Worth entered the army at an early period of his
life; his headlong impetuosity at the sanguinary
1 »attles of Lundy's Lane and Chippewa, obtained
for him a high reputation, which was greatly in-
creased by his services in Florida. The best dis-
ciplinarian in the army, he was yet the idol of the
soldiery. Gifted with an imposing presence, an
which has been compared to the eagle's, an
affability of manner, a courage perfectly regardless
of death in the hour of battle, a fixedness of pur-
pose, ;ind a coolness of judgment which the thunders
of artillery could no1 disturb; he combined every
requisite which should characterize a man and a
soldier. Burning with impatience to silence, by
Borne splendid achievement, the whispers which his
absence from the conflicts of the 8th and 9th of
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 157
May produced, lie joined the army of invasion.
The conduct of General Taylor in giving him
a separate command, at Monterey, displayed the
frankness of the disinterested soldier. It was fear-
ed by those who did not understand the character
of General Worth, that in the effort to gain a bril-
liant victory he would be regardless of the lives
of his men, but the result proved him a better man,
and a more skilful general.
From the configuration of the country through
which the road passed, leading to Saltillo, it was de-
termined to attack the town in that direction. For
this purpose, the second division was placed under
the command of General Worth, and at 2 o'clock,
P. M., on the 20th September, 1846, he started to
execute the duty assigned him. The enemy, in the
mean time, had thrown reinforcements into the
Bishop's palace, and upon the heights which com-
manded it.* To divert the attention of the Mexi-
cans, Generals Butler and Twiggs displayed their
divisions before the town. On the morning of the
21st, the division under General Worth was put
in motion, and soon encountered a strong force of
cavalry and infantry, and after a sharp conflict the
Mexicans were defeated. The examinations made
proved the impracticability of making any effective
advances upon the city, without first obtaining pos-
session of the exterior forts and batteries. About
300 men composed a storming party for the purpose
of effecting that object ; one fort after another was
taken under a tremendous fire, until they were ena-
* Dispatch of General Taylor, October 9th, 1846.
158 HISTOEY OP THE
bled to bring their guns to bear upon the Bishop's
palace.* To cany the building was the next object
to be accomplished. It is situated about midway
the southern slope of the hill Independencia. This
was accomplished on the 22d, by one of the most
brilliant feats recorded in the annals of warfare.
The position they had thus gained enabled them
to send their iron hail into the Grand Plaza. The
town was now perfectly under the control of Worth's
artillery. In the mean time, a demonstration was
made by the forces under the immediate command
of Genera] Taylor, upon the other end of the town.
Eere the loss of the Americans was very severe,
and it was only by "burrowing" through the
houses that they could make much progress into
the heari of the city. The display of daring upon
the part of both regulars and volunteers was highly
satisfactory, and added still more to the reputation
of the former, and covered with renown the deeds
of the latter.
Early on the morning of the 24th of September,
Genera] Taylor received a communication from
Ampudia, proposing to evacuate the town, upon
condition that he should be suffered to take with
him the personel and materiel of war.f This pro-
position was refused by General Taylor,;); and the
unconditional surrender of the town and the garri-
rtof General Worth, September 28th, 1846.
General Ampudia, September 23d, to General Taylor.
\ . omplete surrender of the town and garrison, the latter as pris-
oners of war. is dow demanded. The garrison will be allowed, at your
option, after laying down its arm-, in retire to the interior, on condition
of not serving again during the war. until regularly exchanged." — Letter
■' r - i : .—nl A m «vi<Ji„ SUmtemher O.Alh 1 Rdfi
POLK ADMIKISTEATION. 159
son as prisoners of war was demanded. "Upon the
same day that General Taylor made this response
to the Mexican General-in-Chief, much more favor-
able terms were extended to him* The city, forti-
fications, cannon, munitions of war, and all other
public property, with some exceptions, were sur-
rendered, but the Mexican forces were allowed to
retain their accoutrements, one battery of six pieces,
with twenty-one rounds of ammunition. They were
to retire within seven days from that date, beyond
the line formed by the pass of the Einconada, the
city of Linares and San Fernando De Pressas, and
the forces of the United States were not to advance
beyond the line specified before the expiration of
eight weeks, or until the order or instructions of
the respective Governments could be received. The
Mexican flas? when struck at the citadel was to be
saluted by its own battery. The terms of this
capitulation created much dissatisfaction in the
United States. It was a subject of much regret
that General Taylor did not exact from the enemy
more rigorous terms. The Secretary of War, in
response to the communication from General Taylor,
was directed by the President to inform him that
he regretted it was not deemed advisable to insist
upon the terms which he had first proposed, al-
though it was suggested that the circumstances
doubtless justified the change.* The reasons given
* See terms of the capitulation of Monterey, Executive Documents,
2d Session 29th Congress, volume 4, Doc. No. 119.
