Piatt County, Illinois - Chapter 8: Illinois in the Mexican War, 1883

"TTTTTHOUT going into all the details connected with the origin of V V this war we will simply say that it grew out of the annexation of Texas. Texas, after throwing off the Mexican yoke, had been clamoring for admittance into the Union for some time. The United States had at first declined her admittance, but at the presidential election of 1844 this was the great issue upon which the people divided. Pope was elected, and as he had been brought forward by the party in favor of the admission of Texas, there was no longer any hesitation and the "Lone Star took its place in the constellation of the states." As soon as congress had adopted the resolution to annex Texas, the Mexican minister at "Washington left the country.

The union was completed when, on July 4, 1845, the Texan legisture ratified the act of annexation. Texas immediately asked the president for an army for protection. Accordingly, Gen. Zachary Taylor was sent to occupy Texas. Mexico, in rearranging her civil administration after the revolution of 1821, had united two frontier states east of the Rio Grande. Texas having gained independence naturally claimed Coahuila. Mexico also claimed the state and insisted that the river Neuces should be the dividing line, while Texas claimed the Rio Grande as the dividing line. Mexico scornfully refused the United States' proposition to settle the difficulty by negotiation, and accord-' ingly it was felt that the Mexicans were in the wrong, and Gen. Taylor was ordered to advance as near as possible to the Rio Grande river. He therefore established a camp in November. 1845, at Corpus Cliristi. On the 9th of the next March the army began its march to the Rio Grande. Gen. Arista, having arrived at Matamoras and taken com- mand of the Mexican forces on the frontier, notified Gen. Taylor, on April 26, that hostilities had begun, and on the same day a body of American troops was attacked by the Mexicans east of the Rio Grande. Upon the report of this attack reaching "Washington, congress, with unusual alacrity, passed an act declaring war, appropriated $10,000,000 to carry on the war and authorized the president to accept 50,000 volunteers, to serve in the war.

A call was soon made for volunteers. The western and southern states were expected to furnish the greater part of the men. Illinois was required to furnish three regiments of infantry or riflemen. The enlistments were for twelve months, and the selection of officers wasleft to the volunteers in accordance with the state militia laws. Gov- Ford, as commander-in-chief of the state militia, on May 25 issued his order to the militia officers to aid in both raising and organizing the regiments. The people of Illinois responded readily to this call, and great patriotism was soon manifest in various parts of the state. Martial music and patriotic speeches did their full share in rousing the people to their country's need. Thirty-five companies were organized in ten days' time, and there were forty companies more than the requisition required by the middle of June. As there were so many more companies than the requisition required many of the volunteerswere disappointed. As soon as thirty full companies were in uniform they were ordered to attend the place of rendezvous.

On the 2d of July the first regiment of Illinois volunteers was orga* ized. It consisted of two battalions, each of which was composed of five companies, commanded by five captains. Gen. J. J. Ilardin was elected colonel. Capt. Wm. Weatherford was elected lieutenantcolonel and W. B. Warren, major.

The second regiment was organized and Wm. II. Bissell was elected colonel, Capt. J. L. D. Morrison, lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. H. F. Trail, major. The third regiment was organized with Capt. Forman, W. W. Wiley, lieutenant-colonel, and Sam. D. Marshall, major. The first regiment numbered 877 men ; the second, 892 ; and the third, 906. The men presented a very fine appearance and there was but very little intoxication among them.

The secretary of war gave authority to Hon. E. D. Baker to raise another regiment of Illinois volunteers. It was composed of ten companies. E. D. Baker was elected colonel, Ex-Lieut. -Go v. John Moore, of McLain, lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. T. L. Harris, major. With such preparation, Illinois, having raised a larger number of vol-

The American forces, for the purpose of invading Mexico, were organized into three divisions. The Army of the West was under Gen. Kearney, and was sent to conquer the northern provinces of Mexico. Gen. Scott commanded the Army of the Center, and was to march from the Gulf into the center of Mexico. Gen. Taylor, who commanded the Army of Occupation, was to subdue the country about the Rio Grande.

