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a useless effusion of blood, and, more than all, its women and children from the inevitable horrors of a triumphant assault. The governor replied, that city and castle were defended at all points, and that the American general might commence his operations in manner and form, as he pleased. The naval force designed to coöperate in the bombardment was far greater than had ever been sent into action by the United States government.

On receiving this refusal of the governor to surrender the city, seven mortars in battery were opened upon the city, which soon after were increased to ten, and, about the same time, two steamers and five schooners opened a brisk fire, which continued with intermissions up to nine o'clock on the following morning. On the 24th, at daylight, a naval battery, of three thirty-two pounders and three eight-inch Paixhan guns, which the previous day had been transported from the navy, with incredible difficulty, a distance of three miles, over a sandy and difficult route, to a commanding height within seven hundred yards of the city, was prepared to open its terrible fire upon the unsuspecting place. The destruction caused by these guns was tremendous. During the whole of the 24th and 25th, the bombardment was continued, with few intermissions; and during the same period, both from the castle and the city, the Mexicans returned the firebut with comparatively little loss on the side of the Americans.

Early on the morning of the 26th, the work of destruction having been completed, the governor offered to surrender the city and castle into the hands of the American general. By the terms of capitulation, the garrisons were to be surrendered as prisoners of war, and all the materiel of war, and all public property, were to belong to the United States. The four thousand troops belonging to the Mexican army, were dismissed upon their parole of honor. Not less than six thousand seven hundred shot and shells were thrown from the American batteries during the bombardment-weighing, in the aggregate, more than four hundred thousand pounds. Some estimate may be formed by the reader, of the destruction which must have been caused, when he learns that three thousand ten-inch shells were thrown, each one of which weighed ninety pounds, and one thousand Paixhan shot, of sixty-eight pounds weight.

On entering the city, the American officers were met with the sad and sickening sight of roofs crushed, walls demolished, buildings razed.

"No power of language," observes a writer, can portray the suf ferings, agony, despair, and helpless misery, which the inhabitants of Vera Cruz had endured for five days and nights previous to the cessation of hostilities. Night and day, during that time, they had

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endured an incessant shower of heavy shells, which, falling in every part of the city, crushed roof and walls in their terrible descent, and, at length, burst with terrific violence, tearing every thing into fragments, and striking terror and despair into every heart. To all this, the naval battery added its awful fire, crushing their last hope of safety and escape. The number of killed and wounded will,

perhaps, never be known to us, but it must have been very great; though, in all such cases, the soldiers suffered less than the women and children."

Thus fell under the power of the Americans, a city of great importance to the Mexicans, and a castle of far greater importance, justly denominated, from the strength of its walls, from the number of its guns, and from its isolated position, the "Gibraltar of America." Great credit is accorded to General Scott, for the scientific manner in which the siege was planned and conducted. The American loss was small, amounting to but sixty-five men, and but few officers; embracing, however, in the latter, Captain John R. Vinton, who had highly distinguished himself in the brilliant operations of Monterey.

Such military achievements reflect the highest honor upon those who conduct them; but who, after all, in view of the carnage caused, and the misery consequent thereupon, can avoid adopting the language of the humane, and yet heroic Taylor, in his letter to a great American statesman, sympathizing with him on the loss of a son"I feel no exultation in our success!"

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The rejoicing consequent upon the capture of Vera Cruz, and the successful bombardment of the important adjoining fortress of San Juan d'Ulloa, were scarcely over, when came the news of another brilliant triumph of our arms, and of the victorious progress of our legions toward the "Halls of the Montezumas." On the 18th of April, the gallant commander-in-chief, General Scott, encountered the enemy, fifteen thousand strong, under the personal command of Santa Anna, at Sierra Garda or Cerro Gordo, as it is otherwise spelt, a

mountain pass on the road to Jalapa, about sixty miles from Vera Cruz.

The road from Vera Cruz, as it passes the Plan del Rio, which is a wide rocky bed of a once large stream, is commanded by a series of high cliffs rising one above the other, and extending several miles, all of which were well fortified. A front attack of these forts must have terminated, it was apparent, in an annihilation of the American army. Such a mode of attack, however, was expected by the enemy; but, the skillful eye of General Scott perceived that, by cutting a road to the right, the position of the enemy might be turned on the left flank. This movement was made known to the enemy by a deserter from our camp, upon which a large force, under General La Vega, was sent to the forts on their left. In order, however, to cover his flank movements, General Scott, on the 17th of April, ordered General Twiggs to attack the fort on the steep ascent in front, and a little to the left of the Cerro. Fortunately, this position was carried by Colonel Harney, detached by General Twiggs for that purpose. This position having thus been secured, with incredible labor one of the large guns was elevated to the top of the fort, in order to follow up the advantage which had been gained.

On the following day, General Twiggs was ordered forward from the position he had already captured, against the principal fort, which commanded the Cerro. At the same time, an attack was made on the fortifications on the enemy's left, by the divisions of Generals Shields and Worth, which moved in separate columns, while General Pillow was ordered to advance against the strong forts and difficult ascents on the right. Aware of these intended movements of General Scott, large bodies of the enemy had been thrown into various positions to be attacked. The most important and serious enterprise was that of General Twiggs, who advanced against the main fort commanding the Cerro. The undertaking was difficult and hazardous. The ascent was steep and rough. The forts and batteries of the enemy poured forth a constant and galling fire. The steepness of the ascent furnished the only shelter. But the American soldiers sought no shelter, and, as usual, feared no danger. Led on by the gallant Harney, whose voice was heard amidst the thunder of the cannon, and whose arm was seen waving to his men to rush on to the charge, they paused not, but, leaping from one rocky barrier to another, they at length reached the fort, from which the enemy was soon compelled to retire. It was here the enemy received their heaviest loss, and their general, Vasquez, was killed.

Shortly after, the force under General Worth, with incredible effoft, passed the steep and craggy heights on the enemy's left, and

summoned a strong fort, in the rear of the Cerro, to surrender. This fort was manned by a large force under General Pinson, a mulatto officer of considerable ability and courage, who, seeing the Cerro carried, thought proper to surrender, which he did, with all his force.

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General Shields was less fortunate. In the battery which he attacked, and which was commanded by General La Vega, a heavy fire was opened upon him, under which the fort was indeed carried, but with considerable loss. The gallant general himself here received a grapeshot through his lungs, which at the time, and for some time after, was thought would prove mortal. On the enemy's right, General Pillow commenced an attack upon the strong forts near the river, but was at length obliged to withdraw his men to save them from a heavy fire from a masked battery. As he was preparing, however, for another attack, the enemy concluded to surrender. The victory was complete. Three thousand of the enemy were taken prisoners, with the usual proportion of field and company officers, besides five generals, several of them of great distinction. These were Pinson, Jarrero, La Vega, Noriega and Obando. The force of General Scott was about eight thousand, General Quitman's brigade not having arrived in time to take part in the engagement. General Ampudia was second in command of the Mexicans, and superintended the operations of the enemy.

When the Cerro was carried, he was seen retreating on a fine white. charger, his hat falling off, as he galloped away. Our army captured about thirty pieces of beautiful brass cannon of large calibre, and

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