Chapter VI




Lieutenant Grant Under Fire


The movement of the United States troops towards Mexico did not take
the country by surprise. It was the direct result of the action
of Congress admitting Texas to the Union. Ever since it had won
its independence from Mexico, Texas had been seeking to become part
of the United States; but there had been violent objection in the
North to the admission of any new slave state, and this opposition
had effectually prevented its annexation. At the last election
(1844), however, a majority of the voters apparently favored the
admission of Texas, which was accordingly received into the Union,
and the long-standing dispute which it had waged with Mexico as to
its proper boundaries was assumed by the United States.

Texas claimed to own far more territory than Mexico was willing to
concede, but the facts might easily have been ascertained had the
United States government desired to avoid a war. Unfortunately, it
had no such desire, and General Zachary Taylor was soon ordered to
occupy the disputed territory with about 3,000 men. This force,