[15.] One of the field batteries was Taylor’s; the other was Talcott’s howitzer and rocket battery (R. Jones to ordnance dept., Dec. 3, 1846). Steptoe’s field battery and a squadron of dragoons accompanied Patterson later. The statement regarding the artillery outfit is from Lieut. Hatch ([213]to father, Apr. 7), who went with Twiggs.
[16.] Scott has been called rash for sending his army forward and exposing it to attack piecemeal. But (1) had it all formed one column it would have been no safer against a raid from some crossroad; (2) had it been attacked in front, numbers would not have signified, and the individual superiority of the Americans as well as their superior artillery would have given them the advantage; and (3) Santa Anna, having possession of such fine defensive positions, was not likely to make a venturesome attack, especially as the battle of Buena Vista had shown how tenaciously the Americans could defend themselves. The two last points bear also upon the criticism that Santa Anna ought to have attacked Twiggs before the arrival of Pillow and Shields (see remark at the end of [note 14]). The volunteer division left Vera Cruz April 9 under Patterson. It consisted of two brigades, for Quitman’s men had not sufficient transportation, and probably needed time to recover from the effects of the Alvarado expedition. Capt. Loch, a British naval officer off Vera Cruz, was as much surprised as Scott when it was found that Santa Anna had a large force at Cerro Gordo ([12]to commodore, Apr. 9).
[17.] From the national bridge to Cerro Gordo the pavement was not in very good condition. Above the latter point stone blocks took the place of cement. In places, where these had never been laid, or had been taken up by revolutionists, or had been overlaid with stones by floods, the highway was extremely bad.
[18.] The position looked impregnable but was not, for a besieging force could easily deprive the garrison of provisions and water.
[19.] The march from Vera Cruz to Plan del Rio. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 920–2, 928 (Scott); 921 (gen. orders 94). Hartman, Journal, 10. Picayune, Dec. 9. Delta, May 15. [312]Gutiérrez to gov. Puebla, Apr. 9. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 274 (Twiggs). [217]Henshaw papers. Stapp, Prisoners of Perote, 159–60. Raleigh Star, May 5. [280]Nunelee, diary. [159]Narrative based on papers of F. Collins. [220]Higgins to Clutter, Apr. 1, 1851. Ballentine, Eng. Soldier, ii, 36–48. Davis, Autobiog., 142–4. Apuntes, 169. Ward, Mexico, i, 12; ii, 177–88. Robertson, Visit, i, 269. Ruxton, Adventures (1849), 22–5. Tudor, Tour, ii, 171–5. Bullock, Six Months (1825), i, 32–42. Orbigny, Voyage, 409–10. Robertson, Remins., 238–40, 242. Latrobe, Rambler, 297. Velasco, Geografía, iii, 28, 37, 54, 64. Lawton, Artillery Officer, 123, 132. Engineer School, U. S. Army, Occas. Papers, no. 16. [291]Pierce, diary. Journal Milit. Service Instit., v, 38 (Coppée). Bishop, Journal. [60]G. W. Smith to Stevens, Apr. 23. Hawthorne, Pierce, 78–85. Steele, Amer. Campaigns, i, 121. [185]Memo. on the route. [356]Whitcomb, diary. Carleton, address. Löwenstern, Le Mexique, 32. [236]Judah, diary. Wash. Union, May 1. Vedette, viii, no. 5. [322]Smith, diary. Norton, Life. [270]Moore, diary. [358]Williams to father, Apr. 21. [152]Claiborne, memoirs. [136]Butterfield, recolls. Revue de Paris, Dec., 1844. [66]Stevens to J. L. Smith, May 7. [66]G. W. Smith to Stevens, May 1. [65]Scott, gen. orders 91. Thompson, recolls., 11–12. Poinsett, Notes, 25–9. [335]Calendario de Ontiveros. [12]Loch to Lambert, Apr. 9. Oswandel, Notes, 108–10, 119. Semmes, Service, 162–75. [256]J. Parrott to Marcy, Apr. 19. [254]McClellan, diary. Mag. Amer. Hist., xiv, 575. Littell, no. 162, p. 546. [139]W. B. Campbell to wife, Apr. 8. Moore, Scott’s Camp. [71]Diccionario Universal (Puente Nacional).
