CHAPTER X. Assistance afforded by Commodore Conner-Reduction of Barita-Taylor's arrival at Fort Brown-Preparations for attacking Matamoros-Cause of Taylor's inactivity after the Battles of the 8th and 9th of May-Letter to the War Department -Occupation of Matamoros-Arista's Flight-He is ordered to lay down his command-The War announced to Congress-President's Proclamation—Inefficient preparations for War-Rejoicings in the United States for the victories at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma-Taylor breveted a Major-General-Act of Congress promoting him to full rank-Appointment of General OfficersOccupation of Reynosa-Capture of Camargo-Of Mier-Organization of the Army-Departure for Seralvo-Letter to the Adjutant-General-March on Monterey. WHILE at Point Isabel, General Taylor published an order, in which he suitably recognised the merit of Major Munroe, who commanded at Point Isabel, and all the officers and men under his command, for the energy and activity which they had displayed in fortifying the place. In this praise Commodore Conner also participated. While cruising off the harbour of Vera Cruz, he had heard of the preparations of the Mexicans, at Matamoros, to attack the American army, and with great promptitude had sailed for Point Isabel, to render any assistance in his power. The five hundred marines, whom he caused to land and aid the garrison, contributed much towards putting it in a proper state of defence. Having made his arrangements with Commodore Conner for a combined movement up the river, General Taylor set out for Point Isabel on the morning of the 13th; but on his way thither he was met by a courier, with intelligence that the enemy. was receiving reinforcements, and was fortifying Barita and other points near the mouth of the river. In consequence of this, the MOVEMENT UPON MATAMOROS. 155 general returned to the Point, and found that a small body of regulars, and some volunteer troops from Alabama and Louisiana, had just arrived. The volunteers were in prompt answer to his late call for additional troops. General Taylor promptly organized a command, under Colonel Wilson, for the reduction of Barita, consisting of three hundred regulars, and three hundred and fifty volunteers. Of the latter, two companies were from Louisiana, under Captains Stockton and Tobin, and one company from Alabama, under General Desha. At one o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th, the command took up its line of march from the Brazos, while three steamers ascended the river, to transport the troops at the proper place. Commodore Conner ordered, at the same time, a part of the fleet to appear off the mouth of the river, to co-operate with them. Colonel Wilson proceeded up the river towards Barita, in momentary expectation of an attack from the cavalry, who were reported to be in the vicinity, and took possession of the town without any resistance. The inhabitants fled on his approach, without firing a gun. He immediately issued a manifesto, in which he invited them to return to their dwellings, and assured them of the peaceable enjoyment of all their civil and religious rights. On the 14th of May, General Taylor left Point Isabel, with six hundred men, a train of artillery, and two hundred and fifty wagons, loaded with stores, and reached Fort Brown on the evening of the same day. He determined to attack Matamoros the next day, if possible. It required, however, considerable time and effort to make preparations for transporting the troops across the river, and to mount the two 16-inch mortars destined to throw shell into the city, should it not be surrendered. On the morning of the 17th, everything was ready; and it was arranged that, while General Taylor moved upon Matamoros, Colonel Wilson, at the same time, should advance from Barita. The delay of General Taylor in following up the advantages of the battles of the 8th and 9th of May, was owing to the neglect of the War Department, to furnish him a ponton train, and heavy mortars, as requested in his letters of the former year. The following letter presents a detailed account of the occupation of Matamoros by the American troops : "HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, } "SIR: I have the honour to report that my very limited means of crossing rivers prevented a complete prosecution of the victory of the 9th instant. A ponton train, the necessity of which I exhibited to the department last year, would have enabled the army to have crossed on the evening of the battle, take this city, with all the artillery and stores of the enemy, and a great number of prisoners. In short, to destroy entirely the Mexican army. But I was compelled to await the arrival of heavy mortars, with which to menace the town from the left bank, and also the accumulation of small boats. In the mean time, the enemy had somewhat recovered from the confusion of his flight, and ought still, with three thousand men left him, to have made a respectable defence. I made every preparation to cross the river above the town, while Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson made a diversion on the side of Barita, and the order of march was given out for one o'clock yesterday, from the camp near Fort Brown, when I was waited upon by General Reguena, empowered by General Arista, commanding-in-chief the Mexican forces, to treat for an armistice until the government should finally settle the question. I replied to this, that an armistice was out of the question; that a month since I had proposed one to General Ampudia, which was declined; that circumstances were now changed; that I was receiving large reinforcements, and could not now suspend operations which I had not invited or provoked; that the possession of Matamoros was a sine qua non; that our troops would occupy TAYLOR'S DESPATCH. 157 the town; but that General Arista might withdraw his forces, leaving the public property of every description. "An answer to the above was promised in the afternoon, but none came; and I repaired at sundown to join the army, already in position at a crossing some two miles above the town. Very early this morning the bank was occupied by two 18-pounders, and three batteries of field-artillery, and the crossing commenced : the light companies of all the battalions were first thrown over, followed by the volunteer and regular cavalry. No resistance was made, and I was soon informed from various quarters that Arista had abandoned the town, with all his troops, the evening before, leaving only the sick and wounded. I immediately despatched a staff-officer to the prefect to demand a surrender; and, in the mean time, a commission was sent by the prefect to confer with me on the same point. I gave assurance that the civil rights of the citizens would be respected, and our troops at once dropped down opposite the town, and crossed at the Upper Ferry,' the American flag being displayed at Fort Paredes, a Mexican redoubt near the crossing. The different corps now encamped in the outskirts of the city. To-morrow I shall make suitable arrangements for the occupation of the town, and for taking possession of the public property. More than three hundred of the enemy's wounded have been left in the hospitals. Arista is in full retreat towards Monterey, with the fragments of his army. "I deeply regret to report that Lieutenant George Stevens, a very promising young officer, of the 2d dragoons, was accidentally drowned this morning while attempting to swim the river with his squadron. "I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The Adjutant-General of the Army, Washington, D. C." The proposition of Arista for an armistice, was a dishonourable artifice to gain time, that he might be enabled to withdraw or destroy the public and military stores of the city. At the very moment he solicited it, his troops were busily engaged in burying artillery or throwing it into wells, and in destroying or concealing arms and ammunition. After taking possession of the city, General Taylor, with great humanity and courtesy, adopted efficient means for the protection of the persons and property of the citizens. A single guard was allowed in the city, the rest of the troops were distributed in the suburbs and vicinity. Colonel Twiggs was appointed governor of the city. Arista left Matamoros on the evening of the 17th, with the remnant of his army, and fled in the direction of Camargo. He continued his retreat into the interior, and towards the close of the month arrived at the hacienda of Coma, with the shattered columns of his troops, many having died from the privations and fatigue of forced marches, and others having deserted and formed predatory bands, that plundered their defenceless countrymen. From Coma he continued his march to Monterey. While here, he was ordered to lay down his command and repair to Mexico, to answer for the reverses of the army under his orders; but, dreading the character of Paredes, he refused to appear at the seat of government. On the 11th of May, 1846, the President of the United States announced to Congress the commencement of hostilities between the Mexican and American armies, and used the following language:"A war exists; and, notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of Mexico herself. We are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to vindicate with decision, the honour, the rights, and the interests of our country." Immediately after, Congress passed an act recog nising the existence of war, and appropriating ten millions of |