Mexican Army

“ As our men pressed on they encountered, at every step, appeals to their humanity, from the famished and thirsty remnants of the Mexican army whose wounds did not permit them to advance with their compatriots; but it may be recorded to the honor of the troops, that our maimed enemies were in no instance left without succor, and that officers and men vied with each other in relieving their wants and despatching them to our hospitals. ”

“ THE Mexican army is to-day, stronger in actual numbers than that of the United States, and in spite of the prevailing stringency in the treasury, tolerably well paid, and in a good state of discipline and efficiency. ”

“ These were the remnants of the troops that had been stationed at the capital. It may be said that the organization of the Mexican army differed but very little from the European, namely, light and heavy infantry, light cavalry and dragoons, engineers, and field and siege artillery, with the corresponding staff, including the medical, pay, commissary, and other necessary departments. Besides the regular army, the republic had active and reserve militia, and a number of companies intended specially for guarding against Indian raids. ”

“ The Mexicans, though beaten so often, did not lose their spirits. Their great general, Santa Anna, soon collected an army of more than twenty thousand men, and advanced towards Monterey. Now General Taylor’s army was much reduced in numbers, and the most of his troops were volunteers, who had never been in battle. But he resolved to await the attack of the great Mexican army at a place called Buena Vista. On the 22d of February, Santa Anna appeared and attacked the Americans ”

“ It seems the Mexican officers have a very simple and clever technique of waging war on civilians of the United States. The officers themselves rob civilians of revolvers. This enables the next mob of death-shouting Mexicans to put words into deeds without the slightest risk of being hurt. Of course the Mexican army cannot be held responsible for all the actions and the murders committed by such mobs. Also, officers are richer by the number of weapons they accumulate from fleeing Americans. ”

“ Many of the frontier settlements of Mexico are yet in the condition of that Western colony which hung a tinker for an offence of the blacksmith,—because there were two tinkers in town and but one son of Vulcan. Policy plays a most important part in the decisions of justice; and hence it is that the Mexican army is full of red-handed murderers, who have only escaped being shot by shouldering muskets and becoming themselves defenders of the laws. ”

“ Several hundred wounded Mexicans were found in Matamoras, and a quantity of military stores, which had been secreted by the enemy before leaving the city. Lieutenant Colonel Garland was dispatched with a body of cavalry, upon the road taken by the Mexican army, with orders to harass their rear. ”

“ Who is to command the Mexican army in the next battle we do not know, nor do we care, but surely Gen. Santa Anna cannot face us without a blush of shame. I have seen the elephant, but if there is any more to be seen of him and work done, we will put our shoulders to the wheel and push until the work is thoroughly completed. Although many of our soldiers have left dependent and anxious wives and children and friends far behind, and if there is another battle to be fought we will go man to man, breast to breast, rather than yield one inch of ground. ”

“ They are now arriving as fast as the soldiers can be sent forward. We have made all necessary preparations to march on to the halls of Montezumas. The whole army has been drilling almost every day, and also recruiting in strength. We now have orders to march on to the city of Mexico tomorrow or next day. We have been informed that the Mexicans have strongly fortified it, and their boast is, "That they not only intend to give us a warm reception, but to defeat our army and cut it up into fragments." ”

“ The battle was chiefly fought with the artillery. But at one time, about one thousand Mexican lancers moved forward to attack the Americans. This splendid looking body of cavalry, however, was driven back by the dreadful fire from the American guns, and the whole Mexican army retreated. General Taylor and his brave soldiers slept upon the field of battle. ”

“ In the afternoon one of our spies came in out of the city, stating that the Mexican army is now laying out at the papermill, which is about four miles out of the city, with four pieces of artillery, and are making every preparation they can to make an attack on us. But he could not tell when the attack is to be made. We, of course, don't care when they make the attack, for we will be ready for them most any time; in fact we would like to have a good little fight to enliven us up a little. ”

“ The Mexican army was characterized by many of the necessary qualities of good soldiery. Patient and suffering, requiring but little subsistence, with great capacity for enduring fatigue, and with enough physical courage to enable them to encounter danger without fear, the Mexican soldiers when properly led compared well with the troops of other nations. ”

“ As Mexican troops are rather political engines, designed for the domestic police of cities, than for actual service in the field, the soldier is more of a plaything than a tool or weapon. Vague, ideal notions of Roman patriotism, are infused into his mind by the demagogues of the army in bombastic proclamations, and he imagines it better to perish than surrender to his foe. ”

“ I have no doubt the people will say this was a gallant little army, and, as I stated before, and will repeat it again, that history has for more than two thousand years preserved the memory of the ten thousand Greeks who effected their retreat from Persia, without fighting a single battle; let our people not altogether forget the ten thousand American soldiers who landed at Vera Cruz, the victorious and triumphant march to the capital of Mexico, and which never retreated an inch. ”

“ Many interesting incidents and some spirited battles have occurred at this military post, between the Mexicans and Texans, in which Santa Anna acted a prominent part; but we must not tarry to describe them here. The army now was no longer called "army of observation;" but the "army of occupation." In August the aspect of affairs began to be menacing, and it was expected that Mexico would soon declare war. General Arista, was at Monterey with a considerable Mexican force, and there was another at Matamoras. In the mean time new companies from the United States occasionally arrived. ”

“ With the reinforcements, the arrival of which has been mentioned, the army at Vera Cruz and Mexico, and the intermediate points, numbered near 30,000 men, of whom about 20,000 were effective. The main column, under the General-in-chief, was increased to not far from 15,000; but, as the Mexican authorities manifested a disposition to treat for peace, he determined not to continue his offensive operations, although his troops were constantly drilled, and every preparation made to fit them for taking the field. ”