[20.] Twiggs and his operations, Apr. 11–13. Maury, Recolls., 29. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 274 (Twiggs). [217]Henshaw papers. Trans. Ills. State Hist. Soc., 1906, p. 181. [159]Narrative based on the papers of Francis Collins. Polk, Diary, Apr. 30. [66]Tower to Twiggs, Apr. 16. [60]Scott (on Twiggs), remarks on a letter from Worth. Id.., Mems., ii, 432. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 250. Grant, Mems., i, 131. Ballentine, Eng. Soldier, ii, 25–6, 51–4. Brackett, U. S. Cavalry, 141. Davis, Autobiog., 143–6. Apuntes, 173–5. Robertson, Remins., 240. [270]Moore, diary. Lancaster Co. Hist. Soc. Mag., Mar. 6, 1908 (Nauman). Bishop, Journal. [210]Bragg to Hammond, Dec. 20, 1847; May 4, 1848. [327]Sutherland to father, Aug. —; Nov. 28, 1847. [358]Williams to father, Apr. 21. [152]Claiborne, mems. [112]Beauregard to Patterson, Apr. 20. [204]Gouverneur, diary. [66]Tower to Maj. Smith, undated. [273]Mullan, diary. Lee, Lee, 38. [139]W. B. to D. Campbell, Apr. 13. Hist. Teacher’s Mag., Apr., 1912, p. 75. Ho. 60; 30, 1; pp. 921 (gen. orders 94); 928 (Scott). So. Qtrly. Rev., Jan., 1852. [170]Crooker to father, Apr. 27. Henry, Camp. Sketches, 268. Furber, Twelve Months Vol., 331. Some may ask why Scott put a general like Twiggs forward. Twiggs had a rank and a position that had to be recognized, and his officers and men had their right to see honorable service and win distinction.
[21.] Major J. L. Smith commanded the engineer company of fifty-one men. Lee had ten of the men, and under his direction Lieut. Foster with eight had charge of building the road “located” by Lee. Lieut. Mason also worked on the road. McClellan with ten was assigned to Pillow’s command, and G. W. Smith with ten to Harney’s ([66]G. W. Smith to I. I. Stevens, Apr. 23). Tower had charge of the reconnoitring on the Mexican right.
[22.] I. I. Stevens, one of the engineer officers, [66]reporting on May 7, stated in the most distinct manner that according to this plan El Telégrafo was not to be attacked before the highway in its rear should have been occupied in strength, and that insistence upon this point constituted the essential difference between this plan and the operations previously suggested by Beauregard. Scott wrote to Marcy (Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 261) that he had intended to turn the Mexican position and attack in the rear. He clearly indicated as much in his Memoirs (ii, 432), and his orders for the battle were that Twiggs’s division, supposed to be already near the highway, should move before daybreak to occupy it, while the orders only contemplated an attack in front as likely to be made before 10 o’clock. It was well understood in the army that his plan was to bag Santa Anna’s army, and this implied—since some of the Mexicans were likely to retire early—that the way of escape must be cut off before a frontal attack should be launched. Stevens tried to reach the highway via the Mexican right, but was taken ill and had to return (Stevens, Stevens, i, 124).
[23.] Scott’s operations, Apr. 12–16. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 261 (Scott). Picayune, May 1, 2. [217]Henshaw papers. A Soldier’s Honor, 24. Trans. Ills. State Hist. Soc., 1906, p. 181. [159]Narrative based on the papers of F. Collins. Scott, Mems., ii, 432. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 250. Ballentine, Eng. Soldier, ii, 56–8. Davis, Autobiog., 144–8. Bishop, Journal. [322]Smith, diary. [112]Beauregard to Patterson, Apr. 20. [111]Stevens to J. L. Smith, May 7. [111]G. W. Smith to Stevens, Apr. 23. [111]Tower to J. L. Smith, undated. [111]Mason to J. L. Smith, Apr. 24. [65]Scott, gen. orders 105, 111. [332]Tennery, diary. McCabe, Lee, 19, note. [12]Loch to Lambert, Apr. 9. Oswandel, Notes, 113–5. Stevens, I. I. Stevens, i, 122–4. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 929 (Scott); 939 (Twiggs); 940 (Pillow).
[24.] The range had to be estimated ([322]W. B. Smith, diary), and perhaps it was not easy to rectify the estimate by seeing where the shot struck. Many of them flew much too high.