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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a7af84 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #68308 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68308) diff --git a/old/68308-0.txt b/old/68308-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fa36cd4..0000000 --- a/old/68308-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2763 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mexican War diary of George B. -McClellan, by George B. McClellan - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Mexican War diary of George B. McClellan - -Author: George B. McClellan - -Editor: William Starr Myers - -Release Date: June 13, 2022 [eBook #68308] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David E. Brown and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MEXICAN WAR DIARY OF -GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN *** - - -[Illustration: (From a daguerreotype taken in 1846, just before -leaving for the front) - -LIEUT. MCCLELLAN, HIS FATHER AND HIS BROTHER ARTHUR.] - - - - - THE MEXICAN WAR DIARY - OF GEORGE B. McCLELLAN - - EDITED BY - - WILLIAM STARR MYERS, Ph.D., - - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND POLITICS - PRINCETON UNIVERSITY - - PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS - PRINCETON - - LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD - OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS - 1917 - - - - - Copyright, 1917, by - PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS - - Published April, 1917 - - [Illustration] - - - - -PREFACE - - -During the past four or five years I have been preparing a life of -General McClellan in which I plan especially to stress the political -influences behind the military operations of the first two years of the -Civil War. The main source for my study has been the large collection -of “McClellan Papers” in the Library of Congress at Washington, most -of which hitherto never has been published. In this collection is the -manuscript Mexican War diary and by the courteous permission and kind -cooperation of General McClellan’s son, Professor George B. McClellan -of Princeton University, I have been able to make the following copy. I -desire to thank Professor McClellan for other valuable help, including -the use of the daguerreotype from which the accompanying frontispiece -was made. My thanks also are due Professor Dana C. Munro for his timely -advice and valued assistance in the preparation of the manuscript for -the press. The map is reproduced from the “Life and Letters of General -George Gordon Meade,” with the kind permission of the publishers, -Charles Scribner’s Sons. - -It has seemed to me that this diary should prove to be of special value -at the present time, for it throws additional light upon the failure of -our time honored “volunteer system” and forecasts its utter futility as -an adequate defense in a time of national crisis or danger. - - WM. STARR MYERS. - - Princeton, N. J. - January 3, 1917. - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - Lieut. McClellan, His Father and His Brother Arthur - From a daguerreotype taken in 1846, just before - leaving for the front _Frontispiece_ - - War Map opp. p. 6 - - First Page of the Mexican War Diary in an Old Blankbook - Facsimile reproduction of McClellan’s manuscript opp. p. 40 - - Church at Camargo, Seen from the Palace - Facsimile reproduction of a sketch by McClellan opp. p. 70 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -George Brinton McClellan was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on December 3, -1826. He died in Orange, N. J., on October 29, 1885. His life covered -barely fifty-nine years, his services of national prominence only -eighteen months, but during this time he experienced such extremes of -good and ill fortune, of success and of failure, as seldom have fallen -to the lot of one man. - -While still a small boy McClellan entered a school in Philadelphia -which was conducted by Mr. Sears Cook Walker, a graduate of Harvard, -and remained there for four years. He later was a pupil in the -preparatory school of the University of Pennsylvania, under the charge -of Dr. Samuel Crawford. McClellan at the same time received private -tuition in Greek and Latin from a German teacher named Scheffer and -entered the University itself in 1840. He remained there as a student -for only two years, for in 1842 he received an appointment to the -United States Military Academy at West Point. - -McClellan graduated from West Point second in his class in the summer -of 1846 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant of engineers. -On July 9 Colonel Joseph G. Totten, Chief of Engineers, ordered -McClellan to “repair to West Point” for duty with the company of -engineers then being organized by Captain A. J. Swift and Lieutenant -Gustavus W. Smith. The Mexican War had begun during the preceding May -and the young graduate of West Point was filled with delight at the new -opportunity for winning reputation and rank in his chosen profession. -The company of engineers was ordered to Mexico and left for the front -during the month of September. - -The diary that follows begins with the departure from West Point and -continues the narrative of McClellan’s experiences through the battle -of Cerro Gordo in April, 1847. It ends at this point, except for a line -or two jotted down later on in moments of impatience or ennui. - -To the student of McClellan’s life this diary presents certain striking -contrasts in character between the youthful soldier, not yet twenty -years of age, and the general or politician of fifteen or twenty years -later. At this time McClellan was by nature happy-go-lucky, joyous, -carefree, and almost irresponsible. In after years he became extremely -serious, deeply and sincerely religious, sometimes oppressed by a -sense of duty. And yet at this early age we can plainly discern many -of the traits that stand out so prominently in his mature life. He was -in a way one of the worst subordinates and best superiors that ever -lived. As a subordinate he was restless, critical, often ill at ease. -He seemed to have the proverbial “chip” always on his shoulder and -knew that his commanding officers would go out of their way to knock -it off; or else he imagined it, which amounted to the same thing. As -a commanding officer he always was thoughtful, considerate and deeply -sympathetic with his men, and they knew this and loved him for it. - -These same traits perhaps will explain much of the friction during the -early years of the Civil War between McClellan and Lincoln and also the -devotion that reached almost to adoration which the soldiers of the -Army of the Potomac showed for their beloved commander. And McClellan -had many intimate friends, friends of high character, who stood by -him through thick and thin until the very day of his death. This -relationship could not have continued strong to the last had he not in -some measure deserved it. His integrity, his inherent truthfulness and -sense of honor, stood out predominant. - -McClellan could write. In fact his pen was too ready and in later years -it often led him into difficulties. He had a keen sense of humor, -though it was tempered by too much self-confidence and at times was -tinged with conceit. He was proud, ambitious and deeply sensitive. All -this appears in the diary, and it will be seen that this little book -offers a key to the explanation of much that followed. - -McClellan took a prominent and brilliant part, for so young a man, in -the later events of Scott’s campaign which ended in the capture of -the City of Mexico. He showed himself to be able, brave and extremely -skilful. He was promoted to the rank of brevet first lieutenant, August -20, “for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras -and Cherubusco,” and brevet captain on September 13 for his services -at Chapultepec. He was brevetted in addition for Molino del Rey on -September 8, and the nomination was confirmed by Congress, but he -declined the honor on the ground that he had not taken part in that -battle, while this brevet “would also cause him to rank above his -commanding officer--Lieut. G. W. Smith--who was present at every action -where he was and commanded him.” (Ms. letter from McClellan to General -R. Jones, Adj. Gen. U. S. A., dated “Washington City, August 1848.” -_McClellan Papers_, Library of Congress, Vol. I.) - -The diary gives a vivid picture of Mexico, the land and its people. -Furthermore, there is a fine description of the life of the soldiers on -the march, of the siege of Vera Cruz, and of the ill behavior and lack -of discipline of the volunteer forces. The notes will show that General -George Gordon Meade, later the Union commander at Gettysburg, also -was a lieutenant in Taylor’s army, and his estimate of the volunteers -agrees in every particular with that mentioned above. - -McClellan’s career has been the subject of endless controversy, often -pursued with such acrimony and gross unfairness that its memory -rankles today in the minds of many. Furthermore, upon the outcome -of this controversy have depended the reputations of many prominent -men, for if McClellan should be proved to have been in the wrong the -mantle of greatness still might rest upon the shoulders of certain -politicians and generals hitherto adjudged to be “great.” On the other -hand, if McClellan was in the right, and the present writer believes -that in large part he was, then he was a victim of envy and downright -falsehood. His name should now be cleared of all unjust accusations, -and also history should reverse its judgment of many of his opponents. - - WM. STARR MYERS. - - - - -[Illustration: PARTS OF TEXAS & MEXICO COVERING THE SEAT OF THE WAR IN - MEXICO] - - - - -MEXICAN WAR DIARY OF GEORGE B. McCLELLAN - -1846-1847 - - -We left West Point on the 24th of September 1846 for General Taylor’s -army in Mexico--Company “A” Engineers[1] consisted of Captain [A. -J.] Swift, Lieutenant G. W. Smith,[2] myself and 71 rank and file. -On Saturday the 26th we sailed from the Narrows bound to Brazos de -Santiago [Texas] where we were so fortunate as to arrive in 14 days. We -had a very pleasant passage, on the whole. Felt very much the want of -_ice_, and _claret_. At one time could only eat raw tomatoes. - -The result of my experience with respect to the transportation of -troops by sea is,-- - -In the first place see that the part of the vessel destined to receive -them is thoroughly policed, washed and well scraped out before the -vessel sails; then let a strong police party be detailed every day, -so that the part between decks may always be well washed out and -smell well. Wind-sails are very necessary. The acting commissary of -subsistence should see for himself exactly what is put on board for -the use of the troops and should cause a written requisition to be -made upon him for the quantity used from day to day or week to week. -He should have a reliable and intelligent sergeant at his disposal. -Care should be taken that good cooking arrangements are provided. Mush -appeared to be a favorite and agreeable food for the men at sea. The -muskets should be inspected every day, when the weather permits, as -also the quarters. Men must be required to wear their worst clothes -(working overalls, etc.) on board. Care should be taken that camp -equipage and all articles necessary for immediate use of troops when -landed are so stowed that they can be got at at once. - -Brazos is probably the very worst port that could be found on the -whole American coast. We are encamped on an island which is nothing -more than a sand bar, perfectly barren, utterly destitute of any sign -of vegetation. It is about six miles long and one-half mile broad. We -are placed about one hundred yards from the sea, a row of sand hills -some twenty feet high intervening. Whenever a strong breeze blows -the sand flies along in perfect clouds, filling your tent, eyes and -everything else. To dry ink you have merely to dip your paper in the -sand. The only good thing about the place is the bathing in the surf. -The water which we drink is obtained by digging a hole large enough to -contain a barrel. In this is placed a bottomless barrel in which the -water collects. You must dig until you find water, then “work-in” the -barrel until it is well down. This water is very bad. It is brackish -and unhealthy. The island is often overflowed to the depth of one or -two feet. To reach this interesting spot, one is taken from the vessel -in a steamboat and taken over a bar on which the water is six feet -deep, and where the surf breaks with the greatest violence. It is often -impossible to communicate with the vessels outside for ten days or two -weeks at a time. - -We have been here since Monday afternoon and it is now Friday. We -expect to march for the mouth of the Rio Grande tomorrow morning at -break of day--thence by steamboat to Matamoros where we will remain -until our arrangements for the pontoon train are complete. We received -when we arrived the news of the battle of Monterey. Three officers who -were present dined with us today--Nichols of the 2nd Artillery, Captain -Smith (brother of G. W. Smith) formerly Captain of Louisiana Volunteers -now an amateur, Captain Crump of the Mississippi Volunteers--fine -fellows all. Saw Bailie Peyton and some others pass our encampment this -morning from Monterey. I am now writing in the guard tent (I go on -guard every other day). Immediately in front are sand hills, same on -the right, same in the rear, sandy plain on the left. To the left of -the sand hills in front are a number of wagons parked, to the left of -them a pound containing about 200 mules, to the left and in front of -that about fifty sloops, schooners, brigs and steamboats; to the left -of that and three miles from us may be seen Point Isabel. - -Camp opposite Camargo,[3] November 15th, 1846. We marched from Brazos -to the mouth of the Rio Grande and on arriving there found ourselves -without tents, provisions or working utensils, a cold Norther blowing -all the time. We, however, procured what we needed from the Quarter -Master and made the men comfortable until the arrival of Captain Swift -with the wagons, who reached the mouth late in the afternoon, whilst we -got there about 10 A. M. Thanks to Churchill’s kindness G. W. Smith and -myself got along very well. We left in the Corvette the next morning -(Sunday) for Matamoros, where we arrived at about 5 P. M. The Rio -Grande is a very narrow, muddy stream. The channel is very uncertain, -changing from day to day. The banks are covered with the mesquite -trees, canes, cabbage trees, etc. The ranches are rather sparse, but -some of them are very prettily situated. They all consist of miserable -huts built of mesquite logs and canes placed upright--the interstices -filled with mud. The roofs are thatched, either with canes or the -leaves of the cabbage tree (a species of palmetto). Cotton appears to -grow quite plentifully on the banks, but is not cultivated at all. The -Mexicans appear to cultivate nothing whatever but a little Indian corn -(maize). They are certainly the laziest people in existence--living in -a rich and fertile country (the banks of the river at least) they are -content to roll in the mud, eat their horrible beef and tortillas and -dance all night at their fandangos. This appears to be the character of -the Mexicans as far as I have seen, but they will probably improve as -we proceed further in the country. - -Matamoros is situated about a quarter mile from the river. Some of -the houses on the principal streets are of stone, there is one near -the Plaza built in the American style with three stories and garrets. -All the rest are regular Mexican. On the Plaza is an unfinished -cathedral, commenced on a grand scale, but unfinished from a want -of funds. The great majority of the houses are of log. The place is -quite Americanized by our army and the usual train of sutlers, etc., -etc.,--you can get almost everything you want there. We were encamped -near the landing. I rode over to Resaca and Palo Alto, but as there -is just now a prospect of our returning to Matamoros, before moving -on Tampico, I shall write no description of the fields until I have -visited them again. After being sick for nearly two weeks in Matamoros -I left with the company for Camargo on the “Whiteville,” where we -arrived two weeks ago tomorrow, and I have been in Hospital Quarters -ever since until day before yesterday.[4] - -Now I am in camp, the wind blowing the dust in such perfect clouds -that it is perfectly horrible--one can hardly live through it. My -quarters in Camargo were the _Palace_ of Don Jesus, the brother of the -Alcalde [Mayor of the town]--he (the Don) having absquatatated [sic]. -The main body of the _Palace_ (!) is one storied. It consists of two -rooms--the smaller one occupied by Dr. Turner, the other by “Legs” -and myself (together with Jimmie Stuart for a part of the time). The -floor is of hard earth, the walls white, and very fancifully decorated -with paintings--the roof flat and painted green--an inscription on it -showing that “Se acabó [This house was finished] esta casa _entiaso_ -[this word is not Spanish] Dio[s] &c. &c. 1829.” Altogether it was -quite a recherché establishment. Jimmie Stuart came down to take -care of me when I first got there, and after doing so with his usual -kindness was unfortunately taken with a fever, and had to stay there -anyhow.[5] - -We are to accompany General Patterson[6] to Tampico. I hope and suppose -that we will have a fight there, then join General Taylor, _then_ hey -for San Luis [Potosi] and another fight. - -December 5th [1846]. Mouth of the Rio Grande. After getting up quite an -excitement about a fight at Tampico etc., we were completely floored -by the news that the navy had _taken_ it without firing a single -gun[7]--the place having been abandoned by the Mexican troops, who -are doubtless being concentrated at San Luis Potosi in anticipation -of a grand attack on the place--ah! if we only fool them by taking -Vera Cruz and its castle, and then march on the capital--we would have -them completely. After a great many orders and counter orders we have -at length arrived thus far on our way to Tampico. We left Camargo on -Sunday evening last (November 29th) in the corvette, with Generals -Patterson and Pillow[8] and a number of other officers (among them -Captain Hunter 2nd Dragoons, Major Abercrombie, Captain Winship, Seth -Williams,[9] and about a thousand volunteers). We had decidedly a bad -passage--running on sand bars very often--being blown up against a bank -by the wind--breaking the rudder twice, etc., etc. We left General -P[atterson], Captain Swift and many others at Matamoros. The General -started with the intention of going to Tampico by sea--all the troops -(except the Tennessee cavalry) were to go by sea, but at Reinosa an -express overtook us ordering the General to proceed by land with all -the troops except this company, which _is_ to go by sea (!). Captain -Swift remained at Matamoros on account of his health. - -I was perfectly disgusted coming down the river. I found that every -confounded Voluntario in the “Continental Army” ranked me--to be ranked -and put aside for a soldier of yesterday, a miserable thing with -buttons on it, that knows nothing whatever, is indeed too hard a case. -I have pretty much made up my mind that if I cannot increase my _rank_ -in this war, I shall resign shortly after the close of it. I cannot -stand the idea of being a Second Lieutenant all my life. I have learned -some valuable lessons in this war. I am (I hope and believe) pretty -well cured of castle building. I came down here with high hopes, with -pleasing anticipations of distinction, of being in hard fought battles -and acquiring a name and reputation as a stepping stone to a still -greater eminence in some future and greater war. I felt that if I could -have a chance I could do _something_; but what has been the result--the -real state of the case? The first thing that greeted my ears upon -arriving off Brazos was the news of the battle of Monterey[10]--the -place of all others where this Company and its officers would have had -an ample field for distinction. There was a grand miss, but, thank -heaven, it could not possibly have been avoided by us. Well, since -then we have been dodging about--waiting a week here--two weeks there -for the pontoon train--a month in the dirt somewhere else--doing -nothing--half the company sick--have been sick myself for more than a -month and a half--and here we are going to Tampico. What will be the -next thing it is impossible to guess at. We _may_ go to San Luis--we -_may_ go to Vera Cruz--we _may_ go home from Tampico, we _may_ see -a fight, or a dozen of them--_or_ we may not see a shot fired. I -have made up my mind to act the philosopher--to take things as they -come and not worry my head about the future--to try to get perfectly -well--and above all things to see as much _fun_ as I can “scare up” in -the country. - -I have seen more suffering since I came out here than I could have -imagined to exist. It is really awful. I allude to the sufferings of -the Volunteers. They literally die like dogs. Were it all known in -the States, there would be no more hue and cry against the Army, all -would be willing to have so large a regular army that we could dispense -entirely with the volunteer system. The suffering among the Regulars -is comparatively trifling, for their officers know their duty and take -good care of the men.[11] - -I have also come to the conclusion that the Quartermaster’s Department -is most wofully conducted--never trust anything to that Department -which you can do for yourself. If you need horses for your trains, -etc., carry them with you. As to provisions (for private use) get as -much as possible from the Commissaries--you get things from them -at one-half the price you pay sutlers. Smith has ridden over to -Brazos de Santiago to endeavor to make arrangements for our immediate -transportation to Tampico. Captain Hunter went with him on my mare. -They return in the morning. Whilst at Camargo, Smith had a discussion -with General Patterson about his (General Patterson’s) right to order -us when en route to join General Taylor, under orders from Head -Quarters at Washington. The General was obliged to succumb and admit -the truth of the principle “That an officer of Engineers is not subject -to the orders of every superior officer, but only to those of his -immediate chief, and that General (or other high officer) to whom he -may be ordered to report for duty.” - -There goes Gerber with his tattoo--so I must stop for the present. - -December 6th [1846]. Go it Weathercocks! Received an order from Major -McCall[12] this morning to go back to Matamoros, as we are to _march_ -to Tampico, via Victoria, with the column under General Patterson.[13] -Smith is away at Brazos and if the order had been one day and a half -later we would have been off to Tampico by sea. Have fine sea bathing -here. It is blowing very hard from the south east, so much so as to -raise the sand too much for comfort entirely. Bee and Ward at the -Brazos--coming over this morning--will at least have an opportunity of -giving Georgie that letter of Madame Scott’s! I feel pleased at the -idea of going by land--we will have a march to talk about, and may very -probably have a fight on the way. I firmly believe that we will have -a brush before reaching Tampico. Unfortunately the whole column is -Voluntario. - -January 2nd, 1847. Rancho Padillo, on Soto la Marina river. I -“firmly believed” we would have a brush!--the devil I did!--and a -pretty fool I was to think I’d have such good luck as that. I’ve -given it up entirely. But I was right in the other--the whole column -_is_ Voluntario--and a pretty column it is too. To go on with our -affairs.--We reached Matamoros on the 8th [December] and encamped on -the river bank just below the Mexican batteries. Smith went down to -the mouth [of the river] again to select tools for the march, leaving -me in command. After various orders and counter orders we were finally -(December 21st) directed to appear upon the Plaza as early as possible -in order to march to El Moquete, where General Pillow was encamped with -the 3rd and 4th Illinois Volunteers. “Mind, Mr. Smith” said the old -Mustang[14] the night before, “mind and appear as early as possible, -so that you may not delay us”--all this with that air of dignity and -importance so peculiarly characteristic of Mustangs; well we got up -at daybreak and reached the Plaza a little after seven, immediately -reported ourselves ready to start and were informed that we should -wait for the guide who was _momentarily_ expected. We were to march in -advance, then the wagon train, then Gibson with his artillery (a twelve -pounder field piece and twenty-four pounder howitzer) was to bring up -the rear. - -I waited and waited in the hot sun on the Plaza, watched the men -gorging themselves with oranges, sausages etc., them took to swearing -by way of consolation. When I had succeeded in working myself into a -happy frame of mind (about one o’clock) old Abercrombie[15] ordered -Gibson to start in advance and our company to bring up the rear. I wont -attempt to describe the beauties of forming a rear guard of a wagon -train. Suffice it to say that the men straggled a great deal, some got -rather drunk, all very tired. We reached the banks of El Arroyo Tigre -about 8 o’clock (two hours after dark) and then encamped as we best -could. - -I rode on in advance of the company to see El Tigre and found Gibson -amusing himself by endeavoring to curse a team (a caisson) across the -river, which (the caisson, not the river--well, _both were_, after -all) had got mired in the middle. I rode back and met the company about -one mile from the camp ground, struggling along--tired to death and -straining their eyes to see water through the darkness. I consoled them -somewhat by telling them that it was not more than a mile to the water, -but they soon found that a mile on foot was a great deal longer than a -mile on horseback. However, we got there at last, pitched our camp, and -soon forgot all our troubles in sound sleep. - -I rode in advance next morning through the long wagon train to find a -new ford. We crossed and encamped with General Pillow’s Brigade. Went -down to Major Harris’ (4th Illinois) tent, where I had a fine drink -of brandy and the unspeakable satisfaction of seeing a democratic -Volunteer Captain (in his shirt sleeves) sit, with the greatest -unconcern, on a tent peg for at least an hour. Gibson and I then went -to Winship’s tent where we found G. W. [Smith] and an invitation to -dine with General Pillow. - -During dinner it began to rain like bricks. We adjourned to Winship’s -tent, and the sight we presented would have amused an hermit. The water -[was] about an inch deep in the tent, and we four sitting on the bed -passing around a tumbler continually replenished from that old keg -of commissary whiskey--oh lord! how it did fly ’round! and we were as -happy a set of soldiers as ever lived “in spite of wind and weather.” -“Whoa Winship,” says Gibson, “that’s too strong” so he drank it all -to keep us from being injured. Well, we amused ourselves in this way -until dark--then we waded back to our respective domiciles (is a tent a -domicile?) having previously seen old Patt make his grand entrée in the -midst of a hard rain--_he_ in Dr. Wright’s[16] covered wagon (looking -for all the world like an old Quaker farmer going to market), his -escort and staff dripping with the rain. _We_ wondered why they looked -so dismal and thought that it had not been such a horrid bad day after -all! - -This evening G. W. [Smith] and myself had a grand cursing match over -an order from the “stable” requiring a detail from our camp to pitch -and unpitch the General’s tents etc. However, we sent them just about -the meanest detail that they ever saw. At this place our large army was -divided into two columns. We moved at the head of the first column. -General Pillow came on one day after us. - -We started about 7.30--a bright sunny morning. Nothing of interest -this day--the men improved in their marching. We encamped about three -o’clock at Guijano, where there were two ponds of very good water. -We had a beautiful spot for our encampment, and a most delightful -moonlight evening. There is one house--hut rather--at this place. -From Matamoros to this place the road is excellent requiring no -repairs--chaparral generally thick on roadside--one or two small -prairies--road would be boggy in wet weather. From Matamoros to Moquete -[is] about ten miles, from El Moquete to El Guijano about ten miles. - -On the next day (December 24th) we marched to Santa Teresa, a distance -of 27 miles. It was on this march that we (i. e. Songo[17]) made the -“raise” on General Patterson’s birds. He sent us four for supper. -We ate as many as we could and had five left for breakfast--fully -equal to the loaves and fishes this. We stopped for nearly an hour at -Salina--a pond of rather bad water about half way to Santa Teresa--what -a rush the Voluntarios made for the water! When we arrived we found -the mustang crowd taking their lunch.[18] As Songo had just then made -one of his periodical disappearances we were left without anything -to eat for some time, but at last we descried him caracoling across -the prairie on his graceful charger. The mustangs did not have the -politeness to ask us to partake of their lunch, but when Songo _did -come our_ brandy was better than theirs anyhow. At Santa Teresa the -water was very bad--being obtained from a tancho. I bluffed off a -volunteer regiment some 100 yards from our camp. As the Lieutenant -Colonel of this same regiment (3rd Illinois) was marching them along -by the flank he gave the command “by file left march!”--to bring it -on the color line. The leading file turned at about an angle of 30 -degrees. “Holloa there” says the Colonel “you man there, you dont know -how to file.” “The h--l I dont” yells the man “d--n you, I’ve been -marching all day, and I guess I’m tired.” - -Road good--passes principally through prairie--at Salina wood scarce in -immediate vicinity of the water, plenty about three quarters of a mile -from it. Wood not very plenty at Santa Teresa--enough however. - -December 25th. We started at sunrise, and it was a sunrise well worthy -of the day. A cloud obscured the sun at first, but it seemed a cloud of -the brightest, purest gold, and the whole east was tinged with a hue -which would defy the art of man to imitate. It was one of those scenes -which occur but once in many years, and which elevate us for a moment -above the common range of our thoughts. In an instant I thought of my -whole life, of the happy Christmas days of my childhood, of my mother, -of the very few others I love--how happy Arthur and Mary[19] must have -been at that moment with their Christmas gifts! When I was a child--as -they are now--I little thought that I should ever spend a Christmas day -upon the march, in Mexico. The time may come hereafter when I shall -spend Christmas in a way little anticipated by me on _this_ Christmas -day. God grant that my troubles may be as few and my thoughts as -pleasant as they were then! - -I rode off into the prairie--followed by Songo--and in the excitement -of chasing some rabbits managed to lose the column. I at length found -my way back, and was told that I had created quite an excitement. -When I was first seen in the distance they did not know whether I -was a Mexican or a white man. Patt, finally concluded that I must be -a straggling “Tennessee horse,” gave the Colonel a blowing up for -allowing his men to leave the column, and directed him to send out a -guard to apprehend the “vagrom man.” Just about that time Smith found -out what was going on, discovered who it was and rectified the mistake. - -Passed Chiltipine about 11 A. M.