After the surrender of the garrison of Monterey a quiet camp life was led until midwinter.  As had been the case on the Rio Grande, the people who remained at their homes fraternized with the “Yankees” in the pleasantest manner.  In fact, under the humane policy of our commander, I question whether the great majority of the Mexican people did not regret our departure as much as they had regretted our coming.  Property and person were thoroughly protected, and a market was afforded for all the products of the country such as the people had never enjoyed before.  The educated and wealthy portion of the population here, as elsewhere, abandoned their homes and remained away from them as long as they were in the possession of the invaders; but this class formed a very small percentage of the whole population.

CHAPTER IX.

Political intrigue—­Buena Vista—­movement against Vera Cruz—­siege and capture of Vera Cruz.

The Mexican war was a political war, and the administration conducting it desired to make party capital out of it.  General Scott was at the head of the army, and, being a soldier of acknowledged professional capacity, his claim to the command of the forces in the field was almost indisputable and does not seem to have been denied by President Polk, or Marcy, his Secretary of War.  Scott was a Whig and the administration was democratic.  General Scott was also known to have political aspirations, and nothing so popularizes a candidate for high civil positions as military victories.  It would not do therefore to give him command of the “army of conquest.”  The plans submitted by Scott for a campaign in Mexico were disapproved by the administration, and he replied, in a tone possibly a little disrespectful, to the effect that, if a soldier’s plans were not to be supported by the administration, success could not be expected.  This was on the 27th of May, 1846.  Four days later General Scott was notified that he need not go to Mexico.  General Gaines was next in rank, but he was too old and feeble to take the field.  Colonel Zachary Taylor—­a brigadier-general by brevet—­was therefore left in command.  He, too, was a Whig, but was not supposed to entertain any political ambitions; nor did he; but after the fall of Monterey, his third battle and third complete victory, the Whig papers at home began to speak of him as the candidate of their party for the Presidency.  Something had to be done to neutralize his growing popularity.  He could not be relieved from duty in the field where all his battles had been victories:  the design would have been too transparent.  It was finally decided to send General Scott to Mexico in chief command, and to authorize him to carry out his own original plan:  that is, capture Vera Cruz and march upon the capital of the country.  It was no doubt supposed that Scott’s ambition would lead him to slaughter Taylor or destroy his chances for the Presidency, and yet it was hoped that he would not make sufficient capital himself to secure the prize.