Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-10-27
From the Baltimore American, Oct %
Battle Of Chapultepec and Capture of the City of
Mryirn


Mexico.
The New Orleans Delta of tho l4th instant, re-
ceived last night, furnishes us with The first Anne
rican account of the battle of Chapulepcc and cap,
ture of the city of Mexico which has reached u.s.
The letter containing i, bears date in the city of
Mexico, Sept. % 1t is minute and lucid, and will
be read with much interest. After detailing the
circumstances of the fight at Molina del Rey, on
the 9Th September, the writer goes on TO say =
Col Riley was now advanced from San Angel
(his former camp TO Eel Piedad, in order to make
Il DIVERSION and hold the entrance to the Piedad
and San Antonio road. Gen. Pillows division
moved up to within supporting distance, and thus
rested our army until the lth, without anything
of moment occurring. The Engineer corps were
buslly employed night and day in their reconnoi-
sance, asccrtanng and examining the positions of
| the enemy, and the different entrances to the city
The Engineers, throughout all ouropcr,tions, have
! performed most dangerous and laborious duty
They have proved themselves to be men Of sterling
worth-ol mastery ability, and bright ornaments
OF their profession.
On the 18th, a column of cavalry sailed out
/ from the fort on the San Antonio road either for
the purpose of threatening our position or taking
capt. Magrudcrs battery, which stationed
with the picket within about 500 yards OF their
tort, though IN great measure covered from the
range of their guns. AS soou as they got their col
umn moved out into place free from all obsruc-
! tons, Capt. Nlagruder opened two pieces upon
them with shot and shell, which passed through
them with great destruction, and they took To their
heels, and got back To the fort quick possible.
The fort opened two guns the battery, but with
out further effect than killing of the 18th
Infantry An officer shortly after rode up and in
qulred OF Capt. Magrudcr If the fort had fired on
him. Holding l2-pound shot, he replied, that
he had the gentemen's card, and he expected The
cavalry would carry back his compliments 10 the
fort.
About sundown, Gen. Twiggs with the balance
OF his division arrived at Pedad and Gen. Pillow
moved with his division to the south of Tacubaya
and took position the west side of Chapultepec,
and Ten. (luitman, with his division, occupied the
road from Tacubaya TO the city Of Mexico, Cen
Norths division remaining in Tacubaya.
In the course Of the night three heavy batteries
Were planted in front Of the Castle of Chapu,epec
No. commanded by Capt Drum; No 2by Lieut.
Hagner: No 3 by Lieut. Stone-ai under the gen
eral command and superintendent of Captain An
ger, Chief of the Ordinance. Also during the
night, Gen. Twiggs' division planted Capt Step
toes IN front Of the Notifications The San Anto-
MO road IT being intended that Gen. Twiggs should
make ieint for the purpose of drawing out the en-
envy In that direction.
At daylight ON the morning of the I2ih, all the
! batteries opened-the feint made by Gen. Twiggs'
division succeeded admirably. AS soon as Capt
| Steptoe opened his guns the enemy marched out
several heavy columns, and in reaching the fort
passed within range of Steptoe's guns, when he
turned heavy and destructive fire upon them
As soon they reached the work he turned his at
tenton to the fort, and in the course of an hours
commanding drove them out of it, and slenced all
the guns. Capt. Steptoe's fire throughout was one
OF the most effective and we'll directed that has
been witnessed during the war, while his position
was such that the enemys shot had little or no eff
/ feet upon him.
! The siege batteries continued an uninterrupted
hre upon the Castle of Chaputepec throughout the
day, which was answered by eleven guns in the
work Our guns proved to be very destructive, as
we found after the work was taken 500 dead men
unburled but thrown into bitches The building
also was completely rddled
Ii was determined on the morning of the 9Th to
storm the Castle of Chapultepec and the works
connected with it, The General in Chief, know
ing the strength of the Notifications and the strong
force with which 1t was garrisoned concluded to
assault 1T with old and well tried troopS-noL that
/ he did not possess confidence in the divisions of
Generals Pillow and Quitman-but in carrying
point which was the key 10 all our future opera
tons, it would not do 10 make mistake or omit to
take every advantage Therefore, the stormng
parties from the divisions of Gen. Worth and Gen
{ Twiggs, which had so frequently been under Sc
we're fire, were selected.
The heavy batteries continued their fire upon the
fort, and about o'clock, when the brigade of Gen
! Smith arrived as supporting force to the division
OF Gen. (9uitman--as Gen. Smiths brigade
reached lis pos!ton-the division of Gen Pillow
passed Moline del Rey and assembled the hill on the
west side, the NoltIgeur Regiment, which had
been advanced into the timber to clear it of the en-
emy'S sklrmiSherS, became the assaung force SUD
ported by the balance Of the division Gen. Worth
was situated TO the north and on the left of Cen
| Pillow
part Of Gen. Quiman's force assembled the hill
/ on the south and to the right of Gen. Pillow As
the division of Gen. Pillow, and portion OF Gen
! Qulman's assembled and carried the Castle in most
gallant style, the balance of Gen. Quitmans force
and the brigade of Gen. Smith swept the works ON
the road, the whole of the commands moving har-
monOus and simultaneously together, much 10 the
honor and credit of their respective commanders
struck the enemy i'll their different positions at one
and the same time fatal blow. The hill where
| Gen. Pillows command assembled, had been mined
for the purpose of blowing up our troops when they
arrived at this point but the rapid movement Of the
| NoltIgeur Regiment, and the deadly effect of the
fire OF their rifles, as they followed up the enemy
from the first position prevented their carrying out
Their views and intentions. just as the command
/ OF Gen. Pillow rose the hill, and while in the act
Of assauIting the work, ne fell wounded. and Col.
Ransom was killed, but 50 lucidy had Gen. Pill
low explained his objects and intentions in carrying
the work. and aided by an active and efficient staff
that his command moved and carried the work
without even being brought 10 a stand.
AS Gen. Quitman's division was charging on !he
work in the road, Brig. Gen. Shields received Sc
we're wound in the arm and soon as the works were
carried he returned and had il dressed, and again
mounted his horse, which was shortly afterwards
killed under him, bu; he continued to command his
brigade, which was actively engaged throughout
the day, aud the name of Shields will loug be re-
meDbered in connection with the laurels won bv
the Palmetto of the South aud the Empire of the
North.
Gen. Pillow being disabled by his wound. Cen
eral Worth took the command of both his own di I