The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-07

agreed TO by Gen. Santa Anna. and on the 24th
OF August, the Publications of an armistice were
duly exchanged.
Commissioner met to treat of peace, and this
Is an important point IN the history of the events
before the Mexican capital. The army, one is
disposed to think, had accomplished its mission.
1t had brought commissioners together to treat
of peace after the governments OF both countries
had declared that a peace was desired that
should be honorable TO both nations. But peace
was not made.
II is proper to say that the enefal.n- Chief
had no power confided to him by his government
anthorising HIM to act as a commissioner In con-
GLIDING treaty OF peace-he was sent to this
country as a military man, exclusively. He,
therefore, ls In no manner responsible tor the
failure OF the negotiations, which, nevertheless,
he has all the merit of having brought about,
after the events of the Goth Of August.
1t Is equally proper to say, in justice to the Ia
Tented and experienced gentleman selected by
the government of the U. 8. and sent to the head
quarters of Maj. Gen Scott as the COMM ssioner
to ireatfor peace, that he was trammelled by the
instructions OF the government in so much ha, 1t
will remain a problem to whether more en-
larged powers would not have enabled him to
have made treaty honorable to both nations >"
The ultlmatum OF our commissioner was hand
ed to the Mexican commissioners early in Sep
TENDER, about the I'd of the month, and very soon
afterwards, reports began to reach the General,
and accumulated very rapidly, that the Mexicans
were engaged, in violation OF the articles OF the
arm istice, in fortifying the city, especially at
night On the 9Th, the Mexican commissi oners,
it was expected, would give their answer to the
propositions OF our commissioners, and they did
so, refusing to accept them. simultaneously
with this, the General sent a paper to General
Santa Anna declaring that, as the articles of the
armistice had been violated by the Mexican au-
thorties, he felt at liberty to terminate the ar.
mistice at his pleasure, but would allow until
the next day at noon for explanations. Up to IL
O'Clock ofthe It'll of September, the General had
not only made no reconnaissance, but had order
ed the engineers TO make none, in strict COM
pliance with the armisiice.
Soon after IL M the 7th September, the gene
raj rode to the heights of Tacubaya, over against
Chapultepec, where a building was pointed out
to him few hundred yards from the base of the
Chapultepec hill, which was said to be foundry
in full operation, casting cannon from bells re-
moved from the churches in the city. AS he
rode away from the place of observation, he re-
marked that he,would, the next morning, destroy
the foundry, so as to prevent the enemy from
making any more cannon, and would then at his
leisure lay down his plan for a final attack upon
the city.
The battle of the 9Th of September, called the
battle Of the Moline del Rey, was the result of
this determination, this being the name of the
building pointed out as the foundry: The enemy
anticipating an attack in that direction, had
moved out,on the 7th, very large force. said by
some prisoners taken on the 9Th, to be 1000 men
besides thousand within the works at Chapul-
tepec This force was covered by buildings and
entertainments extending full a mile in length,
its left being at the Molino de- Rey, near some
woods at the base of the Chapultepec hill, while
its right was within a strongly built hacienda, of
stone, as usual
Early in the morning Of the 9Th, the attack was
made by division OF our troops, and the hight
was continued rather more than an hour and a
half when the enemy was driven from his entire
line with the loss, besides killed, of many priso.
ners and OF several pieces of field artillery, all
he ventured to bring into that engagement.
| As the enemy supposed th.s attack was inten-
pultepec was not assailed, the opinion in the cit,
was quite decided that we had sustained defea
although we had in fact most completely accom-
plished the only object In view; Our loss In th'
iife the means u casting cannon had been fount
| and Observation-Disclosures we had taken ma
ny prisoners (several hundredO and several
pieces OF artlliery1stlll, we believe the army
| would much rather have dispensed with the glO-
rles of that day, as 1t was accompanied with un-
| usual sorrow and mourning tor many OF Its no
blest spirits.
The general then began his preparations for a
final attack He ordered a depot of sick and
wounded, of captured artillery, &C., including
prisoners, to be established at small village
called Mscoac, to the right Of Tacubaya,t through
which he had passed In coming from Coyoacan
and in front OF this village, at place called Pie
dad, he posted Il division to threaten the city in
that direction Immediately there was seen an
immense number of laborers busily engaged night
| and day in fortiylng the causeways, by which
the city was accessible from the Piedad. Ii was
wonderful to see the activity with which they
worked.
At the end of three or four days the fortfica-
tons in that direction seemed very complete, and
lined with artillery and men. ...
Ii was evident that the enemy looked upon
that as the contemplated place OF attack, and for
tais very reason, perhaps, the general made his
arrangements to attack, not there on the right,
but at Chaputepec on his left but still he kept
up a show of attack from the Piedad. On the
morning of the 18th OF Sept. the firing commence
ed from three four batteries upon Chapultepec;
but no show of force was made, and the enemy
thought II feint, keeping his principal force In
the direction OF the Piedad. The firing CONT
nued all day on both sides, with very little effect.
1t was resumed the next morning, and CONT
nued about two hours, when it ceased by order
OF the general, the cessation being the signal OF
time determined for the advance OF two assault
ing parties of $50 men each, supported by strong
columns, the artillery resuming Its fire as soon
as the movement was In iull operation, and In
about an hour the heights were assembled by our
troops, and the scaling ladders being placed
against the walls, our intrepid officers and sol
ders passed over into the main work, driving
the enemy either out of the work altogether, or
into buildings where they surrendered at discr g
ton. The enemy, during the night OF the 18th,
had sent additional force to defend Chapultepec,
though evidently at loss to know where the
real attack was to be made. The defence, how
ever, was desperate, the fight being maintained
at a multitude OF points in the woods near the
hili--at batteries and breastworks at the base OF
positions on the sides of the hill This fight was,
on the whole, one Of the most remarkable that
has occurred during thewar.
| Bat / design merely an outline. AS the mill
tary school was at that place, the superintendent
professors and students, became prisoners OF war
! with larg- body of other officers and men, in
| Guiding the celebrated veteran, Gen. Bravo.
| Chapultepec having fallen, our troops were di
| rected In two columns along two causeways
one leading directly to the city, and the other t.
the left, TO intersec ct the San Cosme causeway
aud now the fight was resumed inch by inch
upon each route, but the infantry of the enemy
was driven, and his batteries taken in rapid sue
cesslon along distance upon each causeway, O
more than a mile and half, and at night both
columns had made lodgmesi within the gates
of the capital.
either OF the two days. A field battery openec
It's fire upon the enemy, and movements were