Just Days in Advance, Mexico Urgently Calls Up Forces in Anticipation of the Arrival of Zachary Taylor’s Army

“The government is empowered to dispose of the national guard of the States, District and territories of the Federation, during the war with the United States of the North [America], and only for the purpose of national defense”

A U.S. army of about 5,000 men under General Zachary Taylor had invaded northeastern Mexico, taking Monterrey and Saltillo in late 1846. General Antonio López de Santa Anna meanwhile had gathered a force of about 14,000 troops and was marching north from San Luis Potosí to engage the invaders. Although the numbers were impressive, they were badly armed and poorly trained. When reports of the Mexican threat reached Taylor, he moved his forces on February 21, 1847, to La Angostura, near the hacienda of Buena Vista, where there is a pass between two high ranges of mountains. Taylor’s communications line was cut by Mexican cavalry the next day, and the main Mexican attack began on February 23, pressing the Americans’ exposed left flank facing the eastern side of the pass, which Taylor had failed to fortify. Despite the retreat of some volunteer infantry regiments, the heavy U.S. artillery fire turned back the Mexicans, and, by nightfall, they had suffered casualties of about 1,500 to Taylor’s 700 (though scholarly estimates of these casualties vary widely). Leaving their campfires burning as a ruse, the Mexican army retreated during the night. Taylor did not pursue Santa Anna.

In the absence of Santa Anna, Valentin Gomez Farías, as Vice President, assumed the responsibility to protecting the homeland in his civilian capacity.

Mexican Printed Order, likely signed by José María Ortiz Monasterio, Foreign Minister, via rubric, dated in print February 4, 1847. Addressed to “To the Governor of the State of Durango… February 17”

“Ministry of Internal and Foreign Relations.

“His Excellency, the interim Vice President of the Republic has addressed me the following decree: Valentin Gomez Farías, vice president of the Mexican Republic, to the inhabitants, as you know: That the sovereign Constituent Congress has decreed and the executive sanctioned, the following: The sovereign Mexican Constituent Congress decrees the following:

“The government is empowered to dispose of the national guard of the States, District and territories of the Federation, during the war with the United States of the North [America], and only for the purpose of national defense. Given in Mexico, on February 3, 1847. -J. M. Lafragua, deputy president. -Cosme Torres, deputy secretary.-Francisco Banuet, deputy secretary.

“Therefore, I order it to be printed, published, circulated and duly fulfilled. National Palace of Mexico, February 4, 1847. -Valentin Gomez Farías. -To D. José María Ortiz Monasterio. And I communicate it to you for intelligence and consequent purposes thereof.

“God and freedom. Mexico, February 4, 1847.

“José María Ortiz Monasterio (signed in print and with rubric).”

In the right of the upper part of the broadside a manuscript paragraph says: “February 17, it was received and circulated and published so that if necessary it has its fulfillment” and then, on the left side, a manuscript paragraph says: “2 copies to the honorable Congress, to the Headquarters for publication, to the registry folder for the collection.”

At the end of the broadside, a manuscript paragraph says: “To the Governor of the State of Durango (verso) Vicaría de Durango, February 17, 1847.”

There is also a manuscript order by the Governor of the State of Durango, to “Publish, circulate and communicate to whom it corresponds for the strict observance of it. Marcelino Castañeda (signed). Ramon Salcedo(signed).”