After so many victories, we might, with but little additional

loss, have occupied the capital the same evening. But Mr. Trist,

commissioner, etc., as well as myself, had been admonished by the

best friends of peace, intelligent neutrals, and some American

residents, against precipitation, lest, by wantonly driving away

the government and others, dishonored, we might scatter the

elements of peace, excite a spirit of national desperation and

thus indefinitely postpone the hope of accommodation.

Deeply impressed with this danger, and remembering our mission,

_to conquer a peace_, the army very cheerfully sacrificed to

patriotism, to the great wish and want of our country, the

_éclat_ that would have followed an entrance, sword in hand, into

a great capital. Willing to leave something to this republic, of

no immediate value to us, on which to rest her pride, and to

recover temper, I halted our victorious corps at the gates of the

city (at least for a time), and have them now cantoned in the

neighboring villages, where they are well sheltered and supplied

with all necessaries.

On the morning of the 21st, being about to take up battering or

assaulting position, to authorize me to summon the city to

surrender, or to sign an armistice with a pledge to enter at once

into negotiations for peace, a mission came out to propose a

truce. Rejecting its terms, I dispatched my contemplated note to

President Santa Anna, omitting the summons. The 22d,

commissioners were appointed by the commanders of the two armies;

the armistice was signed the 23d, and ratifications exchanged the

24th.

All matters in dispute between the two governments have been thus

happily turned over to their plenipotentiaries, who have now had

several conferences, and with, I think, some hope of signing a

treaty of peace.

There will be transmitted to the adjutant-general reports from

divisions, brigades, etc., on the foregoing operations, to which

I must refer, with my hearty concurrence in the just applause (p. 323)

bestowed on corps and individuals by their respective commanders.

I have been able, this report being necessarily a summary, to

bring out, comparatively, but little of individual merit not

lying directly in the way of the narrative. Thus I doubt whether

I have, in express terms, given my approbation and applause to

the commanders of divisions and independent brigades; but left

their fame upon higher grounds, the simple record of their great

deeds and the brilliant results.

To the staff, both general and personal, attached to general

headquarters, I was again under high obligations for services in

the field, as always in the bureau, I add their names, etc.:

Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, Acting Inspector General; Major J.

L. Smith, Captain R. E. Lee (as distinguished for felicitous

execution as for science and daring), Captain Mason, Lieutenants

Stevens, Beauregard, Tower, G. W. Smith, George B. McClellan, and

Foster, all of the Engineers; Major Turnbull, Captain J.

McClellan, and Lieutenant Hardcastle, Topographical Engineers;

Captain Huger and Lieutenant Hagner, of the Ordnance; Captains

Irwin and Wayne, of the Quartermaster's Department; Captain

Grayson, of the Commissariat; Surgeon-General Lawson, in his

particular department; Captain H. L. Scott, Acting

Adjutant-General; Lieutenant T. Williams, Aid-de-Camp, and

Lieutenant Lay, Military Secretary.

Lieutenant Schuyler Hamilton, another aid-de-camp, had a week

before been thrown out of activity by a severe wound received in

a successful charge of cavalry against cavalry, and four times

his numbers; but on the 20th, I had the valuable services, as

volunteer aids, of Majors Kirby and Van Buren, of the Pay

Department, always eager for activity and distinction, and of a

third, the gallant Major J. P. Gaines, of the Kentucky

Volunteers.

I have the honor to be, Sir, with high respect, your most

obedient servant,

Winfield SCOTT.

_____

_General Scott to the Secretary of War._

To the Honorable Headquarters of the Army,

William L. MARCY, Tacubaya, near Mexico,

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. September 11, 1847.

Sir: I have heretofore reported that I had, August 24, concluded

an armistice with President Santa Anna, which was promptly

followed by meetings between Mr. Trist and Mexican commissioners

appointed to treat of peace.

Negotiations were actively continued with, as was understood,

some prospect of a successful result, up to the 2d instant, when

our commissioner handed in his ultimatum (on boundaries), and the

negotiators adjourned to meet again on the 6th.

Some infractions of the truce in respect to our supplies from the

city, were earlier committed, followed by apologies on the part

of the enemy. These vexations I was willing to put down to the

imbecility of the government, and waived any pointed demands of

reparation while any hope remained of a satisfactory termination

of the war. But on the 5th, and more fully on the sixth, (p. 324)

I learned that as soon as the _ultimatum_ had been considered in

a grand council of ministers and others, President Santa Anna on

the 4th or 5th, without giving me the slightest notice, actively

recommenced strengthening the military defences of the city,

in gross violation of the 3d article of the armistice.

On that information, which has since received the fullest

verification, I addressed to him my note of the 6th. His reply,

dated the same day, received the next morning, was absolutely and

notoriously false, both in recrimination and explanation. I

enclose copies of both papers, and have had no subsequent

correspondence with the enemy.

Being delayed by the terms of the armistice more than two weeks,

we had now, late on the 7th, to begin to reconnoitre the

different approaches to the city, within our reach, before I

could lay down any definitive plan of attack.

The same afternoon a large body of the enemy was discovered

hovering about the _Molinos del Rey_, within a mile and a third

of this village, where I am quartered with the general staff and

Worth's division.

It might have been supposed that an attack upon us was intended;

but knowing the great value to the enemy of those mills (_Molinos

del Rey_), containing a cannon foundry, with a large deposit of

powder in _Casa Mata_ near them, and having heard two days before

that many church bells had been sent to be cast into guns, the

movement was easily understood, and I resolved at once to drive

him early the next morning, to seize the powder, and to destroy

the foundry.

Another motive for this decision, leaving the general plan of

attack upon the city for full reconnoissance, was, that we knew

our recent captures had left the enemy not a fourth of the guns

necessary to arm, all at the same time, the strong works at each

of the eight city gates; and we could not cut the communication

between the foundry and the capital without first taking the

formidable castle on the heights of Chapultepec, which overlooked

both and stood between.

For this difficult operation we were not entirely ready, and

moreover we might altogether neglect the castle, if, as we then

hoped, our reconnoissances should prove that the distant southern

approaches to the city were more eligible than this southwestern

one.

Hence the decision promptly taken, the execution of which was

assigned to Brevet Major-General Worth, whose division was

re-enforced with Cadwallader's brigade of Pillow's division,

three squadrons of dragoons under Major Sumner, and some heavy

guns of the siege train under Captain Huger of the Ordnance, and

Captain Drum of the 4th Artillery, two officers of the highest

merit.

For the decisive and brilliant results, I beg to refer to the

report of the immediate commander, Major-General Worth, in whose

commendations of the gallant officers and men, dead and living, I

heartily concur, having witnessed, but with little indifference,

their noble devotion to fame and to country.

The enemy having several times re-enforced his line, and the

action soon becoming much more general than I had expected, I

called up, from the distance of three miles, first Major-General

Pillow, with his remaining brigade (Pierce's), and next Riley's

brigade of Twiggs' division, leaving his other brigade (Smith's)

in observation at San Angel. Those corps approached with zeal (p. 325)

and rapidity, but the battle was won just as Brigadier-General

Pierce reached the ground, and had interposed his corps between

Garland's brigade (Worth's division) and the retreating enemy.

The accompanying report mentions, with just commendation, two of

my volunteer aids: Major Kirby, Paymaster, and Major Gaines, of

the Kentucky Volunteers. I also had the valuable services, on the

same field, of several officers of my staff, general and

personal: Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, Acting Inspector-General;

Captain R. E. Lee, Engineer; Captain Irwin, Chief Quartermaster;

Captain Grayson, Chief Commissary; Captain H. L. Scott, Acting

Adjutant-General; Lieutenant Williams, Aid-de-Camp; and

Lieutenant Lay, Military Secretary.

I have the honor to be, Sir, with high respect, your obedient

servant,

Winfield SCOTT.

_____

_General Scott to the Secretary of War._

To the Honorable Headquarters of the Army,

William L. MARCY, National Palace of Mexico,

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. September 18th, 1847.

Sir: At the end of another series of arduous and brilliant

operations of more than forty-eight hours' continuance, this

glorious army hoisted, on the morning of the 14th, the colors of

the United States on the walls of this palace.

The victory of the 8th, at the Molinos del Rey, was followed by

daring reconnaissances on the part of our distinguished

engineers, Captain Lee, Lieutenants Beauregard, Stevens, and

Tower: Major Smith, senior, being sick, and Captain Mason, third

in rank, wounded. Their operations were directed principally to

the south, towards the gates of the Piedad, San Angel, (Nino

Perdido,) San Antonio, and the Paseo de la Viga.

This city stands on a slight swell of ground, near the centre of

an irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditch in its greater

extent, a navigable canal of great breadth and depth, very

difficult to bridge in the presence of an enemy, and serving at

once for drainage, custom-house purposes, and military defence;

leaving eight entrances or gates, over arches, each of which we

found defended by a system of strong works, that seemed to

require nothing but some men and guns to be impregnable.

Outside and within the cross-fires of those gates, we found to

the south other obstacles but little less formidable. All the

approaches near the city are over elevated causeways, cut in many

places (to oppose us), and flanked on both sides by ditches, also

of unusual dimensions. The numerous cross-roads are flanked in

like manner, having bridges at the intersections, recently

broken. The meadows thus checkered are, moreover, in many spots,

under water or marshy; for, it will be remembered, we were in the

midst of the wet season, though with less rain than usual, and we

could not wait for the fall of the neighboring lakes and the

consequent drainage of the wet grounds at the edge of the (p. 326)

city, the lowest in the whole basin.

After a close personal survey of the southern gates, covered by

Pillow's division and Riley's brigade of Twiggs', with four times

our numbers concentrated in our immediate front, I determined on

the 11th to avoid that network of obstacles, and to seek, by a

sudden diversion to the southwest and west, less unfavorable

approaches.

To economize the lives of our gallant officers and men, as well

as to ensure success, it became indispensable that this

resolution should be long masked from the enemy; and again, that

the new movement, when discovered, should be mistaken for a

feint, and the old as indicating our true and ultimate point of

attack.

Accordingly, on the spot, the 11th, I ordered Quitman's division

from Coyoacan, to join Pillow, by daylight, before the southern

gates, and then that the two major-generals, with their

divisions, should, by night, proceed (two miles) to join me at

Tacubaya, where I was quartered with Worth's division. Twiggs,

with Riley's brigade and Captain Taylor's and Steptoe's field

batteries, the latter of twelve-pounders, was left in front of

those gates to manoeuvre, to threaten, or to make false

attacks, in order to occupy and deceive the enemy. Twiggs' other

brigade (Smith's) was left at supporting distance, in the rear,

at San Angel, till the morning of the 13th, and also to support

our general depot at Miscoac. The stratagem against the south was

admirably executed throughout the 12th and down to the afternoon

of the 13th, when it was too late for the enemy to recover from

the effects of his delusion.

The first step in the new movement was to carry Chapultepec, a

natural and isolated mound of great elevation, strongly fortified

at its base, on its acclivities and heights. Besides a numerous

garrison, here was the military college of the republic, with a

large number of sub-lieutenants and other students. Those works

were within direct gun-shot of the village of Tacubaya, and,

until carried, we could not approach the city on the west without

making a circuit too wide and too hazardous.

In the course of the same night (that of the 11th) heavy

batteries, within easy ranges, were established. No. 1, on our

right, under the command of Captain Drum, 4th Artillery (relieved

late next day, for some hours, by Lieutenant Andrews, of the 3d),

and No. 2, commanded by Lieutenant Hagner, Ordnance, both

supported by Pillow's division, were commanded, the former, by

Captain Brooks and Lieutenant S. S. Anderson, 2d Artillery,

alternately, and the latter by Lieutenant Stone, Ordnance. The

batteries were traced by Captain Huger and Captain Lee, Engineer,

and constructed by them with the able assistance of the young

officers of those corps and the Artillery.

To prepare for an assault, it was foreseen that the play of the

batteries might run into the second day; but recent captures had

not only trebled our siege-pieces, but also our ammunition; and

we knew that we should greatly augment both by carrying the

place. I was, therefore, in no haste in ordering an assault

before the works were well crippled by our missiles.

