Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-27

Chapultepec ordered Lieut. Andrews 70 advance piece OF
artillery and rake the road with several discharges of canister
This was promptly executed and during the remainder Of
the night there appearances OF movements in the
emy's lines During the night the platforms ofbattey No.
repaired under the direction OF Lieut. Fower OF eng
neers who had reported to me for duty, and battery
for one gun established in advance of No short distance,
by Lieut. Hammond, Of Gen. Shieldss staff
The protection of battery No p which completed
the morning of the 18th, under direction of Captain Huger
was entrusted Brig Gen Shields This battery after the
guns had been placed opened and maintained steady fire
upon the CASTLE under the sku direction that experienced
officer Lieut. Hagner, of ordnance.
At dawn the morning Of the 18th, the batteries again
opened active and effective fire upon the castle, which
returned by the enemy with spirit and execution, disa
bling for time the lSounder in battery No. |, and killing
of the men at the guns.
the assault upon the CASTLE Ladders pckaxes, and crows
placed in the hands Of pioneer stormng party OF select
from the volunteer DIVISION under command Of Captain
Reynolds of the marine corps, to accompany the sormng
party Of 1870 men which had been selected all corps
the DIVISION and placed under the command Of Major
Twggs Of the marines Captain Drum had again relieved
Lieut. Andrews the guns, retaining from the command OF
the latter Sergeant Davidson and eight to an g.
FOUNDER which intended carry forward to operate
the enemys batteries in front of u.s. and to relieve the com
mand from all danger of attack right flank from reinforce
accomplish officer Brevet Brgader General Smith, with his
wediscpned brigade had reported to for orders. He
instructed to in reserve on the right flank OF the
assaung column, protect it from skmshers serious
the aqueduct leading the city, turn the enemy and cut off
his retreat Those dispositions being made, the whole COM
mand at the signal preconcerted by the Generainchle
with enthusiasm and full Of confidence advanced to the attack
AT the base Of the hill constituting part OF the works OF the
fortress Of Chapuepec and directly line OF adj
vance, the strong batteries before described thanked
the right by strong buildings and by aheayy stone wall
about fifteen feet high which extended around the base Of
the hill towards the west. Within two hundred yards of
these batteries dlapdaed buildings which afforded
partial cover to our advance Between these and the wall
extended low meadow, the long grass of which concealed
number OF wet bitches by which nersected TO this
point the command partially screened, advanced by flank,
the stormng parties in 'front.' under heavy fire from the fort
the batteries, and breastwoks of the enemy The adj
was here halted under the partial of the ruins
and upon the arrival of the heads Of the South Carolina and
New York regiments, respectively, General Shields di
reced TO move them obiquey the left the low
ground to the wall the base of the HILL Encouraged by the
gallant general who had led them victory Churubusco
and in spite of the obstacles which they had encounter
wadng through several deep dches exposed and
Calling fire from the enemy, these tried regiments promptly
executed the movement and effected Judgment at the wall
The order given Lieut. Col Geary, and
ted by his regiment with equal aacry and These
dispositions, necessary to the final assault upon the works.
not made without loss In directing the advance
Bgader General Shields severely wounded in the
No persuasons, however, could induce that officer to leave
his command, quit the field The brave Capt Van Lin
den, of the New York regiment killed the head of his
company Lieut. COL Baxter, Of the regiment, yau
able and esteemed officer while CALAMITY leading his
mand fell MORALLY wounded the wall And Lieut. Coils
Geary I'd Pennsylvania regiment, for time disabled
from command by confusion from spent ball.
In the mean time Brig Gen. Smith on our right was dv-
ing back skrmshing parties Of the enemy Lieut. Benjamin.
from battery No. i was pouring shot after shot into the for
ress and woods the slope of the bill and Lieut. III. j.
Hunt I'd artillery, who had the advance reported to me
with section of Duncans battery, had obtained favorable
position rear from which he threw shells and Shapnal
shot into the Mexican lines with good effect Perceving that
all the preliminary dispositions made Major GLADDEN.
with his regiment having passed the wall by preaching it. the
Nax NnrEa
abandoned battery their left, and the battalion OF
rnes being posted to support the stoming parties ordered
the assault at all points.
The sorming parties led by the gallant officers who had
volunteered for this desperate service rushed forward like
resisess tide. The Mexcans behind their batteries and
breastwoIks stood with than usual frmness. For a
short time the contest hand to hand swords and bayo
nets crossed and rifles dubbed Resistance however,
vain against the desperate vao of brave troops The bat
teres and strong works carried and the Of Cha
pulepec that side laid open easy conquest In these
works taken pieces of artillery, thousand
muskets, and five hundred and fifty psonersof whom
hundred oficers-among them general and ten
colones
The gallant Capt Casey having been disabled by
wound directly before the batteries the command Of the
sormng party Of regulars in the assault devoved Capt
Paul. 18th infantry, who distinguished himself for his bravery
In like MANNER the command Of the sorming party from the
volunteer division devoved Capt James Miller of the I'd
Pennsylvania regiment by the death of its Chief the brave
and lamented Major Twgg Of the marine corps who fell
the first advance at the head Of his command
Simultaneously with these movements on right the
lunteer regiments, with equal aacry and ntepdy anma
ed by generous emulation commenced the Of the hill
on the south side. Sumountng every obstacle, and fighting
their way, they fell in and mingled with their brave brethren
in who formed the advance of Major General Pillows
column. Side by side amid the OF battle the rival
Tors of the two commands struggled up the steep ascent
ed the fortress, and reached the buildings used military
college, which crowned its summit Here short pause
but the flag Of Mexico lowered and the stars and
stripes Of country oated from the heights Of Chapulepec
high above the heads the brave men who had planted them
there The gallant New York regiment claims for their
dard the honor of being first waved from the battements
Of Chapulepec. The Mexican General Bravo with
number of officers and men, taken prisoners in the
castle. They fell into the hands Of Lieut. Charles Brewer
Of the New York regiment, who reported them to The
loss OF the enemy sever especially the eastern side
adjoining the batteries taken. II should also be mentioned
that at the assault upon the works. Lieut. Fred Steele I'd
infantry, with portion Of the stomng party, advanced In
of the batteries towards the left there scaled the outer
wall through breach the top made by cannon-s shot,
assembled the hill directly his 'front.' and among the first
upon the baements The young and promising Lieut. Lew
CAN'T 7h infantry Of this party. He had actively par
tcpated in almost every battle since the opening OF the war;
but destined here TO find a soldiers grave.
After giving the necessary directions for the saiekeepng
the prisoners taken by my command and ordering the several
corps to form the aqueduc hastily assembled the hill
for the purpose Of recommending the positions Of the enemy IN
advance towards the city, there had the pleasure OF meet
ing Major Gen. Pillow, who, although seriously wounded
had been carried to the heights to enjoy the triumph in which
he and his brave troops had so largely shared.
Percevng large bodies Of the enemy the several bat