Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-02
0br 4ftcxttau l0ar.
Gen. Scott's Despatohes.'

Tho portion of Gen. SCOTS dispatches already
published relate to the battles Immediately pre-
ccding the armistice. What follows, details the
events Immediately subsequent to the close of
the armistice, including Gen. Worhs lucid and
admirable account of the dreadful fight of Ell
Moline del Rey.
mo. 35.1 HEApQUARTERs or THE ARMY,}
Tacubayo, near Mexico, Sept. IL, ~.
SIR-l have heretofore reported that | had,
Aug "a, concluded an armstice with President
Santa Anna, which was promptly followed by
meetings between Mr. Trist and the Mexican
commissioners appointed 10 treat of peace.
Negotiations were actively continued with, as
was understood, some prospect of a successful
result up to the I'd inst, when our commissioner
handed in his ultimatum ION boundaries) and the
negoiators adjourned to meet again on the 9th.
Some inlractions Of the truce in respect to
our supplies from the city, were earlier commit
ted, followed by apologies on the part of the en-
emy. Those veXations | was willing to put down
to the mbecility of the Government, and waived
pointed demands Of reparatIon while any hope
remained of a satisfactory termination of the
war. But on the 9Th, aud more fully on the 9th,
| learned that as soon as the ultmatum had been
considered in grand council Of ministers and
others, President Santa Anna, on the 4th or 9Th,
without giving us the slightest notice, actively
recommended Strengthening the military defen-
ces Of the city, in gross violation of the third
tlcle of the armistice. On that Information,
which has since received the fullest verifcation,
| addressed to him my note Of the 9th. His re-
! ply, dated the same day, received the next morn
! ing, was absolutely and VIGOROUSLY false, both
in denomination and explanation. enclose CO.
pies of both papers, and have had no subsequent
Loo ii unit notp lal,,
ed by the terms of the armistce more than two
weeks, we had now, late on the 9TH, 10 begin to
reconnoilre the different approaches to tho city,
within our reach, before could lay down any
definite plan of attack. The same afternoon a
large body of the enemy was discovered hover
| ing about tho Molinos del Rey, within a mile
and third of this village where am quartered
with the General staff aud Worth's division.
1t might have been supposed that an attack up.
on US was intended; but knowing the great val
ue to the eucmy ofthose mills (Molinos del Rev.
containing cannon foundry, with a large de-
post Of powder in Casa .Natu near them; and
having heard two days before, that many church
bells had been sent out 20 be cast into guns -
the enemy's movement was easily understood
and resolved at once to drive him early the
next morning; to seize the powder and destroy
the foundry. Another motive for this decision -
leaving the general plan of the attack upon the
city for future econnoisances-was,t that we
knew our recent captures had left the enemy not
fourth of the guns necessary to arm, all at the
same time, the strong works at each of the eight
city gates and we could not cut off the commu-
nlcatlon between the foundry and the capital
without first taking the formidable castle on tho
heights of Chapultepec which overlooked both
and stood between. For this difficult operation
we were not entirely ready, and moreover we
might altogether neglect the castle, T. MS VIC
then hoped, our reconnosances should prove
that the distant southern approaches to the city
were more eligible than this southwestern ap-
preach, Hence the decision promptly taken, the
execution Of which was assigned to Brcvet Mai
! Gen, WORTH whose division was reinforced with
Cadwaladcr's Brigade Of Pillows division, three
squadrons Of dragons, under Major Sumner,
and some heavy guns CT the seIge train under
| Capt. Hugar, of the ordinance, and Captain
| Drum, OF the 4th artilery-two officers OF the
| highest merit. For the decisive and brilliant re
suits, beg to refer to The report of the immed
ate COMMUNICATING General Worth-in
whose concentrations of The gallant officers and
men dead and living-l heartily concur.-hav
! ing witnessed, but with little interference, their
noble devotion to fame and TO country.
The enemy having several times reinforced
his line, and the action soon becoming much
more general than | had expected, | called up
from the distance ofthree miles, first Major Gen.
Pillow, with his remaining brigade (Peirce's and
next Rley's brigade of Twigg's divsion-leav-
ing his other brigade (Smith's) in observation at
San Angel. These corps approached with zeal
and rapidity; but the battle was won Just as
Brig. Gen. Pierce reached the ground and had
interposed his corps between Garand's brigade
(Worths division) and the rctrcaing enemy.