Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-12

|5 in 1850, the people OF le6aS, most-
" colonists from the United States,
finding the despotism of Mexico, Of
which country Texas formed part,
fntolerable, rose in rebellion, and after
a years fighting achieved their inde-
pendence. General Samuel Houston,
fhe most conspicuous Texan soldier,
became president of the new republic
b September, 1886. Six months later
fhe United States acknowledged the
Independence of Texas. Mexico did
bot relinquish its claim to Texas, al
though making no further formal at
tempt to subjugate it. Then as now
the Sabine river formed the eastern
Boundary of the Texas republic and
the Rio Grande the western. After
solicitation on the part of Texas it
was annexed to the United States in
1S45, the act of congress which
brought it about being signed by Pres
ident Tyler on March l 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 official
acts was to send General Zachary
Taylor, with force of about 1000
men, to occupy the territory between
the Neuces river and the Rio Grande,
in Texas. The United States contend
ed that the latter river formed Texas
westerly boundary, while Mexico in
sisted that the former, about one hun
dred miles to the eastward, constituted
the westerly line. Taylor reached the
Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras, on
March 2Sth, 1S46, and erected Fort
Brown. The Mexicans also began for
tifying their side of the river. Gener-
al Ampudia, the Mexican commander,
ordered Taylor to retire beyond the
ENeuces, saying that noncompliance
would be regarded by Mexico as de-
claration. of war. Taylor refused to
fall back, and said that if Mexico in
sisted on conflict the United States
would not avoid it. A collision occur
ring, in which the Mexicans were the
aggressors, President Polk asked con-
gress for men and money to carry on
the war forced upon the country by
Mexico. Congress at once appropria-
ted s10,00O,00O, which was deemed
large sum for any such purpose in
those days, and empowered the presi-
dent to call for $4,000 volunteers.
This force was quickly raised, but be-
fore they were placed in the field hos
tilities had actually begun.
General Arista, who succeeded Am
pudia as commander of the Mexican
army on the Rio Grande, crossed that
river into Texas on May 8, 1S46, with
5000 soldiers, and attacked Taylor,
who had only $500 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 river into Mexico. Taylor, who
was then promoted to the rank Of
major-general, invaded Mexico and
occupied Matamoras. Receiving rein
forcements he began his march into
the interior of Mexico in September,
and on the Oath of that month, after
desperate fighting, which continued
several days, he captured Monterey.
The American force in that battle
was 6,625, nearly all volunteers, while
the Mexicans consisted of 10000
regulars. Part of his army was then
sent to reinforce General Scott who
entered Mexico from Vera Cruz. On
February %, 1s47, Taylor, with 5000
men, defeated 81 900 Mexican veterans
under Santa Anna at Buena Vista.
This was the last battle of Taylor's
campaign, the Mexicans not attempt
ing to interfere with the Americans in
that portion of Mexico during the re-
mainder of the war.
In August, 1876, General Stephen
Kearney marched from Fort Leaven-
worth, and wrested New Mexico from
the mother country. He went to Cal
ifornia, which had also been portion
of Mexico up TO this time, and found
that Colonel John G. Fremont and
Commodore Stockton had conquered
that province. in the name of the
United States. The victorious career
of the Americans was continued by
1000 Missouri volunteers under com
mand of Colonel Doniphan, making
descent on the city of Chihuahua and
capturing it.
Fifteen days after the battle of Bue-
ma Vista, General 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 General
Taylor 500 miles to the northward a
few months before. That at Cerro
Gordo took place on April IS, followed
by the capture of Jalapa on the 18th,
Perote on the 22d, and Pueblo on May
Is. Being REINFORCED, he stormed
and captured Contreras and Cheru-