(Scott); 967 (Worth); 998, 1002-4 (Marcy); 1021-7 (Scott and Quitman).
Sen. 52; 30, 1, pp. 124, 129, 135 (Scott); 242 (Trist). Rivera, Jalapa,
iii, 912, 925. Henshaw narrative. Haynes, Scott's Guide. Tributo á la
Verdad, 56. Scott, Mems., ii, 453-4, 460, 466. Hitchcock, Fifty Years,
256-9, 261, 266, 270, 341-4. Grant, Mems., i, 136. Ballentine, Eng.
Soldier, ii, 135-6. Davis, Autobiog., 169. _Picayune_, May 19; June
30; Aug. 20; Nov. 14. _Delta_, June 12; July 9. _Republicano_, June 6,
7, 14. (Sickness) =223=Hirschorn, recolls.; _Delta_, July 9; Lawton,
Artill. Officer, 145, 154, 242; =291=Pierce, diary; Scott, June 4
(Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 129); Moore, Scott's Camp., 119; =73=Bermúdez de
Castro, no. 517, June 29; =316=Judd to Sherman, Feb. 26, 1848. Polk,
Diary, Apr. 2, 10, 12; July 9, 13, 15. =159=Collins papers, May 22.
León, Hist. Gen., 477-8. Lawton, Artill. Officer, 153, 177-8, 189, 203,
206, 211-6, 228, 233-4, 242-6, 256, 265, 272, 274. =68=Worth court of
inquiry, docs. =68=Scott to Worth, May 6. =65=Gen. orders 206, 211,
238; July 9 12, 28. (4000 available) Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 257.
Simples Observaciones (written by Hitchcock). =60=Wilson to Marcy,
Aug. 1. =335=Trist to wife, Aug. 6. Oswandel, Notes, 223, 240. Semmes,
Service, 210, 239, 247, 263, 275-6, 278-81. Sen. 65; 30, 1, p. 524.
=224=L. V. to M. O., Aug. 21 (intercepted Mex. letter). =185=[Duncan]
to Lewis, July 20. =307=Roberts, diary. =236=Judah, diary. =95=Ayunt.
to Bravo, Apr. 29. =95=Amable to prefect, Aug. 18. =270=Moore, diary.
=327=Sutherland to father, Aug. --. =73=Bermúdez de Castro, no. 517,
June 29. _Kennebec Journal_, May 21. _Repub. Banner_, May 19. _Nat.
Intelligencer_, June 1. _Monitor Repub._, May 2; June 5, 8. Sedgwick,
Corres., i, 101. =132=Atocha to Buchanan, Aug. 1. Baz, Juárez, 47,
note. Negrete, Invasión, iii, app., 87-9. =364=Worth to S., July 29;
to daughter, Apr. 30. _Ohio Arch. and Hist. Qtrly._, Apr.-July, 1912,
p. 292. =61=Scott to Wilson, May 2. Steele, Amer. Camps., i, 122.
And from =76= the following and others. R. Rueda, statement [June
18]. Acuerdo, July 13. Soto, July 3. Soldier from Puebla, statement,
July 17. Alvarez, June 16; July 28. Isunza to Canalizo, July 20.
Bravo, proclam., Apr. 28. Fúrlong, May 17. To Fúrlong, May 20. "Ein
Deuttcher," circular to Germans. To Alvarez, June 19. Worth to first
alcalde, May 17; to ayunt., May 18.
Alvarez stated that he had an organized party at Puebla preparing for
an insurrection, and meanwhile was systematically promoting desertion.
The alarm caused by Santa Anna's advance against Taylor led to the
temporary diversion of troops (intended for Scott) to the Rio Grande,
but on April 30 Marcy sent Scott statements showing that about 3500
new regulars were expected to land at Vera Cruz before June 1 and that
some 5500 volunteers also had been ordered to him. Unfortunately the
despatch was captured by the enemy, and Scott did not receive another
copy of it until June 6 (Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 922-5, 1012). (Expected)
Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 994. The official counting of the votes was deferred
until Jan., 1848.
24.23. Richardson, Messages, iv, 508. Benton wanted full powers to
negotiate (Polk, Diary, Mar. 8, 1847), and was willing to take the
position mainly with a view to its diplomatic functions (_Cong. Globe_,
29, 2, pp. 246-7).
