[15.] Brackett, Lane’s Brigade, 108. [356]Whitcomb, diary. Perry, Indiana, 253. Zirckel, Tagebuch, 103. [76]Scott to Childs, Sept. 16. Negrete Invasión, iii, app., 460. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 347. Flag of Freedom, i, no. 5. Oswandel, Notes, 339–41. [76]Alvarez, Oct. 13. [76]Rea to Alvarez, Oct. 13. Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 471 (Childs); 476 (Lane). (“Rough paw”) [335]Trist to wife, Mar. 14, 1848.
Santa Anna overtook Lane at El Pinal, but admitted that the Americans marched so cautiously that he could accomplish nothing. The loss of the garrison, Sept. 13 to Oct. 12, was fifteen killed, thirty-seven wounded (Ho. 24; 31, 1). The loss of the Mexicans was estimated by Americans at 300–500.
[16.] Diccionario Universal (Atlixco). México á través, iv, 662, 702. Calderón, Life, ii, 93. Zirckel, Tagebuch, 112. [76]G. Rodríguez, Oct. 14. [76]Rea, Oct. 24. [356]Whitcomb, diary. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 479 (Lane).
[17.] Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 479 (Lane). Ho. 1; 30, 2, pp. 75–6 (Marcy, report). Grone, Briefe, 69. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 522–3. Brackett, Lane’s Brigade, 146, 149–51, 164. Zirckel, Tagebuch, 110–3. Flag of Freedom, i, nos. 1, 3. [76]Alvarez, Dec. 14. [76]Rea, Oct. 24, 1847; Feb. 10, 1848. [76]Memo. to head of plana mayor, Feb. 19, 1848. 61Dumont to Lane, Nov. 15. [307]Roberts to Iowa State Hist. Soc., Dec. 14, 1863.
Lane had the Fourth Ohio, Fourth Indiana, Lally’s and Heintzelman’s battalions, Wynkoop’s four Pennsylvania companies, Taylor’s (3) and Pratt’s (2) guns, and a squadron of the Third Dragoons (Capt. Ford) on the Atlixco expedition. When he entered the town the city authorities met him, surrendered, and asked protection. Lane had one killed and one wounded; the Mexicans admitted a loss of 219 killed and 300 wounded. On his way back to Puebla Lane turned off with 450 men to Guexocingo to capture two guns just made there. They had been removed, but he destroyed the carriages (Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 481).
October 29–30 an expedition from Puebla visited Tlaxcala ([356]Whitcomb, diary). November 9–10 at night Lane with a force of dragoons went over this road again, and recovered twenty-one loaded wagons that had been captured by guerillas, besides seven that they had set afire as he approached. Thirteen Mexican officers and many horses and cattle were taken. This time he had about 100 cavalry, 200 Indiana and 200 Ohio men. He returned to Puebla in the night of Nov. 12–13 without having lost a man. In the evening of Nov. 22 he left Puebla for Izucar de Matamoros with about 200 mounted men. In the morning he surprised ([76]Arenal to Rea, Nov. 26) a body of Mexican irregulars, causing considerable loss, captured three cannon ([76]Peña y Barragán, Nov. 28) and much ammunition, and rescued a number of American prisoners. On his return, Nov. 24–5, he was attacked by Rea, but again triumphed (Ho. 1; 30, 2, p. 87). One or two Americans were killed and several wounded. If Rea’s report can be believed, the Americans greatly exaggerated, as was natural, his numbers and losses ([76]to Peña y B., Nov. 26). In January, 1848, Lane with four companies of Texas Rangers, two of the Third Dragoons and one of Mounted Riflemen was sent from Mexico to clear the roads of guerillas (Ho. 1; 30, 2, p. 75). In the course of his rapid march he almost succeeded in capturing Santa Anna, then residing at Tehuacán. He finally proceeded to Orizaba and Córdoba, captured public property, recovered stolen merchandise, and released American prisoners (Ho. 1; 30, 2, pp. 89–95). February 17 he set out from Mexico with 250 Rangers and 130 of the Third Dragoons against the guerillas north and northeast of the capital (ibid., p. 76). February 25 he captured the town of Sequalteplán after a stiff skirmish, killing a considerable number and taking some fifty prisoners. It was said that Jarauta led the guerillas here. For Lane’s operations subsequent to the Atlixco expedition: Brackett, Lane’s Brigade, 168, 174, 192, 205, 234–45. Whitcomb, diary. Zirckel, Tagebuch, 122–3. [61]Dumont to Lane, Nov. 15. [76]S. Anna, Feb. 1, 1848. Id.., Apelación, 65. Amer. Home Journal, Aug., 1906. Flag of Freedom, i, no. 1. T. F. Davis, diary. Claiborne, memoirs. [76]Puebla comte. gen., Nov. 28. [76]Rea to Peña y Barragán, Nov. 26. Ho. 1; 30, 2, pp. 75–6 (Marcy, report), 86–103. Mention should also be made of Capt. Ruff, who on July 30, 1847, with eighty-two Mounted Riflemen attacked about 300 Mexicans (guerillas and infantry) entrenched in houses and a church at S. Juan near Ojo de Agua. With a loss of one man wounded, he killed or wounded about seventy to ninety of the enemy, it was believed ([69]Porter to Mrs. P., July 31; Sen. 1; 30, 1, app., 25–6 (Smith); Smith, To Mexico, 187).
[18.] (Destruction, etc.) Sen. 52; 30, 1, pp. 205–6 (Trist); Exposición dirigida. [52]Trist, no. 16, confid., Sept. 27, 1847. Negrete, Invasión, iii, app., 130–2, 134–6, 155–65, 421–6. [13]Bankhead, no. 86, Sept. 28. Pacheco, Exposición. Colección de Documentos, 4. S. Anna, Contestación al Oficio. México á través, iv, 700. [76]Rosa to Herrera, Sept. 29. [76]M. Ocampo to Herrera, Sept. 24. [80]Méx. legislature, decree, Sept. 18. Rivera, Jalapa, iv, 74.
Real or at least additional reasons for the decree of Sept. 16 were probably that Santa Anna intended to leave the country or desired to let it try to get on without him. Rives (U. S. and Mexico, ii, 584) denies that Peña was timid: but (1) Bankhead and Trist so described him; and (2) his conduct in the negotiations with Slidell and with Trist confirms their opinion. In the latter case all the strength of his entourage was required to make him face the situation.
[19.] [76]Rosa to Herrera, Sept. 29. México á través, iv, 700. Gamboa, Impug., 65. [52]Trist, nos. 16, confid., Sept. 27; 17, confid., Oct. 1; 18, Oct. 25. [52]Id.to Hetty Parker, Sept. 28. Colección de Documentos, 110. [80]México legislature, decree, Sept. 23. [80]Id.., comtee. on constit. points, report, Sept. 18. [80]Olaguíbel to Méx. legisl., Sept. 25. [80]Michoacán legislature, decree, Sept. 24. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 566. Negrete, Invasión, iii, app., 155–61. (Toluca) Revue de Paris, Dec., 1844; Encarnacion Prisoners, 75. [73]Lozano, no. 9, 1847.
Peña admitted that it was impossible to fulfil the constitutional requirements, but said it was a public duty to establish a government as near them as was practicable (Colec. de Docs., 110). The legislature of México state denounced Peña as representing the peace element, and refused to recognize any federal authority except the Lagos Coalition; but its decree was not favorably received by the public, and Olaguíbel would not promulgate it.