Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-23


stationed with the picket within about eight hundred
yards of their fort though in great covered from
the range of their guns. AS soon they got their
umn moved out into place free from all distractions Capt
Magruder opened pieces upon them with shot and SHE'LL
which passed through them with great destructon they
took to their heels and got back to the fort quick pos
sbe The fort opened guns the battery, but without
further effect than the killing OF OF the fifteenth
iantry
About shutdown, Gen. Twggs with the balance Of his
DIVISION arrived Pedad, and Gen Pillow moved with his
division to the south Of Tacubaya and took position the
west side of Chaputepec and Gen. Quman with bis di
vson occupied the road from Tacubaya TO the city of Mexi
co, Gen worths division remaining in Tacubaya.
In the Of the night three heavy batteries plant
cd In front Of the Castle of Chapuepec No l. commanded
by Capt Drum No. ., by Lieut. Hagner No 3, by Lieut.
Stone-a under the general command and supernendence
OF Capt Huge chief Of the ordnance Also during the
night Gen. Twggss division planted Capt Stepoes battery
IN front of the Notifications the San Antonio road being
intended that Gen. Twiggs should make nt for the pur
pose OF drawing out the enemy in that direction.
AZ daylight the morning of the 18th all the batteries
opened the fen made by Gen. Twiggss division succeeded
admirably As Capt. Septoe opened his guns the
enemy marched several heavy columns and in reaching
the fort passed within range of Steptoe guns when he
ed a heavy and destructive fire upon them. As
they reached the work he turned his attention the fort and
in the of hours cannonadng drove them of it
and sienced all the guns. Capt Steptoes fire throughout
OF the effective and wedreced that has been
witnessed during the war; while his position such that the
enemys shot had little or no effect upon him.
The siege batteries continued uninterrupted fire upon
tie Castle of Chapuepec throughout the day, which
ssred by eleven guns in the work. Our guns proved to
be very destructive, found after the work taken five
hundred dead men, unburied but thrown in bitches The
building also was completely rddlcd.
II determined the morning Of the 18th to the
Castle of Chapultepec and the works connected with it. The
eneran-C Chief knowing the strength Of the Notifications
and the strong force with which garsoned concluded
to assault with old and well tried troops-not that he did
possess confidence in the divisions of Generals Pillow and
Qumanbut in carrying point which the key TO all
future operations, would not do to make mistake
omit take every advantage Therefore, the sormng par
ties from the divisions Of Gen. Worth and Gen. Twiggs,
which had frequently been under fire. selected
The heavy batteries continued their fire upon the fort and
about o'clock, when the brigade of Gen. Smith arrived
supporting force to the division of Gen. Quitmanas
Gen. Smiths brigade reached its positionthe division Of
Gen. Pillow passed Moline del Rey and assembled the hill
the west side the Voltgeur regiment, which had been ad
vanced into the timber to clear il of the enemys skrmsher
became the ssaung force supported by the balance Of the
DIVISION Gen. Worth situated the north and the
left of Gen. Pillow part Of Gen. Qumans force ascend
ed the hill the SOUTH and to the right of Cen Pillow As
the division of Gen. Pillow and portion of Gen. QuAmans
assembled and carried the Castle gallant STYLE the ba
lance Of Gen. Qutmans force and the brigade of Gen Smith
swept the works the roadhe whole of the commands
moving harmolousy and simultaneously together much
the honor and credit Of their respective commanders struck
the enemy in their different positions and the
| fatal blow. The hill where Gen. Pillows command
cended had been mined for the purpose of blowing up
troops when they arrived this point but the rapid
ments of the Voigeur regiment and the deadly effect OF the
fire of their rifles, they followed up the enemy from the
first position, prevented their carrying out their views and in
enons Jut the command of Gen. Pillow up the hill
and while in the act of assaung the work. he fell wounded
and COL Ransom killed. but lucidly had Gen. Pillow
explained his objects and intentions in carrying the work. and
aided by active and efficient staff that his command moved
and carried the work without being brought stand
As Gen. Qutmans division charging the work in the
road, Brig Gen. Shields received wound the arm
and the works carried he returned AM had
dressed and again mounted his horse which was shortly a
forwards killed under him, but he continued command his
brigade, which actively engaged throughout the day.
/ Gen. Pillow being disabled by his wound, Gen. Worth
took the command of both his division that of Gen
Pillow and advanced along the aqueduct leading to the gates
of San Cosne. Gen. Qutnan with his own command and
Gen. Smiths brigade also advanced towards city by the
aqueduc leading into the city the gate Of Pedad,
commanded by the Citadel On each Of The routes the
two columns with decided and stubborn resistance, and
after the advance of Gen. Wnrh command had reached the
gate of San Cosme the fire hot that they
PEELED temporarily abandon it. and did make perma-
nent Judgment until towards evening, when portion of the
siege uan battery brought action piece
two Of the mountain howtzers which hurled the shot and
shell about the of the enemy little hotter than they de-
sired. Gen. Quitman column with the rifles their head,
continued steadily and cautiously on taking position and
breastwork they came in contact with them, until they
rived the gate OF the city Here the firing heavy,
both from small and artillery that was deemed pru-
dent to carefully reconnoi,er before attacking Accordingly
Leuts Beauegard, of the engineers, Lowell of Gen. Quit
mans staff, ard Vac Doren, of Gen. Smiths staff went for
ward ascertain the position Of affairs They returned, and
upon their report the rifles supported by small force OF in
anty advanced forward for the purpose Of picking off
the aerss which they ddbeing partially covered by the
aqueduct-wth the and accuracy of
Southern or Western would shoot squirrels. This
dered the situation of the Mexican aerstS uncomort
able that they unable stand their guns long enough
to load them, and they commenced moving their which
perceived by Gen. Quman, and he ordered charge
which carried into commanded Lieut.
Stuart of the rifles, leading the way II captured the main
work. with two pieces Of artillery, which Capt Drum turned
on the retrcating enemy.
Gen. Quitman himself among the first mount the
breastwok and plant the standard thereon o'clock the
enemy then formed and three times attempted charge and
reake the position but the uneing and deadly fire Of the
Rifles together with voey of grape from Capt Drum, so
them pieces that they would approach than
rife shot The third time they tried TO advance under the
of the arches Of the aqueduc but if Mexican
poked his head out for the purpose of slipping from one arch
to the Other rfeman would be put ball through
it. During the whole of the afternoon the citadel and fort
right continued concentrated fire upon the gate
where troops in the hopes Of driving them out but
in this they much mistaken, although had but little
Here il that The lamened Capt Drum fell NOR
tally wounded. The death of man in army has been
sincerely regretted than his throughout the lombard
ment Of Chapupec he stood by his guns, and when the
works Of the enemy ormed he continued to advance his
battery under the heaviest fire. himself possessing and nfusng
into his cool and deliberate bravery and self possession
surpassed by none You will recolcct that him who
ecaptured the Buena Vista guns still covered with The blood
Of those who fell them the time they lost, and
afterwards used them with such decisive effect at the battle OF
Moline del Rey the 9Th instant Under Of the night
Gen. Quiman's column erected breaswork, and put into
position battery OF lSs 6Spound howzer, and