Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48/Contents

by John Jacob Oswandel

 

CONTENTS

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I.	—Intention and Enlistment—Mustered into the United States Service—Election of Field Officers—Departure from Pittsburgh on Steamboats—On the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers—Arrived at Algiers, opposite New Orleans—Encampment on the Old Battle-field of Gen. Jackson's Achievement—Embarkation on Ships for the Seat of War—Arrived at Brazos Santiago—Left that place for Island of Lobos—Arrival—Started for Anton Lizardo—Arrival at Anton Lizardo—Preparing to Land.	11
II.	—Landing below Vera Cruz—Storming the Sand-hills—Surrounding the City—Col. Harney's Dragoon Fight—Bombardment of the City—Articles of Agreement to Surrender Vera Cruz—Mexican Army Marching out and Stacking their Arms—First Visit to the City—Inspection of the Forts—Our Army of 10,000 Men leaving for the Capital of Mexico—Toilsome Marching—Arrival at Plan Del Rio—Gen. Twiggs Meets the Enemy—Preparing to Storm the Heights—He is Ordered to take Possession of a Hill—Gen. Scott's General Order No. III to attack Cerro Gordo.	67
III.	—Battle of Cerro Gordo—Victory Complete—Routing of the Enemy in all Directions—Capture of 5,000 Prisoners, 43 pieces of Artillery, some Bronze, over 5,000 Stand of Arms, no end of Ammunition, Provisions &c., over $50,000 in Specie, Santa Anna's Private Carriage, Cork Leg; also his Saddle—Following the Flying Enemy—Capture of Jalapa City—Perote Castle and Pueblo City—Arrival and Camp near Jalapa—Arrival of Gen. Scott at Perote Castle—The Castle a Political Prison—Battle of Las Vegas—Preparing to leave Perote.	122
IV.	—Gen. George Cadwalader Arrived at Perote—Left Perote and Arrived at Tepegahualco or Zempollan—El Pinol Pass—Arrival at Pueblo City—The Great Catholic Cathedral—Attend Church—The Power of the Church and its Subjects—Ancient City of Cholula—Number of Churches—"The Leg I Left Behind Me."	194
V.	—Gen. Scott's Army left Pueblo for City of Mexico—Much Discontentment—A Gala Day for Those who Went—Murderous Outrage—Good News from Gen. Scott—"So Far Victorious"—Mule Fight, 14 Men Killed—Revolution of Hidalgo—Gen. Rea Issues a Proclamation—Col. Childs and Gen. Rea Meet to Exchange Prisoners—Exciting News from Guadaloupe Heights—Revolution of Hidalgo in 1810.	244
VI.	—Siege of Pueblo—American Forces, 384 Men; Mexican Forces, from 2,000 to sometimes 8,000 Strong—Dispatches from Gen. Scott—He is Victorious in all his Engagements in the Valley—Capture of the Capital of Mexico, September 14, 1847—Great Excitement and Joy among the Troops—Volunteered to go on Picket Duty—Hot Firing—Gen. Santa Anna Arrived at the Outskirts of the City of Pueblo—He Demands the Surrender of the American Forces at Pueblo—Col. Childs', our Military and Civil Governor, most Emphatic Refusal to Surrender—Twenty-sixth Anniversary of Agustus Iturbida of Mexican Independence—Gen. Santa Anna Makes Several Desperate Attempts to Drive our Forces out of Pueblo; but, as usual, Defeated in each Attempt—Gen. Santa Anna leaves Pueblo to Meet Gen. Lane's Forces-Ringing of Church Bells and Firing of Rockets—Gen. Lane, with 1,500 Men, arrives at Pueblo—Great Rejoicing among our Men—The Enemy are Driven Out—Death of Capt. Samuel H. Walker.	284
