The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26
AMERICAN NEWSPAPER MEN REAL
PIONEERS IN REPORTING WAR NEWS

which made him President. But the
PicdyUnc scored a great beat on the
news nevertheless. The battle was
fought on February 30. 1S47. but the
result was not known for "A month, al
though the country was filed with dis
heartening rumors.
At last the PicdUUnc got the facts
| from messenger who left Monterey
on March 2. sailed from the Brazos
aboard schooner on March II, and
/ fifty miles below the city took passage
in towboat. which landed him in New
Orleans at on the morning of March
"a. The copies Of the Picdyunc con-
tanning the joyful tidings reached Bal
timore and Washington at the very
time when a fierce political debate was
going on as to the responsibility for
the weakening of the army Of Taylor
| To such an extent that Santa Anna had
been able to wreck it," The official
dispatches arrived day later
Meantime Scott had been organizing
the army with which he was to march
t. the capital of Mexico. The invest
ment OF Vera Cruz was begun by Gen
Worth, with whom throughout the cam
paign kahdall was closely associated
IN fourteen days the Americans were
IN the city. Kendalrs pen was very
busy. Thirteen inch shells from the
castle Of San Juan de Ulloa were burst
ing near him as he wrote his letters
lie sent with his messages typographical
sketches of the defences and the lines
or investment, and forwarded them by
schooner and cutter, sending duplicates
by any vessels that might be leaving
port
Then the army swept up through the
pass of Cerro Gordo and stormed 'hr
heights Kendall was on the scene
throughout the lighting at Cerro Gordo
and kept an almost hour to hour record
Of lhe conflict. lie wrote on the eve
ring Of April 16. on the morning of the
following day at s and II, twice in the
afternoon and several times on the next
day.
The mountains became higher. wilder
ana more difficult Of ascent and the
Mexican guns were firing down On the
invaders. SCOTS troops plodded on and
up. but their lines were thinned day
after day by incurable fever and IN.
steadily downpOurng cannonade and
musketry of the ambushed foe. Every
day there was "A skirmish and frequently
there was battle. The men climbed
upon the church at Cholula and looked
the Halls of the Montezumas."
The city, the Venice of the Az,acs "
was sighted for the first time from the
rest of the mountains on August 10
one after another the forts wer,
stormed and finally Chapultepcc
Through these actions Kendall was
with Worth. much W the time as a
volunteer aid on his stan. Hurried lie,
tiers, written few hours apart, were
lent OF with synopscs of the battles
Wh!'h crowded one upon another. Fiv,
successive ENGAGEMENTS. entirely dis
uhct from one another. were fought i'm
one day, and Of these events Kendai,
wrote with enthusiasm.
Inc correspondent was climbing
church towers to get views of battles.
He went over backgrounds immedi- |
ately after the cessation Of fighting |
lie carried dispatches for Worth. His
letters are full of familiar names
Franklin Pierce. Robert Anderson. Phil |
kearny and his great charge. Pcrsifor
smith, Cadwalader. Robert T.. Lee. |
santa Anna sought an armisticc. but
during the period Of quiet the Mexican
commander sought to strengthen his /
defenCes.
IN" sham was penetrated by Kendall. |
who's" experience while "A prisoner in .
the city of Mexico "A few years before
enabled him to detect the design. II
was On the evening after Churuhusco |
that he was sitting in the tent of |
Raphael Semmes. later To be famous |
as the commander of the Alabama. |
when the cmissaries Of Santa Anna ar
rived to propose truce to Gen. Scott. |
They were entertained for few min
utes by Worth and then sent on to |
headquarters.
The instant they We're gone Kendall. |
says Semmes, with the hlun,ness and |
frankness which characterize him, en-
claimed: It's no use; we're hum /
bugged Mcintosh is among them"