On the 8th of April, the van of General Scott’s army began its march
from Vera Cruz, for the interior of Mexico. The troops met with no
opposition until they approached a rocky pass called Cerro Gordo.
This place, which was very strong by nature, had been carefully
fortified by the Mexicans, under General Santa Anna. They thought that
General Scott’s men were not brave enough to venture to attack such a
strong position, defended by about fifteen thousand well furnished and
disciplined troops. But General Scott soon formed his plan of attack,
and on the 17th of April, ordered his divisions to take their appointed
positions. The next morning, the troops advanced to the attack, under
an awful fire from the Mexican batteries. Colonel Harney, with a
brigade of troops, rushed up the height of Cerro Gordo, on which the
principal battery was erected, and after a short struggle, drove the
enemy from their works. By two o’clock in the afternoon the victory
was complete. Five generals, many other officers, three thousand
soldiers, forty-three pieces of cannon, and a great quantity of small
arms were taken. Santa Anna, with the remnant of his army, fled towards
the city of Mexico, pursued by General Worth. Great numbers of the
Mexicans fell in the conflict and pursuit. General Scott lost about two
hundred and fifty men. Among the prisoners was the brave General La
Vega, who had been captured before at Resaca de la Palma. If all the
Mexican generals had been equal to La Vega, General Scott would have
had much harder fighting at Cerro Gordo.
[Illustration: RILEY’S CHARGE AT CONTRERAS.]