A Major of Artillery.
On the 9th day of March, 1847, thirteen thousand five hundred troops
were landed in one day from the American fleet upon the sea-shore near
Vera Cruz (Vā-rä Kroos).
This fine army, with its waving flags and bright guns, presented a scene
of splendor which Lieutenant Jackson never forgot.
General Scott’s plan was to take the city of Vera Cruz by storm, and
then march over the hills and valleys and lofty mountains to the City of
Mexico.
This was a hard task, and cost many lives, as I will show you.
On the 13th of March, General Scott had placed his men all around the
city of Vera Cruz and was ready for battle. On the 29th of March, after
a fierce battle, the city was taken by the Americans. This was the first
battle in which our hero took part, and it is said that he fought
bravely.
[Illustration: _Bird’s-Eye View of City of Mexico._]
From Vera Cruz, the army marched on until it came to a mountain, on the
crest of which was the strong fort of Cerro Gordo (Sĕr′-rō Gôr′-dō).
Here, our troops were led by Captain Robert E. Lee, of the engineers,
over a rough road planned by him, to the rear of the Mexicans. The
Americans being in front of the Mexicans and also behind them, the
latter were soon put to flight, leaving many men and guns on the
battlefield.
After this battle, Jackson was placed in the light artillery, which used
small cannon and moved rapidly from place to place.
This change was just what young Jackson wished, for though more
dangerous, the light artillery service gave him a better chance to win
the honors for which his soul thirsted.
Santa Anna, the general of the Mexicans, now brought forward another
large army and placed it on the mountain heights of Cherubus′co. Here, a
fierce fight took place, and the Mexicans were again driven back.
As a reward for his brave conduct in this fight, our hero was given the
brevet rank of captain of artillery. The army then marched on over the
mountains to the strong castle of Chapultepec (Chä-pool′-tā-pĕk′). This
castle was built upon a high hill guarding the plain which led to the
City of Mexico. The level plain at the foot of the mountain was covered
with crops of corn and other grain, and with groves of trees. Here and
there were deep and wide ditches which the farmers had dug for drains.
These ditches the artillery and horsemen could not cross; in fact, the
growing crops so concealed them that the men could not see them until
they had reached their brinks.
Within the castle of Chapultepec were swarms of Mexican soldiers, while
around its base were cannon, so placed as to sweep every road that led
up to it.
On the 13th of September the assault was made on three sides at the same
time. Jackson was sent with his men and guns to the northwest side. Two
regiments of infantry, or footmen, marched with him.
They pushed forward, pouring shot and shell at the foe, until they were
quite close to their guns, and at so short a range that Jackson in a few
moments found a number of his horses killed and his men struck down or
scattered by the storm of grapeshot.
Just at this time, General Worth, seeing how closely Jackson was
pressed, sent him word to fall back. Jackson, however, replied that if
General Worth would send him fifty more men he would march forward and
take the guns which had done such deadly work.
While the troops were coming up, it is said that Jackson lifted a gun by
hand across a deep ditch, and began to fire upon the Mexicans with the
help of only one man, the rest of his command being either killed,
wounded, or hidden in the ditch.
[Illustration: _Jackson moving cannon across a ditch._]
Soon another cannon was moved across the ditch, and in a few moments the
foe was driven back by the rapid firing of these two guns.
By this time, the men storming the castle on the other two sides had
fought their way in, and the Mexicans began to fall back upon the City
of Mexico.
Orders had been given that when this move took place, the artillery must
move forward rapidly and scatter the ranks of the foe. In an instant
Jackson’s guns were thundering after the Mexicans, fleeing through the
gates into the city.
The next morning, September 14th, the gates were forced and the
Americans marched into the city of Mexico.
For his brave conduct in the battle of Chapultepec, Jackson was raised
to the rank of major.
In after years, when he was modestly telling of this battle, a young man
cried out, “Major, why did you not run when so many of your men and
horses were killed?” He replied, with a quiet smile, “I was not ordered
to do so. If I had been _ordered_ to run I should have done so.”
[Illustration: Portrait]
Once, when asked by a friend if he felt no fear when so many were
falling around him, he said that he felt only a great desire to perform
some brave deed that would win for him lasting fame. At that time, his
thoughts were chiefly fixed upon the faithful performance of his duty,
and gaining honor and distinction thereby.
In the beautiful City of Mexico, the American army now rested from
warfare. Some months passed before Jackson’s command was ordered home.
His duties being light, he began the study of the Spanish language, and
was soon able to speak it well. He greatly enjoyed the fine climate of
Mexico, and admired the beauty and grace of her women.
For the first time in his life, he began to think of religion and to
study the Bible in search of the truth.
On May 26th, 1848, a treaty of peace was made between the United States
and Mexico, and the war being over, the American troops were sent home.
Major Jackson’s command was sent to Fort Hamilton, about seven miles
from the city of New York. While there, he was baptized and admitted to
his first communion in the Episcopal Church.
After he had been at Fort Hamilton two years, Major Jackson was sent to
Fort Meade, near Tampa Bay, on the west coast of Florida. While at this
place, on the 28th of March, 1851, he was elected professor of natural
and experimental philosophy and artillery tactics in the Military
Institute at Lexington, Virginia.
Bre-vĕt′, a commission which gives an officer a rank above his pay.
As-sault′, an attack, a violent onset.
Clī′mate, the prevailing state with regard to heat and cold, &c.
What do you remember about—
The landing of troops at Vera Cruz?
The assault upon the castle of Chapultepec?
The taking of the City of Mexico by the Americans?
The new rank of Jackson?
His life in the City of Mexico?
What he once said about running?
What happened at Fort Hamilton?
The position which he accepted March 27th, 1851?