A Fighter from Way Back by Nathaniel Hughes Jr. Timothy D. Johnson

Author:Nathaniel Hughes, Jr., Timothy D. Johnson [Nathaniel Hughes, Jr., Timothy D. Johnson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States
ISBN: 9781612773322
Publisher: The Kent State University Press
Published: 2013-05-30T04:00:00+00:00

8

Strange and Almost Incredible

Seems Our Victory—Chapultepec

September 1-30, 1847

Sept. 3d, 1847. Nothing of importance has taken place during the last four days. We are truly living in a singular state, one hour we hear that all hopes of peace have vanished, the next that a treaty has been signed and that in a few days our Army will march to the boundary defined therein and occupy it. A rigid non-intercourse is maintained by Santa Anna, but Genl. Scott permits any and all Mexicans to pass freely among us. I was on the patrol Guard, a Guard for the express purpose of preventing soldiers from committing outrages. Several instances have occurred of depredations by our soldiers upon the property of the Mexicans. But as a general thing, the Regulars have behaved better than conquering troops ever behaved before. A Mexican mail intercepted on the 21st or 22d August contains some interesting letters from the Mexicans with regard to our operations. One letter says, “We have to fight an enemy who knows no fear and who never sleeps.” Another says that “We have always been led to trust in numbers but our enemy has taught us that valor is superior to numbers.”

Capt. Hardee, 2d Dragoons, went out some days ago in command of an escort for a train of wagons in search of corn. Great fears were entertained at one time for his safety, but he has returned without a mishap and brings a thousand bushels of corn. The Army is now abundantly supplied with funds furnished by the merchants of the City of Mexico for U.S. drafts. I have seen a great deal of this money—all Mexican dollars which had been buried in the earth by the owners when they feared that the City would be sacked.

Sept. 6th. The War spirit is once more up amongst us. It seems that the Mexicans, in express violation of the Armistice, have been fortifying ever since the 20th of August and at length [have] become so bold and impudent as to labor at their works in the very presence of our Army even in the broad light of day. We understand this evening that Genl. Scott has resolved to comply with the stipulations of the Armistice in regard to giving twenty-four [hours] notice previous to the renewal of hostilities. This magnanimity in the face of the enemy’s treachery is entirely out of place. We understand that Santa Anna in reply to Genl. Scott’s note complaining of the withholding of the promised supplies, the maltreatment of our teamsters and the construction of works during the Armistice, has accused Genl. Scott also of making military preparations in violation of the Armistice and has characterized the American Army as a gang of assassins, robbers and villains. We are all wrought up to a great pitch of indignation and the Mexicans will suffer a terrible retribution for their treachery.

Sept. 7th. 1 o’clock. The notice for the cessation of the Armistice has been given and the Mexican Army is now drawn up at Chapultepec in half a mile of Genl.

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