Chapter III: Letter 2: The first blow of the War—Fortunate result—Reflections

JULY, 1846.

Never was a country more suddenly raised up from a state of
depression, to the most enthusiastic rejoicing and gladness,
than we have been since the late glorious intelligence from the
Rio Grande! We may talk about the justice of the war, and there
may be fanatics who would rejoice in the defeat of our armies,
but the people, true to patriotic feeling, rejoice with one
heart over the glorious achievements of our countrymen. We are
the same people that we were at the capture of Cornwallis, and
at the defeat of the British at New Orleans.

There was a gloom settling over the public mind, and fears began
to be entertained of news like that from Detroit, at the opening
of that unfortunate campaign. To all appearance, General Taylor
and his gallant army were shut up in Fort Brown, and suddenly
cut off by an overwhelming force of Mexicans, from his military
depot at Point Isabel. If that depot, defended by less than a
thousand men, its fortifications incomplete, should be assailed
by the whole force of Arista and Ampudia, its safety appeared to
be hopeless. If taken, the army of General Taylor, shut up in
Fort Brown, with supplies only for a few weeks, would be either
compelled to surrender, or attempt to retreat to Corpus Christi.
The consequences, in either case, would be a triumph for the
Mexican arms, fatal to all hope of peace.

I passed some sleepless nights in revolving the subject in my
mind. The idea constantly recurred to me, as a sort of waking
dream, that General Taylor would leave a force in Fort Brown and
with the main body of his army cut his way to Point Isabel. I
was disposed to blame him for suffering himself to be separated
from his depot of supplies; but the war itself came on him
suddenly, and he was obliged to _wait the first blow_. In this
feverish state of mind, a friend came to my house early one
morning with two newspaper slips containing the accounts of the
two battles of Palo Alto, and Resaca. Never was the anxiety of a
people more suddenly and joyfully relieved! It was like the
anxiety felt by a family for the fate of those nearest and
dearest to it. We are peculiarly a national people; for every
man has a share in the Government; feels an interest in it, as a
part owner, and he feels his own safety and honor embarked in
the same bottom with the safety and honor of the nation.

Thank God, we are safe! They must be very short sighted men who
could wish success to the Mexicans. We should have had scenes of
bloodshed and devastation unparalleled. Our preparations for war
would have had to be renewed on a vast and expensive scale; the
most extravagant hopes in the presumptuous and barbarous enemy
would have been encouraged; while even the Sabine, for a
boundary, would not have contented them. Their demands would
have known no bounds, and the prospects of peace, would have
been remote indeed. Now, humbled and broken, their country
exposed to invasion and conquest, if we only will it; undeceived
in their fancied military pre-eminence, they must be insane if
they do not hasten to sue for peace. I confess, I did not look
for such decided success in the first blow, which, in wars and
battles, is often so important; and that, over a people who have
been continually practising the art of war, and who ought to
excel in it, if they can excel in any thing. If the history of
nations be a history of battles, (as it is said to be) Mexico
will claim a conspicuous page in that history. European nations,
who have been in the habit of judging others, chiefly by their
military prowess, will open their eyes when they receive the
news; for they have already prognosticated according to their
wishes, that we must be disgraced in the trial of arms with
Mexico.

I have no doubt, that President Polk will lay hold of this
occasion to offer terms of peace. I am not one of those whigs
who believe, that it was the predetermined plan of this
administration to involve the country in a war with Mexico. I
rather accuse them of a want of foresight, as to the inevitable
result of the annexation of Texas. If they had been convinced,
that war would have been the consequence of that measure, I
honestly think, there would have been no annexation. The
repeated declarations, that it would not be followed by war, I
believe, were made in sincerity. For my part, I thought
differently; the issue seemed to me to be this—shall we take
Texas, _and war_, or leave the numerous questions of policy
arising out of the independence of Texas, to take care of
themselves, and our relations with Mexico to remain in the same
embroiled state for an indefinite period? There is a providence
in the affairs of men, which shapes their fortunes, “rough hew
them as they will.”

I neither approve nor condemn the course of the administration
in relation to this war. I am convinced it would not,
intentionally, endanger its popularity on such rocks and shoals,
as the expense and casualty of war necessarily present. A
demonstration was thought to be sufficient to secure the
advantages of a treaty of peace and limits, settling all our
differences, and gratifying the nation, by a great acquisition
of territory. A small share of the glory and popularity which
may attend this war, will be reaped by the administration! These
will be bestowed on those who are immediately engaged on the
scene of action. Our friends are doing all they can to make it
Mr. Polk’s war; but the people will persist in looking upon it,
as General Scott’s and General Taylor’s war; so far, at least,
as the glory is concerned; if it should prove disastrous, then,
indeed, the administration will come in for a share.

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