. The student's American history . United Statesarmy, was ordered to take the chief command. His plan wasto leave Taylor with a small force to hold the line of the RioGrande, while he embarked with an army to capture the forti-fied port of Vera Cruz. He then purposed moving directly onthe city of Mexico, the capital of the Mexican Republic. Meanwhile General Kearny, commander of the Departmentof the West, was to advance from Fort Leavenworth (Kansas)against Santa Fe, take possession of that city and of NewMexico, and then move forward and occupy the Mexicanprovince of California. The Mormons (
. The student's American history . United Statesarmy, was ordered to take the chief command. His plan wasto leave Taylor with a small force to hold the line of the RioGrande, while he embarked with an army to capture the forti-fied port of Vera Cruz. He then purposed moving directly onthe city of Mexico, the capital of the Mexican Republic. Meanwhile General Kearny, commander of the Departmentof the West, was to advance from Fort Leavenworth (Kansas)against Santa Fe, take possession of that city and of NewMexico, and then move forward and occupy the Mexicanprovince of California. The Mormons (§ 372) raised a bat-talion which took part in this expedition of conquest, andhelped to secure California for the United States. Taylors force was now about 4600 men; with this little armyhe resolved to hold the wild mountain pass of Buena Vista, tothe southwest of Monterey (§ 395), against the enemy who wereadvancing to attack him. Santa Anna, the commander-in-chiefof the Mexican army, surrounded Taylor with a force 20,000 IOWA. MolinaKey. Contreras TanrpicojO San Lufsi V* >- m -^ Cl utufeuoco •;;i!i-- CerriaCord*( unll; ^ I,a Pueljla S- Map No. I. The Mexican War; Mai No. II. Scotts march to the City of Mexico. 1847.] THE UNION, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 35 I strong; he then sent the American general a despatch, tellinghim that he must surrender or be cut to pieces. Old Roughand Ready, as his men called him, determined to hold hisground, and the unequal contest began (February 22, 1847).Colonel Jefferson Davis, with his gallant Mississippians, andCaptain Bragg, with his batteries hurling storms of grape shot,saved the day. Santa Anna retreated, and Buena Vista was re-corded on our roll of victories, though it cost Taylor more thana sixth of his entire force to win it. This was Taylors lastbattle; he resented what he considered to be political interfer-ence with his plans, and, leaving General Wool in command,returned late in 1847 to his home in Louisiana. The enthusia
Size: 1479px × 1690px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidstudentsamerican01mont