--sent Songo to buy eggs and milk. -After we had passed about a mile beyond the Ranche [Rancho, a hut], I -heard a peculiar neigh--which I recognized as Jim’s--and loud laughing -from the volunteers. I turned around and saw Jim “streaking it against -time” for the mare--head up, eyes starting and neighing at every jump, -minus Songo. I rode back to see what had become of the “faithful -Jumbo,” Jim following like a little puppy dog. It appeared that Jim had -thrown his “fidus Achates.” When we stopped at Chiltipine Dr. Wright -gave us a drink of first rate brandy. - -At Chiltipine (or very near there) we left the road and took a prairie -path to the left. The grass was so high that we found ourselves at -about 1 P. M. out of sight of the train and artillery. Pat became very -much agitated and ordered a halt, glasses were put in requisition -(brandy and spy) but no train could be discovered. Pat became highly -excited and imagined all kinds of accidents. At last some artillery was -discovered. Pat’s excitement reached its highest pitch, for he took it -into his head that they were Mexicans. “Good G--d, Mr. Smith! Take your -glass--take your glass--those are our artillery or something worse! I -fear they have been cut off.” However, it turned out to be Gibson, and -Pat’s countenance changed suddenly from a “Bluntish,” blueish, ghastly -white to a silly grin. - -At last we reached our camp at a dirty, muddy lake--ornamented by a -dead jackass. Pat ensconced himself in the best place with Tennessee -horse as a guard, put Gibson “in battery” on the road, with us on his -left flank--a large interval between us and the Tennessee horse--a -similar one between Gibson and the Illinois foot. Gibson had orders to -defend the road. How he was to be informed of the approach of the enemy -“this deponent knoweth not,” such a thing as a picket was not thought -of. I suppose Pat thought the guns old enough to speak for themselves. - -For our Christmas dinner we had a beefsteak and some fried mush. Not -quite so good as turkey and mince pies, but we enjoyed it as much as -the cits at home did their crack dinners. We finished a bottle of the -Captain’s best sherry in a marvellous short time. Songo looked as if -he thought we ought to be fuddled, but we were too old soldiers for -that. After dinner we started off “to see Seth Williams,” but saw -the mustangs at their feed and “huevosed” the ranche. By the bye, we -thought that ordinary politeness would have induced old Pat to have -given us an invitation to dine, but we spent our time more pleasantly -than we would have done there. We went from Pat’s to Colonel Thomas’s, -and returned thence to Gibson, whom we found in a very good humor, -and whose Volunteer Sub-Lieutenant (W----) was most gloriously and -unroariously [sic] corned. He yelled like a true Mohawk, and swore -that “little Jane” somebody had the prettiest foot and hand in all -Tennessee. He set the men a most splendid example of good conduct -and quietness, but what _can_ you expect from a Volunteer? One of his -ideas was first rate--“Just imagine old Patt being attacked by the -Mexicans, and running over here in his shirt tail--breaking thro’ the -pond with old Abercrombie after him. The d--d old fox put us here where -he thought the enemy would get us. Suppose they should come in on the -other side? D--n him we’d see him streaking over here, with old McCall -and Abercrombie after, their shirt tails flying, by G--d.” - -December 26th. Marched 20 miles to San Fernando where we arrived a -little after sunset. Road level until we arrived within about 5 miles -of San Fernando, when it became rocky and hilly but always practicable. -About 4 miles from San Fernando we reached the summit of a hill from -which we beheld a basin of hills extending for miles and miles--not -unlike the hills between the Hudson and Connecticut opposite West -Point. About two miles from San Fernando are some wells of pretty good -water--the men were very thirsty--Gerber offered a volunteer half -a dollar for a canteen full of water. My little mare drank until I -thought she would kill herself. The Alcalde and his escort met General -Patterson at this place. He was all bows, smiles and politeness. -_Murphy_ of whom more anon had the honor of taking San Fernando by -storm. He was the first to enter it, mounted on his gallant steed. We -first saw San Fernando as we arrived at the summit of a high hill, the -last rays of the sun shining on its white houses, and the dome of the -“_Cathedral_” gave it a beautiful appearance. It was a jewel in the -midst of these uninhabited and desert hills. We encamped in a hollow -below the town--had a small eggnog and dreamed of a hard piece of work -we had to commence on the morrow. Mañana [tomorrow morning] por la -mañana. - -December 27th. We had our horses saddled at reveillé and before sunrise -were upon the banks of El Rio de San Fernando--a clear, cold and -rapid mountain stream, about 40 yards wide and two and a half feet -deep--bottom of hard gravel. We crossed the stream and found ourselves -the first American soldiers who had been on the further bank. The -approaches to the stream from the town required some repairs, nothing -very bad--it was horrible on the other side. As we again crossed the -stream we halted to enjoy the beautiful view--the first rays of the sun -gave an air of beauty and freshness to the scene that neither pen nor -pencil can describe. - -With a detail of 200 men and our own company we finished our work -before dinner. Walked up into the town in the afternoon. On this day -General Pillow overtook us. He had a difficulty with a volunteer -officer who mutinied, drew a revolver on the General, etc., etc. The -General put him in charge of the guard--his regiment remonstrated, -mutinied, etc., and the matter _was finally settled by the officer -making an apology_. - -December 28th. Crossed the stream before sunrise under orders to move -on with the Tennessee horse one day in advance of the column in order -to repair a very bad ford at the next watering place--Las Chomeras. -Very tiresome and fatiguing march of about 22 miles. Road pretty good, -requiring a few repairs here and there. Water rather brackish. Very -pretty encampment. Stream about 20 yards wide and 18 inches deep. No -bread and hardly any meat for supper. - -December 29th. Finished the necessary repairs about 12 noon. We partook -of some kid and claret with Colonel Thomas. While there General -Patterson arrived and crossed the stream, encamping on the other side. -Waded over the stream to see the Generals--were ordered to move on in -advance next morning with two companies of horse and 100 infantry. - -December 30th. Started soon after daybreak minus the infantry who were -not ready. Joined advanced guard, where Selby raised a grand scare -about some Indians who were lying in ambush at a ravine called “los -tres palos” in order to attack us. When we reached the ravine the guard -halted and I rode on to examine it and look for the Indians--I found a -bad ravine but no Indians. - -On this same day the Major commanding the rear guard (Waterhouse, of -the Tennessee Cavalry) was told by a wagonmaster that the advanced -guard was in action with the Mexicans. The men, in the rear guard, -immediately imagined that they could distinguish the sound of cannon -and musketry. The cavalry threw off their saddle bags and set off at -a gallop--the infantry jerked off their knapsacks and put out--Major -and all deserted their posts on the bare report of a wagonmaster that -the advance was engaged. A beautiful commentary this on the “citizen -soldiery.” Had we really been attacked by 500 resolute men we must -inevitably have been defeated, although our column consisted of -1700--for the road was narrow--some men would have rushed one way, some -another--all would have been confusion--and all, from the General down -to the dirtiest rascal of the filthy crew, would have been scared out -of their wits (if they ever had any). - -Our 100 infantry dodged off before we had done much work, and our own -men did everything. We reached Encinal about 4 P. M. after a march of -about 17 miles, and almost incessant labor at repairs. It was on this -day that _General_ Patterson sent back _Brigadier General_ Pillow to -tell _Second Lieutenant_ Smith to cut down a tree around which it was -impossible to go!! - -December 31st. We left Encinal at daybreak and arrived at about 2 P. -M. at Santander, o’ Jimenez. Road good for about ten miles when we -found ourselves on the brow of a hill, some 350 feet above the vast -plain, in the midst of which was the little town of Santander. No other -indication of life was to be seen than its white houses. The descent -was very steep, the road bad from the foot of the hill to Santander. -We had a slight stampede here, some one imagined that he saw an armed -troop approaching (which turned out to be the Alcalde and his suite). -We passed the town, crossed the river and encamped. Songo got 19 eggs -and we had a “bust.” Colonel Thomas turned out some whiskey to Gibson -for an eggnog--before he arrived the eggnog was gone. I have some -indistinct ideas of my last _sensible_ moments being spent in kneeling -on my bed, and making an extra eggnog on the old mess chest. I dont -recollect whether I drank it or not, but as the pitcher was empty the -next morning, I rather fancy that I must have done so. - -January 1st, 1847. Woke up and found the ridge pole _off_ at one end. -I rather suspect that G. W. [Smith] must have done it by endeavoring -to see the old year out--perhaps the new one came in via our tent, and -did the damage in its passage. We began the new year by starting on -the wrong road. After invading about two miles of the enemies’ country -we were overtaken by an officer at full gallop, who informed us that -the column had taken another road and that we must make our way to the -front as we best could. Smith had been informed the preceding day by -Winship (General Pillow’s Adjutant General) that the road we took was -the right one to Victoria. We quickly discovered the magnitude of our -mistake, for we got amongst the Volunteers, and the lord deliver us -from ever getting into such a scrape again. Falstaff’s company were -regulars in comparison with these fellows--most of them without coats; -some would have looked much better without _any pants_ than with the -parts of pants they wore; all had torn and dirty shirts--uncombed -heads--unwashed faces--they were dirt and filth from top to toe. Such -marching! They were marching by the flank, yet the road was not wide -enough to hold them and it was with the greatest difficulty that you -could get by--all hollowing, cursing, yelling like so many incarnate -fiends--no attention or respect paid to the commands of their officers, -whom they would curse as quickly as they would look at them. They -literally straggled along for miles. - -In making a short cut through the chaparral we came upon a detachment -of _mounted Volunteers_, amongst whom the famous Murphy, captor of two -cities, stood out predominant. He was mounted on the “_crittur_” he -had “_drawn_,” i. e. stolen in the bushes. The beast was frisky and -full of life at first, but by dint of loading him down with knapsacks -and muskets he had tamed him pretty well. Imagine an Irishman some -six feet, two inches high, seated on the “hindmost slope of the rump” -of a jackass about the size of an ordinary Newfoundland dog, his legs -extended along its sides, and the front part of the beast loaded down -with knapsacks etc. Murphy _steered_ the animal with his legs, every -once and a while administering a friendly kick on the head, by way of -reminding him that _he_ was thar. - -When we crossed the San Fernando I saw a Mexican endeavoring to make -two little jackasses cross. He was unable to do so and finally sold -them to a Volunteer for fifty cents; the Volunteer got them over -safely. After regaling ourselves with a view of Murphy we considered -ourselves fully repaid for the extra distance we had marched. At last -we gained our place at the head of the column and arrived at Marquesoto -about 12 noon, without further incident--except that General Pillow -appropriated one of our big buckets to the purpose of obtaining water -from the well. We had a very pretty ground for our encampment and -had a fine eggnog that night, with Winship to help us drink it. From -Santander to Marquesoto about ten miles. - -January 2nd. Started before daylight, Captain Snead’s Company in -advance. Road very rough, covered with loose stones--could not improve -it with the means at our command. Pat thought we might have done -it--but hang Pat’s opinion. Saw for the first time the beautiful flower -of the Spanish bayonet--a pyramid, about two and a half or three feet -high, composed of hundreds of white blossoms. Pat immediately began to -talk about “δενδρον” this and “δενδρον” that--and the “δενδρα” in his -conservatory. San Antonio is the place where Iturbide[20] was taken--as -Arista’s map says.... It is a large yellow house--looking quite modern -in the wilderness. - -[Illustration: Facsimile reproduction of McClellan’s manuscript. - -FIRST PAGE OF THE MEXICAN WAR DIARY.] - -The crossing at the stream was very bad, and required a great deal of -work. Major McCall thought it would take two days--in two days we were -at Victoria. The stream is a branch of the Soto la Marina and is called -San Antonio. It is a clear cold stream--the banks lined with cypress -trees--the first I ever saw. Pat (after ringing in to the owner of the -ranch for a dinner) ensconced himself in the roots of a large cypress -and with a countenance expressing mingled emotions of fear, anxiety, -impatience and disgust watched the progress of the work--yelled at -everyone who rode into the water etc., etc. - -January 3rd. We started before daylight and succeeded in getting clear -of the volunteer camp by dint of great exertions. After marching about -five miles through a fertile river bottom we reached the main branch of -the Soto la Marina, a most beautiful stream of the clearest, coldest, -most rapid water I ever saw--about sixty yards wide and three feet -deep. Songo had some trouble in crossing without being washed off “Jim.” - -Padilla is situated on the banks of this stream--an old town rapidly -going to ruin--with a quaint old Cathedral built probably 200 years -ago, if not more. After marching about twelve miles more we reached -the stream of La Corona, another branch of La Marina, similar in -its character to the others. After working for about an hour on the -banks we encamped on the further side. The Tennessee horse gave our -men a “lift” over both the last streams--some of the Sappers[21] had -evidently never been mounted before. - -January 4th. Very early we started for Victoria--and had to work our -way through the camp of the Illinois regiments which was placed along -the road. At last we cleared them and found ourselves marching by -moonlight through a beautiful grove of pecan trees. I know nothing -more pleasant than this moonlight marching, everything is so beautiful -and quiet. Every few moments a breath of warm air would strike our -faces--reminding us that we were almost beneath the Tropic. After we -had marched for about four hours we heard a little more yelling than -usual among the Volunteers. Smith turned his horse to go and have -it stopped when who should we see but the General and his staff in -the midst of the yelling. We concluded that _they_ must be yelling -too, so we let them alone. This is but one instance of the many that -occurred when these Mustang Generals were actually _afraid_ to exert -their authority upon the Volunteers.--_Their popularity would be -endangered._ I have seen enough on this march to convince me that -Volunteers and Volunteer Generals wont do. I have repeatedly seen a -Second Lieutenant of the regular army exercise more authority over the -Volunteers--_officers and privates_--than a Mustang General. - -The road this day was very good and after a march of about seventeen -miles we reached Victoria. The Volunteers had out their flags, -etc.--those that had uniforms put them on, _especially the commandant -of the advanced guard_. Picks and shovels were put up--Generals -halted and collected their staffs, and in they went in grand -procession--evidently endeavoring to create the impression that they -had marched in this way all the way--the few regular officers along -laughing enough to kill themselves. - -General [John A.] Quitman came out to meet General Patterson--but old -Zach [Taylor], who arrived with his regulars about an hour before we -did, stayed at home like a sensible man.[22] We made fools of ourselves -(not we either, for I was laughing like a _wise man_ all the time) by -riding through the streets to General Quitman’s quarters where we had -wine and fruit. Then we rode down to the camp ground--a miserable stony -field--we in one corner of it, the “Continental Army” all over the -rest of it. We at last got settled. About dark started over to General -Taylor’s camp. Before I had gone 200 yards I met the very person I was -going to see--need not say how glad I was to meet him after a two -months absence. - -This reminds me that when at Matamoros--a day or two before we started -on the march--we received the news of poor Norton’s death. I had -written a letter to him the day before which was in my portfolio when -I heard of his death. The noble fellow met his death on board the -Atlantic, which was lost in Long Island Sound near New London on the -27th November 1846. Captain Cullum and Lieutenant C. S. Stewart were -both on board, and both escaped. Norton exerted himself to the last to -save the helpless women and children around him--but in accordance with -the strange presentiment that had been hanging over him for some time, -he lost his own life. He was buried at West Point--which will seem to -me a different place without him. - -One night when at Victoria I was returning from General Taylor’s -camp and was halted about 150 yards from our Company by a Volunteer -sentinel. As I had not the countersign I told him who I was. He said -I should not go by him. I told him “Confound you I wont stay out here -all night.” Said he “You had no business to go out of camp.” Said I -“Stop talking, you scoundrel, and call the Corporal of the Guard.”--“I -ain’t got no orders to call for the Corporal and wont do it--you may, -though, if you want.” “What’s the number of your post?” “Dont know.” -“Where’s the Guard tent?” “Dont know.”--As I was debating whether -to make a rush for it, or to seek some softer hearted specimen of -patriotism, another sentinel called out to me “Come this way, Sir!”--It -appeared that the first fellow’s post extended to one side of the road, -and the last one’s met it there.--“Come this way, Sir” said he, “Just -pass around this bush and go in.” “Hurrah for you” said I, “you’re a -trump, and that other fellow is a good for nothing blaguard.” - -Left Victoria January 13th and arrived at Tampico on the 23rd. -Wednesday January 13th. From Victoria to Santa Rosa four leagues. Road -not very hilly, but had to be cut through thick brush; two very bad wet -arroyos [gulches] were bridged. Santa Rosa a miserable ranche--could -only get a half dozen eggs and a little pig in the whole concern--good -water _in the stream_. - -[January] 14th. Started before daylight and before going 200 yards we -_landed_ in a lake--the road, or path, passed directly through it, and -during the rest of the day it was necessary to cut the road through -thick brush--no cart had ever been there before. Bridged two wet -arroyos and encamped about sunset by a little stream. Just as enough -water had been procured the stream was turned off--probably by the -Mexicans. We had a stampede this day. Rode on about six miles with the -guide. Country a perfect wilderness--not a ranche between Santa Rosa -and Fordleone. - -[January] 15th. Started early, road cut through a mesquit[e] forest, -many gullies, two bad arroyos before reaching El Pastor. Here General -Twiggs[23] caught us, about 11 A. M., army encamped, but we went on. I -worked the road for about five miles, and started back at 4 [o’clock]. -Smith and Guy de L....[24] rode on about ten miles. Road better but -very stony. “Couldn’t come the cactus” over Guy de L.... this day. He -(G. de L.) shot five partridges at a shot which made us a fine supper. - -[January] 16th. Reveillé at 3--started at 4--arrived at end of -preceding day’s work just at daybreak. Road very stony in many -places--swore like a trooper all day--arrived at Arroyo Albaquila -about 11 [A. M.]. Twiggs came up and helped us wonderfully by his -swearing--got over in good time--cussed our way over another mile and a -half--then encamped by the same stream--water very good. - -[January] 17th. Started before daybreak--road quite good--prairie -land--arrived at Fordleone or Ferlón at about half after ten. Fine -large stream of excellent water--good ford--gravelly bottom--gentle -banks. 11 miles. - -[January] 18th. Reveillé at 3. Started long before daybreak--eyes -almost whipped out of my head in the dark by the branches. Crossed -the Rio Persas again at a quarter before seven--road rather stony in -some places, but generally good. Great many palmetto trees--beautiful -level country, covered with palmettos and cattle. “Struck” a bottle of -aguardiente, or sugar cane rum. Made a fine lunch out of cold chicken -and rum toddy--had another toddy when we arrived at our journey’s end. -Water from a stream, but bad.... Rode on about three miles and found -the road pretty good. - -[January] 19th. On comparing notes at reveillé found that the rum and -polonay had made us all sick.[25] Started at 5, road pretty good. -Much open land, fine pasture--great deal of cattle. Reached Alamitos -at about 9 A. M.--fine hacienda [farm]--good water, in a stream. Had -a bottle of champagne for lunch--thanks to General Smith. From this -place to Tampico, the principal labor consisted in making a practicable -wagon road across the numerous arroyos--most of them dry at the time -we passed: the banks very steep. Altamira is a pretty little town, -one march from Tampico. The road between them passes through a very -magnificent forest of live oaks. We encamped three miles from Tampico -for about four days, and then moved into quarters in the town--the -quarters so well known as “The Bullhead Tav_arn_.” - -Tampico is a delightful place[26]--we passed a very pleasant time -there, and left it with regret. We found the Artillery regiments -encamped around the city. Many of the officers came out to meet us near -Altamira. Champagne suppers were the order of the day (night I should -say) for a long time. From Victoria to Tampico we were detached with -Guy Henry’s company of the 3rd--and Gantt’s of the 7th--Henry messed -with us. When within about four days march of Tampico we saw in front -of us Mount Bernal, which is shaped like a splendid dome. - -We left Tampico[27] at daylight on the 24th February [1847] on board -a little schooner called the Orator--a fast sailer, but with very -inferior accommodations. I really felt sorry to leave the old “Bullhead -Tavarn” where I had passed so many pleasant moments. The view of the -fine city of Tampico as we sailed down the river was beautiful. Its -delightful rides, its beautiful rivers, its lagoons and pleasant Café -will ever be present to my mind. Some of the happiest hours of my life -were passed in this same city--Santa Anna de Tamaulipas. - -On arriving at Lobos[28] we found that we had arrived a day in advance -of the “Army of the Rhine,” which had started a day before us. Lobos is -a small island formed by a coral reef--about 18 or 20 miles from the -shore, forming under its lee a safe but not very pleasant anchorage. -I went on shore but found nothing remarkable. Some 60 vessels were -there when we started. At last the order was given to sail for Point -Anton Lizardo. We sailed next but one after the generals and arrived -before any of them except Twiggs. We ran on the reef under the lee of -Salmadina Island, were immediately taken off by the navy boats which -put us on shore where we were very kindly received by the Rocketeers. -It was a great relief to get rid of that confounded red and white -flag--“send a boat with an officer”--and the disagreeable duty of -reporting to the ‘Generál en Géfe’ every morning. A French sailor of -the Orator undertook to pilot us and carried us on a reef of what he -called Sacrificios[29] but what turned out to be Anton Lizardo. - -On the morning of the 9th of March we were removed from the Orator to -the steamer Edith, and after three or four hours spent in transferring -the troops to the vessels of war and steamers, we got under weigh -and sailed for Sacrificios. At half past one we were in full view of -the town [Vera Cruz] and castle, with which we soon were to be very -intimately acquainted. - -Shortly after anchoring the preparations for landing commenced, and -the 1st (Worth’s)[30] Brigade was formed in tow of the “Princeton” in -two long lines of surf boats--bayonets fixed and colors flying. At -last all was ready, but just before the order was given to cast off -a shot whistled over our heads. “Here it comes” thought everybody, -“now we will catch it.” When the order was given the boats cast off -and forming in three parallel lines pulled for the shore, not a word -was said--everyone expected to hear and feel their batteries open -every instant. Still we pulled on and on--until at last when the first -boats struck the shore those behind, in the fleet, raised that same -cheer which has echoed on all our battlefields--we took it up and such -cheering I never expect to hear again--except on the field of battle. - -Without waiting for the boats to strike the men jumped in up to their -middles in the water and the battalions formed on their colors in an -instant--our company was the right of the reserve under [Lieut.-] -Colonel Belton. Our company and the 3rd Artillery ascended the sand -hills and saw--_nothing_. We slept in the sand--wet to the middle. -In the middle of the night we were awakened by musketry--a skirmish -between some pickets. The next morning we were sent to unload and -reload the “red iron boat”--after which we resumed our position and -took our place in the line of investment. Before we commenced the -investment, the whole army was drawn up on the beach. We took up our -position on a line of sand hills about two miles from the town. The -Mexicans amused themselves by firing shot and shells at us--all of -which (with one exception) fell short. - -The sun was most intensely hot, and there was not a particle of -vegetation on the sand hills which we occupied. Captain Swift found -himself unable to stand it, and at about half past twelve gave up the -command to G. W. Smith and went on board the “Massachusetts” that same -afternoon. He did not resume the command, but returned to the United -States. He died in New Orleans on the 24th of April. - -About one we were ordered to open a road to Malibran (a ruined -monastery at the head of the lagoon). The Mohawks had been skirmishing -around there, but, as I was afterward informed by some of their -officers, that they fired more on each other than on the Mexicans. -After cutting the road to Malibran we continued it as far as the -railroad--a party of Volunteers doing the work and some 25 of our men -acting as a guard. When we arrived at the railroad, we found it and -the chaparral occupied by the Mexicans. _Our_ men had a skirmish with -them--charged the chaparral and drove them out of it. - -We returned to Malibran and bivouacked on the wet grass without -fires--hardly anything to eat--wet and cold. Got up in the morning -and resumed our work on the road--from the railroad to the “high bare -sand hill”--occupied by the Pennsylvanians the night before. The work -was very tedious, tiresome and difficult--the hill very high and -steep--and the work not at all facilitated by the shells and shot -that continually fell all around us. At last we cut our way to the -summit--tired to death. A M---- rifleman was killed this morning by a -24 pound shot--on top of the hill. Lieutenant Colonel Dickenson and -some few Volunteers were wounded by escopette[31] balls. - -I was sent up in the morning to find the best path for our road -and just as I got up to the top of the hill the bullets commenced -whistling like hail around me. Some Lancers[32] were firing at the -Volunteers--who were very much confused and did not behave well. -Taylor’s Battery and the rest of Twiggs’s Division moved over the hill -towards their position on the left of the line. Worth’s Division (or -Brigade as it was then called) occupied the right of the investment, -the Mohawks under Patterson the centre, and Twiggs the left. After -resting our men at Malibran, we moved back to our old position with the -3rd Artillery, where we bivouacked. - -I had observed on the preceding day the position of the aqueduct -supplying the city with water. I told Lieutenant Beauregard[33] next -morning what I had seen. He reported it to Colonel [Joseph G.] Totten -[Chief of Engineers] and Smith and myself were ordered to cut off -the water, Foster remaining at home. We took a party, cut off the -water, Smith exploded a humbug of Gid Pillow’s and we started on a -reconnoitring expedition of our own. I stopped to kill a “slow deer” -and Smith went on. I then followed him with three men and overtook him -a little this side of the cemetery. We went on to within 900 yards -of the city and at least a mile and a half in advance of the line of -investment--ascertained the general formation of the ground and where -to reconnoitre. We returned after dark, Foster much troubled as to what -had become of us. It was upon reporting to Colonel Totten on this night -(12th) that he said that I and G. W. [Smith] were the only officers -who had as yet given him any information of value--that we had done -more than all the rest, etc., etc. All forgotten with the words as they -left his mouth--vide his official report of the siege. G. W. and myself -will never forget how we passed this blessed night--(new fashioned -dance). - -On the next day Foster was sent after our baggage and camp equipage. I -was ordered to move the company and pitch the tents on a spot on the -extreme right. Smith went out with Major [John L.] Smith to where we -had been the night before, but went no further toward the city than we -had been. - -[March 14th]. The next day Foster was detailed to assist Major Smith -and Beauregard in measuring a base line etc. on the sand hills. G. W. -and myself went to the lime kiln in the morning, where we saw Captain -[John R.] Vinton, Van Vliet, Laing, Rodgers and Wilcox (Cadmus)--took -a good look at the town and its defences--and determined to go along -the ridge by the cemetery that night and to go nearer the city. While -at the lime kiln an order was received from General Worth informing -Captain Vinton that the enemy’s picquets would be driven in that day -and that _he_ (Captain Vinton) must not attempt to support them--as -there were strong reserves. - -We returned to camp, got our dinner and started again--being a little -fearful that our picquets would be so far advanced as to interfere -with our operations. But we found them about 150 yards in advance of -the line of investment, stooping, whispering, and acting as if they -expected to be fired upon every moment--whilst we had been a mile and a -half in advance of their position with a dozen men. They were at first -disposed to dissuade us from going on--as being too dangerous etc. We -went on though, accompanied by Captain Walker of the 6th. The Captain -left us before we got to the cemetery. I took one man (Sergeant Starr) -and went down to reconnoitre it--in order to ascertain whether it was -occupied by the enemy, whilst G. W. [Smith] went on to examine a hill -which covered the valley from Santiago and the Castle to some extent. -I went down to the cemetery (finding a good road) went around it and -got in it--satisfying myself that it was not occupied. I rejoined G. W. -and together we went on very near the town. We returned late, being the -only officers of any corps who had gone as far as, much less beyond the -cemetery. - -[March] 15th. The next day we were ordered to cut an infantry road as -far as the cemetery. We found that one had been cut before we got out -by Captain Johnson as far as the old grave yard. We cut one completely -concealed from view from there to the hollow immediately opposite the -cemetery. Captain Walker’s company was behind the cemetery. Whilst -there one of his sentinels reported the approach of some Lancers. -They stopped at a house about 30 yards from the other side of the -cemetery--and came no farther. On the strength of the approach of these -15 or 20 Lancers a report got back to camp that the advanced picquets -had been attacked by a strong force of Mexicans--so on our return we -met nearly the whole division marching out to drive them back--litters -for the “_to be_ wounded” and all. It was a glorious stampede--well -worthy of Bold Billy Jenkins. - -[March] 16th. The next day we went out [and] met Major Scott who -went with G. W. to [the] position afterward occupied by the six gun -battery--whilst I had a hole made through the cemetery wall and broke -into the chapel--hoping to be able to reach the dome, and ascertain -from that place the direction of the streets. I could not--we -rather--get up to the dome, so we left the cemetery, determining to -push on toward the town. G. W. found a very fine position for a battery -about 450 yards from Santiago and enfilading the principal street. -We met Colonel Totten and Captain [R. E.] Lee[34]--showed them the -place--they were very much pleased with it. - -We came out with the Company (Captain Lee, Smith, Foster and myself) -that evening, arrived at the place after dark, and Captain Lee, Smith -and Foster went in to lay out a battery--leaving me, in command of the -Company, in the road. When on our return we were passing by the old -grave yard a sharp fire of musketry commenced--one of our pickets had -been fired upon. - -The next day (17th) we cut a path to the position of this battery (in -perspective). As we returned they discovered us and opened a fire of 24 -pound shot upon us which enfiladed our path beautifully. They fired too -high and hit no one. We reached at length a sheltered position where we -remained until the firing ceased--the balls striking one side of the -hill--we being snugly ensconced on the other. - -On the next day (18th) the position of the batteries was definitely -fixed. In the afternoon I was ordered by Colonel Totten to arrange -at the Engineers’ Depot (on the beach) tools for a working party of -200 men--and be ready to conduct it as soon as it was dark to the -proper position. The working party (3rd Artillery, Marines, and 5th -Infantry--all under Colonel Belton) did not arrive until long after -dark--and it was quite late when we arrived at the position for the -batteries. I was placed in charge of Mortar Battery No. 1--G. W. in -charge of No. 2--a parallel was also made across the little valley. -Each of these batteries was for three mortars. No. 1 was formed -by cutting away the side of a hill, so that we had merely to form -the epaulments[35] and bring the terreplein[36] down to the proper -level--the hill sheltering us from the direct fire of the Castle and -Santiago. So also with No. 2--which was made in the gorge where the -road to the cemetery crossed the ridge on left of valley. - -The tools for [the] working party were arranged on the beach in -parallel rows of tools for 20 men each and about four feet apart, so -that they might take up the least possible space. Each man was provided -with a shovel and either a pick, axe, or hatchets (about 140 picks and -mattocks). The party was conducted in one rank, by the right flank. The -men were well covered by daylight. - -[March] 19th. Mason, Foster, and I think [I. I.] Stevens, relieved -Captain Lee, Beauregard, Smith and myself at 3 A. M. During the day -they continued the excavation of the two batteries and the short -parallel across the valley. The enemy kept up a hot fire during the -forenoon but injured no one. During the evening of this day Smith laid -out and commenced the parallel leading from No. 1 to the position -afterward occupied by the 24 pounder battery. The work was difficult -on account of the denseness of the chaparral and the small number of -workmen. The parapet was made shot proof (or sufficiently so to answer -the purpose of covering the morning relief) by daybreak. The enemy -fired grape etc. for a short time, but not sufficiently well aimed or -long enough kept up to impede the progress of the work. The battery -known as the Naval Battery was commenced on this same night. The enemy -were kept in entire ignorance of the construction of this battery until -the very night before it opened, and then they only discovered that -_something_ was being done there--they did not know what. The Mexican -Chief Engineer told Colonel Totten of this fact after the capitulation. - -[March] 20th. The construction of the parallel and of the mortar -batteries Nos. 1 and 2 was carried on during this day. By 3 P. M., -when Mason and myself went out there--the parallel was finished--the -_excavation_ of the two batteries completed--the sandbag traverses -in No. 2 finished--those in No. 1 very nearly so. We were to lay out -and excavate the positions for the two magazines of each battery, to -commence Mortar Battery No. 3 (for four mortars), lay the platforms -and place the magazine frames--which were to be brought out at night -fall. By the direction of Mason, I had the positions of the magazines -prepared and laid out before dark. Colonel Totten came out and directed -me to lay out No. 3. I also laid out the boyau[37] leading from _1_ to -_2_. Mason took charge of the magazines _1_ and _2_ and directed me -to take charge of No. 3. I employed four sets of men on the battery -at the same time--one set throwing the earth from the rear of the -parallel upon the berm[38]--a second on the berm disposing of this -earth thrown on the berm--a third set working at the rear of the -battery, excavating toward the front, these threw the earth so as to -form slight epaulments, and in rear. A fourth set were employed in -making the excavations for the magazines. A very violent Norther arose -which obliged me to employ the first and second sets _in front_ of the -battery--they excavating a ditch. - -At daylight the parapet was shot proof and the battery required about -one hour’s digging to finish it. Owing to some mistake the platforms -and magazine frames did not arrive until very late and but little -progress was made as far as they were concerned. Had they arrived in -time all three batteries could have opened on the afternoon of the -21st. The construction of the battery on the left of the railroad [was] -still progressing. They fired rockets etc. at us during the early part -of the night. - -[March] 21st. During this day not very much was done--some progress was -made with the six gun battery--magazines, platforms, etc. - -[March] 22nd. Not being aware of a change in the detail I went out at -3 A. M. Found the magazines of No. 2 finished, the small magazines of -No. 1 the same. Took charge of large magazine of No. 1--whilst Mason -was engaged with those of No. 3. About 8 [o’clock] was informed of -change of detail, went to camp and was requested by Colonel Totten to -go out to the trenches “extra” and give all the assistance in my power, -since the General wished to send in a summons to the town at 2 P. M. -and open upon them if they refused to surrender. I went out and was -chiefly occupied during the day in covering the magazine of No. 1 with -earth. This was done under fire of Santiago and adjacent bastion, which -batteries having a clear view of my working party made some pretty -shots at us--striking the earth on the magazine once in a while, but -injuring no one. At 2 P. M. we were ready to open with three mortars in -No. 1--three in No. 2--one in No. 3.