Read Ebook: The Mexican War diary of George B. McClellan by McClellan George B George Brinton Myers William Starr Editor

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When we crossed the San Fernando I saw a Mexican endeavoring to make two little jackasses cross. He was unable to do so and finally sold them to a Volunteer for fifty cents; the Volunteer got them over safely. After regaling ourselves with a view of Murphy we considered ourselves fully repaid for the extra distance we had marched. At last we gained our place at the head of the column and arrived at Marquesoto about 12 noon, without further incident--except that General Pillow appropriated one of our big buckets to the purpose of obtaining water from the well. We had a very pretty ground for our encampment and had a fine eggnog that night, with Winship to help us drink it. From Santander to Marquesoto about ten miles.

January 2nd. Started before daylight, Captain Snead's Company in advance. Road very rough, covered with loose stones--could not improve it with the means at our command. Pat thought we might have done it--but hang Pat's opinion. Saw for the first time the beautiful flower of the Spanish bayonet--a pyramid, about two and a half or three feet high, composed of hundreds of white blossoms. Pat immediately began to talk about "???????" this and "???????" that--and the "??????" in his conservatory. San Antonio is the place where Iturbide was taken--as Arista's map says.... It is a large yellow house--looking quite modern in the wilderness.

The crossing at the stream was very bad, and required a great deal of work. Major McCall thought it would take two days--in two days we were at Victoria. The stream is a branch of the Soto la Marina and is called San Antonio. It is a clear cold stream--the banks lined with cypress trees--the first I ever saw. Pat ensconced himself in the roots of a large cypress and with a countenance expressing mingled emotions of fear, anxiety, impatience and disgust watched the progress of the work--yelled at everyone who rode into the water etc., etc.

January 3rd. We started before daylight and succeeded in getting clear of the volunteer camp by dint of great exertions. After marching about five miles through a fertile river bottom we reached the main branch of the Soto la Marina, a most beautiful stream of the clearest, coldest, most rapid water I ever saw--about sixty yards wide and three feet deep. Songo had some trouble in crossing without being washed off "Jim."

Padilla is situated on the banks of this stream--an old town rapidly going to ruin--with a quaint old Cathedral built probably 200 years ago, if not more. After marching about twelve miles more we reached the stream of La Corona, another branch of La Marina, similar in its character to the others. After working for about an hour on the banks we encamped on the further side. The Tennessee horse gave our men a "lift" over both the last streams--some of the Sappers had evidently never been mounted before.

General Quitman came out to meet General Patterson--but old Zach , who arrived with his regulars about an hour before we did, stayed at home like a sensible man. We made fools of ourselves by riding through the streets to General Quitman's quarters where we had wine and fruit. Then we rode down to the camp ground--a miserable stony field--we in one corner of it, the "Continental Army" all over the rest of it. We at last got settled. About dark started over to General Taylor's camp. Before I had gone 200 yards I met the very person I was going to see--need not say how glad I was to meet him after a two months absence.

This reminds me that when at Matamoros--a day or two before we started on the march--we received the news of poor Norton's death. I had written a letter to him the day before which was in my portfolio when I heard of his death. The noble fellow met his death on board the Atlantic, which was lost in Long Island Sound near New London on the 27th November 1846. Captain Cullum and Lieutenant C. S. Stewart were both on board, and both escaped. Norton exerted himself to the last to save the helpless women and children around him--but in accordance with the strange presentiment that had been hanging over him for some time, he lost his own life. He was buried at West Point--which will seem to me a different place without him.

One night when at Victoria I was returning from General Taylor's camp and was halted about 150 yards from our Company by a Volunteer sentinel. As I had not the countersign I told him who I was. He said I should not go by him. I told him "Confound you I wont stay out here all night." Said he "You had no business to go out of camp." Said I "Stop talking, you scoundrel, and call the Corporal of the Guard."--"I ain't got no orders to call for the Corporal and wont do it--you may, though, if you want." "What's the number of your post?" "Dont know." "Where's the Guard tent?" "Dont know."--As I was debating whether to make a rush for it, or to seek some softer hearted specimen of patriotism, another sentinel called out to me "Come this way, Sir!"--It appeared that the first fellow's post extended to one side of the road, and the last one's met it there.--"Come this way, Sir" said he, "Just pass around this bush and go in." "Hurrah for you" said I, "you're a trump, and that other fellow is a good for nothing blaguard."

