Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-09-12


the bayonet. Almost at the same moment,
JohnStone, Of the voltigeurs, who had broke it
open. and effected an entrance in spite of a
| fierce fire from the southern walls. The two
parties uniting, a deadly conflict ensued with
| in the building. Maddened by the recollection
of the murder of their wounded comrades at
Molino del Rey, the stormers at first showed
| no quarter On every side the Mexicans were
stabbed shot down without mercy. Many
/ flung themselves over the parapet and down
| the hillside, and were dashed in pieces against
the rocks. More fought like fiends, expend-
| ing their last breath in a malediction, and cx-
pirng in the act of aiming treacherous blow
as they lay on the ground. Streams of blood
! flowed thro' the doors of the college, and eve
ry room and passage the theatre of some
deadly struggle. At length the officers sue
! ceeded in putting an end to the carnage, and
the remaining MexcanS having surrendered,
the Stars and Stripes were hoisted over the
castle of Chapultepec by Major Seymour.
Meanwhile Quitman had stormed the batter
les on the eauseway TO the east Of the castle,
after a desperate struggle, lin which Maj. Twiggs,
who commanded the stormcrs, was shot dead
back toward the city. General Scott coming
up at this moment, ordered simultaneous ad-
vance TO be made on the city, along the two
roads leading from Chapultepec to the gates of
San Cosme and Belen respectively. Worth
was to command that on San Coslne, Quitman
that on Belen. Both were prepared for de-
fense by barricadcs, behind which the enemy
were posted in great numbers. Fortunately
for the assailants an aqueduct, supported on
arches OF solid masonry, ran along the centre
Of each causeway. By keeping under cover of
these arches, and springing rapidly from one
to another, Smiths rifles and the South Caro-
lima regiment were enabled to advance close to
the first barricade the Belen road, and pour
IN destructive fire Oh the guEners. A flank
discharge from Duncan's guns completed the
work. the barricadc was carried; and, without
Il moments rest, Quitman advanced in the
same manner on the garita San Becn which
was held 10y Gen. Torres with a strong garri-
son. 1t too stormed, tho under fearful
hail Of grape and canister and the rifles NOV
ed forward toward the citadel. But at this
moment Santa Anna rode furiously down to the
point Of attack. Boiling with rage at the sue
cess of the INVADERS, he smote Gen Torres in
the face, threw a host Of infantry into the hous-
es commanding the garta and the road order
ed the batteries in the citadel to the open fire.
planted fresh guns on the Pasco, and infused
such spirit into the Mcxicans, that Quitman's
advance was stopped at once. \ terrific storm
of shot, shells, and grape assailed the garita,
where Capt. Dunn had planted an S-pounder.
FTv-issa oh,
men sent to take their places Then Dunn
himself fell and Immediately aftcrwart Lieut..
Benjamin and his first sergeant met the same
fate. The rilemen in the arches repelled SAL
lies, but Qutmau's position was precarious. till
night terminated the conflict
Worth, meanwhile, had advanced in like
manner along the San Cosme causeway, dri-
wing the Mexicans from barricade to barricadc
till within two hundred and fifty yards of the
garita of San Cosme. There he encountered
as severe a fire as that which stopped Quitman
But Scott had ordered him to take the garita,
and take it he would. Throwing Garland's
brigade out TO the right, and Clarke's to the
left he ordered them to break into the houses,
burst thro' the walls, and bore their way to the
fanks Of the garita. The plan had succeeded
perfectly at Monterey, nor did it fail here.
Slowly but surely the sappeis passed from
house to house, until at sunset they reached
the point desired. Then Worth ordered the
attack. Lieut.. Hunt bro't up light gun at a
gallop, and fired it thro' the cmhrasure of the
enemy's battery, almost muzzle TO muzzle, the
infatry at the same moment opened a most
deadly and unexpected fire from the roofs of
the houses and VI enzie, at the head of the
stormers, dashed at the battery, and carried it
almost without loss. The Mexicans fed pre-
cipitately into the city.
At one that night two parties left the cita-
del, and issued forth from the city. One was
the remnant OF the Mexican army, which SUNK
silently and noiselessly thro' the northern
gate, and fed TO Guadaloupe Hidalgo; the 9TH
er was a body of officers who came under
white flag, to propose terms of capitulation.
The sun shonc brightly on the morning of
the 18th of September. Scores Of neutral
flags float from the windows on the Cele de
Plateros, and in their shade beautiful women
gaze curiously on the scenes beneath. Gayly-
dressed groups throng the balconies, and at
the street-corners dark-faced men scowl, NUT
ter deep curses, and clutch their knives. The
street resounds with the heavy tramp Of infan-
try, the rattle Of gun-carriages, and the clatter
of horses hoofs. esLos Yanqueisi'' is the cry,
and every neck is stretched TO obtain glimpse
of the six thousand bomired and begrimed sol
diers who are marching proudly TO the Grand
Plaza. On him especially is every eye intent r.
ly fixed, whose martial form is half concealed
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