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


erior grades noncommssoned officers, and pvates, whose
gaany in the assault is deemed worthy of special notice.
appears from the reports of commandes of corps.
transmit herewith Brig Gen. Pieres report Of the ope-
ratlons OF his brigade on the 9Th instant.
also forward field of my division for the morning
of the 18th, and the Mexican flag captured upon the citadel
OF Chapulepec when that work stunned the 18th by
my command.
have the honor to he very respectfully your obedient
servant, GID J. PILLOW,
Major General u. s. Army
Capt. H. L. Scorr,
A. A. A. General, Headquarter, of the Army.
Report Of Brevet Major General Worfh.
HEADQUARTERS 1sr DIVISION,
City Of Merico September l6, ls47
SR On the evening Of the 18th Instant having the
bal orders of the Genean chief designate stormng par
ty to aid in the assault upon the castle of Chapulepec
command from my division, with scaling ladders organ
lied, consisting of ten ocers-Capt. Mckenzie I'd artillery
commanding; and two hundred and sixty men, volunteers
drawn in due proportion from the several corps At A. NJ
on the 18th these attachments assembled the appointed
place. and proceeded to their duty For the in which
this was executed refer the report herewith Of the gallant
commander.
AT the same time, had the orders of the Generan chief
to take position with the remainder Of my DIVISION and sup
port the operations of Gen Pillow This position taken
at the time and place appointed and that informed Of
my preparations and of readiness support him. Lieut.
Sernmes (navy,) one of my ads-decamp, whom dispatch
ell with this intelligence found General Pillow after the
Pillow desired him return me- with request "to bring
up whole division, and make great haste or he feared
would be late" The I'd (Clarks) brigade ordered
instantly to advance did passed on mingled with the
advancing forces and entered with them, peH nell into the
assaulted work. At the instant the lst (Garand's)
brigade, the light battalion under Lieut. Col. G. F. Smith,
and Duncans battery, put in motion, around the north
eastern base Of the hill of Chapuepcc and moved opera
ton, upon the San Cosme route and aqueduc After adj
vancng some four hundred yards battery which
had been assailed by portion of Maguders field gunspar
cuary the section under the gallant Lieut. Jackson who,
although he had lost Of his horses and many his men,
continued chivaous at his post combating with noble
rage portion Of Gaands brigade, which had been pre-
vousy depoyed in the field TO the left up with
and defeated the enemys right the left extending
the direction Of the Tacubaya aqueduc on which Quitman
division battling and advancing. Pursuing the San
Cosme road discovered ached passage through the
aqueduct and route practicable for artillery, for
siderable distance the meadows in the direction Of the
battery and left Of the enemys line which was CALLING and
endeavorng TO check Qutmans advance Lieut. Col Dun
can, with section of his battery covered by Lieut. Colonel
Smiths battalion, turned of upon this route and advanc-
ing TO within four hundred yards of the enemy lines (Which
far the nature of the ground would perm opened
effective re-rs upon the battery and then upon the
retreang troops great numbers Of whom down.
Having thus aided the advance and cleared the being
favorably suaed) Of my gallant friend Qutman far it
in my power, this portion of my command was with
drawn The I'd brigade coming up the advance upon
the main road continued. We soon came up with and
carried second battery, and afterwards third both of them
strong works and enfadng the road This brought to
the Campo Santo, English buryng-ground, which
the road and aqueduct bend the right At this point the
Generain chief came up, with his staff and instructed
press on, carry the gaa San Cosme and il possible, pcne
trate to the Alameda Shortly after Brig Gen. Cadwalader
reported TO me- by the order OF the General chief and,
later between and p. NJ, Col Riley with the ID brig
ade, I'd division. The former LEFT in position the Cam
Santo, to hold that point and look to the left and
The latter coming up after the firing had ceased halted
in Of the LIST DIVISION and entered the city with it the
morning of the 18th.
Here came in font Of another battery beyond which,
distant two hundred and fifty yards, and sustaining il,
was the last defence or the gara OF San Cosme The ap
proach TO these two deencs right ne and the whole
space literally swept by grape canister and shells from
heavy gunand howze; added which fires of mus
kerry delivered from the tops Of the adjacent houses and
churches hence became necessary to vary our mode OF
operations Garlands brigade thrown TO the right with
in and masked by the aqueduc and instructed dslodge the
enemy from the buildings in his front and en6eavor to reach
and turn the left OF the ga taking advantage OF such cover
might offer to enable him TO effect these Objects Claks
brigade was at the time ordered TO take the buildings on
the left Of the road and by the of bars and picks bur
through from house house, and in like manner carry
the right Of the gara While these orders were being exc
cued, mountain howzer placed on the top Of COM
handing building on the left and another on the church OF
San Cosme the right, both Of which opened with admi-
abe effect The work Of the troops tedious and neces
sary slow, but was greatly favored by the fire OF the howt
Finally at O'clock both columns had reached Their
POSITIONS and then became necessary at all hazards 10 adj
piece of artillery to the evacuated battery OF the enc
my intermediate between aud the garta Lieut. Hunt was
ordered to execute this duty which he did in the highest posi-
style OF galany equally sustained BY his ve'eraH ooP
with the loss of killed and four wounded, out OF nine
men, although the piece moved full speed over distance OF
only one hundred and fifty yards reaching the breastworR
he muzze TO muzzc with the enemy II has never been
my fortune to witness more brilliant exhibition oil courage
and conduct The moment had arrived for the final and
combined attack upon the stronghold Of the enemy IN my
quarter il made by our sprnging, as II by magic
to the tops Of the houses into which they had patiently and
ter surprise and CONSERVATION Of the enemy opening upon
him within easy range destructive fire Of muskery.