Chapter One: What Hath God Wrought
The First Mexican-American War
(Part Two: Who Shall Lead?)
The First Mexican-American War
(Part Two: Who Shall Lead?)
Mexico declared war on the United States on November 16th, 1837. Both sides felt unprepared for the war, but neither could back down. The United States was politically stable, but did not have a large enough standing army. Mexico had a large army, but was not politically stable. It was quite common in Mexico for coups to occur and remove a person from the Presidency, only to be removed himself by another coup. In the United States there had never been a coup for the Presidency, but the people believed that large standing armies were a threat to liberty. These beliefs would be challenged as the country went to war for the first time since 1812.
For the United States it would be an easy decision for who to lead the army, General Winfield Scott. He had served in the War of 1812, the Indian Wars, and the Nullification Crisis. The only problem was that at the time war broke out with Mexico, Scott was on the border with British North America to prevent Irish rebels from crossing the border into the US. He would receive his new assignment in mid November. He would then travel by ship from Portland, Maine to New Orleans, Louisiana. This trip would take two weeks. In the mean time the United States needed to assemble an army for Scott to Command.
Meanwhile in Mexico a leadership crisis emerged. Who would command Mexican forces? The President was Anastasio Bustamante, a conservative. He first gained the presidency in a coup against Vicente Guerrero, a Liberal. He had been named Vice President by the Congress, but soon came to odds with President Guerrero. In December of 1829 Bustamante drove Guerrero from the capital and the Congress declared Guerrero “incapable of governing.” As president he created a secret police and suppressed freedom of the press and removed employees who did not have confidence in “public opinion.” He had given control of Mexico to Melchor Muzquiz in August of 1832 in order to put down a rebellion. After battles with Santa Anna and Gomez Pedraza, they signed the Conventions of Zavaleta, which proclaimed Pedraza president, and Bustamante would be exiled to Europe. He would be called back in 1836 to fight against the Texans, but when he arrived he was declared President by the Congress.
Knowing the short history of independent Mexico where coups were common, he knew that he would most likely be overthrown after not too long a time. He knew the biggest threat to his position would be whoever was put in charge of the army. The most evident option was Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Santa Anna was known to drift between the liberals and conservatives politically. If he was going to be overthrown, he at least wanted a conservative to come into power, and Santa Anna was seen as too big of an uncertainty to pick. He would pick Jose Justo Corro, the president preceding him. Corro did not have much military experience, but he was a fellow conservative who would keep Mexico on a similar path that he was setting. Corro would be informed of his position in early December of 1837. He was at first apprehensive, but would accept. He would arrive in Mexico city in early January of 1838.
Winfield Scott would arrive at New Orleans in early December. From there he would travel by land to Texas. He would arrive in Houston in late December and meet with Sam Houston in his final days as President of the Republic of Texas. The size of the American army was insufficient to fight a war with Mexico. The US would have to recruit an army, and that would take time. Until an army was assembled, General Scott would take command of the Texas Militia.
For the United States it would be an easy decision for who to lead the army, General Winfield Scott. He had served in the War of 1812, the Indian Wars, and the Nullification Crisis. The only problem was that at the time war broke out with Mexico, Scott was on the border with British North America to prevent Irish rebels from crossing the border into the US. He would receive his new assignment in mid November. He would then travel by ship from Portland, Maine to New Orleans, Louisiana. This trip would take two weeks. In the mean time the United States needed to assemble an army for Scott to Command.
Meanwhile in Mexico a leadership crisis emerged. Who would command Mexican forces? The President was Anastasio Bustamante, a conservative. He first gained the presidency in a coup against Vicente Guerrero, a Liberal. He had been named Vice President by the Congress, but soon came to odds with President Guerrero. In December of 1829 Bustamante drove Guerrero from the capital and the Congress declared Guerrero “incapable of governing.” As president he created a secret police and suppressed freedom of the press and removed employees who did not have confidence in “public opinion.” He had given control of Mexico to Melchor Muzquiz in August of 1832 in order to put down a rebellion. After battles with Santa Anna and Gomez Pedraza, they signed the Conventions of Zavaleta, which proclaimed Pedraza president, and Bustamante would be exiled to Europe. He would be called back in 1836 to fight against the Texans, but when he arrived he was declared President by the Congress.
Knowing the short history of independent Mexico where coups were common, he knew that he would most likely be overthrown after not too long a time. He knew the biggest threat to his position would be whoever was put in charge of the army. The most evident option was Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Santa Anna was known to drift between the liberals and conservatives politically. If he was going to be overthrown, he at least wanted a conservative to come into power, and Santa Anna was seen as too big of an uncertainty to pick. He would pick Jose Justo Corro, the president preceding him. Corro did not have much military experience, but he was a fellow conservative who would keep Mexico on a similar path that he was setting. Corro would be informed of his position in early December of 1837. He was at first apprehensive, but would accept. He would arrive in Mexico city in early January of 1838.
Winfield Scott would arrive at New Orleans in early December. From there he would travel by land to Texas. He would arrive in Houston in late December and meet with Sam Houston in his final days as President of the Republic of Texas. The size of the American army was insufficient to fight a war with Mexico. The US would have to recruit an army, and that would take time. Until an army was assembled, General Scott would take command of the Texas Militia.