Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/32

28 and wished for an armistice until he could hear from th Capital, but Old Rough and Ready said, "No!" Taylo. was asked if he intended to take the city, "Yes," was the reply, "if he had to batter it down. Tell General Arista, said he, "that the city must capitulate, all public property, amunition, provisions &c. must be given up, and then the army may march out and retire. Arista was ordered to give an answer by 3 P. M. In the mean time our army marched three miles up the river, where there was a suitable place for crossing. No deputation came from Arista and we crossed May 18th. By a sad accident Lieut. Stephens was drowned. It was found that the Mexican army precipitately left the city and the authorities invited General Taylor to take possession. The battlefield of Resaca de la Palma presented a sad spectacle—such vast numbers of the slain and now the hospitals were filled with the wounded! Near one poor wounded man, sat a beautiful girl of seventeen keeping off the flies. She was his wife. There the mother and her children were seated by the wounded father. Colonel Twiggs was appointed to the chief command of the city.

Colonel Garland was sent out with two companies on the 19th to follow the enemy. After he had gone 27 miles he came up with them, had a skirmish, and returned the 22d. Two of his men were wounded. He killed two, wounded two of the enemy and captured twenty men with their baggage. Barita, a small town near by, was taken May 17, by Colonel Wilson. When the Congress of the U. S. heard of the capture of Capt. Thornton and his command, that body made declaration of war May 1 3th, and voted to raise fifty thousand volunteers and to appropriate ten milionsmillions [sic] of dollars for the expense of the war. War was declared by Mexico, April 23rd. Our Congress