VII.	—Gen. Lane's Number of Reinforcements—List of Killed and Wounded During the Siege—Gen. Lane Issues his Proclamation for the Citizens to Open their Stores—Gen. Lane in Hot Pursuit of Santa Anna and Padre Jaurote—Execution of Mr. Leonard—Charging upon our Quartermaster's Warehouse, Stored with Tobacco—Left Pueblo to Escort a Train to Vera Cruz—Numbers of Priests—People Held in Ignorance in Small Towns—My Knapsack Stolen—Arrived on the Old Battle-field of Cerro Gordo—Arrival of Gen. Patterson's Forces—Camp at Jalapa—Execution of two American Teamsters and two Mexican Officers—Capt. Small leaves us to take his Seat in the State Senate—Arrived back to Pueblo City—Remain for Awhile.	353
VIII.	—Compelled to Stay in Pueblo—The Catholic Religion—What it Used to Cost to Sustain It—Arrival of Gen. Wm. O. Butler—Train from Vera Cruz—Left Pueblo—Arrival at Rio Frio—The Deep Cut to Drain the City of Mexico—El Penon Pass—Arrived in the City—Saw Enough Greasers to Drive Out our Army—Camp at San Angel—A Christmas in the City—Scandalous Action of the Secular Clergy in Mexico—City of Mexico the Metropolic Capital of Mexico.	401
IX.	—Bull Fights in Mexico—Visit to the Castle Chapultepec—Alameda Park—The Cypress Trees—The Catholic Cathedral: its Dimensions, its Idols, Wealth, &c.—The Song of "Derry Down"—Tlascalla City and its Ancient History—The Removal of Gen. Scott from his Victorious Army—Gen. Wm. O. Butler Appointed in his Place—Excitement Amongst the Soldiers—The Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, freeing them from the Spanish Rule—Gen. Winfield Scott's Letter of Grievance to the Secretary of War, Hon. Wm. L. Marcy.	446
X.	—Poor Indians—First Anniversary of the Landing of Vera Cruz—Death of Gen. Valencia—Account of the Bull Fight in Mexico—Lieuts. Hare and Dutton, of the Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Accused of Murdering a Banker—First Anniversary of the Battle of Cerro Gordo—A Holy Thursday—The Poor Lepers—Gens. Paredus, Almonta and Bustamante—Great Excitement on Account of Prospect of Peace—Taking up the Dead—Bill of Fare—How Coffee is Made—Lieuts. Hare and Dutton Sentenced to be Hung—Another Visit to the City—A Treat with a High-toned Senor—Rare History of Mexico—Montezuma the Ninth Ruler of Mexico—His Life—A Treaty of Peace Signed, Causing Great Excitement Amongst the Soldiers—Lieuts. Hare and Dutton Pardoned, but to be Kept Under Arrest until Landing at New Orleans.	501
XI.	—First Original Settlers in Mexico—Names and Numbers of Rulers of Mexico—Our Departure from the City for "Home, Sweet Home"—Poetry: "We are Coming Home"—Chalco and its Ancient History—Arrival at Pueblo—Grand Reception, with Cheers and Clapping of Hands by the Senoritas as we Marched Through the City—Arrived and Camped at El Encerro—Left Here and Arrived at Vera Cruz—Talk with Some of the Umbres—"Will it Pay to Visit Mexico?"—Embarked and Left Vera Cruz, with Cheers, for Home—Poetic—"Good-Bye to Mexico"—Arrival at New Orleans—Meet with a Grand Reception at Cincinnati—Arrived at Beaver and Economy—Harmony Society Formed—Reception at Pittsburgh—-Arrived at Johnstown on the Summit (McVeytown) at 3 locks—Lewistown—Grand Reception on the Road and at Harrisburg and Lancaster—Memoir of Early Childhood, Long Gone By.	562
XII.	—Leaving Lancaster in the Midst of Cheers—Meet with a Grand Reception at Philadelphia, with a Grand Dinner at the Chinese Museum, on Ninth Street below Chestnut—Speeches and Songs Suitable for the Occasion—Taken to Third Street Hall, Corner of Third and Willow Streets, kept by Gen. Hall—Receiving our Discharge from the Army—Bidding Good-Bye to our Comrades—List of Names of the Company—Those who Died or were Discharged from the Army—Table of Distance from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico—The Formation of the Scott Legion—Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Battle of Cerro Gordo—Speech on the Occasion.	615