Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/341

Rh stood entirely aloof from the guerilleros, who soon commenced an indiscriminate plunder of friends and enemies, and refused to give them their countenance and support. The announcement that this system of fighting was about to be adopted, would have excited serious apprehensions in the minds of any other soldiers in the world; but a large proportion of the American troops were familiar with the legendary tales of border warfare in their own country, and many had been accustomed, from childhood. to the dangers and incidents of a life upon the frontiers, in the midst of hostile Indians. It was impossible, indeed, at all times to guard against surprise, — yet they knew how to retaliate. On the 11th of May, General Scott issued an eloquent proclamation, addressed to the Mexican people, forcibly depicting their deplorable condition as a nation, and advising them to terminate their dissensions and feuds, and to cultivate harmony among themselves, and friendship and amity with other nations. He assured them that the war would be prosecuted until an honorable peace was obtained, and admonished them to be cautious how they put in force the order to form guerilla parties, and to beware how they provoked him to retaliation. The guerilleros were far from being intimidated by the language of the proclamation, but it induced many to withhold their sympathy, whose assistance had been counted on with confidence.