RIP - The War Is Over

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RIP FORD

Part 11: RIP - The War Is Over

by Bob Heinonen

The City of Mexico fell on September 14, 1847, with the U.S. Army losing 1,000 men and the Mexican Army losing 4,000. “Because of the confused state of affairs after the fall of Mexico City, Trist [Nicholas P. Trist, President Polk’s peace commissioner] could not commence negotiations with Mexican peace commissioners until January, 1848. In the meantime Polk, unable to understand the delay, had become impatient. Originally, he had authorized Trist to pay $30 million for New Mexico, Upper and Lower California, and the right of transit across Mexico’s narrow Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Now, observing the disorganized state of Mexican affairs, he began to consider demanding more territory and paying less for it. He summoned Trist home. But Trist, with [General Winfield] Scott’s backing, decided to ignore the order, realizing that unless a treaty were arranged soon the Mexican government might disintegrate completely, leaving no one in authority to sign a treaty. When the opportunity finally came, he proceeded to negotiate, and early in February the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was completed. By its terms Mexico accepted the Rio Grande as the boundary of Texas and ceded New Mexico and Upper California to the United States. In return, the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and take on the claims of American citizens against Mexico, which by that time amounted to another $3.25 million.”[i]

“The Mexican War is now generally seen by American and other historians for what it was: a Presidential war of dominant Administration policy, carried out for strategic reasons against the wishes of a considerable body of public opinion. The war was tremendously successful for two reasons: American arms were surprisingly and quickly victorious, and the goals, immense though they might seem, were limited to the acquisition of territory either useless to, or only under the nominal control of, Mexico. The American armies secured a treaty and evacuated Mexico before a popular uprising against occupation could commence, as the Spanish rose against Napoleon or the Mexicans would later rise against Maximilian, and the folly of annexing the millions of Mexico was avoided. The United States never wanted to own or control Mexico, but to assure its subordination: Mexico was removed permanently as a rival for the continent. The year 1848 marked the first time the American Republic was at last strategically secure.”[ii]

Mexico, the United States and Texas had changed dramatically and John Salmon Ford had again been a part of it. He returned home with two things that would stay with him for the rest of his life. “One was malaria with its recurring chills and fever; the other was his famous nickname. As adjutant, Ford’s main duty was to make reports of men killed in action. He had the habit of completing each report with “Rest in Peace” after his signature, but as the number of fatalities increased, he abbreviated the phrase to “R.I.P.” A ranger noticed it and, to get back at Ford for giving every man in the outfit a nickname, called him “Old Rip” Ford.”[iii] The name stuck for the rest of his long life.

Although the City of Mexico fell in September, 1847, the fighting did not stop. The Texians were assigned to fight Guerrilleros until after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848. When the war finally ended, it was back to Austin for Rip – but what next?

Next Month - Part 12: Robert S. Neighbors

Bob Heinonen is the founder of Texas Heroes and has been portraying Rip Ford since 1993.