Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-26

for this season.
Al this juncture Of roads, we first passe one
Of those formidable systems Of city diences, spo.
Ken Of above, and il had not gunl--a strong
prool-i. That the enemy had expected US to
lail in the auack upon Chapultepec, even if we
lmeanI any thing more than a ienl; 2. That in
leiIher case, we designed in his belief, TO return
and double Our forces against the southern gate
Ia delusion kept up by the aclive demonslra-
tons Of Twiggs aud the forces posted on that
side; and 81; That advancing rapidly from the
reduction Of Chaputepec, the enemy had not
timeto shift guns-our previous captures had left
him comparatively but lew--lrom the southern
gates.
Within those disgarnished works, | found our
troops engaged in a street fight against the ene-
my posted in gardens, at windows and on house
tops; all fiat, with parapels. Worth ordered
forward the mountain howiIzcrs Of Cadwalader's
brigade, preceded by skirmishers and pioneers,
with pick.axes and crow-bars, to force windows
and doors, or TO buTow through walls. The as
sailants were soon in an equality opposition lala
TO the enemy. BY O'Clock in The evening
Worth had carried Two batteries in this suburb.
According to my Instructions, he here posted
guards and sentnes, and placed his troops under
shelter for the night. There was bul one more
obslacIe-rhe San Cosme gate [cuslom house
between him aud the great square in front Of the
cathedral and paace;-lhe heart Of the city;
and that barrier, il was known, could not, by
daylight, resist our siege guns thirty minutes.
| had been, from the first, we'll aware that the
western orSan Cosme, was The less difficult route
TO the conquest Of the capal and, therefore, in
tordod O,itD,op sbptll o,I
threaten the Belen or Southwestern gate, in order
TO favor the main attack by Worh-knowing
that the strong delences at the Been were direct
| ly under the guns Of the much stronger fortress.
called the ciiidal, just within. Both Of these de.
! fences Of the enemy were also within easy sup.
porting distance from the San Angel FOR Nino
Perdidol and San Antonio gates. Hence, the
greater support in numbers, given to Worh's
movement as The main attack.
| Those views, repeatedly, in the course ofthe
day, communicated 10 Major General Quman;
but being in hot pursul--gallant himself, and
ably supported by Brig. Gems. Shields and Smith
Shields badly wounded before ChapuItepec,
and refusing TO retire-Quilman conlnued 10
press forward under flank and direct fres-car.
ried an intermediate battery of two guns, and
then the gate, before Two o'clock in the afternoon
but not without proporlionate loss, increased by
his steady maintenance of that position.
Here, of the heavy bauery--4h artillery
Captain Drum and Lieut.. Benjamin were NOR.
tally wounded, and Lieut.. Porter its third in
rank, slightly. The loss of those Two most dis.
ingushed officers The army will long mourn.
Lieuls. ]. b. Morgan and William Caniy, Of the
South Carolina volunteers, also Of high merit,
fell on the same occnsion--besides many OF our
brayes non-commissioncd officers and men
particularly in Capt. Drums veteran company.
cannot. in this place give names or numbers;
but full returns Of the killed and wounded Of all
corps in their recent operations, will accompany
this report
At about 4 o'clock next morning, (Sept. l4)
a depulalion ofthe ayuntamenia Getty counc)
waited upon me 10 reporl that the federal govern.
ment and the army Of Mexico had fled from the
capital some three hours before, and TO demand
terms Of ca2itulalion in favor Of the church, the
citizens, and the municipal authorities. prompt
y replied that would sign no capiluIalion; that
the city had been virtually in our possession
from the time orlhc Judgments effected by Worth
and Quman tho day before; that regreued the
Silent escape oEthe Mexican army; that | should
levy upon the city moderate contribution for
general purposes; and that The American army
should come under no terms, not SeIf-imposed-
such only as its own honor, the dignity Of the
United States, and the spirit of the age, should.
in my opinion, impcriously demand and impose.
AT the termination Of the interview with the
city deputation, | communicated, about daylight,
orders 10 Worth and Quman TO advance slowly
and cautiously 90 guard against treachcry) TO-
wards the heart oflhe city, and more command
ing points. QuilmOn proceeded TO the great
plaza or square, planted guards, and hoisted The
coors of the United States onthe national palace
-contunng the halls of Congress and executive
apartments Of federal Mexico. In this grateful
service Quitmun might have been anticipated by
Worth, but for my express orders, haIting the
latter al The head Of the alameda, "a green park
within three squares Of that goal Of general am.
bllon. The capital, however, was not taken by
any one or two corps, but by the talent, the
science, the geIlanlry, The prowoss Of this euliro
army. In the glorious conquest all had con-
trIbulcd-early and powcrIulIy-lhe killed, the
wounded, and the ft for duty-at Vera Cruz,
Cero Gordo, Conreras, San Antonio. Churubus.
co, (lhree baules,) the Monos del Rey, and
ChapuIrepcc-as much as those who fought at
the gates OF BeIen and San CoSme.
Soon after we had entered, and were in the act
of occupying the city, fire was opened upon us
from the flat roofs OF The houses, from windows,
and corners Of streets, by some 1000 convicts
liberated the night before by the flying govern
ment-joined by, perhaps, as many Mexican sol.
diers, who had dsbanded themselves and thrown
off twenty four hours in spite of the exerons Of
the municipal authorities, and was not put down
ill we had lost many men, including several off.
GERS, killed or wounded and had punished the
mscreants. Their objects were 10 crafty ma
tional hatred; and, in the general alarm and con-
fusion, to plumber the wealthy inhabitanrs-par-
lcuarIy the deserted houses. But families are
now generally returning; business of every kind
has been resumed, and The city is already tran.
quill and cheerful, under the admirable conduct
twirh exceptions very few and uifing) Of our gal.