1847. MOLINO DEL REY. 59 threatening to dispute our passage. Upon close examination, Worth, finding his task too difficult for a midnight raid, was permitted to defer the attack until daylight, and re-enforcements were sent him. At sunrise he opened fire on the foundry, and a forenoon's hot fight followed, with wavering success; the plunging fire of Chapultepec encouraging the Mexicans, while it diminished the confidence of the assailants in an advantage to be gained from this exploit. Our troops fought gallantly, and Worth gained the object he was sent for; but it was at the cost of a deadlier contention than Scott hal expected, and a loss proportionately greater on our side than in any other fight during this war. Never before nor after did the Mexicans fight us to so good advantage. Indeed, Santa Anna and his annalists, interpreting Worth's movements to mean the storming of Chapultepec, instead of the meagre operation to which Scott's orders had confined him, hailed this battle as their own veritable triumph. The church bells pealed joyfully from their beleaguered capital, and in coming time medals and monuments were bestowed by a grateful country in honor of what the republic commemorates to this day as a victory.* Molino del Rey was followed by another series of brilliant and difficult operations, which sealed the military results of the war. The city of Mexico occupied a slight swell of ground near the centre of an irregular basin, girdled in its greater extent with a ditch, or deep navigable canal, difficult to bridge; and eight entrance gates over arches Scott found defended by a system of strong works which proper skill and resources might have rendered almost impregnable against him. All the southern approaches near the city were over elevated causeways, cut already to oppose him, and flanked by other ditches and marshy meadows, less overflowed than was usual at this season. Determining to avoid this latter network of obstacles, so as to economize the lives of his troops, Scott resolved to seek another approach, more September 11. * See 2 Scott, 505 (official report); 8 H. H. Bancroft, 497-505, where the losses on both sides are reckoned. Septem favorable, by a sudden inversion to the southwest and west, at the same time making it appear a feint, and keeping the enemy's mind diverted to the point which he first threatened. This stratagem succeeded by movements executed during the next two days, until it was too late for the foe to recover from their delusion. Chapulber 12, 13. tepec's massive and isolated height, whose guns had lately poured their fire unchallenged, was now assailed in earnest. A heavy bombardment and cannonade commenced early on the 12th, and was kept up leisurely until nightfall. To Pillow and Quitman were assigned the prominent parts for the following morning; Worth reserving his division to support the former, and General Persifer Smith the latter. Twiggs's guns boomed meanwhile from a distance, threatening the southern gates of the capital, and holding the main corps of Mexican soldiery on the defensive. On the morning of the 13th the storming of Chapultepec followed on the west and southeast sides, and the conspicuous daring of former fights was repeated with like reward. Emerging from woods which concealed their earlier approach, our storming parties drove the Mexican guards before them, and then advanced straight in the face of mounted guns and of ramparts lined with musketry. Disdaining shelter, they carried their colors to the very walls, over which they rushed with a shout as soon as a few ladders could be placed in position. The Mexicans fled in wild panic and dismay, rushing over the walls and down the precipices, while musket-shots flew from man to man, and strong buildings fell in a mass of ruins covered with the dead and dying. Among exciting scenes like these,Worth's division now taking one unexpected road to the city, and Quitman's another, while the unfortunate patriot defenders were driven in great confusion from one point of resistance to another until forced within the city walls, the Mexican capital was reached before night-fall, and Scott's army gained possession of two gates, Quitman in his ardor pressing inside and sheltering his men as best he might from the guns of the last formidable citadel which was yet to be taken. But here the invading opera 1847. MEXICO CITY SURRENDERS. Septem ber 14. 61 tions ended. Early the next morning, while it was yet dark, a deputation of the municipal council waited upon our general-in-chief to report that the authorities of the republic had fled with Santa Anna's army from the capital at dead of night, and to capitulate on behalf of themselves and the inhabitants. Wrathful at this escape, Scott refused to sign any capitulation, but declared he would enter as soon as daylight permitted him. He did so without resistance; though there was some casual firing from the flat roofs and windows of the houses by Mexican convicts, just liberated, and disbanded soldiers. In vain, and for the last time, the new republic had resisted by force of arms the fatal aggressions of her elder and superior sister. Scott's victories gained the climax of military success, which Taylor had so well inaugurated. The mingled descendants of proud conquerors and conquered Indians succumbed in humiliation to the second Cortes. The grand plaza which the invading Spaniard had himself laid out in the sixteenth century saw the strange spectacle of American troops marching to the music of their national airs during the imposing entry of their majestic commander; over the National Palace, once the proud site of the Montezumas, opposite the rich Cathedral that now supplanted the old temple of idolatrous sacrifice, were hoisted the American stars and stripes; and the second conquest of Mexico passed into history.