f " In relation to the terms of capitulation of Monterey, the President
instructs me to say that he regrets it was not advisable to insist upon the
160 HISTORY OF THE
by General Taylor* for acceding to the terms of
capitulation, were first, the impossibility .of prevent-
ing the escape of the Mexicans through the various
is leading from the city, and the destruction of
their artillery and magazines ; and secondly, the im-
possibility of moving forward in force until the
time selected for the cessation of hostilities had ex-
pired.f The Secretary of War informed General
terms which you had first proposed. The circumstances which dictated
doubtless justified the change. The President, uninformed of these cir-
cumstances, does not know in what degree the recent change in the Gov-
ernment of Mexico may have contributed to this result. Certain it is,
however, that the present rulers of that republic have not yet given any
evidence that they are ' favorable to the interests of peace.' Of this you
will have already been informed by my dispatch of the 22d ultimo." —
of the Secretary of War to General Taylor, October 13//;, 1846.
* " The force with which I advanced on Monterey was limited by
causes beyond my control, to about 6,000 men. With this force, as every
military man must admit who has seen the ground, it was entirely impos-
sible to invest Monterey so closely as to prevent the escape of the garri-
son. Although the main communication with the interior was in our
possession, yet one route was open to the Mexicans throughout the ope-
rations, and could not be closed, as were also other minor tracks and
passes through the mountains. Had we, therefore, insisted on more
rigorous terms than those granted, the result would have been the escape
of the body of the Mexican force, with the destruction of its artillery and
magazines; our only advantage being the capture of a few prisoners of
war. at the expense of valuable lives and much damage to the city. The
consideration of humanity was present to my mind during the conference
winch led to the convention, and outweighed in my judgment the doubtful
advantages to be gained by a resumption of the attack upon the town.
onclusion lias been fully confirmed by an inspection of the enemy's
n and means since the surrender. It was discovered that his
principal magazine, containing an immense amount of powder, was in
tli'- cathedral, completely exposed to our shells from two directions. The
explosion of this mass of powder, which must have ultimately resulted
from a continuance of the bombardment, would have been infinitely dis-
astrous, involving the destruction not only of Mexican troops, but of
non-combatants, and even our own people, had we pressed the attack."
f '" In regard to the temporary cessation of hostilities, the fact that
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 161
Taylor that lie would perceive by the tenor of the
dispatches from the War Department, that the Gov-
ernment did not contemplate the occurrence of any
contingency in the prosecution of the war in which
it would be expedient to suspend hostilities before
the offer of acceptable terms of peace; and also
gave him instructions to terminate the armistice
immediately.* It cannot be regarded in any other
light than as a most unfortunate result, that after a
loss of 12 officers and 108 men killed, 31 officers
and 337 men wounded in capturing the city, that
8,000 Mexicans should be suffered to retire with
arms in their hands without even a parole of honor
that they would not fight again during the war.
That Ampudia would have acceded to any terms
when his head-quarters were brought under the fire
we are not at this moment (within eleven days of the termination of the
period fixed by the convention) prepared to move forward in force, is a
sufficient explanation of the military reasons which dictated this suspen-
sion of arms. It paralyzed the enemy during a period when, from the
want of necessary means, we could not possibly move. I desire distinctly
to state, and to call the attention of the authorities to the fact, that with
all diligence in breaking mules and setting up wagons, the first wagons in
addition to our original train from Corpus Christi (and but 125 in number)
reached my head-quarters on the same day with the Secretary's commu-
nication of October 13th, viz., the 2d inst. At the date of the surrender
of Monterey our force had not more than ten days' rations ; and even now,
with all our endeavors, we have not more than twenty-five. The task of
fighting and beating the enemy is among the least difficult that we en-
counter ; the great question of supplies necessarily controls all the ope-
rations in a country like this. At the date of the convention I could not.
of course, have foreseen that the department would direct an important
detachment from my command without consulting me, or without waiting
the result of the main operation under my orders." — Letter of General
Taylor to the Secretary of War, November 8lh, 1846.
