Appointments of commissioned officers had then to be made; men had to be enlisted, the regiments equipped and the whole transported to Mexico.

It was August before General Scott received reinforcement sufficient to warrant an advance.

His moving column, not even now more than ten thousand strong, was in four divisions, commanded by Generals Twiggs, Worth, Pillow and Quitman.

There was also a cavalry corps under General Harney, composed of detachments of the 1st, 2d, and 3d dragoons.

The advance commenced on the 7th of August with Twiggs's division in front.