Papers of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts (Volume 13) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1913. Excerpt: ... THE BATTLES OF CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO BY BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. GORDON, U.S.V. Read before the Society March 12,188S THE BATTLES OF CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO The Mexican War, as an event in our history, has, I fear, never been remembered in the United States with unqualified satisfaction. The causes which led our powerful country to swoop down upon its small and struggling neighbor have been, especially at the North, deemed trivial, if not corrupt, and unworthy of a sister republic; so that there has been an unwillingness, a reluctance, to see anything good or praiseworthy in our Mexican campaigns. Heroism, daring, courage, pluck, most persisteut and invincible, in a bad cause scarcely receive from observer or historian that meed of praise which are their due. It is in this way that I account for the general ignorance prevailing of the details of one of the most wonderful and daring campaigns of modern times; -- a campaign to which, for the smallness of the number of invaders, the objective point in view, the obstacles in their path, the distance from their base and the hopelessness of reinforcements, I know not where to seek a parallel. Operations by our force in Mexico; those of Fre"mont and our navy on the coast of California; of Doniphan of Missouri into and through what is now called New Mexico to Chihuahua and Saltillo; of General Zachary Taylor from the Rio Grande to Agua Nueva, with his victories at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and Buena Vista; of Scott from San Juan D'Ulloa to Puebla, with his triumphs at Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo, had paved the way for the march of the American army from the city of Puebla upon the capital of the Mexican Republic. On the 7th of August, 1847, this march began. All told, and of all arms, we could count but 10,305 men. ...