SCIENCE, SKILL, AND ENERGY.

371

from Vera Cruz. But before reaching the causeways P'T IV. was an exterior system of strong defences.

P'D III.

5. By the Vera Cruz road, on which the army Cн. XII. were, the city could not be approached, without first encountering the strongest of the exterior fortifications, that of El Penon. "No doubt," says General Scott, "it might have been carried, but at a great and disproportionate loss, and I was anxious to spare the lives of this gallant army for a general battle, which I knew we had to win before capturing the city, or obtaining the great object of the campaigna just and honorable peace.'

August

Army

from

gustine.

6. The commander then moved his troops 27 miles; they making a new road, directed by the engineers, 15-18. over such sharp volcanic rocks and deep chasms, as marches the foe had not dreamed could be passed; when,- Avola to having turned the lakes Chalco and Jochamileho, St. Au they encamped at St. Augustine, on the Acapulco road, eight miles south of Mexico. From the camp, looking towards the city, the defences on this road, were the fortress of Antonia; and, a mile and a half further north, the strongly fortified hill of Churubusco. These could be approached in front only by a dangerous causeway. By making a detour to the west, where lay yet other dangers, they might be reached from the left.

A road

Con

7. Two movements, ordered by the commander, were simultaneously made. Worth with Harney's 18-19. cavalry went to menace Antonia in front; while to made to the left, General Pillow's division, consisting of the treras. brigades of Pierce and Cadwallader, conducted by the engineers, Lee, Beauregard, and others, made a road through craggy rocks of ancient lava; whose crevices shot up the thorn-armed maguey, and whose deep chasms were filled with water. To cover and support the working party, was sent General Twiggs'

5. Why did Gen. Scott not approach the city by the Vera Cruz road?-6. To what position did he remove his army, and by what means? What was now his position in regard to the Mexican city and army ?-7. What movements were next ordered and effected?

P'T IV. division, made up of the brigades of Generals Riley P'D II. and Percifer Smith.

CH. XII.

The

8. In the afternoon of the second day, after accomplishing nearly three miles of this difficult road, 10th the troops found themselves within cannon-range of troops the enemy's fortified camp at Contreras, commanded range of by General Valencia, with 6,000 men, surmounted by of Con- 22 heavy guns, and communicating by a good road treras. with Mexico, and also with the main camp of Santa

within

the guns

Anna, which was lying two miles nearer. Upon this road the American soldiers saw the Mexicans hurrying on to the scene of action.

9. Fighting now begins, in which the divisions of generals Twiggs and Pillow, especially Riley's brigade, are engaged. They advance, though suffering from the enemy's fire. About sunset, the commander, now on the field with fresh troops, gives to Col. Morgan of the regular infantry, an order, which, Village aided by General Shields of the volunteers, he exeda taken. cutes; taking the village of Ansalda, which lay on the road from the fortified camp, to that of Santa Anna. The enemy's line of reinforcements was now

of Ansal

(† Of

ficers sent

after sun

carry or

cut.

10. Night,-cold, dark, and rainy-closed in. seven of Comfortless was the condition of the troops, remainby Scott ing without food or sleep, upon the ground. The down to officers at Ansalda, in their perilous position,-sepaders, not rated as they were from their commander by the alceeded in most impassablet lava-field; whose crags, on acAn- count of the rain-flood, were interspersed by torrents,-now found resources in their own genius, courage, and union.

one suc.

reaching

salda.)

11. General Percifer Smith proposed to set out at midnight, surprise and storm the camp at Contreras. From that moment, dark forebodings passed from the army, and each officer and man, as by spontaneous

8. What was now the position of the party sent to the left? -9. What was now done, and what advantage gained by the Americans?-10. What was the night of the 19th of August, and the condition of the troops? Where did they find resources?

Morning

movement, fell into his proper place. Gen. Shields PT IV. extending his 600 men into a long line, and keeping P'D III. up fires, was interposed between the storming party CH. XII. and the camp of Santa Anna, with his 12,000 reserve. One messenger alone-Lee, the engineer- of the found his dark and watery way over the lava-rocks, 20th of August. and carried to the gratified commander the tidings of the gallant attitude of his troops, and also, a request of General Smith, for co-operation. General Scott complied, by sending with the messenger the force under Twiggs, to Contreras at five in the morning, to aid the storming party approaching the enemy's rear, by making a diversion in their front.

TRERAS.

force,

12,000

sight.

can force

4,500.