Tampico is a delightful place--we passed a very pleasant time there, and left it with regret. We found the Artillery regiments encamped around the city. Many of the officers came out to meet us near Altamira. Champagne suppers were the order of the day for a long time. From Victoria to Tampico we were detached with Guy Henry's company of the 3rd--and Gantt's of the 7th--Henry messed with us. When within about four days march of Tampico we saw in front of us Mount Bernal, which is shaped like a splendid dome.

We left Tampico at daylight on the 24th February on board a little schooner called the Orator--a fast sailer, but with very inferior accommodations. I really felt sorry to leave the old "Bullhead Tavarn" where I had passed so many pleasant moments. The view of the fine city of Tampico as we sailed down the river was beautiful. Its delightful rides, its beautiful rivers, its lagoons and pleasant Caf? will ever be present to my mind. Some of the happiest hours of my life were passed in this same city--Santa Anna de Tamaulipas.

On arriving at Lobos we found that we had arrived a day in advance of the "Army of the Rhine," which had started a day before us. Lobos is a small island formed by a coral reef--about 18 or 20 miles from the shore, forming under its lee a safe but not very pleasant anchorage. I went on shore but found nothing remarkable. Some 60 vessels were there when we started. At last the order was given to sail for Point Anton Lizardo. We sailed next but one after the generals and arrived before any of them except Twiggs. We ran on the reef under the lee of Salmadina Island, were immediately taken off by the navy boats which put us on shore where we were very kindly received by the Rocketeers. It was a great relief to get rid of that confounded red and white flag--"send a boat with an officer"--and the disagreeable duty of reporting to the 'Gener?l en G?fe' every morning. A French sailor of the Orator undertook to pilot us and carried us on a reef of what he called Sacrificios but what turned out to be Anton Lizardo.

On the morning of the 9th of March we were removed from the Orator to the steamer Edith, and after three or four hours spent in transferring the troops to the vessels of war and steamers, we got under weigh and sailed for Sacrificios. At half past one we were in full view of the town and castle, with which we soon were to be very intimately acquainted.

Shortly after anchoring the preparations for landing commenced, and the 1st Brigade was formed in tow of the "Princeton" in two long lines of surf boats--bayonets fixed and colors flying. At last all was ready, but just before the order was given to cast off a shot whistled over our heads. "Here it comes" thought everybody, "now we will catch it." When the order was given the boats cast off and forming in three parallel lines pulled for the shore, not a word was said--everyone expected to hear and feel their batteries open every instant. Still we pulled on and on--until at last when the first boats struck the shore those behind, in the fleet, raised that same cheer which has echoed on all our battlefields--we took it up and such cheering I never expect to hear again--except on the field of battle.

The sun was most intensely hot, and there was not a particle of vegetation on the sand hills which we occupied. Captain Swift found himself unable to stand it, and at about half past twelve gave up the command to G. W. Smith and went on board the "Massachusetts" that same afternoon. He did not resume the command, but returned to the United States. He died in New Orleans on the 24th of April.

I was sent up in the morning to find the best path for our road and just as I got up to the top of the hill the bullets commenced whistling like hail around me. Some Lancers were firing at the Volunteers--who were very much confused and did not behave well. Taylor's Battery and the rest of Twiggs's Division moved over the hill towards their position on the left of the line. Worth's Division occupied the right of the investment, the Mohawks under Patterson the centre, and Twiggs the left. After resting our men at Malibran, we moved back to our old position with the 3rd Artillery, where we bivouacked.

I had observed on the preceding day the position of the aqueduct supplying the city with water. I told Lieutenant Beauregard next morning what I had seen. He reported it to Colonel Totten and Smith and myself were ordered to cut off the water, Foster remaining at home. We took a party, cut off the water, Smith exploded a humbug of Gid Pillow's and we started on a reconnoitring expedition of our own. I stopped to kill a "slow deer" and Smith went on. I then followed him with three men and overtook him a little this side of the cemetery. We went on to within 900 yards of the city and at least a mile and a half in advance of the line of investment--ascertained the general formation of the ground and where to reconnoitre. We returned after dark, Foster much troubled as to what had become of us. It was upon reporting to Colonel Totten on this night that he said that I and G. W. were the only officers who had as yet given him any information of value--that we had done more than all the rest, etc., etc. All forgotten with the words as they left his mouth--vide his official report of the siege. G. W. and myself will never forget how we passed this blessed night--.

