Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/459

Rh approved, and, as the reader is aware, he was appointed to the command of the forces in Mexico.

As soon as the United States government had decided to change the base of operation, preparations were carried on with all possible vigor. Transports were procured as quickly as possible, large quantities of munitions of war manufactured, and siege trains of heavy artillery shipped as promptly as circumstances would permit. By February the transports began to arrive at Brazos Santiago, and by the end of the month the embarkation of the troops had been effected at that port, as well as of Patterson's and Twiggs' divisions at Tampico. The island of Lobos, about sixty miles to the south of the latter place, was appointed by Scott as a general rendezvous, and there he organized his army, now numbering over 12,000 men. On March 7th the fleet of transports numbering about eighty vessels anchored at Point Anton Lizardo, and Scott, having reconnoitred the coast, decided to effect a landing at a point about three miles south of Vera Cruz. Sixty-seven surf-boats, each capable of holding from seventy to eighty men, had been provided, and into these 5,500 men were embarked and put ashore about half-past five in the afternoon of the 9th. During the night the debarkation of the whole force was effected without opposition.