CHAPTER XIV. 

 1847. 



DIFFICULTIES OF THE ADVANCE THE PEDREGAL SAN ANTONIO 



HACIENDA RELATIVE POSITION OF AMERICAN AND MEXICAN AR- 

 MIES PATH OVER THE PEDREGAL TO CONTRERAS VALENCIA DIS- 

 CONCERTS SANTA ANNA'S PLAN OF BATTLE AMERICAN ADVANCE 



AND VICTORY AT CONTRERAS SAN ANTONIO TURNED BY WORTH 



BATTLE OF CHURUBUSCO BATTLE AT THE CONVENT AND TETE DE 



PONT THEIR CAPTURE FLIGHT OF THE MEXICANS. 



In order to understand the ensuing military movements, it will be 

 proper for the reader to study the map of the valley, and acquaint 

 himself fully with the relative posture of both parties. The plans 

 of both generals in chief were well made ; but the blunders and 

 obstinacy of the Mexican second in command disconcerted Santa 

 Anna's desired combination, and ultimately opened the ground to 

 the American advance with more ease than was anticipated. 



We will sketch rapidly the military value of the arena upon which 

 the combatants stood on the 18th of August, 1847. 



Let us imagine ourselves beside General Scott, standing on one 

 of the elevations above the town of San Agustin de las Cuevas, 

 at the base of the southern mountain barren of the valley, and look- 

 ing northward towards the capital. Directly in front, leading to 

 the city, is the main road, the left or western side of which, even 

 from the gate of San Agustin to the Hacienda of San Antonio, and 

 thence westwardly to San Angel, forms, together with the bases of 

 the southern and western mountains about St. Geronimo and Con- 

 treras, a vast basin, ten or twelve square miles in extent, covered 

 with the Pedregal or the field of broken lava which we have alrea- 

 dy mentioned. This mass of jagged volcanic matter, we must 

 remember, was at that time barely passable with difficulty for infan- 

 try, and altogether impassable for cavalry or artillery, save by a 

 single mule path. North, beyond the fortified hacienda and head- 

 quarters of Santa Anna at San Antonio, the country opened. A line 

 of field works, the lake of Xochimilco, a few cultivated farms, and 

 vast flooded meadows, were on its right to the east, but from the 

 hacienda, a road branches off to the west, leading around the north- 

 ern edge of the Pedregal or lava field through Coyoacan and San 

 Angel, whence it deflects southwardly to Contreras. The main 

 road, however, continues onward, northwardly, from the hacienda 

 of San Antonio, until it crosses the Churubusco river at the strong 