--seven in all. - -The flag was carried in by Captain Johnston, the enemy ceased firing -when they saw it. Colonel Bankhead[39] informed the Commandants of -Batteries 1 and 3 that the discharge of a mortar from No. 2 would be -the signal to open from all the mortars. The flag had hardly commenced -its return from the town when a few spiteful shots from Santiago at my -party on the magazine told us plainly enough what the reply had been. -Probably half an hour elapsed before a report from No. 2 gave us the -first official intimation that General Morales[40] had bid defiance to -us, and invited us to do our worst. - -The command “Fire!” had scarcely been given when a perfect storm of -iron burst upon us--every gun and mortar in Vera Cruz and San Juan, -that could be brought to bear, hurled its contents around us--the air -swarmed with them--and it seemed a miracle that not one of the hundreds -they fired fell into the crowded mass that filled the trenches. The -recruits looked rather blue in the gills when the splinters of shells -fell around them, but the veterans cracked their jokes and talked about -Palo Alto and Monterey. When it was nearly dark I went to the left -with Mason and passed on toward the town where we could observe our -shells--the effect was superb. The enemy’s fire began to slacken toward -night, until at last it ceased altogether--ours, though, kept steadily -on, never ceasing--never tiring. - -Immediately after dark I took a working party and repaired all the -damage done to the parapets by the enemy’s fire, besides increasing -the thickness of the earth on the magazines of _No. 1_. Captain -Vinton was killed a short time before dark near Battery No. 3 by a -spent shell--two men were wounded by fragments of shells near _No. -1_. Shortly after dark, three more mortars were put in Battery No. -3--making 10 mortars in all. Captain [John] Saunders was employed upon -the 6 gun battery (24 pounders). He revetted[41] it with one thickness -of sand bags, all of which fell down next morning. I brought out from -the Engineer Depot the platforms for this battery during the night--the -magazine frame was brought out next day. The battery on the left of the -railroad [was] still progressing, under the charge of Captain [R. E.] -Lee, [Lieut. Z. B.] Tower and [G. W.] Smith--who relieved each other. - -[March] 23rd. Firing continued from our mortars steadily--fire of -enemy by no means so warm as when we opened on the day before. Our -mortar platforms were much injured by the firing already. The 24 -pounder battery had to be re-revetted entirely--terreplein levelled. -During this day and night the magazine was excavated, and the frame -put up. Two traverses made--the positions of platforms and embrasures -determined. Two platforms laid and the guns run in--the embrasures -for them being partly _cut_. One other gun was run to the rear of the -battery. - -[March] 24th. On duty with Captain Saunders again--could get no -directions so I had the two partly cut embrasures marked with sand bags -and dirt, and set a party at work to cover the magazine with earth -as soon as it was finished. During this day the traverses[42] were -finished, the platforms laid, the magazine entirely finished, and a -large number of sand bags filled for the revetments of the embrasures. -The “Naval Battery” opened today, their fire was fine music for us, but -they did not keep it up very long. The crash of the eight-inch shells -as they broke their way through the houses and burst in them was very -pretty. The “Greasers” had had it all in their own way--but we were -gradually opening on them now. Remained out all night to take charge of -two embrasures. The Alabama Volunteers, who formed the working party, -did not come until it was rather late--we set them at work to cut down -and level the top of parapet--thickening it opposite the third and -fourth guns. Then laid out the embrasures and put seven men in each. -Foster had charge of two, Coppée of two, and I of two. Mine were the -only ones finished at daylight--the Volunteers gave out and could -hardly be induced to work at all. - -[March] 25th. Mason and Stevens relieved Beauregard and Foster--but -I remained. I had the raw hides put on--and with a large party of -Volunteers opened the other embrasures. This was done in broad -daylight, in full view of the town--yet they had not fired more than -three or four shots when I finished and took in the men. The battery -then opened. We then gave it to Mexicans about as hotly as they wished. -We had ten mortars--three 68s, three 32s, four 24s, and two eight-inch -howitzers playing upon them as fast as they could load and fire. -Captain Anderson, 3rd Artillery, fired on this morning thirty shells in -thirty minutes from his battery of three mortars (No. 1). - -As I went to our camp I stopped at Colonel Totten’s tent to inform -him of the state of affairs--he directed me to step in and report to -General Scott. I found him writing a despatch. He seemed to be very -much delighted and showed me the last words he had written which were -“indefatigable Engineers.” Then we were needed and remembered--the -instant the pressing necessity passed away we were forgotten. The echo -of the last hostile gun at Vera Cruz had not died away before it was -forgotten by the Commander in Chief that such a thing existed as an -Engineer Company.[43] - -[Illustration: Facsimile reproduction of a pencil sketch by McClellan. - -CHURCH AT CAMARGO, SEEN FROM THE PALACE.] - -The superiority of our fire was now very apparent. I went out again -at 3 P. M.--met Mason carrying a large goblet he had found in a -deserted ranch. Found Captain Lee engaged in the construction of a -new mortar battery for four mortars, immediately to the left of No. -1--in the parallel. There was a complete cessation of firing--a flag -having passed in relation to the consuls, I think. The platforms of -this battery were laid, but not spiked down. A traverse was made in -boyau between Nos. 1 and 2, just in front of the entrance of the large -magazine of No. 1, it being intended to run a boyau from behind this -traverse to the left of the new battery. I laid out a boyau connecting -Stevens’s communications with the _short_ “parallel” of No. 2, then -Captain Lee explained his wishes in relation to the new battery and -left me in charge of it. I thickened the parapet from a ditch in -front--inclined the superior slope _upward_, left the berm, made the -traverses, had the platforms spiked, etc. The mortars were brought -up and placed in the battery that night. Captain Saunders sent me to -repair the embrasures of the 24 pounder battery--doing nothing himself. -He then sent me to excavate the boyau I had laid out. - -About 11.30 the discharge of a few rockets by _our_ rocketeers caused -a stampede amongst the Mexicans--they fired escopettes and muskets -from all parts of their walls. Our mortars reopened about 1.30 with -the greatest vigor--sometimes there were six shells in the air at the -same time. A violent Norther commenced about 1 o’clock making the -trenches very disagreeable. About three quarters of an hour, or an hour -after we reopened we heard a bugle sound in town. At first we thought -it a bravado--then reveillé, then a parley--so we stopped firing to -await the result. Nothing more was heard, so in about half an hour -we reopened with great warmth. At length another chi-wang-a-wang was -heard which turned out to be a parley. During the day the terms of -surrender of the town of Vera Cruz[44] and castle of San Juan de Ulua -were agreed upon, and on 29th of March, 1847 the garrison marched out -with drums beating, colors flying and laid down their arms on the plain -between the lagoon and the city ... muskets were stacked and a number -of escopettes ... pieces of artillery were found in the town and ... in -the castle. - -After the surrender of Vera Cruz we moved our encampment--first to -the beach, then to a position on the plain between our batteries and -the city. Foster was detached on duty with the other Engineers to -survey the town and castle. Smith and myself were to superintend the -landing of the pontoon and engineers trains, and to collect them at -the Engineer Depot. Between the Quartermasters and Naval Officers this -was hardly done when we left. I dismantled the batteries, magazines -etc.--then amused myself until we left, with the chills and fever. - -J[immie] S[tuart] being too sick to go on with his regiment came over -to our camp and stayed with us. Instead of being sent on in our proper -position, at the head of Twiggs’s Division, we were kept back and -finally allowed to start on the same day that Worth started[45]--we -received no orders to move, merely a permission. Our teams (6) were -the worst I ever saw--they had just been lassooed as they swam ashore, -and neither they nor their teamsters had ever seen a wagon before. We -left Vera Cruz on the 13th [April]. By dint of applying some of the -_knowledge_ I had acquired under Guy Henry’s parental care, I succeeded -in getting four teams to Ve[r]gara (Twiggs’s headquarters during the -siege). As Smith and Foster did not come up I rode back to see what -was the matter and found that they had arrived at a point opposite the -middle of the city, broken down two sets of teams, got one teamster’s -arm and hand badly kicked--and the devil to pay in general. At last -they got on, and by leaving half the loads by the roadside we managed -by hard swearing to get to within one-half mile of El Rio Medio by -dark. - -The road so far was horrible, being hilly and very sandy. Our mules -were so weak and miserable that the men actually had to push the wagons -along, and it was easy to see that our march was to be very severe upon -all concerned. General Worth and his staff passed us as we were busily -engaged in “cussing” a team up a hill--we then learned for the first -time that Santa Anna was at Cerro Gordo with a large force. When we -encamped this night everybody was tired to death, and the only event -worthy of recollection was the thrashing that a certain lazy nigger -“Isaac” received from his frisky “bos.” - -On the [14th] we made an early start and after “persuading” the mules -up the hill beyond Rio Medio we got along without very much trouble -until we arrived at Santa Fé. Here the wagons were unloaded and leaving -me with about ten men Smith and Foster went back after the loads left -at Ve[r]gara. Jimmie [Stuart] and I struck up an acquaintance with -the Alcalde--a very nice sort of a man. I found a couple of cavalry -barracks etc. We amused ourselves chatting with the Alcalde all -day--who tried hard to stampede us with guerilla tales etc. Captain -Hughes came up late in the afternoon, Smith arrived after dark, having -left the wagons with the ordnance people about half a mile behind. -While G. W. [Smith] was at supper, Jimmie, who had been amusing -himself by playing monte with the Rancheros, came back and amused us by -an account of a _muy poquito muchachito_ [a very little boy] about four -years old playing monte and smoking paros [_puros_, or cigars]. - -Foster came up at last, and we all turned in. Santa Fé is a poor little -affair--no water, but rather a fine view of a large extent of rolling -country. - -On the 15th I started back after the wagons before daybreak “unwashed -and uncombed.” After a vast amount of swearing at “Seven Bottles,” of -whom more anon, I got all the wagons up to Santa Fé--set the men to -work at loading the wagons--got my breakfast, and at last we started. -Country at first a rolling prairie--finally more broken and woody. We -passed some of the most magnificent forests I ever saw--trees covered -with most beautiful flowers--the fields also--the villages were -completely deserted. About the middle of the day we stopped at a stream -to rest.--While taking our lunch under the bridge an old stupid Dutch -teamster brought down his mules to water and finally proceeded to water -himself. He drank seven (!) claret bottles full of water and at length -finding that process too slow he _took to his bucket_! We went on and -overtook the ordnance fellows at ....... Had a good supper and a fine -sleep, although they did try to stampede us about Lancers etc.--but -they could not do it. - -Started early on the 16th [April]--country remarkably broken--even -mountainous. We passed several very long hills, at which it was -necessary to treble our poor little teams. Met Simon Buckner[46] with -a beef party. Arrived at Puerto Nacional just before Worth’s Division -left it (about 2 P. M.). Saw all the fellows and made our preparations -to start at twelve at night. Took a fine bath in the clear mountain -stream, and then dinner. After dinner we went to see Santana’s -Hacienda--found a little boy in it who was frightened to death at the -Barbarians. A réal [a small coin, about 12½ cents] soon quieted him. - -The bridge has a curved axis--it is a beautiful piece of architecture. -It would be impossible to cross it were the heights around properly -defended and the bridge itself occupied. The bridge and heights -might all be turned by enterprising light infantry, for the stream is -fordable. From the nature of the ground it would be impossible for -artillery or cavalry to turn it without _great trouble and labor_. - -Reveillé at 11.30--started at quarter past twelve--of course no -undressing. S[tuart] “thought as he was already dressed there could be -no hurry.” Night pitch dark. About an hour before daybreak found in -the road a saddle (American) and a pool of blood--some poor devil of a -straggler from Worth’s Division probably murdered. After ascending the -hill just beyond this spot, G. W. [Smith], J. S[tuart] and myself laid -down in the road to sleep--that half hour’s sleep just before going -into battle was the sweetest I ever enjoyed. Passed in the course of -the morning a great many stragglers from Worth’s Division--they had -lagged behind in the night march. About two miles from Plan del Rio we -were sitting in a ranche waiting for the wagons, when a wagonmaster -came galloping by saying that the Lancers had cut off the train. The -escort of dragoons was about 800 yards nearer Plan del Rio than we. We -galloped back--the escort not far behind and found that our wagons were -safe, but that the Lancers had cut off a few of the stragglers whom we -had passed. - -Suddenly a turn of the road displayed Plan del Rio[47] at our feet--the -little valley filled with troops, horses, artillery, wagons, etc. We -arrived at about 10.30 A. M.--found the Engineers and took a lunch -with them. G. W. S[mith] and myself then rode out to Twiggs’s position -with Captain Lee--we arrived just in time to see the ball open [i. e., -the battle of Cerro Gordo]. Saw old Twiggs, who wondered “Where the -devil did you two boys come from?” and started back to bring up the -company. On the way back a round shot came about as near my head as -would be regarded agreeable in civil life and then missed enfilading -the 2nd Infantry about a foot and a half. When we got back to El Plan, -I was ordered to join [Lieut. Z. B.] Tower with ten men--to go with -Gid Pillow and the Mohawks.[48] Did my best that afternoon _to find -out where we were to go in the morning but none of them would tell me -anything about it_. G. W. left me ten of the best men in the company, -and took Foster and the rest with him to report to General Twiggs. -It seemed to be a mutual thought that the chances all were that we -would not meet again! The idea of being killed by or among a parcel of -Volunteers was anything but pleasant. - -Got up before daybreak--woke up the men--had the mare fed and -saddled--drank some coffee--distributed tools to my party and was -ready for battle long before our dear Mohawks had their breakfasts. -Also gave some tools to the Volunteers. My men had hatchets, axes and -billhooks--the Volunteers [had] axes, sap-forks and billhooks. At -length all was ready and much to my surprise we marched straight up -the road toward Jalapa. So little did I know of our point of attack--I -only knew that we were to attack either their right or front, and that -we would as surely be whipped--for it was a Volunteer Brigade. I led -off with my detachment, and after passing the greater part of Worth’s -Division--which was formed in column of platoons in the road--we turned -off to the left, nearly opposite the point where Twiggs turned to -the right. Tower directed me to place my men on the path inclining -_most to the left_. I did so and rested my men, whilst waiting for the -Volunteers who were a long distance behind. At length General Pillow -came up, and seeing my men, directed that they should be placed on the -path _inclining to the right_. - -Lieutenant Tower made some remark about changing the route, and also -that we would be more apt to be seen when crossing some ravine if we -went to the right. I remember distinctly that the impression made -upon me by the conversation was that General Pillow had against the -opinion of Lieutenant Tower changed the _route to be followed_ in -order to attain the point of attack. I had no idea of the importance -of the change and that it could lead to a different point of attack. I -afterward found that the different paths led to very different parts -of the enemy’s position, the one we actually followed bringing us in a -very exposed manner against the front of the works, whilst if we had -taken the one advised by Lieutenant Tower we should have turned the -right of their works and have been but little exposed to their fire. - -The fault of the erroneous selection was General Pillow’s, except that -Lieutenant Tower should, as the senior Engineer with the column, have -taken a firm stand and have forced General Pillow to have pursued the -proper path. It was certainly a fine opportunity for him to show what -stuff he was made of--but unfortunately he did not take advantage of it -at all. - -We at length moved off by the flank. My detachment [was] at the head, -and during the movement--at all events before the firing against us -commenced--we heard the musketry of the attack of Twiggs’s Division -upon the Telegraph Hill.[49] - -After moving about two-thirds of a mile from the main road we reached -a certain crest bordering upon a ravine, whence a strong picket of -Mexicans was observed. Tower advised General Pillow to incline his -Brigade well to the right in order to cross the ravine lower down and -out of view. The General directed Colonel [Francis M.] Wynkoop[50] to -countermarch--file twice to the right and move upon a certain dead tree -as his point of direction (Colonel Campbell’s [1st] Tennessee Regiment -to support him). He was then to form his men for the attack and charge -upon hearing a concerted signal from the rest of the Brigade. Colonel -[William T.] Haskell[51] at once commenced forming his Regiment in -a column of platoon, the flank of the column toward the work. His -men having straggled a great deal this arrangement was attended with -some difficulty--the men being literally shoved into their places one -by one. Hardly two platoons were formed when General Pillow shouted -out at the top of his voice--“Why the H--l dont Colonel Wynkoop file -to the right?” I may here observe that we had heard very distinctly -the commands of the Mexican officers in their works. This yell of -the General’s was at once followed by the blast of a Mexican bugle -and within three minutes after that their fire opened upon us. The -General may have shouted this before a single platoon of Haskell’s was -formed--but the interval must have been very short, because Wynkoop’s -Regiment had not reached its destination and had not formed there when -the firing commenced. - -When the Mexican fire opened Haskell’s Regiment became at once -“confusion worse confounded.” Some of the men rushed toward the works, -many broke to the rear, very many immediately took cover behind the -rocks, etc. I at once asked General Pillow for orders to proceed -“_somewhere_” with my detachment--for I had as yet received no orders -or directions from anyone and was utterly ignorant of the ground. While -talking with the General--who was squatting down with his back to -the work--he was wounded in the arm, upon which his aide, Lieutenant -Rains, appeared from somewhere in the vicinity and they together went -off to the rear, on the run. I then went in amongst the Tennesseeans -and found at once that it was useless to attempt doing anything there, -as that Regiment (Haskell’s) was utterly broken and dispersed and -the Pennsylvania Regiment, which was to support them, had kept so -well in reserve that they could not be found. I then went over to the -other side of the ravine--the firing had by this time nearly if not -altogether ceased. - -Upon arriving there I found Campbell’s Regiment in pretty good order -and _in good spirits_, the Pennsylvania Regiment (Wynkoop’s) in most -horrible confusion. Campbell was moving on toward the work, and I at -once advised General Pillow to halt him until some order could be -restored to the other Regiments. He took my advice and directed me to -give the order to Campbell, which I did. I thought that it was by no -means certain that Campbell alone could carry the works and that if -he were checked or repulsed all was lost, for there was not a company -formed to support him. Besides, although his Regiment was moving on -well, they were not then under fire, nor had they been under any fire, -to speak of, that day--so I doubted the steadiness of their movements -when their advance should have brought them in sight and under the fire -of, the Mexicans. - -Colonel Haskell came up without his cap about this time and a very -warm conversation ensued between him and General Pillow--the General -accusing him of misconduct and deserting his troops, the Colonel -repelling his assertions and stating that his Regiment was cut to -pieces. I at once, without saying a word to either the General or the -Colonel, called to my party and directed them to beat the bushes for -“2nd Tennesseeans” and to bring all they could find to where we were. -They soon returned with quite a number. - -In the course of conversation I told General Pillow that I did not -think that he could carry the works without some Regulars. He assented -and directed me to go at once in search of General Scott and ask him, -from him (Pillow) for a detachment of Regulars--whatever number he -could spare, saying that he would make no movement until my return. -I immediately ran down to the road where I expected to find General -Scott and Worth’s Division and there found that the General had gone -on. I jumped on my mare and galloped around by Twiggs’s road and at -length found the General about half way up the ridge over which Worth’s -Division passed to reach the Jalapa road--the rear of Worth’s Division -was then crossing. I told the General my message and he directed me to -say to General Pillow that he had no Regulars to spare, that the last -of Worth’s Division was then passing over, that Santa Anna had fallen -back with all his army, except about 5000 men, toward Jalapa, that he -expected to fight another battle with Santa Anna at once, and that he -thought it probable that the 5000 men cut off would surrender--finally -that General Pillow might attack again, or not, just as he pleased. He -evidently was not much surprised and not much “put out” that Pillow was -thrashed, and attached no importance to his future movements. - -With this reply I returned, and could not for a long time, find any of -the valiant Brigade. I at length found Wynkoop’s Regiment. He told me -that white flags were flying on the work and that one or two had come -down toward his position--but that as he did not know what they meant, -could not raise a white handkerchief in the crowd, and had no one who -could speak Spanish, he had held no communication with them. I told him -what they meant and said that when I had seen General Pillow I would -return and go to meet them. As I left he asked me if I could not give -him an order to charge--I said “_No_”--then said he--“Tell General -Pillow that if I dont get an order to charge in half an hour, I’ll be -d--d if I dont charge anyhow”--this after I had told him that the white -flag meant a surrender!!! - -I at length found General Pillow some distance in rear and reported. -Castor came up a moment or two afterward and told General Pillow that -he had been sent to inform him that the Mexicans had surrendered--on -which I took my men down the road and directing them to come on and -rejoin the company as soon as possible--I galloped on to overtake it. -During my conversation with General Scott he mentioned that he had -_seen_ the charge of Twiggs’s Division and spoke of it as the most -beautiful sight that he had ever witnessed. He said everything in -praise of his “rascally Regulars.” - -With reference to the operations of Twiggs’s Division.--During the -afternoon of the 17th [April] the hill opposite to and commanded by the -Telegraph Hill was carried by Harney’s ([Persifer F.] Smith’s) Brigade -and the enemy pursued partly up the Telegraph Hill by the Rifles -and 1st Artillery. They were, however, _recalled_ to the hill first -mentioned, which was occupied in force. - -During the night one twenty-four pounder, one twelve pounder and a -twenty-four pound howitzer were with great difficulty hauled up and -put in position behind a slight epaulment. There were also a couple -of the Mountain Howitzers and some Rocketeers. Shields’s[52] Brigade -of Volunteers were somewhere in the vicinity to support and were -employed to man the drag ropes used to haul up the pieces. It may be -well to mention that they were more than once “_stampeded_” while -engaged in this by the mere discharge of a piece--no ball coming near -them. Another detachment of New York Volunteers was engaged during -the afternoon and night of the 17th in hauling an eight-inch howitzer -along the crest on the other side of the “Rio” in order to take an -enfilade or reverse fire upon the Mexican works. Taylor’s Battery was -with Twiggs, Dunean came around with Worth--Steptoe was with Twiggs. -The cavalry and rest of the artillery were in the Jalapa road ready to -advance in pursuit. - -Harney was directed to storm the hill, Reilly to cut off the retreat -of the Mexicans by the Jalapa road--Worth to support. The affair of -the 18th was opened, on our side, by the fire of our artillery. The 24 -pounder was badly served and did little or no real damage. At length -Harney charged over the valley with the 1st Artillery, 3rd and 7th -Infantry, the Rifles being thrown out to cover his left. He carried -the hill in gallant style. Reilly allowed himself to deviate from his -proper path and instead of pushing straight on for the Jalapa road, he -amused himself by skirmishing to his right and left--so that he did not -accomplish the purpose for which he was sent, that is, he _did not_ cut -off Santa Anna’s retreat. - -In the meantime Shields was sent around still further to our right, -to turn the Mexican left. He finally came out in front of certain -batteries, charged them but was _repulsed completely_ and himself -badly wounded. About this time Harney carried the Telegraph Hill and -that commanding these last batteries, one or two discharges from its -summit with the captured pieces at once cleared them. Upon that the -Volunteers right gallantly charged and carried them at the point of the -bayonet, _there not being a soul in the battery at this time_. - -Twiggs--at least a part of his Division--moved on at once in pursuit. -The Cavalry soon followed, but the Mexicans had gained a long start and -made the best use of their legs--so that not very many were killed or -taken in the pursuit. Twiggs and the Cavalry also the Volunteers halted -at Encero. Worth remained at Plan del Rio and Cerro Gordo. I myself -overtook my company at Encero where we bivouacked that night--and felt -right proud that we had won that day a glorious victory. - -On the morning of the 19th we marched from Encero to Jalapa, about -twelve miles, at the head of Twiggs’s Division. We entered Jalapa about -11.30 A. M., our company being the first American infantry to set foot -in that city. It rained quite violently during the greater part of -the march, which prevented me from enjoying fully the beauty of the -scenery, especially as I had to _foot it_. It was really delightful, -upon entering Jalapa, to see gentlemen and _ladies_, at least persons -dressed and appearing as such. The white faces of the ladies struck us -as being exceedingly beautiful--they formed so pleasing a contrast to -the black and brown complexions of the Indians and negroes who had for -so long been the only human beings to greet our sight. The Jalapiños -appeared perfectly indifferent about us, manifesting neither pleasure -nor sorrow at our approach. Our march from Encero and entrance into -Jalapa was entirely undisturbed--not a shot being fired or soldiers -seen. Of course not the slightest excess was committed by any of the -Regulars. We at first marched to the Cuartel [Barracks] where we -remained some few hours, until at last we were ordered to a posada -[sleeping place] on the Plaza. - -I was very much pleased with the appearance of Jalapa and its -inhabitants. The women were generally pretty, the gentlemen well -dressed. They carried to a great extent the custom of filling the -balconies with flowers, which gave a very pleasant appearance to the -streets. Soon after we had established ourselves at the posada we were -astonished by a great commotion in the streets, which was ascertained -to be caused by the arrival of the Cerro Gordo prisoners, who had all -been released on parole, and of course fought us again upon the first -opportunity. They were marching back to Puebla and Mexico, organized in -regiments, etc.--merely being deprived of their arms. The disgust in -the Division at this release was most intense, we felt poorly repaid -for our exertions by the release of these scoundrels, who, we felt -sure, would to a man break their parole. They passed the night in the -streets around the Plaza and in the morning robbed all the poor market -women in the vicinity.[53] - -We had no beds that night--our baggage not being up--were lucky enough -to get some frijoles and chocolate for supper--breakfast ditto. Worth’s -Division came up about one o’clock on the 20th and we were ordered on -at the head of it,--to leave Jalapa at 3.30 of the same day. - - * * * * * - -City of Mexico,[54] opposite Alameda, November 3rd, 1847. G. W. thinks -that a captain will be sent out to command the Company, and that he (G. -W.) will be relieved by the 1st March, 1848. Mc. thinks that no captain -will come and that the unfortunate “duet” wont get out under a year, or -longer. Quien Sabe? - -April 15th, Post Office--Captain hasn’t “arrivo”--duet still here--year -most half out and a’in’t off yet!!![55] - -September 22nd, 1849--West Point, N. Y. Mc. thinks that he’s booked -for an infernally monotonous life for the remainder of his natural -existence and wishes he were back again in No. 2 Calle San Francisco. - -August 25th, 1852--Solitary and alone on the “Columbus”--for New -Orleans. - -December 25th, 1852--Solitary and alone at Indianola [Texas]! Heavens! -What a Christmas! - - - - -INDEX - - - Altamira, 50. - - Anton Lizardo, Point, 52, 53. - - - Bankhead, Col., 66. - - Beauregard, Lieut. P. G. T., 57, 63, 70. - - Belton, Lieut.-Col., 54, 62. - - Brazos de Santiago (Texas), 7, 8-9. - - Brooks, N. C., quoted, 51 (note). - - Buckner, Simon B., 77 (and note). - - - Camargo, 10-11, 13. - - Campbell, Col., 82, 84-85. - - Cerro Gordo, battle of, 79-90. - - Chiltipine, 30-34. - - Crawford, Dr. Samuel, 1. - - - Encero, 90, 91. - - Encinal, 37. - - - Fordleone, 47, 48. - - Foster, Lieut. J. G., 57, 58, 61, 63, 69, 70, 74, 75, 80. - - Furber, George C., quoted, 27 (note). - - - Grant, U. S., quoted, 44 (note), 71 (note). - - Guijano, 27. - - - Harney, 88-90. - - Haskell, Col. William T., 83-84, 85. - - Henry, Capt. Guy, 48, 50, 74. - - - Iturbide, Agustin de, 40. - - - Jalapa, 90-92. - - - Lee, Capt. R. E., 61, 63, 68, 71, 72, 79. - - Lobos, Isle of, 51. - - - McCall, George A., 21, 33, 41. - - McClellan, George B., birth and education, 1; - commissioned, 2; - promotion, 4; - leaves for Mexico, 7; - at Camargo and Matamoros, 10-14, 23-24; - march to Victoria, 24-43; - at Victoria, 43-46; - march to Tampico, 46-50; - at Lobos, 51; - at Vera Cruz, 53-73; - march to Cerro Gordo, 74-79; - battle of Cerro Gordo, 80-90; - march to Jalapa, 90-93; - at Mexico City, 92-93. - - McMaster, J. B., quoted, 52 (note), 74 (note). - - Malibran, 55, 56. - - Marquesoto, 40. - - Mason, Lieut. J. L., 63, 64, 65-66, 67, 70. - - Matamoros, 10, 11, 12, 23. - - Meade, George G., 5, quoted, 18 (note), 22 (note), 48 (note). - - Moquete, 23, 27. - - Murphy, 34, 39. - - - Padilla, 42. - - Patterson, Gen. Robert, 14, 15, 16, 20-21, 22 (note), 23-24, 26, 27, - 30, 31-32, 33, 35, 37, 40, 41, 43, 56. - - Pillow, Gen. Gideon J., 15, 23, 25, 26, 35, 37, 52 (note), 79, 81-87. - - Plan del Rio, 78-79. - - Puerto Nacional, 77. - - - Quitman, Gen. John A., 44, 52 (note). - - - Rancho Padillo, 23. - - Reilly, 89. - - - San Fernando, 33-34. - - Santa Fé, 75-76. - - Santander, 37. - - Santa Rosa, 46. - - Santa Teresa, 27-28, 29. - - Saunders, Capt. John, 68, 69, 72. - - Scott, Gen. Winfield, 52 (note), 70, 71 (note), 86, 87. - - Semmes, R., quoted, 79 (note), 82 (note). - - Shields, Gen. James, 52 (note), 88, 89, 90. - - Smith, Lieut. Gustavus W., 2, 4, 7, 11, 20-21, 23, 25, 26, 31, 36, - 38, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60-62, 63, 68, 74, 75, 78, 80, 93. - - Smith, Major John L., 58. - - “Songo,” 27-28, 30, 37, 42. - - Stevens, Lieut. I. I., 63, 70, 72. - - Stuart, “Jimmie,” 14, 73-74, 75-76, 78. - - Swift, Capt. A. J., 2, 7, 11, 16, 55. - - - Tamaulipas, 51. - - Tampico, 50-51. - - Taylor, Gen. Zachary, 22 (note), 44. - - Totten, Col. Joseph G., 2, 57-58, 61-62, 64, 66, 70. - - Tower, Lieut. Z. B., 67, 78-81. - - Twiggs, Gen. David E., 47, 48, 52, 56, 74, 79, 80, 82, 87-90. - - - Vera Cruz, siege of, 53-73. - - Vergera, 74, 75. - - Victoria, 43-46. - - Vinton, Capt. John R., 58, 68. - - Volunteers, 16, 18, 28-29, 36, 38-39, 43, 80. - - - Walker, Sears Cook, 1. - - Waterhouse, Major, 36. - - Williams, Seth, 15-16, 32. - - Worth, Gen. William J., 52 (note), 53, 56, 58, 74, 75, 77, 78, 80, 86, - 89, 90, 92. - - Wynkoop, Col. Francis M., 82, 84, 86-87. