The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-22
THE KENDALL ooRaEsPoNDENoE.
CRY or MEXICO, Semi. IA. ls47


power Of mere handful of men compared with tho
immense odds arrayed against them, and Santa Ana,
instead of shedding his blood he had promised is
wandering with the remnant of army no one knows
WHITTIER NH@
The apparently impregnable works on Chapuepec,
after desperate struggle were riumphanty carried,
Gems. Bravo and Mouterde besides host OF officers
of different grades taken prisoners Over 900 non
commissioned officers and privates, all their
and ammunition are in our hands. The fugitives
were soon in fnl flight towards the different works
which command the entrances to the city, and our
men at once were in hot pursuit
Gen. Qutman, supported by Gen. Smith 8 brigade,
took the road by the Chapultepec aqueduct towards
the Been gate and the Cindadela; Gen. Worth, sup
ported by Gen Cadwaaders brigade, advanced by
the San Coslne aqueduct towards the garta of that
name. Both rous were cut up by bitches and defend
cd by breastwohs, barricades, and strong works of
every description known to military science yet the
daring and mpetuosty of our men overcame one
defence after another, and by night-fal every work
to the city's edge was carried Gen. Quitman's COM
mand after the rout at Chapultepec, the first to
encounter the enemy in force. Midway between the
former and the Been gate Santa Ana had construct
cd strong work; but this was ut once vigorously
assaulted by Gen. Qutman, and, aided by flank
iilu tWo VI guns, WHICH tcI. WORM
had ordered to approach as possible from the
San Cosme road the enemy was again routed, and
in full flight They again nnde stand from their
strong fortfcatlons ut and near the Bclen garita,
opening tremendous fire not OF round shot, grape,
and shell, but OF musketry; yet boldly Gen. Quitman
advanced, stormed and carried the works, although
at great lossand then every point on this side the
city was in our possession In this onslaught two of
our bravest officers were killed--Cuptain Drum and
Lieut., Benjamin.
Meanwhile Gen. Worth was rapidly advancing on
San Cosme. AT the English burying-ground the en-
my had constructed strong work. 1t was defended
by infantry for short time but could not resist the
assault Of our nen--thc affrighted Mexicans soon
fled to another line Of works nearer the city and thus
Gen. Worth was in possession of the entrance to San
Cosme. As his men advanced towards the garita the
enemy opened n heavy fire Of musketry from the
house tops as well as Of grape canhiser, and shell
from their batteries, thus sweeping the street COM
pletely. AT this juncure the old Monterey game of
burrowing and digging through the houses was
adopted On the right as our mon faced the oneniy
the aqueduct afforded partial shelter. On the left,
the houses give some protection; but many
were still killed or wounded by the grape which swept
every part, as well by the shells, which were con
tinuay bursting in every direction. About o. clock
the work Of the pickaxe and the bar under the
direction of Lieut.. G. w. Smith, of the sappers and
miners, had fairly commenced and every minute
brought our men nearer the enemys last stronghold
In the meantime two mountain howitzers were fair
y lifted to the top of one OF the houses and into the
cupola of the church, from which they opened
plunging and most effective fire, while one of Dun
cans guns, in charge of Lieut.. Hunt was run up
under Calling fire deserted breastwork, and at
once opened upon the garita. In this latter daring
feat four men out Of eight were either wounded or
killed, but still the piece was most effectively served
The work Of the miners was still going on. In one
which they had entered by the pickaxe favorite aid
of Santa Ana's was found. The great man had just
fled but had left his friend and his supper Both
were cared for-the latter was devoured by our hun
cry officers; the former, after doing the honors Of
the table, was made close prisoner. just us dark
was setting in, our men had dug and mined their
way almost up to the very guns of the enemy and
now, after struggle they were completely routed
and driven, with the loss of everything The com
inand Of the city by the San Come route was at
tanned.
During the night, Gen. Qultman commenced the
work Of throwing up breaslworks and erecting bat
teries with 1.-THE intention Of opening heavy can
nonade upon the CuidadelaIwith the first light this
morning At 10 O'clock AT night Gen. Worth order
ed Captain Huger to bring up A-pounder and TO-
inch mortar to the garita or gate Of San Cosne and
having ascertained the bearings and distance of the
grand plaza and palace, at once opened upon those
points. The heavy shells were heard to explode in
the very heart of the city At little after midnight
Major Palacios, accompanied by two or three mem
bes Of the municipal council of the city arrived at
Gen. Worths headquarters and In great trepidation
informed him that Santa Ana and his grand army
had au nd hiatt had hoJ
der the capital They werereferred to the comman.
der-in-chef, and Immediately stnrtod for Tacubaya;
but in the meantime the firing upon the town ceased
Att o'clock this morning Con. Scott, with his
staff rode in and took quarters in the national palace
on the top of which the regimenta flag of the gallant
Rifles and the stars and stripes were already flying
An immense crowd ofblanketed leperos the scum Of
the capital, were congregated In the plaza as the
commandcr-in-chief entered it, They pressed upon
our soldiers, and eyed them though they were be-
ings Of another world. So much were they in the
way, and with sucheagerness did they press around
that Gen. Scott was compelled to order our ORA
goons to clear the plaza. They were told however,
not to injure or harm man in the mob--they were
all our friends!
About five minutes after this and while General
Worth was returning to his division near the Alamo
da he was fired upon from house near the Convent
of San Francisco Some of the cowardly Polkas,
who had fled the day previous without discharging
their guns, now commenced the assassin game Of
shooting at every one of our men they saw, from the
windows, as well as from behind the parapets on the
azotcas or tops of the houses In half an hours time
our good friends, the eperos in the ncighborhood Of
the hospital of San Andres and the church of Santa
Clara, also commenced discharging mnskets and
throwing bottles and rocks from the Zazoteas have
neglected to mention that just previous to this Col.
Garlsnd had been severely wounded by musket,
by some miscreant from window.
For several hours this cowardly war upon our men
continued and during this time many were killed or
wounded. II was In this species of fighting that
Lieut.. Sidney Smith received his death wound The
division Of Gen. Twiggs in part Of the city, and
Gen. Worth in another, were soon actively engaged
in putting down the insurecton. Orders were given
To shoot every man in all the houses from which the
firing came while the guns Of the different light bat
eries swept the streets in all directions As the as
sassins were driven from house they would take
refuge another but by the middle Of the afternoon
they were all forced backto the barriers and suburbs
Many innocent persons have doubtless been killed
during the day, but this could not be avoided Had
orders been gvenat the outset TO blow up and demo-