The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-04-23

t1DTUION > dragons whom the Mex
leans considered invaders on their
soil.
Taylor was drawing his supplies
from Point Isabel, on the gulf, and
fearing the Mexfcans would cut his
communication. he left 300 men
with two 1s-pounders under Major
Brown in the fort and marched a..
the rest OF his army back TO Point
Isabel. He was no sooner out OF
hearing OF Matamoras than the Mex
leans opened fire on the fort. which,
OF course. replied.
For nearly two weeks the Mexicans
battered at Fort Brown, with bat lit
tie effect. Among the few Ameri-
cans killed were Major Brown, after
whom the fort and the present city of
Brownsville were named Meantime.
the long. heavy guns of the Ameri-
cans did much harm in Matamoras.
General Taylor. having secured all
necessary supplies, marched back to-
ward Fort Brown with an army of a
little over two thousand men. At
Palo Alto, six miles from the fort, the
Americans came on Mexican army
much superior in numbers. A battle
followed which was mostly an artil-
lery duel. Having much the best
guns and best gunners, the Ameri-
cans lost but four men killed; the
same as at the fight at Vera Cruz
Tuesday, 6S years later. The Next
cans lost over a hundred and had to
withdraw out of range.
The next morning the Americans
resume dtheir march. Three miles
from the fort they met the Mexicans
strongly posted. Their artillery was
better served than the day before,
and the American loss was heavier.
The battle terminated in charge on
the Mexican line, which gave way
and the enemy fed in disorder to
and across the Rio, followed and
sabered mercilessly by the American
cavalry to the river. This was the
battle of Resaca de la Palma.
| These two battles set the pace for
clared May 49, Fifty thousand vol
unteers We're called for and 800, 900
offered. Mexican ports were block
AIDED, and Mexico was invaded along
four lines.
| Taylor and his army crossed the
Rio and took Matamoras without
terey, which city it took in Septem-
Der. The Mexicans were superior in
numbers and strongly posted at Mon
/ terey, but the Americans took it
imuch more easily than Villas men
took Torreon a week or so ago.
During this time one small army
led by General Kearney overran New
Mexico, and another, raised among
the settlers by COL John c. Free
mont, the Pathfinder" in conjunc-
Ition with an American squadron in
the Pacific, took possession of Cali
fornia. Still another little army Of
less than a thousand men marched
thru New Mexico into Mexicos anG
captured the city of Chihuahua.
Meantime, the army of Genera
Taylor was at Saltillo, and in thu
last months of 1916 was weakened
jby the withdrawal of several regi
ments, which were sent to the arm.
with which General Scott was pre-
lparing to invade Mexico. 1t is states
that this withdrawal was made b.
politicians opposed to Taylor, il
hope of keeping him from winnin!
any more victories.
l If this was their intention, the,
l signally failed, for on February %
e 1847, at Buena Vista, Taylor witt
u 1000 men fought and defeated
t Mexican army estimated at 10000
l This estimate may be too high, blu
$ it is certain that the Mexican fore
was greatly superior, and the Mexi
E cans fought with great bravery. TIL
: American loss was 746, and that o
: the Mexicans at least 1000.
This was Taylor's last battle
won against greater odds than an
other American army and genera
S ever contended against.
). On March 8, 1919, an army O
: II 600 men under General Winfield
iScott. landed near Vera Cruz and in
> vested that city, which was take
I after siege of two weeks. Yer
: Cruz was defended on the waite
e side by the powerful fertilization c
San Juan d'Ulloa. This was bomt
e arded for four days and nights
Il the American fleet. and surrendere
because ammunition had given on