The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-07
EIOLINO DEL RET.
An OLD AND GLORIOUS STORY OF AMERICAN
TALOR ETOLD.

Colonel Kelley, OF New Orleans, who
participated in the engagement, told me-
says a reporter Of the Chicago Times, all
about it three weeks ago in the St. Charles
Hotel His description was so vivid that
had no difficulty in recognizing the differ
ent positions. General Scott, as history
tells, did not expect much more than ''ar
affair." at the Casa Mata aud MolinO del
Rcy. lie did not, it would appear, suf-
ffciently estimate the importance of the TO
sition, the Molino being in reality an out
work of Chapultepec, which is The key OF
the capital to an army advancing from the
vest. During the night General Worth
received information that Santa Anna,
taking advantage OF the over confidence of
General Scott, was pouring troops from the
CITY into the defences of holino del Rey
and its surroundings. This fact the sol
diers Of the devoted division we're not aware
Of They, too, expected only sharp skir-
rish. General Scott wished to capture the
Noliu0 in order that the molds used for
casting cannon by the Mexicans might be
captured and destroyed. Worth was of
she opinion that it would be better to make
one meal Of the whole thing and assault
Cbapultepec at the same time. This the
Commander in-chief would not listen to
and the attack was ordered With Worth's
division alone. In the dusk of the morn
ing Duncan's battery, supported by the
regulars OF McIntosb, opened the engage
ment on the right. Bang went their first
discharge, aud Immediately their guns
we're ran forward toward the Casa. Bang!
they went once more, the flashes lighting
mp the eager faces of the cannOneers ard
revealing for q second the sturdy ranks OF
the supporting infantry. Duncan's guns
fired another rourd, and still another, ad-
vauCing nearer and nearer, while the Mex
lean army kept omin0usIy SILENT .he crash
of our cannon balls through the solid ma
sonry and the reverberation of tho reports
being the only sounds that disturbed the
repOse Of the valley. This led the Ameri-
can officers TO suppose that the Casa 1Iata
was abandoned, and the Fifth Infantry,
supported by other regulars, were ordered
70 charge and take it. They advanced at
q run bu5 hardly had their leaders shouted
the word OF command than the Mexican
artillery ard musketry belched redIy forth
along the whole line, deafening both armies
for a minute. The American column
seemed enveloped IN fire and smoke, and
the vanguard went down in whole com
panies. Staggered, but undismayed, our
soldiers fired = return volley, and, with
ieveled bayoDets made rush FOR tie moat.
They were uader the fall sweep of the
Mexican cannon, loaded with grape, and
supported by the file ofthe infantry. Their
bravost efforts were bootless and the gal
liant regulars were mcrcilessiy cut down.
Colonel Mcintosh fell, Lieutenant Colonel
Scott fell. The Major and ranking Cap
taius fell, and out IF fourteen officers who
led the charge, only three were unvouudcd
five minutes after the order to charge was
given. It was an awful butchery.
Other reg inanis we're ordered to support
their comrades, but nothing human could
withstand that terrible fusilade. Bafied
but not domoralized, the regulars fell back
slowly, disdauing to fly, although scores
fell at every discharge of the Mexican bat
ter.es Unfortunately, some Of the wound
ed were left between the guns Of the Casa.
and these were ,utbiessIy slaughtered by
the HexicaGs Who were inhamed with
vengeance and intoxicated by their: mo-
mentary success. General Worth allowed
the battle before the Casa to slacken,
while tie american center ard left, CON
sisting Of Garland's brigade, directed fu-
rious onslaught against EI 3Iolino Del Rey
itself.
The main objec, Of The attack, as already
stated, was to capgnIe and destroy the can-
non molds in ''tha Kings mill" Santa
Auna converted the church bells into gan
metal, holding that it was no sacrilcge to
destroy the invaders with mater jal design
ed for the glorifcation o. God alone. The
BIcxicans lined the parapets of the west and
north walls, and maintained deadly ire
against our battaiions.
The main fight was for the p0nderOus
gateway which led to the mill, and there
occurred the most appalling slaughter.
Our soldiers, with matchIess recaiessness,
directed all their efforts against that en-
trance. They forced backward the MexiN
can line still outside tie Moiino, fight
hope to recover lost ground. ehe Mexican
General, Antonio Leon, and twenty seven
of his officers were killed in heap. The
, Americans we're by this time excited to q
pitch of madness, ana slew all before them,
Leon and his companions did not last them
long. They fell as if blasted By lightning,
On the spot which they Redeemed with
their blood Mexico placed the memorial
already spoken of. L was erected in 1856
aud an inscription on two sides narrates
that it vas authorized by President Com
+ onfort, in the name of the Republic, foI
tho honor and glory Of tho brave defender.
of Mexico, vino there sacrificed their live:
in resisting the invaders Of their country
: The names of the fallen are engraven upon
: the east and west faces of the monument
The memorial is simple in design. The
, material is white marble, and on the sum
mis- is a inely-executed figure Of Mexic,
vvea ping over the urn which contains tht
' ashes Of her brave.
4 The foregoing is q depression which wi!
+ be pardoned, as the battle has been Tough
. shirty one years, and the narrator has th
= privilege OF introducing fresh incidents int
. what is, in some measure, twice 5ol
:. tale.
. tmight be tiresome, at this day, to er
!. ter into all the details Of that memorabl
= battle, in which the small American divj.