Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/179



MONTEREY.

{{Plr|Censure of General Arista — Arrival of Volunteers on the Rio Grande — Proclamation — Difficulty in procuring Transportation and Supplies — Advance of the Army — Encounter at Ramos — Defences of Monterey — Skirmish at San Jeromino — Storming of Federacion Hill and the Soldada — Diversion in the lower part of the Town — The Enemy's line of defence penetrated — Terrible slaughter among the Assailants — Ca{>ture of the Bishop's Palace — The Americans in the City — Street-fighting — Capitulation.}}

n addition to the mortification of defeat, General Arista was fated to experience the bitterness of the truth, that the unsuccessful warrior rarely finds sympathy among those whom he has vainly endeavored to serve. Heroes are but too often the creatures of chance, and "a breath unmakes them, as a breath has made." The government of Paredes had not entertained the idea that the army under General Taylor would dare to cope with the well-appointed legions which had been sent into the field; they were ignorant of the spirit that animated the American soldiers; they did not know, that ere the flag of their country should have trailed in defeat, not one would have been left to witness its humiliation.

After leaving Matamoras, Arista retired with the remnant of his army to the vicinity of Linares, and subsequently to the city of Monterey. Pickets were thrown out on the road to Matamoras, in anticipation