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Read Ebook: Het Vrije Rusland De Aarde en haar Volken 1873 by Dixon William Hepworth
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Winfield Scott--General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States at the Period of His Commanding in Mexico 27
"And All Your Army and Guns Can't Keep Them Off" 46
"'Peared Like They Were Going to Ambush Me and Take this Turkey" 125
Lieutenant Grant Used this as a Ladder 264
MAPS
The March to the City of Mexico, 279 Miles 18
The Campaign in the Valley of Mexico 194
WORDS OF GENERAL SCOTT
His motto in life: "If idle, be not solitary; if solitary, be not idle."
At Queenstown Heights, 1812: "Let us, then, die, arms in hand. Our country demands the sacrifice. The example will not be lost. The blood of the slain will make heroes of the living."
At Chippewa, July 5, 1814: "Let us make a new anniversary for ourselves."
To the Eleventh Infantry at Chippewa: "The enemy say that Americans are good at long shot, but cannot stand the cold iron. I call upon the Eleventh instantly to give the lie to that slander. Charge!"
From an inscription in a Peace Album, 1844: "If war be the natural state of savage tribes, peace is the first want of every civilized community."
At Chapultepec, 1847: "Fellow soldiers! You have this day been baptized in blood and fire, and you have come out steel!"
To the Virginia commissioners, 1861: "I have served my country under the flag of the Union for more than fifty years, and, so long as God permits me to live, I will defend that flag with my sword, even if my own native State assails it."
THE CAUSES
March 2, 1836, by people's convention the Mexican province of Texas declares its independence and its intention to become a republic.
April 21, 1836, by the decisive battle of San Jacinto, Texas wins its war for independence, in which it has been assisted by many volunteers from the United States.
May 14, 1836, Santa Anna, the Mexican President and general who had been captured after the battle, signs a treaty acknowledging the Texas Republic, extending to the Rio Grande River.
September, 1836, in its first election Texas favors annexation to the United States.
December, 1836, the Texas Congress declares that the southwestern and western boundaries of the republic are the Rio Grande River, from its mouth to its source.
The government of Mexico refuses to recognize the independence of Texas, and claims that as a province its boundary extends only to the Nueces River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico, about 120 miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande.
This spring and summer petitions have been circulated through the United States in favor of recognizing the Republic of Texas. Congress has debated upon that and upon annexation. The South especially desires the annexation, in order to add Texas to the number of slave-holding States.
February, 1837, President Andrew Jackson, by message to Congress, relates that Mexico has not observed a treaty of friendship signed in 1831, and has committed many outrages upon the Flag and the citizens of the United States; has refused to make payments for damages and deserves "immediate war" but should be given another chance.
March, 1837, the United States recognizes the independence of the Texas Republic.
Mexico has resented the support granted to Texas by the United States and by American citizens; she insists that Texas is still a part of her territory; and from this time onward there is constant friction between her on the one side and Texas and the United States on the other.
In August, 1837, the Texas minister at Washington presents a proposition from the new republic for annexation to the United States. This being declined by President Martin Van Buren in order to avoid war with Mexico, Texas decides to wait.
Mexico continues to evade treaties by which she should pay claims against her by the United States for damages. In December, 1842, President John Tyler informs Congress that the rightful claims of United States citizens have been summed at ,026,079, with many not yet included.
Several Southern States consider resolutions favoring the annexation of Texas. The sympathies of both North and South are with Texas against Mexico.
In August, and again in November, 1843, Mexico notifies the United States that the annexation of Texas, which is still looked upon as only a rebellious province, will be regarded as an act of war.
October, 1843, the United States Secretary of State invites Texas to present proposals for annexation.
In December, 1843, President Tyler recommends to Congress that the United States should assist Texas by force of arms.
April 12, 1844, John C. Calhoun, the Secretary of State, concludes a treaty with Texas, providing for annexation. There is fear that Great Britain is about to gain control of Texas by arbitrating between it and Mexico. The treaty is voted down by the Senate on the ground that it would mean war with Mexico, would bring on a boundary dispute, and that to make a new State out of foreign territory was unconstitutional.
Throughout 1844 the annexation of Texas is a burning question, debated in Congress and by the public. In the presidential election this fall the annexation is supported by the Democratic party and opposed by the Whig party. The Democrats had nominated James K. Polk for President, George M. Dallas for Vice-President; the Democrats' campaign banners read: "Polk, Dallas and Texas!" Polk and Dallas are elected.
March 1, 1845, a joint resolution of Congress inviting Texas into the Union as a State is signed by President Tyler just before he gives way to President-elect Polk. The boundaries of Texas are not named.
March 6 General Almonte, Mexican minister to the United States, denounces the resolution as an act of injustice to a friendly nation and prepares to leave Washington.
March 21 orders are issued by President Polk to General Zachary Taylor to make ready for marching the troops at Fort Jesup, western Louisiana, into Texas.
This same month the Texas Secretary of State has submitted to Mexico a treaty of peace by which Mexico shall recognize the republic of Texas, if Texas shall not unite with any other power.
In May, this 1845, Mexico signs the treaty with Texas.
May 28 the President of the United States directs General Taylor to prepare his command for a prompt defence of Texas.
June 4 President Anson Jones, of the Texas Republic, proclaims that by the treaty with Mexico hostilities between the two countries have ended. But--
June 15 President Polk, through the Secretary of War, directs General Taylor to move his troops at once, as a "corps of observation," into Texas and establish headquarters at a point convenient for a further advance to the Rio Grande River. A strong squadron of the navy also is ordered to the Mexican coast. And--
June 21 the Texas Congress unanimously rejects the treaty with Mexico, and on June 23 unanimously accepts annexation to the United States.
July 4, this 1845, in public convention the people of Texas draw up an annexation ordinance and a State constitution.
On July 7 Texas asks the United States to protect her ports and to send an army for her defence.
August 3 General Zachary Taylor lands an army of 1500 men at the mouth of the Nueces River, and presently makes his encampment at Corpus Christi, on the farther shore.
In October the Mexican Government, under President Herrera, agrees to receive a commissioner sent by the United States to discuss the dispute over Texas, and President Polk withdraws the ships that have been stationed at Vera Cruz.
December 6, 1845, John Slidell, the envoy from the United States, arrives in the City of Mexico to adjust the matter of Texas and also the claims held by American citizens against Mexico.
The Mexican Republic is in the throes of another revolution. It declines to include the claims in the proposed discussion; December 30 President Herrera is ousted and Don Maria Paredes, who favors war rather than the loss of Texas, becomes head of the republic. Minister Slidell finally has to return home, in March, 1846. But long before this President Polk had decided to seize the disputed Texas boundary strip.
GENERAL TAYLOR'S CAMPAIGN
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