Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-12-01
Piedad, to rejoin Quitman's di-

| had been, from the first, well aware
that the western, or San Cosme, was the
less difficult route 10 the centre and conquest
OF the capital; and, therefore, intended that
Quitman should only maneuvre and
IN order to favor the main attack by Worth
knowing that the strong defences at the
Belen, were directly under the guns Of the
much stronger fortress, called the citadel,
just within. Both of these defences of the
enemy were also within easy supporting
distance from the San Angel Tor .Nsno
Pefdidol and San Antonio gates. Hence
the greater support, in numbers, given to
Worth's movement Us the main attack.
Those views | repeatedly, in the course
of the day, communicated to Major General
Quitman; but, being in hot pursuit--gallant
himself and ably supported by Brig. Cen
erals Shields and Smith-Shields badly
wounded before Chapultepec, and refusing
to retire-as we'll as by all the officers and
men of the column-Quitmanc continued to
press forward, under flank and direct fires;
carried an intermediate battery of two
guns, and then the gate, before two o'clock
in the afternoon, but not without proper
tionase loss, increased by his steady main-
tenance Of that position.
Here, ofthe heavy battery-4th artille-
ry-Capt. Drum and Lieut.. Benjamin were
mortally wounded, and Lieut.. Porter, its
third in rank, slightly. The l6ssUf essg5se.
two most distinguished officers the army
will long mourn. Lieuts. J. B. Morange
and VIM. Canty, of the South Carolina
volunteers, also Of high merit, fell on the
same occasion-besides many of our bra
vest non-commissioned officers and men,
particulary in Capt. Drums veteran com.
Pany. cannot, in this place, give names
or numbers; but full returns of the killed
and wounded of all corps, in their recent
operations, will accompany this report.
Quitman, within the city--adding sever.
al new defences to the position he had won.
and sheltering his corpse as we'll as prac-
ticable--now awaited the return ofdayiight,
under the guns Of the formidable citadel,
Jet to be subdued.
At about 4 O'Clock next morning, (Sept.
l4,) deputation Of the ayuntam;ento (citv
council Wanted upon me to report that the
federal government and the army Of Mex.
leo had fled from the capital some three
hours before, and to demand terms Of Gu
pitulation in favor Of the church, the citi.
zens, and the municipal authorities. II
promptly replied, that / would sign no ca.
pitulation; that the city had been virtually
in our possession from the time of the
Judgements effected by Worth and Quit.
man the day before, that regretted the
silent escape of the Mexican army; that
should levy upon the city moderate con.
tribution, for special purposes; and that the
American army should come under no
terms, nor se!fimposed--such only as its
own honor, the dignity ofthe United States,
and the spirit Of the age, should, in my
opinion imperiously demand and impose.
For the terms, so imposed, I refer the department.
paragraphs Z, 8, and of the latter,) copies of
which are herewith enclosed.
At the termination ofthe interview with the
;ity deputation, communicated, about daylight |
,rders to Worth and Quitman to advance SLOWLY
md cautiously Ito guard against treacheryl to-
wards the heart of the city, and to occupy its
stronger and more commanding points. Quitman
guards and hosted the colors of the United States
N the national palace-containing the halls of
Congress and executive departments of federal
Mexico. In this grateful service, Quitman might
lave been anticipated by Worth, but for my ex-
,ress ORDERS haltng the latter at the head of the
4lamend0, Ia green park, within three squares of
hat goal of general ambition. The capital, how
'ver, was not taken by any one or two corps, but
~ the talent, the science, the gallantry, the
'rowess of this entire army. In the glorious con-
luest all had contributed; early and powerfully
he killed the wounded, and the fit tor duty-at
Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, San Antonio,
churubusco, three battles the Molinos del Rey,
md Chapu1tepcc-as much as those who fought
It the gates of Belen and San Cosme.
Soon after we had entered, and were in the act !
# occupying the city fire was opened upon us
rom the fat roofs of the houses, from windows
md corners of streets, by some 1000 conyicts |
liberated the night before by the flying govern
MENTIONED by, perhaps, as many Mexican SOL
liers, who had disbanded themselves and thrown |
IF their uniforms. This unlawful war lasted |
more than twenty -four hours in spite of the exer-
ion of the municipal authorities, and was not put
lown till we had lost many men, including several
ulcers, killed and wounded, and had punished the
Their objects were, to crafty ma.
ional hatred; and, in the general alarm and con-
usion, to plumber the wealthy inhabitants-par-
icnlarly the deserted houses. But families are
low generally returning; business of every kind +
las been resumed, and the city is already tranquil
nd cheerful, under the admirable conduct with
RECEPTIONS very few and trifling] of our gallant
roops.
1 his army has been more disgusted than sur
rised that by some sinister process on the part
f certain individuals at home its numbers have
een, generally, almost treblcd in our public pa
ers, beginning at Washington.
Leaving, as We all feared inadequate garrisons
Vera Cruz, Perote and Puebla-with much
arger hospitals; and being obliged, most reluc-
antly, from the same cause general paucity of
umbers) to abandon Jalapa, we marched (Au-
ust 10y from Puebla with only 10, 73s rank and
lie. This number includes the garrison of Ja-
apa, and the 2,4a6 men brought up by Brig.
General Pierce August 6.
At Contreas, Churuhusco, &c; august oo,1 we
lad but 8 s,497 men engaged, after dedueting the
arrison of San Augustin, four general depotl the
Intermediate sick and the dead; at Milinos Del
ley September 81 but three brigades, with some
avalry and artillery-making in all 3,a51 men
1ere in the battle; in the two days-Sept. 12 and
whole operating force, after deduct
ng, again, the recent killed wounded and sick.
ogether with the garrison of Mscoac, [the then
eneral depot and that of Tacubaya, was but
,lso; and, finally, after deducting the new gar
ison of Chapultepec, with the killed and woun-
ed of the two days, we took possession [Sept.
of this great capital with less than 5000 -
Ind irs-assert. upon accumulated and unques-
lonable evidence, that, in not one of those con-
nf w nId II |