* Letter of Mr. Marcy to General Taylor, October 13th, 1846.
11
162 HISTORY OF THE
of Worth's artillery, there is every reason to be-
lieve. As it was, the victory cannot be considered
as complete, when the right to salute their flag was
extended to the enemy, and permission given him
to resume hostilities again.
The destinies of Mexico were at this time con-
trolled by Santa Anna. In August, 1846, the
power of Paretics was overthrown, and shortly after
Santa Anna returned from Havana to Mexico. The
permission given by Mr. Polk to Santa Anna to re-
turn to Mexico,* has been made the subject of
much animadversion. It has been insisted that he
offered no obstructions to the return of the ablest
of the Mexican chieftains. During the war, public
opinion rather condemned this act upon the part of
Mr. Polk, but the time has now arrived when it can
be examined with more calmness, and all the cir-
cumstances which evidently controlled him in grant-
ing that permission, can be impartially considered.
It will be recollected that the basis of the revolu-
tion which placed Paredes in power, was the fact,
that Berrera had accepted overtures for the settle-
ment of the difficulties between the two countries.-)*
* [" PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.]
"United States Navy Department, May 13, 1846.
" Commodore : [f Santa Anna endeavors to enter the Mexican ports,
rou will allow him to pass freely.
• Respectfully, yon,-. GEORGE BANCROFT.
" Commodore David Conner, commanding Home Squadron."
f " We now turn a glance to Mexico, where will he found established
the government of General Paredes. As one of the motives by which the
revolutionists supported their pronunciamento, was, that the administration
oi 1 ierrera did not desire to carry on this war ; the new Government was
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 163
Paredes was not only the most clamorous of all the
Mexican chieftains for a war with the United States,
but he was known to be a monarchist in principle.
If necessary to enable them to contend successfully
against the United States, he was in favor of call-
ing to the aid of Mexico a foreign power, by the
tender of a throne. Although it might be a trivial
affair to chastise the insolence of the Mexicans, yet
it would be more difficult, if they were able to
obtain the aid of France and Spain. This was a
consummation by no means improbable. The ba-
lance of power doctrine had been proclaimed by
Guizot — a doctrine against which our Government
is committed. For the purpose, then, of preventing
an alliance between Mexico and any of the Euro-
pean powers, either to obtain troops to fight her
battles, or to make that country a dependency of
France or Spain, it was perfectly justifiable in Mr.
Polk to produce internal dissensions in Mexico.
Independent of this view of the subject, we had a
perfect right to produce as much anarchy and con-
fusion in that motley assemblage called republicans,
as possible. Whatever may have been the crimes
bound to do so at any cost." — Mexican History of the War in Mexico,
p. 38.
" The command of the division of reserve, destined to operate on the
frontier of Texas, was intrusted to General Paredes, who, although he
had, from causes of personal dissatisfaction, contributed to the overthrow
of Santa Anna, has always been known as the advocate of centralism, or
rather of a military despotism, ordered to advance several months since, to
the line of the Rio del Norte, he has, on various frivolous pretexts, con-
stantly disobeyed or evaded his instructions, and the government, although
it cannot have been ignorant of his hostile intentions, has not dared to dis-
place him." — Letter of Mr. Slidell to Mr. Buchanan, December 27th,
1845. Executive Documents, 1st session 30th Congress, p. 34.
104 HISTORY OF THE
committed by Santa Anna, he was certainly opposed
to the establishment of a monarchy in Mexico.
That danger, then, was not to be apprehended, if
he once more obtained the reins of government.
