The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-12-10
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1917

to be near the new depot, and in easy COM
municatiou with Quitman and Twiggs, as
well as with Worth.
| From this point ordered all dctachmens
and stragglers to their respective corps, then
III advance; sent to Quitman additional
,iege-guns, ammunition, and ehtrenching
tools; directed IwiggS' remaining brigade,
(Riley's) from Piedad, to support Worth,
and Captain Steptoc's field battery, also at
Piedad, to reioin Quilmah's division.
/ had been, from the first, well aware that
the western, or San Cosime. was the less
diilicuit route TO the centre and conquest OF
the capitol; and, therefore intended that
/ Qu!tlnan should only mauGuvre and threat
. en- the Belen or southwestern gate, in order
totavor the main attack by Worth, knowing
the strong detences at the Belen were di-
rcctly under the guns of the much stronger
fortress, called the citadel, just within. Both
OF these deienccS Of the enemy were also
within easy supporting distance from the
San Angel, or 'ninO Per didO,' and San An
tonic gates. Hence the greater support, in
numbers, given 10 WUrth's movement as the
main attack.
Those views | repeatedly, in the course
OF the day, communicated to Maj. Gen.
2mtman; out, being in hot purSuit-gallant
himself, and ably supported by Brig. Gene
raj Shields and Smith-Shclds badly woun-
died before Chapnltepec and refusing to re-
tire as well Us by all the officers and men
of the column. Quitman continued TO press
forward, under flank aud direct fires car
ried an intermediate battery of two guns,
and then the gate, before two o'clock in the
. afternoon, bu'not without propOrtionate loss,
!, increased by his steady maintenance Of thai
position.
Here, of the heavy battery-4th artillery
Captain Drum and Lieut.. Benjamin, were
+ MORALLY wounded, and Lieut.. Porter, its
third in rank, slightly. The loss of those
two most distinguished officers the army
, will long mourn. Lieuts. J. b. Moragne
and WIN. Canty, Of the South Carolina vol.
, unteers, also Of high merit, fell on the same
occasion-besides many OF our bravest nom
commissioned officers and men-particular-
" in Capt. Drums veteran company, can
not in this place give names or numbers
but full returns of killed and wounded Of ali
corps, in their recent operations, will accom-
pany this report.
Qltman, within the city-adding several
new detences TO the position he had won,
and shelterng his corps as well as practical.
bc-now awaiting the return of daylight
under the guns of the formidable citadel, yet
to be Subducd.
At about / o'clock next morning, (Scpt.
/ AZ dpputation Of the oyuniamieldo, .'City
couucl' waited upon me TO report that the
, federal government aud the army Of MeNi-
CO had fled from the capital some three hours
before; and to demand terms Of capitulaioh
in favor Of the church, the citizens, aud the
municipal authorities. ! promptly replied,
that would sign 10 captulation; that the
city had been virtually in our possession
from the tim. Of the Judgements effected by
3, Worth aud Qnitmau the day before that
regretted the silent escape Of the Mexican
, army: that | Shoull levy upon the city a
moderate contribution, for special purposes
and that the American army should come
under no terms not self-imposcd. such only
+ as lis own honor, the dignity Of the United
States, aud the spirit Of the age, should. in
, my opinion, imperious!y demand and im.
, pose.
, For the terms, so imposed, refer the De.
: partment to subsequent General Orders,
, Nos. 2s7 and $50, Paragraphs 7, s, and g,
of the latter copies Of which arc herewith
. enclosed.
At the termination Of the interview with
/ the city dcputatiun, commune atod, about
/ daylight, orders to Worth and Qultmam Ia
? advance slowly and cautiously (to guard
, against treaChery) towards the heart of the
city, and TO occupy its stronger and more
I commanding points. Quitman proceeded
8 10 the great plaza or square. planted guards
= and hoisted the colorS of the United States
on the national palace containing the halls
of Congress, aud executive apartments OF
federal Mexico. In this grateful service.
!, Qnilnan might have been anticipated by
+ Worth, but for my express orders, haltiuG
the latter AT the head Of the Alameda, Ga
green park,) within three squares of that
+ goal general ambition. The capital, how.
( ever, was not taken by any one or two corps.
Q but by the talent, the science, the gailantry,
I the proweSS Of this entire army. In this
4 glorious conquest, all had contrbutcd-car.
/. ~ and powerfully killed, the wounded
Y and the fit for duty--at Vera Cruz Ccrro
5 Gorto, Cou,reras, San Antonio, Cnurubus.
n co, Chrce barlcS.) Tive Mollnos del Ray
@ and ChapultCpec- as much a> those wht
A, fought at the gates of Balcn and san COsmc
= Soon alter we had entered. and were il
l.. the act Of occupying the city, a fire wa,
i opened upon us from the fat roofs Of Tia,
= houses. from windows and corners Of the
II streets. by some 2,OOD convCts liberated the
c night before by the flying government
II Joined by, perhaps, as many Mexican sol
;. dierS, who had dishandud themselves, ans
G thrown off their uniforms. This unlawful
t war lasted more than twcntyiour hours. il
spite oi the cSertlonS Of the municipal an
d thortieS. and was not put down till we ha,
-. lost many men, including several officers
a killed and wuundcd, and had punished III,
V mi>crcautS. Their objects were, to graliI,
II national hatred. and in the great alarm an.
o confusion, to plumber the wealthy inhahi
=, 'auts-parjcuiarly tie dc>criColouscs, hu
d families are now gCuuuliy returning: bust
II ness of every kind has been resumed, an,
10 the city is already tranquil and cheerful, MA
!. der the admirable conduct (wiih exception
= very few aud tii!lmgl Of our gallant troops
;. This army has been more Disguised tina,
If surprised that. by some sinister process o'
t.. the part OF certain individuals ut homc, it
numbers, have been, generally, almost tire
d blcd in our public popCrs-bcginuing a
Il Washington,
5 Leaving, as veal feared, inadequate car
$. rS0uS Mt Vera Cruz, Pcrotc. and pUthh-