battle of Buena Vista, "that we sustain the most sacred of causes, the defence of our territory, and the preservation of our nationality and rights; that we are not the aggressors; and that our Government has never offended that of the United States. We can say nothing of peace while the Americans are on this side of the Rio Bravo del Norte, or occupy any part of the Mexican territory, or blockade our ports. We are resolved to perish or vindicate our rights."

After this necessarily brief and imperfect sketch of the operations of what was at first called "the Army of Observation," then "the Army of Occupation," and what finally became, with a significant title, the Army of "Invasion,"* let us turn to view another part of the field of war.

It had been proposed soon after the war broke out, to invade Mexico at three different points, and thus divide and distract her forces. The main army, under Gen. Taylor, was to advance from the Rio Grande towards San Luis Potosi; a second smaller division, called "the Army of the Centre," under Gen. Wool, was to march from Bexar, in Texas, upon Chihuahua, the results of both of which movements have already been given. But a third expedition, to be called "the Army of the West," was to proceed from Missouri, cross the plains, occupy New Mexico, hold its capital, Santa Fé, and after that was achieved, a portion of the same troops was to occupy California.

On the 30th of June, 1846, Gen. Samuel W. Kearney led the Army of the West from Fort Leavenworth, situated on the river Missouri, and after a march of 890 miles, took possession of Santa Fé, without resistance, on the 18th of August, 1846. On the 25th of September, after making provision for a temporary government of New Mexico, he took 300 dragoons, and marched on the route to California. Learning on the way that that territory had been brought under the flag of the United States by Commodore Stockton and Lieut.-Colonel Fremont, after some severe skirmishes with the enemy, he left 200 of his troops in New Mexico, and with the remainder he marched 1,050 miles to San Diego, near the Pacific Ocean. Several conflicts occurred with the enemy, in which a considerable number were killed and wounded on both sides. But victory attended the American arms in most instances, and the territory was hopelessly subdued.

Of the troops left behind in New Mexico, and augmented by reinforcements from the States, one portion was under the command of Col. S. Price, and the remainder under that of Col. A. W. Doniphan.

* Sce Appendix to Hon. J. H. Crozier's speech, delivered in the House of Representatives, Jan. 21, 1847.

On the 19th of January, 1847, the Mexicans and Indians revolted against Gov. Bent of this territory, and put him and his followers, to the number of fifteen, to death. Col. Price, with a body of 353 men, met the enemy at the town of Canada, on Sunday, Jan. 24, 1847, and dispersed them. A detachment of the same troops, under Capt. Burgwin, engaged and conquered the enemy on Jan. 29th, at the pass of Embudo. On Feb. 3d and 4th, Col. Price besieged a stronghold of the insurgents, called Pueblo de Taos, defended by 600 or 700 men, and took it after a severe contest.

The other section of Gen. Kearney's army, 856 mounted riflemen, under the command of Col. Doniphan, left Santa Fé on the 26th of October, 1846, and traversed New Mexico, Chihuahua, Durango, and New Leon. At Bracito, in New Mexico, on Dec. 25, 1846, on Christmas Day, the Colonel, with about 500 of his troops, met and defeated 1,220 Mexicans. The battle of Sacramento, in Chihuahua, was fought on Sunday, Feb. 28, 1847. After a bloody encounter of three hours and a half, the Mexicans fled.

The following is a short summary of the naval operations carried on in the meantime against Mexico. On the 18th of May, 1846, the American squadron under the flag of Commodore Conner, consisting of five ships of war, blockaded Vera Cruz, and one sloop of war was stationed off Tampico. On the 14th of November, Commodore Conner took possession of the latter port without firing a gun. Previously to this, Commodore Perry ascended the river Tobasco seventy-four miles with several vessels, and on Sunday, Oct. 25th, he anchored opposite the town of the same name, and summoned it to surrender. On the succeeding day the town was severely cannonaded, and nearly demolished.

Several other ports on the eastern coast of Mexico, Tuspan, Alvarado, Panuco, were occupied by the Americans, and many vessels were captured. In fact, the naval power of the enemy was annihilated.

On the Pacific, Commodore Sloat occupied Monterey, the capital of Upper California, on the 7th of July, 1846, and announced by proclamation to the inhabitants that "henceforward California will be a portion of the United States, and promised that all the peaceable inhabitants should enjoy the same rights, privileges, and protection, as the other citizens of the republic." But in the course of the following winter, 1846-7, the Californians rose and offered resistance to their invaders, which was suppressed by Col. Fremont with a handful of soldiers, and by Commodore Stockton with a detachment from his fleet, and subsequently by Gen. Kearney, as before related.

The principal operations of the naval force in the war had thus far

been on land, or against ports and towns capable of being reached by vessels at anchor, with the exception of the service of transporting troops from the United States to the scene of action. But a new theatre of greater importance, though of similar character was opened by the siege of Vera Cruz.

Mexico had been repeatedly solicited, after the various successful movements which have been described, to enter into negotiations of peace, but she would hearken to no terms whatever while her soil was covered with hostile forces. Her noble motto was, "The integrity of the national territory." The next step accordingly was, to carry the war more into "the vitals" of the country, and to conquer a peace" by conquering the capital of the republic. A campaign was therefore entered upon by Gen. Winfield Scott, senior officer of the regular army of the United States, in the early part of 1847. The plan was to capture Vera Cruz, the principal sea-port, make that the base of operations, advance into the interior by the great line of communication, and take the city of Mexico, situated in the heart of the country, about 350 miles from the gulf of the same name.

Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa were invested by land and sea with the American forces under the direction of Gen. Scott and Commodore Perry, in March, 1847; and on Monday the 22nd of that month, after a summons to surrender had been offered and rejected, the batteries were opened upon the city. The inhabitants were in number about 4,000 or 5,000, besides the families of the foreign consuls, who had not taken advantage of the permission granted them by Gen. Scott to retire from the scene of danger. A terrible carnage ensued among the people from the heavy metal and the fatal accuracy of the American gunners. It was computed that 6,700 shot and shell were thrown, weighing 463,600 pounds, in four days. On the 26th, Gen. Landero, commanding officer of the place, made overtures for a capitulation. The awful desolation that reigned over the devoted city counselled submission. The terms of capitulation were signed on the 27th, executed on the 29th, and possession given of both the town and the almost impregnable castle.

The next principal engagement took place on the heights of Cerro Gordo, fifty miles from Vera Cruz, on Saturday and Sunday, April 17th and 18th, between Gen. Scott and Gen. Santa Anna, in which the latter was entirely defeated, and narrowly escaped being taken prisoner as he fled from the field.

On the 15th of May, the city of Puebla, eighty miles from Perote, on the route to Mexico, was taken without opposition. During the

summer, reinforcements of men and arms were accumulated by Gen. Scott at Puebla, at which place, leaving a competent garrison, he began his march toward the capital, the 17th of August, 1847, a distance of from 100 to 120 miles.

On the 19th and 20th of August, the successive actions of Contreras, San Antonio, and Churubusco, were fought in the Valley of Mexico, and in the immediate neighborhood of the capital. In all these battles the usual rule held good, and the victory was won by the Americans.

After these engagements an armistice was agreed upon, and negotiations for peace were entered into by N. P. Trist, Commissioner on the part of the Executive of the United States, and Commissioners on the part of Mexico. But they were ineffectual, and the law of force was again resorted to instead of the law of reason. The ultimatum of boundaries was understood to be the rock on which this new attempt at peace was wrecked.

The armistice was thrown up, and the battle of El Molino del Rey, or King's Mill, was fought on Sept. 8, 1847.

On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, Sept. 12th, 13th, and 14th, the strong fortress of Chapultepec, outside of the city, was cannonaded, stormed, and carried, the defences at the gates assaulted and captured, and early on the morning of the 14th, the city surrendered to Gen. Scott. The operations consisted of a succession of assaults and engagements from point to point, and from one battery to another, until, by the skill and the fierce bravery of the American troops, the object of their ambition was attained, and they entered "the halls of Montezuma." But victory was bought at a costly sacrifice. A scattering fire by leperos, criminals set free from prison, and disbanded soldiers, from the streets and houses, was kept up on the troops after the city was surrendered, in which many lives were lost, but which was finally suppressed by severe measures. The destruction of limb and life during these fatal days on the part of the Mexicans never was precisely known, but it must have been immense. The accuracy of the American aim, both of infantry and artillery, always told upon the crowded masses of the enemy with terrible effect.

Meanwhile, there were other engagements which form a part of the historical survey of the war. Major Lally, conducting about 1,000 men from Vera Cruz to Jalapa, was beset at different points in his march by numerous guerilla forces, on Aug. 10th, 12th, Sunday 15th, and 19th, but reached his destination, and retook possession of Jalapa, which had been vacated by Gen. Scott in his advance to the capital. The Mexican loss in killed and wounded was very great.

A garrison had been left at Puebla, with 1,800 sick in the nospitals, under the command of Col. Childs. A close investment and assault were maintained by the Mexicans during twenty-eight days, from Sept. 13th until the American troops were relieved by the arrival of Gen. Lane with 2,000 troops from Vera Cruz. Santa Anna, flying from the conquerors of the capital, conducted operations with large reinforcements during the latter part of the siege, but was unable to force capitulation.

On Oct. 9th, Gen Lane had an engagement with Gen. Santa Anna at Huamantla.

The town of Alixco, a resort of guerillas, was bombarded and taken by Gen. Lane on Oct. 19th.

On the 16th of March, 1848, Gen. Price fought a battle in the town of Santa Cruz de Rozales, belonging to the province of Chihuahua, and about sixty miles south of the capital of the same name, against Gen. Angel Trias, defeated him, and took him and his troops prisoners.

Other inconsiderable affairs with bands of the Mexicans occurred in various quarters of the country, but not of sufficient moment to be recorded in this dark calendar of misery and death. In another connection a statement has been made of the mortality of the war.

During the autumn of 1847, Gen. Scott was largely reinforced by troops from other garrisons in Mexico, and by regulars and volunteers from home, until his army exceeded 20,000 men. He retained possession of the capital until negotiations of peace were concluded between N. P. Trist, late Commissioner on the side of the United States, but not at that time authorized to act in that capacity, and Commissioners on the part of Mexico. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was finally signed by the parties, Feb. 2, 1848, and ratified with amendments by the American Senate, and signed by the President, March 10th. It was then returned to the Congress, and finally accepted by that body on May 25th, and ratified at Queretaro, by Ambrose H. Sevier and Nathan Clifford, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and Luis de la Rosa, Minister of Relations of the Mexican Republic, on the part of that Government. During the month of June, the capital and country of Mexico were generally evacuated by the American troops, and the blockade of the Mexican ports raised.

In concluding this imperfect historical sketch, it is only necessary to state that the facts have been mainly derived from the official documents relating to the war, published under the authority of the Congress of the United States. The inferences and uses to be drawn from these facts have occupied preceding pages of this review. But we can