398 



BATTLE AT THE CONVENT AND TETE DE PONT. 



infantry, had been collected from every quarter, — panic stricken, it 

 is true, — yet apparently resolved to contest the passage of the last 

 outwork of importance in front of the garita of San Antonio Abad. 



When Worth and Pillow reached this point, Twiggs had already 

 been sometime hotly engaged in attacking the embattled convent. 

 The two advancing Generals immediately began to manoeuvre close- 

 ly upon the tete de pont, which was about four hundred and fifty 

 yards east of the convent, where Twiggs still earnestly plied the 

 enemy. Various brigades and regiments under Cadwallader, Lieu- 

 tenant Colonel Smith, Garland, Clark, Major White and Lieutenant 

 Colonel Scott continued to press onward towards the tete de pont, 

 until by gradual encroachments under a tremendous fire, they at- 

 tained a position which enabled them to assault and carry the for- 

 midable work by the bayonet. But the convent still held out. 

 Twenty minutes after the tete de pont had been taken, and after a 

 desperate battle of two hours and a half, that stronghold threw out 

 the white flag. Yet it is probable that even then the conflict would 

 not have ended, had not the 3d infantry under Captains Alexander, 

 J. M. Smith, and Lieutenant 0. L. Shepherd, cleared the way by 

 fire and the bayonet to enter the work. 



Whilst this gallant task was being performed in front of the 

 Mexican defences, Generals Pierce and Shields had been engaged 

 on our left, in turning the enemy's works so as to prevent the escape 

 of the garrisons, and to oppose the extension of numerous corps 

 from the rear, upon and around our left. By a winding march of a 

 mile around to the right, this division under the command of Shields, 

 found itself on the edge of an open, wet meadow, near the main 

 road to the capital, in the presence of nearly four thousand of the 

 enemy's infantry, a little in the rear of Churubusco. Shields posted 

 his right at a strong edifice, and extended his left wing parallel to 

 the road, to outflank the enemy towards the capital. But the Mexi- 

 cans extended their right more rapidly, and were supported by 

 several regiments of cavalry, on better ground. Shields, accord- 

 ingly, concentrated his division about a hamlet, and attacked in 

 front. The battle was long and bravely sustained with varied suc- 

 cess, but finally resulted in crowning with victory the zeal and cour- 

 age of the American commander and his gallant troops. Shields 

 took 380 prisoners, including officers ; while at Churubusco seven 

 field pieces, some ammunition, one standard, three Generals, and 

 1261 prisoners, including other officers, were the fruits of the sharp- 

 ly contested victory. 



This was the last conquest on that day of conquests. As soon 