On the next day Foster was sent after our baggage and camp equipage. I was ordered to move the company and pitch the tents on a spot on the extreme right. Smith went out with Major Smith to where we had been the night before, but went no further toward the city than we had been.

We returned to camp, got our dinner and started again--being a little fearful that our picquets would be so far advanced as to interfere with our operations. But we found them about 150 yards in advance of the line of investment, stooping, whispering, and acting as if they expected to be fired upon every moment--whilst we had been a mile and a half in advance of their position with a dozen men. They were at first disposed to dissuade us from going on--as being too dangerous etc. We went on though, accompanied by Captain Walker of the 6th. The Captain left us before we got to the cemetery. I took one man and went down to reconnoitre it--in order to ascertain whether it was occupied by the enemy, whilst G. W. went on to examine a hill which covered the valley from Santiago and the Castle to some extent. I went down to the cemetery went around it and got in it--satisfying myself that it was not occupied. I rejoined G. W. and together we went on very near the town. We returned late, being the only officers of any corps who had gone as far as, much less beyond the cemetery.

We came out with the Company that evening, arrived at the place after dark, and Captain Lee, Smith and Foster went in to lay out a battery--leaving me, in command of the Company, in the road. When on our return we were passing by the old grave yard a sharp fire of musketry commenced--one of our pickets had been fired upon.

The next day we cut a path to the position of this battery . As we returned they discovered us and opened a fire of 24 pound shot upon us which enfiladed our path beautifully. They fired too high and hit no one. We reached at length a sheltered position where we remained until the firing ceased--the balls striking one side of the hill--we being snugly ensconced on the other.

On the next day the position of the batteries was definitely fixed. In the afternoon I was ordered by Colonel Totten to arrange at the Engineers' Depot tools for a working party of 200 men--and be ready to conduct it as soon as it was dark to the proper position. The working party did not arrive until long after dark--and it was quite late when we arrived at the position for the batteries. I was placed in charge of Mortar Battery No. 1--G. W. in charge of No. 2--a parallel was also made across the little valley. Each of these batteries was for three mortars. No. 1 was formed by cutting away the side of a hill, so that we had merely to form the epaulments and bring the terreplein down to the proper level--the hill sheltering us from the direct fire of the Castle and Santiago. So also with No. 2--which was made in the gorge where the road to the cemetery crossed the ridge on left of valley.

The tools for working party were arranged on the beach in parallel rows of tools for 20 men each and about four feet apart, so that they might take up the least possible space. Each man was provided with a shovel and either a pick, axe, or hatchets . The party was conducted in one rank, by the right flank. The men were well covered by daylight.

At daylight the parapet was shot proof and the battery required about one hour's digging to finish it. Owing to some mistake the platforms and magazine frames did not arrive until very late and but little progress was made as far as they were concerned. Had they arrived in time all three batteries could have opened on the afternoon of the 21st. The construction of the battery on the left of the railroad still progressing. They fired rockets etc. at us during the early part of the night.

The flag was carried in by Captain Johnston, the enemy ceased firing when they saw it. Colonel Bankhead informed the Commandants of Batteries 1 and 3 that the discharge of a mortar from No. 2 would be the signal to open from all the mortars. The flag had hardly commenced its return from the town when a few spiteful shots from Santiago at my party on the magazine told us plainly enough what the reply had been. Probably half an hour elapsed before a report from No. 2 gave us the first official intimation that General Morales had bid defiance to us, and invited us to do our worst.

The command "Fire!" had scarcely been given when a perfect storm of iron burst upon us--every gun and mortar in Vera Cruz and San Juan, that could be brought to bear, hurled its contents around us--the air swarmed with them--and it seemed a miracle that not one of the hundreds they fired fell into the crowded mass that filled the trenches. The recruits looked rather blue in the gills when the splinters of shells fell around them, but the veterans cracked their jokes and talked about Palo Alto and Monterey. When it was nearly dark I went to the left with Mason and passed on toward the town where we could observe our shells--the effect was superb. The enemy's fire began to slacken toward night, until at last it ceased altogether--ours, though, kept steadily on, never ceasing--never tiring.

