command amounted to 4,049 effective men, of which about 1500 were dragoons and artillery.

At about the same time Captain Stockton was ordered with a squadron nto the Gulf of Mexico, and both nations thus stood ready, if not prepared, for war. It must, however, be mentioned that in the autumn, but after General Taylor's army had assembled at Corpus Christi, the president directed Mr. Black, our consul at Mexico, to inquire of the Mexican government whether they would receive an envoy "entrusted with full powers to adjust all the questions in dispute between the two governments." To this a favourable answer was returned, "provided the mission was frank and free, without the appearance of coercion, and that the American squadron, then hovering off Vera Cruz, was recalled."

In accordance with this arrangement Mr. John Slidell was appointed special envoy to Mexico, and arrived at Sacrificios on the 20th of November, whence he hastened on toward the city of Mexico. At Puebla, how、 ever, he was met by Mr. Black, who informed him that the Mexican government did not dare to entertain peace propositions just then, lest the irritation of the people would overturn the government and render peace impossible. It was hoped that, by January, arrangements could be com pleted for commencing negotiations. Disregarding these intimations, Mr Slidell proceeded at once to the city of Mexico; and after the interchange of a few brief and peremptory notes, he received, on the 20th of December-twelve days after the date of his first note-official notice that the Mexican government could not admit him "to the exercise of the func tions of the mission conferred on him by the government of the United States."

It seems that the Mexican government had judged rightly in supposing that any appearance of negotiation would be seized upon as the pretext for its own destruction. On the 29th of December, only nine days after the dismissal of Mr. Slidell, the anticipated revolution broke out; and on the 2d of January, 1846, Herrera was overthrown, and Paredes ushered in triumph into the city of Mexico, and declared president. He imme diately proceeded to organize a government on the basis of the war spirit, which burned so fiercely in Mexico, and made Almonte a leading member of his cabinet.

In the month of March, Mr. Slidell, who had retired to Jalapa, renewed, under instructions from the State Department, his overtures to the Mexican government. To this new proposition the Mexican minister for foreign affairs, Mr. Costillo Y. Lanzas, again returned an unequivocal denial; repeating what had been stated as the chief ground of his first rejection, that his government would admit "only a plenipotentiary from the United States clothed with special powers to treat upon the question of Texas, and upon this alone." In a few days afterward, Mr. Slidell received his passports, and thus the door to negotiation was finally closed.

On the 8th of March, the advance column of the army under Colonel Twiggs commenced its march from Corpus Christi, and on the 18th, the whole was concentrated near the banks of the Arroya Colorado, about thirty miles from Matamoras. Here a party of irregular Mexican cavalry (rancheros) appeared on the opposite banks, and signified to the officer making a reconnaissance, that an attempt to pass the river would be an act of hostility. Notwithstanding this notice, the army crossed the river on the 20th, and on the 25th established its position at Point Isabel; the buildings of which the Mexican prefect attempted to burn, as he left the place. On the 28th of March, General Taylor took his position within cannon range of Matamoras. The Mexican forces in the town commenced preparing batteries to bear on the American camp; and General Taylor also erected batteries to command Matamoras. Such was the position

of the parties, when a conference was held between Generals Worth and La Vega, as to the objects in advancing the army. The conference was fruitless of any results.

On the 24th of April, General Arista assumed the chief command of the army of Mexico. On the same day General Taylor detached a party of 63 dragoons to watch the course of the river above Matamoras. This party, under the command of Captain Thornton, were watched by the Mexicans, and at a point about thirty miles from the American camp, were surprised and attacked. After the loss of sixteen men killed and wounded, they were compelled to surrender to the superior forces of the Mexicans, who in large numbers had surrounded them in a fenced plan tation field.

Three days after this affair, the camp of Captain Walker's Texa Rangers was surprised, and several killed and wounded. This was between Point Isabel and Matamoras. In the meanwhile, it was ascertained that a large body of the Mexican army had crossed the Rio Grande above, and that another corps was about to cross below. General Taylor was convinced that the object of attack was Point Isabel, which had been left in care of a small detachment, and where a large depot of provisions invited the enemy. Leaving an unfinished field-work, under the command of Major Brown, and garrisoned by the 7th infantry, with Lowd's and Bragg's companies of artillery, he marched for Point Isabel on the 1st of May, with his main force, and arrived on the next day.

The departure of General Taylor with his army, furnished the enemy in Matamoras with the opportunity of a safe attack on Fort Brown. At five in the morning of the 3d of May, a heavy bombardment was com menced from the batteries in Matamoras, and continued at intervals til the 10th, when the gallant defenders of the fort were relieved, and the siege raised, by the arrival of General Taylor and his victorious army, fresh from the fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palina. It appears that Arista had proceeded toward Point Isabel with the whole of his forces, numbering about eight thousand men; but the celerity of Taylor's movements enabled him to arrive there first, and Arista's plan was abandoned.

