Source: Robert W. Merry. A Country of Vast Designs - James K. Polk,
the Mexican War, and the Conquest of the American Continent (2009)
the Mexican War, and the Conquest of the American Continent (2009)
Unbeknownst to Polk and DC, General Winfield Scott and Nicholas Trist not only healed their rift, but they became close, developing an emotional bond so strong that it would last the rest of their lives. What helped form that bond was that they discovered that they both hated President Polk. Trist wasn’t authorized to personally deliver the sealed packet to the Mexican government (Scott was the one authorized), but Trist wanted the Mexican government to receive the packet much sooner, so Trist asked a member of the British legation to deliver the packet on his behalf. Very soon after receiving the packet, Santa Ana called a “special session” to consider the US offer.
Scott and Trist actually offered Santa Anna a $1m bribe to end the war and to begin negotiations. Scott told his staff that bribes of that nature were how to deal with nations/governments such as Mexico. The bribe fell through when the Mexican legislature refused the give Santa Anna the necessary powers to negotiate with the US. As a result, Scott was forced to press the reality of war to the Mexican government, which meant he had to make his move on Mexico City.
Scott and Trist actually offered Santa Anna a $1m bribe to end the war and to begin negotiations. Scott told his staff that bribes of that nature were how to deal with nations/governments such as Mexico. The bribe fell through when the Mexican legislature refused the give Santa Anna the necessary powers to negotiate with the US. As a result, Scott was forced to press the reality of war to the Mexican government, which meant he had to make his move on Mexico City.
In the Summer of 1847, Whig conventions burst forth with their support for Zachary Taylor to be the party’s candidate for President. All that mattered was that he was a war hero and therefore able to win votes for the Whigs in 1848. Few knew Taylor’s touchy/petulant side, as well as his lack of intellectual curiosity, ability, and imagination. Taylor released statements that sounded like he expected to go straight from the battlefield as a commander to the Presidency in a sort of political immaculate ascension, which proved to be a political blunder that slowed his momentum.
The Whigs increasingly became more united on one front, in that no land should be taken from Mexico as a result of the war. The tactic was brilliant in a way, sidestepping the Wilmot Proviso while at the same time putting pressure on the Democrats. It was about at that time that Buchanan informed Polk that the US no longer had any more money to fund the war. An absolutely mystified/upset Polk ordered an investigation as to where the money went. It was soon discovered that $2m went to New Orleans brokers, who kept $1.1m of the money as a “handling fee”; although the money was distributed to far too many people/groups, it turned out that most of the money was still disbursed to the military.
The Whigs increasingly became more united on one front, in that no land should be taken from Mexico as a result of the war. The tactic was brilliant in a way, sidestepping the Wilmot Proviso while at the same time putting pressure on the Democrats. It was about at that time that Buchanan informed Polk that the US no longer had any more money to fund the war. An absolutely mystified/upset Polk ordered an investigation as to where the money went. It was soon discovered that $2m went to New Orleans brokers, who kept $1.1m of the money as a “handling fee”; although the money was distributed to far too many people/groups, it turned out that most of the money was still disbursed to the military.
In August 1847, Scott inflicted a series of defeats on Santa Anna, culminating with what would be his greatest military humiliation in Mexico City. On 20 August 1847, a broken and desperate Santa Anna convinced the Mexican government to negotiate a truce with Scott in order to shore up his defenses, and to also plan shenanigans. When approached by a Mexican official, Scott and Trist agreed to the proposed truce. Scott went further, ending Santa Anna an offer of armistice. Even though the war at that point was unwinnable, Santa Anna broke the truce by building fortifications for his troops, while also blocking the US from obtaining supplies from Mexico City.
On 7 September 1847, Scott ended the truce while Trist was working the diplomatic angle. Mexico remained firm on the Nueces River being the border between Texas and Mexico, and refused to sign anything that labeled them as a nation that had lost a war. Trist discovered that US military victories had only strengthened the resolve/resistance of the Mexican government. In principle, Trist agreed to a Nueces/Rio Grande mutual boundary area, and sent the proposal to DC. In short, Trist was tried to negotiate and end to what he considered to be a war started by Polk. On 4 October 1847, Polk instructed Buchanan to recall Trist.
