Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/112

94 of hostilities, except by a cession of her territory. It was thought expedient therefore, to take possession of that lying contiguous to the United States, and, pursuing the same policy, to establish temporary civil governments in New Mexico and California, to be continued in another form, if those provinces were annexed, and to be suspended in the event of their restoration. By carrying the war, at the same time, into the interior, into the heart of the country, it was evident that the government of Mexico would be ultimately driven to abandon her position of refusing to negotiate, and to conclude a treaty of peace on fair and honorable terms.

The several projects adopted by the principal executive and military ofﬁcers of the government, with such modifications and changes as were discovered to be necessary, were carried into effect. General Wool found it impracticable to continue his route over the mountains to Chihuahua, and turned aside to Monclova and Parras, afterwards effecting a junction with General Taylor's army at Saltillo. The demonstration from Tampico, against San Luis Potosi, and the march into the interior of Mexico from the north, were also abandoned.

It was originally designed that the main body of the army should be placed under the immediate command of General Scott, whose ofﬁcial position, to say nothing of his ability, seemed to render the selection a proper and desirable one. An unfortunate misunderstanding, between the President and Secretary of War on the one hand, and himself on the other, was followed by a change in the orders which had been given, and he was directed to conﬁne his services to the city of Washington. It would be out of place in a work of this character, to enter into the details of that controversy. It is sufficient to say of it, that although there was too