Life and Letters of General W. H. L. Wallace

III. Mexican War. Journey to Mexico.

CHAPTER III. MEXICAN WAR. JOURNEY TO MEXICO. T HE war with Mexico was now actually a fact. Ever since Texas had gained her independence from Mexico and joined the United States as an integral part of the Union there had been friction over boundary lines. When the Mexican soldiery actually shed the blood of Americans on American soil, the war spirit was aroused. Congress on the 11th of May, 1846, acknowledged that war already existed by the act of the Mexican government and placed ten million dollars at the disposal of the President to prosecute the war. \Var meetings were held in all parts of the country and within a few weeks three hundred thousand men rushed forward to join the ranks. Six regiments went from Illinois . In La Salle County the war spirit also found its way. T. Lyle Dickey gave up his fine law practice and organized one of the first companies, of which he was chosen Captain. W. H. L. Wallace naturally followed. He enlisted as private , but was soon elected Second Lieutenant. This company from Ottawa and vicinity consisted of seventy-five men. The company was organized in May, going direct to AIton , where they were attached to the First Regiment, of which John J. Hardin was Colonel. The other regiments were here also. The Second, under Colonel William H. Bisset The Third, under Colonel 1. H. Farman, and the Fourth under Colonel Ned Baker. All four were organized and mustered into the service of the United States for one year. In July these four regiments were sent to New Orleans and there divided, the First and Second going to San Antonio; the Third and Fourth to Vera Cruz. The American forces were organized in three divisions for the invasion of Mexico, as planned by General Scott: The Army of the West, under General Kearney, was to cross the Rocky Mountains and conquer the Northern Mexican provinces: The Army of the Centre, under General [13] LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE Scott as commander-in-chief, was to march from the gulf into the heart of the enemy's country. The Army of Occupation , commanded by General Taylor, was to subdue and hold the districts on the Rio Grande. The work of mustering the American troops was. entrusted to General Wool. By the middle of the summer he succeeded in dispatching to General Taylor a force of nine thousand men. He established his camp at San Antonio, Texas, and from that point prepared the gathering recruits for the field. Meanwhile General Taylor resumed active operations on the Rio Grande, pushing on toward the fortined town of Monterey. The company and regiment in which W. H. L. Wallace was serving joined the Army of Occupation under General Taylor. From letters and a journal written by Mr. Wallace and here given, a pretty full account is received of this part of the year's campaign in Mexico of the First Regiment'!! movements. Mr. Wallace's first letter is from Alton on July 3d: "On the ground in our immediate vicinity are encamped some fifteen hundred troops, some of the companies well trained, and the whole presenting a scene to me novel and highly enchanting. I just begin to enjoy the life of a soldier -for my duties have been so arduous up to this time that I had not time to enjoy anything but my mess and my sleep." On July 19th, he writes in his journal: "Six companies of the First Regiment embarked on the Steamer Hanibal at an early hour. Before we could get on board our men had to stand for an hour on the bank, and those who were drunkenly inclined slipped out of the ranks and filled their canteens with "Old Red Eye," and by noon we had a fine set of fellows to manage. One of our privates, Frank -, was particularly savage and I was charged by Major Warren with the unpleasant duty of choking him into submission . His rum and rage threw him into a fit from which he came near dying. But as soon as he was held up and received fresh air he seemed to acquire fresh madness and he kept the whole company in disorder until twelve o'clock. Something must be done with the fellow." [14] LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W.H.L. WALLACE As they passed down the river they...