12. A little past midnight, General Smith sets for-CONward, conducted by engineer Smith,-Col. Riley lead- Mexican ing the van. The rain continues to fall in torrents, 7,000; and their progress is slow. So profound is the dark- more in ness, that the men must touch each other as they Amerimove, lest they divide, and some be lost. At sun- engaged rise, they storm the intrenchments, and precipitate Mex.loss, themselves upon the surprised Mexicans. Dismay k 700, and carnage prevail for seventeen minutes; when the prisoners, camp is carried. Eighty-eight officers and 3,000 officers men are made prisoners. Thirty-three pieces of ar- Am. k. tillery are captured; among which are found two of those so honorably lost by O'Brien at Buena Vista. They are received with shouts of joy by the victors of Contreras; in which the commander, now present, heartily participates.

813, 88

generals.

& w. 66.

13. General Scott next directed a grand movement upon Churubusco, to which the victory already achieved, opened the way. Moving northeasterly by the road through St. Angel, he keeps the centre of the extended field, while General Worth on his extreme Antonia right, is driving the now terrified garrison from An- taken. tonia. General Shields, who at Contreras, had kept for hours the whole army of Santa Anna in check,

11. What part had Gen. Shields? What was done by Lee?-12. Describe the approach to Coutreras, and the storming of the camp.

374

CLOSE OF A GREAT DAY.

PT IV. was in command of the extreme left; still charged P'D III. with the dangerous duty of keeping off the grand CH. XIII. Mexican army from the immediate object of attack.

In the centre, General Twiggs presses forward to Churubusco, and entering it from the west, attacks August one of its two strong defences, the fortified church of CHURU San Pablo. In the mean time, Worth, joined by BUSCO. Pillow and Cadwallader, comes in from Antonia, and

19 & 20.

Am.force

furiously carrying the stronger fortress, called Pont du Tête, or Bridge's Head, he turns its guns upon the citadel-church, which now surrenders.

14. Meantime, Shields, Pierce, and others, are fightEntire ing a bloody battle with Santa Anna, with fearful 4.052. odds against them. Scott sent successive regiments to their aid. Churubusco was now taken, -the brave old General Rincon, its commander, having surrendered. Santa Anna abandoned the field. Worth and Shields pursued. Col. Harney with his dragoons dashed by them, and one of his officers, Captain Kearny, not hearing the call to return, followed the flying Mexicans to the very gate of the capital, in which the army of Santa Anna was now enclosed.

Generous

CHAPTER XIII.

Armistice.-Molinos del Rey.-Chapultepec.-Mexico.

1. THE commander, following up his victory, might proceed. now have entered Mexico. But he was not sent to ings of

Scott. conquer the country, but to " conquer a peace," and he believed that the reduction of the capital would delay, rather than accelerate this result. He did not wish to drive the government away from the city dis

13. Describe the approach to Churubusco, and the assault. -14. Give a sketch of the closing scene of the victories of this great day.

CHAPTER XIII-1. What were the reasons why General Scott now forbore to enter Mexico.

EL MOLINOS DEL REY.

375

honored. The army," says Scott in his dispatches, P'T IV. "are willing to leave to this republic something on P'D III. which to rest her pride, and they cheerfully sacrifice CH. XIL to patriotism the eclat that would have followed an entrance, sword in hand, into a great capital."

Armis

cluded.

2. Tacubaya now became the headquarters of the Aug. 21. American army. The general-in-chief occupied the archbishop's palace, with its beautiful gardens. Here 24th. he negotiated with Mexican commissioners an armis- tice contice, as a step preparatory to a final peace. But the Mexicans would not agree to the terms proposed: Violated and they violating the armistice by strengthening their b Mexidefences, General Scott declared it at an end. The cans. Mexicans then called on the provinces to come to their aid in mass; and by fire-or poison,-by any weapon, in any manner, to injure and destroy the invader.

position

to Mexico

defences.

3. From Tacubaya, Mexico was full in view-northeast, and distant three miles. North-bearing a little east-distant a mile-rose, in beautiful prospect, the fortified hill of Chapultepec; its porphyritic rocks Scott's abruptly descending on its southern and eastern in respect sides, while to the west, the hill fell gradually, with and its a gentle, wooded slope, till it met the fortified building of stone, called El Molinos del Rey, or the King's Mills. A quarter of a mile west of the fortified mills stood another stone fortress called Casa Mata. These were the obstacles which now barred the way of the Americans to the capital; and they constituted the supporting points of the Mexican army, ranged behind them, headed by Santa Anna, and amounting to fourteen thousand.

4. The generals, Scott and Worth, went forth in person to reconnoitre, and they sent out their skilful engineers. Scott then gave the order for an assault on Molinos del Rey, committing its execution to

2. What efforts were now made for peace, and how did they result? What call was made upon all Mexican citizens?— 3. What was the position of the city, regarded from the American headquarters ?-4. Give an account of the battle of Molinos del Rey?