The bombardment and cannonade, under the direction of Captain

Huger, were commenced early in the morning of the 12th. Before

nightfall, which necessarily stopped our batteries, we had

perceived that a good impression had been made on the castle and

its outworks, and that a large body of the enemy had remained

outside, towards the city, from an early hour to avoid our (p. 327)

fire, and to be at hand on its cessation, in order to

re-enforce the garrison against an assault. The same outside

force was discovered the next morning, after our batteries had

re-opened upon the castle, by which we again reduced its garrison

to the minimum needed for the guns.

Pillow and Quitman had been in position since early in the night

of the 11th. Major-General Worth was now ordered to hold his

division in reserve, near the foundry, to support Pillow; and

Brigadier-General Smith, of Twiggs' division, had just arrived

with his brigade from Piedad (two miles), to support Quitman.

Twiggs' guns, before the southern gates, again reminded us, as

the day before, that he, with Riley's brigade, and Taylor's and

Steptoe's batteries, was in activity, threatening the southern

gates, and there holding a great part of the Mexican army on the

defensive.

Worth's division furnished Pillow's attack with an assaulting

party of some two hundred and fifty volunteer officers and men,

under Captain McKenzie, of the 2d Artillery; and Twiggs' division

supplied a similar one, commanded by Captain Casey, 2d Infantry,

to Quitman. Each of these little columns was furnished with

scaling ladders.

The signal I had appointed for the attack was the momentary

cessation of fire on the part of our heavy batteries. About 8

o'clock in the morning of the 13th, judging that the time had

arrived by the effect of the missiles we had thrown, I sent an

aid-de-camp to Pillow, and another to Quitman, with notice that

the concerted signal was about to be given. Both columns now

advanced with an alacrity that gave assurance of prompt success.

The batteries, seizing opportunities, threw shots and shells upon

the enemy over the heads of our men, with good effect,

particularly at every attempt to re-enforce the works from

without to meet our assault.

Major-General Pillow's approach, on the west side, lay through an

open grove, filled with sharp-shooters, who were speedily

dislodged; when being up with the front of the attack, and

emerging into open space, at the foot of a rocky acclivity, that

gallant leader was struck down by an agonizing wound. The

immediate command devolved on Brigadier-General Cadwallader, in

the absence of the senior brigadier (Pierce) of the same

division, an invalid since the events of August 19. On a previous

call of Pillow, Worth had just sent him a re-enforcement, Colonel

Clarke's brigade.

The broken acclivity was still to be ascended, and a strong

redoubt, midway, to be carried, before reaching the castle on the

heights. The advance of our brave men, led by brave officers,

though necessarily slow, was unwavering, over rocks, chasms, and

mines, and under the hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The

redoubt now yielded to resistless valor, and the shouts that

followed announced to the castle the fate that impended. The

enemy were steadily driven from shelter to shelter. The retreat

allowed no time to fire a single mine, without the certainty of

blowing up friend and foe. Those who at a distance attempted to

apply matches to the long trains, were shot down by our men.

There was death below, as well as above ground. At length the

ditch and wall of the main work was reached; the scaling ladders

were brought up and planted by the storming parties; some of the

daring spirits first in the assault were cast down, killed or

wounded; but a lodgment was soon made; streams of heroes (p. 328)

followed; all opposition was overcome, and several of our

regimental colors flung out from the upper walls, amidst

long-continued shouts and cheers, which sent dismay into the

capital. No scene could have been more animating or glorious.

Major-General Quitman, nobly supported by Brigadier-Generals

Shields and Smith, (P. F.,) his other officers and men, was up

with the part assigned him. Simultaneously with the movement on

the west, he had gallantly approached the southeast of the same

works, over a causeway with cuts and batteries, and defended by

an army strongly posted outside, to the east of the works. Those

formidable obstacles Quitman had to face, with but little shelter

for his troops or space for manoeuvring. Deep ditches flanked

the causeway, made it difficult to cross on either side into the

adjoining meadows, and these again were intersected by other

ditches. Smith and his brigade had been early thrown out to make

a sweep to the right, in order to present a front against the

enemy's lines, (outside,) and to turn two intervening batteries

near the foot of Chapultepec. This movement was also intended to

support Quitman's storming parties, both on the causeway. The

first of these, furnished by Twiggs' division, was commanded in

succession by Captain Casey, 2d Infantry, and Captain Paul, 7th

Infantry, after Casey had been severely wounded; and the second,

originally under the gallant Major Twiggs, Marine Corps, killed,

and then Captain Miller, 2d Pennsylvania Volunteers. The storming

party, now commanded by Captain Paul, seconded by Captain

Roberts, of the Rifles, Lieutenant Stewart, and others of the

same regiment, Smith's brigade, carried the two batteries in the

road, took some guns, with many prisoners, and drove the enemy

posted behind in support. The New York and South Carolina

Volunteers (Shields' brigade) and the 2d Pennsylvania Volunteers,

all on the left of Quitman's line, together with portions of his

storming parties, crossed the meadows in front, under a heavy

fire, and entered the outer enclosure of Chapultepec just in time

to join in the final assault from the west.

Besides Major-Generals Pillow and Quitman, Brigadier-Generals

Shields, Smith, and Cadwallader, the following are the officers

and corps most distinguished in those brilliant operations: The

Voltigeur regiment in two detachments, commanded respectively by

Colonel Andrews and Lieutenant-Colonel Johnstone, the latter

mostly in the lead, accompanied by Major Caldwell; Captains

Barnard and Biddle, of the same regiment, the former the first to

plant a regimental color, and the latter among the first in the

assault; the storming party of Worth's division, under Captain

McKenzie, 2d Artillery, with Lieutenant Selden, 8th Infantry,

early on the ladder and badly wounded; Lieutenant Armistead, 6th

Infantry, the first to leap into the ditch to plant a ladder;

Lieutenants Rodgers of the 4th, and J. P. Smith of the 5th

Infantry, both mortally wounded; the 9th Infantry, under Colonel

Ransom, who was killed while gallantly leading that gallant

regiment, the 15th Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Howard and

Major Woods, with Captain Chase, whose company gallantly carried

the redoubt, midway up the acclivity; Colonel Clarke's brigade

(Worth's division) consisting of the 5th, 8th, and part of the

6th regiments of Infantry, commanded respectively by Captain

Chapman, Major Montgomery, and Lieutenant Edward Johnson, the

latter specially noticed, with Lieutenants Longstreet (badly

wounded, advancing, colors in hand), Pickett, and Merchant, the

last three of the 8th Infantry; portions of the United States (p. 329)

marines, New York, South Carolina, and 2d Pennsylvania

Volunteers, which, delayed with their division (Quitman's) by the

hot engagement below, arrived just in time to participate in the

assault of the heights, particularly a detachment under

Lieutenant Reid, New York Volunteers, consisting of a company of

the same, with one of marines; and another detachment, a portion

of the storming party, (Twiggs' division, serving with Quitman,)

under Lieutenant Steele, 2d Infantry, after the fall of

Lieutenant Gantt, 7th Infantry.

In this connection, it is but just to recall the decisive effect

of the heavy batteries, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, commanded by those

excellent officers, Captain Drum, 4th Artillery, assisted by

Lieutenants Benjamin and Porter of his own company; Captain

Brooks and Lieutenant Anderson, 2d Artillery, assisted by

Lieutenant Russell, 4th Infantry, a volunteer; Lieutenants Hagner

and Stone of the Ordnance, and Lieutenant Andrews, 3d Artillery;

the whole superintended by Captain Huger, chief of Ordnance with

this army, an officer distinguished by every kind of merit. The

mountain howitzer battery, under Lieutenant Reno, of the

Ordnance, deserves, also, to be particularly mentioned. Attached

to the Voltigeurs, it followed the movements of that regiment,

and again won applause.

In adding to the list of individuals of conspicuous merit, I must

limit myself to a few of the many names which might be

enumerated. Captain Hooker, assistant adjutant-general, who won

special applause, successively, in the staff of Pillow and

Cadwallader; Lieutenant Lovell, 4th Artillery (wounded), chief of

Quitman's staff; Captain Page, assistant adjutant-general

(wounded), and Lieutenant Hammond, 3d Artillery, both of Shields'

staff, and Lieutenant Van Dorn (17th Infantry), aid-de-camp to

Brigadier-General Smith.

Those operations all occurred on the west, southeast, and heights

of Chapultepec. To the north and at the base of the mound,

inaccessible on that side, the 11th Infantry, under

Lieutenant-Colonel Hebert, the 14th, under Colonel Trousdale, and

Captain Magruder's field battery, 1st Artillery: one section

advanced under Lieutenant Jackson, all of Pillow's division, had,

at the same time, some spirited affairs against superior numbers,

driving the enemy from a battery in the road, and capturing a

gun. In these, the officers and corps named gained merited

praise. Colonel Trousdale, the commander, though twice wounded,

continued on duty until the heights were carried.

Early in the morning of the 13th, I repeated the orders of the

night before to Major-General Worth, to be, with his division, at

hand to support the movement of Major-General Pillow from our

left. The latter seems soon to have called for that entire

division, standing momentarily in reserve, and Worth sent him

Colonel Clarke's brigade. The call, if not unnecessary, was at

least, from the circumstances, unknown to me at the time; for,

soon observing that the very large body of the enemy, in the road

in front of Major-General Quitman's right, was receiving

re-enforcements from the city, less than a mile and a half to the

east, I sent instructions to Worth, on our opposite flank, to

turn Chapultepec with his division, and to proceed cautiously by

the road at its northern base, in order, if not met by very

superior numbers, to threaten or to attack, in rear, that body of

the enemy. The movement, it was also believed, could not fail to

distract and to intimidate the enemy generally.

Worth promptly advanced with his remaining brigade, Colonel (p. 330)

Garland's, Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. Smith's light battalion,

Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan's field battery, all of his division,

and three squadrons of dragoons, under Major Sumner, which I

had just ordered up to join in the movement.

Having turned the forest on the west, and arriving opposite to

the north centre of Chapultepec, Worth came up with the troops in

the road, under Colonel Trousdale, and aided, by a flank movement

of a part of Garland's brigade, in taking the one gun breastwork,

then under the fire of Lieutenant Jackson's section of Captain

Magruder's field battery. Continuing to advance, this division

passed Chapultepec, attacking the right of the enemy's line,

resting on that road, about the moment of the general retreat

consequent upon the capture of the formidable castle and its

outworks.

Arriving some minutes later, and mounting to the top of the

castle, the whole field to the east lay plainly under my view.

There are two routes from Chapultepec to the capital, the one on

the right entering the same gate, Belen, with the road from the

south, via Piedad; and the other obliquing to the left, to

intersect the great western or San Cosmo road, in a suburb

outside of the gate of San Cosmo.

Each of these routes (an elevated causeway) presents a double

roadway on the sides of an aqueduct of strong masonry and great

height, resting on open arches and massive pillars, which

together afford fine points both for attack and defence. The

sideways of both aqueducts are, moreover, defended by many strong

breastworks at the gates, and before reaching them. As we had

expected, we found the four tracks unusually dry and solid for

the season.

Worth and Quitman were prompt in pursuing the retreating enemy,

the former by the San Cosmo aqueduct, and the latter along that

of Belen. Each had now advanced some hundred yards.

Deeming it all important to profit by our successes, and the

consequent dismay of the enemy, which could not be otherwise than

general, I hastened to dispatch from Chapultepec, first Clarke's

brigade, and then Cadwallader's, to the support of Worth, and

gave orders that the necessary heavy guns should follow. Pierce's

brigade was, at the same time, sent to Quitman, and, in the

course of the afternoon, I caused some additional siege pieces to

be added to his train. Then, after designating the 15th Infantry,

under Lieutenant-Colonel Howard (Morgan, the Colonel, had been

disabled by a wound at Churubusco), as the garrison of

Chapultepec, and giving directions for the care of the prisoners

of war, the captured ordnance and ordnance stores, I proceeded to

join the advance of Worth, within the suburb, and beyond the turn

at the junction of the aqueduct with the great highway from the

west to the gate of San Cosmo.

