toward them at the head of his men a charge of grape-shot raked the line, killing two officers and seven soldiers and wounding a large number, among them Santa Anna, who was hit in the left leg and hand, his horse being shot. A few more volleys were exchanged ere the mist hid the departing boats, and shortly after, as it cleared away, Baudin retaliated for his losses by shelling down the troublesome barracks,[1] an operation which frightened the inhabitants into abandoning the town. The troops also withdrew from a place now utterly defenceless to the adjoining Pozitos, whither the suffering Santa Anna had been carried.
This general had behaved far worse than the disgraced Rincon, in allowing himself to be so readily surprised by the enemy, keeping carefully in the background during the main fight, and finally evacuating the city; but he possessed one shining quality—a brazen assurance that bordered on genius. He understood the feelings of the masses at this moment; how readily they could with a little bombast be hoodwinked into the belief that he had achieved a- gratifying victory—for had not the boats retired! and above all to accept him as a martyred hero bleeding for his country. In order to deepen the impression, he wrote as from his death-bed, relating how he had driven the foe into the sea, with losses reaching far beyond the hundred. "Cast aside discord," he continued, "and unite against the French. As for me, forgive my political errors, and deny me not the only
- ↑ The French exhibit a loss of 8 killed and 60 wounded, which the Mexicans swell into far greater actual loss, while admitting heavy casualties. Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 401. It is also stated that Santa Anna was hit by grape-shot from the boats while prancing on the quay. Arista came out with the usual Manifiesto, 1-16, to explain his capture. He was released on Jan. 27th. Bustamante supports Santa Anna's charge, that the French attacked while negotiations were pending, Gabinete Mex., i. 140; and the latter reply that Santa Anna quietly closed the gates of Vera Cruz on Dec. 4th, ere declaring war, with a view to capture the prince and other officers then on a visit. See also Fossey, Mex., 511; Bazancourt, Mex., 121-2, 131-2. Mexican accounts place the French columns at 1,100-1,500, while Fossey intimates only 550.
