Dec. 20.

jected.

(Revolu

revenge; and he who most vilified the Americans, PT IV. and the loudest blustered for war, was most the PD IIL popular favorite; and such was PAREDES, by whose CHAP. VI. party, Herrera was denounced as a traitor for suspected intercourse with the foes of the nation. He was still Mr Slistruggling for his place, when Mr. Slidell, sent by Mr. dell re Polk, arrived in Mexico, and demanded to be received. Herrera rejected his mission on the ground Dec. 29. that the American government had sent him as an tion in envoy to settle the whole difference between the two nations, and not as a commissioner to consider merely the Texan question. He had brought the American account-book; when it had been proposed by the Mexicans to settle such items only, as appeared 1846 upon their own. Herrera, even with this rejection, Jan was not found violent enough to please the Mexicans, made and they displaced him, and elevated Paredes.

Mexico.

Paredes

presi

dent.

Jan. 16.

20. On the 16th of January, 1845, the United States senate ratified a treaty with China, which had 1845 been there negotiated between Mr. Cushing, the Chinese American Envoy Extraordinary, and the Commissioner of the Chinese Emperor.

treaty.

Grey,

the Co

21. OREGON.-England and America both claimed the extensive portion of this country, north of the Columbia river, to the Russian settlements.-Columbia river and its vicinity belongs to the Americans by right 1792. of the discovery made in 1792, by Captain Grey of (Captain Boston, and by the explorations of Lewis and Clark, sailing in in the employ of the American government, made in lumbia, the years 1804-5.-John Jacob Astor of New York, the river founded Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia, in 1811. The first house on its waters, was, however, established on Lewis river, by the Missouri Fur Company, in 1808.

22. The difficulty with England became so serious

19. How was Mr. Slidell received? Who was raised to honor in Mexico?-20. Give an account of the Chinese treaty.-21. What part of Oregon was in dispute, and with whom? On what was the American claim to the Columbia river and its valley founded? What were the first settlements in Oregon?

gives to

the name

of his

ship.)

THE RIO GRANDE.

343

June 18.

as to threaten war. It was, however, compromised by PT IV. a treaty negotiated at Washington between Mr. Pack- P'D III. enham, the British Minister, and Mr. Buchanan, the CH. VII. American Secretary, which makes the northern 1846. boundary of Oregon, the line of lat. 49 deg.; but Treaty of gives to the British the whole of Vancouver's Island, ington and a right to the joint navigation of the Columbia river.

Wash

CHAPTER VII.

Mexican War.-Army of Occupation.

of war,

sending

Grande.

1. GEN. TAYLOR was ordered by the secretary Jan. 13, 1846, to take post at the mouth of the Rio Grande. The effect of the order was to precipitate Effect of the collision of arms, and to give to the Mexicans, the Gen. Tay advantage of the cry of invasion. Gen. Taylor moved lor to the from Corpus Christi on the 8th of March. On the 18th he met a party of mounted Mexican marauders called rancheros, who warned him that he had passed the limits of Texas. On the 25th, the army reached Point Isabel. The Mexican authorities in leaving this place had set it on fire; but Taylor with exertion saved most of the buildings. From the nature of the coast he must make this place the depot for his stores. Leaving them here, with 450 men under Major Mun- March 28. roe, he advanced, and took post at the mouth of the Taylor Rio Grande opposite to Matamoras. Here batteries were soon erected by the Mexicans, pointing at his camp. This he intrenched, and immediately commerced a fort, whose guns threatened the heart of the

22. How was the difficulty with England settled? CHAPTER VII.-1. What order did Gen. Taylor receive? What was its effect? Give an account of Gen. Taylor's march from the mouth of the Nueces to that of the Rio Grande. What was here done by the Mexicans and the Americans?

Gen.

opposite

Matamo.

ras.

344

P'D III.