At this junction of roads, we first passed one of these

formidable systems of city defences, spoken of above, and it had

not a gun! a strong proof, 1. That the enemy had expected us to

fail in the attack upon Chapultepec, even if we meant anything

more than a feint; 2. That, in either case, we designed, in his

belief, to return and double our forces against the southern

gates: a delusion kept up by the active demonstration of Twiggs

and the forces posted on that side; and, 3. That advancing

rapidly from the reduction of Chapultepec, the enemy had not

time to shift guns--our previous captures had left him, (p. 331)

comparatively, but few--from the southern gates.

Within those disgarnished works, I found our troops engaged in a

street fight against the enemy posted in gardens, at windows, and

on house-tops, all flat, with parapets. Worth ordered forward the

mountain howitzers of Cadwallader's brigade, preceded by

skirmishers and pioneers with pickaxes and crowbars, to force

windows and doors, or to burrow through walls. The assailants

were soon in an equality of position fatal to the enemy. By eight

o'clock in the evening, Worth had carried two batteries in this

suburb. According to my instructions, he here posted guards and

sentinels, and placed his troops under shelter for the night.

There was but one more obstacle, the San Cosmo gate,

(custom-house,) between him and the great square in front of the

cathedral and palace, the heart of the city; and that barrier it

was known could not, by daylight, resist our siege guns thirty

minutes.

I had gone back to the foot of Chapultepec, the point from which

the two aqueducts begin to diverge, some hours earlier, in order

to be near that new depot, and in easy communication with Quitman

and Twiggs, as well as with Worth.

From this point I ordered all detachments and stragglers to their

respective corps, then in advance; sent to Quitman additional

siege guns, ammunition, intrenching tools; directed Twiggs'

remaining brigade, Riley's from Piedad, to support Worth, and

Captain Steptoe's field battery, also at Piedad, to rejoin

Quitman's division.

I had been, from the first, well aware that the western or San

Cosmo, was the less difficult route to the centre, and conquest

of the capital, and therefore intended that Quitman should only

manoeuvre and threaten the Belen or southwestern gate, in order

to favor the main attack by Worth, knowing that the strong

defences at the Belen were directly under the guns of the much

stronger fortress, called the citadel, just within. Both of these

defences of the enemy were also within easy supporting distance

from San Angel (or Nino Perdido) and San Antonio gates. Hence the

greater support, in numbers, given to Worth's movement as the

main attack.

These views I repeatedly, in the course of the day, communicated

to Major-General Quitman; but being in hot pursuit, gallant

himself, and ably supported by Brigadier-Generals Shields and

Smith, Shields badly wounded before Chapultepec, and refusing to

retire, as well as by all the officers and men of the column,

Quitman continued to press forward, under flank and direct fires,

carried an intermediate battery of two guns, and then the gate,

before two o'clock in the afternoon, but not without

proportionate loss, increased by his steady maintenance of that

position.

Here, of the heavy battery, (4th Artillery,) Captain Drum and

Lieutenant Benjamin were mortally wounded, and Lieutenant Porter,

its third in rank, slightly. The loss of those two most

distinguished officers the army will long mourn. Lieutenants J.

B. Morange and William Canty, of the South Carolina Volunteers,

also of high merit, fell on the same occasion, besides many of

our bravest non-commissioned officers and men, particularly in

Captain Drum's veteran company. I cannot, in this place, give

names or numbers; but full returns of the killed and wounded, of

all corps, in their recent operations, will accompany this

report.

Quitman within the city, adding several new defences to the

position he had won, and sheltering his corps as well as

practicable, now awaited the return of daylight under the guns of

the formidable citadel, yet to be subdued.

About 4 o'clock next morning (September 14th) a deputation (p. 332)

of the _ayuntamiento_ (city council) waited upon me to report

that the federal government and the army of Mexico had fled

from the capital some three hours before; and to demand

terms of capitulation in favor of the church, the citizens, and

the municipal authorities. I promptly replied that I would sign

no capitulation; that the city had been virtually in our

possession from the time of the lodgments effected by Worth and

Quitman the day before; that I regretted the silent escape of the

Mexican army; that I should levy upon the city a moderate

contribution, for special purposes; and that the American army

should come under no terms not self-imposed: such only as its own

honor, the dignity of the United States, and the spirit of the

age, should, in my opinion, imperiously demand and impose.

For the terms, so imposed, I refer the department to subsequent

General Orders, Nos. 287 and 289 (paragraphs 7, 8, and 9 of the

latter), copies of which are herewith enclosed.

At the termination of the interview with the city deputation, I

communicated, about daylight, orders to Worth and Quitman to

advance slowly and cautiously (to guard against treachery)

towards the heart of the city, and to occupy its stronger and

more commanding points. Quitman proceeded to the great plaza or

square, planted guards, and hoisted the colors of the United

States on the national palace, containing the halls of Congress

and executive departments of Federal Mexico. In this grateful

service Quitman might have been anticipated by Worth, but for my

express orders, halting the latter at the head of the Alameda (a

green park), within three squares of that goal of general

ambition. The capital, however, was not taken by any one or two

corps, but by the talent, the science, the gallantry, the prowess

of this entire army. In the glorious conquest all had

contributed, early and powerfully, the killed, the wounded, and

the fit for duty, at Vera Cruz, Cerro-Gordo, Contreras, San

Antonio, Churubusco, (three battles,) the Molinos del Rey, and

Chapultepec, as much as those who fought at the gates of Belen

and San Cosmo.

Soon after we had entered, and were in the act of occupying the

city, a fire was opened upon us from the flat roofs of the

houses, from windows and corners of streets, by some two thousand

convicts, liberated the night before by the flying government,

joined by perhaps as many Mexican soldiers, who had disbanded

themselves and thrown off their uniforms. This unlawful war

lasted more than twenty-four hours, in spite of the exertions of

the municipal authorities, and was not put down till we had lost

many men, including several officers, killed or wounded, and had

punished the miscreants. Their objects were to gratify national

hatred, and in the general alarm and confusion, to plunder the

wealthy inhabitants, particularly the deserted houses. But

families are now generally returning; business of every kind has

been resumed, and the city is already tranquil and cheerful,

under the admirable conduct (with exceptions very few and

trifling) of our gallant troops.

This army has been more disgusted than surprised that by some

sinister process on the part of certain individuals at home, its

numbers have been, generally, almost trebled in our public

papers, beginning at Washington.

Leaving, as we all feared, inadequate garrisons at Vera Cruz,

Perote, and Puebla, with much larger hospitals; and being

obliged, most reluctantly, from the same cause (general (p. 333)

paucity of numbers) to abandon Jalapa, we marched (August 7-10)

from Puebla with only 10,738 rank and file. This number includes

the garrison of Jalapa, and the 2,429 men brought up by

Brigadier-General Pierce, August 6.

At Contreras, Churubusco, etc. (August 20), we had but 8,497 men

engaged, after deducting the garrison of San Augustin (our

general depot), the intermediate sick and the dead; at the

Molinos del Rey (September 8), but three brigades, with some

cavalry and artillery, making in all 3,251 men, were in battle;

in the two days, September 12th and 13th, our whole operating

force, after deducting again the recent killed, wounded, and

sick, together with the garrison of Miscoac (the then general

depot) and that of Tacubaya, was but 7,180; and, finally, after

deducting the new garrison of Chapultepec, with the killed and

wounded of the two days, we took possession (September 14th) of

this great capital with less than 6,000 men. And I re-assert,

upon accumulated and unquestionable evidence, that, in not one of

those conflicts was this army opposed by fewer than three and a

half times its numbers, in several of them, by a yet greater

excess. I recapitulate our losses since we arrived in the basin

of Mexico.

_August 19-20._ Killed, 137, including 14 officers. Wounded, 877,

including 62 officers. Missing (probably killed), 38 rank and

file. Total 1,052.

_September 8._ Killed, 116, including 9 officers. Wounded, 665,

including 49 officers. Missing, 18 rank and file. Total 789.

_September 12, 13, 14._ Killed, 130, including 10 officers.

Wounded, 703, including 68 officers. Missing, 29 rank and file.

Total 862.

Grand total of losses, 2,703, including 383 officers.

On the other hand, this small force has beaten on the same

occasions in view of their capital, the whole Mexican army, of

(at the beginning) thirty odd thousand men; posted always in

chosen positions, behind intrenchments, or more formidable

defences of nature and art; killed or wounded, of that number,

more than 7,000 officers and men; taken 3,730 prisoners,

one-seventh officers, including 13 generals, of whom 3 have been

presidents of this republic; captured more than 20 colors and

standards, 75 pieces of ordnance, besides 57 wall pieces, 20,000

small arms, an immense quantity of shots, shells, powder, &c.,

&c.

Of that enemy, once so formidable in numbers, appointments,

artillery, &c., twenty odd thousand have disbanded themselves in

despair, leaving, as is known, not more than three fragments, the

largest about 2,500, now wandering in different directions,

without magazines or a military chest, and living at free

quarters upon their own people.

General Santa Anna, himself a fugitive, is believed to be on the

point of resigning the chief magistracy, and escaping to neutral

Guatemala. A new president, no doubt, will soon be declared, and

the federal Congress is expected to reassemble at Queretaro, 125

miles north of this, on the Zacatecas road, some time in October.

I have seen and given safe conduct through this city to several

of its members. The government will find itself without

resources; no army, no arsenals, no magazines, and but little

revenue, internal or external. Still, such is the obstinacy, or

rather infatuation, of this people, that it is very doubtful

whether the new authorities will dare to sue for peace on terms

which in the recent negotiations were made known by our minister.

In conclusion, I beg to enumerate, once more, with due (p. 334)

commendation and thanks, the distinguished staff officers,

general and personal, who, in our last operations in front of the

enemy, accompanied me, and communicated orders to every point and

through every danger. Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, Acting

Inspector-General, Major Turnbull and Lieutenant Hardcastle,

Topographical Engineers; Major Kirby, Chief Paymaster; Captain

Irwin, Chief Quartermaster; Captain Grayson, Chief Commissary;

Captain H. L. Scott, Chief in the Adjutant-General's Department;

Lieutenant Williams, Aid-de-Camp; Lieutenant Lay, Military

Secretary; and Major J. P. Gaines, Kentucky Cavalry, volunteer

Aid-de-Camp; Captain Lee, Engineer, so constantly distinguished,

also bore important orders from me (September 13), until he

fainted from a wound and the loss of two nights' sleep at the

batteries. Lieutenants Beauregard, Stevens and Tower, all

wounded, were employed with the divisions, and Lieutenants G. W.

Smith and G. B. McClellan, with the company of sappers and

miners. Those fine Lieutenants of Engineers, like their Captain,

won the admiration of all about them. The ordnance officers,

Captain Huger, Lieutenants Hagner, Stone, and Reno, were highly

effective, and distinguished at the several batteries; and I must

add that Captain McKinstry, Assistant Quartermaster, at the close

of the operations, executed several important commissions for me

as a special volunteer.

Surgeon-General Lawson, and the medical staff generally, were

skillful and untiring, in and out of fire, in ministering to the

numerous wounded.

To illustrate the operations in this basin, I enclose two

beautiful drawings, prepared under the directions of Major

Turnbull, mostly from actual surveys.

I have the honor to be, Sir, with high respect, your most

obedient servant,

Winfield SCOTT.

_____

_General Orders No. 286._

Head-quarters of the Army,

National Palace of Mexico, September, 1847.

The general-in-chief calls upon his brethren in arms to return,

both in public and in private worship, thanks and gratitude to

God for the signal triumphs which they have recently achieved for

their country.

Beginning with the 19th of August, and ending the 14th instant,

this army has gallantly fought its way through the fields and

forts of Contreras, San Antonio, Churubusco, Molinos del Rey,

Chapultepec, and the gates of San Cosmo and Tacubaya or Belen,

into the capital of Mexico.

When the very limited numbers who have performed those brilliant

deeds shall have become known, the whole world will be

astonished, and our own countrymen filled with joy and

admiration.

But all is not yet done. The enemy, though scattered and (p. 335)

dismayed, has still many fragments of his late army hovering

about us, and aided by an exasperated population, he may again

reunite in treble our numbers, and fall upon us to advantage if

we rest inactive on the security of past victories.

Compactness, vigilance, and discipline are, therefore, our only

securities. Let every good officer and man look to those cautions

and enjoin them upon all others.

By command of Major-General Scott,

H. L. SCOTT,

_Acting Adjutant-General_.

