Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-20

Ell Moline del Rey fought and the 9Th Of September,
ls47, by the LIST division, reinforced as follows:
ls Three squadrons of Dragons and company of
oor,a asmen-2TO men, under Maj. SUMNER ID Dragons.
ID. Three pieces of field artillery. under Capt. Drum
3d Two battering guns (24-pounders,) under Captain
Huger.
Ab Cadwaaders brigade, 7s4 strong consisting of the
geur regiment the lth and 18th regiments of infantry.
Having in of the 7h, accompanied the General
nchef on reconnaissance of the formidable dispositions
the enemy near and around the Chapulepec they
were found exhibit extended line of cavalry and
y sustained by field battery of four guns occupying direct
" or sustaining system of defences collateral the castle
and summit. This examination fair observation of the
confguraion of the grounds and the Of enemy
force but appeared the sequel inadequate idea of the
nature of his deences, they being skifuly masked.
The Genean-chef ordered that my division, reinforced
before mentioned should attack and carry those lines and de-
,>r,,.o -, ~""v's artillery destroy the machinery
and material supposed be in the foundry (E Moline del
Rey limiting the operations to that exent after which
nv command was be Immediately withdrawn to its position
in the village OF Tacubaya.
close and daring reconnaissance by capt Mason Of the
engineers made the morning OF the b, represented the
enenys lines collateral Chapuepec to be as follows His
lett rested upon and occupied group OF strong stone build
ng called Ell Mono del Ry adjoining the grove at the foot
hill Of Chapuepec and directly under the guns of the
castle which its summit The right OF his line rested
upon another buildings called Casa Mata situated at the
foot OF the ridge slopes gradually from the heights above
the village of Tacubaya the plain below Midway between
these buildings the enemys field battery, and his inan
try forces disposed either side to support it. This
verified by Capt. Mason and Col Duncan
on the afternoon Of the day The result indicated that
the the weak point Of the enemys position and
that his tanks the points, his left flank being the
stronger.
As euemys system of defence connected with the
hill and castle of Chapulepec, and my operations linn
tied specific object became necessary isolate the work
TO accomplished from the castle of Chapultepec and IFS i'm
mediate deences To effect this object the following DISPOSE
ordered Col Garlands brigade take position on
the right strengthened by pieces OF Capt Drums bate
to look to FL Mono del Rey well any support this
position from Chaputepec and also within sustaining distance
of the assaung party and the baeng guns which under
Capt Huger, placed the RIDGE five or six hundred
= FL Moline del Rey, to batter and loosen this posi-;
ton from Chaputepec. assaang party Of five hundred
picked men ald officers under command of Brevet Major
George Wright sh infantry, posted on the ridge to
Of ing guns force the enemys CENTRE The
I'd (Clak brigade, the command Of which devoved on Col
Mcintosh, (Co Clark being sick, with Duncans battery
TO take post still furthe up the ridge, opposite
mys right look left flank sustain the assaultng
column necessay to dscom the enemy, (the ground
aein favorable circumstances might require Cadwaa-
der brigade held in reserve in position the RIDGE
batterng guns and McIntoshs brigade and in
easy support of either The cavalry under Major SUMNER
envelope left and be governed by ccumsan
ces-to repe attack the commanders judgment might
suggest The troops be put position under of the
night and the work begin the heavy metal could
properly directed. Colonel Duncan charged with the
general disposition Of the artillery Accordingly, at o'clock
in the morning OF the Sh the several columns put IN
notion many different and, when the gray of
morning enabled them be een they accurately
position posted in midday for review. The early dawn
the appointed for the attack, which
ced troops by the opening of Hugers guns Ell Mo-
limo del Rey, upon which they continued to play actively
til this point of the enemys line became snsby Shaken when
the assauing party, commanded by Wright, and guided by
she'd of The
assisted by Lieut. Foster dashed CALAMITY forward the
sau mistaken by the CALLING fire of musketry and
that showered upon them, on they rushed driving nfan
try and artillery the point Of the bayonet The
mys field battery taken, and his guns traed
upon his etreang before however they could be
discharged pecevng that he had been dspossesed of this
strong position by comparatively handful of men, he made
desperate effort to regain it, Accordingly, his retiring forces
rallied and formed with this object Aided by infantry
which covered the house tops (hin reach Of which the
terry had been moved during the night the enemys whole
line opened upon the assaung party terrific fire muketry
which struck down ep out of the fourteen officers that
posed the command and no4lRnmssoned officers and
IN proportion including among the officers Breve Major
Wright the commander Captain Mason and Lieut. Foster
engineers all severely wounded.
This shock staggered for that gallant
band The light battalion held to Hugers battery
der Capt L. Kirby Smith, (ieut. Col Smith being sick,
and the right wing Of Cadwaaders brigade promptly
ordered forward support which order executed in
most gallant style the enemy again routed, and this
point Of his line carried and fully possessed by troops
In the time Garlands ls brigade, ably sustained by
Capt Drums artillery, assaulted the enemys left and after
obstinate and very contest drove him from this APP
paeny impegnabe position Immediately under the guns Of
the castle Of Chapuepec. Drums section and the bateng
guns under Capt Huger, advanced the enemys position
and the captured Of the enemy opened
retreang forces which they continued FIRE until beyond
their reach While this work progress accomplish
men BY centre and right, troops the left
idle Duncans battery opened the right Of the enemys
line, this time engaged and the 81 brigade under Col
Mcintosh ordered assault extreme right of the
enemy line The direction Of this brigade caused il to
mask Duncans battery the Gre Of which, for the moment
discontinued and the brigade moved stcaiy on 10 the
assault of Casa Maa, which, instead Of an ordinary field en-
renchment supposed proved strong stone cita
DEL surrounded with Fashioned entertainments and mpase
dichessn old Spanish work. recently repaired and enlarged
When within easy muske range, the enemy opened most
deadly fire upon advancing troops, which wa kept IN
without ntermssion, until gallant reached the yery
slope Of the parape of the work that surrounded the citadel
By this time large proportion Of The command was either
lled wounded amongst whom ;hrce senior off
present, Brcvet Col Mcintosh, Beyc Lieut. Col Scott
of the 9Th infantry, and Major Waite, sh infantry the Sc
cond killed, and the first and last desperately wounded Still
the fire from the citadel undated. IL this crisis of the
attack, the command momentay thrown into disorder
and fell back the left Of Duncans battery where they raj
he'd As the ID brigade moved to the assault very large
cavalry and infantry force discovered approaching rapidly
upon our left fink, reinforce the eBemys right As soon
as Duncan battery masked, before mentioned sup
ported by Andewss voltgeurs, a Cadwaaders brigade il
moved promptly TO the left Of line to check the