24.24. The new regiments (which brought the regular army up to 1356
officers and 29,534 men) were to serve during the war and then be
disbanded. One of them was the Third Dragoons. Another consisted
of "voltigeurs," theoretically an equal number of infantry and of
mounted men (the former to be taken up on the horses of the latter,
when celerity of movement should be desired) with a battery of small
guns that could be taken apart and transported on mules (_Niles_, May
15, 1847, p. 161); but practically the Voltigeurs were foot-riflemen
(Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 924). The regiments destined for Scott were the
following: (Brig. Gen. Pierce's brig.) 9 Inf. from N. Eng. under Col.
Ransom, 12 Inf. from N. and S. Car., Mo., Ark. and Texas under Lieut.
Col. Bonham in the absence of Col. Wilson, and 15 Inf. from Ohio,
Mich., Wis. and Iowa under Lt. Col. Howard in the absence of Col.
Morgan; (Brig. Gen. Cadwalader's brig.) 11 Inf. from Pa., Del. and
Md., under Col. Ramsey, 14 Inf. from Ill., Tenn. and La. under Col.
Trousdale, Voltigeurs from Pa., Md., Va., Ga., Ky. and Miss. under
Col. Andrews (Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 924). Each regiment was theoretically
to consist of 851 men including 47 officers (_ibid._), but the two
brigades going to Scott were not expected to muster quite 3500. Scott
was authorized to change the organization should the exigencies of the
campaign require (Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 922). Each private serving a year
or more was to receive 100 acres of government land or $100 in treasury
scrip as a bounty. The law of March 3 provided also that (in view of
the deficiency in field officers caused by the lack of a retirement
law) an additional major might be appointed in each regiment, that
individuals might be accepted to fill vacancies in volunteer corps,
that non-commissioned officers might be brevetted to the lowest
commissioned rank, that distinguished privates might be given
certificates of merit and $2.00 extra per month, that two companies
might be added to each artillery regiment, that one more company in
each artillery regiment might be equipped as field artillery, that
unfilled regular or volunteer regiments should be consolidated and
the supernumerary officers discharged, etc. (These laws were quite
elaborate and cannot be given in full here; see U. S. Statutes at
Large, ix, 123, 184.) After receiving Scott's report on the battle of
Cerro Gordo, Polk ordered five companies of the Third Dragoons to him.
24.25. _Reinforcements provided._ Upton, Milit. Policy, 206-7.
=62=Adj. gen. to Scott, May 10. =65=_Id._, gen. orders 57, Dec. 22; 2,
Jan. 8; 8, Mar. 4; 17, Apr. 15. Semmes, Service, 314-5. =354=Welles
papers. Polk, Messages, Dec. 29 (Jan. 4, 1847), 1846; Feb. 13, 1847
(Richardson, Messages, iv, 508, 513. =108=Polk to Bancroft, Jan. 30.
Wash. _Union_, Jan. 4, 7, 11, 12, 14, 21, etc. _Nat. Intelligencer_,
May 26. _Cong. Globe_, Sen. and Ho., Dec. 28 to Mar. 3 (One needs
to examine the proceedings and speeches considerably in detail).
(Voltigeurs) _Niles_, May 15, p. 161. _Amer. Review_, Sept., 1847, p.
223. Statutes at Large, ix, 117, 123, 184. Boston _Atlas_, Jan. 14.
=316=Bragg to Sherman, Mar. 1, 1848. =61=Ransom, Apr. 12; May 9, 21;
June 26. =61=Scott to Wilson, Apr. 26. =330=H. L. Scott to Cadwalader,
Apr. 25. =61=Adj. gen. to Scott, Dec. 17, 1846; Jan. 23; Mar. 20; May
6, 10, 22, 1847; to Cadwalader, Apr. 28; to qtr. mr. gen., Apr. 21.
Ho. 42; 29, 2: adj. gen., Jan. 13. =256=Marcy to Wetmore, Jan. 6, 10;
July 16. Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 121 (Marcy). Senex, Myth. Ho. 48; 29, 2
(adj. gen.). Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 45, 50. =62=Marcy to Brooke, Mar. 22;
to Pierce, Mar. 22; to govs. Ala., Miss., La., Mar. 22. =61=Adj. gen.
to Cadwalader, Mar. 26. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 866, 944, 948, 1221 (Scott);
873, 905-6, 922, 953, 1241 (Marcy); 924, 926 (statements). =69=Scott,
mems. for adj. gen., Nov. 29, 1846. Polk, Diary.
