The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-08-20
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Our Last War with a Foreign Coun-
try-The Conflict with Mexico
and How We Came Out.
BY CHARLES J.. SHIPLEY.

The present conflict with Spain, is the |
first difficulty that has led to an appeal to |
arms that this country has been engaged |
for the last fifty years, or since the con-
fict with Mexico in 1S46-8.
As the present war with Spain is the
Outgrowth of her cruel mode of govern
ment in the island of Cuba, so was the
acknowledgement of the independence of
Texas, whose people had also rebelled on
account Of bad government and cruel treat
ment of Mexico to whom the province be-
longed.
In 1885 the people of Texas, worthy |
colonists from the United States, finding
the despotism of Mexico intolerable rose
in rebellion, and after about six months,
hard fighting achieved their independence.
General Samuel Houston, the most con-
spicuous leader in the rebellion, became
president of the new republic in Septem
Der. 1896. Six months later the United
States acknowledged the independence of
Texas Mexico did not relinquish her
claims to Texas, although making no fur
ther attempt to subjugate it. Then as
now the Sabine river formed the eastern
boundary of Texas and the Rio Grande
the western.
After solicitation on the part of Texas,
il was annexed to the United States i'll
1915. the act of Congress which brought
it about being signed by President Tyler
on March LIST Of that year. The act en-
ragged Mexico and led to the war between
us and that country
James X. Polk, who succeeded Tyler
as president, had been nominated and
elected because of his advocacy Of annex
alton. 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
cOntended that the latter river formed
Texas western boundary, while Mexico
insisted that the former, about one hun
dred miles to the eastward, constituted
the western boundary.
Taylor reached the Rio Grande oppo-
Slle A1dIdulOIdS, oH 4hdICh 20, IpfO, anu
erected Fort Brown. The Mexicans also
began fortifying their side of the river.
General Ampudia, the Mexican comman-
der, ordered Taylor to retire beyond the
Neuces, saying that On-conpliance would
be regarded as a declaration Of war by
Mexico. Taylor refused to fall 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 aggessors President
Polk asked Congress for men and money
to carry on the war forced upon the coun
try by Mexico. Congress at once appro-
priated SO, 900, 900, which was deemed
a large sum for any such purpose at that
period, and empowered the President to
call for O,000 volunteers. This force
was quickly raised, but before they were
placed in the field hostilities had actually
begun.
General Arista, who succeeded Ampu
dia as commander of the Mexican army on
the Rio Grande, crossed that river into
Texas on May 8, 1916, with 5000 sol
diers and attacked Taylor, who had only
2.3OO men. The Mexicans were defeated
with great loss This was the battle Of
Palo Alto, the first regular engagement in
the Mexican war Ampudia retired to
Resaca 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 24th Of
that month, after desperate fighting, which
continued several days, he captured Mon
terey. The American force in that battle
was 6,625, nearly all volunteers, while
the Mexieans consisted of 10000 regu-
lars. Part of his army was then sent to
reinforce Gen Scott, who entered Mexico
from Vera Cruz On February %, 1847,
TAYLOR, with ), 600 men, defeated 21 900
Mexican veterans under Santa Anna at
Buena Vista. This was the last battle in
TAYLOR campaign, the Mexicans not at
tempting to interfere with the Americans
in that portion of Mexico during the re-
mainder of the war.
In August, 1916, Gen. Stephen Kear-
ney marched from Fort Leavenworth 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
conquered that province in the name of the
United States. The victorious career of
the Americans was continued by |, 900
Missouri volunteers under command of
Col. Doniphan, making descent on the
city of chihuahua and capturing it.
Fifteen days after the battle of Buena
Vista General Scott, with Is, 900 men,
invested Vera Cruz, the principal seaport
of Mexico, defended by its strongest fort
ress, which was soon captured. Then be-
gan another series of American victories
as brilliant and conspicuous as those won
by General Taylor five hundred miles to
the northward few months before. That
at Cerro Gordo took place on April Is,
followed by the capture of Jalapa on the
10Th, Perote on the 22d, and Puebla on
May Is. Being reinforced, he stormed
and captured Contreras and Cherubusco
on Augut 20. An armistice ending with
out result, Chepultepec was taken by as
sault on September 13, 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 top of the national palace. This
ended hostilities.
The Americans, whether under Taylor
or Scott, had been successful in every bat
tie fought, although confronted with supe-
rior numbers, in country which inter
posed great natural obstacles to the march
Of an invading army. Considering the
| IL L.