Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/480

460 Gaona, the commander, to abandon it and retire with the garrison. Worth had been ordered forward without loss of time, and took possession of the castle on the 22d.

Scott's further advance was temporarily embarrassed by learning, a few days later, that the greater portion of the expected new levies had been landed at Brazos Santiago with a view to aid Taylor, unfavorable reports of whose situation had been received at Washington. This placed him in a difficult position, as the term of service of the old volunteers was near its expiration, and the discharge of seven regiments, numbering 3,000 men in an excellent state of efficiency, was a serious consideration. Nevertheless, as their time expired in five or six weeks, and to advance farther from the coast would expose them to the necessity of returning to Vera Cruz at the most fatal season of the year, Scott, on May 4th, from considerations of humanity, issued his order for them to embark at Vera Cruz for New Orleans, where on their arrival they were honorably mustered out of the service. Patterson, whom this discharge left without a command, also returned to the United States.

The American congress had passed laws authorizing the raising of fresh troops, and it was the intention of the government to increase Scott's force to about 20,000. Recruits had been quickly obtained, and several detachments were already in motion for Brazos Santiago. At that place General Cadwalader, with about 1,000 troops, disembarked early in April; but Scott, on the 25th, instructed him to embark for Vera Cruz the new regiments as rapidly as they arrived,