The principal references for the attempt to give Benton the chief
command are the following. =345=Benton to Polk, Mar. 6; to Van Buren,
Jan. 26. Polk, Diary, Nov. 10, 11, 18; Dec. 3, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15,
18-21, 24, 25, 1846; Jan. 2, 4, 16, 19, 22-3; Feb. 4-Mar. 12; Mar.
19-20, 22; Apr. 6, 14, 28; May 10-4; July 17, 1847. =210=Simms to
Hammond, May 1. =354=Welles papers. =345=Blair to Van Buren, Dec. 26,
1846; Mar. 13, 1847. Jameson, Calhoun Corres., 727. Dix, Speeches,
i, 166. London _Times_, Feb. 18; Mar. 17; Apr. 17. Meigs, Benton,
364-7. Benton, View, ii, 698. _Id._, speech: _Niles_, June 5, 1847,
p. 223. Scott, Mems., ii, 401. _Public Ledger_, Jan. 8, 27; Mar. 1.
_Cong. Globe_, 29, 2, Senate, Jan. 11, 14, 15 (Badger's speech the
most important one made on the subject), 25 (Benton); House, _passim_.
Blaine, Twenty Years, i, 76. Buchanan, Works, viii, 365, 367. _Mag.
of Amer. Hist._, xiv, 575. Wash. _Union_, Mar. 11. =61=Benton to adj.
gen., Mar. 9.
This call of Apr. 19 included (infantry) a regiment, each, from Ills.,
Oh., Ind.; a battalion (5 cos.), each, from N. J., Mo., Ga., Ala., La.;
three cos. from the Dist. of Columbia; two cos., each, from Pa., Md.,
Va.; and one co. from Fla.; also (horse) two cos. from La. and one co.,
each, from Oh., Ills., Ga., Ala., Ark. A regt. consisted of ten cos.
Each co. included a capt., a first lieut., two second lieuts., four
sergts., four corps., two musicians and eighty privates. A co. of horse
had also one farrier and blacksmith (=62=memo., Apr. 21). Of vols.
Scott was now to have two brigades: I, *one N. Y. and *two Pa. regts.
and two Pa. cos.; II, *one S. Car. and *one La. regt., one La. and one
Ga. battal., two cos. La. horse and one co. Ga. horse (asterisks mean,
"already in Mexico"). There were certain exceptions as to the dates of
calls which it seems unnecessary to specify.
After the lieutenant general plan failed, Benton was nominated as
a major general, and was promptly confirmed by the Senate, and a
bill authorizing Polk to place him in supreme command was urged upon
Congress (Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1219); but as it appeared doubtful whether
the chief authority could be conferred upon him, Benton declined the
position abruptly (=345=letters dated Mar. 9). This episode caused no
material delay in war legislation.
24.26. One unfortunate result of giving up the line of communication
was that new troops had to wait at Vera Cruz until assembled in
sufficient force to defy the enemy, and some of them fell sick in
consequence; but this was not fairly chargeable to the evacuation of
Jalapa, for the irregulars did their worst below that city. It was
the intention of the government that Quitman should go to Taylor, but
Scott retained him because his services were valued and he could not be
sent away without a heavy detachment (Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 137). Having
only two full regiments, though a major general, Quitman naturally
felt aggrieved (Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1024). To illustrate once more the
difference between paper figures and real ones, the Washington _Union_
stated on July 20 that more than 15,000 reinforcements had marched
from Vera Cruz. The text shows how many did go. July 19 Marcy wrote
that 1900 men were en route to Vera Cruz (Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1003). The
fact was that on August 2 or 3 about 850 men left that place for the
interior under Col. L. D. Wilson of the Twelfth Infantry (=60=Wilson,
July 31).
24.27. _Reinforcements arrive._ (Other references will be given when
the guerillas are studied: chap. xxix.) Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 1002, 1241
(Marcy); 1012, 1221 (Scott). Sen. 1; 30, 1, app., 4, 13, 16, 18, 20-25
(McIntosh _et al._). Scott, Mems., ii, 453, etc. =65=_Id._, gen.
orders 250, 1847. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 265, 269. Davis, Autobiog.,
174-5. =69=Marcy to Pillow and Quitman, Apr. 14. Hartman, Journal,
15. _Picayune_, Aug. 20. _Delta_, Oct. 1. Upton, Milit. Policy,
213-4. Polk, Diary, May 10. =159=Collins papers. =291=Pierce, diary.
