The Placer herald., 1857-05-23
The Battle of the City of Mexico.

The battle commenced on the morning of
the 10Th by the bombardment of the Castle
Of Chespultepec, which commanded the two
great causeways leading to the city. The
Americans having, during the night of the
lIth. established batteries almost within
;oint blank range Of the Mexican fortiiica-
tins. The bonbartllnent continued through
out the dav and al intervals through the
night. At The break of day, on the morning
of the 18th the cannonadc was resumed and
continued about two hours sudden ces-
sation of firing from the American lines, was
the signal (preconcerted) for general as
saut upon the hill and Castle. With en-
fhusiasm and full of confidence, the Ameri
cans moved on to the attack Pillows di-
vision advancing on the West, from Molino
del Rev, Worth turning the hill on the north
west side to cut off the enemiys retreat,
Twiggs threatening the gates of San Antonio
and Pedad, Quitman and Shields Nolun-
teers advancing along the Tacubaya road,
carving few gun batteries at the base of
the hill, and pushing forward in time to
meet Clarke's Brigade, and enter the Mexican
works together, were "maddened" by the re-
collection of their wounded comrades at
Molno del Rey, the stormers at first showed
no quarter. On every side the Mexicans
were stabbed or shot down without mercy
Masy flung themselves over the parapet and
down the hill side, and were dashed in pieces
against the rocks. More fought like fiends,
expending their last breath in malediction,
and expiring in the act of aiming a treach
erous blow as they lay upon the ground.
Streams of blood flowed through the doors
of the College, and every room and passage
was the theater of some deadly struggle
The Stars and Stripes floated proudly from
the FLAG staff, where a few minutes before
waved the tri-color of Mexico, proclaiming
the fall of Chapultepec.
Again the regiments were formed and Or
dered to advance on the City. Qultman,
with his brave Volunteers of New Workers,
Penpylvanians and South Caroiinians, filed
off down the hill, taking the Belen causeway,
encountering batteries and redan, of such
construction as to show the Mexicans not be-
hind in the science of engineering. An ac~
,queduct runs along the centre Of the cause
way; from these arches the Volunteers &C
.companied bv Smiths Rifles, advanced, dodg-
ing from arch to arch until they got within
range, when, sending volley into the Mexi-
can battery, they charged and carried the
work at the point of the bayonet, following
close upon the heels of the fugitive Mexcans;
a redan work on the right was carried, and
subsequently the strong battery at the gate
of the city fell into the hands of the Ameri-
cans. Gen. Worth, on the San Cosmo cause
way was equally successful, having gained
possession Of that gate later in the afternoon.
After night-fall, the face of the captured bat
teries were turned, heavy guns and ammu-
milton brought up, and everything prepared
to renew the work of death at daylight
Early on the following morning, the authori-
ties, under flag of truce, visited Gen. Quit
mans position with propositions for surren-
dering the city. Santa Anna, with his army
of thirty thousand men, having evacuated
the Capital of his country, to be occupied by
an army of six thousand tatigued and be-
brimed American soldiers, on the l4th Of
September, ls47, quarter before o'clock,
A. NJ, amid the shouts and cheers of Quit
mans division, who had preceded him, and
the Stars and Stripes floating triumphan1tly
over the "Halls of Montezumas.'