Instead of the Illinois regiments all being formed into one brigade, as many had desired, the first and second, under Gen. Wool, were sent to join the Army of the Center, while the third and fourth were assigned to the Army of Occupation. The first and second started down the Mississippi from Alton, July 17, and disembarked on Mattagorda Bay. They started on their march across the tropical country to the San Antonio on the llth of August. The northern men were almost overcome by the heat. On the 26th of September the army started on from San Antonio, crossed the Rio Grande at San Juan, after which the troops continued in a circuitous route to Monclova. Here they halted a month, and then the line of march to Parras was taken up. After some ten or twelve days' stay at this place, Gen. Wool left Pan-as* to station himself at Agua Nueva, in the probable route of Santa Anna, who, it was thought, contemplated a descent, not only ilpon Saltillo, distant twenty miles from Agua Neuva, but upon all the ground for which the Army of Occupation had fought. Gen. Taylor now joined Gen. Wool at Agua Neuva, and on February 22, 1847, at the "Narrows," near the pass of Buena Vista, between Agua Neuva and Saltillo, was begun the most important battle of the war. In honor of the day Gen. Wool's troops' watchword was "The memory of Washington." Who will doubt but the memory of Washington was a grand stimulus to the Americans in this battle? Our Illinois men did nobly at Buena Yista, and many of the officers fell, among which were Cols. Hardin and McKee. Twenty-nine were killed out of the first and (>2 out of the second regiments. After long and severe fighting on both sides, the Mexican forces retreated and the Americans bore the crown of victory.

The third and fourth Illinois regiments started down the Mississippi river the latter part of July, and arrived at its destination, Carnargo, in the latter part of September. Upon landing at Vera Cruz, Gen. Shields' brigade, which consisted of the third and fourth regiments from Illinois and one from New York, with Gen. Pillow's brigade, succeeded in causing the Mexicans to retreat almost precipitately before them as they advanced. The complete investment of the city was made in a few days1 time, but it was some weeks when, after a bombardment of some four or live days, the city surrendered.

On April 12, after a four days' march, Gen. Scott's army reached the pass of Cerro Gordo, where Santa Anna had concentrated a force of 15,000 men after the battle of Buena Vista. Santa Anna had so fortified this pass, that Gen. Scott considered their only chance of advancement to consist in cutting a new road which would unite with the national road in the rear of the enemy. The persistent Americans were equal to this difficult and unexpected labor, and the road was nearly completed ere the enemy was aware of it. After the completion of this road Gen. Shields brigade of Illinois and New York regiments, in the midnight darkness, performed the difficult task of lifting up "hundreds of feet," to the top of a height, a twenty -four pound battery.

The battle- of Cerro Gordo resulted in another victory for the Americans, and it proved to be one of the most important in the war. Gen. Scott now had almost an open road to the capital of Mexico. This was the last battle in which Illinois troops took part. Throughout the entire time they were out, the Illinois troops did their part bravely and well. They have had much deserved praise showered upon them. All the Illinois troops returned home about the same time. Col. Hardin's remains were brought back and interred at Jacksonville. A six-pound gun was taken by the Illinois troops from near Santa Anna's headquarters at Cerro Gordo. It is now in the arsenal at Springfield and serves as a trophy of the Mexican war.

Previous to the return home of the Illinois troops two other regiments were raised. The fifth Illinois regiment was organized at Alton June 8, ISttT, with E. W. B. ISewby as colonel. Its destination was Santa Fe. Upon reaching Santa Fe, the war being almost over, the fifth Illinois regiment had no conflict with the enemy.

A sixth Illinois regiment was organized, with Capt. Collins as colonel, very soon after the organization of the fifth Illinois regiment. A division was made in the regiment, the first battalion being sent to Vera Cruz while the second did only garrison duty at Tampico. The first battalion did no fighting except some little skirmishes with Mexican guerrillas. Both battalions lost many men by sickness.

be raised, when the report of the fall of the city of Mexico came. The treaty of peace between the two nations was concluded at Guadalupe, Hidalgo, February 2, 1848. The rivers Rio Grande and Gila were fixed as the principal boundaries between the countries, and at last the United States extended from ocean to ocean.