=61=Cadwalader to Wilson, June 13. =62=Adj. gen. to Scott, May 10, 22.
=287=Parrish, diary. =60=H. Wilson to Marcy, Aug. 1. =60=L. D. Wilson
to Marcy, July 31. Mansfield, Mex. War, 224. Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 136.
=236=Judah, diary. _Monitor del Pueblo_, Apr. 29. =178=Davis, diary.
=335=Dimond to Trist, July 14. Semmes, Service, 314. Wash. _Union_,
July 20. =180=Pillow to wife, June 14. =61=H. Wilson to adj. gen., June
7, 14. =61=Pillow to adj. gen. [June 19]. Henshaw narrative. Lawton,
Artill. Officer, 215, 238-41, 272-4. =61=Jones to Wilson, Apr. 29.
=76=Soto, July 17, 21, 23, 25, 31; Aug. 3, 11. =76=Canalizo, July 8.
=76=Alvarez, July 5. =76=Hitchcock to Worth, May 12. =76=Many other
documents.
24.28. Under general orders 218, July 16, 1847, the following artillery
companies were ordered to be equipped (_i.e._, were recognized) as
light (field) artillery in accordance with the law of March 3, 1847:
First Regiment, Co. I, Capt. J. B. Magruder; Second, Co. M, J. F.
Roland; Third, Co. E, T. W. Sherman; Fourth, Co. G, S. H. Drum. Co.
M was not organized in time to serve during the war; the others were
already in the service.
24.29. Scott, Mems., ii, 460-5. Grone, Briefe, 84. =60=Marcy to
Quitman, Apr. 14. Upton, Milit. Policy, 214. =159=Collins papers, June
18. =236=Judah, diary, Apr. 26. Lawton, Artill. Officer, 274. Aldrich,
Marine Corps, 104. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1002 (Marcy); 1012 (Scott).
=62=Adj. gen. to Scott, May 22. _Journ. Milit. Serv. Instit._, iii, 415.
The general staff (as given by Scott in his Mems., ii, 460-3) included
at this time: Lt. Col. Hitchcock, asst. inspect. gen.; Capt. H. L.
Scott (not related to the General) actg. adj. gen.; First Lt. T.
Williams, Bvt. First Lieut. G. W. Lay and Second Lieut. Schuyler
Hamilton, aides; Maj. J. P. Gaines (one of the Encarnacion prisoners,
who had escaped) vol. aide; Maj. J. L. Smith, Capt. R. E. Lee, and
Lieuts. P. G. T. Beauregard, I. I. Stevens, Z. B. Tower, G. W. Smith,
G. B. McClellan and J. G. Foster, engineer officers; Maj. Wm. Turnbull,
Capt. J. McClellan, Second Lieut. George Thom and Bvt. Second Lieut. E.
L. F. Hardcastle, topog. engs.; Capt. Benjamin Huger, First Lieut. P.
V. Hagner and Second Lieut. C. P. Stone, ordnance officers; Capt. J. R.
Irwin, chief quartermaster; Capt. J. B. Grayson, chief of subsistence
dept.; Maj. E. Kirby, chief paymaster; Surgeon Gen., Thomas Lawson. The
Marine Corps, which had no regimental organization, included, Mar. 2,
1847, 1283 privates. On that day Congress raised the number to 2293,
and added twelve "commanding officers" (Sen. 66; 30, 1). In May, 1847,
the secretary of the navy, in order to help strengthen Scott, offered a
part of this corps (Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 957). Perry did not think it wise
to detach all of the men whom the department proposed to contribute
(=47=July 4), but a battalion under Lieut. Col. Watson and Maj. Twiggs
marched to Puebla with Pierce.
24.30. _Picayune_, Aug. 20; Nov. 14. Lawton, Artill. Officer, 244, 246,
274-5. Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 135 (Scott). =65=Scott, gen. orders 246, Aug.
5. Collins Papers. Smith, To Mexico, 178. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 271.
XXV. ON TO THE CAPITAL
25.1. This chapter is amply supported. About 1400 documents were used
in writing it. As, however, any investigator consulting on this subject
the =76=archives would easily find the pertinent papers, only the most
important ones belonging to that collection will be cited.