No. 63. (p. 336)

PLATE LXIV.

_February 22 and 23, 1847._

Major General Zachary Taylor, etc. [Rx]. Buena Vista Feb 22. &.

23. 1847.

MAJOR-GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.

[_Victory of Buena Vista._]

MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR. RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS: MAY 9. 1848.

Undraped bust of General Taylor, facing the right; underneath,

branches of oak and laurel, S. ELLIS. DEL. (_delineavit._) C. C.

WRIGHT. F. (_fecit_).

BUENA VISTA FEB. 22. & 23. 1847. Within a circle formed by two

serpents, one of which is a rattlesnake, the American army, commanded

by General Taylor, is repulsing the attack of the Mexicans. Beneath

are branches of cactus and oak. F. A. SMITH DEL. (_delineavit._) C. C.

WRIGHT SCULP. (_sculpsit_).

FREDERIC AUGUSTUS SMITH was graduated at West Point as second

lieutenant of engineers, July 1, 1833. He was appointed captain, July,

1838, and died in Washington, District of Columbia, October 16, 1852.

He designed the reverse of the medal to Major-General Taylor for Buena

Vista.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Taylor._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives

of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the

thanks of Congress are due, and they are hereby tendered to

Major-General Zachary Taylor, and, through him, to the officers

and soldiers of the regular army and of the volunteers under (p. 337)

his command, for their valor, skill, and good conduct,

conspicuously displayed, on the twenty-second and twenty-third

days of February last, in the battle of Buena Vista, in defeating

a Mexican army of more than four times their number, consisting

of chosen troops, under their favorite commander, General Santa

Anna.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested

to cause to be struck a gold medal, with devices emblematical of

this splendid achievement, and presented to Major-General Zachary

Taylor, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress

of his judicious and distinguished conduct on that memorable

occasion.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested

to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to

Major-General Taylor in such terms as he may deem best calculated

to give effect to the object thereof.

Approved May 9, 1848.

_____

_General Taylor to the Adjutant-General of the Army._

To Headquarters, Army of Occupation,

THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY, Agua Nueva, March 6, 1847.

Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honor to submit a detailed report of the

operations of the forces under my command, which resulted in the

engagement of Buena Vista, the repulse of the Mexican army, and

the re-occupation of this position.

The information which reached me of the advance and concentration

of a heavy Mexican force in my front, had assumed such a probable

form, as to induce a special examination far beyond the reach of

our pickets to ascertain its correctness. A small party of Texan

spies, under Major McCulloch, dispatched to the hacienda of

Encarnacion, thirty miles from this, on the route to San Louis

Potosi, had reported a cavalry force of unknown strength at that

place. On the 20th of February, a strong reconnoissance under

Lieutenant-Colonel May was dispatched to the hacienda of

Heclionda, while Major McCulloch made another examination of

Encarnacion. The result of these expeditions left no doubt that

the enemy was in large force at Encarnacion, under the orders of

General Santa Anna, and that he meditated a forward movement, and

attack upon our position.

As the camp of Agua Nueva could be turned on either flank, and as

the enemy's force was greatly superior to our own, particularly

in the arm of cavalry, I determined, after much consideration, to

take up a position about eleven miles in rear, and there await

the attack. The army broke up its camp and marched at noon on the

21st, encamping at the new position a little in front of the

hacienda of Buena Vista. With a small force I proceeded to (p. 338)

Saltillo, to make some necessary arrangements for the defence

of the town, leaving Brigadier-General Wool in the immediate

command of the troops.

Before those arrangements were completed, on the morning of the

22d, I was advised that the enemy was in sight, advancing. Upon

reaching the ground, it was found that his cavalry advance was in

our front, having marched from Encarnacion, as we have since

learned, at eleven o'clock on the day previous, and driving in a

mounted force, left Agua Nueva to cover the removal of public

stores. Our troops were in position, occupying a line of

remarkable strength. The road at this point becomes a narrow

defile, the valley on its right being rendered quite

impracticable for artillery by a system of deep and impassable

gullies, while on the left a succession of rugged ridges and

precipitous ravines extends far back toward the mountain which

bounds the valley. The features of the ground were such as nearly

to paralyze the artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while his

infantry could not derive all the advantages of its numerical

superiority. In this position we prepared to receive him. Captain

Washington's battery (4th Artillery) was posted to command the

road, while the 1st and 2d Illinois regiments, under Colonels

Hardin and Bissell, each eight companies (to the latter of which

was attached Captain Conner's company of Texas Volunteers), and

the 2d Kentucky, under Colonel McKee, occupied the crests of the

ridges on the left and in rear. The Arkansas and Kentucky

regiments of cavalry, commanded by Colonels Yell and H. Marshall,

occupied the extreme left near the base of the mountain, while

the Indiana brigade, under Brigadier-General Lane (composed of

the 2d and 3d regiments, under Colonels Bowles and Lane), the

Mississippi riflemen, under Colonel Davis, the squadrons of the

1st and 2d Dragoons, under Captain Steen and Lieutenant-Colonel

May, and the light batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg, 3d

Artillery, were held in reserve.

At eleven o'clock I received from General Santa Anna the

following summons to surrender at discretion:

"Camp at Encantada, February 22d, 1847.

"To

"GENERAL Z. TAYLOR,

"Commanding the Forces of the United States.

"God and Liberty!

"You are surrounded by 20,000 men, and cannot, in any human

probability, avoid suffering a route, and being cut to pieces

with your troops; but as you deserve consideration and particular

esteem, I wish to save you from a catastrophe, and for that

purpose give you this notice, in order that you may surrender at

discretion, under the assurance that you will be treated with the

consideration belonging to the Mexican character, to which end

you will be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to

commence from the moment when my flag of truce arrives in your

camp.

"With this view, I assure you of my particular consideration,

"Antonio LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA."

To this summons I immediately replied in these terms: (p. 339)

"Headquarters, Army Of Occupation,

"Near Buena Vista, February 22, 1847.

"SEÑOR GENERAL DON ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA,

"Commander-in-Chief, La Encantada.

"Sir: In reply to your note of this date, summoning me to

surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that I

decline acceding to your request.

"With high respect, I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

"Z. TAYLOR,

"_Major-General United States Army_, _commanding_."

The enemy still forbore his attack, evidently waiting for the

arrival of his rear columns, which could be distinctly seen by

our look-outs as they approached the field. A demonstration made

on his left caused me to detach the 2d Kentucky regiment and a

section of artillery to our right, in which position they

bivouacked for the night. In the mean time the Mexican light

troops had engaged ours on the extreme left (composed of parts of

the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry dismounted, and a rifle

battalion from the Indiana brigade, under Major Gorman, the whole

commanded by Colonel Marshall), and kept up a sharp fire,

climbing the mountain side, and apparently endeavoring to gain

our flank. Three pieces of Captain Washington's battery had been

detached to the left, and were supported by the 2d Indiana

regiment. An occasional shell was thrown by the enemy into this

part of our line, but without effect. The skirmishing of the

light troops was kept up with trifling loss on our part until

dark, when I became convinced that no serious attack would be

made before the morning, and returned, with the Mississippi

regiment and squadron of 2d Dragoons, to Saltillo. The troops

bivouacked without fires, and laid upon their arms. A body of

cavalry, some 1500 strong, had been visible all day in rear of

the town, having entered the valley through a narrow pass east of

the city. This cavalry, commanded by General Minon, had evidently

been thrown in our rear to break up and harass our retreat, and

perhaps make some attempt against the town if practicable. The

city was occupied by four excellent companies of Illinois

volunteers, under Major Warren of the 1st regiment. A field-work,

which commanded most of the approaches, was garrisoned by Captain

Webster's company, 1st Artillery, and armed with two

twenty-four-pound howitzers, while the train and headquarter camp

was guarded by two companies of Mississippi riflemen, under

Captain Rogers, and a field-piece commanded by Captain Shover, 3d

Artillery. Having made these dispositions for the protection of

the rear, I proceeded on the morning of the 23d to Buena Vista,

ordering forward all the other available troops. The action had

commenced before my arrival on the field.

During the evening and night of the 22d, the enemy had thrown a

body of light troops on the mountain side, with the purpose of

outflanking our left; and it was here that the action of the 23d

commenced at an early hour. Our riflemen, under Colonel Marshall,

who had been re-enforced by three companies, under Major Trail,

2d Illinois Volunteers, maintained their ground handsomely

against a greatly superior force, holding themselves under (p. 340)

cover, and using their weapons with deadly effect. About

eight o'clock a strong demonstration was made against the centre

of our position, a heavy column moving along the road. This force

was soon dispersed by a few rapid and well-directed shots from

Captain Washington's battery. In the mean time the enemy was

concentrating a large force of infantry and cavalry under cover

of the ridges, with the obvious intention of forcing our left,

which was posted on an extensive plateau. The 2d Indiana and 2d

Illinois regiments formed this part of our line, the former

covering three pieces of light artillery, under the orders of

Captain O'Brien, Brigadier-General Lane being in the immediate

command. In order to bring his men within effective range,

General Lane ordered the artillery and 2d Indiana regiment

forward. The artillery advanced within musket range of a heavy

body of Mexican infantry, and was served against it with great

effect, but without being able to check its advance. The infantry

ordered to its support had fallen back in disorder, being

exposed, as well as the battery, not only to a severe fire of

small arms from the front, but also to a murderous cross-fire of

grape and canister from a Mexican battery on the left. Captain

O'Brien found it impossible to retain his position without

support, but was only able to withdraw two of his pieces, all the

horses and cannoneers of the third piece being killed or

disabled. The 2d Indiana regiment, which had fallen back as

stated, could not be rallied, and took no further part in the

action, except a handful of men, who, under its gallant colonel,

Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment; and did good service,

and those fugitives who, at a later period in the day, assisted

in defending the train and depot at Buena Vista. This portion of

our line having given way, and the enemy appearing in

overwhelming force against our left flank, the light troops which

had rendered such good service on the mountain were compelled to

withdraw, which they did, for the most part, in good order. Many,

however, were not rallied until they reached the depot at Buena

Vista, to the defence of which they afterward contributed.

Colonel Bissell's regiment (2d Illinois) which had been joined by

a section of Captain Sherman's battery, had become completely

outflanked, and was compelled to fall back, being entirely

unsupported. The enemy was now pouring masses of infantry and

cavalry along the base of the mountain on our left, and was

gaining our rear in great force. At this moment I arrived upon

the field. The Mississippi regiment had been directed to the left

before reaching the position, and immediately came into action

against the Mexican infantry which had turned our flank. The 2d

Kentucky regiment, and a section of artillery under Captain

Bragg, had previously been ordered from the right to re-enforce

our left, and arrived at a most opportune moment. That regiment,

and a portion of the 1st Illinois, under Colonel Hardin,

gallantly drove the enemy, and recovered a portion of the ground

we had lost. The batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg were in

position on the plateau, and did much execution, not only in

front, but particularly upon the masses which had gained our

rear. Discovering that the enemy was heavily pressing upon the

Mississippi regiment, the 3d Indiana regiment, under Colonel

Lane, was despatched to strengthen that part of the line, which

formed a crotchet perpendicular to the first line of battle. At

the same time Lieutenant Kilburn, with a piece of Captain Bragg's

battery, was directed to support the infantry there engaged. The

action was, for a long time, warmly sustained at that point, (p. 341)

the enemy making several efforts, both with infantry and

cavalry, against our line, and being always repulsed with heavy

loss. I had placed all the regular cavalry, and Captain Pike's

squadron of Arkansas horse, under the orders of Brevet

Lieutenant-Colonel May, with directions to hold in check the

enemy's column, still advancing to the rear along the base of the

mountain, which was done in conjunction with the Kentucky and

Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell.