As I went to our camp I stopped at Colonel Totten's tent to inform him of the state of affairs--he directed me to step in and report to General Scott. I found him writing a despatch. He seemed to be very much delighted and showed me the last words he had written which were "indefatigable Engineers." Then we were needed and remembered--the instant the pressing necessity passed away we were forgotten. The echo of the last hostile gun at Vera Cruz had not died away before it was forgotten by the Commander in Chief that such a thing existed as an Engineer Company.

After the surrender of Vera Cruz we moved our encampment--first to the beach, then to a position on the plain between our batteries and the city. Foster was detached on duty with the other Engineers to survey the town and castle. Smith and myself were to superintend the landing of the pontoon and engineers trains, and to collect them at the Engineer Depot. Between the Quartermasters and Naval Officers this was hardly done when we left. I dismantled the batteries, magazines etc.--then amused myself until we left, with the chills and fever.

The road so far was horrible, being hilly and very sandy. Our mules were so weak and miserable that the men actually had to push the wagons along, and it was easy to see that our march was to be very severe upon all concerned. General Worth and his staff passed us as we were busily engaged in "cussing" a team up a hill--we then learned for the first time that Santa Anna was at Cerro Gordo with a large force. When we encamped this night everybody was tired to death, and the only event worthy of recollection was the thrashing that a certain lazy nigger "Isaac" received from his frisky "bos."

Foster came up at last, and we all turned in. Santa F? is a poor little affair--no water, but rather a fine view of a large extent of rolling country.

Started early on the 16th --country remarkably broken--even mountainous. We passed several very long hills, at which it was necessary to treble our poor little teams. Met Simon Buckner with a beef party. Arrived at Puerto Nacional just before Worth's Division left it . Saw all the fellows and made our preparations to start at twelve at night. Took a fine bath in the clear mountain stream, and then dinner. After dinner we went to see Santana's Hacienda--found a little boy in it who was frightened to death at the Barbarians. A r?al soon quieted him.

Reveill? at 11.30--started at quarter past twelve--of course no undressing. S "thought as he was already dressed there could be no hurry." Night pitch dark. About an hour before daybreak found in the road a saddle and a pool of blood--some poor devil of a straggler from Worth's Division probably murdered. After ascending the hill just beyond this spot, G. W. , J. S and myself laid down in the road to sleep--that half hour's sleep just before going into battle was the sweetest I ever enjoyed. Passed in the course of the morning a great many stragglers from Worth's Division--they had lagged behind in the night march. About two miles from Plan del Rio we were sitting in a ranche waiting for the wagons, when a wagonmaster came galloping by saying that the Lancers had cut off the train. The escort of dragoons was about 800 yards nearer Plan del Rio than we. We galloped back--the escort not far behind and found that our wagons were safe, but that the Lancers had cut off a few of the stragglers whom we had passed.

The fault of the erroneous selection was General Pillow's, except that Lieutenant Tower should, as the senior Engineer with the column, have taken a firm stand and have forced General Pillow to have pursued the proper path. It was certainly a fine opportunity for him to show what stuff he was made of--but unfortunately he did not take advantage of it at all.

We at length moved off by the flank. My detachment at the head, and during the movement--at all events before the firing against us commenced--we heard the musketry of the attack of Twiggs's Division upon the Telegraph Hill.

After moving about two-thirds of a mile from the main road we reached a certain crest bordering upon a ravine, whence a strong picket of Mexicans was observed. Tower advised General Pillow to incline his Brigade well to the right in order to cross the ravine lower down and out of view. The General directed Colonel Wynkoop to countermarch--file twice to the right and move upon a certain dead tree as his point of direction . He was then to form his men for the attack and charge upon hearing a concerted signal from the rest of the Brigade. Colonel Haskell at once commenced forming his Regiment in a column of platoon, the flank of the column toward the work. His men having straggled a great deal this arrangement was attended with some difficulty--the men being literally shoved into their places one by one. Hardly two platoons were formed when General Pillow shouted out at the top of his voice--"Why the H--l dont Colonel Wynkoop file to the right?" I may here observe that we had heard very distinctly the commands of the Mexican officers in their works. This yell of the General's was at once followed by the blast of a Mexican bugle and within three minutes after that their fire opened upon us. The General may have shouted this before a single platoon of Haskell's was formed--but the interval must have been very short, because Wynkoop's Regiment had not reached its destination and had not formed there when the firing commenced.

