The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-21

formed the eastern boundary or the |
Texan republic, and the Rio Grande |
the western. After solicitation on |
the part of Texas it was annexed to
the United States in 1915, the act OF
C,ugress which brought it about be-
ing signed by President Tyler on
March 1st of that year, three days
before the expiration of his term of
Office. This led to the war between
the United States and Mexico.
James K. Polk, who succeeded Ty-
Ter as president, had been nominated
and elected because of his advocacy
of annexation. One of his first Off
cial acts was to send General Zachary
Taylor, with force of about four
thousand men to occupy the territory
between the Neuces river and the
Rio Grande, in Texas. The United
States contended that the latter river
brmed Texas western boundary,
while Mexico insisted that the for
uer, about one hundred miles to the
eastward, constituted the westerly
Inc. Taylor reached the Rio Grande,
Opposite Matamoros, on March %,
| 1916, and erected Fort Brown. The
MeXicans also began fortifying their
side of the river. General Ampudia,
tha Mavionp onp,,, ,o ndnr nrJaroJ
Taylor to retire beyond the Neuces,
saying that noncompliance would be
regarded by Mexico as a declaration
of war, Taylor refused to fail back,
and said that if Mexico insisted on a
conflict the United States would not
avoid it. A collision occurring, in
which the MeXicans were the agrees
sors, President Polk asked Congress
for men and money to carry on the
war forced upon the country by Mex
leo. Congress at once appropriated
$40, 900, 900, which was deemed large
sum for any such purpose In those
days, and empowered the President
to call for $4,000 volunteers. This
force was quickly raised, but before
they were placed in the field HOSTILE
ties had actually begun.
General Arista, who succeeded Am
pudia &c commander of the Mexican
army on the Rio Grande, crossed that
river into Texas on May 8, 1916, with
5000 soldiers, and attacked Taylor.
who had only 1900 men. The Mex
leans were defeated with great loss.
This was the battle of Pal0 Alto, the
first regular engagement in the Mex
lean war. Ampudia retired to Re-
SAGA de la Palma, where he was at
tackled the next day by Taylor and
driven across the river into Mexico,
Taylor, who was then promoted to
the rank of major. general, invaded
Mexico and occupied Matamoras.
Receiving reinfOrcements, he began
his march into the interior of Mexico
in September, and on the 9th of that
month, after desperate fighting which
continued several days, he captured
Monterey. The American force in
that battle was 6,625, nearly all vol
unteers, while the MeXicanS consist
ed of 10000 regulars. Part of his
army was then sent to reinforce Gen.
Scott, who entered Mexico from Vera
Cruz. On February %, 1S47, Taylor,
with 5000 men, defeated q 900 Mex
lean veterans under Santa Anna at
Buena Vista. This was the last bat
tie in TaylOr'S campaign, the Mexi-
cans not attempting to interfere with
the Americans in that portion of
Mexico during the remainder of the
war.
In August, 1916, Gen. Stephen
Kearney marched from Fort Leayen-
worth and wrested New Mexico from
the mother country. He then went
to California, which had also been a
portion of Mexico up to this time and
found that Col. John G. Fremont
and Commodore Stockton had con-
quered that province in the name of
the United States. The victorious
career of the Americans was continu-
ed by 1000 Missouri volunteers I'M
der command of Col. Doniphan, max
ing descent on the city ofChihuahua
and capturing it.
Fifteen days after the battle of
Buena Vista, Gen. Scott, with $4,000
men, invested Vera Cruz. the princi-
pal seaport of Mexico, defended by
its strongest fortress. which was soon
captured. Then began another series
of American victories as brilliant and
conspicuous as those won by Gen.
Taylor five hundred miles to the
northwest few months before. That
at Cerro Gordo took place on April
IS, followed by the capture of JaIapa
on the 10Th. Rerote on the 22d, and
Puebla on May Is. Being reinforced
he stormed and captured Contreras