25.2. _Affairs at Mexico to Apr. 20._ Sen. 19; 30, 2 (M. L. Smith).
=341=Black, memorial, Dec. 20. =312=Anaya to S. Anna, Apr. 9.
=312=Baranda to S. Anna, Apr. 9. _Monitor Repub._, Apr. 11. _Picayune_,
May 12. Semmes, Service, 328. =92=Gov. Federal Dist. to Mex ayunt.,
Apr. 10. =92=Mex. ayunt., proclam., Apr. 27. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1088.
_Niles_, May 15, p. 168 (Gamboa). Kenly, Md. Vol., 338. N. Y. _Sun_,
May 19. Apuntes, 198-9. Otero, Comunicación. Negrete, Invasión, iii,
app., 483. From =76= the following. Memo., Apr. 10. Salas, Apr. 12.
Ords. to generals, Apr. 2. Ords. to Liceaga, Apr. 10. Relaciones to
gov. Fed. Dist., Apr. 11. Almonte, May 14. To comte. gen. Guanajuato,
Apr. 16. To J. P. Gálvez, Apr. 9. Measures recommended, Apr. 6, 14.
Relaciones, Apr. 12. Berrospe to Monterede, Jan. 20, 1846.
25.3. This specimen may be quoted: "The cunning dissimulator, Ibarra [a
member of the Cabinet], venomous as a serpent, crawls forth obscurely
from his lurking-place to-day in order that he may set his malignant
teeth to-morrow in the vitals of the republic.... Off with the heads
of the vile traitors!" One ingenious writer said: If Santa Anna will
not sacrifice his vanity by admitting he is incompetent, why should
we sacrifice our lives and property? April 21 a general amnesty for
political offences was declared in the vain hope of producing harmony
(=76=to Bustamante, Apr. 21).
25.4. This important law provided (México á través, iv, 656): 1, The
government is authorized to take all steps necessary to carry on
the war and preserve the republican system; 2, but it must not make
peace with the United States, cede territory, conclude negotiations
[particularly with reference to a monarchical régime] with foreign
powers; 3, make colonization contracts, impose punishments or confer
civil or military appointments except those placed within its authority
by the Constitution; 4, any arrangement between the United States and
authorities superseding the present government shall be void; 5, any
person, whatever his status, who treats with the United States is
hereby declared a traitor; 6, should Congress be unable to meet, its
place shall be taken by a council of government, consisting of the
senior member present of each state delegation.
25.5. _Affairs at Mexico, Apr. 20 to May 18._ S. Anna, Apelación,
44-5; app., 76. _Id._, Detall, 8. Dublán, Legislación, v, 267 (Apr.
20). Giménez, Mems., 107-9. Méx. en 1847, 20. _Picayune_, May 6,
20. Defensa de ... Estrada. =312=Basadre to S. Anna, Apr. 9, very
private. =73=Bermúdez de Castro, no. 517, June 29. Manifiesto del Supr.
Tribunal. Molina, El Asalto. Memoria de ... Relaciones, Jan., 1849.
_Boletin de Noticias_, May 14. _Republicano_, May 10, 22. _Courrier
Français_, May 5. London _Times_, June 15; July 9. Bustamante, Nuevo
Bernal, ii, 196-8. Encarnacion Prisoners, 67. =52=Trist, no. 7, June
13. =92=Donations, Mex., May 1-6. =92=Bravo, proclam., May 6. Roa
Bárcena, Recuerdos, 570. =92=Ayunt., call for volunteers, May 20.
Consideraciones. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 967 (Worth). =80=Olaguíbel to
Relac., Aug. 15. Lara, Resumen, 66, note. México á través, iv, 655-6,
661, 704. Prieto, Memorias, ii, 210-2. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 255.
Ramírez, México, 229, 233-4, 239, 241, 246-7, 250-1, 256, 272-7,
284. =88=Metropol. dean, May 8. _Monitor Repub._, Apr. 22; May 3,
8, 10-11. S. Anna, manifiesto, Mar. 24, 1848. Apuntes, 199, 200-1,
203-4. =80=Guerra to gov., Mar. 11; Apr. 22. =80=Gov. to Bravo, May 5.
_Diario_, Apr. 25, 28; May 3, 4, 6, 12, 15. From =76= the following.
