美国学生历史 第154期:墨西哥战争(4)

 So far all had gone well. 至此一切进展顺利。

But in the winter many of Taylor's soldiers were withdrawn¹ to take part in Scott's campaign. 但到了冬季泰勒的许多士兵被抽调去参加斯科特发起的战役，

This seemed to be the Mexicans' time. 这似乎给墨西哥人一个机会，

They attacked Taylor with four times as many men as he had in his army. 他们以四倍于泰勒的兵力向泰勒发起攻击。

This battle was fought at Buena Vista², February, 1847. 这场战斗于1847年2月在布纳维斯塔打响，

Taylor beat back the Mexicans with terrible slaughter³. 泰勒率部展开一场可怕的大屠杀，他们打退了墨西哥人。

This was the last battle of Taylor's campaign. 这是泰勒所发起战役的最后一场战斗。

335. Scott's Invasion of Mexico. 335．斯科特入侵墨西哥

The plan of Scott's campaign was that he should land at Vera Cruz, march to the city of Mexico,-two hundred miles away,-capture that city, and force the Mexicans to make peace. 斯科特所发起战役的计划是在韦拉克鲁斯登陆，然后奔袭两百英里外的墨西哥城，夺取这座城市，迫使墨西哥人接受和平。

Everything fell out precisely⁴ as it was planned. 一切都完全按照计划进行，

With the help of the navy Scott captured Vera Cruz. He had only about one-quarter as many men as the Mexicans. 在海军的帮助下斯科特夺取韦拉克鲁斯，他的兵力仅是所遇到墨西哥守敌的一半，

But he overthrew⁵ them at Cerro Gordo, where the road to the City of Mexico crosses the coast mountains (April, 1847). 但他在塞罗戈多打败了他们（1847年4月），这里地处山地海岸，有通往墨西哥城的路。

With the greatest care and skill he pressed on and at length came within sight of the City of Mexico. 他们带着高度的小心和机警行军，终于看到墨西哥城。

The capital of the Mexican Republic stood in the midst of marshes⁶, and could be reached only over narrow causeways which joined it to the solid land. 墨西哥共和国的首都四周都是湿地，只有一条窄窄的堤道与外界结实的陆地相连。

August 20, 1847, Scott beat the Mexicans in three pitched battles, 经过三场厮杀，斯科特打败了墨西哥人，

and on September 14 he entered the city with his army, now numbering only six thousand men fit for active service. 9月14日他带着部队进入墨西哥城，此时，他的士兵只剩下6000人。

1 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

2 vista   

n.远景，深景，展望，回想

参考例句：

• From my bedroom window I looked out on a crowded vista of hills and rooftops.我从卧室窗口望去，远处尽是连绵的山峦和屋顶。
• These uprisings come from desperation and a vista of a future without hope.发生这些暴动是因为人们被逼上了绝路，未来看不到一点儿希望。

3 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

4 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

5 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

6 marshes   

n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cows were grazing on the marshes. 牛群在湿地上吃草。
• We had to cross the marshes. 我们不得不穿过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》