Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/636

630 "It is a well-known fact that, had Gen. Scott his complement of troops which at Vera Cruz were promised him, he could, after the battle of Cerro Gordo, have marched on to the capital of Mexico without the firing of a single gun, or the loss of a single man. (Cries of 'That's so.') But jealousy, and other obstructions which we all know, were then cast in our way, of which I will not now argue.

"At Puebla, our army, under Gen. Scott, was compelled to halt, to recruit in health and strength, until the 7th of August, 1847, when he, in full glee and confident in the number of his men and sure of victory, again marched, and led his hardy veterans on towards the capital of Mexico. [Applause.]

"Victory had already perched upon our banners; Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Jalapa, Perote and Puebla Cities were won. Now all were anxious to march on and capture the famous Halls of the Montezumas. [Applause.]

"Gen. Santa Anna was strongly entrenched around his loved and boasted capital, surrounded by his splendidly-uniformed staff, his glittering lancers and the flower of his army; he was sole master of the city of Mexico. Straight for that ancient city our army marched—left a jealous foe behind us at Washington, communication in our rear cut off, a united and hostile enemy of over six millions of people before us—a little band ot ten thousand men—truer and braver men never shouldered a musket or carried a sword—men who had confidence in their commanders, and commanders had faith in their men—men with patriotic hearts, and resolute and fixed determination on their minds, resolved to march on to the capital of Mexico, and, like the first conqueror, either conquer or die in the land [Cheers and applause.]—marched on as bravely and enthusiastically as if garlands, laurel-wreaths and evergreen arches awaited them in the capital, instead of a powerful and welldisciplined army more than three times our number. [Applause.] On they marched, step by step; the burning sun of tierra calientes had bleached and bronzed our bright northern faces and flashed upon our bright bayonets and sabres. On