While the campaign in Northern Mexico was thus progressing. the United States sent expedi tions into New Mexico and California. Within three months the American flag had been hoisted at Santa FC., the navy had planted the flag at Sall Francisco, and seaports on the west coast of llexico were blockaded.
On March 9. 1847, Scott began to land his force (12,000 men) at Vera Cruz, with materials for a siege. By the 22d the investment of the city was complete, and a formal demand for sur render was made, which met with prompt re fusal. For four clays the bombarded the city and the Castle of San Juan de Ulna, their tire being replied to with spirit, but on the 25th the foreign consuls used their influence in the interests of non-combatants and to secure the burial of the dead, and a suspension of hostili ties ensued. On the 29th the city surrendered. (See VERA CRUZ.) After a brief interval the Americans pushed on toward their goal. At the same time Santa Anna, having reorganized his army. marched with more than 12,000 men from the City of Mexico. Cerro Gordo (q.v.). a pass in the mountains, 60 miles from Vera Cruz, he awaited the invaders, about 8500 strong. On the 14th of April Scott arrived and on the 18th attacked. Although stoutly resisted, by noon the Americans had swept over Cerro Gordo and driven the Mexicans down the road for ten miles. The spoils comprised 3000 prison ers. including 5 generals, and 40 bronze cannon. The casualties on the side were fully 1000; on the American side, 431. The advanee to Puebla was only slightly opposed, and on May 15th Worth's division of 4000 men encamped in the Grand Plaza of this `City of the Angels,' in the midst of 60,000 hostile citizens, 75 miles from the Mexican capital. On the 17th Scott made a final appeal to the Mexierurs in the ihterest of peace. but in the imbittered state of popular feeling it failed. On the contrary. Santa Anna strained every means for the defense of his capital; he appealed to the patriotism of the people, money was freely contributed, and almost every ablehndied man was enrolled for the com mon defense, until 36,000 men and 100 pieces of artillery were in readiness. Sickness and the dis charge of seven regiments of volunteers had re dueed Scott's army. but the arrival of 2400 men under General Pierce (afterwards President of the United States) brought the total strength of the American force,. to 10,738. nearly one-half of whom were recruits. Leaving a detach ment of 500 men at Puebla, where 2300 wounded were in hospitals. Scott advanced upon the 'Halls of the Montezumas.' The city was entered by three roads, each guarded by rocky hills strongly fortified, the most prominent being that of El Potion, mounting 51 guns, behind which were long and narrow causeways, flanked on one side by fields covered with broken lava, and on the other by ponds and marshes. On the east and
southeast large lakes added to the military pro tection of the city; an inner line of fortifications, made doubly impregnable by nature and art. completed the obstacles to a further advance on the part of the Americans. Undismayed by these, however, General Scott summoned his engineers, among whom Isere Captains George 13. Mc Clellan and Robert E. Lee, and a new road was cut, skirting Lake Chaleo and by a circuitous route of 27 miles leading to the most vulnerable side of the town. After careful reconnoissance the first impediment. the hill of Contreras (q.v.). was taken (August 200) by an unexpected and desperate assault, with 813 prisoners (including four generals),22 cannon, and thousands of small arms. The attacking force number&l 4500, the defense 7000 men, of whom 700 were killed. \While the Americans lost about 110 in killed and wounded. On the same day the strong positions of San Antonio and Churubuseo (q.v.) were carried by the divisions of Worth and Twiggs, with further captures of 1800 prisoners. includ ing 4 general officers; the losing more than 3000 and the America us about 1100 killed and wounded. After the 'outer walls' had thus been gained, the :\ 'pelican advance was again halted, and on August 23d an armistice was agreed upon pending the possibility that the de mands of the United States might be acceded to without further bloodshed. This expectation proved futile, and on September 7th the final movement began. After severe haul to liaml fighting, the defenses of Munn° del Rey were carried by the Americans on September 8th, and on the 13th the castle of Chaim'tepee was stormed. On the 14th the Mexican army evacu ated the capital, and General Scott made his entry into the city. The total American losses dnring the operations in the Valley of Mexico were 2703, including :383 officers; that of the Mexicans 700(1 killed and wounded and 37:30 prisoners of war. The spoils of war comprised 20 standards. 132 cannon. and 20.000 small arms. General Scott established his headquarters in the City of Mexico, was rei:nforced to an aggre gate of 20,000 nnett. and levied a tax of $150,000 upon the mitnicipal government, to be largely ex pended for the comfort of the sick and wounded. On February 2, 1818, a treaty of peace between the Vnited States and Mexico was signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo. (See GrAtwycl.: