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remembering the events of the preceding day, instead of quietly dispersing to their homes, resolved, in spite of the remonstrances of several prominent members of the party, to go in procession to Kensington. In order to arouse the spirit of the people against the Catholics, they bore aloft in the procession the tattered flag, by the side of which was a banner with the inscription in black letters, "This is the flag which was trampled under foot by the Irish Papists."

On reaching the scene of the former outrages, an attempt was made to organize a meeting; but before it could be done, a shot was fired from a house opposite the market, and a young man in the assembly was instantly killed. This was followed by continued volleys from most of the surrounding houses. Several of the Native Americans hastened from the scene of action to procure muskets, and at length about 40 persons, thus armed, presented themselves in front of the market. They fought with desperation for nearly an hour, and their ranks were thinned by the fall of the killed and wounded. They were exposed in the open street, while their assailants were protected by the walls of their houses.

At length the Native Americans succeeded in setting fire to one of the buildings whence they had been fired on. The flames spread with great rapidity. In a short time between twenty and thirty dwellings were on fire, together with the market-house, which took fire by accident. Between 8 and 9 o'clock, a detachment of military, under the command of General Cadwallader, arrived on the ground, who acted with promptness and decision field-pieces, loaded with grape and canister, were planted so as to sweep two of the most turbulent streets, and the mob were at once intimidated. Under the protection of the military, the firemen, who had been restrained by the mob, succeeded in extinguishing the flames about midnight. It is probable that some of the Irish people were consumed in their dwellings, and others shot down while attempting to escape. Many innocent families were driven from their flaming houses,

they knew not whither, exposed to the insults of a mob. Here the Native Americans claim that their doings as a party ended, and utterly disclaim any participation in the outrages that followed.

Early in the morning, a gang of desperadoes, ripe for tumult and plunder, began to search the houses of the Irish, and wherever they found arms secreted, they either demolished the building, or set it on fire. The Irish offered little resistance, as they were completely overawed, and fled in terror to save themselves. The church of St. Michael, the priest's house adjoining, with the nunnery, were fired in open day and consumed. Late in the afternoon the mob began to move towards the city proper, and it was soon apparent that their fury would next be directed against St. Augustine's church. A large force was drawn out to protect it; and the Mayor of the city made several attempts to disperse the mob, but without effect, as nothing but words were used. He was himself injured by a stone thrown by some one in the crowd, and the police officers were driven from their station. Two or three boys were lifted over the railing in front of the church, who broke the windows, applied a match to the drapery, cut open the gas-pipes, and in a moment the building was all in flames. The firemen were prevented from making any attempt to extinguish the fire, and it was consumed to the bare walls.

The citizens now felt that a crisis had come, which demanded the most energetic efforts for the suppression of mob violence and disorder. On the following morning, Thursday, an immense number of citizens, both of the city and county, assembled in Independence Square to devise measures for the restoration of the public peace. The citizens were organized as patrols, and a proclamation was issued by the Mayor and sheriff declaring martial law, forbidding all persons to appear in any street or other place in occupation of the authorities, and authorizing the military to employ force of arms to compel obedience. This proclamation had the desired effect. A mob assembled in front of the principal cathedral was instantly dispersed by the announcement of General Cad

wallader that he would comply with the letter of the proclamation.

On the afternoon of the same day, the Governor of the State arrived with several military companies, and the city was put under martial law. A renewal of violence was apprehended on the following Sunday; but the Catholic Bishop suspended public worship in all the churches under his care, although he was assured by Major General Patterson that sufficient protection should be afforded to all religious denominations in the exercise of their rights. Order was soon restored, and in a few days the Native American party held a meeting in Kensington without molestation.

