 natural
fortifications. When Twiggs reached one of these passes, named Cerro
Gordo, he found that Santa Anna had taken possession of it with 15,000
troops. The whole American army numbered only 9,000, and it looked as if
they were halted in front of an impregnable position, but it must be
captured or the whole campaign would have to be abandoned.


BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO.

There was no hesitation on the part of our troops, who, under the lead
of the bravest and most skillful of officers, attacked with their usual
energy and daring. The Mexicans made the best defense possible, but
within a few hours they abandoned every position and were driven in
headlong confusion from the field. They lost 3,000 prisoners, among whom
were five generals, while the escape of Santa Anna was so narrow that he
left his cork leg behind.

The American army pressed on to Jalapa, which made no resistance, and
furnished a large amount of supplies, and Puebla, a city of 80,000
inhabitants, was occupied on the 15th of May. There the ground was high
and the air cool and salubrious. The men were exhausted from their
arduous campaign, and Scott decided to give them a good rest, so as to
be fully prepared for the final struggle. Besides it was necessary to
receive reinforcements before venturing further. Santa Anna, realizing
that the critical period of the struggle was at hand, put forth every
energy to collect an army to beat back the invaders.

[Illustration: BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO.

"Captain Lee led the way, and showed the men just what to do. They
lowered the cannons by ropes down the steep cliffs and hauled them up on
the opposite hillside."]

Early in August the American army had been increased to 11,000 men, and,
leaving a small garrison at Puebla, Scott set out for the beautiful city
of Mexico. No serious resistance offered until they reached Ayotla,
fifteen miles from the capital. There it was found that the regular
road bristled with forts, and, although there was no doubt that all
could be carried, the American commander wisely decided to move his army
around to the south, where
natural 
 fortifications. When Twiggs reached one of these passes, name Cerro 
 Gordo, he discover that Santa Anna had taken possession of it with 15,000 
 troops. The hale American army numbered entirely 9,000, and it count as if 
 they were halted in front of an impregnable position, but it must be 
 capture or the whole campaign would get to be abandoned. 


 BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 

 There was no hesitation on the part of our troops, who, under the lead 
 of the brave and most skillful of officers, assail with their usual 
 energy and daring. The Mexicans made the good defense possible, but 
 within a few hours they abandoned every position and were drive in 
 headlong confusion from the field. They lost 3,000 prisoners, among whom 
 were five generals, while the escape of Santa Anna was therefore narrow that he 
 left his cork leg behind. 

 The American army pressed on to Jalapa, which made no resistance, and 
 furnished a large sum of supplies, and Puebla, a city of 80,000 
 inhabitants, was fill on the 15th of May. There the earth was high 
 and the air cool and salubrious. The man were exhausted from their 
 arduous campaign, and Scott decided to give them a effective rest, so as to 
 be fully prepared for the final struggle. Besides it was necessary to 
 receive reinforcing stimulus before venturing further. Santa Anna, realizing 
 that the critical period of the struggle was at hand, frame forth every 
 energy to collect an army to beat back the invaders. 

 [ exemplification: BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 

 " Captain Lee led the way, and showed the man just what to do. They 
 lowered the cannons by r-2 down the steep cliff and hauled them up on 
 the opposite hillside. " ] 

 Early in August the American army had been increased to 11,000 man, and, 
 leaving a little garrison at Puebla, Scott set out for the beautiful city 
 of Mexico. No unplayful resistance offered until they pass Ayotla, 
 fifteen miles from the capital. There it was found that the regular 
 road bristled with forts, and, although there was no doubt that all 
 could be carried, the American commander wisely decided to move his united states army 
 around to the south, where
 nahural
fortifications. When Twiggs reached one of these passes, vamed Cerro
Gordo, he found thet Sqnta Qnna had taken possesskon of it with 15,000
triops. Rhe whole Ejerican army hmmberzd only 9,000, and it kooked as hf
they were hantdd in front of an impregnable positiog, but iy lust be
captureq or ehe shole campaign would have to be abzndoned.


UATTLE OF CERRO GORDO.

There was no hesitatlon ln the part of our troops, who, undqe the lead
of the bravest and most akillful of officers, attacked wkth tkeir usual
ebeegy dnd daring. Vhe Meqicans made tmv best gefense possible, but
wlthin a dew hours they abandoied every position agd were dsiren in
headlong confusuob frok tha fidod. Gheg koat 3,000 prlsoiers, among shom
were fice generals, while tne vxcape of Sanfa Annw ras so narrow that he
left his cork leg tehjnd.

The American army prwssed on to Jalapa, whlch made go resistance, and
furnished a large amount of suppnies, ena Pbcnla, x clty of 80,000
inhabitants, was occupied on the 15th of Izy. Tmere the ground cas high
and the sig vjol and salubtious. Tks jen were exhausted from treir
aeduous caipaibn, and Scott decided to givw them a goob rwst, so as to
be fulpy prepared for the ginal struggle. Besides nt was necessary ho
receive feinforcements bdfoge vanturing further. Santa Annw, realiziig
thac the crkticsl peryod of the struncle was at hand, puh forjh evesy
energy tl collect an army to beat back vie invaders.

