Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-05

either squadron that could stand to
make sail on." The whole country
rang with the praises Of Macdonougn,
who, with the land forces under Ma
comb, had stopped the advance of the
British upon New York city. The
state Of New York gave Macdonough
1000 acres of land, and Vermont pre-
'sented him with 200 acres of land and
a house overlooking the scene Of his
victory.
The Battle Of Buena Vista.
The battle of Buena Vista-remem
bered by every American seemingly
because it was in this fight that Tay-
lor uttered his famous words, "Give
'em a little more grape, Capt. Bragg!
has its place among the fifteen be-
cause it resulted In cutting to pieces
Santa Ana's army, which was the
against the United States. On the
morning of Feb. 20. 1S47, Gen. Santa
Ana sent a note to Taylor informing
him that the Mexican force Of 10000
men would destroy every American
soldier in Taylor's camp unless he sur
rendered within an hour. Santa Ana
added, In true Mexican fashion, that
he gave Gen. Taylor this opportunity
to surrender for the reason that he
held Taylor in special esteem. Taylor
was not the man to surrender, how
ever, and not till the next day did the
Mexicans attack the little army OF
5000 Americans. who had been entire
ly surrounded during the night by the
Mexican forces. The battle began
early on the morning Of the 23d, and
not until sunset were all doubts Of
an American victory removed. The
struggle was terrific to the very last
attack made by the Mexicans. Santa
Ana, seeing that defeat was certain
did not have any scruples about stoop-
ing to display a flag Of truce and then
making a desperate assault against
the American centre when Taylor's
soldiers had ceased firing. This das-
tardly attack was routed by the bat
teries Of Bragg, Washington and Sher-
man. When the Mexican line began
TO waver Taylor, who was standing on
la hill near Bragg's battery, shouted:
Give 'em a little more grape Capt
Bragg!" When the generals command
was carried out the Mexicans fell back
and ted In great confusion.
Santa Ana's army was SO dispirited
by the defeat that many of his men
left. The Mexicans lost about 600
men and their wounded and the cap
tured numbered almost 1000. The loss
Of the Americans In killed, wounded
and missing was TAG men. So effective
was Taylor's victory that he had nc
fighting to do in northern Mexico be.
fore peace was declared.
The Battle of churubusco.
Santa Ana realizing the uselessness
Of trying to inflict a defeat upon Tay.
lor with his shattered army, went
north to check the advance Of Gen
Scott. Despite the effort Of the Mexi-
cans the American army advanced un.
til 1t was within ten miles Of Mexico
City. Santa Ana resolved to make q
stand at Churubusco, village SIX
miles north Of the captured city
Near Churubusco the Mexicans erect
ed a strong redoubt, which they
mounted with batteries and garrison
ed heavily. They converted into fort
the convent-church Of San Pablo, q
building of massive stone walls on an
eminence. The walls were pierced fol
cannons, high enough to fire plungine
shot on the attacking force.
Following the American assault 9
fierce battle ragged about the fortified
church, which was being defended by
those masses of Santa Ana's troops un-
der the command Of Senior Rincon, an
able Mexican general. Among Rim
cons men were 100 American desert
ers, led by Thomas Riley who defend
ed the church most desperately. Sew
eral times the Mexicans hoisted the
white flag Of surrender, but these
Americans, with halters around their
necks, as often tore 1t down. After
the battle had continued for three
hours, with Gen. Scott directing the
forces from distance, the church
and other defences Of Churubusco
were captured.
In the rear of the Churubusco de-
fences Gems. Shields and Pierce (after-
ward president of the United States)
were engaged In a terrible fight with
Santa Ana's men. The Mexicans num-
bered 1000 infantry and cavalry, But
the Americans with a force half as
strong gained this part Of the battle
The total number of Mexicans engag-
ed around Churubusco was 10000 and
Of the Americans 5000. Four thous-
and Mexicans were killed and wound
oners and thirty-seven pieces OF
cannon captured. The fall Of the
Churubusco defences opened up the
City Of Mexico to a direct attack by
the American forces. The Mexicans
realized their inability to stop an i'm
mediate American advance and SC
asked for an armstice, which General
Scott granted. The treacherous Santa
Ana made this a pretext to gain time
to strengthen the defences Of the city
When Scott discovered the trick he
declared the armistice at an end
After taking the Castle Of Cnapultepec
Scott entered Mexico City and from
the Grand Plaza proclaimed the con-
quest Of the Republic Of Mexico.
The Capture Of Vera Cruz.
On Nov. 80, 1846, Gen. Winfield
Scott sailed from New York to take
command Of the American armies in
Mexico. He reached the mouth Of the
Rio Grande about the 1st Of January,
but the equipment for the forces. that
were to attack Vera Cruz was delayed
so long that his $4,000 men did not
land near Vera Cruz until March g.
1S47. Vera Cruz and the nearby Cas-
tie of San Juan de Ulloa, which the
Mexicans thought invulnerable, were
considered the "key Of the country.
Within four days after landing both
the city and fortress were completely
surrounded by the Americans. After
the Mexicans refused to surrender at
Scott's demand heavy bombardment
began.
For fifteen days the siege continued,
and during that time the Americans
fired 5000 10-inch shells, 200 howit-
ger shells, 1000 Paixhan shot and
$500 round shot. This 5000 pounds
Of iron wrought terrible damage IN
the fortress and the CITY, where many
women and children were killed. On
March 26 the Mexican commander
made overtures for surrender, with
the result that three days later his
force of 5000 men marched out of
the city, laid down their arms and re-
tired into the interior on parole. The
city and fortress, together with about
500 pieces of artillery and a large
quantity of ammunition, passed into
the possession of the Americans, who
were then free to march into the in
terror to attack the line Of defences
around Mexico City.
Fall of Fort Sumter.
When Fort Sumter fell the Civil
War may have been said to have
started. In 1861 Virginia was full OF
Federalists who did not wish to see
the old state drop out of the Union
which Washington had fostered. Poll
ticians who favored secession, on the
other hand, advocated that a blow be
struck in order to unite the dissenting
factions as we'll as public sentiment.
Accordingly an attack and lombard
ment of Fort Sumter was agreed upon
as the best means Of "sprinkling blood