The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-27
Last War With Mexico
Followed Oufrd6eS and
Dispute Over Boundary
Occupation of Mexico City by General Scott Brought Enemy
Terms; 2703 Americans Lost Their LIVES
and 1000 Mexicans Fell

The last war between the United
States and MeXico, in 1Si6-4S, was the
result of IA series Of outrages on AM
erican citizens; the reorganization Of the
independence of Texas; the annexa-
ton Of 1876 of that state, and finally
the dispute regarding the boundary
between Texas and Mexico.
Conflict was preCipitated when the
Americans and McXicans occupied the
territory between the NeuCes and RIO
Grande rivers. i'm dispute because of
respective claims as to- boundary, the
United States claiming the Rio Gran
de- some 100 miles south of the Ncuccs,
which the MeXicans claimed. .-..
Surprised by Mexicans.
The American force of regulars,
consisting of 800 men under Gen. Ia
chary Taylor, crossed the Ncuccs river
at Corpus Christi on March l., 1876,
and after a march of 16 days reached
the Rio Grande, at point opposite the
Mexican city of Metamoras.
ON April 20 Gen. Taylor learned that
a large force of Mexican cavalry had
crossed the Rio Grandc from Meta
muras To the territory in dispute. Tay-
Tor sent out a force of 60 men under
capt. Thornton to reconnoiter. Thorn
tons guide deserted him. and while
trying To execute his order his force
was surprised and surrounded by a
force of SEQ MeXicans. In attempting
to cut his way out nine of his men
were killed, and the remainder cap
tured and held as prisoners of war.
This was the first engagement of the
war. y few days later TAYLOR won the
battle of palo Alto, decisivcly defeat
ing the MeNicans and forcing them to
retreat.
Following the battle of Palo Alto,
congress formally declared war ON
May Is, and both nations spent tho
next three months i'm raising troops
and laying in supplies. Taylor remain
ed on the defensive for season. then
advanced on Monterey. which he cap
tured after some sharp fighting. lie
held his position here for several
months having received orders To dis
continue further offensive operations.
large portion of his command was
Withdrawn by Gen. Scott, who had de-
cided the most strategic way of end
ing the war was TO land an army i'm
the vicinity of Vera Cruz and march
ON Mexico City.
Santa Anna Advances.
Santa Anna, the Mexican general
who had been fighting Taylor learned
of the lattcr's depleted. forces ana
decided To advance on him. With
10000 men he began the attack and for
two days the battle waged fierccly lust
outside of Monterey at Buena Vista.
Several times the battle was nearly
lost to the Americans because of the
panic that seized many of the vohln-
tcer soldiers The steadincss of thu
regulars, however, held the forces to-
gether and on the second day, Feb. 20.
lSif, the Mcxicans we're put to rout.
Col Jefferson Davis, afterwards presi-
dent of the confederacy, distinguished
himself in this battle.
After the battle of Buona Vista, the
'''ht vi nOSlllllcS Snlftcd To Vera
cruz. Gen. Scott, commanders in chief
of the American army. landed force
or 100 men at Vera Cruz on March
=. 1S4I The city surrendered on
March 20. General Scott then began
the march to Mexico city. by this time
santa Anna had reorsanized his army
and he fought desperate battle with
SCOTS troops at Cerro Gordo, so miles
from Vera Cruz. The Americans swept
the Mexicans before them, however
and continued the march to the capi-
tai.
Mexico City Falls.
Three roads led to the capital, but
each was so well protected by the lay
OF the country and the military defens-
rs that Gen. Scott ordered his engi-
heers, Capts Robert T.. Lee and George
Is. Mcclellan, to cut a new road lead
ing to the most vulnerable part of the
city. This was done. After much