CHAPTER XVII.
SCOTT'S MARCH TO PUEBLA.
FEBRUARY-JULY, 1847.
Taylor Returns to Monterey — Preparations against Vera Cruz — Landing of United States Forces — Apathy of the Mexican Government — Fortifications of Vera Cruz — Siege and Capitulation — Respective Losses — Operations of the Gulf Fleet — Santa Anna's Preparations — He Takes up a Position at Cerro Gordo — Scott Advances into the Interior — Battle of Cerro Gordo — The Height Carried — Scott Enters Jalapa — The Castle of Perote Evacuated — Worth Proceeds to Puebla — Trist Appointed Commissioner to Mexico — His Disagreement with Scott — Attempts at Negotiation with Santa Anna
With the battle of Buena Vista, Taylor s active operations in the north may be regarded as ended. His work in future was confined to holding possession of the country occupied. The withdrawal of his regular troops for Scott's expedition against the capital, and the approaching expiration of his best volunteers' term of service, rendered offensive manœuvres in the direction of San Luis Potosi inadvisable. At the same time Scott s advance against the capital so occupied the Mexicans that the hostile forces in the northern provinces were almost unmolested. For a brief period the communication between Monterey and the Rio Grande was interrupted by the operations of generals Urrea and Romero, who, in concert with Santa Anna s design of cutting off the retreat of the army which he had hoped to defeat, had advanced with a strong cavalry corps from Tula to the neighbor hood of Cerralvo and Camargo. On the 24th of Feb-
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