* SECTION III. PERIOD OF THIRTIETH CONGRESS. MARCH 4, 1847-MARCH 3, 1849. SULLEN and dissatisfied had dispersed our Twentyninth Congress after a final session of acrimonious debate and scanty legislation. The responsibility, no less than * See, for narratives and details of these last military events, 2 Scott's Memoirs, c. 32; 8 H. H. Bancroft, 506-523, and authorities cited. ↑ See vol. iv. pp. 540-544. 1847. March. the odium of the war, this body had laid heavily upon the shoulders of the President and his cabinet, to work the situation out as best they might with the means afforded them. One act of the Senate near the close of the session was to reject Polk's nomination of Charles J. Ingersoll for minister to France, who was a partisan of unquestioned ability, but false and malicious; and the venerable Richard Rush was finally selected. At the adjournment no brilliant operations in the field were reported, and the public mind swung in painful suspense, between fresh hopes of achievement from Scott's new expedition and forebodings that Taylor's diminished army was in great jeopardy. Distant rumors which reached Washington after the adjournment of Congress and about the middle of March, increased the general anxiety on this latter point. All bulletins arriving from our far-off seat of war reached New Orleans by gulf steamers, and were thence conveyed by one slow means or another through or around the cotton States, until they reached the Potomac and our seat of government, whence the "magnetic telegraph" and enterprising Northern journals would disseminate the news among the people. In this manner came the first rumor that a great battle fought at Saltillo had ended in a reverse to our arms and a retreat. But a different rumor soon after succeeded; and just before April sped the full tidings right joyfully of Taylor's splendid though costly victory at Buena Vista. In comparison with this glorious intelligence, the bombardment and capture of Vera Cruz, announced shortly after, made little excitement, for the news followed the public reaction from gloom to exultation. Cerro Gordo and the other brilliant successes which attended Scott's progress were heralded in later months after the worst anxiety of the war had ceased. April. Zachary Taylor, "the general who never surrenders," now grew every day as the hero of the people, having taken the boldest and best course for his own vindication after the government deserted him. On the first day 1847. ZACHARY TAYLOR FOR PRESIDENT. 63 of April the New York Courier and Enquirer April-July. hoisted his name for next President, and other presses and local conventions opposed to the administration were not slow to follow. His biography and portrait were announced in cheap and taking style by rival dealers; "rough and ready" almanacs came out; and Taylor's name was presently toasted and applauded wherever Mexico. was mentioned at a public dinner. These earlier demonstrations in his favor were spontaneous rather than under the sanction of politicians in full Whig communion, for the popular current had set strongly in favor of new men and new policies, through disaffection with existing parties. Yet the Whigs of Iowa had nominated Taylor for President a week before the news came of Buena Vista's battle; and when these Taylor meetings began to be held, some Kentuckian observed in a remark which sagacious Whigs often quoted, that the General would be elected President "by spontaneous combustion." Taylor showed excellent traits. In a speech made by Jefferson Davis, one of his sons-in-law and a colonel upon his staff, whose valor shone in Buena Vista, the old man's points of character were well described: courage in danger, affection for his men, and honest simplicity. Not a soldier in Taylor's command but loved him; he was the poor man's sympathizing friend, and the eye so stern in battle could be suffused with tenderness.* But the leading Whigs drew slowly to Taylor, and only as they felt the increasing necessity of doing so. Henry Clay was the idol still of their intelligent majority, in spite of past defeat. Horace Greeley and his Tribune nursed with pathetic devotion the broken hopes of the old leader, and sternly refused all overtures from friends of the military candidate, to whom objection was made that he was equally a slaveholder with Clay, and besides, a warrior destitute of civil experience and fixed political principles, in the questions which agitated the country a dumb oracle, and hardly a Whig at all. * Newspapers of the day, May-July, 1847; 72 Niles, 97, etc. |