The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-01-06
From the Washington Uniun.
The Castle of Chapultepec.

tanned in letter from Lieut. A. g. Sutton oi
the 10th infantry. who, with his two sons
fought and greatly distinguished themselves
in the battles OF the 20th August and 18th o.
September. The letter was written to gen
tleman in this city, without any idea of its
of Mexico, Oct. 80, 1547. He savs:
mot having seen any attempt at descrip
ton of the Castle we now garrison. l will try
to give ynr brief sketch of it, though from
the limited time have to write, it will un-
doubtedly be very imperfect. The great Cas-
tie Of Chapultepcc-the Colegio Militar. or
West Point of Mexico-is situated about two
miles westwardly from the capital, on the
summit of an abrupt bluff. which suddenly
lifts itself from the valley to the altitude of
100 feet perpendicularly. The bluff is steep
and rocky, and covered with small stumps of
trees and low underground of brambles and
shoots; the large trees having been cut away,
to be out of the range of their artillery. The
whole fortress, or work of dc fence, is about
300 yards in length, and the terreplein and
main buildings about 600 feet. The castle is
about 40 feet high, and the whole structure,
including the wings. bastions, parapets, re-
doubts, and batteries, is very strongly bbilt,
and of the. most splendid architecture. A
splend q dome decorates the top, rising in
great majesty about twenty feet above the
whole truly grand and magnificent pile, and
near which is the front centre, supported by
stone arch, upon which is painted the coat-of-
arms Of the republic, where once Aoated the
tri-colored banner, but is now decorated by
the glorious stars and stripes. Two very
strongly built stone walls surround the whole
and at the west end, where we stormed the
works, the outer wolls are some ten feet apart,
and twelve or fifteen feet high, over which we
charged by the help of fascines. It was de-
Tended BY heavy artillery, manned by the
most learned and skilful gunners of their
army, including some French artiIlerists Of
distinction. The infantry force consisted of
the officers and students of the institution,
and the national guards, and chosen men of
war of the Rcpublic-the whole under the
command of Gen. Bravo, whom we made
prisoner. The whole hill is spotted with forts
and outposts, and stone and mud walls, which
were filed with their picket or castle guard.
A huge, high stone wall extends around the
whole frpwning craggy mount, and another
along the southeast base, midway from the
former and the castle. A walled paved road
leads up in q triangular form to the main gate
entering the south teireplein and the whole
works are ingeniously and beautifully orna-
mented with Spanish fastidiousness and skill.
A view of Chapultepec, the residence Of the
once powerful prince Monsezuma. as you come
down the sunny valley of Anahuac, is sight
the most enchanting in the open volume of
natures delightful scenery. A mountain
range encircles this lovely valley, the uneven
rugged peaks of whose bluffs, like the gems of
India, are ever and anon lit up by the freaks
of sunshine, that drive the dark shades from
their gorges, and play in sportive majesty on
their proud submits. Popocatapetl is in full
view enthusiastically from us. This was for.
merly volcano but for a long time has been
Numbering. She'will, doubtless, again vomie
up her aery bowels upon the pleasant valleys
that lie like carpets at her rugged base. She
is covered with perpetual shows, upon which
the rays of the sun fall with lustre that daz-
zles brighter than the jewels of Golconda.
"Two calm, CLASSY lakes, Tescuco (salt) and
Chalco fresh water,) ornament the scenery.
closing the capital in womb of waters like
the ancient city of Tyre. Ornamental shrub
berry, splendid aqueducts, arches. cisterns, and