Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-01-01

life is jeopardized. The honor is high
Iy valued TO stand in this presence, and
speak words OF deserved encomium
upon the brave soldiers who went out
to the war with Mexico.
In the great War of Independence, of
several years duration, fifty battles
were fought with varying success. In
the war a. ID. 1872, continuing three
years, thirty-nine battles occurred With
victories for each side. The Mexican
war, of Two years, witnessed eighteen
battles. every Que a victory for the
United States. The history of the
" orld fails tG show another war with
such series of uninterrupted splendid
success, won always with inferior num-
Der, and with such substantial results as
the war with Mexico. These victories
were won over people, skilled in the
use of arms. well-disciplianed, we'll
generalled, fighting in their native
land, with the assistance Of fortifica-
tions.
The United Stated having added the
/" lone star " of Texas to the gallary OF
the Union, war was declared by Mexico.
Fort Brown, in Texas, on May 4, 1916,
was commaded by the MeXicans, thus
commencing actual hostilities, and
Major Brown, in whose honor the fort
was named, fell mortally wounded.
Gen. Taylor, On May I, in command
of the Army of Occupation marched
from Point Isabel to the relief of Fort
Brown.
Atnoon the next day he found Mex
icaa Army, three times more III num-
Der than his own, drawn up in battle
order, upen a beautiful prairie called
Palo-Alto, signifying. ."high trees" At
ter contest of five hours, the Ameri-
can armies were successful. On the
very next day followed the shorter but
more saguinary battle OF Resaca de la
Palma, ntIte Rdri5ae Of the Pains"
!. On August q, Gen. Taylor familiarjy
known as 'Old Rough and Ready" "
land no name was ever more appro-
priate) in that sold brown coat" COM
menced the siege of Monterey, and on
the oath it surrendered with the entire
garrison.
On February %, of the next year, the
same general fought the most brilliant
battle of the war. With an army all
told of 1910 men, 453 of them being reg
ulars, and entirely surrounded with
22000 MeXicans, commanded by their
ablest :, ,eneral: summoned to ''surren-
der in the interest of humanity" with
the detection of part of his little army
he sent back through his aid the. cele-
brated reply, ''Gen. Taylor never sur
renders" and after a terrible contest
gained the bloody field of Buena Vista,
6edMifuLriUer. What costly triumph!
Killed, 267; missing, %; wounded, 453.
Total, 743. One out of each six Among
the killed We're Coils. Yell of Arkansas,
Hardin of Illinois, Mckee of Kentucky,
and Lieut.. Col. Clay, son of the re-
nowned "Harry of the West," and
bearing his fathers honorable name.
Beside the successful operations in
California and New Mexico, Gen. Scott,
in another part of Mexico, was making
a glorious record of bright pages Tor
our country'S history.
Gen. Scott landed at Vera Cruz on
March g, 1917, and invested the city.
On March 18th, he opened the bonn
bardment, and on the 18th the city and
the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa Surren-
dered with 5000 prisoners and 500 pieces
of al tillery.
He fought on April 18th, the battle
of CAIRO Gordo-a difficult mountain
pass of the. Cordilleras-taking 5000
prisoners.
: On Aug. 10th followed the battle of
Coutreras, a strongly fortified camp,
and 50 officers, 5000 soldiers for prison
ers, and So pieces of artillery were
captured.
The very next day Cherubusco was
taken, after a sever contest. On Sept.
Sth occurred the battle of E MolinO del
Rey, 1.-The mill of the king" the COM
batants, 1000 Americans and 1900 Mex
leans. Our troops were first repulscd
with great slaughter, but returning
conquered, and one thousand of the
enemy's dead were left on the field.
The last place 70 be defended outside
the city OF Mexico was reached sept.
llth, lofty hill, the West Point of
Mexico, where their military school
was established. All the next day the
battle ragged, and on the 18th the
heighths were carried by storm open
ing the way to the proud city of the
Aztecs.
On the 14th Gen. Scott, at the head
of his victorious army, entered the city
of Mexico.
n treaty of peace was signed on Feb.
2, 1913, which was ratified May 19,
giving TO The Union 'as indemnity for
the past and security for the future all
of Upper California and New Mexico.
Such is very brief account of the
war. Our history was enriched with
those glorious annals, our relative i'm
portance among the nations Was much
advanced, our extent OF territory was
increased, and to our roll OF heIos We're
added the names OF Scott, Taylor,
Wool, Worth, Pierce, Pillow, Shields
and Others no less deserving than them
selves, because they carried bayonets
instead OF swords.
1t seems unnecessary 10 reca'i these
events familiar to you all, burned upon
.vour memories by their surprising in
terest. More than a quarter century
has passed since then, when you were
baptized in ire and b.ood," but how
near !. ou are brought 10 each other, as
you call up the recollections of scenes,
aud live over again the eXcitements OF
campaign life, How interesting to you
to call 10 mind again the remem brances
of the camp and biyouac, and battle,
with your ola comrades III arms; OF
com panions killed, other MANNED, OF
glorious victory. How sad 10 think OF
survivors reduced 10 poverty, of their
destitute widows and helpless orphans.
To-day there is with you, looking on
with calm suffering, the wiuow OF Lieut..
Higgins, and the widow oI Capt. Pat
teIsOn is kept away by illness.
A powerful bond OF sympathy unites
you, having enlisted in Il common
cause, endured common hardships,
shared the same dangers, and rejoiced
10 the same triumphs, until The treaty
Oh Guadalupe Hidalzo returned you tC
your homes.
Veterans! you have performed your
highest and holiest duty. Abandoning
business, leaving behind dear ones,
sacrificing home comforts. hagarding
life, without hesitation, you responded
y m q l..