President Polk, however, took the side of Texas, claimed the country as far as the Rio Grande, and in January, 1846, ordered General Zachary Taylor to march our army across the Nueces, go to the Rio Grande, and occupy the disputed strip.  This he did, and on April 25, 1846, the Mexicans crossed the river and attacked the Americans.  Taylor instantly sent the news to Washington, and, May 12, Polk asked for a declaration of war.  “Mexico,” said he, “has passed the boundary of the United States; has invaded our territory and shed American blood on American soil.”  Congress declared that war existed, and Polk called for 50,000 volunteers (May 13, 1846).

When the Mexicans crossed the Rio Grande and attacked the Americans at Fort Brown, Taylor was at Point Isabel.  Hurrying southward to the relief of the fort, he met the enemy at Palo Alto, beat them, pushed on to Resaca de la Palma, beat them again, and soon crossed the river and took possession of the town of Matamoras.  There he remained till August, 1846, waiting for supplies, reinforcements, and means of transportation, when he began a march toward the city of Monterey.  The Mexicans, profiting by Taylor’s long stay at Matamoras, had gathered in great force at Monterey, and had strongly fortified every position.  But Taylor attacked with vigor, and after three days of continuous fighting, part of the time from street to street and house to house, the Mexican General Ampudia surrendered the city (September 24, 1846).  An armistice of six weeks’ duration was then agreed on, after which Taylor moved on leisurely to Saltillo (sahl-teel’-yo).

%364.  Scott in Mexico.%—­Meantime, General Winfield Scott was sent to Mexico to assume chief command.  He reached the mouth of the Bio Grande in January, 1847, and called on Taylor to send him 10,000 men.  Santa Anna (sahn’-tah ahn’-nah), who commanded the Mexicans, hearing of this order, marched at once against Taylor, who took up a strong position at Buena Vista (bwa’-nah vees’-tah), where a desperate battle was fought February 23, 1847.  The Americans won, and Santa Anna hurried off to attack Scott, who was expected at Vera Cruz.  Scott landed there in March, and, after a siege of a few days, took the castle and city, and ten days later began his march westward along the national highway towards the ancient capital of the Aztecs.  It was just 328 years since Cortez with his little band started from the same point on a precisely similar errand.  At every step of the way the ranks of Scott grew thinner and thinner.  Hundreds perished in battle.  Hundreds died by the wayside of disease more terrible than battle.  But Scott would not turn back, and victory succeeded victory with marvelous rapidity.  April 8 he left Vera Cruz.  April 18 he stormed the heights of Cerro Gordo.  April 19 he was at Jalapa (hah-lah’-pah).  On the 22d Perote (pa-ro’-ta) fell.  May 15 the city of Puebla (pweb’-lah) was his.  There Scott staid till August 7, when he again pushed westward, and on the 10th saw the city of Mexico.  Then followed in rapid succession the victories of Contreras (con-tra’-rahs), Churubusco (choo-roo-boos’-ko), Molino del Rey (mo-lee’-no del ra), the storming of Chapultepec (chah-pool-ta-pek’), and the triumphal entry into Mexico, September 14, 1847.  Never before in the history of the world had there been made such a march.