VERA CRUZ, Capture of, in the Mexicali War. While the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena Vista (qq.v.) were being fought, an expedition was being organized by Gen. Winfield Scott (q.v.) to strike inland from the coast and capture Mexico City. Early in March 1847 Scott's 12,000 troops were landed at a point three miles south of Vera Cruz, and on 10 March the in vestment of the city was begun, the troops under Gen, William J. Worth (q.v.) occupying the sandhills, while to the northward, carrying the line of investment around the city to the shore north of it, were the divisions of Gens. Robert Patterson and David E. Twiggs (qq.v.), Much time was lost in bringing up siege guns, mortars, etc., and therefore Scott was not pre pared to begin the bombardment for some time. The doomed city was surrounded on the land side by an almost unbroken line of bastions and redans mounting 100 guns. In the Gulf of Mexico, on a reef about a mile off shore, was the stone castle of San Juan d'Ulloa (or Uhia) built in 1582 at enormous cost, garrisoned by 1,000 men and defended by 128 guns. On 18 March, when the city refused to surrender, Scott permitted the non-combatants to retire, and four days later began the bombardment. Aided by the fleet Scott hurled shot and shell into the city for the next four days and nights, 3,000 90-pound shells and as many shot, chiefly 32-pounders, being thrown from the American guns. The provisions in the city soon began
to run low and on the 24th the French, Spanish and British consuls sent a joint note to Scott requesting him to allow the foreigners, both male and female, and the Mexican women and children to leave the city but Scott re fused, since sufficient warning had been given before the bombardment began. Firing was then resumed, but the next day, the 25th, a flag of truce appeared, and after four days of negotiations the city was surrendered, with the castle of Ulloa. During the siege 400 of the garrison were killed and 600 wounded and between 400 and 600 of the inhabitants had per ishcd. Appointing Worth temporary governor, Scott resumed his march, subsequently fighting the battle; of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churu busco, Molino del Rey and Chapultepec (qq.v), and finally entering Mexico City in triumph. Consult Cooper, J. F., 'Naval History' (Vol. III, pp. 83-90); Jay, William, (Mexican War' ; Ladd, H. O., (The War with Meatico' (pp. 207 216) ; Maclay, E. S., (History of the Navy' (Vol. II, pp. 178-185) ; Maury, Dabney H., (Recollections of a Virginian in the Mexi can, Indian and Civil Wars' (pp. 31-35); Schouler, James, 'United States' (Vol. V,41. 38-47); Scott's (Memoirs) (Vol. II, pp.
428); Wright, M. J., (Life of Scott' (pp. 162 172) ; Wiley and Rines, (The United States' (Vol. VII, pp. 229-231).