Surrender of Vera Cruz and Castle

tion

247

had been refused and they had no orders to receive our General Scott had required a surrender of arms, proposition. and that the Mexican private soldiers should be sent to the U. S. and the officers to go on parole. The Mexicans rejected these terms, but were willing to surrender the city and castle (tho' they doubted whether the castle commander would not set up for himself and hold out) the troops marching out with arms, drums, etc., as at IMonterey. Our General refuses this, but would relax in the articles requiring the prisoners to be sent to the United States, and would leave the manner of delivering up arms to the commissioners.

The commissioners again assembled to-day about 11 a.m., and are now engaged in business. Nous verrons. "12 P.M. It is midnight and the articles of capitulation are signed, and the United States forces are to occupy the
Vera Cruz, the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa and dependencies the day after to-morrow. "Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, March 28, a.m. The sun has come out in splendor; it is mild, and very still. The city of Vera Cruz and the celebrated castle capitulated last evening and our troops are to occupy the same at 10 a.m. to-morrow. I shall never forget the horrible fire of our morgoing with dreadful certainty and bursting with tars
city of
. . .

"

sepulchral tones often in the centre of private dwellings

shudder to think of it. " 29th March, a.m. A very fine morning. As InspectorGeneral I am to receive this morning the parole from the prisoners of war after they march out of the city and stack arms. I have already one assistant and three others are ordered to report to me. "Later. These Mexicans are the devil for rank. 'T is said
it

was awful.

there are here

5

generals, 18 colonels, 37 lieutenant-colonels,

majors, 90 captains, 180 lieutenants. "Of these General Scott as an act of grace and poHcy
i

general, 2 colonels, 4 lieutenant-colonels, i major, 10 captains, and 20 lieutenants; and he intends to

grants freedom to

send them to Mexico to use a peace influence, if they will. "Vera Cruz, 5 p.m. Our troops occupy to-day both the The Mexican troops marched out at 10 a.m. city and castle. and stacked arms. It became my duty, with several assis-

248

Fifty

Years

in

Camp and

Field
of regiments

tants, to receive the paroles of the

commanders

and corps for themselves and their commands also the generals and staff officers. The city is virtually in ruins. Some buildings were set afire and nothing remains but blackened walls. Others are shattered and scattered in fragments. Few Street pavements are torn up from end to end. remained except the poorest people and the soldiers the
. .

latter as miserable-looking wretches as I ever laid

my

eyes

upon.

"31st March.

Have moved my

tent to the suburbs in

is

preference to living in the city, which

very offensive and

Stench intolerable in some quarters. Visited the 'castle' to-day. There are about 250 guns in the city and at the castle ready for use, and over 100 dismounted, and a very large supply of ammunition."

must soon be

sickly.