412 



scott's scheme of capturing the city. 



Possessing himself suddenly of the Molino del Rev and the adjacent 

 grounds he was to retire after the capture without carrying Chapul- 

 tepeCy the key of the roads to the western garitas of San Cosme 

 and Belen. The immediate capture of Chapultepec would have 

 been a signal to Santa Anna to throw his whole force into the western 

 defence of the city ; but by retiring, after the fall of the Molino or 

 King's Mill, and by playing off skilfully on the south of the city in 

 the direction of the garita of San Antonio Abad, Scott would effec- 

 tually divert the attention of the Mexicans to that quarter and thus in- 

 duce them to weaken the western defences and strengthen the south- 

 ern. At length, at the proper moment, by a rapid inversion of his 

 forces from the south to the west, he intended to storm the castle- 

 crowned hill, and rush along the causeways to the capital before they 

 enemy could recover his position. 



In pursuance of this plan, an attack upon El Molino del Rey and 

 La Casa Mata was the first great work to be accomplished, and as 

 soon as Santa Anna's reply closing the armistice was received on 

 the 7th the advance towards that place was ordered for the follow- 

 ing morning. This important work was entrusted to General 

 Worth, whose division was reinforced by three squadrons of dra- 

 goons ; one company of 270 mounted riflemen under Major Sumner; 

 three field pieces under Captain Drum ; two twenty-four pounders 

 under Captain Huger, and Cadwallader's brigade 784 strong. The 

 reconnoissances had been completed ; at three o'clock in the morn- 

 ing of the 8th of September the several columns were put in 

 motion on as many different routes, and when the gray dawn en- 

 abled them to be seen they were as accurately posted as if in mid- 

 day for review. Colonel Duncan was charged with the general 

 disposition of the artillery, while the cavalry were under Major 

 Sumner. 



At the first glimmer of day Huger's powerful guns saluted the 

 walls of El Molino and continued to play in that quarter until this 

 point of the enemy's line became sensibly shaken. At that moment 

 the assaulting party,' commanded by Wright of the 8th Infantry, 

 dashed forward to assault the centre. Musketry and cannister were 

 showered upon them by the aroused enemy, but on they rushed, 

 driving infantry and artillerists at the point of the bayonet, captur- 

 ing the field pieces and trailing them on the flying foe, until the 

 Mexicans perceiving that they had been assailed by a mere handful 

 of men suddenly rallied and reformed. In an instant the reassured 

 and gallant foe opened upon the Americans a terrific fire of musket- 



