[Illustration: ADVANCE OF GENERAL KEARNEY INTO CALIFORNIA.] STORIES OF THE WAR OF 1812, AND THE MEXICAN WAR. WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. PHILADELPHIA: W. A. LEARY & Co. No. 138 NORTH SECOND ST. 1854. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by J. & J. L. GIHON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE. The following pages contain a collection of Stories of the War of 1812, with Great Britain; and of the Recent War, with the Republic of Mexico. Rightly considered, the first of these national wars was a supplement to the glorious War of Independence. Up to the time when our government boldly threw down the gauntlet of defiance to the most powerful nation of Europe, in defence of Free Trade and Sailor’s Rights, the British nation regarded us as revolted subjects, successful for the moment, but destined always to be governed by British influence and ultimately to be reconquered. The events of the second war with Great Britain finished what the first had begun, and set the seal on our Independence. From the period of its conclusion, our flag was respected by Britain and all other nations. Our naval prowess was recognized as a fixed fact. The recent war with Mexico has taught the world another lesson. It has shown that with a standing army of very few men, and a good militia system, the republic is capable of raising large and efficient armies, and conquering a military republic, of immense population, wealth, and resources, possessing a powerful standing army; accustomed, in consequence of the distracted state of the country, to frequent action and constant discipline. The wars which teach these lessons are worthy the attention of the youth of our country; and we have endeavored to render these stories of the wars sufficiently attractive to win that degree of attention and interest which will insure a future study of American history. [Illustration: DETROIT.] THE WAR OF 1812. SURRENDER OF DETROIT.