CHAPTER LIV.

POLK'S ADMINISTRATION-CONCLUDED.

Movement of Troops.-Vera Cruz invested.-Its Bombardment and Capite lation.-Santa Anna's Energy.-Battle of Cerro Gordo.-General Scott at Puebla. His Misunderstandings with the Authorities at Washing. ton.-Commissioner Trist.-Dissensions in Mexico.-Scott's Manifesto. -Reinforcements.-Advance upon the Capital.-El Penon turned.— Battle of Contreras; of Cherubusco.-Attempts to obtain Peace.Conflict of Molino del Rey.-The Castle of Chapultepec captured.—The American Army enters the City.-Santa Anna again in the Field; dismissed from the Mexican Service.-Treaty of Peace.—Its Conditions.— Evacuation of Mexico.-Misunderstanding among the American Officers. -Discovery of Gold in California.-The Effects.-Death of John Quincy Adams.-The Wilmot Proviso.-The Presidential Election.

CHAP. WHILE these events were in progress, plans were formed LIV. and partially executed to invade Mexico from the east; 1846. to secure Vera Cruz, the best harbor on the coast, and then, if peace could not be obtained, to march upon the capital itself.

Numerous delays impeded operations, and it was near the end of November before General Scott left Washington for the seat of war. The quarter-master, General Jessup, was already at New Orleans preparing transports for the troops; and communications were held with Commodore Connor in relation to the co-operation of the fleet. The troops, as already mentioned, drawn from Taylor's command, were speedily concentrated at convenient points on the coast, but the want of transports prevented their embarkation. The place of rendezvous was at the island

LIV.

of Lobos, about one hundred and twenty-five miles north CHAP of Vera Cruz. At length the transports were ready, the troops, about twelve thousand strong, embarked, and, on 1847. the morning of the 9th of March, began to land near Vera Cruz. No enemy appeared to dispute the move

ment.

That city contained about fifteen thousand inhabitants. It was protected on its land side by numerous defences, while on the side of the Gulf, upon a reef, stood the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, garrisoned by a thousand men, who manned one hundred and twenty-eight heavy guns; the strongest fortification on the continent, with the exception of Quebec.

The next morning General Worth was ordered to commence the line of investment, which extended nearly six miles. The Mexicans appeared to oppose, but a few shots from the cannon dispersed them. The weather was excessively hot and sultry, and the march through the deep sand laborious and tedious.

The Governor of the State of Vera Cruz now issued a proclamation, calling upon the inhabitants of the town to defend themselves, while he should retire to harass the invaders and cut off their supplies. He soon appeared among the sand hills, but after a short skirmish, he thought it prudent to keep out of sight. The cannonading from the town and castle was incessant, but without much execution, owing to the distance. The men kept close in their trenches and did not reply. The munitions which had recently arrived were now landed, and the Americans were ready to commence the bombardment. General Scott summoned the city to surrender, stipulating, in order to save the lives and property of the inhabitants, that no batteries should be placed in the town to attack the Castle, unless the latter fired upon the Americans. · General Morales, the commander of both the city and castle refused to comply with the summons.

CHAP

LIV.

Mar.

22.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the bombardment commenced. The Mexicans replied with every gun and 1847. mortar that could be brought to bear from the city and castle. Some of the smaller American vessels crept near and with their heavy guns added to the uproar; thus through the night the contest lasted. Other guns were brought, and other batteries erected within a thousand yards of the devoted city. They were hidden behind the chaparral; this was cleared away, and revealed to the besieged a new foe-the battery of Paixhan guns. Their astonishment was great; upon this new enemy who had dared to take position so near, they resolutely directed all their force for many hours. They fired rapidly and with precision, but failed to silence this battery.

How terrific was this storm! Twenty-one heavy guns pouring forth an incessant stream of balls and shells; the heavy shot broke through the solid walls and crashed through the houses, while the shells, still more terrible, scattered ruin and death in the streets, and burned every building that would burn. With scarcely any intermission, for four days this horrid work continued. The inhabitants, to be out of range, left their homes, and helplessly crowded upon the mole at the north part of the town, but ere long the balls began to come nearer and nearer. For twelve days the town had been invested, and its provisions were now nearly exhausted. The foreign residents implored their consuls to aid them. The latter obtained permission of Morales to send a flag of truce to General Scott. They asked a cessation of hostilities till the foreigners, with their families, and the Mexican women and children could leave the place. The request was properly refused, on the ground that permission had once been offered the foreign residents to leave the town, and that the petition to receive attention must come from the Mexican governor.

The American batteries re-opened as soon as the flag