137. Mexican War.

The principal and immediate cause of the movements which led to the war between the United States and Mexico, was the annexation of Texas (a territory which Mexico claimed to be within her own limits) to the United States. The terms of annexation were accepted by Texas, July 4, 1845. Immediately on intelligence of this event, General TAYLOR, in accordance with the orders of the Secretary of War, sailed from New Orleans for Western Texas, and arrived at St. Joseph's Island (Aransas Inlet) on the 25th of July. At the head of a considerable force, he soon after established his camp at Corpus Christi, on the west side of the Nueces, then the farthest point west to which the Texan population had extended.

The army of occupation remained at Corpus Christi for about six months unmolested. On the 13th of January, 1846, General Taylor received orders to march his force through the uninhabited region between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, and take possession of Point Isabel, Laredo, and points opposite Matamoros and Mier. On the 9th or 10th of March, he took up his line of advance for the Rio Grande. On his way he met several small

bodies of Mexican troops; but neither offered nor received any molestation. As he was approaching Point Isabel, on the 24th, he was met by some 50 citizens, at the head of which was the prefect of the state of Tamaulipas, who protested against his occupying the country. General Taylor stated to them that he would give them an answer when he reached Matamoros. General Garcia, who was stationed at Point Isabel at the head of 280 Mexican troops, on receiving this reply, set fire to the custom-house and some other buildings, and immediately evacuated the place.

General Taylor caused Point Isabel to be surveyed with a view to its defence; a work was thrown up, and a small garrison was left under the command of Major Monroe. General Taylor then proceeding, reached a point opposite the town of Matamoros, a place containing about 10,000 inhabitants, and the capital of the State of Tamaulipas. Here, on the 28th, he commenced intrenching himself within short cannon-shot, and in sight of the bayonets and banners of the Mexican forces under General Mejia. The force of General Taylor at this time consisted of about 2,300 men; that of Gen. Mejia was 2,000. General Ampudia, who had succeeded General Arista in the command of the army of the North, was soon expected to arrive with about as many more.

Soon after the American flag was raised opposite Matamoros, General Worth and his staff were directed to cross the river with a communication to the commander-in-chief of the Mexican forces and the civil authorities. He did not succeed in obtaining an interview with Mejia, but communicated with General La Vega, the second in command; nothing, however, of importance, was accomplished in the conference.

On the 11th of April, General Ampudia arrived at Matamoros with 1,000 cavalry and 1,500 infantry. On the following day he sent a communication to General Taylor, ordering him to quit his position in twenty-four hours, and retire to the Nueces, there to await the settlement of this question by negotiation; in default of which, Mexico would look upon his attitude as a decla

ration of war.

General Taylor, in reply, stated that ho had been sent to the place he occupied by order of his Government, and intended to remain; and in the meantime he placed his troops in the best possible position to resist an attack. He also blockaded the river, thus cutting off the supplies of the Mexican army.

On the 10th of April, Colonel Cross, commissary-general of the army, rode out about two miles from the American camp, when he was killed, it is supposed, by a party of Mexican rancheros. General Taylor made a formal demand for the murderers, but they were never found. Lieutenant Porter (son of Commodore Porter), while out with a fatigue party of ten men near the camp, on the 19th, was fired upon, and himself and three of his men were killed. On the 24th, about 2,500 Mexican troops having crossed the river above General Taylor's camp, Captain Thornton, with a squadron of more than sixty dragoons, was despatched to observe their movements; but he was suddenly surprised, and all his party were either killed or taken prisoners. These events soon brought on open and avowed hostilities between the two nations.

138. Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.

While General Taylor's forces were engaged in fortifying the camp opposite Matamoros, the communication with Point Isabel, the entrepôt whence their supplies were received, was cut off by the Mexicans. On the 1st of May, General Taylor, finding his situation to be critical, left the fort under the charge of Major Brown, with less than 300 men, and marched with the main body of his army to Point Isabel, to reopen a communication with his stores, and bring back ammunition and guns for the fort. During the absence of the main army, some thousands of Mexicans surrounded the fort, and notwithstanding their severe cannonading for seven days, were unable to obtain possession. The American loss

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