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] In a letter to his brother “Tom” dated West Point, September 22, -1846, McClellan wrote: “We start with about 75 men--the best Company -(so Gen’l. Scott and Col. Totten both say) in the service. All -Americans--all young--all intelligent--all anxious, very eager for the -campaign--and above all, well drilled. If the Lord and Santa Anna will -only condescend to give us a chance--I’ll be most confoundedly mistaken -if we don’t thrash them ‘some’.” (_McClellan Papers_, Vol. I.) - -[2] Gustavus W. Smith was one of McClellan’s most intimate friends and -was known by him by the nickname of “Legs.” He was born in Scott Co., -Kentucky, on January 1, 1822. He died in New York on June 23, 1896. -Smith graduated from West Point in 1842. He entered the Confederate -Army in 1861 and distinguished himself in the Peninsular Campaign -fighting against his old friend at the battles of Seven Pines and Fair -Oaks. - -[3] A town of some three thousand inhabitants, situated on the river -San Juan about three miles above its junction with the Rio Grande. -It is about one hundred miles by land from Matamoros. (See _Life and -Letters of General George Gordon Meade_, Vol. I, pages 109 and 119.) - -[4] A letter from McClellan to his mother, dated “Camp off Camargo, -Mex.,” November 14, 1846, tells her that when he arrived at Matamoros -he was taken sick almost immediately. He remained sick for two weeks -while there and “whilst on the steamboat thence to Camargo” ... “When -we got here I went into hospital quarters whence I emerged yesterday, -so that I have had almost a month’s sickness, but now am perfectly -well.” He adds, “I would not have missed coming here for the world, -now that I am well and recovering my strength, I commence to enjoy the -novelty of the affair, and shall have enough to tell you when I return, -to fill a dozen books.” (_McClellan Papers_, Vol. I.) - -[5] Later on McClellan wrote in the diary on a page otherwise blank: - -“On the 18th June, 1851, at five in the afternoon died Jimmie Stuart, -my best and oldest friend. He was mortally wounded the day before by -an arrow, whilst gallantly leading a charge against a party of hostile -Indians. He is buried at Camp Stuart--about twenty-five miles south of -Rogue’s River [Oregon?], near the main road, and not far from the base -of the Cishion (?) Mountains. His grave is between two oaks, on the -left side of the road, going south, with J. S. cut in the bark of the -largest of the oaks.” - -[6] Robert Patterson, born at Cappagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, on -January 12, 1792, died at Philadelphia, Pa., on August 7, 1881. -Came to America early in life and became a prominent merchant and -Democratic politician in Philadelphia. Served both in the War of 1812 -and in the Mexican War and in 1861 was mustered into the service as a -major-general. He commanded the troops in the Shenandoah Valley and was -outwitted by General Joseph E. Johnston who slipped away in time to -join Beauregard and rout the Union forces under McDowell at the first -battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. Patterson was retired from the -army the same month. - -[7] Tampico was captured November 14, 1846. - -[8] Gideon J. Pillow was born in Williamson Co., Tennessee, on June -8, 1806. He died in Lee Co., Arkansas, on October 6, 1878. Pillow -was a prominent Tennessee politician and was active in securing the -presidential nomination for his intimate friend James K. Polk. In 1846 -he was commissioned a brigadier general by Polk and went to the front -in command of the Tennessee volunteers. In 1861 he became a brigadier -general in the Confederate Army and is famous for having deserted -his forces at Fort Donelson on February 15, 1862, leaving them to be -surrendered to Grant the next day by his subordinate, General Simon B. -Buckner. Also see _Autobiography of Lieut.-Gen. Scott_, Vol. II, pages -416-417. - -[9] Later a brigadier general in the Union Army. He was adjutant -general on McClellan’s staff and closely connected with him while in -command of the Army of the Potomac. - -[10] The city was captured on September 24, 1846, after three days -fighting. - -[11] “The people are very polite to the regulars ... but they hate -the volunteers as they do old scratch himself.... You never hear of -a Mexican being murdered by a regular or a regular by a Mexican. The -volunteers carry on in a most shameful and disgraceful manner; they -think nothing of robbing and killing the Mexicans.” Letter to mother, -dated “Camp off Camargo, Mex.,” November 14, 1846. (_McClellan Papers_, -Vol. I.) - -“I believe with fifteen thousand regulars, we could go to the City of -Mexico, but with thirty thousand volunteers the whole nature and policy -of the war will be changed. Already are the injurious influences of -their presence perceptible, and you will hear any Mexican in the street -descanting on the good conduct of the ‘tropas de ligna,’ as they call -us, and the dread of the ‘volontarios.’ And with reason, they (the -volunteers) have killed five or six innocent people walking in the -streets, for no other object than their own amusement; to-be-sure, they -are always drunk, and are in a measure irresponsible for their conduct. -They rob and steal the cattle and corn of the poor farmers, and in fact -act more like a body of hostile Indians than of civilized whites. Their -own officers have no command or control over them, and the General has -given up in despair any hope of keeping them in order. The consequence -is they are exciting a feeling among the people which will induce them -to rise en masse to obstruct our progress, and if, when we reach the -mountains, we have to fight the _people_ as well as the soldiers, the -game will be up with us. I have some hope, however, that when we leave -this place, which has become a mass of grog-shops and gambling-houses, -and march to meet the enemy, the absence of liquor, and the fear of the -enemy, may induce a little order among them and bring them to a better -state of discipline.” Letter of George G. Meade, dated Matamoros, -July 9, 1846. (_Life and Letters of General George Gordon Meade_, -Vol. I, pages 109-110.) Meade wrote further, from Camargo, August 13, -1846: “Already have they in almost every volunteer regiment reported -one-third their number sick, and in many cases one-half the whole -regiment, and I fear the mortality will be terrible among them, for -their utter ignorance of the proper mode of taking care of themselves. -The large number of sick is a dead weight upon us, taking away so many -men as hospital attendants, requiring quarters, etc., and if taken sick -on the march, requiring transportation in wagons or on litters.” (Same, -page 121.) Also from Monterey, December 2, 1846: “The volunteers have -been creating disturbances, which have at last aroused the old General -[Taylor] so much that he has ordered one regiment, the First Kentucky -foot, to march to the rear, as they have disgraced themselves and -their State.... The volunteers cannot take any care of themselves; the -hospitals are crowded with them, they die like sheep; they waste their -provisions, requiring twice as much to supply them as regulars do. They -plunder the poor inhabitants of everything they can lay their hands -on, and shoot them when they remonstrate, and if one of their number -happens to get into a drunken brawl and is killed, they run over the -country, killing all the poor innocent people they find in their way, -to avenge, as they say, the murder of their brother. This is a true -picture, and the cause is the utter incapacity of their officers to -control them or command respect.” (Same, pages 161-162.) - -For further testimony of the same character see Luther Giddings, -_Sketches of the Campaign in Northern Mexico_, pages 81-85; William -Jay, _Review of the Mexican War_, pages 214-222; J. J. Oswandel, _Notes -on the Mexican War_, page 114. Also see postea, page 37. - -[12] George A. McCall was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on March 16, 1802, -and died there on February 25, 1868. He graduated from West Point -in 1822. McCall was made a brigadier general in 1861 and placed in -command of the Pennsylvania Reserves. He distinguished himself in the -Peninsular Campaign under the command of McClellan at the battles of -Mechanicsville, Gaines’s Mill and Frazier’s Farm. - -[13] Meade, in a letter dated “Monterey, November 10, 1846,” wrote -in explanation of this move as follows: “The cabinet at Washington, -profiting by the history of the Aulic Council, is manoeuvering his -(Taylor’s) troops for him, and at Washington, entirely independent of -his wishes and views, organizing expeditions for Tampico, even going -so far as to designate the troops and their commanders. To-be-sure, it -is well understood how this is done, by the mighty engine of political -influence, that curse of our country, which forces party politics into -everything. - -“General Patterson and others are good Democrats; they are indignant -that General Taylor should have left them in the rear when he carried -more troops than he could feed. They complain at Washington, and -forthwith General Patterson and Co. are directed to proceed against -Tampico, and General Patterson informed before his commanding general -knows anything about it. Well may we be grateful that we are at war -with Mexico! Were it any other power, our gross follies would have been -punished severely before now. - -“General Taylor, of course, has to succumb, and the Tampico expedition -is to be immediately prosecuted. General Patterson goes from -Camargo.... He marches direct to Tampico. General Taylor, however, -does not design that he shall have it in his power, from ignorance or -other causes, to fail; therefore he will leave here with a column of -some two thousand men and artillery, light and heavy, and will join -General Patterson before he reaches Tampico, when both columns united, -and under General Taylor’s command, will operate against the town, in -conjunction with the navy, if the latter have it in its power to do -anything.” (_Life and Letters of G. G. Meade_, Vol. I, page 152.) - -[14] i. e., General Patterson. - -[15] Aide to General Patterson. - -[16] Surgeon on General Patterson’s staff. - -[17] A Mexican servant. - -[18] George C. Furber, in his _Twelve Months Volunteer; or Journal of -a Private in the Campaign in Mexico_, gives in chapters VIII and IX -(pages 275-393) a lively account of this same march, in which he took -part, from Matamoros to Victoria and Tampico. He describes many of the -events noted by McClellan, but from the standpoint of an enthusiastic -and self-confident member of the volunteer forces. - -The contemptuous sting in McClellan’s frequent references to “mustangs” -can be appreciated from the following. Says Furber (page 376): -“The ‘mustang cavalry’--a description of force unknown to the army -regulations ... accompanied us from Victoria.--It was composed of -numbers from the three regiments of infantry. Any one that could raise -the means to buy a long-eared _burro_ (jackass), or a mule, or old -Mexican horse, or any such conveyance, immediately entered the mustang -cavalry. Such animals could be bought for from three to five dollars. -Some of the riders had procured Mexican saddles, with their horsehair -housings and bridles also; while some had bridles, but no saddles; -others had saddles without bridles; while others, again, had neither. -Here was a soldier large as life, with his musket in his hand, on a -little jackass, without saddle or bridle, and so small that the rider -had to lift his feet from the ground;--the little _burro_ jogged along -with him, occasionally stopping to gather a bite of grass.” - -[19] McClellan’s small brother and sister. - -[20] Agustin de Iturbide was born in Spain on September 27, 1783, the -son of a Spanish noble. He entered the army and attained a high and -responsible position in the Spanish administration of Mexico. In 1821 -he advocated the celebrated “Plan of Iguala,” in which it was proposed -that Mexico should become independent under the rule of a member of -the Spanish royal family. Ferdinand VII regarded the movement as a -rebellion, and Iturbide himself was proclaimed emperor as Agustin I in -May, 1822, and crowned the following July. - -A rebellion immediately broke out against his authority under the lead -of Santa Anna, who proclaimed a republic at Vera Cruz. Iturbide was -forced to abdicate in March, 1823, and went to Europe. He returned to -Mexico the following year but was arrested and shot at Padilla on July -19, 1824. - -[21] Sappers, soldiers employed in the building of fortifications, -field works, etc. (_Century Dict._) - -[22] “General Taylor never wore uniform, but dressed himself entirely -for comfort. He moved about the field in which he was operating to -see through his own eyes the situation. Often he would be without -staff officers, and when he was accompanied by them there was no -prescribed order in which they followed. He was very much given to sit -his horse sideways--with both feet on one side--particularly on the -battlefield.... Taylor was not a conversationalist, but on paper he -could put his meaning so plainly that there could be no mistaking it. -He knew how to express what he wanted to say in the fewest well chosen -words, but would not sacrifice meaning to the construction of high -sounding sentences.” U. S. Grant, _Memoirs_, Vol. I, pages 138-139. - -[23] David E. Twiggs was born in Richmond Co., Georgia, in 1790. He -served in the war of 1812, and in the Mexican War became a brigade and -division commander under General Scott. In February, 1861, he was in -command of the Department of Texas, but surrendered his forces, with -the military stores under his charge, to the Confederates. On March 1, -1861, Joseph Holt, Secretary of War, issued “General Order No. 5” as -follows,--“By the direction of the President of the United States, it -is ordered that Brig. Gen. David E. Twiggs, major-general by brevet, -be, and is hereby, dismissed from the Army of the United States, for -his treachery to the flag of his country, in having surrendered, -on the 18th of February, 1861, on the demand of the authorities of -Texas, the military posts and other property of the United States in -his department and under his charge.” (_Official Records, War of the -Rebellion, Series I_, Vol. I, page 597.) - -Twiggs was appointed a major-general in the Confederate Army, and died -at Augusta, Georgia, on September 15, 1862. - -[24] “The correspondent of the ‘Spirit of the Times,’ G. de L., is -Captain [Guy] Henry, of the Third Infantry, a classmate of mine at West -Point, a very good fellow, and I notice his recent productions since -our march from Camargo have been quite spirited.” Meade, _Life and -Letters_, Vol. I, pages 167-168. - -[25] “McClellan’s sobriquet in Mexico, among his intimate friends, was -‘Polance’ (sugar). On the march, when [he] first arrived, he insisted -upon eating a lot of the sugar arranged on even cobs and persuading -his companions to eat it too. He was always fond of sweet things. They -all became ill in consequence, and he more than any of them. After -that they addressed him as ‘Polance’ for he kept saying,--‘Why it’s -Polance, the _best_ sugar--it can’t hurt anyone’.” (Note in writing of -McClellan’s daughter, _McClellan Papers_, Vol. 108.) - -[26] “Tampico is a delightful place, having fine cafes, and all the -luxuries of a somewhat civilized town.... I find the place much larger -than I expected, and really quite delightful. There is a large foreign -population of merchants, and in consequence the town has all such -comforts as good restaurants, excellent shops, where everything can be -purchased, and is in fact quite as much of a place as New Orleans. It -is inaccessible, owing to a bar, having only eight feet of water, and -as this is the season of ‘Northers,’ already many wrecks have taken -place.” Meade, _Life and Letters_, Vol. I, pages 175 and 177. - -[27] “You can form no idea of the pleasure it gave us to meet the -regulars after having been so long with the cursed volunteers.... I -am tired of Tampico for I like to be in motion.--You have no idea of -the charm and excitement of a march--I could live such a life for -years and years without becoming tired of it. There is a great deal of -hardship--but we have our own fun. If we have to get up, and start long -before daybreak--we make up for it, when we gather around the campfires -at night--you never saw such a merry set as we are--no care, no -trouble--we criticize the Generals--laugh and swear at the mustangs and -volunteers, smoke our cigars and drink our brandy, when we have any--go -without when we have none.” (Letter to Mother dated Tampico, February -4, 1847. (_McClellan Papers_, Vol. I.) - -[28] The Isle of Lobos is “a lovely little spot, formed entirely of -coral, about two miles in circumference, twelve miles from the Mexican -shore, sixty from Tampico, and one hundred and thirty from Vera Cruz.” -N. C. Brooks, _History of the Mexican War_, page 295. - -It was at the Isle of Lobos that General Scott organized his army. -The regulars were divided into two brigades, commanded by Generals -William J. Worth and David E. Twiggs respectively. General Robert -Patterson commanded the division of volunteers which was composed of -the three brigades of Generals Gideon J. Pillow, John A. Quitman and -James Shields. All told, Scott’s army numbered over 12,000 men. J. B. -McMaster, _History of the People of the United States_, Vol. VII, page -506; James Schouler, _History of the United States_, Vol. V, page 42. - -[29] The island of Sacrificios, three miles south of Vera Cruz. - -[30] William J. Worth was born in Hudson, N. Y., on March 1, 1794. He -fought in the War of 1812 and in the Seminole War in 1841. During the -Mexican War he participated in the campaigns of Generals Taylor and -Scott and later he commanded in Texas. He died at San Antonio, Texas, -on May 17, 1849. - -[31] Escopette, a carbine or short rifle, especially a form used by the -Spanish Americans (_Century Dict._). - -[32] Light cavalry armed with lances, or long spears, varying from 8½ -to 11 feet in length (_Century Dict._). - -[33] Pierre G. T. Beauregard, later a prominent Confederate General, -was born in New Orleans on May 28, 1818. He graduated from West Point -in 1838. Died at New Orleans on February 20, 1893. - -Beauregard was appointed a brigadier general in the Confederate Army in -1861 and bombarded and captured Fort Sumter in April of the same year. -He commanded at the first battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, and -following it was promoted to the rank of general. He took part in the -battle of Shiloh in April, 1862, commanded at Charleston, S. C., from -1862 to 1864, and in Virginia in the latter year. - -[34] Robert E. Lee, later the celebrated Confederate General-in-Chief -and McClellan’s main adversary. He was born at Stratford, Westmoreland -Co., Virginia, on January 19, 1807, and died at Lexington, Virginia, on -October 12, 1870. - -[35] Epaulment, the mass of earth or other material which protects the -guns in a battery both in front and on either flank (_Century Dict._). - -[36] Terre-plein, the top, platform or horizontal surface of a rampart, -on which the cannon are placed (_Century Dict._). - -[37] Boyau, a ditch covered with a parapet, serving as a means of -communication between two trenches, especially between the first and -third parallels. Also called a zigzag or an approach (_Century Dict._). - -[38] Berm, a narrow level space at the outside foot of a parapet, to -retain material which otherwise might fall from the slope into the -ditch (_Standard Dict._). - -[39] Colonel Bankhead was the Chief of Artillery at the siege of Vera -Cruz. - -[40] General Juan Morales was the Mexican commander at Vera Cruz. - -[41] Revet, to face, as an embankment, with masonry or other material -(_Century Dict_.). - -[42] Traverse, an earthen mask, similar to a parapet, thrown across the -covered way of a permanent work to protect it from the effects of an -enfilading fire (_Century Dict._). - -[43] General Scott “always wore all the uniform prescribed or allowed -by law when he inspected his lines; word would be sent to all division -and brigade commanders in advance, notifying them of the hour when the -commanding general might be expected. This was done so that all the -army might be under arms to salute their chief as he passed. On these -occasions he wore his dress uniform, cocked hat, aiguillettes, sabre -and spurs. His staff proper, besides all officers constructively on -his staff--engineers, inspectors, quartermasters, etc., that could -be spared--followed, also in uniform and in prescribed order. Orders -were prepared with great care and evidently with the view that they -should be a history of what followed.... General Scott was precise -in language, cultivated a style peculiarly his own; was proud of his -rhetoric; not averse to speaking of himself, often in the third person, -and he could bestow praise upon the person he was talking about without -the least embarrassment.” U. S. Grant, _Memoirs_, Vol. I, pages 138-139. - -[44] Vera Cruz at that time was a city of about 15,000 inhabitants. - -[45] On the advance of Scott’s army from Vera Cruz, Twiggs led the way, -followed a day later by Patterson, and five days later still by Worth. -J. B. McMaster, _History of the People of the United States_, Vol. VII, -page 507. - -[46] Simon B. Buckner was born in Kentucky on April 1, 1823, and died -January 8, 1914. He graduated from West Point in 1844. During the Civil -War he was first a brigadier general, and later a lieutenant general -in the Confederate Army. He stood by his troops and surrendered Fort -Donelson to General Grant on February 16, 1862. After the war he became -Governor of Kentucky and was the candidate for Vice-President on the -Gold Democratic ticket in 1896. - -[47] About sixty miles from Vera Cruz, and about thirty from Jalapa. J. -S. Jenkins, _History of the War with Mexico_, page 270. - -[48] General Pillow’s brigade consisted of four regiments of -infantry,--1st Tennessee (Colonel Campbell), 2nd Tennessee (Colonel -Haskell), 1st Pennsylvania (Colonel Wynkoop) and 2nd Pennsylvania -(Colonel Roberts); also a detachment of Tennessee Horse and a company -of Kentucky Volunteers under Captain Williams. R. Semmes, _Service -Afloat and Ashore_, page 179. - -[49] “The Cerro Gordo, or Big Hill, called by the Mexicans in their -dispatches, _El Telegrafo_, is an immense hill, of a conical form, -rising to the height of near a thousand feet. It stands ... at the head -of the pass, to which it gives its name, and formed the extreme left -(our right) of the fortifications of the enemy.” Semmes, _op. cit._, -pages 176-177. - -[50] He commanded the 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. - -[51] He commanded the 2nd Tennessee Volunteers. - -[52] James Shields was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1810. After -the Mexican War he was United States Senator (Democrat) from Illinois -during the years 1849-1855, and from Minnesota in 1858-1859. He was -one of the “political generals” in the Union Army who were decisively -defeated by “Stonewall” Jackson during the celebrated “Valley Campaign” -of May and June, 1862. Shields died in Ottumwa, Iowa, on June 1, 1879. - -[53] The American forces present at the battle of Cerro Gordo, both -in action and in reserve, were about 8,500 men. The Mexicans were -estimated at 12,000 or more. The American losses in the two days -fighting were 33 officers and 398 men, a total of 431, of whom 63 were -killed. The enemy losses were estimated at 1,000 to 1,200, in addition -to five generals and 3,000 men who were captured. General Scott’s -official report dated “Jalapa, April 23, 1847” (_Senate Docs. 30th -Congress, 1st Session_, No. 1, pages 263-264). - -[54] The City of Mexico was surrendered to General Scott’s victorious -army on September 14, 1847. - -[55] McClellan left the City of Mexico on May 28, 1848, and reached -West Point, N. Y., on June 22 following. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MEXICAN WAR DIARY OF GEORGE -B. MCCLELLAN *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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McClellan, by George B. McClellan—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - -} - -.tdr {text-align: right; - vertical-align: bottom;} - -a {text-decoration: none;} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; -} - - -.indexindent {margin-left: 1em;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} - -div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} -div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} - - -.xlarge {font-size: 130%;} -.large {font-size: 120%;} - - -.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2em;} - -.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - - - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: none; -} - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; - padding: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - - /* ]]> */ </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mexican War diary of George B. McClellan, by George B. McClellan</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Mexican War diary of George B. McClellan</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: George B. McClellan</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Editor: William Starr Myers</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 13, 2022 [eBook #68308]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: David E. Brown and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MEXICAN WAR DIARY OF GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="500" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_0"></span> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_002.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="caption"><small>(From a daguerreotype taken in 1846, just before leaving for the front)</small><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Lieut. McClellan, His Father and His Brother Arthur.</span></p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="" /></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1> -THE MEXICAN WAR DIARY<br /> -OF GEORGE B. McCLELLAN</h1> - -<p><span class="large">EDITED BY</span><br /> - -<span class="xlarge">WILLIAM STARR MYERS, Ph.D.,</span><br /> - -ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND POLITICS<br /> -PRINCETON UNIVERSITY</p> - -<p><span class="large">PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS<br /> -PRINCETON</span></p> - -<p><span class="large">LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD<br /> -OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS<br /> -1917</span></p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"> -Copyright, 1917, by<br /> -<span class="smcap">Princeton University Press</span><br /> -<br /> -Published April, 1917<br /> -</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/logo.jpg" alt="" /></div> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[iii]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">PREFACE</h2> -</div> - - -<p>During the past four or five years I have been -preparing a life of General McClellan in which -I plan especially to stress the political influences -behind the military operations of the first two -years of the Civil War. The main source for my -study has been the large collection of “McClellan -Papers” in the Library of Congress at Washington, -most of which hitherto never has been published. -In this collection is the manuscript -Mexican War diary and by the courteous permission -and kind cooperation of General McClellan’s -son, Professor George B. McClellan of -Princeton University, I have been able to make -the following copy. I desire to thank Professor -McClellan for other valuable help, including -the use of the daguerreotype from which the -accompanying frontispiece was made. My thanks -also are due Professor Dana C. Munro for his -timely advice and valued assistance in the preparation -of the manuscript for the press. The -map is reproduced from the “Life and Letters -of General George Gordon Meade,” with the -kind permission of the publishers, Charles Scribner’s -Sons.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[iv]</span>It has seemed to me that this diary should -prove to be of special value at the present time, -for it throws additional light upon the failure of -our time honored “volunteer system” and forecasts -its utter futility as an adequate defense in -a time of national crisis or danger.</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Wm. Starr Myers.</span></p> - -<p>Princeton, N. J.<br /> -January 3, 1917.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[v]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> -</div> - - -<table> -<tr><td>Lieut. McClellan, His Father and His Brother Arthur<br /> -    From a daguerreotype taken in 1846, just before leaving for the front     </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_0"> <i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> - -<tr><td>War Map</td><td class="tdr"> opp. p.   <a href="#Page_6">6</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td>First Page of the Mexican War Diary in an Old Blankbook<br /> -    Facsimile reproduction of McClellan’s manuscript</td><td class="tdr"> opp. p. <a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td>Church at Camargo, Seen from the Palace<br /> -    Facsimile reproduction of a sketch by McClellan</td><td class="tdr"> opp. p. <a href="#Page_70">70</a></td></tr> -</table> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">INTRODUCTION</h2> -</div> - - -<p>George Brinton McClellan was born in Philadelphia, -Pa., on December 3, 1826. He died -in Orange, N. J., on October 29, 1885. His -life covered barely fifty-nine years, his services -of national prominence only eighteen months, but -during this time he experienced such extremes of -good and ill fortune, of success and of failure, as -seldom have fallen to the lot of one man.</p> - -<p>While still a small boy McClellan entered a -school in Philadelphia which was conducted by -Mr. Sears Cook Walker, a graduate of Harvard, -and remained there for four years. He later was -a pupil in the preparatory school of the University -of Pennsylvania, under the charge of Dr. -Samuel Crawford. McClellan at the same time -received private tuition in Greek and Latin from -a German teacher named Scheffer and entered -the University itself in 1840. He remained there -as a student for only two years, for in 1842 he -received an appointment to the United States -Military Academy at West Point.</p> - -<p>McClellan graduated from West Point second -in his class in the summer of 1846 and was commissioned<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span> -a brevet second lieutenant of engineers. -On July 9 Colonel Joseph G. Totten, Chief of -Engineers, ordered McClellan to “repair to West -Point” for duty with the company of engineers -then being organized by Captain A. J. Swift and -Lieutenant Gustavus W. Smith. The Mexican -War had begun during the preceding May and -the young graduate of West Point was filled -with delight at the new opportunity for winning -reputation and rank in his chosen profession. -The company of engineers was ordered to Mexico -and left for the front during the month of September.</p> - -<p>The diary that follows begins with the departure -from West Point and continues the narrative -of McClellan’s experiences through the battle of -Cerro Gordo in April, 1847. It ends at this -point, except for a line or two jotted down later -on in moments of impatience or ennui.</p> - -<p>To the student of McClellan’s life this diary -presents certain striking contrasts in character -between the youthful soldier, not yet twenty -years of age, and the general or politician of fifteen -or twenty years later. At this time McClellan -was by nature happy-go-lucky, joyous, -carefree, and almost irresponsible. In after -years he became extremely serious, deeply and -sincerely religious, sometimes oppressed by a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> -sense of duty. And yet at this early age we can -plainly discern many of the traits that stand out -so prominently in his mature life. He was in -a way one of the worst subordinates and best -superiors that ever lived. As a subordinate he -was restless, critical, often ill at ease. He seemed -to have the proverbial “chip” always on his -shoulder and knew that his commanding officers -would go out of their way to knock it off; or else -he imagined it, which amounted to the same thing. -As a commanding officer he always was thoughtful, -considerate and deeply sympathetic with his -men, and they knew this and loved him for it.</p> - -<p>These same traits perhaps will explain much -of the friction during the early years of the Civil -War between McClellan and Lincoln and also -the devotion that reached almost to adoration -which the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac -showed for their beloved commander. And McClellan -had many intimate friends, friends of -high character, who stood by him through thick -and thin until the very day of his death. This -relationship could not have continued strong to -the last had he not in some measure deserved it. -His integrity, his inherent truthfulness and sense -of honor, stood out predominant.</p> - -<p>McClellan could write. In fact his pen was -too ready and in later years it often led him into<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> -difficulties. He had a keen sense of humor, -though it was tempered by too much self-confidence -and at times was tinged with conceit. He -was proud, ambitious and deeply sensitive. All -this appears in the diary, and it will be seen that -this little book offers a key to the explanation of -much that followed.</p> - -<p>McClellan took a prominent and brilliant part, -for so young a man, in the later events of Scott’s -campaign which ended in the capture of the -City of Mexico. He showed himself to be -able, brave and extremely skilful. He was promoted -to the rank of brevet first lieutenant, -August 20, “for gallant and meritorious conduct -in the battles of Contreras and Cherubusco,” -and brevet captain on September 13 for his -services at Chapultepec. He was brevetted in -addition for Molino del Rey on September 8, -and the nomination was confirmed by Congress, -but he declined the honor on the ground that he -had not taken part in that battle, while this brevet -“would also cause him to rank above his commanding -officer—Lieut. G. W. Smith—who was -present at every action where he was and commanded -him.” (Ms. letter from McClellan to -General R. Jones, Adj. Gen. U. S. A., dated -“Washington City, August 1848.” <i>McClellan -Papers</i>, Library of Congress, Vol. I.)</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span>The diary gives a vivid picture of Mexico, -the land and its people. Furthermore, there is -a fine description of the life of the soldiers on the -march, of the siege of Vera Cruz, and of the ill -behavior and lack of discipline of the volunteer -forces. The notes will show that General George -Gordon Meade, later the Union commander at -Gettysburg, also was a lieutenant in Taylor’s -army, and his estimate of the volunteers agrees -in every particular with that mentioned above.