Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/469

449 Quitman returned April 4th to Vera Cruz, and Perry placed a detachment of marines in the place to hold possession.

Shortly afterward, April 18th, Tuxpan was captured by the fleet after a feeble resistance, and the guns which belonged to the stranded Truxton were recovered. As the place was of little importance, it was abandoned after the works had been destroyed.

Perry next turned his attention to Tabasco again, and about the middle of June, having proceeded some distance up the river, landed a force of 1,100 men and 10 pieces of artillery, which took the town by assault without difficulty. Destroying the fortifications and transferring the war material to his ships, Perry left the town in possession of 420 men. Tabasco and the ports in the southern portion of the gulf were held for some time by the naval forces, which experienced no other opposition than annoyances. During the remainder of the war the whole of the eastern coast of Mexico was under the power of the gulf squadron.

When Santa Anna arrived at Matehuala he received news of the revolution promoted in the capital by the political party called the polkos, and decided to proceed thither in person. At San Luis, therefore, where he arrived March 9th, he placed Mora y Villamil in command of the troops which he left behind, and with a portion of his shattered army hastened to the city of Mexico. His presence tended to restore order. He assumed the presidency without opposition, and made a triumphal entry into the city March 23d. Intelligence of Scott's descent upon Vera Cruz had reached the capital as early as the 11th, but had not caused any great