The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-10-25
FORTy.sIX YEARS AGO.
aow we Went to War With Mexico and
How We Came Ont.

How we Went to War With Moxlco anu
How We Came Ont.
In 1885 the people Of Texas, mostly
colonists from the United States, find,
ing the despotism of Mexico, Of which
country Texas formed a part, intoler-
able, rose in rebellion, and after
years fighting achieved their inde-
pendence. General Samuel Houston,
the most conspicuous Texan soldier,
became president of the new republic
in September, 1886. Six months
later, Che United States acknowledged
the independence of Texas. Mexico
did not relinquish its claim to Texas,
although making no further formal at
tempt to subjugate it. Then as now
the Sabine river formed the eastern
boundary of the Texan republic and
Rio GErande the western. After So
licitation on the part Of Texas it was
annexed to the United States in 1845,
the act Of Congress which brought it
about being signed by President Tyler
on March / 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-
ler, as President, had been nominated
and elected because of his advocacy of
annexation. One of his first official
acts was to send Gen. Zachary Taylor,
with q force of about 1900 men, to
occupy the territory between the
Neuces river and the Rio Grande, in
Texas. The United States contended
that the latter river formed Texas's 8
westerly boundary, while Mexico in
sisted that the former, about one hun
dred miles to the eastward, consti-
tuted the westerly line. Taylor reach
ed the Rio Grande, opposite Matamo-
ras, on March 18th, 1916, and erected
Fort Brown. The Mexicans also be-
gan fortifying their side of the river.
General Ampudia, the Mexican COM
mander, ordered Taylor to retire be-
yond the Neuces, saying that nom
compliance would be regarded by Mex
leo as a declaration of war. Taylor
refused TO fall back, and said that if
Mexico insisted on conflict the Unit
ed States would not avoid it. A col
lision occurring, in which the Mexi-
cans we're the aggressors, President
Polk asked Congress for men and
money to carry on the war forced
upon the country by Mexico. Con-
gress at once appropriated SIC, 900, 600,
which was deemed a large sum for any
such purpose in those days, and en-
powered the President to call for 5O,-
900 volunteers. This force was quick
" raised, but before they were placed
in the field hostilities had actually be-
gan.
General Arista, who succeeded Am
pudia as commander of the Mexican
army on the Rio Grande, crossed chat
river into Texas on May 8, 1916, with
5000 soldiers, and attacked Taylor,
who had only 1900 men. The Mexi-
cans were defeated with great loss.
This was the battle Of Palo, Alto, the
first regular engagement in the Mexi-
can war. Arista retired to Resaca de
la Palma, where he was attacked the
next day by Taylor and driven across
the ri--er into Mexico. Taylor, who
was then promoted to the rank Of ma
jor-general, invaded Mexico and occu-
pied Matomoras. Receiving reinforce
ments, he began his march. into the
interior Of Mexico in September, and
on the 24th of that month, after des-
perate fighting, which continued sew
eral days, he captured Monterey.
The American force in that battle
was 6,625, nearly all volunteers, while
the Mexican consisted Of 10000 regu-
lars. Part of his army was then sent
to reinforce Gen. Scott, who entered
Mexico from Vera Cruz. On February
%, 1s47, Taylor, with 5000 men, de-
feated 81, 900 Mexican veterans under
Santa Anna at Buena Vista. This was
the last battle of Taylor's campaign,
the Mexicans not attempting to inter
fere with the Americans in that por-
tion of Mexico during the remainder
of the war.
In August, 1s46, General Stephen
Kearney marched from Fort Leaven-
enworth and wrested New Mexico
from the mother country He went to
|. California, which had also been a por:
tion of Mexico up to this time, and
found that Col. John G. Fremont and
Commodore Stockton had conquered
that province in the name Of the Unit.
| ed States. The victorious career Of
the Americans was continued by ,O0c
Missouri volunteers under Colonel
Doniphan, making descent on the
city Of Chihuahua and capturing it.
Fifteen days after the battle Of Bue;
ma Vista, General Scott, with ID, ,0OI
men, invaded Vera Cruz, the princi-
pei 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 General
TAYLOR, 5000 miles to the northward q
few months before. That at Cerro
Gordo took place on April 18th, fol-
lowed by the capture Of Jalapa on the
18th, Perote on the 22nd, and Puebla
On May Is. Being reinforced, he
stormed and captured Contreras and
Churubusco on August 20. An armis-
tice ending without result, Chapulte-
pec was taken by assault on Septem-
ber 18th, and the following day the
American army entered the City Of
Mexico, the capital Of the country,
and flung the stars and stripes to the
breeze from the tower of the national
palace. This ended the hostilities.
The Americans, whether under Tay-
lor or Scott, had been successful in
every battle fought, although con-
fronted with superior numbers, in
country which interposed great nat
ural obstacles to the march of an in
vading army. Considering the results
attained and the difficulties surmount-
ed with the means at command, those
campaigns should rank the most con-
spicuous military exploits recorded in
the annals of war, and deserve place
in history beside Alexander's subjuga.
tion of Asia, C@sar's conquest Of
Gaul, Bonaparte's overthrow of Prus-
sia, and Nathaniel Green's campaign
against CORVALLIS.
On February 2, 184s, about FIVE
months after Scott entered the Mexi-