</p> - -<p>McClellan’s career has been the subject of endless -controversy, often pursued with such acrimony -and gross unfairness that its memory -rankles today in the minds of many. Furthermore, -upon the outcome of this controversy have -depended the reputations of many prominent -men, for if McClellan should be proved to have -been in the wrong the mantle of greatness still -might rest upon the shoulders of certain politicians -and generals hitherto adjudged to be -“great.” On the other hand, if McClellan was -in the right, and the present writer believes that -in large part he was, then he was a victim of envy -and downright falsehood. His name should now -be cleared of all unjust accusations, and also -history should reverse its judgment of many of -his opponents.</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Wm. Starr Myers.</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_015.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">PARTS OF TEXAS & MEXICO COVERING<br /> -THE SEAT OF THE WAR<br /> -IN MEXICO</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span></p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">MEXICAN WAR DIARY OF<br /> -GEORGE B. McCLELLAN<br /> - - -<small>1846-1847</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>We left West Point on the 24th of September -1846 for General Taylor’s army in Mexico—Company -“A” Engineers<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> consisted of Captain -[A. J.] Swift, Lieutenant G. W. Smith,<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> myself -and 71 rank and file. On Saturday the 26th we -sailed from the Narrows bound to Brazos de -Santiago [Texas] where we were so fortunate -as to arrive in 14 days. We had a very pleasant -passage, on the whole. Felt very much the want<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> -of <i>ice</i>, and <i>claret</i>. At one time could only eat -raw tomatoes.</p> - -<p>The result of my experience with respect to the -transportation of troops by sea is,—</p> - -<p>In the first place see that the part of the vessel -destined to receive them is thoroughly policed, -washed and well scraped out before the vessel -sails; then let a strong police party be detailed -every day, so that the part between decks may -always be well washed out and smell well. Wind-sails -are very necessary. The acting commissary -of subsistence should see for himself exactly what -is put on board for the use of the troops and -should cause a written requisition to be made -upon him for the quantity used from day to day -or week to week. He should have a reliable and -intelligent sergeant at his disposal. Care should -be taken that good cooking arrangements are -provided. Mush appeared to be a favorite and -agreeable food for the men at sea. The muskets -should be inspected every day, when the weather -permits, as also the quarters. Men must be required -to wear their worst clothes (working overalls, -etc.) on board. Care should be taken that -camp equipage and all articles necessary for immediate -use of troops when landed are so stowed -that they can be got at at once.</p> - -<p>Brazos is probably the very worst port that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> -could be found on the whole American coast. -We are encamped on an island which is nothing -more than a sand bar, perfectly barren, utterly -destitute of any sign of vegetation. It is about -six miles long and one-half mile broad. We are -placed about one hundred yards from the sea, -a row of sand hills some twenty feet high intervening. -Whenever a strong breeze blows the -sand flies along in perfect clouds, filling your -tent, eyes and everything else. To dry ink you -have merely to dip your paper in the sand. The -only good thing about the place is the bathing in -the surf. The water which we drink is obtained -by digging a hole large enough to contain a barrel. -In this is placed a bottomless barrel in which -the water collects. You must dig until you find -water, then “work-in” the barrel until it is well -down. This water is very bad. It is brackish -and unhealthy. The island is often overflowed -to the depth of one or two feet. To reach this -interesting spot, one is taken from the vessel in -a steamboat and taken over a bar on which the -water is six feet deep, and where the surf breaks -with the greatest violence. It is often impossible -to communicate with the vessels outside for ten -days or two weeks at a time.</p> - -<p>We have been here since Monday afternoon -and it is now Friday. We expect to march for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> -the mouth of the Rio Grande tomorrow morning -at break of day—thence by steamboat to Matamoros -where we will remain until our arrangements -for the pontoon train are complete. We -received when we arrived the news of the battle -of Monterey. Three officers who were present -dined with us today—Nichols of the 2nd Artillery, -Captain Smith (brother of G. W. Smith) -formerly Captain of Louisiana Volunteers now -an amateur, Captain Crump of the Mississippi -Volunteers—fine fellows all. Saw Bailie Peyton -and some others pass our encampment this morning -from Monterey. I am now writing in the -guard tent (I go on guard every other day). -Immediately in front are sand hills, same on the -right, same in the rear, sandy plain on the left. -To the left of the sand hills in front are a number -of wagons parked, to the left of them a pound -containing about 200 mules, to the left and in -front of that about fifty sloops, schooners, brigs -and steamboats; to the left of that and three -miles from us may be seen Point Isabel.</p> - -<p>Camp opposite Camargo,<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> November 15th,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> -1846. We marched from Brazos to the mouth -of the Rio Grande and on arriving there found -ourselves without tents, provisions or working -utensils, a cold Norther blowing all the time. -We, however, procured what we needed from the -Quarter Master and made the men comfortable -until the arrival of Captain Swift with the wagons, -who reached the mouth late in the afternoon, -whilst we got there about 10 A. M. Thanks to -Churchill’s kindness G. W. Smith and myself -got along very well. We left in the Corvette -the next morning (Sunday) for Matamoros, -where we arrived at about 5 P. M. The Rio -Grande is a very narrow, muddy stream. The -channel is very uncertain, changing from day to -day. The banks are covered with the mesquite -trees, canes, cabbage trees, etc. The ranches are -rather sparse, but some of them are very prettily -situated. They all consist of miserable huts built -of mesquite logs and canes placed upright—the -interstices filled with mud. The roofs are -thatched, either with canes or the leaves of the -cabbage tree (a species of palmetto). Cotton -appears to grow quite plentifully on the banks, -but is not cultivated at all. The Mexicans appear -to cultivate nothing whatever but a little -Indian corn (maize). They are certainly the -laziest people in existence—living in a rich and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> -fertile country (the banks of the river at least) -they are content to roll in the mud, eat their horrible -beef and tortillas and dance all night at -their fandangos. This appears to be the character -of the Mexicans as far as I have seen, but -they will probably improve as we proceed further -in the country.</p> - -<p>Matamoros is situated about a quarter mile -from the river. Some of the houses on the principal -streets are of stone, there is one near the -Plaza built in the American style with three -stories and garrets. All the rest are regular Mexican. -On the Plaza is an unfinished cathedral, -commenced on a grand scale, but unfinished from -a want of funds. The great majority of the -houses are of log. The place is quite Americanized -by our army and the usual train of sutlers, -etc., etc.,—you can get almost everything you -want there. We were encamped near the landing. -I rode over to Resaca and Palo Alto, but as there -is just now a prospect of our returning to Matamoros, -before moving on Tampico, I shall write -no description of the fields until I have visited -them again. After being sick for nearly two -weeks in Matamoros I left with the company for -Camargo on the “Whiteville,” where we arrived -two weeks ago tomorrow, and I have been in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> -Hospital Quarters ever since until day before -yesterday.<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> - -<p>Now I am in camp, the wind blowing the dust -in such perfect clouds that it is perfectly horrible—one -can hardly live through it. My quarters -in Camargo were the <i>Palace</i> of Don Jesus, the -brother of the Alcalde [Mayor of the town]—he -(the Don) having absquatatated [sic]. The main -body of the <i>Palace</i> (!) is one storied. It consists -of two rooms—the smaller one occupied by Dr. -Turner, the other by “Legs” and myself (together -with Jimmie Stuart for a part of the -time). The floor is of hard earth, the walls white, -and very fancifully decorated with paintings—the -roof flat and painted green—an inscription -on it showing that “Se acabó [This house was finished] -esta casa <i>entiaso</i> [this word is not Spanish] -Dio[s] &c. &c. 1829.” Altogether it was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> -quite a recherché establishment. Jimmie Stuart -came down to take care of me when I first got -there, and after doing so with his usual kindness -was unfortunately taken with a fever, and had to -stay there anyhow.<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> - -<p>We are to accompany General Patterson<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> to -Tampico. I hope and suppose that we will have -a fight there, then join General Taylor, <i>then</i> hey -for San Luis [Potosi] and another fight.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span>December 5th [1846]. Mouth of the Rio -Grande. After getting up quite an excitement -about a fight at Tampico etc., we were completely -floored by the news that the navy had <i>taken</i> it -without firing a single gun<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a>—the place having -been abandoned by the Mexican troops, who are -doubtless being concentrated at San Luis Potosi -in anticipation of a grand attack on the place—ah! -if we only fool them by taking Vera Cruz -and its castle, and then march on the capital—we -would have them completely. After a great -many orders and counter orders we have at length -arrived thus far on our way to Tampico. We -left Camargo on Sunday evening last (November -29th) in the corvette, with Generals Patterson -and Pillow<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> and a number of other officers -(among them Captain Hunter 2nd Dragoons, -Major Abercrombie, Captain Winship, Seth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> -Williams,<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> and about a thousand volunteers). -We had decidedly a bad passage—running on -sand bars very often—being blown up against -a bank by the wind—breaking the rudder twice, -etc., etc. We left General P[atterson], Captain -Swift and many others at Matamoros. The General -started with the intention of going to Tampico -by sea—all the troops (except the Tennessee -cavalry) were to go by sea, but at Reinosa an -express overtook us ordering the General to proceed -by land with all the troops except this company, -which <i>is</i> to go by sea (!). Captain Swift -remained at Matamoros on account of his health.</p> - -<p>I was perfectly disgusted coming down the -river. I found that every confounded Voluntario -in the “Continental Army” ranked me—to be -ranked and put aside for a soldier of yesterday, -a miserable thing with buttons on it, that knows -nothing whatever, is indeed too hard a case. I -have pretty much made up my mind that if I -cannot increase my <i>rank</i> in this war, I shall resign -shortly after the close of it. I cannot stand -the idea of being a Second Lieutenant all my life. -I have learned some valuable lessons in this war.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> -I am (I hope and believe) pretty well cured of -castle building. I came down here with high -hopes, with pleasing anticipations of distinction, -of being in hard fought battles and acquiring a -name and reputation as a stepping stone to a -still greater eminence in some future and greater -war. I felt that if I could have a chance I could -do <i>something</i>; but what has been the result—the -real state of the case? The first thing that greeted -my ears upon arriving off Brazos was the news -of the battle of Monterey<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>—the place of all -others where this Company and its officers would -have had an ample field for distinction. There -was a grand miss, but, thank heaven, it could not -possibly have been avoided by us. Well, since -then we have been dodging about—waiting a -week here—two weeks there for the pontoon -train—a month in the dirt somewhere else—doing -nothing—half the company sick—have been sick -myself for more than a month and a half—and -here we are going to Tampico. What will be the -next thing it is impossible to guess at. We <i>may</i> -go to San Luis—we <i>may</i> go to Vera Cruz—we -<i>may</i> go home from Tampico, we <i>may</i> see a -fight, or a dozen of them—<i>or</i> we may not see a -shot fired. I have made up my mind to act the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> -philosopher—to take things as they come and -not worry my head about the future—to try to -get perfectly well—and above all things to see -as much <i>fun</i> as I can “scare up” in the country.</p> - -<p>I have seen more suffering since I came out -here than I could have imagined to exist. It is -really awful. I allude to the sufferings of the -Volunteers. They literally die like dogs. Were -it all known in the States, there would be no more -hue and cry against the Army, all would be willing -to have so large a regular army that we could -dispense entirely with the volunteer system. The -suffering among the Regulars is comparatively -trifling, for their officers know their duty and -take good care of the men.<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>I have also come to the conclusion that the -Quartermaster’s Department is most wofully -conducted—never trust anything to that Department -which you can do for yourself. If you need -horses for your trains, etc., carry them with you. -As to provisions (for private use) get as much<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> -as possible from the Commissaries—you get -things from them at one-half the price you pay -sutlers. Smith has ridden over to Brazos de -Santiago to endeavor to make arrangements for -our immediate transportation to Tampico. Captain -Hunter went with him on my mare. They -return in the morning. Whilst at Camargo, -Smith had a discussion with General Patterson -about his (General Patterson’s) right to order -us when en route to join General Taylor, under<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> -orders from Head Quarters at Washington. The -General was obliged to succumb and admit the -truth of the principle “That an officer of Engineers -is not subject to the orders of every superior -officer, but only to those of his immediate -chief, and that General (or other high officer) -to whom he may be ordered to report for duty.”</p> - -<p>There goes Gerber with his tattoo—so I must -stop for the present.</p> - -<p>December 6th [1846]. Go it Weathercocks! -Received an order from Major McCall<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> this -morning to go back to Matamoros, as we are to -<i>march</i> to Tampico, via Victoria, with the column -under General Patterson.<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> Smith is away at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> -Brazos and if the order had been one day and -a half later we would have been off to Tampico -by sea. Have fine sea bathing here. It is blowing -very hard from the south east, so much so -as to raise the sand too much for comfort entirely. -Bee and Ward at the Brazos—coming over this -morning—will at least have an opportunity of -giving Georgie that letter of Madame Scott’s! -I feel pleased at the idea of going by land—we -will have a march to talk about, and may very -probably have a fight on the way. I firmly believe -that we will have a brush before reaching -Tampico. Unfortunately the whole column is -Voluntario.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>January 2nd, 1847. Rancho Padillo, on Soto -la Marina river. I “firmly believed” we would -have a brush!—the devil I did!—and a pretty -fool I was to think I’d have such good luck as -that. I’ve given it up entirely. But I was right -in the other—the whole column <i>is</i> Voluntario—and -a pretty column it is too. To go on with -our affairs.—We reached Matamoros on the 8th -[December] and encamped on the river bank -just below the Mexican batteries. Smith went -down to the mouth [of the river] again to select -tools for the march, leaving me in command. -After various orders and counter orders we were -finally (December 21st) directed to appear upon -the Plaza as early as possible in order to march -to El Moquete, where General Pillow was encamped -with the 3rd and 4th Illinois Volunteers. -“Mind, Mr. Smith” said the old Mustang<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> the -night before, “mind and appear as early as possible, -so that you may not delay us”—all this with -that air of dignity and importance so peculiarly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> -characteristic of Mustangs; well we got up at -daybreak and reached the Plaza a little after -seven, immediately reported ourselves ready to -start and were informed that we should wait for -the guide who was <i>momentarily</i> expected. We -were to march in advance, then the wagon train, -then Gibson with his artillery (a twelve pounder -field piece and twenty-four pounder howitzer) -was to bring up the rear.</p> - -<p>I waited and waited in the hot sun on the -Plaza, watched the men gorging themselves with -oranges, sausages etc., them took to swearing by -way of consolation. When I had succeeded in -working myself into a happy frame of mind -(about one o’clock) old Abercrombie<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> ordered -Gibson to start in advance and our company to -bring up the rear. I wont attempt to describe -the beauties of forming a rear guard of a wagon -train. Suffice it to say that the men straggled -a great deal, some got rather drunk, all very -tired. We reached the banks of El Arroyo Tigre -about 8 o’clock (two hours after dark) and then -encamped as we best could.</p> - -<p>I rode on in advance of the company to see -El Tigre and found Gibson amusing himself by -endeavoring to curse a team (a caisson) across -the river, which (the caisson, not the river—well,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> -<i>both were</i>, after all) had got mired in the middle. -I rode back and met the company about one mile -from the camp ground, struggling along—tired -to death and straining their eyes to see water -through the darkness. I consoled them somewhat -by telling them that it was not more than a mile -to the water, but they soon found that a mile on -foot was a great deal longer than a mile on horseback. -However, we got there at last, pitched our -camp, and soon forgot all our troubles in sound -sleep.</p> - -<p>I rode in advance next morning through the -long wagon train to find a new ford. We crossed -and encamped with General Pillow’s Brigade. -Went down to Major Harris’ (4th Illinois) tent, -where I had a fine drink of brandy and the unspeakable -satisfaction of seeing a democratic Volunteer -Captain (in his shirt sleeves) sit, with -the greatest unconcern, on a tent peg for at least -an hour. Gibson and I then went to Winship’s -tent where we found G. W. [Smith] and an -invitation to dine with General Pillow.</p> - -<p>During dinner it began to rain like bricks. -We adjourned to Winship’s tent, and the sight -we presented would have amused an hermit. The -water [was] about an inch deep in the tent, and -we four sitting on the bed passing around a tumbler -continually replenished from that old keg<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> -of commissary whiskey—oh lord! how it did fly -’round! and we were as happy a set of soldiers -as ever lived “in spite of wind and weather.” -“Whoa Winship,” says Gibson, “that’s too -strong” so he drank it all to keep us from being -injured. Well, we amused ourselves in this way -until dark—then we waded back to our respective -domiciles (is a tent a domicile?) having previously -seen old Patt make his grand entrée in -the midst of a hard rain—<i>he</i> in Dr. Wright’s<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> -covered wagon (looking for all the world like an -old Quaker farmer going to market), his escort -and staff dripping with the rain. <i>We</i> wondered -why they looked so dismal and thought that it -had not been such a horrid bad day after all!</p> - -<p>This evening G. W. [Smith] and myself had -a grand cursing match over an order from the -“stable” requiring a detail from our camp to -pitch and unpitch the General’s tents etc. However, -we sent them just about the meanest detail -that they ever saw. At this place our large army -was divided into two columns. We moved at -the head of the first column. General Pillow -came on one day after us.</p> - -<p>We started about 7.30—a bright sunny morning. -Nothing of interest this day—the men improved -in their marching. We encamped about<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> -three o’clock at Guijano, where there were two -ponds of very good water. We had a beautiful -spot for our encampment, and a most delightful -moonlight evening. There is one house—hut -rather—at this place. From Matamoros to this -place the road is excellent requiring no repairs—chaparral -generally thick on roadside—one or -two small prairies—road would be boggy in wet -weather. From Matamoros to Moquete [is] -about ten miles, from El Moquete to El Guijano -about ten miles.</p> - -<p>On the next day (December 24th) we marched -to Santa Teresa, a distance of 27 miles. It was -on this march that we (i. e. Songo<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>) made the -“raise” on General Patterson’s birds. He sent -us four for supper. We ate as many as we could -and had five left for breakfast—fully equal to the -loaves and fishes this. We stopped for nearly -an hour at Salina—a pond of rather bad water -about half way to Santa Teresa—what a rush -the Voluntarios made for the water! When we -arrived we found the mustang crowd taking their -lunch.<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> As Songo had just then made one of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> -his periodical disappearances we were left without -anything to eat for some time, but at last we -descried him caracoling across the prairie on -his graceful charger. The mustangs did not have -the politeness to ask us to partake of their lunch, -but when Songo <i>did come our</i> brandy was better -than theirs anyhow. At Santa Teresa the water -was very bad—being obtained from a tancho. I -bluffed off a volunteer regiment some 100 yards -from our camp. As the Lieutenant Colonel of -this same regiment (3rd Illinois) was marching -them along by the flank he gave the command<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> -“by file left march!”—to bring it on the color -line. The leading file turned at about an angle -of 30 degrees. “Holloa there” says the Colonel -“you man there, you dont know how to file.” -“The h—l I dont” yells the man “d—n you, I’ve -been marching all day, and I guess I’m tired.”</p> - -<p>Road good—passes principally through prairie—at -Salina wood scarce in immediate vicinity of -the water, plenty about three quarters of a mile -from it. Wood not very plenty at Santa Teresa—enough -however.</p> - -<p>December 25th. We started at sunrise, and -it was a sunrise well worthy of the day. A cloud -obscured the sun at first, but it seemed a cloud -of the brightest, purest gold, and the whole east -was tinged with a hue which would defy the art -of man to imitate. It was one of those scenes -which occur but once in many years, and which -elevate us for a moment above the common range -of our thoughts. In an instant I thought of my -whole life, of the happy Christmas days of my -childhood, of my mother, of the very few others -I love—how happy Arthur and Mary<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> must -have been at that moment with their Christmas -gifts! When I was a child—as they are now—I -little thought that I should ever spend a Christmas -day upon the march, in Mexico. The time<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> -may come hereafter when I shall spend Christmas -in a way little anticipated by me on <i>this</i> -Christmas day. God grant that my troubles may -be as few and my thoughts as pleasant as they -were then!</p> - -<p>I rode off into the prairie—followed by Songo—and -in the excitement of chasing some rabbits -managed to lose the column. I at length found -my way back, and was told that I had created -quite an excitement. When I was first seen in -the distance they did not know whether I was -a Mexican or a white man. Patt, finally concluded -that I must be a straggling “Tennessee -horse,” gave the Colonel a blowing up for allowing -his men to leave the column, and directed him -to send out a guard to apprehend the “vagrom -man.” Just about that time Smith found out -what was going on, discovered who it was and -rectified the mistake.</p> - -<p>Passed Chiltipine about 11 A. M.—sent Songo -to buy eggs and milk. After we had passed about -a mile beyond the Ranche [Rancho, a hut], I -heard a peculiar neigh—which I recognized as -Jim’s—and loud laughing from the volunteers. -I turned around and saw Jim “streaking it -against time” for the mare—head up, eyes starting -and neighing at every jump, minus Songo. -I rode back to see what had become of the “faithful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> -Jumbo,” Jim following like a little puppy -dog. It appeared that Jim had thrown his “fidus -Achates.” When we stopped at Chiltipine Dr. -Wright gave us a drink of first rate brandy.</p> - -<p>At Chiltipine (or very near there) we left the -road and took a prairie path to the left. The -grass was so high that we found ourselves at -about 1 P. M. out of sight of the train and artillery. -Pat became very much agitated and ordered -a halt, glasses were put in requisition -(brandy and spy) but no train could be discovered. -Pat became highly excited and imagined -all kinds of accidents. At last some artillery -was discovered. Pat’s excitement reached its -highest pitch, for he took it into his head that -they were Mexicans. “Good G—d, Mr. Smith! -Take your glass—take your glass—those are our -artillery or something worse! I fear they have -been cut off.” However, it turned out to be Gibson, -and Pat’s countenance changed suddenly -from a “Bluntish,” blueish, ghastly white to a -silly grin.</p> - -<p>At last we reached our camp at a dirty, muddy -lake—ornamented by a dead jackass. Pat ensconced -himself in the best place with Tennessee -horse as a guard, put Gibson “in battery” on the -road, with us on his left flank—a large interval -between us and the Tennessee horse—a similar<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> -one between Gibson and the Illinois foot. Gibson -had orders to defend the road. How he was -to be informed of the approach of the enemy -“this deponent knoweth not,” such a thing as a -picket was not thought of. I suppose Pat -thought the guns old enough to speak for themselves.</p> - -<p>For our Christmas dinner we had a beefsteak -and some fried mush. Not quite so good as turkey -and mince pies, but we enjoyed it as much -as the cits at home did their crack dinners. We -finished a bottle of the Captain’s best sherry in -a marvellous short time. Songo looked as if he -thought we ought to be fuddled, but we were too -old soldiers for that. After dinner we started -off “to see Seth Williams,” but saw the mustangs -at their feed and “huevosed” the ranche. By the -bye, we thought that ordinary politeness would -have induced old Pat to have given us an invitation -to dine, but we spent our time more pleasantly -than we would have done there. We went -from Pat’s to Colonel Thomas’s, and returned -thence to Gibson, whom we found in a very good -humor, and whose Volunteer Sub-Lieutenant -(W——) was most gloriously and unroariously -[sic] corned. He yelled like a true Mohawk, -and swore that “little Jane” somebody had the -prettiest foot and hand in all Tennessee. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> -set the men a most splendid example of good -conduct and quietness, but what <i>can</i> you expect -from a Volunteer? One of his ideas was first -rate—“Just imagine old Patt being attacked by -the Mexicans, and running over here in his shirt -tail—breaking thro’ the pond with old Abercrombie -after him. The d—d old fox put us here -where he thought the enemy would get us. Suppose -they should come in on the other side? -D—n him we’d see him streaking over here, with -old McCall and Abercrombie after, their shirt -tails flying, by G—d.”</p> - -<p>December 26th. Marched 20 miles to San -Fernando where we arrived a little after sunset. -Road level until we arrived within about 5 miles -of San Fernando, when it became rocky and hilly -but always practicable. About 4 miles from San -Fernando we reached the summit of a hill from -which we beheld a basin of hills extending for -miles and miles—not unlike the hills between the -Hudson and Connecticut opposite West Point. -About two miles from San Fernando are some -wells of pretty good water—the men were very -thirsty—Gerber offered a volunteer half a dollar -for a canteen full of water. My little mare drank -until I thought she would kill herself. The -Alcalde and his escort met General Patterson -at this place. He was all bows, smiles and politeness.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> -<i>Murphy</i> of whom more anon had the honor -of taking San Fernando by storm. He was the -first to enter it, mounted on his gallant steed. -We first saw San Fernando as we arrived at the -summit of a high hill, the last rays of the sun -shining on its white houses, and the dome of the -“<i>Cathedral</i>” gave it a beautiful appearance. It -was a jewel in the midst of these uninhabited and -desert hills. We encamped in a hollow below the -town—had a small eggnog and dreamed of a hard -piece of work we had to commence on the morrow. -Mañana [tomorrow morning] por la -mañana.</p> - -<p>December 27th. We had our horses saddled -at reveillé and before sunrise were upon the -banks of El Rio de San Fernando—a clear, cold -and rapid mountain stream, about 40 yards wide -and two and a half feet deep—bottom of hard -gravel. We crossed the stream and found ourselves -the first American soldiers who had been -on the further bank. The approaches to the -stream from the town required some repairs, -nothing very bad—it was horrible on the other -side. As we again crossed the stream we halted -to enjoy the beautiful view—the first rays of the -sun gave an air of beauty and freshness to the -scene that neither pen nor pencil can describe.</p> - -<p>With a detail of 200 men and our own<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> -company we finished our work before dinner. -Walked up into the town in the afternoon. On -this day General Pillow overtook us. He had -a difficulty with a volunteer officer who mutinied, -drew a revolver on the General, etc., etc. The -General put him in charge of the guard—his regiment -remonstrated, mutinied, etc., and the matter -<i>was finally settled by the officer making an -apology</i>.</p> - -<p>December 28th. Crossed the stream before -sunrise under orders to move on with the Tennessee -horse one day in advance of the column -in order to repair a very bad ford at the next -watering place—Las Chomeras. Very tiresome -and fatiguing march of about 22 miles. Road -pretty good, requiring a few repairs here and -there. Water rather brackish. Very pretty encampment. -Stream about 20 yards wide and 18 -inches deep. No bread and hardly any meat for -supper.</p> - -<p>December 29th. Finished the necessary repairs -about 12 noon. We partook of some kid -and claret with Colonel Thomas. While there -General Patterson arrived and crossed the -stream, encamping on the other side. Waded -over the stream to see the Generals—were ordered -to move on in advance next morning with -two companies of horse and 100 infantry.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>December 30th. Started soon after daybreak -minus the infantry who were not ready. Joined -advanced guard, where Selby raised a grand -scare about some Indians who were lying in ambush -at a ravine called “los tres palos” in order -to attack us. When we reached the ravine the -guard halted and I rode on to examine it and -look for the Indians—I found a bad ravine but -no Indians.</p> - -<p>On this same day the Major commanding the -rear guard (Waterhouse, of the Tennessee Cavalry) -was told by a wagonmaster that the advanced -guard was in action with the Mexicans. -The men, in the rear guard, immediately imagined -that they could distinguish the sound of -cannon and musketry. The cavalry threw off -their saddle bags and set off at a gallop—the -infantry jerked off their knapsacks and put out—Major -and all deserted their posts on the bare -report of a wagonmaster that the advance was -engaged. A beautiful commentary this on the -“citizen soldiery.” Had we really been attacked -by 500 resolute men we must inevitably have been -defeated, although our column consisted of 1700—for -the road was narrow—some men would -have rushed one way, some another—all would -have been confusion—and all, from the General -down to the dirtiest rascal of the filthy crew,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -would have been scared out of their wits (if they -ever had any).</p> - -<p>Our 100 infantry dodged off before we had -done much work, and our own men did everything. -We reached Encinal about 4 P. M. after -a march of about 17 miles, and almost incessant -labor at repairs. It was on this day that <i>General</i> -Patterson sent back <i>Brigadier General</i> Pillow -to tell <i>Second Lieutenant</i> Smith to cut down a -tree around which it was impossible to go!!</p> - -<p>December 31st. We left Encinal at daybreak -and arrived at about 2 P. M. at Santander, o’ -Jimenez. Road good for about ten miles when -we found ourselves on the brow of a hill, some -350 feet above the vast plain, in the midst of -which was the little town of Santander. No other -indication of life was to be seen than its white -houses. The descent was very steep, the road -bad from the foot of the hill to Santander. We -had a slight stampede here, some one imagined -that he saw an armed troop approaching (which -turned out to be the Alcalde and his suite). We -passed the town, crossed the river and encamped. -Songo got 19 eggs and we had a “bust.” Colonel -Thomas turned out some whiskey to Gibson for -an eggnog—before he arrived the eggnog was -gone. I have some indistinct ideas of my last -<i>sensible</i> moments being spent in kneeling on my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> -bed, and making an extra eggnog on the old -mess chest. I dont recollect whether I drank it -or not, but as the pitcher was empty the next -morning, I rather fancy that I must have done so.