Battles of Legend

The Mexican-American War had its battles of legend, just as any war does in retrospect.  The Battle of Buena Vista on February 22 and 23rd, 1847 was  fought between General Zachery Taylor and Mexican General Santa Anna.  When General Taylor was ordered to stand on the defensive by President Polk, he ignored those orders and marched south with his 5000 troops to attack Santa Anna's 15,000 troops at Buena Vista.  Two days of bloody fighting ensued.  Taylor's undisciplined volunteers fought courageously against heavy odds.  In the face of wavering American lines, the US Army's artillery halted the Mexican forces at point blank range.  Battle won.

After taking Veracruz in March 1847, breaking through the mountains, and by passing a trap set by Santa Anna near Pueblo, General Winfield Scott headed for Mexico City and the final battle.  He daringly cut lose his supply lines on August 7th.  Opinion went that with no base to fall back on, he was lost.  His troops were out-numbered, but they did not lose a battle on their drive toward Mexico City. On September 13th, Scotts Army took Chapultepec Palace outside Mexico City.  Among the defenders were teenage cadets, Los Ninos, which have become a symbol of Mexican courage.  The next day, escorted by US dragoons, Scott entered Mexico City with the Stars and Stripes waving over the Halls of Montezuma (the National Palace).   The Marine lieutenant who planted that flag is celebrated in the Marine hymn.  Battle won - War won.

As a side note, among Scott's officers were Robert E Lee, Ulysses S Grant, Thomas J Jackson, and George H Thomas - all West Point educated and destined for later legends of their own.

Next time...Problems with Peace
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Today in Pioneer History:  On May 4, 1886, a riot breaks out in Haymarket Square in Chicago.  It began as a peaceful labor protest against horrible working conditions, then became a riot with mare than 100 wounded and 8 officers dead.  The authorities claimed they arrested every socialist, and anarchist in town.  Eight men, who were either speakers or organizers were charged with murder.

It's a Dirty Game

The Mexican War was the nation's first offensive war on foreign soil, called "Mr. Polk's War", and brought enthusiasm from the South and West, but not from the North and East.  Most of the volunteers were a disorderly bunch who didn't follow orders and terrorized the Mexicans by robbing, murdering and raping when they could.  Officers were disgusted with the men, but with only 7,000 troops, they couldn't afford to lose them.  Congress had neglected the Army and was even debating eliminating West Point's military academy at that time.

The two American generals were Brig. General Zachery Taylor and Major General Winfield Scott.  Together they had some 80 years of service.  To his men, Taylor was "Old Rough and Ready", a feisty leader who issued orders sprawled sidesaddle on his horse Old Whitey.  Scott, was nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers" and was a huge, vain man, fond of showy uniforms but a serious student of war and a serious fighting man.

Polk was not happy with either man.  Both were hoping to be candidates for President of the United States in 1848 against Polk.   Deciding that Taylor had the better chance, Polk stripped him of his troops, gave them to Scott to march into Mexico City and finish the war, thus giving Scott the glory of winning the war while Taylor was to stand by for defense if needed.  It was dirty politics.

The war was over in 16 months.  There were 4,000 wounded and 13,000 dead - 11,000 of those of disease and accidents.  The peace treaty cost Mexico California and New Mexico, it cost the United States $15 million dollars. 

Next time - Famous Decisive Battles
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Today in Pioneer History: On May 1,  1926, Ford Motor Company becomes one of the first companies in America to adopt a five day, 40 hour week in its factories. 

Easy Beginnings to the War

Rarely has a sovereign nation enjoyed such a short history as the Bear Flag Republic.  On July 7, John D Sloat, along with the US Pacific flotilla, having sailed into Monterey harbor, started the Mexican-American War by occupying the capital of California without a struggle.  The United States flag replaced the Bear Flag in northern California, and Americans believed it would be just that simple in the southern ports and the entire providence.

Sloat, who was in ill health and wanting to retire, soon handed over his command to Commodore Robert Stockton.  One of Stockton's first acts was to dispatch John Charles Fremont, along with his 150 men (known as the California Battalion), south to San Diego, which fell without resistance on July 29. 

Stockton, with as much interest in glory as Fremont, issued a proclamation on that same day that charged the Mexican militia with "scenes of rape, blood, and murder."  Stockton was not happy with what he saw as a weak General Castro, and if the Mexicans refused to fight a war, he would manufacture one.

Stockton, along with 360 sailors and marines, sailed to San Paulo Bay on August 6th.  He declined to negotiate with Castro.  A week later, Los Angeles fell to the Americans , again without resistance.  Castro, meanwhile, fled California for Mexico proper.

The entire coast of California was now in US hands.  Stockton returned to Monterey Bay and left Archibald Gillespie in charge, along with a 50 man garrison to govern Los Angeles.  Stockton could not have made a worse choice. 




Next time...no more "without a struggle"


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Today in Pioneer History:  "On April 20, 1842, the first detective story is published, The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allen Poe.