The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-05-20
SIDELIGHTS ON MEXICO
BY A VETERAN

SS@TVVV@@SS~S% ~S%VVVVVVV~~~"
ambush of the 23rd OF April, Mexico
has passed the boundaries OF the
United States and shed Amer
ican blood upon American soil. War
exists and exists by the act OF Mexico
herself He had not consulted Con-
gress before he ordered Gen. Taylor
forward to the Rio Grande and thus
brought this momentous matter to a
head, though it had been in session
when the order was issued. He had
taken full responsibility for that un-
on himself. War, indeed, existed
but by whose act Congress was no
longer at liberty to inquire. There
was nothing for it but to vote sup
plies and an army; and formal dec
laration of war was resolved upon
May 13, 1S46, before news OF the
real fghing on the Rio Grande had
reached the Capital.
Until Autumn all things stood as
they we're between the beliigerents
| while an army was made ready; but
late in August Gen. Taylor moved
again and within a month, by severe
and dogged fighting took the strongly
fortified town of Monterey, full ITO
miles to the west Of Matamoros, on
the highway to the Mexican capital.
IN November Gen. Winfield Scott, the
ranking officer of the Federal Service
was given chief command, and in jan
uary, 1S47, Gen. Taylor's force was
reduced to a scant 5000 to recruit
the immediate command Of his su-
perior, sent by sea to attack Vera
Cruz.
"On the 22nd and 23rd Of Febru-
ary Santa Anna attacked him, with
four time his numbers, where he lay
at defense on the broken plain OF
Ruena Vista, thinking to crush him
while he was weak. and was repulsed.
The Americans we're no longer raw
militia men and officers alike, as they
ha5 been in the extemporized armies
Of 1913 Though they were for the
most part volunteers their officers
we're professionals and they were
drilled and handled with skill and
thoroughness that made veterans OF
them with single battle.
| "Their steadiness and prowess was
put to full test with Gen. Scott In
the South. They had not only to take
Vera Cruz by set seige in order to
make good their landing, but nad
also to scale the huge escarpments
of the west tableland upon which the
Mexican capital lay. 200 miles away,
more than 1000 feet above the sea,
and to make their way across the
broken. hilly plains beyond. fighting
everywhere as they went against an
enemy who outnumbered them ana
was secure against surprise within
inner lines of communication. And
vet from the CARRYING Of the pass at
Cerro Gordo (April 1S. 1S47) to the
storming of the high fortress TO Cna-
pultepec (Sept. 13) there was 10
nause or miscarriage in the steady
process or tnclT VlCtoIieS.
"The City of Mexico lay admidst
guarding fortresses and was set about
bv rlorasses crossed only by narrow
,carsewavs. But the Americans NOV
cd everywhere with the business like
certainty and precision OF men we'll
handled. and their volunteer ranks
seemed less IN reed Of officers than
other armies did. Individual PLUCK
and dash end rasourceful daring. IT.
resistible in a11 that they did. Iney
fought men &C t~ave as themselves.
subtle. spirirod foe, tenacious 10 the
last OF all tlat it could hold; they
tonight also against odds and moved
everywhere against fortified places:
hut on they won. undaunted. at every
onset, Rv September 18th they were
n complete and formal possession OF
the enemy's capital and Mexico was
in their hands. within bnt little
more than six months of their land
ing.
"Meanwhile he Government at
V~achin gton had broadened the scope
and meaning Of the war beyond all
e~rrctation. During the summer OF
1886 and the winter of 1S46-47 1t
had seized not merely the disputed
territory which Texas claimed. but
also the whole country Of the Pacific
slope beyond, from Oregon to the
GiIa River. to which the United States
could have no conceivable right ex-
cent that Of conquest. The thing was
easily accomnlished. A fleet under
Commodore Sloat and Stockton and
p few troops acting here and there
until Col. Nearnev and Capt. Frem-
ment moved almost as they pleased:
and q territory Of 100000 square
miles was added to the United States.
Tho war with all irs inexcusaole
aggression and fire fighting, was
brought to its formal close by trea-
tv signed at GraGnloupe Fildalgo on
February .. 1S:T. by which Mexico
rococriznd the Rio Grande as the
southwestern boundary line Of Texas
and coded New Mexico and Califor-
r;2. O. which the United Stats had
taken possession br force OF arms.
For KS territory. seizer and ceded,
the United States agreed to pay Mex
leo SIS 600, ,n0n."
Newspapers fight each other too
much. They should work together