Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-09

d. L. IFOWDrldge IN November st. Methodist,
The castle of Chapultepcc, commanding
the great road to Mexico, was successfully
stormed by our troops on the 18Th of Sep.
TENDER, 1Si'. Reid was in command of the
grcnadier company of New York volunteers
and detachment of United States marines,
with orders to guard battery which they
hid thown mp. The morning of the 18Th
was fixed for the assault. The batteries
were ordered TO cease firing at II o'clock and
the attack began. Reid and the artillery
officers, standing by their guns, watched the
advance of the line with intense anxiety,
which became apprehension when they saw
that about half way UP tie slope there was Il
halt. II Knew he says in his account,
THAT IL Chapultepec was not taken neither
would the city be, and failing that, not a man
OF us might ever leave the valley of Mexico
alive"
Asking leave of the senior engineer officer
TO join the storming party with his men, he
obtained 1t with the words, 60, and God be
with you.' He was of at once, with his
volunteers and marines. After quick run
across the intervening ground, they came IN
with the storming party under the brow Of
the. hill where it had halted to await the
scaling ladders. "At this point" says Lieut..
Marshall OF the 18th infantry, 'the fire from
the castle was SO continuous aud fatal that
the men faltered, and several officers were
wounded while urging them on. AT this
moment noticed Lieut.. Wayne Reid of the
New York volunteers | noticed him more
particularly a. the time on account of the
very brilliant uniform he wore. He sudden
~ jumped to his feet, and calling upon those
around TO follow, and wthOu, looking
around to see whether he was sustained
or not. pushed on almost alone to the vcry
walls"
Reds action was not quite so reckless MS
lhis account OF an eyewitness would make
1t appear. The outer wall of the castle was
commanded by three pieces of ,nnou on the
parapet, which, loaded with grape and can.
lister, 1carfully dccimated the ranks of the
Americans at every discharge. TO advance
seemed certain death. But death seemed
equally certain whether the assailants re.
treated or remained where they were. Such
is Ills own explanation Of his conduct.
Men ~ he shouted out in q momentarv
lull OF the conflict, 'f we don't take Cha
rul'epec the American army is LOST Lc,
us charge up the walls -
Voices answered: 1--WE will charge if
any one will lead u.s." Were ready =, u
Come on I'll lead you !" shouted Cant.
Kcid, as he bravey leaped over the 'scarn
mat mad temporarily Sheltered them. and
made inc charge already, described. There
was no nesu, nc says, to look back to sec if
he was followed. lie knew that his men
would not have been there unless PREPARED
to 90 where he led. About half way I'M he
raw The parapct crowded with Mexican
artiheris's on the point Of discbarr.
Ing vollcy. lie avoided Il, by
throwing himself on his face reccivinyy
only slight wound in his shorthand. an'
olh'r shot cutting his clothing. Instantly
on MS 1cet again, he made for The
wall, IN front OF which he was brought down
by Mexican ounce ball tearing through his
,h'sh. All inc testimony goes to show that
he was first before the wall of Cbannltenac
i'o,ns lieutenant, llippolyte Dardonvile, a
young ffcnchmaD, mounting the scaling
ladders with the foremost, tore down ihss
Mexican fiag from its staff. b, fore that
however, Reid was observed by Lieutenant
Cochranc of the Voltigeurs. Cochrane was
pushing Tor the castle with his men when
before HIM, scarcely 10 yards from the wall
an oihccr OF infantry and a comradc WERE
shot and fell. "They were the ONLY two az
inc Time, he says in his statement, s'whom /
saw IN advance OF me on the rock upon
which we were scrambliDg" Reaching the
wa" an, oocnrane ordered two men so 90 back
iittie way and assist the ladders IN The
wounded officer lay he raised himself SELF With ttI
evident pain and sang out above the din and
rattle OF musketry, imploriug the men to
Don't leave that wall! - he cried. cor vo
slaii an DC cut TO pieces. Hold on, and the
castle is ours :" ' ""u 'ho
,.S Sochrane answered to reassure him
There is no danger captain, of our Irav.
lng TINS Never fear" Then the Ind
fell. ""' 'hc castle
The wounded officer" Cochrane conti,
Hes, proved to be Lieut.. Mayne Reid, of The
e.! Li is Marshall, to whom we arc indebted
ior lnat vivid glimpse of the young officer
IN his very brillil'i uniform, :" desof,bcs the
erect produced by the exploit-all those
VINO witnessed or knew of it pronouncinc =,
, without exception the bravest and most
; Tii1aha achievement performed by single