Volume 1 / Book 3 — BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.—Lianza Viceroy—Audiencia—Venegas Viceroy—True sources of the Revolution—Creoles loyal to Ferdinand—Spaniards in favor of King Joseph—Mexican subscriptions for Spain—Secret union in Mexico against Spaniards—Hidalgo—Allende—First outbreak—Guanajuato sacked—Las Cruces—Mexico menaced—Indian bravery at Aculco—Marfil—Massacre at Guanajuato—Calleja—Insurgents defeated—Execution of Hidalgo, 279

CHAPTER II.—Venegas Viceroy—Rayon—Junta in 1811—its willingness to receive Ferdinand VII.—Proclamation by the Junta—Morelos—Acapulco taken—Successes of the insurgents—Siege of Cuautla—Izucar—Orizaba—Oaxaca—Chilpanzingo—Calleja Viceroy—Iturbide—Reverses of insurgents—Morelos shot, 287

CHAPTER III.—Apodaca Viceroy—Spanish constitution of 1812 proclaimed in Mexico—Condition of the revolutionary party—Victoria—Mina lands at Soto la Marina—his efforts—Los Remedios—Guerrillas—he is shot—Padre Torres—Iturbide—Apodaca selects him to establish absolutism—Iturbide promulgates the Plan of Iguala—Army of the Three Guaranties, 293

CHAPTER IV.—O'Donoju Viceroy—Conduct of Iturbide—Novella—Revolt—Treaty of Cordova—First Mexican Cortes—Iturbide Emperor—his career—exiled to Italy—Iturbide returns—arrest—execution—his character and services, 301

CHAPTER V.—Review of the condition of Mexico and the formation of parties—Viceroyal government—The people—The army—The church—Constitution of 1824—Echavari revolts—Victoria President—Escocesses—Yorkinos—Revolts continued—Montayno—Guerrero—Gomez Pedraza President—is overthrown—Federalists—Centralists—Guerrero President—Abolition of Slavery in Mexico, 307

CHAPTER VI.—Conspiracy against Guerrero by Bustamante—Guerrero betrayed and shot—Anecdote—Revolt under Santa Anna—he restores Pedraza and becomes President—Gomez Farias deposed—Church—Central Constitution of 1836—Santa Anna—his Texan disgrace—Mexia—Bustamante President—French at Vera Cruz Revolts in the north and in the capital—Bustamante deposed—Santa Anna President, 316

CHAPTER VII.—Reconquest of Texas proposed—Canalizo President ad interim—Revolution under Paredes in 1844—Santa Anna falls—Herrera President—Texan revolt—Origin of war with the United States—Texan war for the Constitution of 1824—Nationality recognized—Annexation to the United States—Proposition to Mexico—Herrera overthrown—Paredes President—Our minister rejected—Character of General Paredes, 326

CHAPTER VIII.—General Taylor ordered to the Rio Grande—History of Texan boundaries—Origin of the war—Military preparations—Commencement of hostilities—Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca—Matamoros—Taylor's advance—Fall of Monterey, 334

CHAPTER IX.—General Wool inspects and musters the western troops—Army of the Centre—New Mexico—Kearney—Macnamara—California— Frémont—Sonoma—Californian independence—Possession taken—Sloat—Stockton—A revolt—Pico—Treaty of Couenga—Kearney at San Pascual—is relieved—Disputes—San Gabrielle—Mesa—Los Angeles—Frémont's character, services, trial, 342

CHAPTER X.—Valley of the Rio Grande—Santa Anna at San Luis—Scott commander-in-chief—Plan of attack on the east coast—General Scott's plan—Doniphan's expedition—Bracito—Sacramento—Revolt in New Mexico—Murder of Richie—Selection of battle ground—Description of it—Battle of Angostura or Buena Vista—Mexican retreat—Tabasco—Tampico, 350

CHAPTER XI.—Santa Anna's return—changes his principles—Salas executive—Constitution of 1824 restored—Paredes—Plans of Salas and Santa Anna—his letter to Almonte—his views of the war—refuses the Dictatorship—commands the army—State of parties in Mexico—Puros—Moderados—Santa Anna at San Luis—Peace propositions—Internal troubles—Farias's controversy with the church—Polko revolution in the capital—Vice Presidency suppressed—Important decree, 358

CHAPTER XII.—General Scott at Lobos—Landing at and siege of Vera Cruz—Capitulation and condition of Vera Cruz—Condition of Mexico—Alvarado, etc., captured—Scott's advance—Description of Cerra Gordo—Mexican defences and military disposal there—Battle of Cerro Gordo—Peroté and Puebla yield—Santa Anna returns—Constitution of 1824 readopted—Mexican politics of the day—War spirit—Guerillas—Peace negotiations—Santa Anna's secret negotiations, 370

CHAPTER XIII.—Scott at Puebla—Tampico and Orizaba taken—Scott's advance—Topography of the Valley of Mexico—Routes to the capital—El Peñon—Mexicalzingo—Tezcoco—Chalco—Outer and inner lines around the city—Scott's advance by Chalco—The American army at San Augustin, 381

CHAPTER XIV.—Difficulties of the advance—The Pedregal—San Antonio—Hacienda—Relative position of American and Mexican armies—Path over the Pedregal to Contreras—Valencia disconcerts Santa Anna's plan of battle—American advance and victory at Contreras—San Antonio turned by Worth—Battle of Churubusco—Battle at the Convent and Tete de Pont—Their capture, 391

CHAPTER XV.—Why the city was not entered on the 20th—Condition of the city—Deliberation of the Mexican cabinet and proposals—Reasons why General Scott proposed and granted the armistice—Deliberations of commissioners—Parties against Santa Anna—Failure of the negotiation—Mexican desire to destroy Santa Anna, 400

CHAPTER XVI.—Military position of the Americans at the end of the armistice—Mexican defences—Plan of attack—Reconnoissances of Scott and Mason—Importance of Mexican position at Molino del Rey—Scott's scheme of capturing the city—Battle of Molino del Rey—Reflections and criticism on this battle—Preparations to attack Chapultepec—Storming of Chapultepec and of the city Gates of San Cosmé and Belen—Retreat of the Mexican army and government—American occupation of the city of Mexico, 408

CHAPTER XVII.—Attack of the city mob on the army—Quitman Governor—Peña President—Congress ordered—Siege of Puebla—Lane's, Lally's, and Childs's victories—Guerrilleros broken up—Mexican politics—Anaya President—Peace negotiations—Scott's decree—Peña President—Santa Anna and Lane—Santa Anna leaves Mexico for Jamaica—Treaty entered into—Its character—Santa Cruz de Rosales—Court of Inquiry—Internal troubles—Ambassadors at Querétaro—Treaty ratified—Evacuation—Revolutionary attempts—Condition of Mexico since the war—Character of Santa Anna—Note on the military critics, 420