Colonel Haskell came up without his cap about this time and a very warm conversation ensued between him and General Pillow--the General accusing him of misconduct and deserting his troops, the Colonel repelling his assertions and stating that his Regiment was cut to pieces. I at once, without saying a word to either the General or the Colonel, called to my party and directed them to beat the bushes for "2nd Tennesseeans" and to bring all they could find to where we were. They soon returned with quite a number.

In the course of conversation I told General Pillow that I did not think that he could carry the works without some Regulars. He assented and directed me to go at once in search of General Scott and ask him, from him for a detachment of Regulars--whatever number he could spare, saying that he would make no movement until my return. I immediately ran down to the road where I expected to find General Scott and Worth's Division and there found that the General had gone on. I jumped on my mare and galloped around by Twiggs's road and at length found the General about half way up the ridge over which Worth's Division passed to reach the Jalapa road--the rear of Worth's Division was then crossing. I told the General my message and he directed me to say to General Pillow that he had no Regulars to spare, that the last of Worth's Division was then passing over, that Santa Anna had fallen back with all his army, except about 5000 men, toward Jalapa, that he expected to fight another battle with Santa Anna at once, and that he thought it probable that the 5000 men cut off would surrender--finally that General Pillow might attack again, or not, just as he pleased. He evidently was not much surprised and not much "put out" that Pillow was thrashed, and attached no importance to his future movements.

Twiggs--at least a part of his Division--moved on at once in pursuit. The Cavalry soon followed, but the Mexicans had gained a long start and made the best use of their legs--so that not very many were killed or taken in the pursuit. Twiggs and the Cavalry also the Volunteers halted at Encero. Worth remained at Plan del Rio and Cerro Gordo. I myself overtook my company at Encero where we bivouacked that night--and felt right proud that we had won that day a glorious victory.

I was very much pleased with the appearance of Jalapa and its inhabitants. The women were generally pretty, the gentlemen well dressed. They carried to a great extent the custom of filling the balconies with flowers, which gave a very pleasant appearance to the streets. Soon after we had established ourselves at the posada we were astonished by a great commotion in the streets, which was ascertained to be caused by the arrival of the Cerro Gordo prisoners, who had all been released on parole, and of course fought us again upon the first opportunity. They were marching back to Puebla and Mexico, organized in regiments, etc.--merely being deprived of their arms. The disgust in the Division at this release was most intense, we felt poorly repaid for our exertions by the release of these scoundrels, who, we felt sure, would to a man break their parole. They passed the night in the streets around the Plaza and in the morning robbed all the poor market women in the vicinity.

We had no beds that night--our baggage not being up--were lucky enough to get some frijoles and chocolate for supper--breakfast ditto. Worth's Division came up about one o'clock on the 20th and we were ordered on at the head of it,--to leave Jalapa at 3.30 of the same day.

City of Mexico, opposite Alameda, November 3rd, 1847. G. W. thinks that a captain will be sent out to command the Company, and that he will be relieved by the 1st March, 1848. Mc. thinks that no captain will come and that the unfortunate "duet" wont get out under a year, or longer. Quien Sabe?

April 15th, Post Office--Captain hasn't "arrivo"--duet still here--year most half out and a'in't off yet!!!

September 22nd, 1849--West Point, N. Y. Mc. thinks that he's booked for an infernally monotonous life for the remainder of his natural existence and wishes he were back again in No. 2 Calle San Francisco.

August 25th, 1852--Solitary and alone on the "Columbus"--for New Orleans.

December 25th, 1852--Solitary and alone at Indianola ! Heavens! What a Christmas!

INDEX

Altamira, 50.

Anton Lizardo, Point, 52, 53.

Bankhead, Col., 66.

Beauregard, Lieut. P. G. T., 57, 63, 70.

Belton, Lieut.-Col., 54, 62.

Brazos de Santiago , 7, 8-9.

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