South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-04
; Fighting in the Mexican Wilderness in 1847

X ENERAL PERSHINGS whirlwind pursuit
| r OF villa into the heart OF Mexico must
- be a rather disconcerting reminder TO
ire military leaders OF that country OF General
Winfield SCOTS impetuous advance upon the
capital following the capture Of Vera Cruz In
March, 1s47 In both instances forced marches
yer sandy wastes and hard fighting in a
wilderness practically unknown to the In
Vaaers filed the enemy with amazement
II was IDS characteristic OF the American
army that upset all Of Santa Annas plans
His attempt at Buena Vista in February Of
that year 70 wrest the valley Of the Rio Grande
from the diminished forces unddr General
Taylor was made in the full beliaI that the
stir problem of Vera Cruz and tina near ap-
proach OF the season OF "vomito," OF yellow
fever. In the lowlands would either stop General
Scott at the coast or hinder his advance
that the Mexican army would have ample time
IA which 10 rally in force at the gateway of
the TERRA templada." temperate and
hsalthiu climate OF Upper Mexico.
But before Santa Anna could reorganize his
army after thu humiliating defeat by the hand.
fu' OK Americans at Buena Vista. General Scott
had taken Vera Cruz and, with force Of about
ten thousand men. had set out for the heights
Of Cerro GOrdo and the entrance to a healthful
climate. Hurriedly Santa Anna dispatched two
thousand men TO that fortified place with a
heavy trcin OF artillery, and April 1 fol-
lowed with two thousand more. By April 10
he had labored with such zeal that he had ten
thousand men working on the Notifications In
the neish0ozhood OF Cerro Gordo and every
hour added 70 hts strength
On the 18th General Scott's force arrived
After two days OF hard fighting. with loss of
i've hundred men, the Mexicans were forced
n ~
In less than month Pueb1a. the Castle OF
Perote aud other strong points had been oc-
cupied. and the invaders found themselves in
possession OF a large aud healthy city within
less tran one hundred miles OF the Mexican
capital, and IN valley rich in provisions and
supplies of every kind
Here General Scott remained until August
8, putting his army In the best possible con-
dition 1or an advance upon the City of Mexico
The entire force with which General Scott
moved was 1918. The first division COM
Ulanded by General Worth, consisted OF the
Second and Third Artillery, the Fourth In
fantry, and Duncan's light battery forming a
brigade under Garland the Fifth Sixth and
Eighth Infantry, composing another brigade
was under the orders OF Clarke The second
division, commanded by General Twiggs was
also composed Of two brigades the first under
Persifor F. Smith. consisting OF the First
Artillery Third Infantry, the rifles, and Frank
TayloTs field battery; the second under Riley
made up Of the First and Seventh Infantry and
Fourth Artillery. The third division, com
manded by General Pillow, was made up al
most entirely OF fresh men, Magruder's
battery OF field artillery with the mountain
hOwitzer and rocket battery OF Calender, was
attached TO this division.
General Quitman commanded the fourth
division, made up OF the New York and South
Carolina regiments of volunteers, forming a
brigade under Shields, with the Second Penn.
sylyanians and Watson's marines. Steptoe's
field battery attached 10 this division.
cavalry brigade under Harvey was also at.
tached TO the army. When TO all is added the
siege train under Ruger, consisting OF two
2-pounders two 6S-pOund howitzers and a single
1O-inch mortar. supplied with a limited amount
Of ammunition owing to the great scarcity OF
transportation, there has been detailed the
tire force with which General Scott marched
for the subsection OF a city numbering nearly
two hundred thousand inhabitants, an army OF
over thirty thousand troops. every regular ap-
proach defended by strong works, passing over
high mountains Offering innumeTabe points
where resistance might be made, and where
II was certainly anticipated.
No strong resistance was met until the
American army had approached to within less
than dozen miles OF the capital few miles
further the frowning hill known as
Fl Penon, heavily fortified and commanding
the direct road. Evidently Santa Anna con-
sidered this position impregnable Recon
noisances fortunately showed that by hugging
the hills which engirt the valley on the south
west. tearing away stone fences, removing
rocks and constructing temporary road at
certain points the entire army, with all its
artillery and baggage could be thrown upon
The high healthy and commanding village OF
San Augustin.
Once al this place. the most populous In the
valley after the capital, the American COM