Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-11-12

the guns Of Chapultcpcc; yet We took quiet
possession without shot. After our arrival
the Mexican commissioners came again and
again, the next morning, when commissioners
were appointed by tho General, and nm ai1nis-
lice of bis dctation agreed upon; and cominiss-
toner's were appointed on the part o. the Mexi-
cans to treat with our commissioner (AIr Trist)
on the subject Of peace The negotiations went
on for several days very amicably, as WIS beliey-
ed but Santa Anna was daily violating the ar
mistice, by increasing his defences; and it was
only n Tlisc on the part Of the enemy to gain
time. The commission was eventually dissolved
by the rejection of the terms Of our commission
err, and the General the same day DECLARED the
armistce at an end The next day the enemy
moved large force out from Chapultcpec to the
west, and occupied large building containing
public foundry and mills The General, al
though he had been manpuvering with view
to an attack on the south by the San Antonio
road, changed his plans and determined to take
Chapultepec first, and then approach the city by
San Cosme. To accomplish this, the force on
the left (west) had to be dislodged, and the du-
ty was assigned to Worth's division. 1t was in
tended to have been a night attack, but, from
some cause or other, the fight did not commence
until daylight, when our PAS opened upon the
building should have mentioned that the en-
envy had a large force of both infantry and cav
With this force our troops were soon engaged,
and sharp fire was kept up for several hours.
The enemy gradually reiterated upon the build
ing; and now came the tug The building
must be carried or nothing was gained Ii could
only be done by assault; and that was diff
cult matter, as our artillery had made no impress
ion--no breach was made vet il was ordered,
and carried in gallant style in few minutes; a
number of prisoners taken, and the enemy COM
pletey driven from the field but not without
great loss on oar side. Our loss is in killed and
wounded about 700--a tremendous loss TO so
small an army, with such an object before it,
Among the killed are many valuable officers.
can only mention Col. w. Graham, the brother
of our Major. He died most nobly at the head
of his regiment. He had received q bad wound
in the arm, when he should have retired but
he continued to lead his regiment in the assault
until he was pierced by three more balls, which
caused his death instantly. i saw his body car
ried from the field. 1t was respectfully Inferred
by his own regiment
Having now possession of this important point,
batteries were erected in the vicinity of the Mo
limo, and also on the Tacubaya road, south of
Chapultepec, for the purpose of battering it,
On the 18th, the batteries opened at day-brcak,
and, after few shots, and the range obtained,
their effect was very apparent The fire was
returned from the castle with great eanestncss
and continued from both sides throughout the
day. The next morning the fire was resumed
with the same spirit on our part, but not so on
the part Of the enemy-only occasionally Teturn-
ing the fire. One Of their largest guns had been
removed during the night. 1t had been deter
mined previously to assault the work this morn
ing, and General Pillows division supported by
Worth's, were ordered to the attack; they NOV
cd at an early hour from Molino ChapnItepec
ia
the north, very steep and rocky on the east and
south; to the weet the slepe is more easy, but
covered with rocks. On tins side, the hill is COW
cred with a dense wood within short distance
OF the top. II was through this wood, where n
large force Of the enemy was posted, that the at
tack was made. Our boys being at home in the
woods soon drove them from it. 1t was most
beautiful and thrilling sight, as the stolmihg
party emerged from the wood right in the face
OF the guns of the work, and the ramparts lined
with musketry. They found some shelter be-
hind the rocks, and approaching gradually and
cautiously, and occasionally returning the FIRE
When within few yards &c tho work, gallant
fellow with the standard of his regiment in hand,
rushed forward to the very walls, followed by
few determined fellows, with ladders, which they
placed against the walls, and our boys rushed
over with Il shout the enemy Of course fled.
rushing out wherever they best could over the
walls and down the precipices. Our men, in
the heat Of the moment, shot every one before
them and the scene inside, was Undesirable
the works and buildings were mass of ruins,
covered with the dead and dying. The effects
Of SO short battering speak volumes for our or
dinance and artillery. Our own seige-train of
24-pounders, and large mortar managed by
Hnger and Hagner, and portion Of the seige-
train taken from the enemy, managed by Capt.
Drum Of the artillery, (who was afterwards kill
ed, poor fellowD performed wonders-eyery
shot told; every part of the building, which is
very large one, was entirely fiddled. 1t was
occupied as MILITARY school; and the library,
which was well selected and valuable one was
IN perfect confusion, and the books, drawing-ta-
bles, furniture, &C., were mass of ruins. A
great number of prisoners were taken, among
them Gen. Bravo (who comniandecl) and all the
pupils. Whilst these operations were going on,
on the west, Gen. Quitman was ordered 10 ut
tack on the south and east, where the enemy
were in great numbers along the aQueduct, with
defences thrown across the road these works
were carried in handsome style, and at about
the same time. The General did not halt long
at Chapultepec-just long enough to give some
directions leaving asmall garrison, followed
in pursuit of the enemy General Quitman's di-
vision by the Tacubaya road, and Worth's (Pil-
low was wounded in the assault) by the San
Cosme. The enemy resisted at every step. hav.
ing deiences thrown across the roads; and, a.
our approach could only be by those roads Oh
straight eauseways, the ground being wet and
marshy on either side, the FIRE from their batter
les was very destructive. But they were moi
permitted to hold any one position long, and al
nightfall they were driven within the walls, anc
we had possession of the two gates Of the CITY,
| When Gen. Quihnan's division reached the Ia
cubaya gate, it encountered the citadel, strong
ly fortified place, with heavy guns; the shower
Of grape and canister from which were truly
awful. 1t was here that poor Drum and Benja
min, of the same battery, were killed; but II.
General found cover for his men, and maintain
ed his position. AT midnight commissioners
with flag, came out TO the General-inlChie
and stated that Santa Anna was marching out
with his army, and that they came to surrender
the city to him, and accordingly, the next morn
ing, this little but gallant army--certainly moi
exceeding Gs0O0 effective men--marched into
this great capital, and hoisted the stars and
stripes over the constitutional palace.
Since the commencement of this campaign
all the movements Of the arniy have been CON
Quoted and ordered on the most scientific and
military principles, and exhibited great skill and
generalship on the part Of our distinguishes
commander / do not think a single error In,
been committed. On the contrary, every plar
and every movement of his has succeeded 20 adj
I asRaau ~.