[11.] Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 385 (Scott); 471 (Childs); app., 33 (Gwynn); 34 (Morehead). [13]Thornton, no. 5, Oct. 29, 1847. National, Nov. 14. Brackett, Lane’s Brigade, 113, 117, 131. [356]Whitcomb, diary. Zirckel, Tagebuch, 102. [95]Puebla ayunt., proceedings, Aug. 31. [65]Scott, gen. orders 246, Aug. 5. [66]J. L. Smith to H. L. Scott, July 13. Scott, Mems., ii, 550. Flag of Freedom, i, nos. 1, 5. Kitchen, Record, 63–9. Lawton, Artill. Off., 278. [270]Moore, diary. Oswandel, Notes, 248, 254, 259, 265, 268, 293. S. Anna, Mi Historia, 85. Negrete, Invasión, iv, app., 313. S. Anna, Apelación, 60. Sen. 52; 30, 1, pp. 202, 206. México á través, iv, 699. [76]Comte. gen. Puebla, Sept. 18. [76]Relaciones to Guerra, Dec. 11. Moore, Scott’s Camp., 116, 214–6. [73]Lozano, no. 9, 1847. [82]Puebla congress, decree, Aug. 12. Ramsey, Other Side, 394–5. Smith, To Mexico, 171. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 517. S. Anna, Detall, 33, 35.
The cavalry were under Capt. Ford, the artillery under Capts. Kendrick and Miller, and the infantry (six companies) under Lieut. Col. Black (Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 471). Capt. Rowe, Ninth Infantry, commanded a hospital that was persistently attacked. A considerable number of the sick were able to do light duty. Some civilian employees helped. Childs had authority from Scott to organize the convalescents into companies and battalions ([65]Scott, gen. orders 246). Scott spoke of the garrison as “competent” (Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 303), and no doubt it was as nearly equal to the dangers that appeared to threaten it as was the army that advanced from Puebla. But the garrison was weaker than Scott had intended it to be, for many convalescents had represented themselves as well. Four Pennsylvania companies, Ford’s company and Miller’s company held S. José, which was a poor building for the purpose and badly placed. Guadalupe was occupied as a protection to Loreto.
Guerillas entered Puebla Aug. 12. Childs at once gave notice to the prefect that, should the people attempt to overpower the garrison, “the City would probably suffer” from his artillery ([69]Aug. 12). The first attack upon the Americans gave the guerillas about 700 mules and some other property. The next day some fifty armed teamsters and others went against the guerillas, and only fifteen of them returned. The authorities of the city were disgusted with the operations of the guerillas. About the first of September, by order of the state congress, the National Guards moved to help recover the city from the Americans, but the orders given them seemed to show little determination to coöperate with Rea or fight in earnest, and hence many became disheartened and deserted ([82]Ochoterena). Typhoid fever broke out among the American sick and carried off many (Moore, Scott’s Camps., 218). News of the capture of Mexico was brought in by a courier disguised as a lépero. S. Cristóbal was on the road from Mexico to Puebla via Apam, which Santa Anna chose to take. Alvarez went via S. Martin.
[12.] Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 471 (Childs); app., 28 (Black); 34 (Morehead). Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 1029 (S. Anna); 1030 (Childs). Ramsey, Other Side, 396. Brackett, Lane’s Brigade, 113, 117. Moore, Scott’s Camp., 218, 223–4. Rodríguez, Breve Reseña, 1848. [95]Puebla prefect to ayunt., Sept. 17. [95]Rea to prefect, Sept. 23. Negrete, Invasión, iv, app., 314. Flag of Freedom, i, nos. 1, 5. [270]Moore, diary. [76]S. Anna to Guerra, Sept. 23, 30. Gamboa, Impug., 60. S. Anna, Detall, 35–6.
