Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-10-09
Farther Accounts or the Capture OF the
Ctty OF Mexico.

Spanish Mexican in the city Of Mexico TO Span. I
ish house in New York. which gives more full |
account of the recent proceedings at Mexico !
than has reached us from any other quarter !
On the l3h, the Americans made demonstra.
,iou on Chapultepec aud the mill OF FL Rey, but
our Generals were prepared for them. Chapul.
tepec, you know, is situated between Tacubaya
and the City, within cannon shot OF the former,
and some three miles from the latter.
As the Americans ascendcd the hill perfect
storm Of musket balls and grape shot drove them
back with heavy loss. They recovered and ad.
vanced again. but were repulsed Our troops
fought with desperate vaor, worthy the eharac.
ter OF Mexicans, The enemy also fought brave.
ly; his men seemed like so many devils whom
il was impossible to defeat without annihilaton
He made third and last charge with fresh force
and heavy guns, and our gallant troops, having
exhausted their grape shot, were forced very un
willingly, to retreat and yield up the fortress, of
which the enemy took possession. Our soldier.
retreated towards the city, but were unfortu
ly cut or by detachment Of the enemy's cava.
ry, and about thousand were made prisoners,
but were soon released, as the enemy had no men
| to guard them. The enemy then opened his bat.
teries on the Mill FL Rey, Kings MILL close
uron Chapultepec, which, after obstinate fight
ing and great loss to the Americans. we were o.
| bliged TO abandon.
! The two actions continued over nine hours,
and were the severest, considering our small
! number Of soldiers and the enemy's large force,
that have been fought. Our loss in killed and
wounded was not more than 800, while the enc
my lost over 400, or at least such was the report
! of deserters from the American camp, who came
to us in the evening. Seeing that the city would
inevitably be attacked, General Santa Anna, du
ring the actions, caused number Of trenches TO
be cut across the road leading TO the city, which
were flooded with water On the morning OF
the lith. before daylight, the enemy with part
of his force, commenced his march upon the city
Our soldiers, posted behind the arches OF the
aueducts and several breast works which had
been hastily thrown up, annoyed him so severe
w. together with the trenches which he had TO
bridge over, that he did not arrive at the gates
until late in the afternoon. Here he halted and
attempted to bombsrd the city, which he did du
ring the balance of the day and the day follow
ing, doing immense damage. In some case
{ whole block. were destroyed, and great mum
Der of men, women and children killed an'
wounded The picture was awful One deafen
ing roar filled our ears. one cloud Of smoke me
our eyes now and then mixed with fame, AM
amid il all we could hear the various shrieks o
the wounded and dying. But the city bravel,
resisted hundreds Of flying shells. II hurled bacl
defiance 20 the blood thirsty Yankee, and convin
: ced him that his bombs could not reduce tn
Mexican capital.
The enemy then changed his plan, and deter
u mined 10 enter the city, where we were prepa
{ red TO meet him, having barricaded the street
with sand bags, and provided on the house top
and al the windows all who could bear arms O
!. missiles. stones, bricks. &c, to throw on IN
J. heads Of the enemy. Before General Scott ha
), fairly passed the gates he found the difficulty
!. his position. A perfect torrent of balls an
;. stones rained upon his troops. Many were XII
II led and more wounded Still he kept advancn
II until he gained the entrance Of two streets lei
.. ding direct to the Plaza Finding that he eou
not oppose himself to our soldiers, who were a
!. posted out of sight, and that he was losing h
n men rapidly, Gen. Scott took possession OF Il
>, convent Of San Isidor which extends back to II
n centre of block. and at once set his saPPers al
miners TO cutting away directly through Il
=, blocks of buildings. In some instances who
n. houses were blown up to facilitate his proeres
but after several hours he again emerged into II
street, and finally gained the Plaza with gre
g loss.
;. On entering the Plaz, heavy fire was
=, pened on him from the Palace and Cathedra
!, which were filled and covered with our patr'
4, tic troops Finding himself thus assaulted, u
:, enemy drew out his iorces in the Paz,, and
al pened cannouade on the Palace and Cathedra
" firing over one hundred shots, which did IL
Of 'nense damage to the buildings, and caused g
'e we're loss of killed and wounded. Seeing Ia
er ther resistance useless. our soldiers ceased
&c ring, and on the 18th of September ('ad day
IN the enemy WAS in possession OF the Mexica
ar capital. Though we inflicted havoc and des
10 upon the Yankees, we suffered greatly Oh
We selves. Many were killed by the blowing ,
y OF the houses, many by The bombardment, b
:, more by the confusion which prevailed in Il
city; and altogether we cannot coun, our k
:. led, wounded aud missing, since the action cor
=, menced yesterday, at less than 4OOO' amor
n whom are many women and children. II
=. enemy confessed loss Of over l00O-it is
~ hat cal