The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1914-01-08

single view of subduing Mexico-of
furnishing her for objecting to our an
nexation Of Texas and of forcing her
to recognize our ownership of the ter
ritory.
The campaign was begun in northern
Mexico only because we had troops !
there and because it was the natural
place to begin it. When we saw peace
never would come that way the scene
Of operations was shifted south, and !
the City of Mexico was taken.
Causes That Led Up to War.
President Andrew Jackson in a mes
sage to congress in 1887 had said that |
insults to Americans in Texas would
more than Justify war. At that time,
however, he advocated mildness and
liberation.
For some years before that the Unit
ed States had been trying to acquire
Texas by purchase. Texas then was
part Of Mexico, but was even less I'M
der the control Of the central govern
ment than are the northern states to-
day. The population was made up
largely Of American settlers.
From 1929 to 1885 Andrew Jackson
and John Quincy Adams made Mexico
offers Of from 100000 to $15.OOO,0OO
for Texas, all in vain.
Then, on March 2, 1886, Texas de-
clared her independence as repub-
lie. The Mexican army under Santa
Anna was defeated by the Texans un-
der General Sam Houston, and the in
dependence pretty we'll established.
Mexico would not recognize it. but the
American congress did.
Texas wanted to join the United
States, but Jackson would not con-
clude a treaty Of annexation. Mexico
had said American annexation Of Tex
as would mean war.
Nine years later it was learned that
Mexico was preparing to recognize the
indepe. lence of Texas on condition
that she would not enter the United
States.
In February, 1916, congress admitted
Texas as a state. Texas claimed the
Rio Grande as her southern and west
ern boundary. Mexico claimed the
territory to the Nueces river, about
$50 miles north Of the Rio Grande.
Texas agreed to leave the settling of
the boundary to the United States.
Invasion by Mexico.
To settle this boundary line General
Zachary Taylor, in command Of the
American troops in the southwest, in
July, 1916, was ordered to take his
men into Texas and defend her ports.
At the same time the American squad
ron under Captain Stockton was or
dered into the gulf of Mexico.
Jan. 10, 1916. Taylor was ordered to
take up positions opposite Matamoros
Mier and Laredo, Mexican towns with
in $50 miles Of the mouth of the Rio
Grande.
Beginning the march on March 8
Taylor in ten days had fortified pc
of the Rio Grande. In another tel
days he was within cannon range o:
Matamoros.
The American and Mexican forces
were facing across the river. Gen
eral Arista, in command Of the Mex
cans, demanded that Taylor retire t.
the Nueces. Taylor refused, and tn
Mexicans crossed the Rio Grande.
On April "a a party Of sixty -thre
American scouts was ambushed b
the Mexican forces, eleven killed Q
wounded and the rest captured.
May 13, 1916, congress declared thu
a state Of war existed between tn
United States and Mexico and vote
$4,000 men and $10,000,OOO.
These we're the conditions.
Taylor had about 1000 men at tt
mouth of the Rio Grande. America
ships-what there were Of them-we
in the gulf Of Mexico. We were co
fronted with the problem Of raising
army Of $4,000 or 100000 men and ra
ing it quickly-and getting it into Me
leo.
General Winfield Scott, in commal
of the American army, took charge
the campaign from Washington.
was decided to send three distir
armies into Mexico. The army Of
west was to march into New Mex
and take Santa Fe, the army of
center was to take Chihuahua. the CT
ital Of the state Of that name, and G.
~ on the fight in the northern pr
inces, and the third army, under G.
eral Taylor, was to be sent into G
trail Mexico. ."
The difficulties of recruiting
forces and getting them into fight
shape made it impossible to undert,
these three campaigns immediat
and together 1t was several mon
before they were we'll under way
.r Meanwhile. three days after the