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<v Speaker 1>Chapter fifty one of Philip Drew, Administrator by Edward House.

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<v Speaker 1>This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recorded by

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<v Speaker 1>the Progressing America Project. Chapter fifty one the Battle of

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<v Speaker 1>Latuna in the numbers engaged, in the duration, and in

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<v Speaker 1>the loss of life. The Battle of Latuna was not important,

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<v Speaker 1>but its effect upon Mexico and the Central American republics

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<v Speaker 1>was epoch making. The manner of attack was characteristic of

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<v Speaker 1>Drew's methods. His interview with the Mexican general had ended

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<v Speaker 1>at noon, and words soon ran through the camp that

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<v Speaker 1>peace negotiations had failed, with the result that the army

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<v Speaker 1>was immediately on the alert and eager for action. Drew

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<v Speaker 1>did not attempt to stop the rumor that the engagement

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<v Speaker 1>would occur at dawn the next day. By dusk, every

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<v Speaker 1>man was in readiness, but they did not have to

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<v Speaker 1>wait until morning, for as soon as supper was eaten,

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<v Speaker 1>to the surprise of everyone, word came to make ready

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<v Speaker 1>for action and march upon the enemy. Of Drew's sixty

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<v Speaker 1>thousand men twenty thousand were cavalry, and these he sent

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<v Speaker 1>to attack the Mexican rear. They were ordered to move

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<v Speaker 1>quietly so as to get as near to the enemy

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<v Speaker 1>as possible before being discovered. It was not long before

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<v Speaker 1>the Mexican outposts heard the marching of men and the

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<v Speaker 1>rumble of gun carriages. This was reported to the Mexican general,

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<v Speaker 1>and he rode rapidly to his front. A general engaged

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<v Speaker 1>at nightfall was so unusual that he could not believe

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<v Speaker 1>the movement meant anything more than General Drew's intention to

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<v Speaker 1>draw nearer so that he could attack in the morning.

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<v Speaker 1>At closer range. It was a clear, starlit night, and

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<v Speaker 1>with the aid of his glasses he could see the

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<v Speaker 1>dark line coming steadily on. He was almost in a

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<v Speaker 1>state of panic when he realized that a general attack

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<v Speaker 1>was intended. He rode back through his lines, giving orders

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<v Speaker 1>in an excited and irregular way. There was hurry and

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<v Speaker 1>confusion everywhere, and he found it difficult to get his

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<v Speaker 1>soldiers to understand that a battle was imminent. Those in

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<v Speaker 1>front were looking with a feeling akin to awe at

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<v Speaker 1>the solid dark line that was ever coming nearer. The

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<v Speaker 1>Mexicans soon began to fire from behind the breastworks that

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<v Speaker 1>had been hastily erected during the few days the armies

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<v Speaker 1>had been facing one another but the shots went wild,

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<v Speaker 1>doing but slight damage in the American ranks. Then came

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<v Speaker 1>the order from Drew to charge, and with it came

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<v Speaker 1>the Yankee yell. It was indeed no battle at all.

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<v Speaker 1>By the time the Americans reached the earthworks, the Mexicans

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<v Speaker 1>were in flight, and when the cavalry began charging the rear,

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<v Speaker 1>the route was completed. In the Battle of Latuna, the

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<v Speaker 1>Mexican general proved himself worthy of his lineage. No general

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<v Speaker 1>could have done more to rally his troops, or have

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<v Speaker 1>been more indifferent to danger. He scorned to turn his

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<v Speaker 1>back upon an enemy, and while trying to rally his

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<v Speaker 1>scattered forces, he was captured and badly wounded. Every attention

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<v Speaker 1>worthy his position was shown the wounded man, proud and

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<v Speaker 1>chivalrous as any of his race. He was deeply humiliated

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<v Speaker 1>at the miserable failure that had been made to repel

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<v Speaker 1>the invaders of his country, though keenly touched by the

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<v Speaker 1>consideration and courtesy shown him by the American general, Drew

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<v Speaker 1>made no spectacular entrance into the city, but remained outside

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<v Speaker 1>and sent one of his staff with a sufficient force

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<v Speaker 1>to maintain order in unaddress, announcing his intentions towards Mexico

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<v Speaker 1>and her allies, Drew said, it is not our purpose

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<v Speaker 1>to annex your country or any part of it, nor

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<v Speaker 1>shall we demand any indemnity as the result of victory

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<v Speaker 1>further than the payment of the actual cost of the

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<v Speaker 1>war and the maintenance of the American troops while order

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<v Speaker 1>is being restored. But in the future, our flag is

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<v Speaker 1>to be your flag, and you are to be directly

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<v Speaker 1>under the protection of the United States. It is our

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<v Speaker 1>purpose to give to your people the benefits of the

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<v Speaker 1>most enlightened educational system, so that they may become fitted

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<v Speaker 1>for the responsibilities of self government. There will also be

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<v Speaker 1>an equitable plan worked out by which the land now

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<v Speaker 1>owned by a few will be owned by the many.

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<v Speaker 1>In another generation. This beautiful land will be teeming with

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<v Speaker 1>an educated, prosperous, and contented people, who will regard the

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<v Speaker 1>battle field of Latuna as the birthplace of their redemption.

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<v Speaker 1>Above all things, there shall not be thrust upon the

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<v Speaker 1>Mexican people a carpet bag government. Citizens of Mexico are

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<v Speaker 1>to enforce the reconstructed constitution and laws, and maintain order

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<v Speaker 1>with native troops, although under the protecting arm of the

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<v Speaker 1>United States, all custom duties are to be abolished, excepting

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<v Speaker 1>those uniform tariffs that the nations of the world have

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<v Speaker 1>agreed upon for revenue purposes, and which in no way

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<v Speaker 1>restrict the freedom of trade. It is our further purpose

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<v Speaker 1>to have a constitution prepared under the direction and advice

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<v Speaker 1>of your most patriotic and wisest men, and which, while

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<v Speaker 1>modern to the last degree, will conform to your habits

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<v Speaker 1>and customs. However, he said in conclusion, it is our

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<v Speaker 1>purpose to take the most drastic measures against revolutionists, bandits,

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<v Speaker 1>and other disturbers of the peace. While Drew did not

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<v Speaker 1>then indicate it, he had in mind the amalgamation of

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<v Speaker 1>Mexico and the Central American republics into one government, even

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<v Speaker 1>though separate states were maintained, and of Chapter fifty one