Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-21
mashiugtun gmtineI.
THE sToRMINe OF onApULrEpEc.

THE sTOBMING OF CHAPULTEPEC.
The National Monitor, new literary paper
published in New York, contains sketch OF
portion of the military operations in Mexico
entitled Life in he Army, or "reminiscences
Of the Aericm Wdr By a Ne,o York ToE,en.
ter" The style of the writer is plain and
lucid, and he narrates with much liyeliness.
and directly to the point Here is an account
ofthe storming of Chapultepec:
1t was, sombre morning the heavens
being, obscured with dense, black clouds !;
therefore, not a wall of the castle was visible
TO the eye-not even the hill on which II stood
couid be seen--nothing but the brilliant lights
that Illuminated it, attracted the eye--present.
ing grand, imposing spectacle concentra.
ton OF brilliant meteors, suspended from the
black clouds above, being the nearest simli.
tude to 1T. AS we neared the castle, the
greatest possible caution was observed The
men-were cautioned not TO allow their tin can
teens TO strike against their muskets or cart
ridge boxes-not a word was allowed spoke,
IN the ranks-every possible precaution wa.
taken to keep the enemy in ignorance of on,
approach. Onward we marched. with noise
less steps, silent tongues, aud palp;tatiny
hearts Nearer and nearer we approached tho
formidable castle, bristling with heavy artillery
and containing twelve thousand Of Mexico,
pest troops, and commanded by one Of he,
oravest and best generals. Suddenly we wer
brought to halt-the division to which I wa,
attached being intended to support a battery
under the command of Capt Drup, which
haa been erected during the night, direct,
unuer ene castle. Just as We halted, the shriil
notes OF trumpet assailed our ears. Their
dFtDn Lo.- 4
atull brass band Joined in. II was the enemy
playing the rsceilk. A death.like stiffness
prevailed in our ranks at the time-not .
Whisper or breathing could be heard-tbere
!ore, SO unexpected was the music, that when
struck the ear, it caused momentary thrill
10 shoot through my frame-I felt peculiar
!naescrioaoie sensation. / have no dopbt
others experienced the same.
The music was suddenly interrupted. Bano.r.rI
went one of the huge pieces of artillery from
Drums battery, and for a moment the dread.
iui wniz-z-z OF its iron deaih-messenper was
heard through the air, and then its fatal crash
as y struck the Castle. Instantly every liphl
~ ~ Inc latter was quenched, and it was invisi-
pie-snronoed In darkness. Silence was n,
longer observed In our ranks; the command
ing voice OF Baxter to Forward was heard.
we msrched short distance, filed to the right,
distance of Capt. Drums battery. 80
Presently, the soulbre clouds that obscurad
the heavens separated streak of light was
visible IN the eastern horizon-tbe Sav was
breaking. Lighter and lighter it gradually
gre" OBJECTS that had been previously invisi.
p,e' no" appeared to the sight. Anon. the
oiazing sun peeped forth from the dark hiding
place, dltnslng food of light upon the earth.
ana revealing to our astonished sight the white
MASSIVE walls Of Chapultepec, the huge muz,
zes OF hundred heavy pieces of artillery. thai
peered from their respective embrasures. and
Tue giitterlng bayonets of at least eight thou.
sand infantry, in the woods surrounding the
eastle, ana at the base of the high hill upon
which it stood.
ms was our first sight of the Castle. and I
gazeo upon Its imposing appearance with ad-
niralion-contempla plating at the same moment
'he mignty CONFUSION that was to follow an
attack upon Its impregnable wslls-the lives
that must necessarily be sacrificed /: the wives
made widows; the parents childless: brothers
anc sisters mourners, and helpless children.
perhaps, fatherlessi Casting nv ewes over the
gallant little band that stood before me-com-
Panions who had escaped through storms of
teso ana iron-who had fought by nv side in
al tne proceeding battles-the sad and awful
conviction forced itself upon my mind, that in
pref time, many of them, whose smiling
faces cheerful hearts betokened no athoupht
OF the morrow" would lie in the cold, lev EN-
brace Of Death.
The loud report of gun from the castle,
aud the startling noise of grape and canister
as u went Crashing and tearing through the
tau, oense pulque plant in my immediate vicin-
lty, Checked all further reflections on nv part.
The enemy had discovered us, and was evi.
aentiy determined to do us all the injury that
ne possibly could. Cannon after cannon, and
huge mortars on the walls of the castle vom-
tilted forth, unremittingly, their ponderous
round shot, grape, canister, and SHE'LL doing
us, however. but little injury, as we had taken
the precaution to occupy secure position.
The guns from our several batteries, ct differ
ent commanding points, promptly answered
the enemy, sending forth their deadly contents
in reply. All day--from daylight until the
saole curtains of night shrouded the contend.
ing armies in darkness-the booming of can.
non, the bursting OF shells, the crashing OF
grape and canister, and the sharp report OF
musketry, greeted the ear.
Various incidents that came under nv OBJ.
ssrva,ion during the day, now force themselves
upon my memory.
Captain Drums battery, which kept I'D a
constant and destructive FIRE upon the castle
the whole day, was stationed about sixty yards
from the right Of my regiment. Our whole
division, commanded by General Quitman, con
sisting ofthe I'd Pennsylvania and South Caro-
lima volunteers, and battalion of United
States marines, besides the New York volun.
teers, also occupied position in Supporting
distance Of the battery. Attached TO the South
Carolina regiment were several negroes
slaves, who had accompanied their masters
some OF them privates, too-on the campaign ;
and 90 several occasions displayed commenda.
bic gallantry. One Of these negroes huge.
black, muscular fellow---stood about ten wards
from one of the guns, and at every discharge, he
would eagerly watch what effect it had upon
the castle. If a favorable one, be would Jump
up IN the air, clap bis hands, and exclsim:
.Golly, masss, you give i'm goes dat time
suahp'
Then be would again resume his position be.
hind tree, and await with anxiety the dis.
charge OF another cannon with straininp ewes
watch for the shot to strike the Castle. and
then rusb fnto the road ard - ,L.1I - Z