Having garrisoned the depot at Point Isabel with new troops, and put everything there in proper order, General Taylor commenced his return march to Fort Brown on the 7th of May. The next day at noon, the Mexican army was encountered, drawn up in battle array, on a prairie about three miles from Palo Alto. A halt was ordered; the troops refreshed at a pool; and at two o'clock the American army advanced to the charge, and the battle was waged with unintermitting ardour until nightfall, when the Mexicans were forced to retire-their superior numbers yielding before the profound coolness and fatal skill of our troopsand General Taylor encamped upon the field of battle.

In this opening engagement of the Mexican campaign, the artillery vindicated its claim to being considered one of the most important and indispensable arms of the American service. One of its most beloved and brilliant ornaments-Major Ringgold-was mortally wounded in this battle, and died in a few days afterward.

During the night, the Mexican general retreated his forces to Resaca de la Palma, several miles distant; where, behind a ravine which crossed the road, which was skirted with dense thickets, he awaited once more the approach of the American forces. At two o'clock the next day, General Taylor resumed his march, and in about two hours came in sight of the Mexicans. The enemy commenced the action with his artillery, which was so well served, under Generals La Vega and Requena, that Captain May was despatched to dislodge them-a duty which he performed with the most brilliant success; completely dispersing the artillery, and taking

General La Vega himself prisoner. Our infantry now pushed forward, and charged the Mexican lines with so much vigour, that they were soon forced to give way, and the battle was ended-the Mexicans at length flying from the field, and never stopping till they had either crossed the Rio Grande, or were drowned in its waters.

In these two engagements General Taylor displayed, in a high degree, those traits of coolness and bravery which have made his name so famous, and rendered him the idol of the army. His humanity was also as distinguished, after the battle, as his courage and activity had been while the contest lasted. His official report shows also that his modesty was at least the equal of his gallantry and his humanity.

We insert the report:

Headquarters Army of Occupation, Camp at Palo Alto, Texas, May 9, 1846. SIR,-I have the honour to report that I was met near this place yesterday, on my march from Point Isabel, by the Mexican forces, and after an action of about five hours, dislodged them from their position, and encamped upon the field. Our artillery, consisting of two 18-pounders and two light batteries, was the arm chiefly engaged, and to the excellent manner in which it was manoeuvred and served is our success mainly due.

The strength of the enemy is believed to have been about six thousand men, with seven pieces of artillery, and eight hundred cavalry. His loss is probably at least one hundred killed. Our strength did not exceed, all told, twenty-three hundred, while our loss was comparatively trifling-four men killed, three officers and thirtyseven men wounded, several of the latter mortally. I regret to say that Major Ringgold, 3d artillery, and Captain Paige, 4th infantry, are severely wounded. Lieut. Luther, 2d artillery, slightly so.

The enemy has fallen back, and it is believed has repassed the river. I have advanced parties now thrown forward in his direction, and shall move the main body immediately.

In the haste of this first report, I can only say that the officers and men behaved in the most admirable manner throughout the action. I shall have the pleasure of making a more detailed report when those of the different commanders shall be received.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Z. TAYLOR,

Brevet Brigadier-general U. S. A. Commanding.

Headquarters Army of Occupation,

Camp at Resaca, de la Palma, 3 miles from Matamoras,

10 o'clock, P.M.-May 9, 1846.

SIF, I have the honor to report that I marched with the main body of the army. at two o'clock to-day, having previously thrown forward a body of light infantry into the forest, which covers the Matamoras road. When near the spot where I am now encamped, my advance discovered that a ravine crossing the road had been occupied by the enemy with artillery. I immediately ordered a battery of field artillery to sweep the position, flanking and sustaining it by the 3d, 4th, and 3th regiments, deployed as skirmishers to the right and left. A heavy fire of artillery and of musketry was kept up for some time, until finally the enemy's batteries were carried in succession by a squadron of dragoons and the regiments of infantry that were on the ground. He was soon driven from his position, and pur sued by a squadron of dragoons, battalion of artillery, 3d infantry, and a light battery, to the river. Our victory has been complete. Eight pieces of artillery, with a great quantity of ammunition, three standards, and some one hundred prisoners have been taken; among the latter, General La Vega, and several other officers. One general is understood to have been killed. The enemy has recrossed the river, and I am sure will not again molest us on this bank.

The loss of the enemy in killed has been most severe. Our own has been very heavy, and I deeply regret to report that Lieut. Inge, 2d dragoons, Lieut Cochrane, 4th infantry, and Lieut. Chadbourne, 8th infantry, were killed on the field Lieut.-col. Payne, 4th artillery, Lieut.-col. McIntosh, Lieut. Dobbins, 3d infantry Capt. Hooe and Lieut. Fowler, 5th infantry, and Capt. Montgomery, Lieuts. Gates Selden, McClay, Burbank, and Jordan, 8th infantry, were wounded. The extoni