The Mexican War became known as the artillerists' war. General Winfield Scott's campaign along the Cortez trail from Vera Cruz to Mexico City discloses why the war had a decidedly artillery-red color. For artillery, the struggle for Vera Cruz started out auspiciously. Two navy gunboats and five gun schooners anchored opposite the landing beaches and intimidated the enemy so that no opposition met the landing force. In 10 hours, 12,000 troops, including the 2d and 3d Artillery Regiments, were safely ashore.