On 7 September 1847, Scott ended the truce while Trist was working the diplomatic angle. Mexico remained firm on the Nueces River being the border between Texas and Mexico, and refused to sign anything that labeled them as a nation that had lost a war. Trist discovered that US military victories had only strengthened the resolve/resistance of the Mexican government. In principle, Trist agreed to a Nueces/Rio Grande mutual boundary area, and sent the proposal to DC. In short, Trist was tried to negotiate and end to what he considered to be a war started by Polk. On 4 October 1847, Polk instructed Buchanan to recall Trist.
By mid-September 1847, Scott had taken Mexico City and raised the US Flag in the National Palace. The only way to enter Mexico City was by the causeways (highways), and while Santa Anna had the roads defended, US artillery was able to scatter the resistance. Most of the casualties in the Mexican War occurred during Scott’s assault on Mexico City. For example, taking Molina del Ray, a foundry rumored to have Mexican artillery and shells, led to 116 KIA and 665 WIA, and in the end, there was no Mexican artillery . . . the high-cost battle was tactically worthless.
Scott was then inclined to hit Chapultepec Castle and the two major western causeways. Scott’s officer cadre wanted to advance from the three southern causeways, but Scott refused. Although the fighting was intense, it only took two hours to take Chapultepec and to secure the surrounding area. In the process, Santa Anna lost four times more than Scott, and by the end of the day, Scott had the southwest and northwest causeways that entered Mexico City. As Mexican resistance faded away, Santa Anna and his remaining force skulked out of Mexico City that night.
In the end, Scott was brilliant in his assault on Mexico City. With only 11,000 troops and cut off from supplies, he defeated 30k Mexican soldiers that were well-entrenched; it was a remarkable military achievement, and Scott became the second great hero of the war. Scott’s vainglorious behavior increased due to his victory, and among the generals on his staff, Major General Gideon Pillow did his best to undermine Scott’s reputation by constantly writing Polk (e.g. telling the President that the US took Mexico City in spite of Scott).
Scott was then inclined to hit Chapultepec Castle and the two major western causeways. Scott’s officer cadre wanted to advance from the three southern causeways, but Scott refused. Although the fighting was intense, it only took two hours to take Chapultepec and to secure the surrounding area. In the process, Santa Anna lost four times more than Scott, and by the end of the day, Scott had the southwest and northwest causeways that entered Mexico City. As Mexican resistance faded away, Santa Anna and his remaining force skulked out of Mexico City that night.
In the end, Scott was brilliant in his assault on Mexico City. With only 11,000 troops and cut off from supplies, he defeated 30k Mexican soldiers that were well-entrenched; it was a remarkable military achievement, and Scott became the second great hero of the war. Scott’s vainglorious behavior increased due to his victory, and among the generals on his staff, Major General Gideon Pillow did his best to undermine Scott’s reputation by constantly writing Polk (e.g. telling the President that the US took Mexico City in spite of Scott).
Pillow developed delusions of grandeur since he had powerful backers in DC, and he greatly exaggerated his role in the Mexico City campaign. Pillow kept cooling himself out of business with his fellow officers, even going so far as to keep a Mexican artillery piece as a souvenir, and he was caught. Pillow demanded a court-martial, which was a mistake in that the truth came out that he was a general that moved too slowly and wasn’t a team player . . . such was the drama of the US Army Officer Corps at the close of the war.
Polk started to think of increasing the US military strength in Mexico City and wait for Mexico to “cry uncle”. On 13 November 1847, Henry Clay came back to the forefront with a speech in Lexington (KY) where he tried to unify the anti-war and anti-slavery blocs. Clay took a formal stand in favor of the Wilmot Proviso, which had been at least informally adopted on the Whig platform. While the speech helped the Whigs, it didn’t help Clay with the Whigs, who were still in love with Taylor. Polk focused on ending the war and keeping his pledge to only serve a single term; by then, Polk wanted out, in large part because the new House would be under the control of the Whigs.
