Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-12-01

10 Inc norm, and at the base of the
noun'', and inaccessible on that side: the
llth infantry, under Lieut.. Col. Robert.
the 18th infantry, under Col. Tousdale.
and Capt. M'Gruder's field battery, Ist
artillery-one section advanced under
Lieut.. Jackson-all Of Pillows division
had, at the same time, some spirited affairs
against superior numbers, driving the enc.
my from battery in the road, and cap.
turing gun. In these, the officers and
corps named, gained merited praise. Col
frousdale, the commander though twice
wounded continued on duty, until the heights
were carried.
Early in the morning Of the 18th, re-
peated the orders of the night before to
Major General Worth, to be, with his d.
vision at hand, to support the movement of
MAJOR Pillow from our left. The latter
seems soon to have called for that entire
division, standing, momentarily in reserve,
and Worth sent him Col. Clarke's brigade.
The call, if not unnecessary, was at least,
from the circumstances, unknown to me at
the time; for, soon observing :hat the very
large body Of the enemy, in the road in
front Of Major General Quitman's right,
was receiving reinforcements from the city
less than a mile and half to the east
II sent instructions to Worth, on our op-
posite flank, to turn Chapultepec with his
dipision, and to proceed, cautiously, by the
road at its northerntbase, inF order, il not
met by very superior numbers, to threaten
or TO attack, in rear, that body ofthe enc
my. The movement, it was also believed,
could not fail to distract and to in!imidate
the enemy generally.
Worth promptly advanced with his re-
manning brigade-Col. Garland nd's-Lieut.
Col. C. F. Smiths light battalion, Lieut..
Col Duncan's field battery-all OF his di.
vision-and three squadron's Of Dragons,
under Major Sumner, which | had just or
dered up to join in the movement.
Having turned the forest on the west,
and arriving opposite to the north centre Of
Chapultepec, Worth came up with the
troops in the road, under Col. Trousdale,
and aided, by flank movement Of part
of Garland's brigade, in taking the one gun
then under the fire Of Lieut..
Jackson's section of Captain Magruder's
field battery. Continuing to advance, this
division passed Chapultepec, attacking the
right Of the enemy's line, resting on that
road. about the momen: Of the general re-
treat consequent upon the capture Of the
formidable castle and its outworks.
Arriving some minutes later, and noun.
ting to the top Of The castle, the whole
field, to the east, lay plainly under my
view.
There are two routes from Chapultepec
10 the capitalize one on the right enter
ing the same gate, Belen, with the road
from the south, ria Piedad; and the other
to the left, to intersect the great
western, or San Cosme road, in suburb,
outside of the gate of San c ,sme.
Each of these routes (an elevntd cause
say,) presents double roadway on the
tide OF On aqueduct Of strong masonry, and
great height, resting on open arches and
massive pillars, which, together, afford fine
points both for attack and defence. The
si-eways of both aqueducts are, moreover,
defended by many strong breastworks at
The gates, and before renching them. AS
we had expected, we found the four tracks
dry and solid, for the season.
Worth and Quitman were prompt in
tho retreat;ng enemy--the former
BY the San Cosme acqueduct, and the lat
'er q ong that of Belen. Each had now
advanced some hundred yards.
Deeming it all-important TO profit by our
successes and the consequent dismay Of the
enemy, which could not be otherwise than
general, / fastened to dispatch, from Cha
Clarke's brigade, and then
Cadwalader's, to Worth, and gave orders
that the necessary heavy guns should fol.
low. Pierce's brigade was, at the same
lime, sent to Quitnian, and, in the course
OF the afternoon, caused some additional
slego pieces 10 be added 10 his train. Then,
after designating the 10Th infantry, under
Lieut.. Col Howard-Morgan, the colonel,
had been disabled by wound at Churu.
busco--as the garrison Of Chapul.epec, and
giving directions for the care of the pris- |
oners of war, the captured ordnance and
ordnance stores, proceeded to Join the ad- |
vance of Worth, within the suburb, and |
beyond the turn at the junction Of the aoue.
duct with the great highway from the west
to the gate of San Cos,ne.
At this junction of roads, we frs. passed
one OF those formidable systems Of city de.
ences; spoken of above, and it had not u |
5nn!-a strong proof. That the enemy |
had expected US 10 fail in the attack upo1
oven if we meant any thing
more than feint; 2. That in either case,
we designed, in his belief, 70 return, and
double our forces against the southern
yates-a delusion kept up by the active de-
Of Twiggs and the forces post
I'd on that side; and 3. That adyancine
rapidly from the reduction of Cbapultepec.
he enemy had not time to shift guns-our
previous captures had left him compare.
lively, but few-fr from the southern gates.
W thin those disgarnished works, found
,ur troops engaged in street fight against
he enemy posted in gardens, at windows
md on house tops-ali flat with parapets.
W orth ordered forward the mountain how.
tiers of Cadwalladers brigade. preceded
~ skirmishers and pioneers, with pick-axes
ind crow bars, to force windows and doors,
md to burrow through walls. The assail.
ants were soon on an equality Of position
atai to the enemy. By 8 o'clock in the
evening, Worth had carried two batteries
IN this suburb. According to my instruc-
ions, he here posted guards and sentinels,