Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-19
MOLINO DEL REY.
An Old and Glorious Story Of American
valor RetoId.
Mexican Cor. Chiearo Time..-

was so vivid that | had no difficulty
in recognizing the different positions.
General Scott, as history tells, did not
expect much more than an affair at
the Casa Mata and Moline del Rey.
He did not, it would appear, sufi-
GENTLY estimate the Importance of the
position, the Moline being in reality
an outwork Of Chapultepec, which is
the key Of the capital to an army adj
vancing from the west. During the
night General Worth received infor-
nation that Santa Anna, taking
advantage of the over-confdence Of
General Scott, was pouring troops
from the city into the d~efenses of
Moline del Rey and its surroundings,
This fact the soldiers of the devoted
division were not aware of. They,
too, expected only a sharp skirmish.
General Scott wished to capture the
Moline in order that the mOlds used
for casting cannon by the Mexicans
might be captured and destroyed.
Worth was of the opinion that it
would be better to make one meal Of
the whole thing and assault ChapHlte-
pee at the same time. This the COM
mander in-chief would not listen to
and the attack was ordered with
Worth's division alone. In the dusk
of the morning Duncan's battery, sup
ported by the regulars of Mcintosh,
opened the engagement on the right.
Bang went their first discharge, and
Immediately the guns were run
forward toward the Casa. Bangl they
went once more, the flashes lighting
up the eager faces of the eannOniers
and revealing for a second the sturdy
ranks Of the supportinginfantry Dun
cans guns fred another round, and
still another, advancing nearer and
nearer, while the Mexican army kept
ominously silent the crash Of our
cannon balls through the solid ma
sonry and the reverberation Of the re-
ports being the only sounds that dis
turbed the repose Of the valley. This
led the American officers to suppose
that the Casa Mata was abandoned,
and the Fifth infantry, supported by
our regulars, were ordered to charge
and take it. They advanced at a run,
but hardly had their leaders shouted
the word ofcommand than the Next
can artillery and musketry belched
redly forth along the whole line, deaf
ening both armies for a minute. The
American column seemed enveloped
in fire and smoke, and the vanguard
went down in whole companies. Stag
gered, but undismayed, our soldiers
fired a return volley, and with leveled
bayonets, made a rush for the noat.
They were under the full sweep ofthe
Mexican canno loaded with grape,
and supported by the FIRE Of the in
fantry. Their bravest efforts were
bootless, and the gallant regulars were
mercilessly cut down. Colonel McIn-
tosh fell, Lieut.. Colonel Scott fell.
The Major aud ranking captain fell
and out Of fourteen officers who led
the charge, only three were ~unwoundeC
five minutes after the order to charge
was given. 1t was an awful butchery.
Other regiments were ordered tC
seaport their comrades. but nothing
human could withstand that terrible
fusilade. Bafied, but not democrat
lied, the regulars fell back slowly, dis
daining to fly, although scores fell at
every discharge of the Mexican bat
teries. Unfortunately, some of the
wounded we're left between the guns
of the Casa, and these were ruthlessly
slaughtered by the Mexicans, who
were infamed with vengeance and in
tOxicated by their momentary success.
General Worth allowed the battle be-
fore the Casa to slacken, while the
American center and left, consisting
Of Garland brigade, directed a furi-
Gus onslaught against Ell Moline Del
Rey itself.
The main object Of the attack. as
already stated, was to capture and
destroy the cannon mOlds in 1.-THE
Kings MILL Santa Anna converted
the church bells into gun metal. hold
ing that it was no sacrilege to destroy
the invaders with material designed
for the Qualification Of God alone
The Mexieans lined the parapsts Of
the west and north walls, and main.
tanned a deadly fire against our bat.
talions.
The main fight vas for the ponder.
GUS gateway which led to the mill
and there occurred the most appalling
slaughter. Our soldiers, with match.
less recklessness, directed all theiI
efforts against that entrance. The,
forced backward the Mexican line still
outside the Moline. aud fighting Will
desperation. In leading a forl0rl
hope to recover lost ground, the Mex
lean general, Antonio Leon, and n 0
his officers were killed in a heap. tn
Americans were By this time excite.
to a pitch Of madness, and slow all be
fore them. Leon and his companion
did not last them long. They fell a
1T blasted by lightning. On the spo
which they reddened with their bloc
Mexico placed the memorial alread
spoken Of 1t was erected in lSjl
aud an inscription on two sides nal
rates that it was authorized By Pre-,
ideut COmonfort, in the name Of tn
republic, for the honor and glory {
the brave defenders Of Mexico, VIII
there sacrificed their lives in resistin
/ the invaders Of their country" TIL
names Of the fallen are engraved upo
the east and west faces Of the mont
r ment. The memorial is simple /
design. The material is white marbI
Y and on the summit is finely execute
! figure Of Mexico weeping oyor the ur
4 which contains the ashes of her Draw
The foregoing is a depression whic
0 will be pardoned, as the battle hs
. .been fought thirty-one years, and ii
{ narrator has the privilege Of intr,
ILL., r...l ..1A