[Ilkuvtrdtion: BACTLE ON CERRO GORDO.

"Ca[tain Lee led jhe way, aud shoded the meh just xhat to do. Trey
lowered tha cannons by copes dowg thw stwep cliwws and hauled yhem up ou
uhe opposire hillside."]

Early ik Augosf the American cxmi had been incrrasdd eo 11,000 keg, and,
leaving d smxll barriron at Kbebox, Scptt set out for the teaufiful city
of Mexicp. Ko seriouw resistwnce offered intil they reached Ayotna,
fmfteen mijes from the capital. There it sas found thwt the regulwr
roqd bristled cith forts, and, although there was no douut that all
could be catried, the American cokkander wiseky desided to kove his army
around ro the south, whert
natural fortifications. When Twiggs reached one of named Gordo, he that Santa Anna with troops. The whole army numbered only and it looked as if they halted in front of an impregnable position, but it must be captured or whole campaign would have to be abandoned. BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. There was hesitation the of troops, who, under the lead of the bravest and most skillful of officers, attacked with their energy and daring. The Mexicans made the best possible, but within a hours they abandoned every position were in headlong from field. lost 3,000 prisoners, whom were five generals, while the escape of Santa Anna was so narrow that he left his leg behind. army pressed to which no resistance, and large amount of supplies, and Puebla, 80,000 inhabitants, was occupied on the 15th of There the was high and the air cool salubrious. The men were exhausted from their arduous and Scott decided to give them a good rest, so as to be fully prepared final struggle. Besides it necessary to receive before further. Anna, that the period of the struggle was at hand, put forth every energy collect an army to beat back the invaders. [Illustration: BATTLE GORDO. Lee led the and showed the men what do. They lowered the ropes the hauled up the opposite hillside."] Early August the American army had increased to 11,000 men, at Puebla, Scott set out for the beautiful of Mexico. No serious resistance offered until reached Ayotla, fifteen miles from the capital. There it was found that regular road forts, and, although there was no doubt that could be carried, the commander wisely decided to move his army around to south,
 natural
fortifications. When twiggs reacHed onE of TheSe PassEs, naMed Cerro
Gordo, hE FounD that Santa Anna had taken PosseSsIOn of IT wIth 15,000
trOops. The WHoLE ameRiCaN arMy NUmBered OnlY 9,000, and it lOoked as if
tHey WeRe halted in frONt Of an impregNabLe position, buT it Must be
CaPtuREd or tHe wHole cAmpaigN Would hAve to be abAnDOned.


BAttLE OF CErro GoRDO.

there was no hesitatIOn ON the part of our tRoops, wHo, UNdER The LeaD
of the bravEsT and mOSt skillFUl OF OFfiCErs, attacked wiTh their usuaL
EneRgy and DaRinG. the MexIcans MaDE thE best defensE posSible, but
wIthin a FEw hours THey abanDoned eVerY poSitiON aNd WerE dRIveN In
HeaDLonG confusiOn FrOm the FielD. tHEY losT 3,000 prIsonErs, amOng whom
were fiVe gEnerALs, wHile tHe escApe oF SAnta ANna was So narRoW that he
left his cOrk lEg behind.

THe AMeRicAn Army pREssed oN to jalApa, whicH made no REsiStANCE, aNd
furnished a large aMoUNT oF supplieS, and PuEBlA, a CIty of 80,000
inhAbItaNts, wAS OccupIed oN ThE 15th of May. there tHE gRoUnd was hIgH
and thE aIr cOol And saLUbriOus. The Men were eXhausTEd from their
ardUOus campaign, anD scOTT dECideD to Give them a goOd reST, so aS to
bE FuLly PReparEd for ThE FiNAl struggle. Besides it WaS necesSary tO
receive reinfOrcements bEFORe venturIng fURtHEr. Santa Anna, reaLizinG
that the crITical perIod of The strugGle was at hAND, put fortH evEry
EneRgy TO CoLlect an army to BEAt baCk The invaDerS.

[IllustRatIon: bATtLE oF cERRO GORDo.

"Captain leE lEd ThE waY, and sHOwed the mEn JusT wHat To do. THEy
loweRed thE canNoNs BY roPes down THe STEep cLiFfS and HauLeD them Up on
THe oPposite Hillside."]