“ Within seven days they became soldiers.
Not all of the peons who join the national army are patriotic, a fact which causes considerable trouble in the country districts. Sometimes, after the ex-rebels have been with the government forces long enough to get new rifles and several rounds of ammunition, they trek to the mountains to be welcomed by their old chief with a handshake and an enthusiastic hug, the customary cordial greeting between Mexican friends. ”

“ It was found that the Mexican army precipitately left the city and the authorities invited General Taylor to take possession. The battlefield of Resaca de la Palma presented a sad spectacle—such vast numbers of the slain and now the hospitals were filled with the wounded! Near one poor wounded man, sat a beautiful girl of seventeen keeping off the flies. She was his wife. There the mother and her children were seated by the wounded father. Colonel Twiggs was appointed to the chief command of the city.
Colonel Garland was sent out with two companies on the 19th to follow the enemy. ”

“ The American army shall not, by violence, obstruct me passage from the open country into the city of Mexico, of the ordinary supplies of food necessary to the consumption of its inhabitants, or the Mexican army within the city; nor shall the Mexican authorities, civil or military, do any act to obstruct the passage of supplies from the city or country, needed by the American army. ”

“ Santa Anna's army in their threatening and determination to push the war on. We are also anxiously awaiting for the word of command to go forward and meet the Mexicans wherever and whenever it suits them to give us battle. The sooner we get orders to march toward their much boasted and admired capital of Mexico, the better we will be satisfied, for our men would sooner fight the enemy than be lying here in this camp of misery. ”

“ Thus I have not the least doubt that in less than three months we will have an army from twenty-five to thirty thousand men, and that every place of any size and importance will be garrisoned throughout the entire country, as they are now between this city and Vera Cruz. And as far as the fighting, I believe it is all over. The Mexicans, I think, will never make another stand against our army, but confine their operations against any small detachment, or in attacking the trains in the rear, which may happen to be on the road. ”

“ March 28th, the army moved towards Matamoras, which is on the Rio Grande, arriving opposite the city about 11 A. M. Two of our advanced guard were taken prisoners by the Mexicans, and the horse of a boy who was a bugler; which excited our men considerably. About two hundred Mexicans were to be seen and their colours flying in various places. General Worth was ordered to answer the deputation which visited Gen. Taylor at Point Isabel. The Mexicans for some time would not send a boat across the river: but at last one came with an officer. ”

“ This kind of warfare is looked upon by all civilized people as an outrage on humanity. It seems that everytime the regular army of Mexico gets defeated and routed by our forces, one or more of the Mexican leaders will commence this mode of warefare. Ah! it will be the most sorrowful time that Mexico has ever known, and devastation and dismay will overspread the land if this kind of warfare is allowed to go on. It would have been our duty to massacre the five thousand prisoners taken at Vera Cruz, and the three thousand or more taken at the battle of Cerro Gordo ”

“ Their general plan of operations was to seize and occupy the coveted territories as "indemnity for the expenses of war," while an army invading the heart of Mexico should force an agreement to terms of peace.
In pursuance of this plan, an American squadron appeared before the fort of Monterey, on the Pacific, in Alta California, on the 7th of July, two months after the first shots of warfare on the Rio Grande. This Monterey must not be confounded with the other Mexican town of the same name. The Mexicans evacuated the place with the few soldiers who constituted the garrison. ”

“ We started from the bottom and built new to the top. Volunteers and militia found no grizzled veterans to show them what to do, or to set the pace for obedience and efficiency. Throughout the Mexican War our regulars not only bore the brunt of fighting, and sustained the heaviest losses, but they furnished able commanders to the militia and to the volunteers, holding up magnificent examples of skill, fortitude and courage.
After the Mexican War Congress immediately reduced the army from 30,890 men to 10,320. ”

“ With all this I have seen as brave stands made by some of these men as I have ever seen made by soldiers. Now Mexico has a standing army larger than that of the United States. They have a military school modelled after West Point. Their officers are educated and, no doubt, generally brave. The Mexican war of 1846-8 would be an impossibility in this generation.
The Mexicans have shown a patriotism which it would be well if we would imitate in part, but with more regard to truth. They celebrate the anniversaries of Chapultepec and Molino del Rey as of very great victories. ”

“ The men engaged in the Mexican war were brave, and the officers of the regular army, from highest to lowest, were educated in their profession. A more efficient army for its number and armament, I do not believe ever fought a battle than the one commanded by General Taylor in his first two engagements on Mexican—or Texan soil.
The presence of United States troops on the edge of the disputed territory furthest from the Mexican settlements, was not sufficient to provoke hostilities. We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that Mexico should commence it. ”

“ The Mexican government immediately commenced making preparations for war. Loans were obtained, arms and supplies provided for the army, and its numerical force augmented; and on the 4th of April, positive orders were issued to the officers commanding on the northern frontier, to attack the American troops. The march of the American army from Corpus Christi, was not obstructed by the Mexicans. Small armed parties were occasionally seen in the distance, who disappeared on the approach of the advancing columns of General Taylor's force. ”

“ A Mexican army in the field was an extremely gallant sight; the leaders and most distinguished fighters were brilliant in ornaments of gold and the feathers of tropical birds and embroidered tunics. Military insignia existed in great variety, each individual wore every decoration to which he was entitled, and the regimental and tribal standards of elaborate feather-work made a brave show. 'The Mexican standards consisted of an eagle and a jaguar; that of Tlaxcala was a white heron with outspread wings, and the four Tlaxcalan provinces had each their own badges, Tepeticpac, a wolf with arrows ”