The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-05-09
SOME SIDELIGHTS ON THE MEXICAN WAR
BY A VETERAN.

been captured four times before Uncle
Sam seized it on April FL Once it fell
TO Gen. Winfield Scott, once to the
allied forces OF France, England and
Spain. and twice to the buccaneers of
the Spanish Main.
] know several men today who were
present at tho siege OF l847. 1t is
probable none of these veterans of the
first Mexican struggle will see service
this time. although l have just seen
= letter from Brig. Gen. Horatio c.
Gibscn, U. 8. A.. retired. eightyseven
years old. in which the venerable
fighter offers his sword to the stars
ano stripes and refers to Major Gen
Leonard Wood as sponsor for his
physical and mental ability. General
Gibson served through the Mexican.
Civil and several Indian wars.
II was March I. 1s47. when tho fleet
bearing General Scott and his little
army appeared on Mexico's principal
seaport. The troops landed without
much trouble after the city had been
bombarded, but Il took a sanguiuary
siege of thirteen days to capture the
defenses. Trenches were dug and reg
ular operations conducted.
So our troops this time can COM
mence their march toward the capital
with much less OF handicap than
General Scott's.
While the troubles OF the United
States which eliminated in the Civil
war we're brewing Mexico grew AFRO
Mt 10
The crowning insult was President
Miramon's seizure OF $3.50 900 in specie
from the British consulate Great
Britain. France. Spain and Prussia de-
cided to move. Meantime the great
Benito Juarez, the General Washing
ton OF Mexico. was conducting a re-
volt in the North. He overthrow Mira
mon, but the foreign troops kept on
their way. On December IA. 1861,
Vera Cruz was seized by Spanish
force under General Prim. The result
WAS the elevation of Macmillan to the
throne and, after the European troops
had been withdrawn, the unfortunate
Austrian's execution.
The pirates, with force equal to .
respectable army. captured Vera Cruz
in 1883. They burned. slew and
robbed for many days before they
were driven to their ships. In 1712
the notorious buccaneer kings. Lau-
rent and Van Horn, seized the port
and held 1t ten days. They killed hun
dreds Of Mexicans. carried away wom-
en- captive and did an immense
amount of damage.
To this day the nurse girl of Vera
Cruz. seeking to still the fretful child.
says BE quiet or / will give you to
Van Horn"
Reparation for One Insult
l was much amused by tho Ill
Informed if well-meaning persons who
cried out that Dictator Huerta had
given sufficient reparation for the in
suit to the flag at Tampico by his
meager and half-hearted apology.
From the files of the navy depart
ment l have dug up report from
Commander j. Blakely Creighton, U.
S. N, commanding the Oneida. who
witnessed Japan's atonement for an
offense against our bluejackets. 1t
reads:
'Hiogo. Japan. March IA. 1865
United States Navy, Washington,
D. C.-Sir: have the honor to COM
municate the particulars OF the execu-
tion of the Japanese official Tati Zan
zutaro, retainer of the Matsdaira Bi-
zen, No Kami. who ordered his troops
to fire on the foreigners at this place
on the fourth ultimo.
This execution was witnessed by
me at the request of our minister. Gen.
r. B. Van Valkenburgh. and was as
follows:
left the legation at about 900
.. m. In company with the officers at
tached to the foreign legations and
proceeded to Hiogo. where we were
met by q guard. who escorted US to
the temple where the execution was
to take place.
There was . large number OF
people on each side Of the street lead
ing to the temple, and quite a num-
Der Of soldiers drawn up inside and
about the temple. We were shown
into . room adjoining the Japanese
ofncials. where we were asked II we
wished to question the person about
to be executed. to which we answered
in the negative. They also took the
names Of every official present.
After waiting about half an hour
we were conducted by the Japanese
oncials into what appeared to be the
principal room OF the temple, which
was lighted with candles, and In
front Of the altar was raised a plat
form Of about a foot In height. which
extended across the room and which
was placed on the right of the altar.
within few feet of where the execu-
ton was to take place. with the Japan
ESQ ofiicials on the left.
In front OF the altar was q green