</p> - -<p>January 1st, 1847. Woke up and found the -ridge pole <i>off</i> at one end. I rather suspect that -G. W. [Smith] must have done it by endeavoring -to see the old year out—perhaps the new one -came in via our tent, and did the damage in its -passage. We began the new year by starting -on the wrong road. After invading about two -miles of the enemies’ country we were overtaken -by an officer at full gallop, who informed us that -the column had taken another road and that we -must make our way to the front as we best could. -Smith had been informed the preceding day by -Winship (General Pillow’s Adjutant General) -that the road we took was the right one to Victoria. -We quickly discovered the magnitude of -our mistake, for we got amongst the Volunteers, -and the lord deliver us from ever getting into -such a scrape again. Falstaff’s company were -regulars in comparison with these fellows—most -of them without coats; some would have looked -much better without <i>any pants</i> than with the -parts of pants they wore; all had torn and dirty -shirts—uncombed heads—unwashed faces—they -were dirt and filth from top to toe. Such marching!<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> -They were marching by the flank, yet the -road was not wide enough to hold them and it -was with the greatest difficulty that you could -get by—all hollowing, cursing, yelling like so -many incarnate fiends—no attention or respect -paid to the commands of their officers, whom they -would curse as quickly as they would look at -them. They literally straggled along for miles.</p> - -<p>In making a short cut through the chaparral -we came upon a detachment of <i>mounted Volunteers</i>, -amongst whom the famous Murphy, captor -of two cities, stood out predominant. He was -mounted on the “<i>crittur</i>” he had “<i>drawn</i>,” i. e. -stolen in the bushes. The beast was frisky and -full of life at first, but by dint of loading him -down with knapsacks and muskets he had tamed -him pretty well. Imagine an Irishman some six -feet, two inches high, seated on the “hindmost -slope of the rump” of a jackass about the size -of an ordinary Newfoundland dog, his legs extended -along its sides, and the front part of the -beast loaded down with knapsacks etc. Murphy -<i>steered</i> the animal with his legs, every once and -a while administering a friendly kick on the head, -by way of reminding him that <i>he</i> was thar.</p> - -<p>When we crossed the San Fernando I saw a -Mexican endeavoring to make two little jackasses -cross. He was unable to do so and finally sold<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> -them to a Volunteer for fifty cents; the Volunteer -got them over safely. After regaling ourselves -with a view of Murphy we considered ourselves -fully repaid for the extra distance we had -marched. At last we gained our place at the -head of the column and arrived at Marquesoto -about 12 noon, without further incident—except -that General Pillow appropriated one of our big -buckets to the purpose of obtaining water from -the well. We had a very pretty ground for our -encampment and had a fine eggnog that night, -with Winship to help us drink it. From Santander -to Marquesoto about ten miles.</p> - -<p>January 2nd. Started before daylight, Captain -Snead’s Company in advance. Road very -rough, covered with loose stones—could not improve -it with the means at our command. Pat -thought we might have done it—but hang Pat’s -opinion. Saw for the first time the beautiful -flower of the Spanish bayonet—a pyramid, about -two and a half or three feet high, composed of -hundreds of white blossoms. Pat immediately -began to talk about “δενδρον” this and “δενδρον” -that—and the “δενδρα” in his conservatory. San -Antonio is the place where Iturbide<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> was taken—as -Arista’s map says.... It is a large yellow -house—looking quite modern in the wilderness.</p> - - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_051.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="caption"><small>Facsimile reproduction of McClellan’s manuscript.</small><br /> - -<span class="smcap">First Page of the Mexican War Diary.</span></p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>The crossing at the stream was very bad, and -required a great deal of work. Major McCall -thought it would take two days—in two days we -were at Victoria. The stream is a branch of the -Soto la Marina and is called San Antonio. It -is a clear cold stream—the banks lined with -cypress trees—the first I ever saw. Pat (after -ringing in to the owner of the ranch for a dinner) -ensconced himself in the roots of a large cypress -and with a countenance expressing mingled emotions -of fear, anxiety, impatience and disgust -watched the progress of the work—yelled at -everyone who rode into the water etc., etc.</p> - -<p>January 3rd. We started before daylight and -succeeded in getting clear of the volunteer camp<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> -by dint of great exertions. After marching about -five miles through a fertile river bottom we -reached the main branch of the Soto la Marina, -a most beautiful stream of the clearest, coldest, -most rapid water I ever saw—about sixty yards -wide and three feet deep. Songo had some trouble -in crossing without being washed off “Jim.”</p> - -<p>Padilla is situated on the banks of this stream—an -old town rapidly going to ruin—with a -quaint old Cathedral built probably 200 years -ago, if not more. After marching about twelve -miles more we reached the stream of La Corona, -another branch of La Marina, similar in its character -to the others. After working for about -an hour on the banks we encamped on the further -side. The Tennessee horse gave our men a “lift” -over both the last streams—some of the Sappers<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> -had evidently never been mounted before.</p> - -<p>January 4th. Very early we started for Victoria—and -had to work our way through the -camp of the Illinois regiments which was placed -along the road. At last we cleared them and -found ourselves marching by moonlight through -a beautiful grove of pecan trees. I know nothing -more pleasant than this moonlight marching, -everything is so beautiful and quiet. Every few<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> -moments a breath of warm air would strike our -faces—reminding us that we were almost beneath -the Tropic. After we had marched for about -four hours we heard a little more yelling than -usual among the Volunteers. Smith turned his -horse to go and have it stopped when who should -we see but the General and his staff in the midst -of the yelling. We concluded that <i>they</i> must be -yelling too, so we let them alone. This is but -one instance of the many that occurred when -these Mustang Generals were actually <i>afraid</i> to -exert their authority upon the Volunteers.—<i>Their -popularity would be endangered.</i> I have -seen enough on this march to convince me that -Volunteers and Volunteer Generals wont do. I -have repeatedly seen a Second Lieutenant of the -regular army exercise more authority over the -Volunteers—<i>officers and privates</i>—than a Mustang -General.</p> - -<p>The road this day was very good and after a -march of about seventeen miles we reached Victoria. -The Volunteers had out their flags, etc.—those -that had uniforms put them on, <i>especially -the commandant of the advanced guard</i>. Picks -and shovels were put up—Generals halted and -collected their staffs, and in they went in grand -procession—evidently endeavoring to create the -impression that they had marched in this way all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> -the way—the few regular officers along laughing -enough to kill themselves.</p> - -<p>General [John A.] Quitman came out to meet -General Patterson—but old Zach [Taylor], who -arrived with his regulars about an hour before -we did, stayed at home like a sensible man.<a id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> We -made fools of ourselves (not we either, for I was -laughing like a <i>wise man</i> all the time) by riding -through the streets to General Quitman’s quarters -where we had wine and fruit. Then we rode -down to the camp ground—a miserable stony -field—we in one corner of it, the “Continental -Army” all over the rest of it. We at last got -settled. About dark started over to General -Taylor’s camp. Before I had gone 200 yards -I met the very person I was going to see—need<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> -not say how glad I was to meet him after a two -months absence.</p> - -<p>This reminds me that when at Matamoros—a -day or two before we started on the march—we -received the news of poor Norton’s death. I had -written a letter to him the day before which was -in my portfolio when I heard of his death. The -noble fellow met his death on board the Atlantic, -which was lost in Long Island Sound near New -London on the 27th November 1846. Captain -Cullum and Lieutenant C. S. Stewart were both -on board, and both escaped. Norton exerted -himself to the last to save the helpless women and -children around him—but in accordance with the -strange presentiment that had been hanging over -him for some time, he lost his own life. He was -buried at West Point—which will seem to me -a different place without him.</p> - -<p>One night when at Victoria I was returning -from General Taylor’s camp and was halted -about 150 yards from our Company by a Volunteer -sentinel. As I had not the countersign I -told him who I was. He said I should not go -by him. I told him “Confound you I wont stay -out here all night.” Said he “You had no business -to go out of camp.” Said I “Stop talking, -you scoundrel, and call the Corporal of the -Guard.”—“I ain’t got no orders to call for the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> -Corporal and wont do it—you may, though, if -you want.” “What’s the number of your post?” -“Dont know.” “Where’s the Guard tent?” “Dont -know.”—As I was debating whether to make a -rush for it, or to seek some softer hearted specimen -of patriotism, another sentinel called out to -me “Come this way, Sir!”—It appeared that the -first fellow’s post extended to one side of the -road, and the last one’s met it there.—“Come this -way, Sir” said he, “Just pass around this bush -and go in.” “Hurrah for you” said I, “you’re -a trump, and that other fellow is a good for nothing -blaguard.”</p> - -<p>Left Victoria January 13th and arrived at -Tampico on the 23rd. Wednesday January 13th. -From Victoria to Santa Rosa four leagues. Road -not very hilly, but had to be cut through thick -brush; two very bad wet arroyos [gulches] were -bridged. Santa Rosa a miserable ranche—could -only get a half dozen eggs and a little pig in the -whole concern—good water <i>in the stream</i>.</p> - -<p>[January] 14th. Started before daylight and -before going 200 yards we <i>landed</i> in a lake—the -road, or path, passed directly through it, and -during the rest of the day it was necessary to -cut the road through thick brush—no cart had -ever been there before. Bridged two wet arroyos -and encamped about sunset by a little stream.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> -Just as enough water had been procured the -stream was turned off—probably by the Mexicans. -We had a stampede this day. Rode on -about six miles with the guide. Country a perfect -wilderness—not a ranche between Santa -Rosa and Fordleone.</p> - -<p>[January] 15th. Started early, road cut -through a mesquit[e] forest, many gullies, two -bad arroyos before reaching El Pastor. Here -General Twiggs<a id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> caught us, about 11 A. M., -army encamped, but we went on. I worked the -road for about five miles, and started back at 4<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> -[o’clock]. Smith and Guy de L....<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> rode on -about ten miles. Road better but very stony. -“Couldn’t come the cactus” over Guy de L.... -this day. He (G. de L.) shot five partridges at -a shot which made us a fine supper.</p> - -<p>[January] 16th. Reveillé at 3—started at 4—arrived -at end of preceding day’s work just at -daybreak. Road very stony in many places—swore -like a trooper all day—arrived at Arroyo -Albaquila about 11 [A. M.]. Twiggs came up -and helped us wonderfully by his swearing—got -over in good time—cussed our way over another -mile and a half—then encamped by the same -stream—water very good.</p> - -<p>[January] 17th. Started before daybreak—road -quite good—prairie land—arrived at Fordleone -or Ferlón at about half after ten. Fine -large stream of excellent water—good ford—gravelly -bottom—gentle banks. 11 miles.</p> - -<p>[January] 18th. Reveillé at 3. Started long -before daybreak—eyes almost whipped out of my -head in the dark by the branches. Crossed the -Rio Persas again at a quarter before seven—road<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> -rather stony in some places, but generally -good. Great many palmetto trees—beautiful -level country, covered with palmettos and cattle. -“Struck” a bottle of aguardiente, or sugar cane -rum. Made a fine lunch out of cold chicken and -rum toddy—had another toddy when we arrived -at our journey’s end. Water from a stream, -but bad.... Rode on about three miles and -found the road pretty good.</p> - -<p>[January] 19th. On comparing notes at -reveillé found that the rum and polonay had made -us all sick.<a id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> Started at 5, road pretty good. -Much open land, fine pasture—great deal of cattle. -Reached Alamitos at about 9 A. M.—fine -hacienda [farm]—good water, in a stream. Had -a bottle of champagne for lunch—thanks to General -Smith. From this place to Tampico, the -principal labor consisted in making a practicable -wagon road across the numerous arroyos—most -of them dry at the time we passed: the banks<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> -very steep. Altamira is a pretty little town, one -march from Tampico. The road between them -passes through a very magnificent forest of live -oaks. We encamped three miles from Tampico -for about four days, and then moved into quarters -in the town—the quarters so well known as -“The Bullhead Tav<i>arn</i>.”</p> - -<p>Tampico is a delightful place<a id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a>—we passed a -very pleasant time there, and left it with regret. -We found the Artillery regiments encamped -around the city. Many of the officers came out -to meet us near Altamira. Champagne suppers -were the order of the day (night I should say) -for a long time. From Victoria to Tampico we -were detached with Guy Henry’s company of -the 3rd—and Gantt’s of the 7th—Henry messed -with us. When within about four days march -of Tampico we saw in front of us Mount Bernal, -which is shaped like a splendid dome.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>We left Tampico<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> at daylight on the 24th -February [1847] on board a little schooner called -the Orator—a fast sailer, but with very inferior -accommodations. I really felt sorry to leave the -old “Bullhead Tavarn” where I had passed so -many pleasant moments. The view of the fine -city of Tampico as we sailed down the river was -beautiful. Its delightful rides, its beautiful -rivers, its lagoons and pleasant Café will ever be -present to my mind. Some of the happiest hours -of my life were passed in this same city—Santa -Anna de Tamaulipas.</p> - -<p>On arriving at Lobos<a id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> we found that we had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> -arrived a day in advance of the “Army of the -Rhine,” which had started a day before us. Lobos -is a small island formed by a coral reef—about -18 or 20 miles from the shore, forming under its -lee a safe but not very pleasant anchorage. I -went on shore but found nothing remarkable. -Some 60 vessels were there when we started. At -last the order was given to sail for Point Anton -Lizardo. We sailed next but one after the generals -and arrived before any of them except -Twiggs. We ran on the reef under the lee of -Salmadina Island, were immediately taken off -by the navy boats which put us on shore where -we were very kindly received by the Rocketeers. -It was a great relief to get rid of that confounded -red and white flag—“send a boat with an officer”—and -the disagreeable duty of reporting to the -‘Generál en Géfe’ every morning. A French -sailor of the Orator undertook to pilot us and -carried us on a reef of what he called Sacrificios<a id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> -but what turned out to be Anton Lizardo.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>On the morning of the 9th of March we were -removed from the Orator to the steamer Edith, -and after three or four hours spent in transferring -the troops to the vessels of war and steamers, -we got under weigh and sailed for Sacrificios. At -half past one we were in full view of the town -[Vera Cruz] and castle, with which we soon were -to be very intimately acquainted.</p> - -<p>Shortly after anchoring the preparations for -landing commenced, and the 1st (Worth’s)<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> -Brigade was formed in tow of the “Princeton” -in two long lines of surf boats—bayonets fixed -and colors flying. At last all was ready, but just -before the order was given to cast off a shot -whistled over our heads. “Here it comes” thought -everybody, “now we will catch it.” When the -order was given the boats cast off and forming -in three parallel lines pulled for the shore, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> -a word was said—everyone expected to hear and -feel their batteries open every instant. Still we -pulled on and on—until at last when the first -boats struck the shore those behind, in the fleet, -raised that same cheer which has echoed on all -our battlefields—we took it up and such cheering -I never expect to hear again—except on the field -of battle.</p> - -<p>Without waiting for the boats to strike the -men jumped in up to their middles in the water -and the battalions formed on their colors in an -instant—our company was the right of the reserve -under [Lieut.-] Colonel Belton. Our company -and the 3rd Artillery ascended the sand -hills and saw—<i>nothing</i>. We slept in the sand—wet -to the middle. In the middle of the night -we were awakened by musketry—a skirmish between -some pickets. The next morning we were -sent to unload and reload the “red iron boat”—after -which we resumed our position and took our -place in the line of investment. Before we commenced -the investment, the whole army was -drawn up on the beach. We took up our position -on a line of sand hills about two miles from -the town. The Mexicans amused themselves by -firing shot and shells at us—all of which (with -one exception) fell short.</p> - -<p>The sun was most intensely hot, and there was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> -not a particle of vegetation on the sand hills which -we occupied. Captain Swift found himself unable -to stand it, and at about half past twelve -gave up the command to G. W. Smith and went -on board the “Massachusetts” that same afternoon. -He did not resume the command, but returned -to the United States. He died in New -Orleans on the 24th of April.</p> - -<p>About one we were ordered to open a road to -Malibran (a ruined monastery at the head of -the lagoon). The Mohawks had been skirmishing -around there, but, as I was afterward informed -by some of their officers, that they fired -more on each other than on the Mexicans. After -cutting the road to Malibran we continued it as -far as the railroad—a party of Volunteers doing -the work and some 25 of our men acting as a -guard. When we arrived at the railroad, we -found it and the chaparral occupied by the Mexicans. -<i>Our</i> men had a skirmish with them—charged -the chaparral and drove them out of it.</p> - -<p>We returned to Malibran and bivouacked on -the wet grass without fires—hardly anything to -eat—wet and cold. Got up in the morning and -resumed our work on the road—from the railroad -to the “high bare sand hill”—occupied by the -Pennsylvanians the night before. The work was -very tedious, tiresome and difficult—the hill very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> -high and steep—and the work not at all facilitated -by the shells and shot that continually fell -all around us. At last we cut our way to the -summit—tired to death. A M—— rifleman was -killed this morning by a 24 pound shot—on top -of the hill. Lieutenant Colonel Dickenson and -some few Volunteers were wounded by escopette<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> -balls.</p> - -<p>I was sent up in the morning to find the best -path for our road and just as I got up to the top -of the hill the bullets commenced whistling like -hail around me. Some Lancers<a id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> were firing at -the Volunteers—who were very much confused -and did not behave well. Taylor’s Battery and -the rest of Twiggs’s Division moved over the hill -towards their position on the left of the line. -Worth’s Division (or Brigade as it was then -called) occupied the right of the investment, the -Mohawks under Patterson the centre, and -Twiggs the left. After resting our men at Malibran, -we moved back to our old position with the -3rd Artillery, where we bivouacked.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>I had observed on the preceding day the position -of the aqueduct supplying the city with -water. I told Lieutenant Beauregard<a id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> next -morning what I had seen. He reported it to -Colonel [Joseph G.] Totten [Chief of Engineers] -and Smith and myself were ordered to -cut off the water, Foster remaining at home. We -took a party, cut off the water, Smith exploded -a humbug of Gid Pillow’s and we started on a -reconnoitring expedition of our own. I stopped -to kill a “slow deer” and Smith went on. I then -followed him with three men and overtook him -a little this side of the cemetery. We went on -to within 900 yards of the city and at least a mile -and a half in advance of the line of investment—ascertained -the general formation of the ground -and where to reconnoitre. We returned after -dark, Foster much troubled as to what had become -of us. It was upon reporting to Colonel -Totten on this night (12th) that he said that I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> -and G. W. [Smith] were the only officers who -had as yet given him any information of value—that -we had done more than all the rest, etc., etc. -All forgotten with the words as they left his -mouth—vide his official report of the siege. G. -W. and myself will never forget how we passed -this blessed night—(new fashioned dance).</p> - -<p>On the next day Foster was sent after our baggage -and camp equipage. I was ordered to move -the company and pitch the tents on a spot on the -extreme right. Smith went out with Major -[John L.] Smith to where we had been the night -before, but went no further toward the city than -we had been.</p> - -<p>[March 14th]. The next day Foster was detailed -to assist Major Smith and Beauregard in -measuring a base line etc. on the sand hills. -G. W. and myself went to the lime kiln in the -morning, where we saw Captain [John R.] Vinton, -Van Vliet, Laing, Rodgers and Wilcox -(Cadmus)—took a good look at the town and its -defences—and determined to go along the ridge -by the cemetery that night and to go nearer the -city. While at the lime kiln an order was received -from General Worth informing Captain -Vinton that the enemy’s picquets would be driven -in that day and that <i>he</i> (Captain Vinton) must -not attempt to support them—as there were -strong reserves.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span>We returned to camp, got our dinner and -started again—being a little fearful that our -picquets would be so far advanced as to interfere -with our operations. But we found them about -150 yards in advance of the line of investment, -stooping, whispering, and acting as if they expected -to be fired upon every moment—whilst -we had been a mile and a half in advance of their -position with a dozen men. They were at first -disposed to dissuade us from going on—as being -too dangerous etc. We went on though, accompanied -by Captain Walker of the 6th. The Captain -left us before we got to the cemetery. I -took one man (Sergeant Starr) and went down -to reconnoitre it—in order to ascertain whether -it was occupied by the enemy, whilst G. W. -[Smith] went on to examine a hill which covered -the valley from Santiago and the Castle to some -extent. I went down to the cemetery (finding -a good road) went around it and got in it—satisfying -myself that it was not occupied. I rejoined -G. W. and together we went on very near the -town. We returned late, being the only officers -of any corps who had gone as far as, much less -beyond the cemetery.</p> - -<p>[March] 15th. The next day we were ordered -to cut an infantry road as far as the cemetery. -We found that one had been cut before we got<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> -out by Captain Johnson as far as the old grave -yard. We cut one completely concealed from -view from there to the hollow immediately opposite -the cemetery. Captain Walker’s company -was behind the cemetery. Whilst there one of -his sentinels reported the approach of some -Lancers. They stopped at a house about 30 -yards from the other side of the cemetery—and -came no farther. On the strength of the approach -of these 15 or 20 Lancers a report got -back to camp that the advanced picquets had been -attacked by a strong force of Mexicans—so on -our return we met nearly the whole division -marching out to drive them back—litters for the -“<i>to be</i> wounded” and all. It was a glorious stampede—well -worthy of Bold Billy Jenkins.</p> - -<p>[March] 16th. The next day we went out -[and] met Major Scott who went with G. W. -to [the] position afterward occupied by the six -gun battery—whilst I had a hole made through -the cemetery wall and broke into the chapel—hoping -to be able to reach the dome, and ascertain -from that place the direction of the streets. I -could not—we rather—get up to the dome, so we -left the cemetery, determining to push on toward -the town. G. W. found a very fine position for -a battery about 450 yards from Santiago and -enfilading the principal street. We met Colonel<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> -Totten and Captain [R. E.] Lee<a id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a>—showed them -the place—they were very much pleased with it.</p> - -<p>We came out with the Company (Captain Lee, -Smith, Foster and myself) that evening, arrived -at the place after dark, and Captain Lee, Smith -and Foster went in to lay out a battery—leaving -me, in command of the Company, in the road. -When on our return we were passing by the old -grave yard a sharp fire of musketry commenced—one -of our pickets had been fired upon.</p> - -<p>The next day (17th) we cut a path to the -position of this battery (in perspective). As we -returned they discovered us and opened a fire of -24 pound shot upon us which enfiladed our path -beautifully. They fired too high and hit no one. -We reached at length a sheltered position where -we remained until the firing ceased—the balls -striking one side of the hill—we being snugly -ensconced on the other.</p> - -<p>On the next day (18th) the position of the -batteries was definitely fixed. In the afternoon -I was ordered by Colonel Totten to arrange at -the Engineers’ Depot (on the beach) tools for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> -a working party of 200 men—and be ready to -conduct it as soon as it was dark to the proper -position. The working party (3rd Artillery, -Marines, and 5th Infantry—all under Colonel -Belton) did not arrive until long after dark—and -it was quite late when we arrived at the position -for the batteries. I was placed in charge of -Mortar Battery No. 1—G. W. in charge of No. -2—a parallel was also made across the little valley. -Each of these batteries was for three mortars. -No. 1 was formed by cutting away the side -of a hill, so that we had merely to form the epaulments<a id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> -and bring the terreplein<a id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> down to the -proper level—the hill sheltering us from the -direct fire of the Castle and Santiago. So also -with No. 2—which was made in the gorge where -the road to the cemetery crossed the ridge on left -of valley.</p> - -<p>The tools for [the] working party were arranged -on the beach in parallel rows of tools for -20 men each and about four feet apart, so that -they might take up the least possible space. Each -man was provided with a shovel and either a pick,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> -axe, or hatchets (about 140 picks and mattocks). -The party was conducted in one rank, by the -right flank. The men were well covered by daylight.</p> - -<p>[March] 19th. Mason, Foster, and I think -[I. I.] Stevens, relieved Captain Lee, Beauregard, -Smith and myself at 3 A. M. During the -day they continued the excavation of the two -batteries and the short parallel across the valley. -The enemy kept up a hot fire during the forenoon -but injured no one. During the evening of -this day Smith laid out and commenced the parallel -leading from No. 1 to the position afterward -occupied by the 24 pounder battery. The -work was difficult on account of the denseness -of the chaparral and the small number of workmen. -The parapet was made shot proof (or -sufficiently so to answer the purpose of covering -the morning relief) by daybreak. The enemy -fired grape etc. for a short time, but not sufficiently -well aimed or long enough kept up to -impede the progress of the work. The battery -known as the Naval Battery was commenced on -this same night. The enemy were kept in entire -ignorance of the construction of this battery until -the very night before it opened, and then they -only discovered that <i>something</i> was being done -there—they did not know what. The Mexican<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> -Chief Engineer told Colonel Totten of this fact -after the capitulation.</p> - -<p>[March] 20th. The construction of the parallel -and of the mortar batteries Nos. 1 and 2 -was carried on during this day. By 3 P. M., -when Mason and myself went out there—the -parallel was finished—the <i>excavation</i> of the two -batteries completed—the sandbag traverses in -No. 2 finished—those in No. 1 very nearly so. -We were to lay out and excavate the positions -for the two magazines of each battery, to commence -Mortar Battery No. 3 (for four mortars), -lay the platforms and place the magazine frames—which -were to be brought out at night fall. By -the direction of Mason, I had the positions of the -magazines prepared and laid out before dark. -Colonel Totten came out and directed me to lay -out No. 3. I also laid out the boyau<a id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> leading -from <i>1</i> to <i>2</i>. Mason took charge of the magazines -<i>1</i> and <i>2</i> and directed me to take charge of -No. 3. I employed four sets of men on the battery -at the same time—one set throwing the earth -from the rear of the parallel upon the berm<a id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a>—a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> -second on the berm disposing of this earth -thrown on the berm—a third set working at the -rear of the battery, excavating toward the front, -these threw the earth so as to form slight epaulments, -and in rear. A fourth set were employed -in making the excavations for the magazines. A -very violent Norther arose which obliged me to -employ the first and second sets <i>in front</i> of the -battery—they excavating a ditch.</p> - -<p>At daylight the parapet was shot proof and -the battery required about one hour’s digging to -finish it. Owing to some mistake the platforms -and magazine frames did not arrive until very -late and but little progress was made as far as -they were concerned. Had they arrived in time -all three batteries could have opened on the afternoon -of the 21st. The construction of the battery -on the left of the railroad [was] still progressing. -They fired rockets etc. at us during the -early part of the night.</p> - -<p>[March] 21st. During this day not very much -was done—some progress was made with the six -gun battery—magazines, platforms, etc.</p> - -<p>[March] 22nd. Not being aware of a change -in the detail I went out at 3 A. M. Found the -magazines of No. 2 finished, the small magazines -of No. 1 the same. Took charge of large magazine -of No. 1—whilst Mason was engaged with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> -those of No. 3. About 8 [o’clock] was informed -of change of detail, went to camp and was requested -by Colonel Totten to go out to the -trenches “extra” and give all the assistance in -my power, since the General wished to send in -a summons to the town at 2 P. M. and open upon -them if they refused to surrender. I went out -and was chiefly occupied during the day in covering -the magazine of No. 1 with earth. This was -done under fire of Santiago and adjacent bastion, -which batteries having a clear view of my working -party made some pretty shots at us—striking -the earth on the magazine once in a while, but -injuring no one. At 2 P. M. we were ready to -open with three mortars in No. 1—three in No. 2—one -in No. 3.—seven in all.</p> - -<p>The flag was carried in by Captain Johnston, -the enemy ceased firing when they saw it. Colonel -Bankhead<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> informed the Commandants of -Batteries 1 and 3 that the discharge of a mortar -from No. 2 would be the signal to open from all -the mortars. The flag had hardly commenced -its return from the town when a few spiteful -shots from Santiago at my party on the magazine -told us plainly enough what the reply had -been. Probably half an hour elapsed before a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> -report from No. 2 gave us the first official intimation -that General Morales<a id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> had bid defiance to -us, and invited us to do our worst.</p> - -<p>The command “Fire!” had scarcely been given -when a perfect storm of iron burst upon us—every -gun and mortar in Vera Cruz and San -Juan, that could be brought to bear, hurled its -contents around us—the air swarmed with them—and -it seemed a miracle that not one of the -hundreds they fired fell into the crowded mass -that filled the trenches. The recruits looked -rather blue in the gills when the splinters of shells -fell around them, but the veterans cracked their -jokes and talked about Palo Alto and Monterey. -When it was nearly dark I went to the left with -Mason and passed on toward the town where -we could observe our shells—the effect was superb. -The enemy’s fire began to slacken toward -night, until at last it ceased altogether—ours, -though, kept steadily on, never ceasing—never -tiring.