Besides, the hope was entertained that he would
employ his influence in restoring pacific relations
between the two countries .*
Those persons who have so fiercely assailed the
conduct of Mr. Polk, in permitting Santa Anna to
let urn, may not be apprised of the fact, that the pre-
sent Chief Magistrate of this country placed reliance
in the declarations of Santa Anna, that he was
favorable to peace.f He supposed, that the change
of Government in Mexico (in his letter defending
himself for granting an armistice), since his last in-
structions, fully warranted him in listening to the
propositions of Ampudia. That cTixmge of Goverri-
â– in< n! was the substitution of Santa Anna for Gene-
* Again : " In the course of civil war, the Government of General Pa-
redes was overthrown. We could not hut look upon this as a fortunate
event, believing that any other administration, representing Mexico, would
be less deluded, more patriotic, and more prudent — looking to the com-
mon good, weighing probabilities, strength, resources, and, above all. the
general opinion as to the inevitable results of a national war. We were
deceived — as perhaps you, Mexicans, were also deceived, in judging of the
real intentions of General Santa Anna, whom you recalled, and whom
our Government permitted to return." — Proclamation of General Scott to
W i irinis, May 11, 1847, at Jalapa.
f "In the conference with General Ampudia, I was distinctly told by
him thai he had invited it to spare the further effusion of blood, and be-
cause General Santa Anna had declared himself favorable to peace. I
l.i" '. that our Government had made propositions to that of Mexico to ne-
and I deemed that the change of Government in that country since
my last instructions, lully warranted me in entertaining considerations of
policy." — Dispatches of General Taylor to the War Department, Novem-
ber 8th, 1846.
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 165
ral Paredes, as the President of Mexico. The in-
â– 'struct ions to which he refers, did not contemplate
that any contingency would happen in the prosecu-
tion of the war, in which it would be expedient to
suspend hostilities before the offer of acceptable
terms of peace.* Under these instructions, then,
when General Taylor agreed to a suspension of hos-
tilities, he must have believed, not only that Santa
Anna would offer acceptable terms of peace, but
that he had already done so. Placing the permis
sion given Santa Anna to return to Mexico, alone
upon the ground of his supposed exertions to pro-
duce peace, the two American Executives were
both deceived, and the judgments of neither proved
infallible.
On the 27th of July, 1846, the President of
the United States caused propositions to be made
to the Mexican Government, for the termination of
existing difficulties in a treaty of peace.f This pro-
position was responded to by the Mexican autho-
rities, August 31st following. The only answer
made to this conciliatory offer was the proposition
to lay it before the Mexican Congress, to be as-
sembled on the 6th of December thereafter. J Too
little reliance was placed in the favorable action of
that body, to authorize a suspension of hostilities
for so long a period. They had proved too regard-
less of plighted faith, to render it at all probable,
* Letter of Mr. Marcy to General Taylor, October 13, 1846.
f Letter of Mr. Buchanan, to the Minister of Foreign Relations of the
Mexican Republic, July 27, 1846.
\ Letter of Manuel Crescencio Rejon. Mexican Secretary of Foreign
Affairs, August 31, 1846.
166 HISTOET OF THE
that whore no pledges were made, the Mexican
Congress would agree to terms unless they were
forced by stern necessity; and the proposition of
the Mexican Government was rejected, and they
were informed that the appeal to arms would be
continued.
The column under Brigadier General Wool,
consisting of about 1,400 men, destined for the con-
quest of Chihuahua, was put in motion from San
Antonia de Bexar, on the L H .)th of September, 1846.
Crossing the Rio Grande, he traversed Coahuila
and arrived at Monclova, on the 31st of October,
and was well received by the inhabitants.* The
force of General Wool having been diverted from
its original destination, it never reached Chihuahua,
and he subsequently joined his command to the
army of General Taylor.
On the 30th of June, Brigadier General Kearny,
with 1,000 regulars and volunteers, marched from
Fort Leavenworth, in the direction of Santa FC,
where he arrived after a march of 873 miles, on the
18th of August, and took possession of New Mexico
by a bloodless achievement. The Mexican forces
under the command of Governor Armijo, amount-
ing to 4,000, ingloriously fled ; and the Governor
himself, with a small party of dragoons, departed in
haste for Chihuahua. General Kearny was autho-
rized to muster into service a battalion from among
the emigrants, who were on their way to Oregon
and California; in addition to this force, 1,000 volun-
were started from Missouri to reinforce him.