Polk started to think of increasing the US military strength in Mexico City and wait for Mexico to “cry uncle”. On 13 November 1847, Henry Clay came back to the forefront with a speech in Lexington (KY) where he tried to unify the anti-war and anti-slavery blocs. Clay took a formal stand in favor of the Wilmot Proviso, which had been at least informally adopted on the Whig platform. While the speech helped the Whigs, it didn’t help Clay with the Whigs, who were still in love with Taylor. Polk focused on ending the war and keeping his pledge to only serve a single term; by then, Polk wanted out, in large part because the new House would be under the control of the Whigs.
Trist was dealing with far more moderate politicians in the Mexican government that were willing to negotiate when Trist received his recall notice from DC, as well as instructions to immediately stop negotiations. Trist ignored both instructions since he was finally making serious progress. Interestingly, Trist held no official diplomatic authority at that point, but the Mexican government either didn’t know or care about Trist’s new standing.
Trist believed that if he could make “The Deal” while openly defying Polk and DC, then he would be the one awash in glory. Trist knew that Polk as getting desperate in terms of ending the war, and US military forces in Mexico could very well increase as a result. On 4 December 1847 after talking to a newspaperman, Trist decided to “make the treaty”. On 7 December 1847, the 30th Congress convened, and Polk’s political standing and influence eroded further with the new Whig majority. Also, without knowing it, Polk would also lose unity in his Cabinet and cede authority for ending the war . . . the only thing Polk would control was how hard he worked (the “Martyrdom of Duty”).
Trist believed that if he could make “The Deal” while openly defying Polk and DC, then he would be the one awash in glory. Trist knew that Polk as getting desperate in terms of ending the war, and US military forces in Mexico could very well increase as a result. On 4 December 1847 after talking to a newspaperman, Trist decided to “make the treaty”. On 7 December 1847, the 30th Congress convened, and Polk’s political standing and influence eroded further with the new Whig majority. Also, without knowing it, Polk would also lose unity in his Cabinet and cede authority for ending the war . . . the only thing Polk would control was how hard he worked (the “Martyrdom of Duty”).
Polk’s position was that a cession was required as a de facto indemnity from Mexico (read “war reparations”). In Polk’s eyes, that cession would legalize and justify the Mexican War. Polk made it very simple: no cession = no indemnity = the war wasn’t legal. As far as Polk knew, Mexico wasn’t negotiating, and he would have to intensify the military pressure on that government. Polk, the ultimate chessmaster, knew that if the US didn’t take California and New Mexico (which Mexico was unable to govern anyway), then Britain could fill that void, which would create a whole other major crisis. Opposition to Polk’s way of thinking was swift and furious, and the new debate centered around how much of Mexico the US should take. Some in the Cabinet thought the US should take all of Mexico (Polk definitely leaned towards that way of thinking).
In November 1847, General Zachary Taylor asked for and received a six month leave of absence. When Taylor entered New Orleans in December 1847, it was in a political, not a military, posture. On 2 February 1848, Polk received word that the troublesome (to Polk) John C. Fremont had been dismissed from the military due largely to his actions in California. The President was soon asked to show clemency towards “The Pathfinder”, and Polk, unhappy that the whole affair had been dumped on his lap, decided to restore Fremont to active duty. Fremont refused to accept Polk’s offer of remitting the court-martial’s sentence, believing that he never should have been charged in the first place. The immediate political result of the Fremont business was that Benton became a 100% Polk opponent (Benton even refused to make eye contact with the President), but Polk found himself on friendly terms with Henry Clay.
In November 1847, General Zachary Taylor asked for and received a six month leave of absence. When Taylor entered New Orleans in December 1847, it was in a political, not a military, posture. On 2 February 1848, Polk received word that the troublesome (to Polk) John C. Fremont had been dismissed from the military due largely to his actions in California. The President was soon asked to show clemency towards “The Pathfinder”, and Polk, unhappy that the whole affair had been dumped on his lap, decided to restore Fremont to active duty. Fremont refused to accept Polk’s offer of remitting the court-martial’s sentence, believing that he never should have been charged in the first place. The immediate political result of the Fremont business was that Benton became a 100% Polk opponent (Benton even refused to make eye contact with the President), but Polk found himself on friendly terms with Henry Clay.
