The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-11-03
The Storming of Chapultepec.

The National Monitor, new literary pa
per published in New York, contains q
sketch Of portion of,he Military operations
| in Mexico which is entitled "Life IN The
Ayny, or "reminiscences ofthe Meriean Wan
by Nep York Volunteer. The style oi
the writer is plain and lucid, and he mar
rates with much liyeliness, and directly ,c
the point. Here is an account OF The storm
ing of Chapullepec:
"It was sOmbrc morning, The heavens
being obscured with dense black clouds
therefore not wall OF The castle was visible
I, the cyc--no, even the hill on which !,
stood could be seen nothing bui the bril-.
lain, lights that Illuminated il, attracted The
eye-presen,ing a grand imposing spec,a.
cie-a concentration If brilliant me,eors,
suspended from the black clouds above, be.
ing the nearest siIniliudc 10 il. AS we
nearcd the castle, The greatest possible eau.
tion was observed. The men were cautioned!
no, to allow their lin canlecEs to strike
agains, their muskets or cartridge boxes
no, word was allowed spoken in the ranks
every possible prccaulion was taken 10
keep the enemy in ignorance ofour approach
Onward we march, with noiseless steps, ST.
lent tongues, and palpitaling hearts. Near,
er and nearer we approached the formidable
castle brs,ling with heavy ARTILLERY, and
containing twelve thousand Of Mexico's
bes, troops, and commanded by one Of her
braves, and best generals. Suddenly we
were brough, to halt the division 10 which
was attached being intended 10 support a
battery under the command ofCapt Drum,
which had been erected during the night,
directly under the castle. Jus, as we hal
ted, the shrill notes OF a trumpet assailed our
ears. Then The rolling of drums was heard,
and presently full brass band joined in. 1t
was The enemy playing the rereiAs. A death
like s,illaess prevailed in our ranks at the
lime-not n whisper or breathing could be
heard-,herefore, so unexpected was the
mu sic. lha, when il struck The ear, il caused
a momen,ary thrill 10 shoe, through my
frame fel, n peculiar Undesirable sensation.
have no doubt others experienced the
same.
The music was suddenly interrupted.
Bang-g-r wen, one Of the huge pieces of
artillery from Drums ba ,iery, aud for mo-
menl The dreadful whz'z of lis iron DEATH
messenger was heard through The air; and
then its fatal crash us it struck the castle.
Instantly every light in the later was put
out, aud i, was invsible-shroulcl in dark.
ness. Silence was no longer observed in
our ra.ks the commanding word OF Baxter
"Forward!n was heard. We marched
a short distance, filed 10 the right and
halled-taking npa positiln in supporting
distance of Capt drums battery
Presently, the sombre clouds that obscured
the heavens separated, a streak Of light was
visible in the eastern horizon 1.-The day was
breaking. Lighter and lighter i, gradually
grew objects that had been previously in.
visible, now appeared 10 The sight, Anon,
the blazing peeped forth from the dark hid.
inc place, diiIusing oflish, upon the
earth, and revealing to our as,onished sight
the white massive walls OF Chapnllepec, the
huge muzzles Of hundred pieces OF ar,ill-
ery. ,ha, peered from their respective en-
brasuras, and the gl'ering bayone,s OF at
lcas, cigh, thousand infantry, in the woods
surrounding the Castle, aud a, The base Of
the high hill upon which it stood.
This was our first sight OF The Castle, and
gazed upon lis imposing appearance with
admira,ion-con,empla,ng nj the same mo-
ment the mighty convulsion that was 10
follow an attack upon It's impresnable walls
--,he lives ,ha. mus, necessarily be sacrf-
ced the wives and widows; the paronls
chililess; brothers and sister moumers, and
helpless children, perhaps fa,herles! Casting
my ewes over the gallant liule band that
stood beside me- companions who had had
through storms OF lead and iron
who had fought by my side in all the pre-.
ceeding ballles-ihe sad and awful convic-
lion forced iiself upon my mind, iha, in
brief time, many Of those whose smiling Ia
res and cheerful hearts be,okened no " idea
of the morrow" would lie in the cold, icy
embrace Of Death.
The loud report of gun from the castle
and the startling noise OF grape and canister
rs i, wen, crashing tearing through the tall
iense pulque plant, in my immediate vicin-
Nv, checked all further reflections on my
,ar,. The enemy had discovered us, and
vas evidently determined 10 do US all the
injury iha, he possibly could. Cannon af.