* The rctiort of the Secretary of War, December, 1846.
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 167
In August, 1846, General Kearny communicated
to the War Department the fact, that he had under
his command a greater number of trooj)s than was
necessary to retain possession of Santa Fe, and for
the conquest of California ; and that he proposed
sending a portion of them to reinforce General Wool,
whom he supposed was advancing upon Chihuahua.*
On the 23d of September, 1846, Colonel Doni-
phan, with the first regiment of Missouri volunteers
started upon that celebrated march, which has not
inaptly been compared to that of Xenophon. The
men who composed that regiment, were young,
hardy, and possessed of a desperate and reckless
courage, and were well fitted for a service which
was surrounded by so many perils. It was not
known when Doniphan left Santa Fe, that the
column under the command of General Wool had
been diverted from its movement upon Chihuahua,
and he therefore penetrated with his small band of
heroes into a country that thronged with foes, and
which had never been trod by the footsteps of an
American soldier.
On the 25th of December, the advance guard
of his regiment was met by the Mexicans in force,
in the vicinity of Brazito, where a battle ensued,
resulting in the total overthrow of the enemy, with
a loss on their part of nearly 200 killed and wound-
ed, and on that of the Americans of only 7 wounded.
Less than 500 Americans in this engagement de-
feated 1,200 Mexicans. Continuing his march,
Doniphan, entered El Passo without again en-
* Report of the Secretary of War, December, 1846.
liN HISTORY OF THE
countering a foe. It was here ascertained, that the
movement had to be made without the aid of Gene-
ral Wool ; and the command was detained until
February, for the purpose of receiving reinforce-
ments of artillery from Santa Fe, when the force
continued to advance towards Chihuahua.
On the 28th of February, 1847, they discovered
a large force of Mexicans, intrenched behind their
batteries at the pass of Sacramento. It was at once
determined to storm the Mexican intrenchments ;
they were furiously assaulted, and defended with
eoual desperation. The ardor of the Americans
proved irresistible; the fortifications were scaled,
the enemy was driven from his artillery with dread-
ful slaughter, and the victory was signal and com-
plete. Our troops entered the capital of Chihua-
hua in triumph, and shortly after proceeded to join
General Taylor at Monterey. If we except the
bloody victory of Molino del Eey, there was no
more brilliant achievement during the whole war,
than the triumph at the battle of Sacramento. The
Mexican force- amounted to more than 4,000, and
their Loss in killed and wounded was about 600 ;
while the entire force of the Americans was less
than 900, and their killed and wounded did not ex-
ceed 9 men. Thus the march of Colonel Doniphan
and ]\\< men for more than 1,000 miles through a
hostile country, was rendered still more glorious by
his triumphs in two battles against greatly supe-
ri< >y Handlers.
In September, lsir», General Kearny with a
regular force of about 300 dragoons, in pursuance
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 169
of the instructions from the War Department,
started for California. Passing down the Kio
Grande more than 200 miles, he prepared to cross
over to the river Gila, but after advancing about
180 miles, he was met by an express from California
dispatched by Colonel Fremont. Deeming it un-
necessary to take an additional force into that coun-
try, he ordered most of his troops to return to
Santa Fe, and continued himself with about 100
men.
In May, 1845, Captain Fremont left Washing-
ton, under orders from the War Department, to
continue his explorations beyond the Kocky Moun-
tains — a service purely of a scientific character.
There were no soldiers under his command, and the
sixty-two men who made up his party were taken
as a protection against the Indians. His route lay
through a portion of California that was settled,
and he was fully apprised of the danger of a rup-
ture between Mexico and the United States, and
was resolved to give no umbrage to the authorities
in California. Leaving his company 100 miles from
Monterey, he proceeded to that place alone, for the
purpose of explaining to Castro the object of his
mission, and to obtain permission to enter the val-
ley of the San Joaquin, to obtain forage for his
horses and provisions for the men. His request
was granted ; but scarcely had he arrived at the
place which he had selected, before he received in-
formation that General Castro was preparing to
overwhelm him with a superior force. For the
purpose of defending himself from this unwarran-
170 niSTOEY OF THE
table attack, lie intrenched his men upon a moun-
tain thirty miles distant from Monterey. There he