Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/482

462 therefore turned his attention to securing the retreat of his infantry, and to carrying off the artillery in Fort Loreto near the city. Thinking that he would be able to destroy Quitman's command as Worth advanced on Puebla, he led his cavalry in person against it, but when he discovered that Worth was still at Amozoc, retired from a contest which offered no chance of success. During this operation the Mexican infantry retreated with the artillery along the highway to Mexico, and Santa Anna followed with the cavalry before daybreak next morning.

Worth moved on in the morning of the 15th, and was met by the ayuntamiento of Puebla three miles outside the city. In obedience to Scott's desire to conciliate the inhabitants, the terms of capitulation were made as liberal as possible, and the column quietly occupied the place. Worth's reception by the authorities was coldly courteous.

Meanwhile Scott on the 11th of May issued at Jalapa a proclamation to the Mexican people, which elicited the warm approval of the president of the United States, and was well received in those portions of Mexico occupied by the Americans. The document was written in Spanish, at the instigation of Mexicans of high standing and influence, some of them churchmen, and expressed sentiments likely to meet with a friendly response, and promote the cause of peace. The ability with which it was written and the topics suggested influenced the approaching elections in Mexico in favor of the peace party. In one point only was it somewhat inconsistent with the policy of the United States, and that was