Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

334 IHOMEWARD MARCIHI.
The brilliant campaign of General Taylor, crowned thoug'h
it be with the splendors of Buena Vista, may not be considered more glorious to American arms than the series of
operations conducted by General Scott in EaCstern and Central Mlexico; plannecl with consummate genius, and executed with a courage, daring and skill that have never been
surpassed. I-e who unclertakes to institute a comparison
between the characters and actions of that noble pair of
American Generals, will engage in a difficult and thankless
task. In Miexico, both led small armies against an enemy
vastly superior in n1umbers, and always overcame him whenever and wherever he offered battle-in the walled city,
mountain defile or open plain —and accomplished with the
neans at command, all and more than their government
could reasonably expect. And to the permanent honor of
both it will be recorded, that their campaigns were graced
alike by the milder virtues of a compassionate forbearance
and inagnanimity. Both loved peace more than war; and
prizing the Olive more than the Ictaureg wreath, were conquerors only to become pacificators. The honor and interests
of their country were dearer to them than their own. May
that country ever have a Scott and Taylor in her hour of
need
As the close of their terms of enlistment drew near, the
old volunteer regiments were sent in succession from the field
to be mustered out of service at New Orleans. Our homepiles in the shallows; for the low marshes were half buried under water. The
legend of its foundation is still commemorated by the device, of' the Eagle and the
Cactus, which hiormn the a11'rms of the modern Iexican republic."