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 raised in the United States to take the places of those who had returned home. Three and one-half months after the battle of Cerro Gordo reënforcements raised his total to 10,276 men, of whom nearly one-fourth were sick. On August 6th other reënforcements brought their numbers up to nearly 14,000, of whom 3,000 were sick or in the hospitals. Compelled still further to weaken himself by guarding his line of communications, Scott resumed the offensive, against an army estimated by the Mexicans themselves at 36,000 men, with 100 pieces of cannon. But General Scott had exceeding confidence in the character of his troops and fearlessly led them to a succession of brilliant victories. Beginning on the 20th of August our largest force engaged was 8,479 men, of whom he lost, in the series of battles, 2,703. So that on September 14th, he entered the City of Mexico with fewer than 6,000 men.

But — and here is a great big but, — but for a defect in legislation at Washington we would have captured the City of Mexico [122]