In the mean time our left, which was still strongly threatened by

a superior force, was farther strengthened by the detachment of

Captain Bragg's, and a portion of Captain Sherman's batteries to

that quarter. The concentration of artillery fire upon the masses

of the enemy along the base of the mountain, and the determined

resistance offered by the two regiments opposed to them, had

created confusion in their ranks, and some of the corps attempted

to effect a retreat upon their main line of battle. The squadron

of the 1st Dragoons, under Lieutenant Rucker, was now ordered up

the deep ravine which these retreating corps were endeavoring to

cross, in order to charge and disperse them. The squadron

proceeded to the point indicated, but could not accomplish the

object, being exposed to a heavy fire from a battery established

to cover the retreat of those corps. While the squadron was

detached on this service, a large body of the enemy was observed

to concentrate on our extreme left, apparently with the view of

making a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where our

train and baggage were deposited. Lieutenant-Colonel May was

ordered to the support of that point, with two pieces of Captain

Sherman's battery under Lieutenant Reynolds. In the mean time,

the scattered forces near the hacienda, composed in part of

Majors Trail and Gorman's commands, had been, to some extent,

organized under the advice of Major Munroe, chief of artillery,

with the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer staff, and were

posted to defend the position. Before our cavalry had reached the

hacienda, that of the enemy had made its attack; having been

handsomely met by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under

Colonels Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately

divided, one portion sweeping by the depot, where it received a

destructive fire from the force which had collected there, and

then gaining the mountain opposite, under a fire from Lieutenant

Reynolds' section, the remaining portion regaining the base of

the mountain on our left. In the charge at Buena Vista, Colonel

Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment; we also lost

Adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry, a young officer of

much promise. Lieutenant-Colonel May, who had been rejoined by

the squadron of the 1st Dragoons, and by portions of the Arkansas

and Indiana troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel Roane and Major

Gorman, now approached the base of the mountain, holding in check

the right flank of the enemy, upon whose masses, crowded in the

narrow gorges and ravines, our artillery was doing fearful

execution.

The position of that portion of the Mexican army which had gained

our rear was now very critical, and it seemed doubtful whether it

could regain the main body. At this moment I received from

General Santa Anna a message by a staff officer, desiring to know

what I wanted. I immediately dispatched Brigadier-General Wool to

the Mexican general-in-chief and sent orders to cease firing.

Upon reaching the Mexican lines, General Wool could not cause the

enemy to cease their fire, and accordingly returned without (p. 342)

having an interview. The extreme right of the enemy continued its

retreat along the base of the mountain, and finally, in spite

of all our efforts, effected a junction with the remainder of

the army.

During the day, the cavalry of General Minon had ascended the

elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the road from the

city to the field of battle, where they intercepted several of

our men. Approaching the town, they were fired upon by Captain

Webster from the redoubt occupied by his company, and then moved

off towards the eastern side of the valley, and obliquely toward

Buena Vista. At this time Captain Shover moved rapidly forward

with his piece, supported by a miscellaneous command of mounted

volunteers, and fired several shots at the cavalry with great

effect. They were driven into the ravines which lead to the lower

valley, closely pursued by Captain Shover, who was farther

supported by a piece of Captain Webster's battery, under

Lieutenant Donaldson, which had advanced from the redoubt,

supported by Captain Wheeler's company of Illinois volunteers.

The enemy made one or two efforts to charge the artillery, but

was finally driven back in a confused mass, and did not again

appear upon the plain.

In the mean time, the firing had partially ceased upon the

principal field. The enemy seemed to confine his efforts to the

protection of his artillery, and I had left the plateau for a

moment, when I was recalled thither by a very heavy musketry

fire. On regaining that position, I discovered that our infantry

(Illinois and 2d Kentucky) had engaged a greatly superior force

of the enemy, evidently his reserve, and that they had been

overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most critical. Captain

O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this heavy charge to the

last, and was finally obliged to leave his guns on the field, his

infantry support being entirely routed. Captain Bragg, who had

just arrived from the left, was ordered at once into battery.

Without any infantry to support him, and at the imminent risk of

losing his guns, this officer came rapidly into action, the

Mexican line being but a few yards from the muzzles of his

pieces. The first discharge of canister caused the enemy to

hesitate, the second and third drove him back in disorder, and

saved the day. The 2d Kentucky regiment, which had advanced

beyond supporting distance in this affair, was driven back and

closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry. Taking a ravine which led

in the direction of Captain Washington's battery, their pursuers

became exposed to his fire, which soon checked and drove them

back with loss. In the mean time, the rest of our artillery had

taken position on the plateau, covered by the Mississippi and 3d

Indiana regiments, the former of which had reached the ground in

time to pour a fire into the right flank of the enemy, and thus

contribute to his repulse. In this last conflict we had the

misfortune to sustain a very heavy loss. Colonel Hardin, 1st

Illinois, and Colonel McKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, 2d

Kentucky regiment, fell at this time while gallantly leading

their commands.

No further attempt was made by the enemy to force our position,

and the approach of night gave an opportunity to pay proper

attention to the wounded, and also to refresh the soldiers, who

had been exhausted by incessant watchfulness and combat. Though

the night was severely cold, the troops were compelled for the

most to bivouack without fires, expecting that morning would

renew the conflict. During the night the wounded were removed to

Saltillo, and every preparation made to receive the enemy, (p. 343)

should he again attack our position. Seven fresh companies

were drawn from the town, and Brigadier-General Marshall, with a

re-enforcement of Kentucky cavalry and four heavy guns, under

Captain Prentiss, 1st Artillery, was near at hand, when it was

discovered that the enemy had abandoned his position during the

night. Our scouts soon ascertained that he had fallen back upon

Agua Nueva. The great disparity of numbers, and the exhaustion of

our troops, rendered it inexpedient and hazardous to attempt

pursuit. A staff officer was dispatched to General Santa Anna to

negotiate an exchange of prisoners, which was satisfactorily

completed on the following day. Our own dead were collected and

buried, and the Mexican wounded, of which a large number had been

left upon the field, were removed to Saltillo, and rendered as

comfortable as circumstances would permit.

On the evening of the 26th, a close reconnoissance was made of

the enemy's position, which was found to be occupied only by a

small body of cavalry, the infantry and artillery having

retreated in the direction of San Luis Potosi. On the 27th, our

troops resumed their former camp at Agua Nueva, the enemy's rear

guard evacuating the place as we approached, leaving a

considerable number of wounded. It was my purpose to beat up his

quarters at Encarnacion early the next morning, but upon

examination, the weak condition of the cavalry horses rendered it

unadvisable to attempt so long a march without water. A command

was finally dispatched to Encarnacion, on the 1st of March, under

Colonel Belknap. Some two hundred wounded, and about sixty

Mexican soldiers were found there, the army having passed on in

the direction of Matehuala, with greatly reduced numbers, and

suffering much from hunger. The dead and dying were strewed upon

the road and crowded the buildings of the hacienda.

The American force engaged in the action of Buena Vista was 344

officers and 4,425 men, exclusive of the small command left in

and near Saltillo. Of this number, two squadrons of cavalry and

three batteries of light artillery, making not more than 453 men,

composed the only force of regular troops. The strength of the

Mexican army is stated by General Santa Anna, in his summons, to

be 20,000; and that estimate is confirmed by all the information

since obtained. Our loss is 267 killed, 456 wounded, and 23

missing. Of the numerous wounded, many did not require removal to

the hospital, and it is hoped that a comparatively small number

will be permanently disabled. The Mexican loss in killed and

wounded may be fairly estimated at 1,500, and will probably reach

2,000. At least 500 of their killed were left upon the field of

battle. We have no means of ascertaining the number of deserters

and dispersed men from their ranks, but it is known to be very

great.

Our loss has been especially severe in officers, twenty-eight

having been killed upon the field. We have to lament the death of

Captain George Lincoln, Assistant Adjutant-General, serving in

the staff of General Wool, a young officer of high bearing and

approved gallantry, who fell early in the action. No loss falls

more heavily upon the army in the field than that of Colonels

Hardin and McKee, and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay. Possessing, in a

remarkable degree, the confidence of their commanders, and the

last two having enjoyed the advantage of a military education, I

had looked particularly to them for support in case we met the

enemy. I need not say that their zeal in engaging the enemy, and

the cool and steadfast courage with which they maintained (p. 344)

their positions during the day, fully realized my hopes, and

caused me to feel yet more sensibly their untimely loss.

I perform a grateful duty in bringing to the notice of the

government the general good conduct of the troops. Exposed for

successive nights, without fires, to the severity of the weather,

they were ever prompt and cheerful in the discharge of every

duty; and finally displayed conspicuous steadiness and gallantry

in repulsing, at great odds, a disciplined foe. While the

brilliant success achieved by their arms releases me from the

painful necessity of specifying many cases of bad conduct before

the enemy, I feel an increased obligation to mention particular

corps and officers, whose skill, coolness and gallantry in trying

situations, and under a continued and heavy fire, seem to merit

particular notice.

To Brigadier-General Wool my obligations are especially due. The

high state of discipline and instruction of several of the

volunteer regiments was attained under his command, and to his

vigilance and arduous service before the action, and his

gallantry and activity on the field, a large share of our success

may justly be attributed. During most of the engagement he was in

immediate command of the troops thrown back on our left flank. I

beg leave to recommend him to the favorable notice of the

government. Brigadier-General Lane (slightly wounded) was active

and zealous throughout the day, and displayed great coolness and

gallantry before the enemy.

The services of the light artillery, always conspicuous, were

more than usually distinguished. Moving rapidly over the roughest

ground, it was always in action at the right place and the right

time, and its well-directed fire dealt destruction in the masses

of the enemy. While I recommend to particular favor the gallant

conduct and valuable services of Major Munroe, chief of

artillery, and Captains Washington, 4th Artillery, and Sherman

and Bragg, 3d Artillery, commanding batteries, I deem it no more

than just to mention all the subaltern officers. They were nearly

all detached at different times, and in every situation exhibited

conspicuous skill and gallantry. Captain O'Brien, Lieutenants

Brent, Whiting, and Couch, 4th Artillery, and Bryan,

Topographical Engineer (slightly wounded), were attached to

Captain Washington's battery. Lieutenants Thomas, Reynolds, and

French, 3d Artillery, (severely wounded), to that of Captain

Sherman; and Captain Shover and Lieutenant Kilburn, 3d Artillery,

to that of Captain Bragg. Captain Shover, in connection with

Lieutenant Donaldson, 1st Artillery, rendered gallant and

important service in repulsing the cavalry of General Minon. The

regular cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel May, with which was

associated Captain Pike's squadron of Arkansas horse, rendered

useful service in holding the enemy in check, and in covering the

batteries at several points. Captain Steen, 1st Dragoons, was

severely wounded early in the day, while gallantly endeavoring,

with my authority, to rally the troops which were falling to the

rear.

The Mississippi riflemen, under Colonel Davis, were highly

conspicuous for their gallantry and steadiness, and sustained

throughout the engagement the reputation of veteran troops.

Brought into action against an immensely superior force, they

maintained themselves for a long time unsupported and with heavy

loss, and held an important part of the field until re-enforced.

Colonel Davis, though severely wounded, remained in the saddle

until the close of the action. His distinguished coolness and

gallantry at the head of his regiment on this day entitle (p. 345)

him to the particular notice of the government. The 3d Indiana

regiment, under Colonel Lane, and a fragment of the 2d, under

Colonel Bowles, were associated with the Mississippi regiment

during the greater portion of the day, and acquitted themselves

creditably in repulsing the attempts of the enemy to break that

portion of our line. The Kentucky cavalry, under Colonel

Marshall, rendered good service dismounted, acting as light

troops on our left, and afterward, with a portion of the Arkansas

regiment, in meeting and dispersing the column of cavalry at

Buena Vista. The 1st and 2d Illinois, and the 2d Kentucky

regiments, served immediately under my eye, and I bear a willing

testimony to their excellent conduct throughout the day. The

spirit and gallantry with which the 1st Illinois and 2d Kentucky

engaged the enemy in the morning, restored confidence to that

part of the field, while the list of casualties will show how

much these three regiments suffered in sustaining the heavy

charge of the enemy in the afternoon. Captain Conner's company of

Texas volunteers, attached to the 2d Illinois regiment, fought

bravely, its captain being wounded and two subalterns killed.

Colonel Bissell, the only surviving colonel of these regiments,

merits notice for his coolness and bravery on this occasion.

After the fall of the field officers of the 1st Illinois and 2d

Kentucky regiments, the command of the former devolved upon

Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherford, that of the latter upon Major

Fry.

