416 



STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC, AND OF 



tured guns, poured an incessant shower of shot into the fortress 

 until nightfall, when the assailants slept upon their arms, to be in 

 position for an early renewal on the 13th. 



At half-past five in the morning the American guns recom- 

 menced upon Chapultepec ; but still Santa Anna clung to the 

 southern gates while Scott was silently preparing for the final assault 

 according to a preconcerted signal. About 8 o'clock, judging that 

 the missiles had done the work, the heavy batteries suddenly ceased 

 firing, and instantaneously Pillow's division rushed forward from 

 the conquered Molino del Rey, and overbearing all obstacles, and 

 rapidly clambering up the steep acclivities, raised their scaling lad- 

 ders and poured over the walls. 1 



Quitman, supported by Generals Shields and Smith, was mean- 

 while advancing rapidly towards the south-east of the works, over 

 a causeway with cuts and batteries defended by an army strongly 

 posted outside the works towards the east. But nothing could 

 resist the impulse of the storming division, though staunchly opposed 

 and long held at bay, and whilst it rushed to complete the work, 

 the New York, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania volunteers, under 

 Shields, crossed the meadows in front amid a heavy fire, and en- 

 tered the outer enclosure of Chapultepec in time to join the en- 

 terprise from the west. The castle was now possessed at every 

 point. The onslaught had been so rapid and resistless, that the 

 Mexicans stood appalled as the human tide foamed and burst over 

 their battlements. Men who had been stationed to fire the mines 

 either fled or were shot down. Officers fell at their posts, and the 

 brave old Bravo, fighting to the last, was taken prisoner with a 

 thousand combatants. 



Santa Anna was at last undeceived. He detached at once the 

 greater portion of his troops from near the garita of San Antonio 

 Abad ; but it was too late ; — the key to the roads of San Cosine and 

 Belen had fallen ; the advance works were weak, and the routed 

 troops of Chapultepec fled rapidly along the causeways and over 



1 The importance of the previous capture of El Molino del Rey was proved in this 

 assault upon Chapultepec, for Pillow's division started from this very Mill, from 

 within the enemy's work, and found itself on an equality with the foe up to the very 

 moment of scaling the walls at the crest of the mount, whereas the other assaulting 

 column under Gluitman taking the only remaining road to the castle, a causeway 

 leading from Tacubaya, was successfully held at bay by the outworks defending this 

 road at the base of the hill, until after the castle was taken, and the opposing force 

 was taken in rear by troops passing through and around Chapultepec. Had El 

 Molino still been held by the Mexicans, the siege pieces would not have been allowed 

 to play uninterruptedly, nor would the assaulting parties been able to take position or 

 attack with impunity. See Lieut. Smith's Memoir, ut antea p. 8. 



