346 VICTORIES OF THE RIO GRANDE. P'TIV he had found his way with six men through the MexP'D III. ican army to bring this information. CH. VII. May 1. at Point May 3 to 7. Taylor did not hesitate. Leaving his camp at 1846. Matamoras, with a garrison in command of the trusty Taylor veteran, Major Brown, he marched with the main Isabel. army, and reached Point Isabel unmolested. The Mexicans at Matamoras attacked the camp with their 9. batteries, and Major Brown opened his guns upon the ade of city. The firing was anxiously heard by Taylor, and Brown. a messenger for aid reached him from Major Brown. The garrison at Point Isabel being reinforced by 500 Taylor men, supplied by Commodore Conner from the navy, eaves Pt. Gen. Taylor announced to the war department, “I Isabel. shall march this day with the main body of the army, Cannon Fort 7th. PALO Mex. 6,000. Mex.losa, 400. w. 40. to open a communication with Major Brown, and throw forward supplies of ordnance and provision. If the enemy opposes my march, in whatever force, I shall fight him.' 22 May 8. 8. The same evening he marched. The next day ALTO. at noon he came in full sight of the Mexican army, force drawn up in order of battle, and extending a mile Am. across his way. Taylor halted his men,-bade them 2,300. refresh themselves at the pools-then formed his line. K. & w. The Mexicans, although with choice of the ground, Am. k. 4, and more than double numbers, were forced, after five hours, to yield to the Americans, the victory of PALO ALTO. Major Ringgold was here mortally wounded. Resaca 9. At two o'clock the next day the army resumed Palma. its march. Having advanced about three miles, the Mex Mexicans were discovered, skilfully posted, with artilButlery, at Resaca de la Palma. At four o'clock the Am Americans came up. The field was fiercely contested. 2,222. It was here, that Capt. May, with his dragoons rode 600. up to a Mexican battery, cut down the men, and took May 9. force about Mex. loss w.mor tally 44. 7. What was now done by Gen. Taylor? What cannonade was heard by him at Point Isabel? What determination did he announce?-8. Give an account of the battle of Palo Alto, the numbers engaged, loss, &c.; see side-note. (When hereafter the direction is, give an account of a battle, let the sidenotes be studied as well as the text.)-9. Give an account of the battle of Resaca de la Palma. Gen. La Vega as he was applying a match to one of PTIV. the guns. The Mexicans were wholly routed. Their P'D IIL camp-its stores, equipage, and Gen. Arista's private. V papers, fell into the hands of the Americans. On arriving at the camp, Taylor and his victorious army carried joy to the wearied combatants. But the valued commander of the fort had been killed. Gen. Taylor named the place where he fought and fell, Fort Brown. 10. Great were the rejoicings and illuminations in the United States for the victories of the Rio Grande. 1846. May 18 The Mexican army now deserted Matamoras, and the Taylor civil authorities suffered the Americans to take quiet occupie possession. Everywhere the young men of America moras, were now ready, nay, in haste, to go forth to defend June and their brethren, fight the Mexicans, and push for the July. Taylor "Halls of the Montezumas." Gen. Taylor was em- delayed by the barrassed and delayed by the ill-provided numbers press of who came. The towns on the lower Rio Grande were used taken and occupied by the Americans. Camargo, made the depot of provisions and stores, was gar risoned with 2,000 men under Gen. Patterson. unfur volunteers. The ar Marin. Walnut 11. The army being now 6,000 strong, its first division, under Gen. Worth, marched for the interior on the 20th of August. Gen. Taylor with the rear column soon followed. On the 5th of September, the several Sept. 5. divisions were concentrated at Marin. Moving on, my at they encamped, on the 9th, at Walnut Springs, three 9th, at miles from Monterey. Here, on the south and west Springs, towered the high peaks of the Sierra Madre,-while before them stood the walls of Monterey, bristling with cannon, and surrounded by fortresses;-and around them an unknown region-an invaded country, with thousands of embittered foes. Most of their troops were untried volunteers. But they had officers edu 9. What had occurred at the camp? What occurred at Matamoras?-10. What effect in the U. S. had the victories of the Rio Grande? What effect on Taylor's movements had the too great accession of ill-provided numbers?-11. Give an account of the movements of the army until reaching Walnut Springs. What now was its position? 