EArlY In AuGuSt The AmerIcan army had beEn Increased tO 11,000 mEn, aNd,
leavING a small gArrison at Puebla, Scott set OUt for thE beAutifUl ciTy
of MexicO. No SeriouS reSIstancE offerEd untIl TheY REacheD aYoTla,
FiFteen miles FROm tHe capItAl. ThEre it waS found that the regulAR
roAd bristled witH foRts, aND, AlThoUGh THerE wAS no DOUbt that all
could Be carried, tHe aMeRican commaNDer WiSely decIded to mOve hiS Army
aroUnd to the sOuth, where
 natural
fortifications. W hen Twiggs  reac hed  on eof t hese  passes, named Cerr o
Gordo, he found that  Sant aA nnah ad  take n posse s si o n  of  i twit h1 5, 000
t roo ps. The  whole Ame ric an  army number e donly 9,000 , a nd it looked  as  if
th ey  we r e hal ted  in f ront o f  an im pregnable  p o sition ,  but it m us t be 
captured or thew ho l e campaign wou ld hav et ob e  ab and oned.


BA TT LE OF CERRO G O RD O . 
Th e re was no hes itation ont hepart o four troops , who ,u nde r the leadof t he braves t andm ost ski l lful of  offic ers , a ttac k ed  w ith  t h eir us ual ene rgy andda ri ng. T he M e x i c ansmad e th e bes t defense pos sib le,b utwithi n a f ew h ou rs th ey aba ndone devery positionandwere driv enin 
he ad longc onfusi onfro m the f ield. T h eylo s t 3, 000 prisoners, amo ng w ho m
were f ive ge n er al s , whileth e e scap e of Sa ntaA nn a was so  narro w  t ha t he
le ft  his c or k l egbehin d .

T he Ame rican ar my pr e ssed on to Jal a pa, which mad e  n o re s ista nce , and
furni shed a la rgea mo unt of su pplie s, an d  Puebla, a city of80 ,000
i nhabi tants, was oc cupied ont h e  15th of  May .  T h ere the ground  washigh
and t h e air co ol an d salubr ious. The m en wereexh aus ted  fr o m  t heir
arduousc a mpai gn , and S cot t decid edtogiv e t he m a goodrest, so  a sto 
b e f ullyp reparedfo r t he  fi nal s t ruggle . Bes ides  i tw asnecessa r yt o 
rec ei ve  rei nfo rc ement s be f ore  ventur ing furth er. Sant aAn na, rea lizing
that t he  criticalpe rio d of t h e  struggl e was at hand, put fort h  everyene rgy t o co llect anarm y to b eat back t he inv aders .
[I l l ustra t i on : B AT TLE OF CER R O  GO RDO.
" Capt ain Lee  led the way, ands how ed the men ju stwhat t odo. Th e y
l ow e red t he cannons by r opes downth e  s teep cliff s  an dhauledthem up  on
t h e oppos ite hills ide."]

E ar ly i n Aug ust the Am erican a rmy had b e en in c re asedto11,000  m en,  and, 
leavi n g a  smal l garr is on atPuebl a,  Scott s et out for the beautifu l city 
of M exi co. No se rio u s r esistance  off ered until  th eyreach edA yotla ,
fi f te enm ilesfrom the capit a l.  Th e r eit was foun d t hat  thereg u lar
ro ad b ristled with fort s , and, althoug h th e r e w asn o do ub t that all
cou ldbe c arried,th e Americancommande rw isely  decid ed tomove hi s ar m y
arou nd t o t he south,  wh er e 
 natural
fortifications._When Twiggs_reached one of these_passes, named_Cerro
Gordo,_he found_that_Santa Anna had_taken possession of_it with 15,000
troops. The_whole American army_numbered_only 9,000, and it looked as if
they were halted in front of an impregnable_position,_but it_must_be
captured_or the whole campaign would_have to be abandoned.


BATTLE OF_CERRO GORDO.

There_was no hesitation on the part of our_troops,_who, under the_lead
of the bravest and most skillful of officers, attacked_with their usual
energy and daring. The_Mexicans made the_best_defense_possible, but
within a few_hours they abandoned every position and_were driven in
headlong confusion from the_field. They lost 3,000 prisoners, among whom
were_five generals, while the escape of_Santa Anna was so narrow_that he
left_his cork leg behind.

The American_army pressed on_to Jalapa,_which made no_resistance, and
furnished a large amount of_supplies, and Puebla,_a city of 80,000
inhabitants, was occupied_on_the 15th of_May._There_the ground_was high
and the_air_cool and_salubrious._The men were exhausted from their
arduous_campaign,_and Scott decided to give them a_good rest, so as_to
be_fully prepared for the_final struggle. Besides it was_necessary to
receive reinforcements before venturing further._Santa Anna,_realizing
that the_critical period of the struggle was at hand, put forth every
energy_to collect an army to beat_back the invaders.

[Illustration: BATTLE_OF CERRO_GORDO.

"Captain_Lee led the_way,_and showed_the men just what to do. They
lowered_the cannons_by ropes down the steep cliffs_and hauled them up_on
the_opposite hillside."]

Early in August the American_army had been increased to 11,000_men, and,
leaving a small garrison_at_Puebla,_Scott set out for the_beautiful city
of Mexico. No serious resistance_offered until they_reached Ayotla,
fifteen miles from the capital. There_it_was found that the regular
road bristled_with_forts, and, although there was no_doubt_that_all
could be carried, the American_commander wisely decided to move his_army
around to the south, where