</p> - -<p>Immediately after dark I took a working party -and repaired all the damage done to the parapets -by the enemy’s fire, besides increasing the thickness -of the earth on the magazines of <i>No. 1</i>.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> -Captain Vinton was killed a short time before -dark near Battery No. 3 by a spent shell—two -men were wounded by fragments of shells near -<i>No. 1</i>. Shortly after dark, three more mortars -were put in Battery No. 3—making 10 mortars -in all. Captain [John] Saunders was employed -upon the 6 gun battery (24 pounders). He -revetted<a id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> it with one thickness of sand bags, all -of which fell down next morning. I brought out -from the Engineer Depot the platforms for this -battery during the night—the magazine frame -was brought out next day. The battery on the -left of the railroad [was] still progressing, under -the charge of Captain [R. E.] Lee, [Lieut. Z. -B.] Tower and [G. W.] Smith—who relieved -each other.</p> - -<p>[March] 23rd. Firing continued from our -mortars steadily—fire of enemy by no means so -warm as when we opened on the day before. Our -mortar platforms were much injured by the firing -already. The 24 pounder battery had to be -re-revetted entirely—terreplein levelled. During -this day and night the magazine was excavated, -and the frame put up. Two traverses made—the -positions of platforms and embrasures determined. -Two platforms laid and the guns run in—the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> -embrasures for them being partly <i>cut</i>. One -other gun was run to the rear of the battery.</p> - -<p>[March] 24th. On duty with Captain Saunders -again—could get no directions so I had the -two partly cut embrasures marked with sand bags -and dirt, and set a party at work to cover the -magazine with earth as soon as it was finished. -During this day the traverses<a id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> were finished, the -platforms laid, the magazine entirely finished, -and a large number of sand bags filled for the -revetments of the embrasures. The “Naval Battery” -opened today, their fire was fine music for -us, but they did not keep it up very long. The -crash of the eight-inch shells as they broke their -way through the houses and burst in them was -very pretty. The “Greasers” had had it all in their -own way—but we were gradually opening on -them now. Remained out all night to take charge -of two embrasures. The Alabama Volunteers, -who formed the working party, did not come -until it was rather late—we set them at work to -cut down and level the top of parapet—thickening -it opposite the third and fourth guns. Then -laid out the embrasures and put seven men in -each. Foster had charge of two, Coppée of two,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> -and I of two. Mine were the only ones finished -at daylight—the Volunteers gave out and could -hardly be induced to work at all.</p> - -<p>[March] 25th. Mason and Stevens relieved -Beauregard and Foster—but I remained. I had -the raw hides put on—and with a large party of -Volunteers opened the other embrasures. This -was done in broad daylight, in full view of the -town—yet they had not fired more than three -or four shots when I finished and took in the -men. The battery then opened. We then gave -it to Mexicans about as hotly as they wished. -We had ten mortars—three 68s, three 32s, four -24s, and two eight-inch howitzers playing upon -them as fast as they could load and fire. Captain -Anderson, 3rd Artillery, fired on this morning -thirty shells in thirty minutes from his battery -of three mortars (No. 1).</p> - -<p>As I went to our camp I stopped at Colonel -Totten’s tent to inform him of the state of affairs—he -directed me to step in and report to -General Scott. I found him writing a despatch. -He seemed to be very much delighted and showed -me the last words he had written which were “indefatigable -Engineers.” Then we were needed -and remembered—the instant the pressing necessity -passed away we were forgotten. The echo -of the last hostile gun at Vera Cruz had not died<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> -away before it was forgotten by the Commander -in Chief that such a thing existed as an Engineer -Company.<a id="FNanchor_43" href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> - - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_083.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="caption"><small>Facsimile reproduction of a pencil sketch by McClellan.</small><br /> - - -<span class="smcap">Church at Camargo, seen from the Palace.</span></p> - -<p>The superiority of our fire was now very apparent. -I went out again at 3 P. M.—met Mason -carrying a large goblet he had found in a -deserted ranch. Found Captain Lee engaged in -the construction of a new mortar battery for four -mortars, immediately to the left of No. 1—in the -parallel. There was a complete cessation of firing—a -flag having passed in relation to the consuls, -I think. The platforms of this battery were -laid, but not spiked down. A traverse was made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> -in boyau between Nos. 1 and 2, just in front of -the entrance of the large magazine of No. 1, it -being intended to run a boyau from behind this -traverse to the left of the new battery. I laid -out a boyau connecting Stevens’s communications -with the <i>short</i> “parallel” of No. 2, then Captain -Lee explained his wishes in relation to the new -battery and left me in charge of it. I thickened -the parapet from a ditch in front—inclined the -superior slope <i>upward</i>, left the berm, made the -traverses, had the platforms spiked, etc. The -mortars were brought up and placed in the battery -that night. Captain Saunders sent me to -repair the embrasures of the 24 pounder battery—doing -nothing himself. He then sent me to -excavate the boyau I had laid out.</p> - -<p>About 11.30 the discharge of a few rockets -by <i>our</i> rocketeers caused a stampede amongst -the Mexicans—they fired escopettes and muskets -from all parts of their walls. Our mortars reopened -about 1.30 with the greatest vigor—sometimes -there were six shells in the air at the same -time. A violent Norther commenced about 1 -o’clock making the trenches very disagreeable. -About three quarters of an hour, or an hour after -we reopened we heard a bugle sound in town. At -first we thought it a bravado—then reveillé, then -a parley—so we stopped firing to await the result.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> -Nothing more was heard, so in about half -an hour we reopened with great warmth. At -length another chi-wang-a-wang was heard which -turned out to be a parley. During the day the -terms of surrender of the town of Vera Cruz<a id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> -and castle of San Juan de Ulua were agreed -upon, and on 29th of March, 1847 the garrison -marched out with drums beating, colors flying -and laid down their arms on the plain between -the lagoon and the city ... muskets were -stacked and a number of escopettes ... pieces -of artillery were found in the town and ... in -the castle.</p> - -<p>After the surrender of Vera Cruz we moved -our encampment—first to the beach, then to a -position on the plain between our batteries and -the city. Foster was detached on duty with the -other Engineers to survey the town and castle. -Smith and myself were to superintend the landing -of the pontoon and engineers trains, and to -collect them at the Engineer Depot. Between -the Quartermasters and Naval Officers this was -hardly done when we left. I dismantled the batteries, -magazines etc.—then amused myself until -we left, with the chills and fever.</p> - -<p>J[immie] S[tuart] being too sick to go on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> -with his regiment came over to our camp and -stayed with us. Instead of being sent on in our -proper position, at the head of Twiggs’s Division, -we were kept back and finally allowed to start -on the same day that Worth started<a id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a>—we received -no orders to move, merely a permission. -Our teams (6) were the worst I ever saw—they -had just been lassooed as they swam ashore, and -neither they nor their teamsters had ever seen -a wagon before. We left Vera Cruz on the 13th -[April]. By dint of applying some of the -<i>knowledge</i> I had acquired under Guy Henry’s -parental care, I succeeded in getting four teams -to Ve[r]gara (Twiggs’s headquarters during the -siege). As Smith and Foster did not come up -I rode back to see what was the matter and found -that they had arrived at a point opposite the -middle of the city, broken down two sets of -teams, got one teamster’s arm and hand badly -kicked—and the devil to pay in general. At last -they got on, and by leaving half the loads by the -roadside we managed by hard swearing to get -to within one-half mile of El Rio Medio by dark.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>The road so far was horrible, being hilly and -very sandy. Our mules were so weak and miserable -that the men actually had to push the wagons -along, and it was easy to see that our march -was to be very severe upon all concerned. General -Worth and his staff passed us as we were -busily engaged in “cussing” a team up a hill—we -then learned for the first time that Santa -Anna was at Cerro Gordo with a large force. -When we encamped this night everybody was -tired to death, and the only event worthy of recollection -was the thrashing that a certain lazy -nigger “Isaac” received from his frisky “bos.”</p> - -<p>On the [14th] we made an early start and after -“persuading” the mules up the hill beyond Rio -Medio we got along without very much trouble -until we arrived at Santa Fé. Here the wagons -were unloaded and leaving me with about ten -men Smith and Foster went back after the loads -left at Ve[r]gara. Jimmie [Stuart] and I struck -up an acquaintance with the Alcalde—a very nice -sort of a man. I found a couple of cavalry barracks -etc. We amused ourselves chatting with -the Alcalde all day—who tried hard to stampede -us with guerilla tales etc. Captain Hughes came -up late in the afternoon, Smith arrived after dark, -having left the wagons with the ordnance people -about half a mile behind. While G. W. [Smith] -was at supper, Jimmie, who had been amusing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> -himself by playing monte with the Rancheros, -came back and amused us by an account of a -<i>muy poquito muchachito</i> [a very little boy] about -four years old playing monte and smoking paros -[<i>puros</i>, or cigars].</p> - -<p>Foster came up at last, and we all turned in. -Santa Fé is a poor little affair—no water, but -rather a fine view of a large extent of rolling -country.</p> - -<p>On the 15th I started back after the wagons -before daybreak “unwashed and uncombed.” -After a vast amount of swearing at “Seven Bottles,” -of whom more anon, I got all the wagons -up to Santa Fé—set the men to work at loading -the wagons—got my breakfast, and at last we -started. Country at first a rolling prairie—finally -more broken and woody. We passed some -of the most magnificent forests I ever saw—trees -covered with most beautiful flowers—the -fields also—the villages were completely deserted. -About the middle of the day we stopped at a -stream to rest.—While taking our lunch under -the bridge an old stupid Dutch teamster brought -down his mules to water and finally proceeded -to water himself. He drank seven (!) claret -bottles full of water and at length finding that -process too slow he <i>took to his bucket</i>! We went -on and overtook the ordnance fellows at .......<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> -Had a good supper and a fine sleep, although -they did try to stampede us about Lancers etc.—but -they could not do it.</p> - -<p>Started early on the 16th [April]—country -remarkably broken—even mountainous. We -passed several very long hills, at which it was -necessary to treble our poor little teams. Met -Simon Buckner<a id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> with a beef party. Arrived -at Puerto Nacional just before Worth’s Division -left it (about 2 P. M.). Saw all the fellows and -made our preparations to start at twelve at night. -Took a fine bath in the clear mountain stream, -and then dinner. After dinner we went to see -Santana’s Hacienda—found a little boy in it who -was frightened to death at the Barbarians. A -réal [a small coin, about 12½ cents] soon quieted -him.</p> - -<p>The bridge has a curved axis—it is a beautiful -piece of architecture. It would be impossible to -cross it were the heights around properly defended<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> -and the bridge itself occupied. The -bridge and heights might all be turned by enterprising -light infantry, for the stream is fordable. -From the nature of the ground it would be impossible -for artillery or cavalry to turn it without -<i>great trouble and labor</i>.</p> - -<p>Reveillé at 11.30—started at quarter past -twelve—of course no undressing. S[tuart] -“thought as he was already dressed there could -be no hurry.” Night pitch dark. About an -hour before daybreak found in the road a saddle -(American) and a pool of blood—some poor -devil of a straggler from Worth’s Division probably -murdered. After ascending the hill just -beyond this spot, G. W. [Smith], J. S[tuart] -and myself laid down in the road to sleep—that -half hour’s sleep just before going into battle -was the sweetest I ever enjoyed. Passed in the -course of the morning a great many stragglers -from Worth’s Division—they had lagged behind -in the night march. About two miles from Plan -del Rio we were sitting in a ranche waiting for -the wagons, when a wagonmaster came galloping -by saying that the Lancers had cut off the -train. The escort of dragoons was about 800 -yards nearer Plan del Rio than we. We galloped -back—the escort not far behind and found -that our wagons were safe, but that the Lancers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> -had cut off a few of the stragglers whom we had -passed.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a turn of the road displayed Plan -del Rio<a id="FNanchor_47" href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> at our feet—the little valley filled with -troops, horses, artillery, wagons, etc. We arrived -at about 10.30 A. M.—found the Engineers -and took a lunch with them. G. W. S[mith] -and myself then rode out to Twiggs’s position -with Captain Lee—we arrived just in time to -see the ball open [i. e., the battle of Cerro -Gordo]. Saw old Twiggs, who wondered -“Where the devil did you two boys come from?” -and started back to bring up the company. On -the way back a round shot came about as near -my head as would be regarded agreeable in civil -life and then missed enfilading the 2nd Infantry -about a foot and a half. When we got back to -El Plan, I was ordered to join [Lieut. Z. B.] -Tower with ten men—to go with Gid Pillow and -the Mohawks.<a id="FNanchor_48" href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> Did my best that afternoon <i>to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> -find out where we were to go in the morning but -none of them would tell me anything about it</i>. -G. W. left me ten of the best men in the company, -and took Foster and the rest with him to -report to General Twiggs. It seemed to be a -mutual thought that the chances all were that -we would not meet again! The idea of being -killed by or among a parcel of Volunteers was -anything but pleasant.</p> - -<p>Got up before daybreak—woke up the men—had -the mare fed and saddled—drank some coffee—distributed -tools to my party and was ready -for battle long before our dear Mohawks had -their breakfasts. Also gave some tools to the -Volunteers. My men had hatchets, axes and -billhooks—the Volunteers [had] axes, sap-forks -and billhooks. At length all was ready and much -to my surprise we marched straight up the road -toward Jalapa. So little did I know of our -point of attack—I only knew that we were to -attack either their right or front, and that we -would as surely be whipped—for it was a Volunteer -Brigade. I led off with my detachment, -and after passing the greater part of Worth’s -Division—which was formed in column of platoons -in the road—we turned off to the left, -nearly opposite the point where Twiggs turned -to the right. Tower directed me to place my men<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> -on the path inclining <i>most to the left</i>. I did so -and rested my men, whilst waiting for the Volunteers -who were a long distance behind. At -length General Pillow came up, and seeing my -men, directed that they should be placed on the -path <i>inclining to the right</i>.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Tower made some remark about -changing the route, and also that we would be -more apt to be seen when crossing some ravine -if we went to the right. I remember distinctly -that the impression made upon me by the conversation -was that General Pillow had against -the opinion of Lieutenant Tower changed the -<i>route to be followed</i> in order to attain the point -of attack. I had no idea of the importance of -the change and that it could lead to a different -point of attack. I afterward found that the -different paths led to very different parts of the -enemy’s position, the one we actually followed -bringing us in a very exposed manner against -the front of the works, whilst if we had taken the -one advised by Lieutenant Tower we should have -turned the right of their works and have been -but little exposed to their fire.</p> - -<p>The fault of the erroneous selection was General -Pillow’s, except that Lieutenant Tower -should, as the senior Engineer with the column, -have taken a firm stand and have forced General<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> -Pillow to have pursued the proper path. It was -certainly a fine opportunity for him to show what -stuff he was made of—but unfortunately he did -not take advantage of it at all.</p> - -<p>We at length moved off by the flank. My detachment -[was] at the head, and during the -movement—at all events before the firing against -us commenced—we heard the musketry of the -attack of Twiggs’s Division upon the Telegraph -Hill.<a id="FNanchor_49" href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a></p> - -<p>After moving about two-thirds of a mile from -the main road we reached a certain crest bordering -upon a ravine, whence a strong picket of -Mexicans was observed. Tower advised General -Pillow to incline his Brigade well to the right -in order to cross the ravine lower down and out -of view. The General directed Colonel [Francis -M.] Wynkoop<a id="FNanchor_50" href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> to countermarch—file twice to -the right and move upon a certain dead tree as -his point of direction (Colonel Campbell’s [1st]<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> -Tennessee Regiment to support him). He was -then to form his men for the attack and charge -upon hearing a concerted signal from the rest of -the Brigade. Colonel [William T.] Haskell<a id="FNanchor_51" href="#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> -at once commenced forming his Regiment in a -column of platoon, the flank of the column toward -the work. His men having straggled a -great deal this arrangement was attended with -some difficulty—the men being literally shoved -into their places one by one. Hardly two platoons -were formed when General Pillow shouted -out at the top of his voice—“Why the H—l dont -Colonel Wynkoop file to the right?” I may here -observe that we had heard very distinctly the -commands of the Mexican officers in their works. -This yell of the General’s was at once followed -by the blast of a Mexican bugle and within three -minutes after that their fire opened upon us. -The General may have shouted this before a -single platoon of Haskell’s was formed—but the -interval must have been very short, because -Wynkoop’s Regiment had not reached its destination -and had not formed there when the firing -commenced.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>When the Mexican fire opened Haskell’s Regiment -became at once “confusion worse confounded.” -Some of the men rushed toward the -works, many broke to the rear, very many immediately -took cover behind the rocks, etc. I at -once asked General Pillow for orders to proceed -“<i>somewhere</i>” with my detachment—for I had as -yet received no orders or directions from anyone -and was utterly ignorant of the ground. While -talking with the General—who was squatting -down with his back to the work—he was wounded -in the arm, upon which his aide, Lieutenant -Rains, appeared from somewhere in the vicinity -and they together went off to the rear, on the -run. I then went in amongst the Tennesseeans -and found at once that it was useless to attempt -doing anything there, as that Regiment (Haskell’s) -was utterly broken and dispersed and the -Pennsylvania Regiment, which was to support -them, had kept so well in reserve that they could -not be found. I then went over to the other side -of the ravine—the firing had by this time nearly -if not altogether ceased.</p> - -<p>Upon arriving there I found Campbell’s Regiment -in pretty good order and <i>in good spirits</i>, the -Pennsylvania Regiment (Wynkoop’s) in most -horrible confusion. Campbell was moving on -toward the work, and I at once advised General -Pillow to halt him until some order could be -restored to the other Regiments. He took my -advice and directed me to give the order to Campbell,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> -which I did. I thought that it was by no -means certain that Campbell alone could carry -the works and that if he were checked or repulsed -all was lost, for there was not a company formed -to support him. Besides, although his Regiment -was moving on well, they were not then under -fire, nor had they been under any fire, to speak -of, that day—so I doubted the steadiness of their -movements when their advance should have -brought them in sight and under the fire of, the -Mexicans.</p> - -<p>Colonel Haskell came up without his cap about -this time and a very warm conversation ensued -between him and General Pillow—the General -accusing him of misconduct and deserting his -troops, the Colonel repelling his assertions and -stating that his Regiment was cut to pieces. I -at once, without saying a word to either the General -or the Colonel, called to my party and -directed them to beat the bushes for “2nd Tennesseeans” -and to bring all they could find to -where we were. They soon returned with quite -a number.</p> - -<p>In the course of conversation I told General -Pillow that I did not think that he could carry -the works without some Regulars. He assented -and directed me to go at once in search of General -Scott and ask him, from him (Pillow) for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> -a detachment of Regulars—whatever number he -could spare, saying that he would make no movement -until my return. I immediately ran down -to the road where I expected to find General -Scott and Worth’s Division and there found that -the General had gone on. I jumped on my mare -and galloped around by Twiggs’s road and at -length found the General about half way up the -ridge over which Worth’s Division passed to -reach the Jalapa road—the rear of Worth’s -Division was then crossing. I told the General -my message and he directed me to say to General -Pillow that he had no Regulars to spare, that the -last of Worth’s Division was then passing over, -that Santa Anna had fallen back with all his -army, except about 5000 men, toward Jalapa, -that he expected to fight another battle with -Santa Anna at once, and that he thought it probable -that the 5000 men cut off would surrender—finally -that General Pillow might attack again, -or not, just as he pleased. He evidently was not -much surprised and not much “put out” that -Pillow was thrashed, and attached no importance -to his future movements.</p> - -<p>With this reply I returned, and could not for -a long time, find any of the valiant Brigade. I -at length found Wynkoop’s Regiment. He told -me that white flags were flying on the work and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> -that one or two had come down toward his position—but -that as he did not know what they -meant, could not raise a white handkerchief in -the crowd, and had no one who could speak -Spanish, he had held no communication with -them. I told him what they meant and said that -when I had seen General Pillow I would return -and go to meet them. As I left he asked me if -I could not give him an order to charge—I said -“<i>No</i>”—then said he—“Tell General Pillow that -if I dont get an order to charge in half an hour, -I’ll be d—d if I dont charge anyhow”—this after -I had told him that the white flag meant a surrender!!!</p> - -<p>I at length found General Pillow some distance -in rear and reported. Castor came up a moment -or two afterward and told General Pillow that -he had been sent to inform him that the Mexicans -had surrendered—on which I took my men down -the road and directing them to come on and rejoin -the company as soon as possible—I galloped -on to overtake it. During my conversation with -General Scott he mentioned that he had <i>seen</i> the -charge of Twiggs’s Division and spoke of it as -the most beautiful sight that he had ever witnessed. -He said everything in praise of his “rascally -Regulars.”</p> - -<p>With reference to the operations of Twiggs’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> -Division.—During the afternoon of the 17th -[April] the hill opposite to and commanded by -the Telegraph Hill was carried by Harney’s -([Persifer F.] Smith’s) Brigade and the enemy -pursued partly up the Telegraph Hill by the -Rifles and 1st Artillery. They were, however, -<i>recalled</i> to the hill first mentioned, which was -occupied in force.</p> - -<p>During the night one twenty-four pounder, -one twelve pounder and a twenty-four pound -howitzer were with great difficulty hauled up and -put in position behind a slight epaulment. There -were also a couple of the Mountain Howitzers -and some Rocketeers. Shields’s<a id="FNanchor_52" href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> Brigade of Volunteers -were somewhere in the vicinity to support -and were employed to man the drag ropes -used to haul up the pieces. It may be well to -mention that they were more than once “<i>stampeded</i>” -while engaged in this by the mere discharge -of a piece—no ball coming near them. -Another detachment of New York Volunteers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> -was engaged during the afternoon and night of -the 17th in hauling an eight-inch howitzer along -the crest on the other side of the “Rio” in order -to take an enfilade or reverse fire upon the Mexican -works. Taylor’s Battery was with Twiggs, -Dunean came around with Worth—Steptoe was -with Twiggs. The cavalry and rest of the artillery -were in the Jalapa road ready to advance -in pursuit.</p> - -<p>Harney was directed to storm the hill, Reilly -to cut off the retreat of the Mexicans by the -Jalapa road—Worth to support. The affair of -the 18th was opened, on our side, by the fire of -our artillery. The 24 pounder was badly served -and did little or no real damage. At length -Harney charged over the valley with the 1st Artillery, -3rd and 7th Infantry, the Rifles being -thrown out to cover his left. He carried the hill -in gallant style. Reilly allowed himself to deviate -from his proper path and instead of pushing -straight on for the Jalapa road, he amused himself -by skirmishing to his right and left—so that -he did not accomplish the purpose for which he -was sent, that is, he <i>did not</i> cut off Santa Anna’s -retreat.</p> - -<p>In the meantime Shields was sent around still -further to our right, to turn the Mexican left. -He finally came out in front of certain batteries,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> -charged them but was <i>repulsed completely</i> and -himself badly wounded. About this time Harney -carried the Telegraph Hill and that commanding -these last batteries, one or two discharges -from its summit with the captured pieces at once -cleared them. Upon that the Volunteers right -gallantly charged and carried them at the point -of the bayonet, <i>there not being a soul in the battery -at this time</i>.</p> - -<p>Twiggs—at least a part of his Division—moved -on at once in pursuit. The Cavalry soon -followed, but the Mexicans had gained a long -start and made the best use of their legs—so that -not very many were killed or taken in the pursuit. -Twiggs and the Cavalry also the Volunteers -halted at Encero. Worth remained at Plan -del Rio and Cerro Gordo. I myself overtook -my company at Encero where we bivouacked that -night—and felt right proud that we had won -that day a glorious victory.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 19th we marched from -Encero to Jalapa, about twelve miles, at the head -of Twiggs’s Division. We entered Jalapa about -11.30 A. M., our company being the first American -infantry to set foot in that city. It rained -quite violently during the greater part of the -march, which prevented me from enjoying fully -the beauty of the scenery, especially as I had to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> -<i>foot it</i>. It was really delightful, upon entering -Jalapa, to see gentlemen and <i>ladies</i>, at least persons -dressed and appearing as such. The white -faces of the ladies struck us as being exceedingly -beautiful—they formed so pleasing a contrast to -the black and brown complexions of the Indians -and negroes who had for so long been the only -human beings to greet our sight. The Jalapiños -appeared perfectly indifferent about us, manifesting -neither pleasure nor sorrow at our approach. -Our march from Encero and entrance -into Jalapa was entirely undisturbed—not a shot -being fired or soldiers seen. Of course not the -slightest excess was committed by any of the -Regulars. We at first marched to the Cuartel -[Barracks] where we remained some few hours, -until at last we were ordered to a posada [sleeping -place] on the Plaza.</p> - -<p>I was very much pleased with the appearance -of Jalapa and its inhabitants. The women were -generally pretty, the gentlemen well dressed. -They carried to a great extent the custom of filling -the balconies with flowers, which gave a very -pleasant appearance to the streets. Soon after -we had established ourselves at the posada we -were astonished by a great commotion in the -streets, which was ascertained to be caused by the -arrival of the Cerro Gordo prisoners, who had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> -all been released on parole, and of course fought -us again upon the first opportunity. They were -marching back to Puebla and Mexico, organized -in regiments, etc.—merely being deprived of their -arms. The disgust in the Division at this release -was most intense, we felt poorly repaid for our -exertions by the release of these scoundrels, who, -we felt sure, would to a man break their parole. -They passed the night in the streets around the -Plaza and in the morning robbed all the poor -market women in the vicinity.<a id="FNanchor_53" href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> - -<p>We had no beds that night—our baggage not -being up—were lucky enough to get some frijoles -and chocolate for supper—breakfast ditto. -Worth’s Division came up about one o’clock on -the 20th and we were ordered on at the head of -it,—to leave Jalapa at 3.30 of the same day.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>City of Mexico,<a id="FNanchor_54" href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> opposite Alameda, November<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> -3rd, 1847. G. W. thinks that a captain will -be sent out to command the Company, and that -he (G. W.) will be relieved by the 1st March, -1848. Mc. thinks that no captain will come and -that the unfortunate “duet” wont get out under -a year, or longer. Quien Sabe?</p> - -<p>April 15th, Post Office—Captain hasn’t “arrivo”—duet -still here—year most half out and -a’in’t off yet!!!<a id="FNanchor_55" href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p> - -<p>September 22nd, 1849—West Point, N. Y. -Mc. thinks that he’s booked for an infernally -monotonous life for the remainder of his natural -existence and wishes he were back again in No. 2 -Calle San Francisco.</p> - -<p>August 25th, 1852—Solitary and alone on the -“Columbus”—for New Orleans.</p> - -<p>December 25th, 1852—Solitary and alone at -Indianola [Texas]! Heavens! What a Christmas!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> -<h2 class="nobreak">INDEX</h2> -</div> - - -<p> -Altamira, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Anton Lizardo, Point, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Bankhead, Col., <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Beauregard, Lieut. P. G. T., <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Belton, Lieut.-Col., <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Brazos de Santiago (Texas), <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>-<a href="#Page_9">9</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Brooks, N. C., quoted, <a href="#Page_51">51</a> (note).<br /> -<br /> -Buckner, Simon B., <a href="#Page_77">77</a> (and note).<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Camargo, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>-<a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Campbell, Col., <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>-<a href="#Page_85">85</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Cerro Gordo, battle of, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>-<a href="#Page_90">90</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Chiltipine, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>-<a href="#Page_34">34</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Crawford, Dr. Samuel, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Encero, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Encinal, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Fordleone, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Foster, Lieut. J. G., <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Furber, George C., quoted, <a href="#Page_27">27</a> (note).<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Grant, U. S., quoted, <a href="#Page_44">44</a> (note), <a href="#Page_71">71</a> (note).<br /> -<br /> -Guijano, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Harney, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>-<a href="#Page_90">90</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Haskell, Col. William T., <a href="#Page_83">83</a>-<a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Henry, Capt. Guy, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Iturbide, Agustin de, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Jalapa, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>-<a href="#Page_92">92</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Lee, Capt. R. E., <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Lobos, Isle of, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -McCall, George A., <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.