348 POSITION OF MONTEREY PTIV. cated either directly or indirectly at West Point, who, P'D III. in all the complicated acquirements belonging to miliCH. VII. tary science, had no superiors. Especially had they a commander, cool and deliberate,-judicious to plan, and energetic to act. 12. He looked upon the mountains, and perceived towards the southwest, that they were cleft by the small stream of the San Juan, along which, was the road from Saltillo to Monterey. He thought if a new way could be made by which the Saltillo road should 1846. be reached, the enemy's line of supplies would be cut, Sept 20 and probably less formidable defences intervene. The party skill of the American engineers, under Capt. Mansfield, camp at found out such a way; and Gen. Worth being selected Worth's noon. 21st, Bat for the important service, led a column of 650 men on the 20th and 21st, by a difficult detour round to the Saltillo road. But they did not gain this advantle near tage without loss. On the morning of the 21st they rey. Mex. successfully fought a battle, in which Col. Hay and loss 100. his Texan rangers were distinguished. Monte Forts Fe 13. The Saltillo road being gained, the first obstacles now to be overcome in approaching the city, were deration two batteries on a hill. Up to these, in face of their dado car-fire, the soldiers marched. They were taken, and and Sol ried. their guns turned on the third and principal battery, -a fortified, unfinished stone building, called the Bishop's Palace, situated on the steep hill, Independence. Night came on, and the weary and hungry soldiers had to bide the pelting of a storm. At three Sept. 22. a party headed by Col. Childs, and conducted by Bo'clock, engineers Saunders and Meade, mounted the hill. Ă Bishop's vigorous sortie from the fort was repelled. The stormed. Americans entered it with the flying Mexicans, and it A. M. was theirs. After having taken this battery, and turned it against the city, the war-worn troops, now three days from the camp, their numbers thinned by death, stood close upon the rear of Monterey. 12. What plan was formed for approaching Monterey in rear? Who led the detachment? What happened on the morning of the 21st ?-13. Give an account of the movements of Worth's party until it reached the rear of Monterey. MONTEREY TAKEN. 349 1846. Sept. 22, on Mon 14. Meantime, Taylor had sought to direct the at- P'T IV. tention of the enemy from this, his real point of P'D III. attack, by making a feigned one in front. But so CH. VIL fiercely was this movement conducted by Gen. Butler, Capt. Backus, and others, that the city was entered, though with great sacrifice of life; for every street Attack was barricaded, and guns were pointed from the terey in walls of every house. The second day, a part of the defences were abandoned by the garrison, the Americans getting within the houses, and breaking through the walls. Gen. Quitman, who headed this party, advanced to the Plaza. On the morning of the 23d, the defences of the opposite side were assaulted and carried by the division of Gen. Worth. front. na's 15. Gen. Taylor now passed over to Worth's quarters, where he received the Mexican commander, Gen. Ampudia. He came with a flag to propose capitulation and an armistice, on the ground that peace might †" San shortly be expected, -Paredes being displaced, and 'ta AnGen. Santa Anna now in power. General Taylor Pass," knew that in consequence of President Polk's hope of May 15, that wily Mexican's favorable disposition, he had given an order to the fleet, which Com. Conner obeying, Santa Anna had passed unmolested on his return from Cuba. dated 1844. 16. Gen. Taylor had not men sufficient to guard the Mexican soldiers, if he kept them as prisoners; and his own unsupplied army needed all the provisions to be found in Monterey. Without the parade of compassion, he had its reality, and he wished to spare, 1846. especially "non-combatants." With the advice of his The ar officers, he therefore agreed to an armistice of eight weeks, on condition of the approval of the American government. This, on correspondence, was withheld; tion by and the war after six weeks was renewed. 14. Give an account of the operations of Generals Butler, Quitman, &c., in front. When did Worth's division enter the city?-15. On what ground did Gen. Ampudia propose an armistice? What did Taylor know of Mr. Polk's course in regard to Santa Anna ?-16. What farther do you learn concerning the armistice of Monterey ? Sept. 23. mistice. Its rejec Mr. Polk |