Decrees, Apr. 26; May 1. Junta directiva, May 1, 3. Acuerdo, Apr. 20,
25. Circular, Apr. 30. Garrison, estado, May 13. To generals, Apr. 25.
To Brito, May 25. J. J. Miñón, Apr. 24. Deserters, May 15. Circular,
May 4. Basadre, May 16, res. To Alvarez, Apr. 26. To Monterde, May
18. To S. Anna, Apr. 20-2. To Bravo, Apr. 24. To Bustamante, Apr. 21.
Almonte, Apr. 28, 30; May 8, 12, 15, 18. Monterde, May 9. Bravo, May
11, 16. Rincón, May 17. S. Anna, May 16.
25.6. _Affairs at Mexico, May 18 to June 2._ Negrete, Invasion, iii,
app., 61-72, 81-3; iv, app., 261-8, 273-4. Tributo á la Verdad,
56, 74-6. Giménez, Memorias, 109-11. S. Anna to Congress, May 28
(Biblioteca Nac.). _Id._, Apelación, app., 83-8. _Id._, Detall, 8.
Defensa de ... Estrada. Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 177-8. Portrait of Anaya:
city hall, Mex. _Picayune_, July 15; Aug. 7, 8. _Monitor Repub._, May
20; June 3, 4, 14; Dec. 12 (S. Anna, Nov. 19). _Republicano_, May
10; June 5, 10, 15, 26. México á través, iv, 662, 664-7. Ramírez,
México, 229-30, 233, 284-6. =13=Bankhead, nos. 59, 60, May 29. London
_Times_, July 9, 16; Aug. 6. =73=Bermúdez de Castro, no. 517, June
29. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 290-3. Bustamante, Nuevo Bernal, ii, 157,
196-204. Encarnacion Prisoners, 67. =80=Guerra to gov. Méx., May 20.
_Diario_, May 19, 21, 23-4; June 8. _Boletín de la Democracia_, May 25.
Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 260. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 967. Apuntes, 201, 204.
Otero, Réplica. Dublán, Legislación, v, 264. =76=Bravo, May 15, 16,
24, 30. =76=S. Anna to Rosa, Feb. 5, 1848. =76=Valencia, June 7, 1847.
=76=Mora, June 5. =76=To Brito, May 25. =60=Bravo, proclam., May 6.
=76=S. Anna, May 21.
The statesmen who met S. Anna were Manuel Baranda, Ignacio Trigueros
and J. F. Ramírez.
25.7. A signal illustration of the incompetence of the Mexican
government, particularly Congress, was afforded by its treatment
of Great Britain. At the end of August, 1846, Bankhead, under the
instructions of the Foreign Office (=13=to Bankhead, no. 20), proposed
mediation to Mexico, but the offer was not welcomed. Santa Anna and
Rejón believed that it proceeded wholly from self-interest, and that,
in order to prevent her commerce from suffering longer from the war
and other interests from becoming imperilled, England was ready to
sacrifice the honor and welfare of their country (=73=Bermúdez de
Castro, nos. 332, res., 343, res., Sept. 24, 27, 1846); and, moreover,
the Mexicans still felt quite able to cope with the United States
(=13=Bankhead, no. 130, Sept. 7, 1846). In October, under renewed
instructions (=13=no. 11), Bankhead again submitted the proposal
(=13=nos. 162, 180), and later he returned to the charge (Apuntes,
202). The subject was unwisely referred by the Mexican Executive to
Congress, but nothing was done (_ibid._). After the battle of Cerro
Gordo, however, the administration thought negotiations might be
used to delay the American advance (_ibid._; Ramírez, México, 246)
and the Puros hoped the subject might be made embarrassing to the
government (Ramírez, México, 224). Violent, acrimonious and dangerous
debates followed in Congress and, in order to embarrass the Executive
(=13=Bankhead, no. 45, 1847), enough Puros remained away (at the time
set for voting) to destroy the quorum (_ibid._). The matter was then
dropped (Ramírez, México, 246, 274). The general feeling was that
British mediation would signify British control and a dishonorable,
disadvantageous peace (London _Times_, June 15; _Monitor Repub._,
May 18). But, even if this view contained some elements of justice,
trifling with a great power and throwing the vital interests of Mexico
into the cockpit of party politics could not be excused.
