The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-07

of the principal battles OF the Mexican war; .
battle in which Grant. Meade, Pope. Long
ice. and which gave General Taylor the start
on the boom that made him President Gen.
Grant gives good account Of the battle in the
first volume of his book, and it is familiar to all
Taylor and Worth, with only 1000 men, took
the city in three days. the Mexicans having
twelve or fourteen thousand troops against
them Very hard fighting was done by General
Worth at the west end of the town in taking two
prominent hills, on which the Mexicans had bat
teries The first one stormed and taken was
Federation hill, and on the next day Independ-
ence hill was captured after despei ate charge.
On the latter hill which stands alone on tie
plateau and looks like the half of French loaf of
bread, is the Bishops Palace down the slope.
towards the city from the summit, and overlook
ing the city and San Juan valley.
A street-car ride of mile from the central por-
ton OF the city, past beautiful gardens, in which
the spring blossoms were loading the air with
perfume, brought US to the foot of Independence
hill. little distance up the path to the palace
a large spring bursts out of the hill 1t is
covered by a stone building, which is dedicated
to st. somebody or other, who is supposed to
look after it; and thence the water ia conveyed
by pipes down into the city The palace is the
up to it, and when it is reached ws find it was
once beautiful building. It is now sadly out of
repair, and is used as a barracks for detach
ment of soldiers. Cannon balls are piled in
try. barefooted and dirty. is on duty
there We Chamber on up to the
summit at the west end. and, seated on the
spiked cannon still lying there, take a view of
the city. the valley and the mountains. The day
is perfect. The great ragged teeth Of the Sierra
Madre. close around US, are clearly lined against
the blue, while further away the mountains lie
in great purple pillows under cloudless sky.
just east of the city, and almost overhanging it.
is the Saddle mountain, and it is well-named.
Tha all 10 irrio tad nd 10
with the new crop. Away down there mile be-
low US, the people working in the fields look like
little children. The bitches carrying the water,
look like silver bands across the green and the
cattle drinking out OF them are dwarfed by the
distance. The city lies to the east and is pictur-
esque in its appearance-the foliage of the gar
dens being visible from this height. To the
west, OF this point OF view. the de-
scent is fearful. For the first hundred
feet it is nearly perpendicular and on down to the
plain below, it is very steep. Yet up this slope
Worths two thousand men charged and took the
battery located where we sit, and thence tn ey
charged down and took the Bishops Palace,
Then he fought down through the streets and dug
through the stone walls OF the houses, while Gen.
Taylor attacked the city from the east side and
fought in towards the main plaza in the same
way. There, and in the Cathedral, the Mexicans,
under Ampudia, were hemmed in and surren-
dered. AS we look over the scene and stand on
the historic ground Of Independence hill. we are
proud we are Americans and involuntarily We
whistle ''The Star-spangled Banner" AS we 90
down we stop at the palace, and the dirty senti-
mel lets US in. A few minutes in the central court
is enough. It doesn't smell good and we fee
Within four miles. at Topochico, are the won
derful Hot Springs, which are said to possess
greater curative properties than those in Arkan-
sas They are as yet only slightly improved, a
few bath pools and houses being in use An
American has leased them and will put up all the
necessary buildings for the health-seekers. There
is no reason why it should not be great winter
resort. The climate is lovely. and there is much
to see that is interesting and instructive. Many
come here, already, seeking health and pleasure,
and every year ought to bring more. G. G. H.