Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-26
WINFIELD SCOTT.
National PaIaee Of Mcrico, Sent. 10, 1917.

National Palace Of Mcrico, Sept. 10, l847.
SIR At the end of another series of arduou.
aud brilliant operations, Of more than forty
hours continuance, this glorious army hoisled, OF
the morning of the l4lh, the colors ollhe United
Suites on the walls Of this palace.
The victory oflhe 8lh, AT the Monos del Rev,
was followed by daring reconnosanccs on the
part OF our distinguished enginecrs-Capt. Lee.
lheuts BcOurcgard, Stevens and Towcr-Muior
Smith, senior, being sick, and Capt. Mason, third
IN rank, wounded. Their operations were di.
r'cIed principally 10 the South-towardsl the gates
Of the Piedad, San Angel, (Nino Perdido) San
Antonio, and the Paseo de la Viga.
This city stands on n slight swell Of ground,
near the centre Of an irregular basin, and is cir.
died with ditch in It's greater eXlent--a nnviga-
bic canal ol great breadth and deplh--very diff.
cult 10 bridge IN the presence OF an enemy, and
serving NJ once for drainage, custom house pur.
poses. ind military defence; leaving cightenran.
ccs or gates, over arches--cach of which we
found defended by system Of strong works, that
seemed lorcquire nothing but some menand guns
to be imprcgnabIe.
Oulsdcond wilhnthe cross.frcs Of those gates,
we found to the south other obstacles but iule
less formidable. All the approaches near the
rlly are oyer elevated cauScways, cut in MANY
places to oppose us) and lankcd. on both sides,
10y bitches, also, of unusual dimensions. The
numerous cross roads are nanked in like manner.
having bridges nj the intersections, recently bro.
ken. The meadows thus checkercd, are, more.
over, IN many spots under water or marshy; for
twill be remembered we were in the midst of
The wet season, though with less rain than usual,
aud We could not wait for the fall Of the nciph.
boring lakes and the consequent drainage of The
wet grounds at 'he edge Of the cily-lhe lowest
IN 'hc whole basin.
Alter close personal survey Of the southern
gutcs, covered by Pillows division and Rilev's
brigade OF TwgGs four times our numbers
concenIraledn III our immediate 'front.' dclcrmn.
I'd, on tho lth TO nvoid that net work of obsta.
cles, md TO seek, by a sudden diversion, 10 tho
southwest and wesl less unfavoruble approaches.
To economize the lives Of our gallant officers
and men, as well as 10 insure success, il became
indispensable that this resolution should be long
masked from the enemy; and again, that tho new
movement, when discovered, should be mistaken
Tor ient, aud tho old as indicating our true and
Ultimate point of attack.
Accordingly, on the spot on the lIlh. order.
ed Qutman sdIvsiou from Coyacan, 10 Join Pill.
| low, 6ydayhghi, before the southern eates, and
then that tho two Major Generals, with their di.
visions, should, BY night, proceed two miIes) 10
I Join me at Tacubaya, whereI was Quarlercd with
WORMS division. Twggs, with RIley's brigade,
aud Capl. TayIor's and Sleptoc's field batteries
| the auer of 10 pounders--was left in from, Of
those gates to manGuvre to threaten, or to make
laIse attacks, in order TO occupy aud deceive the
enemy. Twlgg's other brigade (Smuh's) was
left supporting distance, in the rear, At San An
gel, tlll The morning Of the 18Th, and also TO sup
por' our general depot at Mlscoac The strata
gem against the south was admirably executed
throughout The l2lh and down 10 the afternoon o
The 18Th, when it was 100 late for The enemy IL
recover from the effects Of his delusion.
The hrsI StepIn ihUDew movement was to car
ry ChapuleP.c, a natural and isolated mound, o
great elevation, strongly fortified at It's buse, aul
acchYlii-E aAd hsighls, DsslIss anumstOus gar