Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-08-30
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

During the war with Mexico, our whole reeu
lar army consisted of y, 922 men, while "a, 532
volunteers were enrolled, who served an average
term OF ten months, Yet, with a force thus
exceeding 100000, General Taylor carved out
his brilliant career of victories without, on any
one occasion, having more than G,0U0 men
neither hal Scott, fighting his way to the City
Of Mexico, more than 900 Their two COM
olned armies were not equal to one-ffth of those
under arms. While one man fought nearly five
others did not. Thus, though the grand tutnl
OF the army was so imposing as to create aston.
ishmen1 even in Europe, yet, just MS is the case
now, the battles were all fought by mere lrac.
lons. When the war broke out, Gen. Taylor
had no force but the Texas regulars then on and
near the frontiers, its total being d54 men. and
OF these he had not ALL With such AZ he had
he overthrow the Mexicans at Palo Alta, Rosaca
de Ia Palma, aud at Fort Brown, in May There
was no great increase OF regulars up to Septem-
Der, because he had but 3 900 of them when he
won the victory at Monterey in that month, his
whole force having been swelled to about d, 600
by the arrival Of volunteers At Buepa Vistn
be had but Oh regulars and 4 400 volunteers -
Vera Cruz was captured by a force composed Of
OSOO regulars and G,GG2 volunteers, the Navy
assisting. Al Cerro COrdo the force was G OO6
regulars and 1900 volunteers The battles of
Contreras, CherubuscO San Antonio. and San
Augustine, were fought and won with nm aepre.
gate iorce of only 9,GSl regulars and marines.
and ,52G volunteers, When the final blow was
struck Mt the City of Mexico. the whole number
on duty was only S,3Ol--regulars 1895, yolun-
teers 900
The casualties occurring in the Mexican war
as ascerIained from official documents, afford
striking evidence Of the gross exaggeTations ms
TO the number OF killed and wounded which
flash over the wires with the first news of nm
( engagement. All who now have friends in the
army may well refuse TO believe them. The
case of Bull Run is II very striking illustration
OF their wanton falsity. That of Springfield Il
equally 10. First reports of this kind are enor-
nous lies. Sickness kills far more than gun.
powder, while large portion of the missing
either come struggling in, or turn up deserters
AT the siege of Vera Cruz We lost hut l. killed
and had 81 wounded; at Cerro Gordo ont of
o,oOO men engaged in that sanguiuary battle. we
had but % killed and $50 wounded I'm four
other actions where POI men were engaged,
we had lSO killed md SG5 wounded. Our lass
was heaviest at Moline del Rey, where ont If
3'25l regulars we lost 1876 killed, with $50
wounded. At Chepultepec and the Civ of
Mexico, where the whole number on duty was
S,jO4 men, our loss was 1888 killed, with G73
wounded In the numerous skirmishes with
Mexican scouts, guerillas, &c, we suffered an
additional loss of l27 killed and 293 wounded
to which may be appended Gen. Taylor's losses
~ ~. A,S AeiV Nhuhuet - hllltu anu l4l wounded.
Inc best authorities do not make the whole
number killed in the Mexican war, or dying
from wounds received in battle, more than 600
or the wounded exceeding 1900. 1t was sict.
ness and the hospitals that made the havoc
The regular force, numbering 2G 922, lost B. s7s
by discharges for disability while the 1852
volunteers lost Z, 200 on the same gronnd-not
by death, though doubtless their inability in
many cases ended in that way. The ordinary
deaths among the volunteers amounted to @ $50
and among the regulars to AHA, a frightful
total, from causes incident to army exposure in
most unfriendly climate, of l0,97O, or nearly
three times as many as were killed and wounded
IN battle. OF the regulars, 2,Sd0 deserted. and
of the volunteers 1876. 1t must be borne in
mind that most of the battles in Mexico were
fought against immense odds, whose destructive
energies were increased by their position within
iortresses brisiling with cannon, and planted on
almost inaccessible hights.-M T. Tribune.