March 9, 1847, General Winfield Scott, with the assistance of the naval
squadron under Commodore Conner, lands his Army of Invasion, 12,000 men
transferred in sixty-seven surf-boats, upon the beach three miles below
the fortified city of Vera Cruz, without loss or accident.
In spite of shot and shell and terrific wind storms the army advances
its trenches and guns to within 800 yards of the city walls. On March
22 the bombardment of Vera Cruz is begun.
March 27 the surrender of the city and of the great island fort San
Juan de Ulloa is accepted. The siege has been so scientifically
conducted that 5000 military prisoners and 400 cannon are taken with
the loss to the American forces of only sixty-four officers and men
killed and wounded.
Having been detained at Vera Cruz by lack of wagons and teams, on April
8 General Scott starts his first detachment for Mexico City, 280 miles
by road westward.
[Illustration: _The March to the City of Mexico, 279 Miles_]
April 12, arrangements being completed, he hastens to the front himself
and is received with cheers for “Old Fuss and Feathers” all along the
way.
April 18 storms and captures the heights of Cerro Gordo, sixty miles
inland, where his 8000 men are opposed by 12,000 under Santa Anna.
Three thousand prisoners, among them five generals, are taken; 5000
stands of arms and forty-three pieces of artillery. American loss, 431,
thirty-three being officers; Mexican casualties, over 1000.
April 19 he occupies the town of Jalapa, fifteen miles onward. April
22 the castle of Perote, some fifty miles farther, is captured without
a struggle. On May 15 the advance division of 4300 men enters the city
of Puebla, 185 miles from Vera Cruz. In two months General Scott has
taken 10,000 prisoners of war, 700 cannon, 10,000 stands of small-arms,
30,000 shells and solid shot.
The term of enlistment of 4000 twelve-months Volunteers being almost
expired, he waits in Puebla for reinforcements.
August 7 he resumes the march for the Mexican capital, ninety-five
miles. His force numbers 10,800, and he needs must cut loose from
communications with Vera Cruz, his base.
August 9, from Rio Frio Pass, elevation 10,000 feet, on the summit of
the main mountain range of Mexico, the army gazes down into the Valley
of Mexico, with the city of Mexico visible, thirty-five miles distant.
By a new and difficult route he avoids the defences of the main road
to the city, and on August 18 has approached to within nine miles and
striking distance of the outer circle of batteries.
August 19–20, by day and night attack, 3500 Americans carry the strong
entrenchments of Contreras defended by 7000 Mexicans. American loss,
in killed and wounded, 60; Mexican casualties, 700 killed, 1000 wounded.
The same day, August 20, 1847, the outpost of San Antonio is taken, the
high citadel of Churubusco stormed. There are five separate actions,
all victorious, and the dragoons charge four miles to the very gates of
the city. Thirty-two thousand men have been defeated by 8000. The total
Mexican loss is 4000 killed and wounded, 3000 prisoners, including
eight generals; the American loss is 1052, of whom seventy-six are
officers.
August 21 President and General Santa Anna proposes an armistice.
September 7 the armistice is broken and General Scott resumes his
advance upon the city.
September 8 the General Worth division, reinforced to 3000 men, in
a bloody battle captures the outpost Molino del Rey or King’s Mill,
and the Casa-Mata supporting it――the two being defended by 14,000
Mexicans. American loss, killed, wounded and missing is 789, including
fifty-eight officers. The Mexican loss is in the thousands.
September 12, by a feint the Scott army of 7000 able-bodied men is
concentrated before the Castle of Chapultepec, situated upon a high
hill fortified from base to summit and crowned by the Military College
of Mexico, with its garrison of cadets and experienced officers.
September 13 Chapultepec is stormed and seized; the road to the city is
opened, the suburbs are occupied and the General Quitman division has
forced the Belen gateway into the city itself. Twenty thousand Mexicans
have been routed.
At daybreak of September 14 the city council of Mexico informs General
Scott that the Mexican Government and army have fled. At seven o’clock
the Stars and Stripes are raised over the National Palace and the
American army of 6000 proceeds to enter the grand plaza.
This fall of 1847 there is still some fighting in the country along the
National Road between Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico, and the fleeing
Santa Anna attacks Puebla in vain.
February 2, 1848, a treaty of peace is signed at Guadaloupe Hidalgo by
the United States commissioner and the Mexican commissioners.
May 30, 1848, the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo is ratified by both
parties.
June 19, 1848, peace is formally declared by President Polk, who on
July 4 signs the treaty.