas."^ At the same moment, there had been presented by Mr. Pakenham, (British minister,) and was on file in the Department of State, a solemn declaration of the British government, by Lord Aberdeen, that this idea of British interference was a gross mistake.^ In this declaration. Lord Aberdeen says, —

" With regard to Texas, we avow that we wish to see slavery abolished there, or elsewhere ; and we should rejoice, if the recognition of that country by the Mexican government, should be accompanied by an engagement on the part of Texas to abolish slavery, and under proper conditions throughout the republic. But although we earnestly desire and feel it to be our duty to promote such a consummation, we shall not interfere unduly, or with an improper assumption of authority with either

* Mr. Upshur was killed on board the Princeton. ' State Correspondence, April, 1844.

' Lord Aberdeen's Letter was dated December 26th, 1843 ; and presented by Mr. Pakenham, February 26th, 1844.

]S TREATY REJECTED.

party, in order to insure the adoption of such a course. We shall counsel, but we shall not seek to compel or unduly control either party."

Did the President and Secretary of State disbelieve this declaration ? In any case, upon what evidence did the Secretary declare, that the government of the United States was forced into this step, in consequence of the interference of Great Britain with slavery in Texas ? Upon what principle of the Constitution did the American government interfere with Texas for such a cause ? — The plan of annexation, however, was strenuously pushed by its projectors.

On the 22d of April, 1844, Mr. Tyler submitted to the Senate a Treaty of Annexation, which was soon after rejected, and the question left open for public discussion.^

In consequence of the election of President Polk in November, 1844, and the apparent approval of annexation by the people of the United States, Congress on the 1st of March, 1845, passed what is called the Joint Resolution, giving its consent that the territory " rightfully belonging to the Republic of Texas" might be erected into a new State called the State of Texas ; subject, however, to the adjustment by this government of " all questions of boundary that may arise with other governments."

The terms of this Resolution admit that Texas might have claimed boundaries which were not rightfully belonging to her, and that these " questions of boundary" had yet to be settled.

To the terms of the Joint Resolution, Texas assented

' See the Public Documents of 1844

GEN. TAYLOR ORDERED TO CORPUS CHRISTI. 19

by her ordinance of July 4th, 1845, and having formed her Constitution, became virtually a State in the American Union.^ Two days after this (July 7th) the same Convention requested the President of the United States to occupy the ports of Texas, and send an army to their defence. This desire the President of the United States immediately complied with.

General Zachary Taylor, then in command at Camp Jessup, was ordered to move his forces into Texas, weeks before the War Department had received information of the Texan ordinance. On the 28th of June, Mr. Donelson, then minister to Texas, and to whom General Taylor was referred for advice upon his movements, wrote him that he had best move his forces " without delay to the western frontier of Texas," and also informing him that Corpus Christi, on Aranzas Bay, was the best point for the assembling of his troops. The same letter also admitted that the country between the Nueces and the Rio Grande was in dispute, the Texans holding Corpus Christi and the Mexicans Santiago, at the mouth of the Rio Grande?

General Taylor proceeded immediately with the forces under his command to Aranzas Bay, and in the beginning of August, 1845, had taken the position assigned him by the government. All the troops in the west, the northwest, and the Atlantic which could be spared, were ordered to join him. In November, 1845, by the report of the Adjutant- General, his army was composed as follows : — ^

' Documents of 1845.

' Mr. Donelson's Letter 28th of June 1845.— Public Documents.

' Adjutant-General's Report, November 26th, 1845.

20 STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.

General Staff 24

2d Regiment of Dragoons - - - 596

1st " of Artillery - - - 236

3d Regiment of Infantry - - - 533

Aggregate - - - 4,049

This was General Taylor's army in November, 1845, when, by the confession of the government, the territory between his position and Santiago, or rather, between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, was in dispute, and the subject of negotiation for boundaries.

What, however, was at this moment the real position of affairs in regard to the question of war ? Was there any room to doubt that war was the necessary consequence of annexation ? Was there any thing to justify the total neglect of all preparation for so serious a conflict, as w^ar with a nation, however inferior, of seven millions of people? The facts, as we have reviewed them, are simple and brief.