ACTUAL WAR. 晶

PTIV. city. Yet Gen. Taylor was strictly courteous to all. He had come, in peace, he said, to protect Texas, not CH. VII. to invade Mexico; but if attacked, he should know 1846. how to defend himself.

(April 10. Col. Cross rode out

camp

and was

Mexican

ros.)

2. This attack he had hourly reason to expect. from the Paredes had put in requisition the best troops of Mexalone, ico, headed by her ablest generals, and they were killed by gathering towards the Rio Grande. On both sides ranche of the river, all was warlike action;-here, mounting or relieving guards, -and there, planting artillery. Gen. Arista now arrived, and took the command at Matamoras. The Mexican government made a forApril 24. mal declaration of war on the 23d of May.—On the ties com. 24th Capt. Thornton with sixty-three dragoons was Thorn sent by Gen. Taylor a few miles up the river to ton's cap reconnoitre. They fell into an ambuscade, and findloss, king themselves surrounded by a far superior force, and w.16. they attempted to retreat, cutting their way; but they were obliged to surrender, with the loss of 16 killed and wounded.

Hostili

mence by

ture. Am.

ment and

Presi

3. The American congress and people were astonished and agitated, when Gen. Taylor's account of this Astonish-first bloodshed was received. Their army was suranxiety. rounded, and in danger, from the soldiers who had committed the massacres of Goliad and the Alamo ! May 11. A kind of monomania pervaded the nation. The dent's ex-President announced to congress that the Mexicans sage. had "invaded our territory, and shed the blood of our citizens upon our own soil." Congress responded, that "war existed by the act of Mexico," and in two May 13. days passed a law authorizing 50,000 volunteers to Act of be raised for twelve months; and appropriating tomen and wards the carrying on of the war, ten millions of money. dollars. Thus were the means at once provided.

tra mes

congress

4. Declared war being upon the hands of the Ex

1. What was Gen. Taylor's course of conduct?-2. What was now the aspect of things in regard to war? How did hostilities actually commence? When did the Mexicans declare war?-3. How was news of the breaking out of the war received in America? and what was done by the President and by Congress?

Plan of

ecutive, the plan for its prosecution and results ap- PTIV. pears to have been,-to take for indemnity and as a PDIII. permanent acquisition, that part of the Mexican terri. CH. VII tory lying between the old United States and the 1846 Pacific; and so to carry the war into the more vital the Exec and richer parts of Mexico, that the people would be willing to receive peace, and some needful funds, though at the sacrifice of this territory, and the relinquishment of Texas to the Rio Grande.

utive.

of a

cam.

paign.

5. The American Executive, aided by the head of the war department, and by General Scott, now sketched out, in two days' time, a plan of a campaign, May 15 exceeding, in the vastness of the spaces, over which it and 16. swept by sea and land, any thing of the kind known in history. Vessels were to pass round Cape Horn to the coast of California, to aid those already there Vast plan in conquering that country. An " Army of the West" was to be assembled at Fort Leavenworth to take New Mexico, and then proceed westward to the Pacific, to co-operate with the fleet. An "Army of the Centre," to be collected from different and distant parts of the Union, was to rendezvous at San Antonio de Bexar, and thence to invade Coahuila and Chihuahua.* These armies were mostly to be created from the raw material. The existing regular force of the United States, officers and men, did not exceed nine thousand.

6. Gen. Taylor, whose force was called the "Army of Occupation," now received intelligence by Capt. Walker that a large Mexican force in his rear, was interposed between him and his stores at Point Isabel. Walker had there been stationed by Major Munroe to keep open the communication; and he had fought fifteen minutes with his one company of Texan rangers, (armed with revolving pistols,) with 1500 Mexican Walker' cavalry,-killed thirty and escaped; and subsequently battle.

* Pronounced Che-waw-waw.

4. What was the general plan of the American Executive? 5. What were the military operations now sketched out for the army and navy?-6. What intelligence was now received by Gen. Taylor? Give an account of the first battle of the war in which Mexican blood was shed.

April 28.