25.8. _The political situation after June 2._ S. Anna, Apelación,
app., pp. 3, 6, 8, 10, etc. _Id._, Detall, 8. =87=Coalition junta,
July 7; Aug. 8; etc. _Republicano_, June 4, 5, 9, 15, 16, 20, 22,
26. =312=Baranda to S. Anna, Apr. 8. México á través, iv, 667, 704.
Iniciativa que el Hon. Cong. del Estado de Zacat. Otero, Réplica.
=13=Bankhead, nos. 60, May 29; 64, 65, 70, June 29. _Id._, no. 125,
Dec. 30, 1845 (Tornel has no reputation for honesty). London _Times_,
Aug. 6. =77=Gov. S. Luis Potosí, June 19. =13=Thornton to Bankhead,
June 14. =52=Consul Black, no. 389, Sept. 12, 1846. Encarnacion
Prisoners, 68, 77-8, 86. =73=Bermúdez de Castro, no. 517, June 29.
=77=Letter from Coatepec, June 26. =82=Treas. to sec. state of Puebla,
June 14; reply, June 15. =82=Guerra to gov. Puebla, Aug. 2; reply, Aug.
7. =80=Legisl. of Méx. state, Mar. 26; June 12. =80=_Id._, address,
Apr. 26. =80=Coalition, address, Aug. 4. _Verdadero Liberal_, Aug.
12. =80=Coal. junta to gov. Méx., June 17. =80=_Id._, dictamen, July
4. =80=Oaxaca state, exposición, June 26. =83=Gov. Querétaro to gov.
S. Luis Potosí, Apr. 9. _Diario_, June 7, 8, 11, 24, 30; July 3, 9,
18. _Monitor Repub._, May 3, 4, 26-7; June 3, 7, 11, 13, 14-16, 18,
19, 24, 30; July 6, 7, 9; Dec. 12 (S. Anna, Nov. 19). _Niles_, Oct.
30, p. 141. =83=Gov. Querétaro to Farías, Oct. 20, 1846; to Anaya,
May 4; to all govs., May 7. =82=Gov. Jalisco to gov. Puebla, Apr. 13.
=82=Gov. Méx. to gov. Puebla, Apr. 12. Ramírez, México, 237, 244-6,
254, 263, 272, 288-90. =80=Gov. Méx. to Bravo, May 5. =76=To Alvarez,
June 29. =76=Extracto _re_ Guanajuato. =76=J. J. de Echeverría, June 6.
=76=Arellano, July 9. =76=Olaguíbel to Relac., Apr. 19. =76=Hacienda to
Basadre, Aug. 9. =76=Reyes, June 1, 22. =76=Basadre, Aug. 9. =76=Yáñez,
June 15. =76=Mora, Apr. 28.
In February, 1847, a revolutionary government satisfactory to the
people was set up in Oaxaca state, and this supported the national
cause to the full extent of its ability. A factional combination
made up in Congress, however, took the side (May 8) of the deposed
authorities. This action naturally caused great dissatisfaction in
Oaxaca (=76=exposición de la cong. de Oaxaca, June 26), and it was
particularly imprudent because Gen. Antonio de León and his officers
were partisans of the revolutionary party (Ramírez, México, 255).
25.9. July 9 the Mexican Army of the East included, according to a
document published by Santa Anna, 17,548 officers and men. A. López
(Décimo Calendario, 57) placed the army, including the National Guards,
at 30,000 on Aug. 9. The only official Mexican accounts of the forces
present in and near the capital early in August was made up during the
following November, and are far from complete; but they were stated
to have been five times as large as those existing in November, which
were 8109 total, 6785 available (=75=report at meeting of govs.; México
á través, iv, 701). The unofficial statements cannot be harmonized
with these accounts nor (except when drawn from the same source) with
one another. It does not help us to know what corps were present (see
Roa Bárcena), for we have not the number of men in each of them.
The commanders of brigades in the Army of the East were Generals
Terrés, Martínez, Rangel, Pérez, León and Anaya and Col. Zerecero.
The three sections of Valencia's army were commanded respectively by
Mejía, Parrodi and Salas. A portion of Alvarez's force consisted of
semi-savage "pintos"--men from the hot region, who were marked with
spots (=11=Mémoire). They lay flat when charged upon, and hewed the
enemy down with heavy knives (_machetes_), and they were expected to
fill the Americans with terror.