Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06

party of 60 dragons, killing several In the
process, whereat Gen. Taylor reluctantly re-
ported, "Hostilities may now be considered as
commenced"
Zachary had the true fronterSman's con-
tempt for book soldiers" About him were
West Point graduates destined to become the
great military scientists of their day-U S.
Grant, w. T. Sherman George G. Meade Joe
Hooker. Braxton Bragg, Albert Sidney Johnston
and "Chickamauga" Thomas-but Taylor would
have none of their advice. Brave as a lion
himself, with him war was a matter of coming
to grips and letting the best man win. At
every point he Numbered, and all that saved
him was AriSta's superior incompetence.
On May 8. with 2,228 men, encountered by
his wagons, Taylor squarely into the Mexi-
can army of 5000 at Palo Alto. His first idea
was to fight EN- with baynits," and only the
pleas of his officers induced him to see the
wisdom of using artillery. Arista with his
vastly superior force, might have won the day
by series of charges, but he fooliShly chose
to engage in an artillery duel, although the
first exchange proved that his WORKOUT guns
could not even carry to the American line.
All afternoon he held his men as a stationary
target for the deadly fire of Ringgold and Dun
can, and as Ampudia circulated the report that
AriSta had betrayed them, the Mexicans broke
and fed.
There was pursuit Taylor was busy with
his wagons and his men were exhausted BY
noon Of May Arista had taken q strong posi-
ton In the heart Of the chapparal at Resaca
de Ia Palma, three miles nearer MatamoroS
Again the Mexicans fought like tigers, and
again cowardly leadership lost the day for them
As at Palo Alto, Old Rough and Ready was
in the heart Of the conflict, cool as o cucum-
Der in his Tapping linen pataloons and big
straw hat, and when he reared Take them
guns an by God, keep 'em!" his men had the
conviction that he would thrash them person.
ally If they failed.
On the Mexican side officers deSartad AT
the critical moment usual the whole right
wing crumbled, and Arista and Ampudia led q
panic flight to the Rio Grande, where many
drowned In crossing the river.
DOLK, receiving news of the capture of
Thornton and his men, sent q message to
Congress on May IL that cried Mexico has
passed the boundary of the United States, has
invaded our territory and shed American blood
upon the American soil. War exists, and
notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it.
exists by the act of Mexico itself"
Congress voted $4,000 men and $40, 600 OOO
but along with these preparations Polk de-
clared this promise to Mexico and to the world:
whilst we intend to prosecute the war with
vigor ,sboth by land and by sea, we shall bear
the olive branch in one hand, and the sword
in the other; and whenever she will accept
the former we shall sheathe the latter"
Meanwhile unhappy Mexico plunged still
more wildly to her ruin. Palo Alto and Resaca
dc La Palma chilled the enthusiasm of England,
France and SPAIN and there was an end to
hope OF foreign assistance. Domestic diSsenSion
added to despair, for the drunken Paroles was
thrown out Of Office by his own soldiers, and
Santa Anna, exiled in 1845 for his incredible
capacities and corruptions, returned from
Havana as "The Defender of the People"
Gambling everything upon one great victory
that would enable him to accept Folks peace
"YQnkeo cQnitIllQti0n - the Master
Charlatan gathered a new army at San Luis
Potosi, and set out in September to give battle
to Taylor.
All this while Old Rough and Ready had sat
idle in Matamoros. and it was not until August