Oxford Democrat., 1909-12-07

learning tnat the PICK OF IaylOrS 0m-
GERS and soldiers had been sent to join
General Scott's army, had marched
with 10000 men to win back what
Mexico had lost by the American inva-
sion. He prepared to destroy Taylor
and all his forces. outnumbering them,
as the Mexicans did. by four to one.
Taylor. fully realizing his peril. forti.
fled himself in narrow pass near An
gostura. on the site Of q plantation
called Buena Vista pleasant View.
Santa Anna advanced. so certain Of
victory that he sent out detachment
of cavalry in detour to cut Of the
Americans probable retreat. Every
thing was ready for victory, butchery
and the sweeping Of the Americans
out Of Mexico. On the morning Of
Feb. %, lS47. the Mexicans hurled
themselves upon their Yankee foes.
All day Santa Anna dashed his legions
against the rocklike defense presented
by the fearless little invading force.
Again and again Taylor seemed hem.
med in and on the point Of annihila-
tion. But he did not realize 1t. AS
coolly as If he were on parade, instead
of in life and death crisis, he issued
his orders. joked with his officers and
withstood the assaults Of the foe.
And at nightfall the once confident
Mexican army reeled back broken and
beaten. Only remnant Of the Santa
Anna host returned from that vainglori-
GUS march into the valley Of the Rio
Grande. Taylor was master Of all
northern Mexico The victory Of Buena
Vista made Zachary Taylor at once the
hero Of the nation and the following
year won him the election of president
Meantime General Kearny, In charge
of the Army Of the West. was enjoying
martial success almost equal to Tay-
lor's. Marching into New Mexico.
Kearny had seized its capital, Santa
F'e. Oh Aug. Is. 1916. and taken pos
session Of the whole territory. Thence
he pushed on toward California. But
Colonel John Z. Fremont. with sixty
men. had already arrived there. reused
the American settlers to arms and with
small force. mainly composed OF
frontiersmen. had stormed Mexican
fort at SonOma pass; California, on
June 10. 1916. and captured 250 mus
kets and 9cannon Thence Fremont had
pressed forward against the Mexican
General Castro. beaten him and made
himself master of all that district.
Commodore Stockton. with Yankee
feet. co-operated with Fremont, and
between them they had practically sub
dued California before Kearny arrived
to complete the work.
The Navajo Indians had risen against
the newcomers. Kearny sent 1000
Missouri militiamen under Colonel
Doniphan to quel their uprising. So
successful was Doniphan that within a
few months the Navajos were glad to
make a peace treaty with the United
States. Four thousand Mexicans de-
Tended Sacramento, but on Feb. %,
1S47. they were routed. and two days
later the American flag was formally
raised above the Sacramento citadel.
Scott early In March. 1S47. appeared
before the powerful fortress and sea-
port of Vera Cruz. on the gulf Of
Mexico. Commodore Conner, with a
squadron of warships. REINFORCED him.
An eighteen day siege Of Vera Cruz
and the nearby castle of San Juan de
Ulloa began. The Mexicans fought
CALAMITY and In the various assaults
and skirmishes lost more than 1000 to
Scott's 80. On March 81 Vera Cruz
surrendered. The fortress had been