[45] On the advance of Scott’s army from Vera Cruz, Twiggs led the way, followed a day later by Patterson, and five days later still by Worth. J. B. McMaster, History of the People of the United States, Vol. VII, page 507.
[46] Simon B. Buckner was born in Kentucky on April 1, 1823, and died January 8, 1914. He graduated from West Point in 1844. During the Civil War he was first a brigadier general, and later a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army. He stood by his troops and surrendered Fort Donelson to General Grant on February 16, 1862. After the war he became Governor of Kentucky and was the candidate for Vice-President on the Gold Democratic ticket in 1896.
[47] About sixty miles from Vera Cruz, and about thirty from Jalapa. J. S. Jenkins, History of the War with Mexico, page 270.
[48] General Pillow’s brigade consisted of four regiments of infantry,—1st Tennessee (Colonel Campbell), 2nd Tennessee (Colonel Haskell), 1st Pennsylvania (Colonel Wynkoop) and 2nd Pennsylvania (Colonel Roberts); also a detachment of Tennessee Horse and a company of Kentucky Volunteers under Captain Williams. R. Semmes, Service Afloat and Ashore, page 179.
[49] “The Cerro Gordo, or Big Hill, called by the Mexicans in their dispatches, El Telegrafo, is an immense hill, of a conical form, rising to the height of near a thousand feet. It stands ... at the head of the pass, to which it gives its name, and formed the extreme left (our right) of the fortifications of the enemy.” Semmes, op. cit., pages 176-177.
[50] He commanded the 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers.
[51] He commanded the 2nd Tennessee Volunteers.
[52] James Shields was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1810. After the Mexican War he was United States Senator (Democrat) from Illinois during the years 1849-1855, and from Minnesota in 1858-1859. He was one of the “political generals” in the Union Army who were decisively defeated by “Stonewall” Jackson during the celebrated “Valley Campaign” of May and June, 1862. Shields died in Ottumwa, Iowa, on June 1, 1879.
[53] The American forces present at the battle of Cerro Gordo, both in action and in reserve, were about 8,500 men. The Mexicans were estimated at 12,000 or more. The American losses in the two days fighting were 33 officers and 398 men, a total of 431, of whom 63 were killed. The enemy losses were estimated at 1,000 to 1,200, in addition to five generals and 3,000 men who were captured. General Scott’s official report dated “Jalapa, April 23, 1847” (Senate Docs. 30th Congress, 1st Session, No. 1, pages 263-264).
[54] The City of Mexico was surrendered to General Scott’s victorious army on September 14, 1847.