410 



RECONNOISSANCES OF SCOTT AND MASON. 



verged northeastwardly and eastwardly towards the city. The 

 northernmost of these entered Mexico by the garita of San Cosme, 

 while the other reached it by that of Belen near the citadel. 



In attacking Chapultepec, it was important to consider the value 

 of the Molino del Rey or King's Mill, and Casa Mata, both of 

 which, as we noticed, lie on rising ground within the works de- 

 signed to protect Chapultepec. Upon examination it will be found 

 that the Molino del Rey, or King's Mill, bears the relation of a very 

 strong western outwork both to the castle of Chapultepec and its 

 approaches by the inclined plain which serves to ascend its summit. 

 As the Molino del Rey is commanded and defended by the castle, 

 so it reciprocally, commands and defends the only good approach 

 to the latter. 1 As long as the Molino was held by the Mexicans, 

 it would of course, form an important stronghold easily reached 

 from the city around the rear of Chapultepec; so that if Scott at- 

 tacked the castle and hill from the south, where the road that as- 

 cends it commenced, he would be in danger of an attack on his 

 left flank from the Mexicans in the defences at Molino and Casa 

 Mata. 



If the King's Mill fell, the result to the enemy would be that, in 

 addition to the loss of an important outwork and the consequent 

 weakening of the main work, its occupants or defenders would be 

 driven from a high position above the roads and fields into the low 

 grounds at the base of Chapultepec, which were completely com- 

 manded from the Molino, and thus the Mexicans would be unable 

 to prevent the American siege pieces from taking up the most 

 favorable position for battering the castle. It was important, 

 therefore, not only that the foundry should be destroyed, but, in a 

 stratagetic view, it was almost indispensable in relation to future 

 operations that the position should be taken. It is undeniable, as 

 following events showed, that the Mexicans regarded it as one of 

 their formidable military points. The capture of Chapultepec and 

 the destruction of the post at Molino del Rey were, accordingly, 

 determined on as preliminary to the final assault upon the city. 



As soon as the armistice was terminated bold reconnoissances 

 were made by our engineers in the direction of Chapultepec and 

 the Molino or King's Mill and Casa Mata. On the 7th of Septem- 

 ber Santa Anna's answer to Scott's despatch was received, and on 

 the same day the Commander-in-Chief and General Worth exam- 

 ined the enemy's formidable dispositions near and around the castle- 



1 See Lieut. Smith's Memoir, ut antea, p. 8. 