Regimental commanders and others who have rendered reports, speak

in general terms of the good conduct of their officers and men,

and have specified many names, but the limits of this report

forbid a recapitulation of them here. I may, however, mention

Lieutenants Rucker and Campbell, of the dragoons, and Captain

Pike, Arkansas cavalry, commanding squadrons; Lieutenant-Colonel

Field, Kentucky cavalry; Lieutenant-Colonel Roane, Arkansas

cavalry, upon whom the command devolved after the fall of Colonel

Yell; Major Bradford, Captain Sharpe (severely wounded), and

Adjutant Griffith, Mississippi regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel

Hadden, 2d Indiana regiment, and Lieutenant Robinson, aid-de-camp

to General Lane; Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherford, 1st Illinois

regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, Major Trail, and Adjutant

Whiteside (severely wounded), 2d Illinois regiment; and Major

Fry, 2d Kentucky regiment, as being favorably noticed for

gallantry and good conduct. Major McCulloch, quarter-master in

the volunteer service, rendered important services before the

engagement, in the command of a spy company, and during the

affair was associated with the regular cavalry. To Major Warren,

1st Illinois Volunteers, I feel much indebted for his firm and

judicious course, while exercising command in Saltillo.

The medical staff, under the able direction of Assistant Surgeon

Hitchcock, were assiduous in attention to the wounded, upon the

field, and in their careful removal to the rear. Both in these

respects, and in the subsequent organization and service of the

hospitals, the administration of this department was every thing

that could be wished.

Brigadier-General Wool speaks in high terms of the officers of

his staff, and I take pleasure in mentioning them here, having

witnessed their activity and zeal upon the field. Lieutenant and

Aid-de-camp McDowell, Colonel Churchill, inspector-general,

Captain Chapman, assistant quarter-master, Lieutenant Sitgreaves,

Topographical Engineers, and Captains Howard and Davis, (p. 346)

volunteer service, are conspicuously noticed by the general for

their gallantry and good conduct. Messrs. March, Addicks Potts,

Harrison, Burgess, and Dusenbury, attached in various capacities

to General Wool's head-quarters, are likewise mentioned for their

intelligent alacrity in conveying orders to all parts of the

field.

In conclusion, I beg leave to speak of my own staff, to whose

exertions in rallying troops and communicating orders I feel

greatly indebted. Major Bliss, assistant adjutant-general,

Captain J. H. Eaton, and Lieutenant R. S. Garnett, aids-de-camp,

served near my person, and were prompt and zealous in the

discharge of every duty. Major Munroe, besides rendering valuable

service as chief of artillery, was active and instrumental, as

were also Colonels Churchill and Belknap, inspectors general, in

rallying troops and disposing them for the defence of the train

and baggage. Colonel Whiting, quartermaster general, and Captain

Eaton, chief of the subsistence department, were engaged with the

duties of their departments, and also served in my immediate

staff on the field. Captain Sibley, assistant quartermaster, was

necessarily left with the head-quarter camp near town, where his

services were highly useful. Major Mansfield and Lieutenant

Benham, engineers, and Captain Linnard and Lieutenants Pope and

Franklin, Topographical Engineers, were employed before and

during the engagement in making reconnoissances, and on the field

were very active in bringing information and in conveying my

orders to distant points. Lieutenant Kingsbury, in addition to

his proper duties as ordnance officer, Captain Chilton, assistant

quartermaster, and Majors Dix and Coffee, served also as extra

aids-de-camp, and were actively employed in the transmission of

orders. Mr. Thomas L. Crittenden, of Kentucky, though not in

service, volunteered as my aid-de-camp on this occasion, and

served with credit in that capacity. Major Craig, chief of

ordnance, and Surgeon Craig, medical director, had been detached

on duty from head-quarters, and did not reach the ground until

the morning of the 24th, too late to participate in the action,

but in time to render useful services in their respective

departments of the staff.

I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Z. TAYLOR,

_Major-General U. S. A._, _commanding_.

_____

_General Order Congratulating the Army._

Headquarters, Army of Occupation,

February 26, 1847.

1. The commanding general has the grateful task of congratulating

the troops upon the brilliant success which attended their arms

in the conflicts of the 22d and the 23d. Confident in the immense

superiority of numbers, and stimulated by the presence of a

distinguished leader, the Mexican troops were yet repulsed in

efforts to force our lines, and finally withdrew with immense

loss from the field.

2. The general would express his obligations to the officers (p. 347)

and men engaged, for the cordial support which they rendered

throughout the action. It will be his highest pride to bring to

the notice of the government the conspicuous gallantry of

different officers and corps, whose unwavering steadiness more

than once saved the fortunes of the day. He would also express

his high satisfaction with the conduct of the small command left

to hold Saltillo. Though not so seriously engaged as their

comrades, their services were very important and efficiently

rendered. While bestowing this just tribute to the good conduct

of the troops, the general deeply regrets to say that there were

not a few exceptions. He trusts that those who fled ingloriously

to Buena Vista, and even to Saltillo, will seek an opportunity to

retrieve their reputation, and to emulate the bravery of their

comrades who bore the brunt of the battle, and sustained, against

fearful odds, the honor of our flag.

The exultation of success is checked by the heavy sacrifice of

life which it has cost, embracing many officers of high rank and

rare merit. While the sympathies of a grateful country will be

given to the bereaved families and friends of those who nobly

fell, their illustrious example will remain for the benefit and

admiration of the army.

By order of Major-General Taylor,

W. W. S. BLISS, _Act. Adj. General_.

No. 64. (p. 348)

PLATE LXV.

_March 5, 1849--July 9, 1850._

Zachary Taylor President of the United States 1849. [Rx]. Peace

and friendship.

PRESIDENT ZACHARY TAYLOR.

[_Twelfth President of the United States of America._]

ZACHARY TAYLOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1849. Bust of President

Taylor, facing the left.

PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff

of the left wrist three stripes, and buttons with the American eagle

on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and tomahawk

crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.

The obverse of this medal, though not signed, was engraved by Franklin

Peale, as may be seen by the following extract from a despatch of R.

M. Patterson, director of the Mint, to Orlando Brown, office of Indian

Affairs, Department of the Interior, and dated Philadelphia, November

26th, 1849:

"Three Indian medal dies, bearing the head of President Taylor, were

asked of the chief coiner of the Mint, Mr. Franklin Peale, by Mr.

Medill, while Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and he agreed to the

estimate of the cost which was $700. I have now the satisfaction of

reporting that the dies are finished, and that Mr. Peale is ready to

furnish, on sufficient notice, the medals which you may desire.

No. 65. (p. 349)

PLATE LXVI.

_June 10, 1850--March 4, 1853._

Millard Fillmore President of the United States 1850. [Rx]. Labor

virtue honor.

PRESIDENT MILLARD FILLMORE.

[_Thirteenth President of the United States of America._]

MILLARD FILLMORE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1850. Undraped bust of

President Fillmore, facing the right. S. ELLIS.

LABOR VIRTUE HONOR. A pioneer from the far West, his left hand on a

ploughshare, explains to an Indian chief the benefits of civilization,

of which he wishes him to partake. The American flag envelops both in

its folds. In the background is a farm-house. J. WILLSON.

JOSEPH WILLSON was born at Canton, St Lawrence County, New York, in

1825. He studied portrait painting with Salathiel Ellis, followed him

to New York in 1842, and began cutting cameos and die sinking. In 1848

he removed to Washington, under the patronage of the Honorable R. H.

Gillet, member of Congress from St Lawrence County, New York,

associated himself in business with Salathiel Ellis, and made the

reverses of the Indian medals of Presidents Fillmore and Pierce. In

1851 he went to Italy to study sculpture, and remained abroad three

years. He died, September 8, 1857.

MILLARD FILLMORE was born at Summerhill, Cayuga County, New York,

January 7, 1800. He began the study of law in 1819, and was admitted

to the bar to practise as an attorney in 1827; was counsellor in the

Supreme Court of the State of New York, 1829; and settled in (p. 350)

Buffalo, 1830. He was a member of the State Legislature, 1829-1831;

member of Congress, 1832-1834, and again, 1837-1841; comptroller of

the State of New York, 1847; vice-president of the United States,

1849, and President on the death of General Taylor (June 10),

1850-1853. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency in

1856, and died in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 1874.

No. 66. (p. 351)

PLATE LXVII.

_March 4, 1853--March 4, 1857._

Franklin Pierce, President of the United States. 1853. [Rx].

Labor virtue honor.

PRESIDENT FRANKLIN PIERCE.

[_Fourteenth President of the United States of America._]

FRANKLIN PIERCE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 1853. Undraped bust

of President Pierce, facing the left. S. ELLIS.

LABOR VIRTUE HONOR. A pioneer from the far West, his left hand on a

ploughshare, explains to an Indian chief the benefits of civilization,

of which he wishes him to partake. The American flag envelops both in

its folds. In the background is a farm-house. J. WILLSON.

FRANKLIN PIERCE was born at Hillsborough, New Hampshire, November 23,

1804. He was graduated at Bowdoin College, Maine, 1824, and was

admitted to the bar at Hillsborough, 1827; was member of the State

Legislature, 1829; member of Congress, 1833-1837; United States

senator, 1837-1842; brigadier-general of volunteers, March, 1847;

served under General Scott throughout the Mexican campaign; President

of the United States, 1853-1857. He retired to Concord, New Hampshire,

and died there, October 8, 1869.

No. 67. (p. 352)

PLATE LXVIII.

_July 2, 1853._

Smyrna. American sloop of war St. Louis. Austrian brig of war

Hussar. [Rx]. Presented by the President of the United States to

Commander Duncan N. Ingraham, etc.

COMMANDER DUNCAN NATHANIEL INGRAHAM.

[_Release of Martin Coszta._]

The United States sloop-of-war St Louis, and the Austrian brig-of-war

Hussar, are at anchor in the roads of Smyrna; while a second Austrian

war vessel and three mail steamers are at a little distance. The city

of Smyrna and the ruins of the Acropolis, on Mount Pagus, are in the

background. Exergue: SMYRNA. AMERICAN SLOOP OF WAR ST. LOUIS. AUSTRIAN

BRIG OF WAR HUSSAR, S. EASTMAN D. (_delineavit._) P. F. CROSS SC..

(_sculpsit._) LONGACRE.

Within a wreath of laurel and oak: PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE

UNITED STATES TO COMMANDER DUNCAN N. (_Nathaniel_) INGRAHAM AS A

TESTIMONIAL OF THE HIGH SENSE ENTERTAINED BY CONGRESS OF HIS GALLANT

AND JUDICIOUS CONDUCT ON THE 2D OF JULY 1853. JOINT RESOLUTION OF

CONGRESS AUGUST 4{TH} 1854. Exergue: The American eagle, with

outspread wings, holds an anchor in its talons; above are thirty-one

stars, the whole lighted by the rays of the sun. S. EASTMAN D.

(_delineavit._) J. B. LONGACRE SC. (_sculpsit_).

SETH EASTMAN was graduated at West Point as second lieutenant of (p. 353)

infantry, July 1, 1829; was assistant teacher of drawing at West

Point, 1833-1840; first lieutenant, 1836; and captain, 1839. He

engraved the armorial bearings of several of the new States, and

designed the Ingraham medal. He was living in Washington in 1872.

P. F. CROSS, who engraved the obverse of the Ingraham medal, was born

in Sheffield, England, and died in Philadelphia in 1856.

JAMES BARTON LONGACRE was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania,

August 11, 1794, and became a steel-plate engraver. In 1844 he was

appointed engraver to the United States Mint, in Philadelphia, and

retained the situation till his death, January 14, 1869. He was also

one of the publishers and proprietors of the "National Portrait

Gallery," to which he contributed many engravings. His largest plate,

however, the equestrian portrait of General Jackson, is not in that

work.

DUNCAN NATHANIEL INGRAHAM was born in Charleston, South Carolina,

December 6, 1802. He was appointed a midshipman, June 18, 1812; became

a lieutenant, January 13, 1825; and commander, September 8, 1841.

