Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-11-03

was very heavy, and regret to say, that !
some OF the very best officers Of our army
tell killed and wounded, while the Mexi-
con losss was very slight, until they com.
menced their retreat. While the cavalry
were passing in front Of the enemy, in or.
der to charge the column Of lancers, they
were not under the fire more than ten sec.
opds. and during that time they sustained
loss OF 3 officers wounded, 80 privates kill
ed and wounded, and loss of lO5 horses.
There were but two officers that did not
have their horses shot under them-but
there is one thing very remarkable, that
the horses from which the riders had been
shot, wheeled and moved with the same
regularity as though they had been noun.
ted, until they came TO halt from the charge,
when they all kept on in body in direc.
ton OF the enemy. Our loss was 500
killed, wounded and missing.
THE STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC.
At daylight on the morning of the 18th, all
the batteries opened-the first made by Gen.
Twigg's division succeeded admirably. As soon
as Capt. Steptoe opened his guns the enemy
marched out several heavy columns, and in
reaching the fort passed within range of Step
toes guns, when he turned heavy and destruc-
| tive fire upon them. As soon as they reached
the work he turned his attention to the fort. and
| in the course Of an hours cannonading drove the
enemy in, and silenced all the guns. Capt Step
toes fire throughout was one Of the most effec-
tive and well directed that has been witnessed
during the war; while his position was such that
the enemy's shot had little or no effect upon him
The siege batteries continued an uninterrupt-
| ed fire upon the Castle Of Chapultepec through
| out the day, which was answered by eleven guns
| in the work. Our guns proved to be very de-
| structive, as we found after the work was taken
500 dead men unburied, but thrown into ditch
es. The building also was completely riddled.
It was determined on the morning Of the 18th
to storm the Castle of Chapultepec and the works
connected with it. The General-in-C Chief, know
| ing the strength Of the fortifcations and the
strong force with which it was garrisoned, con.
cluded to assault it with old and well-tried
troops-not that he did not possess confidence in
the divisions of Generals PILLOW and Quitman--
but in carrying point which was the key to all
our future operations, it would not do to make a
mistake, or omit to take every advantage There.
fore, the storming parties from the divisions oi
Gen. Worth and Gen. Twiggs, which had 80
frequently been under severe fire, were selected
The heavy batteries continued their fire upon the
fort, and about seven o'clock, when the brigade
Of Gen: Smith arrived as a supporting force to
the division Of Gen. Quitman-as soon as Gen.
Smiths brigade reached its position-the divis-
ion of Gen. Pillow passed Melino del Rey and
ascended the hill on the west side, the Voltigeur
Regiment, which had been advanced into the tim
ber, to clear the snemys skirmishers, became the
assaulting force, supported by the balance OF the
division. Gen. Worth was situated to the north
and on theleft Of Gen. Pillow. A part Of Gen.
Quitman's force ascended the hill on the south
and to the right Of Gen. Pillow. As the division
Of Gen. Pillow, and portion ofGen. Quitman's
ascended and carried the castle in most gallant
style, the balance Of Gen. Quitm ms force and
the brigade Of Gen. Smith swept the works on the
road, the whole Of the commands moving harmo-
niously and simultaneously together, much to the
honor and credit Of their respective commanders,
struck the enemy with their different positions
| at one and the same time q fatal blow. The
hill, where Gen. Pillows command ascended, had
been mined for the purpose Of blowing up our
troops when they arrived at this point but the
rapid movements of the Voltigeur regiment, and
followed up the enemy from the first position,
prevented their carrying out their views and in
| tentions. Just as the command Of Gen. Pillow
rose the hill, and while in the act Of assaulting
the work, he fell wounded, and Col. Ransom
was killed; but so lucidly had Gen. Pillow ex-
planned his objects and intentions in carrying
| the work, and aided by an active and efficient
staff that his command moved on and carried the
work without even being brought to stand
As Gen. Quitman's division was charging on the
! work on the road, Brigadier Gen. shields re
ceived a severe wound in the arm, and az soon q,
the works were carried, he returned and had il
dressed, and again mounted his horse, which wa.
shortly afterwards killed under him, but he con
tinued to command his brigade, which was &C.
lively engaged throughout the day, and the name
Of Shields Will long be remembered in connection
with the laurels won by the Palmetto Of the
South, and the Empire Of the North.
THE APPROACH TO THE CITY.
Gen. Pillow being disabled by his wound
Gen. Worth took command Of both his owr
division and that of Gen: Pillow, and ad
vanced along the aqueduct leading to th'
gate of San Cosme. Gen. Quitman, will
his own command and Gen. Smiths brig
ade, also advanced towards the city, by tn,
aqueduct leading into the city at the gait