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.