Mexico, hearing from the United States the distant rumors of an intended annexation of Texas, announces by Mr. Bocanegra to the American minister, that she will resent such an act at the expense of the disasters of war.

In the same year, (1843,) and a few months later, the Mexican minister, General Almonte, reaffirms the same

STATE OF THE QUESTION. 21

fixed determination of his government in a letter to the American Secretary of State.

When the act for annexation is passed, Almonte declares in his final note to the Secretary of State, that it is the most unjust act recorded in the annals of history ; protests against it ; declares that his government will resist it by all the means in its power; and demands his passports.

The diplomatic correspondence of our government shows, that it apprehended war — that it knew well the sole cause by which war would come — and that in the minds of the President and his cabinet, the annexation of Texas, and its disputed boundaries, was the sole foundation for any rupture with Mexico.

The march of General Taylor's army was evidently and declaredly' intended to meet the contingencies of such a rupture.

The most remarkable fact in this transaction, is that, with this apprehension of war vividly impressed upon the mind of the government, the President should never have asked Congress for one dollar of money, or one company of soldiers in addition to the provisions of the peace establishment ! Upon what principle was it assumed, that an entire province could be wrested from one empire and give no cause for war ? Upon what idea of prudence or sagacity was all preparation for that war neglected, till battles were already fought, and the opposing nation excited by all the worst feelings of national and martial controversy ?

The effect of this neglect we shall see in the series of subsequent events.

* See Douelfion's Correspondence.

22 WAR INEVITABLE.

Chapter II

War inevitable — General Scott at Washington — Recommends an increase/ of the Army — Mission of Mr. Slidell — Downfall of Herrera — Departure of Slidell — General Taylor marches from Corpus Christi — Arrives at Point Isabel — In front of Metamoras — Capture of Captain Thornton's party — March of General Taylor to Point Isabel — Battles of Palo Altor and Resaea de la Palma — Taylor's Official Report.

We have traced in the preceding chapter the negotiations of the United States vv^ith Mexico and Texas to that point, in which the Mexican Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and the Mexican minister at Washington, officially announced that the annexation of Texas to the United States would be considered just cause of war, and the latter had departed from Washington with hostile declarations. That this declaration was believed, and that war would result from that act, the American Charge d^ Affaires in Texas (Mr. Donelson) shows in his entire correspondence. In his letter of June 4th, 1845, to the Secretary of State, he declares his full belief that war will occur, although he chose to attribute it to the instigation of the British minister, Mr. Elliott.

Mr. Donelson makes this remarkable announcement : — " I look upon war with Mexico as inevitable — a wardictated by the British minister here for the purpose of defeating annexation, and intended at all events to deprive both Texas and the United States of all claim to the country between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, at the

WAR INEVITABLE. 23

time the right of Texas to the protection of the United States arises under the contingency anticipated by you at the date of your last despatch to me."

The " contingency" here spoken of by the Charge, was stated in Mr. Buchanan's letter of May 23d, 1845, and was simply the acceptance, by Texas, of the conditions of annexation stated in the joint resolution of Congress.

The question of " boundaries" was by that resolution and by all prior negotiations, left open for future discussion. Mr. Buchanan, therefore, cautiously uses the term " state," in reference to the annexation of Texas, and tells Mr. Donelson (23d of May, 1845) that, in the event of annexation, the President will deem it his duty to " employ the army in defending that state against the attacks of any foreign power." It was the state of Texas, whatever that might be, which, in May, 1845, the President undertook to defend, and not any imaginary boundary, or supposed claim of Texas beyond the Nueces, the Rio Grande, or any other stream.

Under the idea, however, as expressed in his letter of the 4th of June, that war was inevitable, Mr. Donelson asks the government for an army to defend the supposed frontier of Texas, and it is under this requisition that the corps of General Taylor was ordered to Corpus Christi, and became, in another year, the invading army of Mexico ! The cause of the war — the manner in which it was to arise and to be carried on, are projected and shadowed out so minutely in the diplomatic correspondence of Messrs. Buchanan and Donelson, as to leave the historian of these events no doubtful points to discuss. If they are not certain and fixe^ on the map of Time, in vain shall we look for any faithful volume of human transactions.