dore Stockton. On the 10th of January, 1847, the Americans having combined their forces, after some opposition again took possession of Ciudad de los Angelos, the capital; and on the 13th of January a convention was signed by Colonel Fremont, in the character of military commandant of California, and the Mexican, authorities, by which an end was put to further hostilities.

143. Taking of Vera Cruz.

The attention of the American government was, at an early period of the Mexican war, directed to preparations for an expedition against Vera Cruz, a city of about 15,000 inhabitants, situated immediately on the shore of the gulf of Mexico. The city was strongly fortified, particularly by the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, which stands on a reef of rocks about a thousand yards in front of the city. The capture of this place was deemed important, as by it a direct route would be opened toward the Mexican capital, about three hundred miles distant. The command of the expedition was intrusted to General Scott, who was fully supplied with all the munitions of war to accomplish this object. The American troops, upward of 13,000 strong, were landed by the squadron under Commodore Conner, near Vera Cruz, without the loss of a single man; and by the 13th of March, 1847, the investment of the city was effected.

The Mexican force in Vera Cruz at the time of its investment was 3,360 men, and in the castle 1,030. Both the castle and the city were scantily supplied with provisions. The governor of the state had endeavoured to procure a supply, but, owing to dissensions, &c., in the capital, his requests were but little heeded. Nevertheless, with what he had been able to collect, General Morales determined to defend the city, hoping, it is said, that the vomito or yellow fever would soon come to his aid by sweeping off the invaders; or perhaps he might

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be relieved by the approach of a Mexican army from the interior.

General Scott, having completed his preparations for bombardment, on the 22d demanded a surrender, of the city. General Morales, who commanded both the city and castle, returned a peremptory refusal. Upon this, the bombardment was commenced and continued, with heavy artillery. The Americans were assisted in their work of destruction by the naval force, which was much greater than had ever before been sent into action by the United States government. For four days a shower of bomb-shells was poured into the devoted city, which, in many instances as they fell, crushed the roofs of houses, and, exploding within the Mexican dwellings, caused horrid destruction to their inmates, most of whom were women and children. Early on the 25th, the consuls of Great Britain, France, Spain, and Prussia, went to the American camp to ask permission for the neutrals-the old men, the women, and children-to leave the city. This was refused by General Scott, on the ground that he had, as soon as the investment was completed, given them an opportunity to retire. This they did not accept; they must therefore run the hazards attending the bombardment. The general also informed them that any further prayer must be addressed through the Mexican governor.

As soon as the consuls had returned to the city, the American batteries resumed their fire, which was continued with dreadful effect through the night and until the morning of the 26th, when the besieged sent a flag of truce, offering terms of capitulation. General Morales, it is stated, unable to endure the humiliation of this, feigned sickness, and turned over his command to General Landero, who agreed to terms of surrender. Vera Cruz, the castle, and all the munitions of war, were given up. The garrisons were permitted to retire, after laying down their arms; the officers giving their parole, for themselves and their men, not to serve during the war, until regularly exchanged. The Mexican troops were allowed to march out of the city with the honours

of war, and the civil and religious rights of the inhabitants were guarantied.

Says the Mexican account: "All was over with Vera Cruz. In vain had four or five hundred of her inhabitants perished; in vain had six hundred soldiers shed their blood, and four hundred of them been killed. The graves of those brave men were to be dishonoured by the conqueror! . . . . In vain had the city suffered the ravages of 6,700 projectiles of the weight of 463,000 pounds, thrown into it by the enemy. ... Day dawned on the 29th. At eight in the morning the artillery saluted the national flag, which was displayed at Ulloa and on the land-batteries, with the last honours which the unfortunate but gallant garrison would be able to pay to their standard. . . . The fatal hour arrived. The soldiers, in tears, divested themselves of their accoutrements; and while stacking their arms, some broke them in pieces to avoid surrendering them to the enemy. . . . The sacrifice was consummated; but the soldiers of Vera Cruz received the honour due to their valour and misfortunesthe respect of the conqueror. . . . The march having now been commenced by the road to Medellin (to avoid the insults of the volunteers, whom their chiefs could not restrain), the batteries of the square, where the arms had been surrendered, fired their salute, and, in the words of an eye-witness, 'the shores, as well as the trees and tops of the houses, became blue with people clothed in that colour, who appeared upon them, shouting, 'HURRAH!"

144. Battle of Cerro Gordo.

After the fall of Vera Cruz, General Scott began his advance toward the Mexican capital. The Mexican forces, over 13,000 strong, in order to oppose the advance of the Americans, fortified themselves at Cerro Gordo, a mountain-pass on the road to Jalapa, about sixty miles from Vera Cruz. Many of the Mexican troops were new levies, raised by compulsion, and unac

customed to the use of arms; but their commander, General Santa Anna, the president of the republic, appeared to be confident that the strength of his position and his powerful artillery would insure him success.

The Mexican fortifications were situated principally on three commanding elevations, the principal of which was Cerro Gordo, a conical hill or mountain, which towered above the heights and forests of the surrounding country. To attack these works in front seemed extremely hazardous, and would be attended with great loss of life. General Scott therefore determined to cut a passage through the thick undergrowth to the right, and operate upon the left flank of the enemy.

On the morning of the 18th of April, General Worth's division and General Pillow's brigade moved forward to attack the enemy, General Twiggs having been previously directed forward to take up a position to cut off the retreat of the Mexicans toward Jalapa. In order to cover the advance, General Twiggs was ordered to plant a battery on a steep elevation in front and near Cerro Gordo. This position was taken by Colonel Harney, who was detached for this purpose. On the following day, the battery was opened upon Cerro Gordo, and under its fire the American line commanded by Harney descended the slope into the valley with rapidity; and, although exposed to a severe fire, commenced at once the steep and rugged ascent, to storm the battery on the summit of the Cerro Gordo. The Mexicans in the fort, and in the intrenchments around and below it, poured down a continual stream of fire of musketry, which, aimed too high, passed mostly over the heads of the Americans, who at length entered the work on the summit. The struggle for its possession was of short duration. The Mexican troops tried to engage in close conflict; the commander, General Vasquez, was killed; other generals were captured, and the mass of the garrison fled down the hill for safety.

Besides the struggle at Cerro Gordo, there were other severe conflicts on the field of action. General Shields, in an attack upon a Mexican battery, received a grape