<br /> -<br /> -McClellan, George B., birth and education, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">commissioned, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">promotion, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">leaves for Mexico, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">at Camargo and Matamoros, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>-<a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>-<a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">march to Victoria, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>-<a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">at Victoria, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>-<a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">march to Tampico, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>-<a href="#Page_50">50</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">at Lobos, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">at Vera Cruz, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>-<a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">march to Cerro Gordo, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>-<a href="#Page_79">79</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">battle of Cerro Gordo, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>-<a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">march to Jalapa, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>-<a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</span><br /> -<span class="indexindent">at Mexico City, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>-<a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</span><br /> -<br /> -McMaster, J. B., quoted, <a href="#Page_52">52</a> (note), <a href="#Page_74">74</a> (note).<br /> -<br /> -Malibran, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Marquesoto, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Mason, Lieut. J. L., <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>-<a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Matamoros, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Meade, George G., <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, quoted, <a href="#Page_18">18</a> (note), <a href="#Page_22">22</a> (note), <a href="#Page_48">48</a> (note).<br /> -<br /> -Moquete, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Murphy, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Padilla, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Patterson, Gen. Robert, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>-<a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a> (note), <a href="#Page_23">23</a>-<a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>-<a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Pillow, Gen. Gideon J., <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a> (note), <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>-<a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Plan del Rio, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>-<a href="#Page_79">79</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Puerto Nacional, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Quitman, Gen. John A., <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a> (note).<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Rancho Padillo, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Reilly, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -San Fernando, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>-<a href="#Page_34">34</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Santa Fé, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>-<a href="#Page_76">76</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Santander, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Santa Rosa, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Santa Teresa, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>-<a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Saunders, Capt. John, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Scott, Gen. Winfield, <a href="#Page_52">52</a> (note), <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a> (note), <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Semmes, R., quoted, <a href="#Page_79">79</a> (note), <a href="#Page_82">82</a> (note).<br /> -<br /> -Shields, Gen. James, <a href="#Page_52">52</a> (note), <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Smith, Lieut. Gustavus W., <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>-<a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>-<a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Smith, Major John L., <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.<br /> -<br /> -“Songo,” 27-<a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Stevens, Lieut. I. I., <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>Stuart, “Jimmie,” <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>-<a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>-<a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Swift, Capt. A. J., <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Tamaulipas, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Tampico, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>-<a href="#Page_51">51</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Taylor, Gen. Zachary, <a href="#Page_22">22</a> (note), <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Totten, Col. Joseph G., <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>-<a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>-<a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Tower, Lieut. Z. B., <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>-<a href="#Page_81">81</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Twiggs, Gen. David E., <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>-<a href="#Page_90">90</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Vera Cruz, siege of, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>-<a href="#Page_73">73</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Vergera, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Victoria, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>-<a href="#Page_46">46</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Vinton, Capt. John R., <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Volunteers, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>-<a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>-<a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -Walker, Sears Cook, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Waterhouse, Major, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Williams, Seth, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>-<a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Worth, Gen. William J., <a href="#Page_52">52</a> (note), <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.<br /> -<br /> -Wynkoop, Col. Francis M., <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>-<a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="ph1">FOOTNOTES:</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> In a letter to his brother “Tom” dated West Point, -September 22, 1846, McClellan wrote: “We start with -about 75 men—the best Company (so Gen’l. Scott and Col. -Totten both say) in the service. All Americans—all young—all -intelligent—all anxious, very eager for the campaign—and -above all, well drilled. If the Lord and Santa Anna -will only condescend to give us a chance—I’ll be most -confoundedly mistaken if we don’t thrash them ‘some’.” -(<i>McClellan Papers</i>, Vol. I.)</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> Gustavus W. Smith was one of McClellan’s most intimate -friends and was known by him by the nickname of -“Legs.” He was born in Scott Co., Kentucky, on January -1, 1822. He died in New York on June 23, 1896. Smith -graduated from West Point in 1842. He entered the Confederate -Army in 1861 and distinguished himself in the -Peninsular Campaign fighting against his old friend at the -battles of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> A town of some three thousand inhabitants, situated -on the river San Juan about three miles above its junction -with the Rio Grande. It is about one hundred miles by -land from Matamoros. (See <i>Life and Letters of General -George Gordon Meade</i>, Vol. I, pages 109 and 119.)</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> A letter from McClellan to his mother, dated “Camp -off Camargo, Mex.,” November 14, 1846, tells her that when -he arrived at Matamoros he was taken sick almost immediately. -He remained sick for two weeks while there and -“whilst on the steamboat thence to Camargo” ... “When -we got here I went into hospital quarters whence I emerged -yesterday, so that I have had almost a month’s sickness, -but now am perfectly well.” He adds, “I would not have -missed coming here for the world, now that I am well and -recovering my strength, I commence to enjoy the novelty -of the affair, and shall have enough to tell you when I return, -to fill a dozen books.” (<i>McClellan Papers</i>, Vol. I.)</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> Later on McClellan wrote in the diary on a page otherwise -blank:</p> - -<p>“On the 18th June, 1851, at five in the afternoon died -Jimmie Stuart, my best and oldest friend. He was mortally -wounded the day before by an arrow, whilst gallantly -leading a charge against a party of hostile Indians. He -is buried at Camp Stuart—about twenty-five miles south -of Rogue’s River [Oregon?], near the main road, and not -far from the base of the Cishion (?) Mountains. His grave -is between two oaks, on the left side of the road, going -south, with J. S. cut in the bark of the largest of the oaks.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> Robert Patterson, born at Cappagh, County Tyrone, -Ireland, on January 12, 1792, died at Philadelphia, Pa., -on August 7, 1881. Came to America early in life and -became a prominent merchant and Democratic politician -in Philadelphia. Served both in the War of 1812 and in -the Mexican War and in 1861 was mustered into the service -as a major-general. He commanded the troops in the -Shenandoah Valley and was outwitted by General Joseph -E. Johnston who slipped away in time to join Beauregard -and rout the Union forces under McDowell at the first -battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. Patterson was retired -from the army the same month.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> Tampico was captured November 14, 1846.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> Gideon J. Pillow was born in Williamson Co., Tennessee, -on June 8, 1806. He died in Lee Co., Arkansas, -on October 6, 1878. Pillow was a prominent Tennessee -politician and was active in securing the presidential nomination -for his intimate friend James K. Polk. In 1846 -he was commissioned a brigadier general by Polk and -went to the front in command of the Tennessee volunteers. -In 1861 he became a brigadier general in the Confederate -Army and is famous for having deserted his forces at Fort -Donelson on February 15, 1862, leaving them to be surrendered -to Grant the next day by his subordinate, General -Simon B. Buckner. Also see <i>Autobiography of Lieut.-Gen. -Scott</i>, Vol. II, pages 416-417.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> Later a brigadier general in the Union Army. He -was adjutant general on McClellan’s staff and closely connected -with him while in command of the Army of the -Potomac.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="label">[10]</a> The city was captured on September 24, 1846, after -three days fighting.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="label">[11]</a> “The people are very polite to the regulars ... but -they hate the volunteers as they do old scratch himself.... -You never hear of a Mexican being murdered by a -regular or a regular by a Mexican. The volunteers carry -on in a most shameful and disgraceful manner; they think -nothing of robbing and killing the Mexicans.” Letter to -mother, dated “Camp off Camargo, Mex.,” November 14, -1846. (<i>McClellan Papers</i>, Vol. I.)</p> - -<p>“I believe with fifteen thousand regulars, we could go -to the City of Mexico, but with thirty thousand volunteers -the whole nature and policy of the war will be changed. -Already are the injurious influences of their presence perceptible, -and you will hear any Mexican in the street -descanting on the good conduct of the ‘tropas de ligna,’ as -they call us, and the dread of the ‘volontarios.’ And with -reason, they (the volunteers) have killed five or six innocent -people walking in the streets, for no other object than -their own amusement; to-be-sure, they are always drunk, -and are in a measure irresponsible for their conduct. They -rob and steal the cattle and corn of the poor farmers, and -in fact act more like a body of hostile Indians than of -civilized whites. Their own officers have no command or -control over them, and the General has given up in despair -any hope of keeping them in order. The consequence is -they are exciting a feeling among the people which will -induce them to rise en masse to obstruct our progress, and -if, when we reach the mountains, we have to fight the <i>people</i> -as well as the soldiers, the game will be up with us. I have -some hope, however, that when we leave this place, which -has become a mass of grog-shops and gambling-houses, -and march to meet the enemy, the absence of liquor, and -the fear of the enemy, may induce a little order among -them and bring them to a better state of discipline.” Letter -of George G. Meade, dated Matamoros, July 9, 1846. -(<i>Life and Letters of General George Gordon Meade</i>, Vol. I, -pages 109-110.) Meade wrote further, from Camargo, -August 13, 1846: “Already have they in almost every volunteer -regiment reported one-third their number sick, and -in many cases one-half the whole regiment, and I fear the -mortality will be terrible among them, for their utter ignorance -of the proper mode of taking care of themselves. -The large number of sick is a dead weight upon us, taking -away so many men as hospital attendants, requiring quarters, -etc., and if taken sick on the march, requiring transportation -in wagons or on litters.” (Same, page 121.) -Also from Monterey, December 2, 1846: “The volunteers -have been creating disturbances, which have at last aroused -the old General [Taylor] so much that he has ordered one -regiment, the First Kentucky foot, to march to the rear, as -they have disgraced themselves and their State.... The -volunteers cannot take any care of themselves; the hospitals -are crowded with them, they die like sheep; they waste -their provisions, requiring twice as much to supply them -as regulars do. They plunder the poor inhabitants of -everything they can lay their hands on, and shoot them -when they remonstrate, and if one of their number happens -to get into a drunken brawl and is killed, they run over -the country, killing all the poor innocent people they find -in their way, to avenge, as they say, the murder of their -brother. This is a true picture, and the cause is the utter -incapacity of their officers to control them or command -respect.” (Same, pages 161-162.)</p> - -<p>For further testimony of the same character see Luther -Giddings, <i>Sketches of the Campaign in Northern Mexico</i>, -pages 81-85; William Jay, <i>Review of the Mexican War</i>, -pages 214-222; J. J. Oswandel, <i>Notes on the Mexican -War</i>, page 114. Also see postea, page 37.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="label">[12]</a> George A. McCall was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on -March 16, 1802, and died there on February 25, 1868. He -graduated from West Point in 1822. McCall was made -a brigadier general in 1861 and placed in command of the -Pennsylvania Reserves. He distinguished himself in the -Peninsular Campaign under the command of McClellan -at the battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines’s Mill and Frazier’s -Farm.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="label">[13]</a> Meade, in a letter dated “Monterey, November 10, -1846,” wrote in explanation of this move as follows: “The -cabinet at Washington, profiting by the history of the Aulic -Council, is manoeuvering his (Taylor’s) troops for him, -and at Washington, entirely independent of his wishes and -views, organizing expeditions for Tampico, even going so -far as to designate the troops and their commanders. To-be-sure, -it is well understood how this is done, by the -mighty engine of political influence, that curse of our country, -which forces party politics into everything.</p> - -<p>“General Patterson and others are good Democrats; they -are indignant that General Taylor should have left them in -the rear when he carried more troops than he could feed. -They complain at Washington, and forthwith General Patterson -and Co. are directed to proceed against Tampico, -and General Patterson informed before his commanding -general knows anything about it. Well may we be grateful -that we are at war with Mexico! Were it any other power, -our gross follies would have been punished severely before -now.</p> - -<p>“General Taylor, of course, has to succumb, and the -Tampico expedition is to be immediately prosecuted. General -Patterson goes from Camargo.... He marches direct -to Tampico. General Taylor, however, does not design -that he shall have it in his power, from ignorance or other -causes, to fail; therefore he will leave here with a column -of some two thousand men and artillery, light and heavy, -and will join General Patterson before he reaches Tampico, -when both columns united, and under General Taylor’s -command, will operate against the town, in conjunction -with the navy, if the latter have it in its power to do anything.” -(<i>Life and Letters of G. G. Meade</i>, Vol. I, page -152.)</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="label">[14]</a> i. e., General Patterson.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="label">[15]</a> Aide to General Patterson.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="label">[16]</a> Surgeon on General Patterson’s staff.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="label">[17]</a> A Mexican servant.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="label">[18]</a> George C. Furber, in his <i>Twelve Months Volunteer; -or Journal of a Private in the Campaign in Mexico</i>, gives -in chapters VIII and IX (pages 275-393) a lively account -of this same march, in which he took part, from Matamoros -to Victoria and Tampico. He describes many of the events -noted by McClellan, but from the standpoint of an enthusiastic -and self-confident member of the volunteer forces.</p> - -<p>The contemptuous sting in McClellan’s frequent references -to “mustangs” can be appreciated from the following. -Says Furber (page 376): “The ‘mustang cavalry’—a description -of force unknown to the army regulations ... -accompanied us from Victoria.—It was composed of numbers -from the three regiments of infantry. Any one that -could raise the means to buy a long-eared <i>burro</i> (jackass), -or a mule, or old Mexican horse, or any such conveyance, -immediately entered the mustang cavalry. Such animals -could be bought for from three to five dollars. Some of -the riders had procured Mexican saddles, with their horsehair -housings and bridles also; while some had bridles, but -no saddles; others had saddles without bridles; while -others, again, had neither. Here was a soldier large as -life, with his musket in his hand, on a little jackass, without -saddle or bridle, and so small that the rider had to lift -his feet from the ground;—the little <i>burro</i> jogged along -with him, occasionally stopping to gather a bite of grass.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="label">[19]</a> McClellan’s small brother and sister.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="label">[20]</a> Agustin de Iturbide was born in Spain on September -27, 1783, the son of a Spanish noble. He entered the army -and attained a high and responsible position in the Spanish -administration of Mexico. In 1821 he advocated the celebrated -“Plan of Iguala,” in which it was proposed that -Mexico should become independent under the rule of a -member of the Spanish royal family. Ferdinand VII regarded -the movement as a rebellion, and Iturbide himself -was proclaimed emperor as Agustin I in May, 1822, and -crowned the following July.</p> - -<p>A rebellion immediately broke out against his authority -under the lead of Santa Anna, who proclaimed a republic -at Vera Cruz. Iturbide was forced to abdicate in March, -1823, and went to Europe. He returned to Mexico the following -year but was arrested and shot at Padilla on July -19, 1824.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="label">[21]</a> Sappers, soldiers employed in the building of fortifications, -field works, etc. (<i>Century Dict.</i>)</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22" class="label">[22]</a> “General Taylor never wore uniform, but dressed -himself entirely for comfort. He moved about the field -in which he was operating to see through his own eyes the -situation. Often he would be without staff officers, and -when he was accompanied by them there was no prescribed -order in which they followed. He was very much given -to sit his horse sideways—with both feet on one side—particularly -on the battlefield.... Taylor was not a conversationalist, -but on paper he could put his meaning so -plainly that there could be no mistaking it. He knew how -to express what he wanted to say in the fewest well chosen -words, but would not sacrifice meaning to the construction -of high sounding sentences.” U. S. Grant, <i>Memoirs</i>, -Vol. I, pages 138-139.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23" class="label">[23]</a> David E. Twiggs was born in Richmond Co., Georgia, -in 1790. He served in the war of 1812, and in the Mexican -War became a brigade and division commander under -General Scott. In February, 1861, he was in command -of the Department of Texas, but surrendered his forces, -with the military stores under his charge, to the Confederates. -On March 1, 1861, Joseph Holt, Secretary of War, -issued “General Order No. 5” as follows,—“By the direction -of the President of the United States, it is ordered that -Brig. Gen. David E. Twiggs, major-general by brevet, be, -and is hereby, dismissed from the Army of the United -States, for his treachery to the flag of his country, in having -surrendered, on the 18th of February, 1861, on the demand -of the authorities of Texas, the military posts and -other property of the United States in his department and -under his charge.” (<i>Official Records, War of the Rebellion, -Series I</i>, Vol. I, page 597.)</p> - -<p>Twiggs was appointed a major-general in the Confederate -Army, and died at Augusta, Georgia, on September -15, 1862.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24" class="label">[24]</a> “The correspondent of the ‘Spirit of the Times,’ G. de -L., is Captain [Guy] Henry, of the Third Infantry, a -classmate of mine at West Point, a very good fellow, and -I notice his recent productions since our march from -Camargo have been quite spirited.” Meade, <i>Life and Letters</i>, -Vol. I, pages 167-168.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25" class="label">[25]</a> “McClellan’s sobriquet in Mexico, among his intimate -friends, was ‘Polance’ (sugar). On the march, when [he] -first arrived, he insisted upon eating a lot of the sugar -arranged on even cobs and persuading his companions to -eat it too. He was always fond of sweet things. They all -became ill in consequence, and he more than any of them. -After that they addressed him as ‘Polance’ for he kept saying,—‘Why -it’s Polance, the <i>best</i> sugar—it can’t hurt anyone’.” -(Note in writing of McClellan’s daughter, <i>McClellan -Papers</i>, Vol. 108.)</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26" class="label">[26]</a> “Tampico is a delightful place, having fine cafes, and -all the luxuries of a somewhat civilized town.... I find -the place much larger than I expected, and really quite -delightful. There is a large foreign population of merchants, -and in consequence the town has all such comforts -as good restaurants, excellent shops, where everything can -be purchased, and is in fact quite as much of a place as -New Orleans. It is inaccessible, owing to a bar, having -only eight feet of water, and as this is the season of -‘Northers,’ already many wrecks have taken place.” Meade, -<i>Life and Letters</i>, Vol. I, pages 175 and 177.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27" class="label">[27]</a> “You can form no idea of the pleasure it gave us to -meet the regulars after having been so long with the cursed -volunteers.... I am tired of Tampico for I like to be in -motion.—You have no idea of the charm and excitement -of a march—I could live such a life for years and years -without becoming tired of it. There is a great deal of -hardship—but we have our own fun. If we have to get -up, and start long before daybreak—we make up for it, -when we gather around the campfires at night—you never -saw such a merry set as we are—no care, no trouble—we -criticize the Generals—laugh and swear at the mustangs -and volunteers, smoke our cigars and drink our brandy, -when we have any—go without when we have none.” (Letter -to Mother dated Tampico, February 4, 1847. (<i>McClellan -Papers</i>, Vol. I.)</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28" class="label">[28]</a> The Isle of Lobos is “a lovely little spot, formed entirely -of coral, about two miles in circumference, twelve -miles from the Mexican shore, sixty from Tampico, and -one hundred and thirty from Vera Cruz.” N. C. Brooks, -<i>History of the Mexican War</i>, page 295.</p> - -<p>It was at the Isle of Lobos that General Scott organized -his army. The regulars were divided into two brigades, -commanded by Generals William J. Worth and David E. -Twiggs respectively. General Robert Patterson commanded -the division of volunteers which was composed of -the three brigades of Generals Gideon J. Pillow, John A. -Quitman and James Shields. All told, Scott’s army numbered -over 12,000 men. J. B. McMaster, <i>History of the -People of the United States</i>, Vol. VII, page 506; James -Schouler, <i>History of the United States</i>, Vol. V, page 42.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29" class="label">[29]</a> The island of Sacrificios, three miles south of Vera -Cruz.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30" class="label">[30]</a> William J. Worth was born in Hudson, N. Y., on -March 1, 1794. He fought in the War of 1812 and in the -Seminole War in 1841. During the Mexican War he participated -in the campaigns of Generals Taylor and Scott -and later he commanded in Texas. He died at San Antonio, -Texas, on May 17, 1849.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31" class="label">[31]</a> Escopette, a carbine or short rifle, especially a form -used by the Spanish Americans (<i>Century Dict.</i>).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32" class="label">[32]</a> Light cavalry armed with lances, or long spears, varying -from 8½ to 11 feet in length (<i>Century Dict.</i>).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33" class="label">[33]</a> Pierre G. T. Beauregard, later a prominent Confederate -General, was born in New Orleans on May 28, 1818. -He graduated from West Point in 1838. Died at New -Orleans on February 20, 1893.</p> - -<p>Beauregard was appointed a brigadier general in the -Confederate Army in 1861 and bombarded and captured -Fort Sumter in April of the same year. He commanded -at the first battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, and following -it was promoted to the rank of general. He took -part in the battle of Shiloh in April, 1862, commanded at -Charleston, S. C., from 1862 to 1864, and in Virginia in -the latter year.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34" class="label">[34]</a> Robert E. Lee, later the celebrated Confederate General-in-Chief -and McClellan’s main adversary. He was -born at Stratford, Westmoreland Co., Virginia, on January -19, 1807, and died at Lexington, Virginia, on October -12, 1870.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35" class="label">[35]</a> Epaulment, the mass of earth or other material which -protects the guns in a battery both in front and on either -flank (<i>Century Dict.</i>).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36" class="label">[36]</a> Terre-plein, the top, platform or horizontal surface of -a rampart, on which the cannon are placed (<i>Century Dict.</i>).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37" class="label">[37]</a> Boyau, a ditch covered with a parapet, serving as -a means of communication between two trenches, especially -between the first and third parallels. Also called a zigzag -or an approach (<i>Century Dict.</i>).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38" class="label">[38]</a> Berm, a narrow level space at the outside foot of -a parapet, to retain material which otherwise might fall -from the slope into the ditch (<i>Standard Dict.</i>).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39" class="label">[39]</a> Colonel Bankhead was the Chief of Artillery at the -siege of Vera Cruz.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40" class="label">[40]</a> General Juan Morales was the Mexican commander at -Vera Cruz.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41" class="label">[41]</a> Revet, to face, as an embankment, with masonry or -other material (<i>Century Dict</i>.).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42" class="label">[42]</a> Traverse, an earthen mask, similar to a parapet, -thrown across the covered way of a permanent work to protect -it from the effects of an enfilading fire (<i>Century Dict.</i>).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_43" href="#FNanchor_43" class="label">[43]</a> General Scott “always wore all the uniform prescribed -or allowed by law when he inspected his lines; word would -be sent to all division and brigade commanders in advance, -notifying them of the hour when the commanding general -might be expected. This was done so that all the army -might be under arms to salute their chief as he passed. -On these occasions he wore his dress uniform, cocked hat, -aiguillettes, sabre and spurs. His staff proper, besides all -officers constructively on his staff—engineers, inspectors, -quartermasters, etc., that could be spared—followed, also -in uniform and in prescribed order. Orders were prepared -with great care and evidently with the view that they should -be a history of what followed.... General Scott was precise -in language, cultivated a style peculiarly his own; was -proud of his rhetoric; not averse to speaking of himself, -often in the third person, and he could bestow praise upon -the person he was talking about without the least embarrassment.” -U. S. Grant, <i>Memoirs</i>, Vol. I, pages 138-139.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_44" href="#FNanchor_44" class="label">[44]</a> Vera Cruz at that time was a city of about 15,000 inhabitants.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_45" href="#FNanchor_45" class="label">[45]</a> On the advance of Scott’s army from Vera Cruz, -Twiggs led the way, followed a day later by Patterson, and -five days later still by Worth. J. B. McMaster, <i>History -of the People of the United States</i>, Vol. VII, page 507.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_46" href="#FNanchor_46" class="label">[46]</a> Simon B. Buckner was born in Kentucky on April 1, -1823, and died January 8, 1914. He graduated from West -Point in 1844. During the Civil War he was first a brigadier -general, and later a lieutenant general in the Confederate -Army. He stood by his troops and surrendered Fort Donelson -to General Grant on February 16, 1862. After the -war he became Governor of Kentucky and was the candidate -for Vice-President on the Gold Democratic ticket in -1896.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_47" href="#FNanchor_47" class="label">[47]</a> About sixty miles from Vera Cruz, and about thirty -from Jalapa. J. S. Jenkins, <i>History of the War with Mexico</i>, -page 270.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_48" href="#FNanchor_48" class="label">[48]</a> General Pillow’s brigade consisted of four regiments -of infantry,—1st Tennessee (Colonel Campbell), 2nd Tennessee -(Colonel Haskell), 1st Pennsylvania (Colonel Wynkoop) -and 2nd Pennsylvania (Colonel Roberts); also a -detachment of Tennessee Horse and a company of Kentucky -Volunteers under Captain Williams. R. Semmes, -<i>Service Afloat and Ashore</i>, page 179.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_49" href="#FNanchor_49" class="label">[49]</a> “The Cerro Gordo, or Big Hill, called by the Mexicans -in their dispatches, <i>El Telegrafo</i>, is an immense hill, of a -conical form, rising to the height of near a thousand feet. -It stands ... at the head of the pass, to which it gives -its name, and formed the extreme left (our right) of the -fortifications of the enemy.” Semmes, <i>op. cit.</i>, pages 176-177.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_50" href="#FNanchor_50" class="label">[50]</a> He commanded the 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_51" href="#FNanchor_51" class="label">[51]</a> He commanded the 2nd Tennessee Volunteers.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_52" href="#FNanchor_52" class="label">[52]</a> James Shields was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, -in 1810. After the Mexican War he was United States -Senator (Democrat) from Illinois during the years 1849-1855, -and from Minnesota in 1858-1859. He was one of -the “political generals” in the Union Army who were decisively -defeated by “Stonewall” Jackson during the celebrated -“Valley Campaign” of May and June, 1862. Shields -died in Ottumwa, Iowa, on June 1, 1879.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_53" href="#FNanchor_53" class="label">[53]</a> The American forces present at the battle of Cerro -Gordo, both in action and in reserve, were about 8,500 men. -The Mexicans were estimated at 12,000 or more. The -American losses in the two days fighting were 33 officers -and 398 men, a total of 431, of whom 63 were killed. The -enemy losses were estimated at 1,000 to 1,200, in addition -to five generals and 3,000 men who were captured. General -Scott’s official report dated “Jalapa, April 23, 1847” -(<i>Senate Docs. 30th Congress, 1st Session</i>, No. 1, pages -263-264).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_54" href="#FNanchor_54" class="label">[54]</a> The City of Mexico was surrendered to General Scott’s -victorious army on September 14, 1847.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_55" href="#FNanchor_55" class="label">[55]</a> McClellan left the City of Mexico on May 28, 1848, -and reached West Point, N. Y., on June 22 following.</p> - -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - - - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> - -<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> -</div></div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MEXICAN WAR DIARY OF GEORGE B. 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