The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-05
INTERVENTION IN MEXICO.
A Veteran Of the 'FortIcs Thinks IL
Would BE Wise craftsmanship.

~ II Tsfll'N VI u So ~ 49,
the youngest survivor OF the Mexican
war. iS46-4s. now in my eighty-hfth
year, II might interest your readers 10
give my impression Of the long rig
marole tthe last note) OF the country
lawyer. General Carranza, who intended
IL. no doubt. for home consumption ANA
TO pull the wool over the eyes OF tire
American pacihsts. the Quaker element
OF our country and the Latin American
peoples of South America.
II would have been better for this
country, as well as for Mexico. " the
present situation had developed three
years ago. The Government of South
America will be only too glad to know
that our Government has at last decided
to take the bull by the horns. with
10000 Of our well trained regular troops
We could in a comparatively short lime
force our way to the city of Mexico
and establish q stable government. Rs
we did In cuba and Porto Rico. When the
Mexicans were well on their feet We
could leave them to themselves.
This Government does not covet an
inch Of Mexican territory except Matn-
Corda Bay on the coast OF " Cali.
%fornia. which We need for a coalinE sta
ton and as a supply depot for our
Pacific squadron, just as we have ac-
puired guantanamo Bay on the coast
of cuba. The American people have
an idea that the invasion and pacifca-
ton Of Mexico would cost "A great many
thousands of lives and a fabulous
amount of money. In this they are
mistaken. From my own experience IN
Mexico during our short war In that
country. 1S4s-4s. ] verify believe We
could accomplish our purpose in ono or
two campaigns. and when the law ahid-
ing. decent people Of that distracted
country were made aware OF our honor
abb Intentions thousands Of them would
flock to our standard. Their present
I'm Is n mere rabhle, n most grotespue
looking lot rs saw them in Mexico
some three years ago
In our war with Mexico. In Wow OF
her aggressive attitude. Major-C;encral
Zachary Taylor. L. s. A., was ordered
10 the Rio Grandc. tho western bound
ary of Texas. with - force of about
1000 men. chiefly regulars. lie arrived
there July 90. lS45. and established his
headquarters at corpus Christi. within
four miles Of the Mexican army. then
cncamped 10000 strong. under the coin-
rnand Of General Ampudia. on the south
side OF the river.
In January. 1876. General TAYLOR
moved his command to a point opposite
Matamoras. Mexico. on the south side
OF the river. and erected an earthwork.
which he named Fort Brown. on April
-. lNfh. captain mormon. u. -. ~,
while marching at the head Of seventy
men of the Second Dragoon In Texas
fell into an ambush OF Mexican regular
troops numbering between 400 and 400.
and. after a gallant resistance. during
which he had sixteen Of his command
killed and thirty-eight wounded. Thorn
ton was Obliged to surrender. Six days
Inter the Mexican forces attacked Fort
Brown and were handsomely repulsed.
IN Nt.p = ,..Y,Val r. ,l,- ,.f,h q rnp
men. defeated the Mexican army. 5000
strong, under the command of Generals
Ampudia and Aresta AT Palo Alto. on
the following day the Mexican army,
having received a reinforcement Of
1000. made an attack at Resaca de la
Palma. and was there again defeated
by General Taylor. the Mexican loss
being ?15 and ours but 10 killed and
wounded.
In response TO a call Of President
James *. Polk for 10000 volunteers.
$4,000 volunteered promptly. To these
must be- added about 1000 regulars and
1000 marines charged with the duty ~
enforcing from Mexico indemnity for
the past and security for the future
| Mexico had a standing army OF 10000
and had called into the field an addi-
t.onal force. chiefly volunteers. After
capturing the we'll fortified city Of
Monterey. General Taylor's campaign
closed at Ruena Vista. where with only
5000 men he defeated General Santa
Annals army OF $4,000 veterans.
General Scott. with 49, zoo rank and
file. captured the city Of Vera cruz and
the castle OF San Juan d'Uiloa with
their sarrisons. ON April = our army
5000 strong started for the city Of
Mexico. e90 miles distant. ON April IA
Il confronted the army OF Santa Anna.
10000 strong. posted on the heights OF
Cerro Gordo At the instance and
under the direction OF that excellent
soldier Captain Robert T.. Lee. the
Corps OF Engineers cut a road through
the dense forest on the enemy's left so
as TO enable us to take the position In
reverse. This work took three days.
during which time our working parties
were frequently attacked. In three
hours tie Mexican army was routed,
the battle was over. and far up on the
mountain the stars and Stripes had
been planted.
We finally captured the city OF Mex
leo. OF 1870, 900 inhabitants. with a loss
OF 1000 men killed and ounde out OF
an army OF 10000. after fighting the
battles of Contreras. Cherubusco, Moline
del Rey and san Antonio.
Engaged always against heavy odds.
We bore the honor OF our great republic
triumphantly on our ever advancing
" dhu pdNOntts. we mlTtnpu
nearly 5000 miles through the country.
Of an enemy alien to us In race and
language. and performed no act To
wound the modesty OF woman or to sully
the sanctity OF her person. Tho flames
OF no defenceless homestead lighted up
our line Of march no matin hymn or
vesper bell was silenced by our coming
we were always merciful in the hour
OF victory. and our army. while vindi-
| GAZING tho nrnu4nSA 0f nt,r nty~ nI,,
illustrated its civilization.
What were the material results of
that victorious war? II acquired for
us the vast territories Of California,
Nevada, Colorado. New Mexico. Idaho,
Arizona. Utah and part Of Nehra ska,
thus adding 100000 square miles. or
10000 600 acres, to the United States.
nearly doubling It's area.
CHARLES J. MURPHY.
Nrw York, June &