While in command of the sloop-of-war St. Louis, off Smyrna, in July,

1853, he rescued Martin Coszta from the Austrian brig-of-war Hussar;

for this act Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He

became a captain, 1855; and in 1856 was appointed chief of the Bureau

of Ordnance and Hydrography in the Navy Department, Washington. He

resigned, February 4, 1861, and acted with the Southern Confederacy

during the Civil War. He died in Charleston, South Carolina, June 10,

1863.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Commander Ingraham._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives

of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the

President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to

cause to be made a medal, with suitable devices, and presented to

Commander Duncan N. Ingraham, of the navy of the United States,

as a testimonial of the high sense entertained by Congress (p. 354)

of his gallant and judicious conduct on the second of July,

eighteen hundred and fifty-three, in extending protection

to Martin Coszta, by rescuing him from illegal seizure and

imprisonment on board the Austrian war brig Hussar.

Approved August 4, 1854.

_____

_Commander Ingraham to Commodore Stringham._

United States ship St. Louis,

To Smyrna, July 6th, 1853.

COMMODORE SILAS H. STRINGHAM,

Commander-in-Chief of the United States Naval Forces

in the Mediterranean.

Sir: It becomes my duty to report to you an affair at this place

in which I have taken upon myself to compromise the American

flag.

I arrived here upon the 23d of June, and soon after anchoring was

informed that an American had been kidnapped by the Austrian

Consul upon the Turkish soil and sent on board an Austrian

brig-of-war.

I sent for the American Consul and informed him of what I had

heard. He told me the man was a Hungarian refugee (named Martin

Coszta), who had a certificate of intention to become a citizen

of the United States, and came here in an American vessel, but

that he did not consider him under his protection, having to his

knowledge no passport.

The Consul and myself then went on board the brig, and requested

to see the commander, but were told he was not on board. We then

went to the Austrian Consul, and demanded to see Coszta, which

after some demur was granted.

After a conversation with Coszta, I was afraid I had no right to

demand him as a citizen of the United States, but determined

neither to make a claim nor acquiesce in his seizure until I

could hear from the Legation at Constantinople. I was guided in

this opinion by the Consul, who seemed to think we could not use

force without more evidence than the paper in his possession

gave.

I then requested the Consul to write immediately to the Legation,

which he did. Before an answer could arrive, I received

information that Coszta was to be sent to Trieste. I immediately

wrote to the commander of the brig, protesting against this step,

and received a verbal reply that he was ignorant of any such

intention. Next morning, at daylight, I got under way, and

anchored within half cable's length of the brig, and loaded my

guns, the steamer in which it was said Coszta was to be sent

being very near. At 11 A.M. an answer came from Mr. Brown,

stating that Coszta was an American citizen, and advising the

Consul to give him all aid and sympathy, but in an unofficial

way. I then told the Consul he must insist upon Coszta remaining

until I again heard from the Chargé. He did so, when the Austrian

Consul told him he had intended to send the man off that day, but

would wait until the next mail. On Saturday, the 2d of July, (p. 355)

the Capen Oglan of the Legation arrived with letters from the

Chargé to the Consul and myself to use stringent measures.

I immediately held an interview with Coszta, in which he claimed

the protection of the American flag. I then addressed note "B" to

the commander of the brig, demanding Coszta's release. I also

directed the American Consul to furnish the Austrian Consul with

a copy of the demand, which was done. At this time the Austrian

brig and a ten-gun schooner that arrived the day before prepared

for action, having three mail-steamers to assist. I did the same,

and awaited the hour of 4 P.M. At 12, our Consul came off with a

proposition that Coszta should be delivered into the hands of the

Consul-General of France, to be held at the joint order of the

American and Austrian Consuls, until his nationality should be

determined. After some consideration, and the advice of the

English and French Consuls to ours, I agreed to the terms. The

prisoner was then landed amid the cheers of the inhabitants and

every demonstration of joy. I know, Sir, I have taken a fearful

responsibility upon myself by this act, but after Mr. Brown

informed me Coszta had taken the oath of allegiance to the United

States, and foresworn all allegiance to Austria, that he was an

American citizen and had been under the protection of the

Legation at Constantinople, I could not hesitate to believe he

was fully entitled to protection. It was a case of life and

death; for, if Coszta had been taken to Trieste his fate was

sealed, and could I have looked the American people in the face

again, if I had allowed a citizen to be executed and not used the

power in my hands to protect him for fear of doing too much? The

easy manner, also, in which he was given up, and the Convention

that he should be held by a third party until his nationality

could be established, is evidence that they were not sure of

their ground.

Should my conduct be approved by you, Sir, it will be one of the

proudest moments of my life that I have saved this gallant man

from a cruel and ignominious death. On the other hand, should the

course I have pursued be disavowed, I must bow to the decision;

but whatever may be the consequence to myself, I shall feel I

have done my best to support the honor of the flag, and not allow

a citizen to be oppressed who claimed at my hands the protection

of the flag.

I enclose copies of all the papers (A to E) relating to this

affair.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. N. INGRAHAM, _Commander_.

_____

A

_Commander Ingraham to Commander Schwartz._

United States ship St. Louis, Smyrna Roads,

To Evening June 28, 1853.

THE COMMANDER OF THE AUSTRIAN BRIG HUSSAR.

Sir: I have this moment received a letter stating Martin Coszta

was to be sent on board the steamer to-morrow at daylight, to be

sent to Trieste. I have been only waiting to hear from the (p. 356)

Minister at Constantinople before I took some action in the

case of Coszta, as he has a paper stating his intention to become

a citizen of the United States. He came here in an American

vessel, and has been some time in the United States. I earnestly

protest against his leaving this port until something has been

heard from Constantinople.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. N. INGRAHAM, _Commander_.

_____

B

_Commander Schwartz to Commander Ingraham._

His Imperial Majesty's brig Hussar,

To Smyrna, June 29th, 1853.

THE COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES SHIP ST. LOUIS.

Sir: I had the honor to receive your letter of the 28th inst.

Concerning the matter respecting Martin Coszta, I request you,

Sir, to communicate with the Consul General, as I can personally

do nothing in the matter, as I receive all my orders from him.

I have the honor to subscribe myself, with great respect, your

obedient servant,

SCHWARTZ.

_____

C

_Commander Ingraham to Commander Schwartz._

United States ship St. Louis,

To Smyrna, July 2d, 1853.

THE COMMANDER OF THE AUSTRIAN BRIG HUSSAR.

Sir: I have been directed by the American Chargé at

Constantinople to demand the person of Martin Coszta, a citizen

of the United States, taken by force from the Turkish soil and

now confined on board the brig Hussar. And if a refusal is given

to take him by force.

An answer to the demand must be returned by 4 o'clock P.M.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. N. INGRAHAM, _Commander_.

_____

D (p. 357)

_Commander Schwartz to Commander Ingraham._

His Imperial Majesty's brig Hussar,

To Smyrna, July 2d, 1853.

THE COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES SHIP ST. LOUIS,

Present.

Sir: I have the honor to refer you to my letter of the 28th

ultimo, in which I stated that I depend altogether upon the

Consul General in the matter respecting the prisoner Martin

Coszta. I shall send him your letter of this day, and request him

to come to an understanding with you himself.

I protest against all violence toward His Imperial Majesty's brig

"Hussar," or schooner "Artimesia," and shall consider it as a

hostile step for which I would hold you altogether responsible.

I have the honor to subscribe myself, with great respect, your

obedient servant,

SCHWARTZ.

_____

E

_S. N. Brown to Commander Ingraham._

To Legation of the United States,

COMMANDER INGRAHAM, Pera, June 28th, 1853.

United States Corvette St. Louis.

Dear Sir: I send you a copy of my letter to the Austrian

Internuncio (Minister) on the subject of the detention of Martin

Coszta on board the Austrian brig Hussar; which will serve to

show my views of the transaction better than I could do in a

note.

The public here are quite as indignant at the brutal conduct of

the Austrian Consul as they were in Smyrna. Mussulman, Christian

and Jew execrate the conduct of the Consul, and accuse him as the

cause of the bloodshed which resulted from the brutal arrest and

treatment of Coszta. The Porte would have been much pleased had

you taken him from the Austrian brig, and I regret that it was

not done on the ground that he had renounced all allegiance to

the Austrian Emperor, and taken an oath of allegiance to the

government of the United States.

He certainly is not an Austrian subject, and he as certainly (p. 358)

can claim no other allegiance to any other power, than to

that of the United States. It is not uncommon for persons

having received official copies of their declaration of

allegiance to procure an American passport stating this fact, in

which all protection and satisfaction is assured them from

American authorities. I believe that, under the circumstances,

you have a right to persist in demanding him from the Austrian

commander. The Porte would wish to leave the matter open between

us and the Austrians, and if we could see the poor fellow carried

off and hung to let us take the ignominy of the transaction on

our own shoulders. If I thought you would be governed by my

instructions, they would be to demand him, in the most formal and

positive language, of the Austrian commander, in my name as

Representative of the United States, and after having him in your

possession, to leave the matter to be adjusted between the two

governments. In case of a refusal to deliver him, founded on the

pleas that he had renounced all allegiance to Austria, and that

having taken the oath of allegiance to the United States, he has

a claim upon our protection, I would take him out of the vessel.

Such a course will meet with the most profound applause from this

government and from every foreign legation here (except that of

Austria), and cannot but call forth strong gratification on the

part of our government and people at home.

So abominable an act has excited here extreme abhorrence and

execration, and all you have already done has elevated the

character of our country and of our navy.

I remain, dear Sir, most truly yours,

S. N. BROWN.

Be so good as to allow Mr. Offley to peruse the present. I do not

doubt but that he will support you in all you do.

S. N. B.

[_Enclosure from Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale._]

My Dear Sir: I cordially approve of the measures of Mr. Brown in

taking the exile Coszta per force, and do hope you will do so. So

far as my humble power goes, I will defend it. He is not an

Austrian subject, he has sworn allegiance to the United States.

Sure this is enough to demand our protection, no matter what he

says. Do not let this chance slip to acquit yourself nobly, and

to do honor to our country.

The Turkish Governor as well as the Austrian Consul have been

both dismissed and disgraced.

The eyes of nations are upon the little St. Louis and her

commander. For God's sake, and sake of humanity, stand for the

right.

Regards and friendship of yours ever,

Caleb LYON OF LYONSDALE.

Mr. Lyon is a member of Congress from the State of New York, and

now travelling in Europe.

_____

_Martin Coszta's Declaration of Intention._ (p. 359)

1852.

State of New York.

_In the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of New York_:

I, Martin Coszta, do declare on oath, that it is bona fide my

intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to

renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign

Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and

particularly to the Emperor of Austria, of whom I am a subject.

Martin COSZTA.

Sworn this 31st day of July, 1852.

George W. RIBLET, _Clerk_.

Clerk's Office, Court of Common Pleas,

For the City and County of New York.

I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an original

Declaration of Intention, remaining of record in my office.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and

affixed the seal of said Court, this 31st day of July, 1852.

[L. S.] George W. RIBLET, _Clerk_.

_____

_Agreement between the Consul-General of Austria and the Consul of the

United States of America._

Smyrne le 2 Juillet, 1853.

Les Soussignés Consul Général d'Autriche et Consul des États-Unis

d'Amérique, prient Monsieur le Consul Général de Sa Majesté

l'Empereur des Français de prendre en dépôt dans ses prisons le

nommé Martin Koszta (Martin Coszta) détenu sur le brick de guerre

Autrichien "Hussard" et dont la nationalité et par conséquent les

relations de protection sont en litige, entre les Ambassades

respectives à Constantinople, ainsi qu'entre les Consulats à

Smyrne.

Ils prient Monsieur le Consul Général de se charger de ce dépôt

aux conditions suivantes.

L'individu sus mentionné sera consigné dans la journée

d'aujourd'hui et au plus tôt possible par un détachement des

soldats du brick Autrichien qui le conduira au débarcadère de

l'hôpital Français, où il sera remis entre les mains de Monsieur

le Consul Général de France ou de la personne qu'il en aura

chargé.

Le détenu ne pourra communiquer avec aucune personne du dehors à

l'exception des Consuls soussignés et dans l'hôpital il sera

confié spécialement à une personne que Monsieur le Consul Général

de France désignera.

Les frais de nourriture et de maintien que les soussignés (p. 360)

laissent entièrement à la discrétion de Monsieur le Consul

Général de France de fixer au détenu, seront à la charge

du soussigné Consul Général d'Autriche.