[13.] Negrete, Invasión, iii, app., 460; iv, app., 295. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 347. Flag of Freedom, i, no. 3. Lawton, Artill. Officer, 324. Brackett, Lane’s Brigade, 71, 80, 101. [152]Claiborne, mems. [76]Isunza to Relaciones, Oct. 12. [76]S. Anna, Sept. 30; Oct. 4. México á través, iv, 699. [82]J. A. Ochotorena, Oct. —. [82]S. Anna to gov. Puebla, Oct. 6. [82]P. M. Herrera to Puebla sec. state, Oct. 7. [82]Id.., diary. Zirckel, Tagebuch, 50, 53, 61–2. [61]Taylor, order, Aug. 16. Apuntes, 347–8. [321]Smith, diary. [327]Sutherland to father, undated. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 477 (Lane). Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 1030 (Lane); 1198 (Taylor). [246]Lane, Autobiog. Rosa, Impresiones. Semmes, Service, 234. Hartman, Journal, 14–5. Smith, To Mexico, 161. S. Anna, Detall, 36. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 519.
From Perote, hearing that large Mexican forces were in his front, Lane took four companies of the First Pennsylvania, Walker’s company of Mounted Riflemen, some convalescents and three guns under Taylor (Third Artillery). Wynkoop of the First Pennsylvania commanded these men. Before long they returned to Perote. Santa Anna reported that he took from Puebla 3500 men. His worst trouble was with his Puebla National Guards, who thought the expedition was a treasonable scheme of his to get them away from Puebla. On finding his command melting away, he sent all but about 1000 cavalry back to Puebla under Alvarez. From Puebla Alvarez retired to Atlixco and thence to the south. Later he took possession of Cuernavaca in the state of México.
[14.] The Huamantla affair. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1031 (Lane). Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 477 (Lane). Apuntes, 348. Perry, Indiana, 234. (“Peg-Leg”) [166]Pommarès to Conner, Aug. 4, 1846. Norton, Life, 154, 157. Brackett, Lane’s Brigade, 88–94. [129]Id.., diary. Zirckel, Tagebuch, 96–8, 155. Flag of Freedom, Oct. 23; 24, extra; 27. Negrete, Invasión, iii, app., 460–3; iv, app., 315–6. Correo Nacional, Mar. 30, 1848. S. Anna, Apelación, 65. [222]Hiney, diary. Grone, Briefe, 65–7. [152]Claiborne, mems. Gamboa, Impug., 61. [147]Chamberlain, diary. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 519. S. Anna, Detall, 37. Besides losing Walker, Lane had 23 men wounded (Ho. 24; 31, 1).
Lane was born in 1814. For a time he was a trader at Lawrenceburg, Indiana; and then he studied law in the manner of that time and region. He was not a man of much education. He meant thoroughly well in a rough way, but was rather careless about discipline. His men realized that he did not look out for their comfort or husband their strength, but admired his courage, energy and shrewd planning so much that they forgave him. He was called the Marion of the war.
To guard his baggage, etc., Lane left at the hacienda the Fourth Ohio (Col. Brough), three regular companies under Capt. Simmons, and Lieut. Pratt (Second Art.) with two guns. Walker had his own company of Mounted Riflemen, two companies of Louisiana cavalry, and one company of Georgia cavalry (Brackett, Lane’s Brig., 89). Lane had, in the following order, the Fourth Indiana (Col. Gorman), four Pennsylvania companies (Col. Wynkoop), five guns (Capt. Taylor), a battalion of the Ninth Infantry (Maj. Lally) and six companies of regulars (Capt. Heintzelman). Santa Anna, hearing that a few Americans were on their way to Huamantla, sent a party of Puebla mounted police to protect the town. Evidently this was the party that Walker saw approaching it.
Much was written about this fight. It was said that Walker was ordered not to advance beyond supporting distance; that he was authorized to act according to circumstances; that he dashed ahead because he received word that the Mexican guns were being taken away, etc.; but Lane reported that he ordered Walker to move ahead (“within supporting distance”) and, should the Mexicans be found in force, to wait for the infantry (Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 477). He reached the town about forty-five minutes before the infantry did. Santa Anna was repulsed by the Fourth Indiana. In spite of Lane, much plundering was done by the victors, in whose defence it was urged that citizens fired from the houses. Though Walker captured two guns, he had no priming tubes, and therefore could make little, if any, use of them. Lane’s loss was about twenty-five killed and wounded. Santa Anna reported two killed, seven wounded, and a number missing, but his loss was estimated by Americans at 100.