Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-27
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
REPORTS OF THE COMMANDERS OF DIVISIONS
TO THE GENERAL-IN CHIEF. II oSrlSulD.
Report Of Major General PiHow.
HEADauARrERs THIRD DIVISION U. 5. ARMr

Report of Major General PiUow.
HEADauARrEns TnIRD DIVISION U. 5. ARM,
Merc0, September IS, ls4n
CAPrAIN On the morning of the 18th instant at o'clock
A. NJ, moved with my command, consisting of the field
battery Of Capt Magruder the volgeur regiment The 9Th
lth l4h aud 9Th regiments Of infantry (the oh reg
ment constituting part of the garrison at Mixcoac) and the
mountain howzer and rocket battery, from Tacubay the
battlefield of the S Instant where my dispositions made
to take possession of Moline del Rey Having organized
force for this purpose, under command of Lieut. Col He
bert daylight his command moved steadily and In beautiful
ORDER under hot fire of shot and shell from Chapuepec and
seized the mills ordered Brig. Gen Cadwaader with his
brigade hold possession of this position and defend the
approaches (Which unite that pace from the city Of Mexico
and from Santa Fe In short time afterwards immense
body of ancer, with considerable force Of infantry made
th, appearance in the valley above and moved steadily
forward in the direction OF my position, until almost within
reach of my field pieces With Brig Gen. Piece's brigade,
Magruders battery, and Major Summers fine command of
Dragons (hat officer having reported for duty
made every arrangement for their reception Having thus
executed the orders Of the General in chief to take
sion of the mills, to hold them and from this position defend
the batteries intended to be opened preparatory to the assault
upon Chputepec and not TO provoke general engagement
with the enemy, did not under my orders, feel myself at
liberty become the assailan and the enemy regarding
pudence the better part OF vaor, did not think proper
| to assail me-
AT night drew my whole force down to the mills, imme
diatey under the fire and almost under the walls of Chapu
epec while the enemy advanced from the valley and
pied the position had held during the day, close my rear
Being almost completely enveloped by the enemy with
Chapuepec and its strong garrison Immediately in 'front.'
and the enemys large force OF ancers and infantry IN close
approximation to my and my left flank my command
compelled to lay on its arms during the night
Early the morning of the 18th, Capt Mckenzie, I'd
lery reported 10 for duty with command OF 200 rank
| and file from the first division
At da light the cannonade which had ceased at dark
the previous day. resumed and kept up on both sides
until about o'clock In the mean time, was actively en-
gagged in making the necessary Preparations for stormng Cha
| multi ew had
ders field battery inside the extensive OF buildings Cot
which the mills party to clear sand-bag breast work
which the enemy had constructed outside the man wall sur
rounding Chapuepec and command breach In That
wall. had also passed the howtzer battery through the
houses and walls of the mills and placed IN battery SO as
to aid in driving the enemy from strong eHenchment
extending nearly across the front of the forest and command
my only approacho Chapuspec. While these batteries
admirably served under Capt Magruder and Lieut.
Reno placed four companies Of the vogeur regiment under
command OF Lieut. COL Johnston, position with instructions
that upon the cessation of the artillery fire they should advance
by rapid the outside, and under cover of the
main wall and to enter the enclosure at the breach AT the
time placed four other companies OF voiguers, under
command Of Col. Andrews at narrow gateway opening
from the of the MILL with orders to advance in 'front.' to
unite with COL Johnstons command, to depoy skmish
e.s and by simultaneous movement upon the enemy flank
and 'front.' drive him from his entertainments and the large
trees behind which he had taken shelter had placed the
9th and 9Th regiments Of infantry position to advance
close supports the somng force and necessary to form
part of it.
had ordered Col Andrews, as soon the regiment of
vogues had cleared the entertainments and woods to form
of Mckenzies command supporting assauing
force according to the exgencies of the moment placed
Captain McKenzes command Immediately in of Colonel
Johnstons command Of skirmisher and directed to
under the OF the WALL to enter the breach close
after Johnstons command and Johnstons would brush
away the enemy, would advance steadily assault and carry
the main work of Chapultepec | had placed my scaling
ladders in charge of this command and furnished strong
detail of men to carry them forward to the parapets
/ directed column
the mountain howitzer battery, and to whenever he
could do so with effect
had placed Col. Trousdae with the It'll and 18th reg
mens and section of Magruder battery under command
Of Lieut. Jackson, the road leading the left Of Chapu
epec the city, with instructions to advance that road to
hold the enemy stationed the battery the road in obse
ration and to give him battle if he attempted to advance
succor the forces within the walls Of Chapultepec.
Having completed these dispositions for the assault while
heavy cannonade going on, Brig. Gen. Cadwalade
directed to see to the proper execution of my orders
All being ready and eager for the conflict ordered
the batteries of my division senced, and the command
adyance-the Generaln chief having senced the heavy
batteries.
The voigeurs having driven the enemy from the wood
rapidly pursued him until he retreated into the interior ior
fcations Close in their followed the 9th and 18th
regiments with equal impetuosty, until these three regi-
ments occupied the exterior works around the summit of
ChapuItepec.
Captain McKenzies command had not yet come up The
9Th, 9Th, and 9Th regiments of infantry of General Woh's
division, ordered forward reserve advanced to their posi-
lions anu orned As soon as Capt Mckenzles command
in position with the ladders the work almost instantly
carried, and the Mexican flag torn from the castle by the
gallant Major Seymour of the 9th regiment and the Amer
can run up in its place.
To the volgeur regiment belongs the honor of having first
planted its coors upon the parapet The color bearer Of the
regiment having been shot down the color Immediately
seized by the gallant and fearless Capt Barnard who scaled
the paape and unfured the flag under terrible fire, from
which he received two wounds.
The chief honor of this brilliant victory is due 10 those
gallant corps the vogeus the 9th and 18th regiments of
infantry, who drove the enemy from his exterior enench
ments and POSITIONS took possession of and enveopd the
crest OF the counterscarp and held this position under
heavy fire grape canister and round shot from the enemys
artillery (eeven pieces in number and very superior force
of small arms until the arrival of the ladders, and to Capt
McKenzes command, who brought up the ladders and with
the corps already mentioned gaany stomed and carried
the main works.
The Of General Worths division, which moved to
its position in gallant style, by their presence inspired the
whole command with increased confidence, and portions
participated in the immediate assault resulting in the fall of
the fortress.
The advance Of Gen. Quitmans division, which was to
have assaulted upon the left of the position, having fallen under
the FIRE of battery the outside of the outerwa, aud
being unable scale in consequence Of the want Of ladders
obliged march several hundred yards TO the SOUTH
and the very breach through which portions my
command had passed the of the action
The consequence that command did get position
in time render material assistance in the assault though
owing 10 the delay the summit Of the h occaoned by
the want Of ladders portions of Gen. Qutmans command
who passed through the breach in the wall under my
own observation, had time to up and enter the inner