file—Ordered to Mexican war—Speeds to Boston by sleigh

78 CHAPTER VII
VOYAGE TO MEXICO Placed in charge of pontoon and engineer train—Delays in embarking—Visits from relatives—Death of Elizabeth—Letters to wife—Sails on barque Prompt, January 19, 1847—Diary of voyage—Seasickness—Warm weather—Passes Bahamas, Great Abaco, Hole in the Wall, Berry Island, Black Chief—Steward commits suicide—The weather in the Gulf—Arrives at the Brazos—Meets officers—Great confusion—Sails to Tampico, beautiful, picturesque region—Landing at Vera Cruz, March 9 and 10 96 CHAPTER VIII
VERA CRUZ.—CERRO GORDO Vera Cruz—Defenses—American army invests city—Lieutenant Stevens’s zeal in reconnoitring—Hands torn and poisoned— Horse bolts to enemy’s lines—Throws himself from saddle— Looks out route for covered way—Put in charge with large working parties—Volunteers—Independent ways—Diary of siege—Capture of city—Damage by artillery fire—“Moonlight magnificence and sunlight squalidity”—Secures fine horse— Appointed adjutant of engineer corps—Diary of march to Cerro Gordo—National Bridge—Rancheros—Reconnoissances of Cerro Gordo—Disabled by rupture—Compelled to remain in camp—Description of battle—Letter to wife 110 CHAPTER IX
JALAPA.—PUEBLA Prisoners released on parole—March for Jalapa—Encerro, Santa Anna’s country seat—Reaches Jalapa, Eden of Mexico—Prepares memoir on conducting war against guerrillas—Letters to wife—Feeling address at burial of Sapper Carigan—March from Jalapa to Puebla—Beautiful country—Soldado—Pass of La Hora—Las Vegas—Perote, its plain and castle—Leaves Perote with Colonel Clarke’s brigade—San Antonio—Tepe Ahualeo with General Worth and Garland’s brigade—Hacienda of Virayes— Byzantium—Ojo de Agua—Hacienda Santa Annaced—Nopalucan—El Pinal—Acajete—Amasoque—Column of lancers threaten attack— Sheer off at fire of Duncan’s battery in two bodies— Lieutenants Stevens and McClellan pursue one for five miles—Puebla occupied—Health improved—Reports for duty— Reconnoitres road to Tlascala—Examines position in city— Generals Scott and Twiggs arrive—Santa Anna renounces power—His career and character—Attends church—Bull fight— Army recruiting strength—Drilling—Awaiting reinforcements— Engineers making maps—Collecting information—Wealthy Mexican offers to act as spy—Dominguez, robber chief, with some of his band, employed as spies and couriers—Submits memoir on system of espionage and employing robbers—Rumors— Guerrillas invest El Pinal—Colonel Harney marches to disperse them—Arrival of volunteers—Review—Sorry appearance—Good material—Heavy defenses and eighteen thousand troops at City of Mexico—Character of Mexican governing class—Letters to wife—Description of Puebla—Climate—People—Confidence of the troops—Character of General Scott—Arrival of General Pierce 129 CHAPTER X
ADVANCE TO MEXICO, EL PEÑON, CONTRERAS, CHURUBUSCO Advance to valley of Mexico—Description of defenses—General Scott and staff with Twiggs’s division reach Ayotla—Daring reconnoissances of El Peñon by Lieutenant Stevens—March around Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco—Occupy San Augustin— Reconnoissances of enemy’s positions—San Antonio road strongly fortified—Pedregal—Intrenched camp at Contreras— Battle of Contreras—Lieutenant Stevens urges decisive movement adopted by Twiggs—“Attack the enemy’s left; you cut him off from reinforcements and hurl him into the gorges of the mountains”—Stormy night—Discouragement—Scene at Scott’s headquarters—Second day’s battle—Reconnoitring from church steeple at Coyoacan—Enemy in full retreat on San Antonio road—Instant advance by Twiggs, led by Lieutenant Stevens, who comes up against fortified convent and brings on battle of Churubusco—Description of battle—Terrible scenes of battlefield banished sleep—Letter to wife—Tacubaya occupied— Armistice 163 CHAPTER XI
MOLINO DEL REY.—CHAPULTEPEC.—CAPTURE OF CITY OF MEXICO.—RETURN TO UNITED STATES General Scott and staff enter Tacubaya—Take quarters in Bishop’s Palace—Commissioners to negotiate peace—Mexican treachery—Armistice terminated—Battle of Molino del Rey—Useless attacks—Severe losses—Battle of Chapultepec—Castle stormed—Quitman advances on Tacubaya causeway—Worth on San Cosme causeway—Lieutenant Stevens, with Worth, wounded—Enemy retreat in night—American troops occupy city—Lieutenant Stevens’s remarks on the movements—His character sketches of Lee, Beauregard, Tower, Smith, McClellan, Foster, Mason—Removed to city—quartered in the Palace—Severe wound—Ups and downs—Mounts crutches—Journeys in ambulance with Lieutenant Foster to Puebla—Arrives at New Orleans 202 CHAPTER XII
HEROES HOME FROM THE WAR Proceeds to Washington—Flattering reception—Gives full accounts to Colonel Totten—Joyful reunion with family in Newport—Shoots mad dog—Ordered to Savannah—Letter to brother—Character of Cromwell—Makes garden—Justice of Mexican war—Savannah orders countermanded—Resumes works at Bucksport—Purchases house, garden, poultry—Characteristic reply to inquiry as to willingness to be sent to Pacific coast—Brevetted captain and major—Efforts to secure justice for brother officers—Opinion of General Taylor—Brevet pay—McClellan asks assistance for engineer company— Lieutenant Stevens’s views—Advocates reorganization of the army 226 CHAPTER XIII
COAST SURVEY Professor A.D. Bache tenders charge of Coast Survey office— Accepts conditionally—Retains charge of works—Assumes new duties—Estimate of General Taylor—Magnitude of Coast Survey Office—Organizes the force—Reforms the office— Meets “men of Mexico”—General Shields—Approves compromise measures—Puritan