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O sooner had war been determined on between the United States and Mexico, than the attention of the former country was turned toward those vast provinces lying to the north of Mexico proper, and over which she had at no time held more than a nominal sway. Accordingly, almost simultaneously with the operations of General Taylor against Matamoras, a military force of three hundred dragoons, and three thousand Missouri volunteers, was concentrated at Fort Leavenworth, under Brigadier-General

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SUCCESS OF COLONEL DONIPHAN.

561 Kearny or the purpose of marching against New Mexico. A portion of these operations have been narrated in the history of California; but a summary sketch, although at the risk of some repetition. seems necessary here, in order to preserve the natural connection of dates. On the 18th of August, 1846, this army took possession of the capital city, Santa Fé, where Kearny organized a free government, under the direction of the United States, formed a code of laws, and appointed Charles Bent governor. On the 25th of September, he marched for Upper California, leaving orders with Colonel Doniphan to proceed with about one thousand men, against the Navajo Indians.

Doniphan carried on his campaign against the Indians until the 14th of December; and on the 17th, he again set forward on an expedition to the south, leaving Colonel Price at Santa Fé with fifteen hundred men. Immediately after his departure, an insurrection of the inhabitants took place, which was suppressed with difficulty; and this was followed by the murder of Governor Bent and others, by secret parties throughout the country. So strong was the popular feeling against the Americans, that on the 24th of February, a large body of the insurgents attacked Colonel Price at La Canada, but were repulsed. Another battle took place on the 29th, at the strong post of El Embudo, where the Mexicans were defeated with considerable loss. Price then marched to Puebla de Taos, which was attacked on the 4th of February, and after a vigorous assault, which lasted all day, compelled to capitulate. The principal leaders of the conspiracy were shot, after which Price returned to Santa Fé.

Meanwhile Colonel Doniphan had been fighting his way toward El Paso del Norte. On Christmas day he was attacked at Bracito by eleven hundred men, and though his own force actually engaged was only about five hundred, he defeated his assailants with the loss of two hundred in killed and wounded. On the 29th, he entered El Paso, and on the 8th of February marched for Chihuahua. At the pass of Sacramento he encountered four thousand of the enemy, strongly posted behind a system of twenty-seven redoubts, and having ten pieces of cannon. Doniphan's force was nine hundred and twenty-four men, who were obliged to protect a train of three hundred and fifty wagons, besides the regular army train. But so intimidated were the Mexicans, that on being assailed, they abandoned their works, after a slight resistance, and fled over the adjacent

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mountains. Two Americans were killed, and seven wounded. On the 1st of March, formal possession was taken of Chihuahua. Receiving orders from General Wool to join his command at Saltillo, Doniphan reached that place May 23, 1847, and soon after, his command was reviewed by General Taylor. When the term of service of his troops expired, he returned with them to New Orleans.

During these events, Lieutenant-Colonel Fremont, who had originally been sent into California on a scientific expedition, had raised a considerable force of mounted men, with which he commenced operations against the Mexican troops in his vicinity. On the 13th of June, he captured thirteen men and two hundred horses, belonging to General Castro, and on the 15th, he took possession of Sanoma pass, containing a small garrison, nine cannon, and a number of muskets. On the Pacific coast, Commodore Sloat had taken the sea-port of Monterey, and on the 12th of August, a body of riflemen under Fremont, and Commodore Stockton, Sloat's successor, took possession of Ciudad de los Angelos, of which Fremont was appointed governor. On the 11th of December, Kearny reached the city of San Diego, in California, having five days previously gained a victory

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at San Pasqual, where, with many of his officers and men, he was wounded. On the 8th of January, he fought another battle to recapture the city of Los Angelos, which had been taken by the Mexicans. Being successful, quiet was for a short period restored to California.

On the 16th of November, Colonel Burton, with a little garrison at La Paz, was attacked by a considerable force of the enemy, raised principally among the neighbouring towns, and sustained a trying siege of nearly a week's duration. Nearly at the same time, Lieutenant Heywood was assaulted at San Jose, but succeeded in driving away the enemy after two days' skirmishing. The whole population of New Mexico and California was so discontented with the government of the Americans, that small parties were organized throughout these territories for the purpose of keeping alive the remembrance of their connection with the Mexican government. These finally assumed so serious an aspect as to oblige General (formerly Colonel) Price to take the field with a large force. On the 9th of March, that officer laid siege to Santa Cruz de Rosales, which was defended by a military garrison under General Trias. After a bombardment, which lasted until the 16th, and a furious assault on that day, the city surrendered. This action closed the military events of the war in California and New Mexico.

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CHAPTER LII.

CAMPAIGN OF GENERAL SCOTT.

HE favourite scheme of the American government, during the Mexican war, was to conduct an expedition against the enemy's capital, by way of Vera Cruz, and a land march towards the interior. The first step in this operation was the reduction of the latter city, with its strong castle of San Juan de Ulloa. Its execution was confided to Major-General Scott, who arrived at the mouth of the Rio Grande, January 1, 1847. After detaching a large number of troops from the "Army of Occupation," he embarked [March

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