Il est expressément convenu que Monsieur le Consul Général de

France ne délivrera le détenu Martin Koszta (Martin Coszta) que

sur une demande collective des soussignés.

E. S. OFFLEY, WEEKBECKER,

_Consul des États Unis d'Amérique_. _Consul Général d'Autriche_.

[Translation.]

Smyrna, July 2, 1853.

The undersigned, the Consul-General of Austria and the Consul of

the United States of America, request the Consul-General of His

Majesty, the Emperor of the French, to take in charge the named

Martin Koszta (Martin Coszta), detained on the Austrian

brig-of-war "Hussar," whose nationality and consequently whose

rights to protection are in litigation, between the respective

embassies at Constantinople, and also between the Consulates at

Smyrna.

They request the Consul-General to take charge of the detained

person on the following conditions:

The above-named individual shall be delivered to-day, and as soon

as possible, by a detachment of soldiers from the Austrian

brig-of-war, which shall conduct him to the landing of the French

hospital, where he shall be handed over to the Consul-General of

France, or to the persons designated by him.

The detained shall not be allowed to communicate with any outside

person except with the undersigned Consuls; and in the hospital

he shall be under the care of some one specially designated by

the Consul-General of France.

The expenses of boarding and keeping, the particulars of which

the undersigned leave entirely to the discretion of the

Consul-General of France, shall be borne by the Consul-General of

Austria.

It is expressly agreed that the Consul-General of France shall

deliver the detained Martin Koszta (Martin Coszta) only on a

collective demand of the undersigned.

E. S. OFFLEY, WEEKBECKER,

_Consul of the United States _Consul-General of Austria_.

of America_.

No. 68. (p. 361)

PLATE LXIX.

_March 4, 1857--March 4, 1861._

James Buchanan. President of the United States, 1857. [Rx]. Labor

virtue honor.

PRESIDENT JAMES BUCHANAN.

[_Fifteenth President of the United States of America._]

JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1857. Bust of President

Buchanan, facing the right S. ELLIS SC. (_sculpsit._)

LABOR VIRTUE HONOR. A pioneer from the far West, his left hand on a

ploughshare, explains to an Indian chief the benefits of civilization,

of which he wishes him to partake. The American flag envelops both in

its folds. In the background is a farm-house. J. WILLSON.

JAMES BUCHANAN was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 23,

1791. He was graduated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania,

1809; and was admitted to the bar in Lancaster, 1812. He was a member

of the State Legislature, 1814-1816; member of Congress, 1821-1831;

minister to Russia, 1832-1834; United States senator, 1834-1845;

secretary of State to President Polk, 1845-1849; minister to England,

1853-1856; President of the United States, 1857-1861. He died at his

estate of Wheatland, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1868.

No. 69. (p. 362)

PLATE LXX.

_April, 1858._

James Buchanan, President of the United States. [Rx]. To Dr.

Frederick Rose, Assistant Surgeon, Royal Navy, G. B.

DOCTOR FREDERICK HENRY ROSE.

[_Kindness and Humanity of Doctor Rose._]

JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Bust of President

Buchanan, facing-the right. PAQUET. F. (_fecit_).

TO DR. (_Doctor_) FREDERICK ROSE, ASSISTANT SURGEON, ROYAL NAVY, G. B.

(_Great Britain_). Esculapius with his left hand is repelling Time,

armed with his scythe, and with his right is offering a draught to the

sick, one of whom is thanking him. Exergue: FOR KINDNESS AND HUMANITY

TO OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE U. S. (_United States_) STEAMER

SUSQUEHANNA. On the platform, PAQUET. F. (_fecit_).[116]

[Footnote 116: See INTRODUCTION, page ix.]

A. C. PAQUET was born in Hamburg, Germany, December 5, 1814. He

emigrated to America in October, 1848, settled in Philadelphia, and

was assistant engraver to the United States Mint from 1857 to 1864. He

has designed and engraved a number of medals, of which the principal

are: General Grant; the wreck of the steamer San Francisco; the

Philadelphia cathedral; President Johnson; Doctor Rose; President

Buchanan; the Cincinnati exposition; Melgareja, President of Bolivia;

the secretary of State of Bolivia; the Sanitary Commission fair;

Humboldt; Everett; Life-saving medal of the first class; Life-saving

medal of the second-class; Robinson; four gold, and five silver dies

for the Chili Mint, and four silver dies for Bolivia. He is still

living.

FREDERICK HENRY ROSE was born January 5, 1833, and entered the (p. 363)

British Royal Navy as assistant-surgeon, November 10, 1855. He was

employed on the home station, on particular service on the North

American, West Indian, and West Coast of Africa stations, until June,

1863. While in Jamaica in April, 1858, with the permission of his

commanding officer, Admiral Sir Hewston Stewart, Royal Navy, he

volunteered, at imminent personal risk, his services on board the

United States vessel-of-war Susquehanna, on which the yellow fever had

broken out, and sailed in her to New York, devoting himself to the

care of the sick. For this noble deed Congress gave him a vote of

thanks and a gold medal. In 1866 Doctor Rose was placed on the retired

list in consequence of ill health. He died at San Remo, Italy, March

31, 1873.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Doctor Rose._

_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the

President be, and he is hereby, authorized and requested to cause

suitable acknowledgments to be made on the part of this

government to Admiral Sir Hewston Stewart, of Her Britannic

Majesty's Navy, and officers under his command, for their prompt

and efficient aid, and generous hospitality, extended to the

disabled officers and crew of the United States ship Susquehanna

on her late arrival at Port Royal, Island of Jamaica, with the

yellow fever on board; on which occasion, besides placing the

naval hospital, with an adequate corps of medical officers,

nurses and attendants, at their service, eighty-five of the

officers and crew of the Susquehanna were safely and promptly

conveyed on shore with the aid of the boats of the British

squadron, and the lives of the greater portion of them thereby

probably saved. And that the President be further requested to

cause a gold medal, with appropriate devices, to be presented, on

behalf of this government, to Assistant-Surgeon Frederick H.

Rose, of the British Navy, who volunteered, with the permission

of his commanding officer, to join the Susquehanna, and, at

imminent personal risk, devoted himself, on the voyage from

Jamaica to New York, to the care of the sick remaining on board.

And that the President cause suitable testimonials to be in like

manner presented to the medical officers in the British service,

in attendance at the hospital, with appropriate rewards to the

nurses and other attendants there, whilst occupied by the

officers and crew of the Susquehanna.

Approved May 11, 1858.

_____

_Captain Sands to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 364)

To the Honorable U. S. Ship Susquehanna,

Isaac TOUCEY, New York Harbor,

Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. April 15th, 1858.

Sir: I have the honor to report to you the arrival of this ship

at New York, having had 155 cases of yellow fever on board, 85 of

which were left at the hospital at Port Royal, Jamaica.

For the information of the Honorable Department, I have to state

that after lying over one hundred days in San Juan De Nicaragua,

with an average sick list of about 15, the first case of fever

made its appearance on the 17th ultimo, then a second, then a

third, when I thought it advisable to put to sea, hoping that a

change of air would dispel the disease. After a few days the ship

returned off San Juan and anchored outside. She remained there

three days, with some slight modification of the fever, but it

again broke out with greater violence. I then got under way and

stood toward Aspinwall, expecting to meet the Jamestown,

Commander Kennedy, whom I had instructed to relieve us on the 1st

April, this ship to take her place, thinking that a change of

position might be favorable to the health of both ships; on our

way down to Aspinwall fresh cases continued to occur,

particularly among the lieutenants and engineers, the first and

second of the former being down, and others complaining. I now

determined, at the suggestion of the surgeon, to steer for

Pensacola; after standing for that port for some hours, and the

fever continuing to extend its ravages, there being nearly one

hundred down, at the request of the surgeon I changed our course

for the Island of Jamaica, where I arrived about 8 o'clock on the

evening of the 5th April.

The Admiral of the Port, Sir Hewston Stewart, on hearing of our

condition, kindly placed the Naval Hospital at our disposal, and

at six o'clock the next morning we landed 63 of our sick. I then

had to take coal and water on board, at Kingston, which detained

us a part of three days. The ship being now disabled, three

lieutenants and six engineers being sick, besides half the

firemen and coal-heavers, and many of the most valuable of the

men off duty, I shipped about 30 negroes, and agreeably to the

recommendation of the surgeon, I deemed it advisable to proceed

at once to a northern port.

The whole number of cases from the 17th March to 15th April was

155--85 of which were left at the Hospital at Port Royal,

Jamaica. There remain on the list to-day 34 cases. We have had in

all 16 deaths, among these was 1st Lieutenant Queen of the Marine

Corps.

Lieutenant Howell and four engineers were left at the Hospital,

doing, I hope, well.

Since leaving Port Royal we have had two deaths, and some

addition to the number of cases, but generally on approaching a

cold climate, all seem to improve and we have had no new cases

for the last 48 hours.

I beg leave to forward three letters from Surgeon Pinckney, who

was taken down in the commencement of the epidemic, also one from

Passed Assistant Surgeon Maccoun, from whom I have received (p. 365)

the most valuable aid, during this severe visitation. As I had

but one surgeon left, and fearing he might also fall sick

during the passage home, I applied to Admiral Stewart for a

medical officer, and previous to our departure from Port Royal,

he sent us Assistant Surgeon Rose, who kindly volunteered his

services.

I cannot find words to express my sense of obligation to Admiral

Stewart for the kind and prompt manner in which he placed the

Royal Naval Hospital at our disposal, and furnished us with every

convenience for landing the sick, nor to Dr. Kinnear, Deputy

Medical Inspector, and the medical officers under him for their

attention to the comforts of those placed under their charge.

I also take great pleasure in mentioning that Commodore Kellett

and Captain Hay of the "Indus" came to offer their assistance

with boats and cots to land the sick.

I have left instructions with Mr. Harrison, our Consul at

Kingston, relating to the sick at the Hospital, and have drawn a

bill on the Navy Department in his favor for $1500, to cover any

necessary expenses that might occur until further instructions

should be received from the Department.

I have only to add my great regret at being obliged to leave my

station without instructions from the Department, but the

circumstances of the case rendered it absolutely necessary.

I have the honor to be, &c., &c.,

Joshua R. SANDS,

_Captain United States Navy_.

No. 70. (p. 366)

PLATE LXXI.

_March 4, 1861--April 14, 1865._

Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, 1862.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

[_Sixteenth President of the United States of America._]

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1862. Bust of

President Lincoln, facing the right. S. ELLIS DEL. (_delineavit._) SC.

(_sculpsit._) On edge of bust, PATENTED.

A civilized Indian is ploughing his field; his children are playing at

ball; on a hill to the left is a log cabin; to the right, a church;

beyond them, some ships and a steamboat on a river; in the background,

mountains; above is an Indian scalping his enemy; below, the head of

an Indian squaw weeping; on one side, a quiver of arrows; on the

other, a calumet and a bow--opposition of civilization to savage life.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born in Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky,

February 12, 1809. He settled in Illinois, 1830; was captain of

volunteers in the Black Hawk war, 1832; member of the State

Legislature, 1834-1841; was admitted to the bar, 1836; settled in

Springfield, Illinois, 1837; was a member of Congress, 1847-1849;

President of the United States (first term), 1861-1865; (second term),

March 4 to April 14, 1865. He was shot by an assassin in Washington,

April 14, 1865, and died the next day, universally lamented. He was

known by the sobriquet of "Honest Abe" (_Abraham_).

No. 71. (p. 367)

PLATE LXXII a.

_December 21, 1861, and July 16, 1862._

NAVY MEDAL OF HONOR.

A five-pointed star, tipped with trefoils, each point containing a

crown of laurel and oak; in the middle, within a circle of thirty-four

stars, America, personified as Minerva, stands with her left hand

resting on the fasces, while with her right, in which she holds a

shield blazoned with the American arms, she repulses Discord,

represented with two snakes in each hand; the whole suspended by an

anchor to two clasps united by a ribbon of thirteen stripes, paleways,

gules and argent, and a chief, azure. On the platform: PAQUET F.

(_fecit_).

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Acts of Congress Instituting Naval Medals of Honor._