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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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