THE CITY OF MEXICO TAKEN. 421 Preceded by an eight-inch howitzer under the direction of Captain Drum, the Mounted Rifles, supported by the South Carolina regiment, and followed by the remainder of Smith's brigade, advanced under shelter of the arches of the aqueduct towards a strong battery thrown across the causeway, nearly midway between Chapultepec and the Garita Belen. Sustained by flanking batteries, and a large force of the enemy stationed on a cross-road to the left, the defence at this point was of the most obstinate character. The interposition of a section of Duncan's battery from the San Cosmé road, and the effective fire of Drum's howitzer, having at length partially cleared the way, the Rifles dashed forward with a yell, and, by an exhibition of the most daring courage, carried the work by assault. The command was now halted and reorganized for an attack upon the garita. The Rifle and South Carolina regiments were still thrown in advance, but intermingled-three rifles and three bayonets being placed under each arch. These regiments were closely sustained by the residue of their respective brigades, under Smith and Shields. Winding round the pillars of the aqueduct, and creeping from arch to arch, the whole column worked its way onward, though assailed incessantly by a tremendous direct fire from the garita, and by cross-fires from the Paseo and from the Piedad road. These terrible fires, though they cut up the column to a fearful extent, did not check for a single instant its determined advance. The flank fires sweeping through the arches being at length silenced by Drum's howitzer and a sixteen-pounder which had been brought up by Lieutenant Benjamin, the Rifles and the South Carolinians succeeded about noon in getting close to the garita. Immediately after this was accomplished, they sprang from the sheltering arches, and, with their accustomed yell, charged the garita drove the enemy, and at twenty minutes past one, P. M., nearly the whole column had passed the gate and was within the limits of the city. But the victory was not yet complete. The Ciudadela, or Citadel, a work of immense strength, mounting fifteen pieces of cannon, now opened upon the column at only three hundred yards distance. The slaughter was terrible, and, to add to the peril of their position, the ammunition of the heavy pieces worked by Captain Drum and Lieutenant Benjamin was soon entirely expended, without the possibility of obtaining another supply under the heavy fire that raked the causeway. The loss at the guns was also most disastrous. The brave South Carolina regiment had twice supplied additional men to work the pieces, when Quitman was called upon to mourn the loss of two of his bravest and most efficient subordinates. Captain Drum, one of the ablest artillery officers in the service, fell mortally wounded by the side of his gun; and within a few minutes afterwards Lieutenant Benjamin shared the same fate. The command of the battery then devolved upon Lieutenant Porter. No sooner did the enemy find the battery silenced for want of ammunition, than he made the most desperate efforts to force back the column, and recover his position. Under cover of a terrific fire of artillery and small-arms, from the Citadel, from the Paseo, and from the buildings in front and upon the right, he made several sallies on both flanks of the column, but was each time repulsed with loss. Finding it impossible to bring forward a supply of ammunition during daylight, Quitman determined to shelter his command and hold his position until the darkness should afford a more favourable opportunity for crossing the causeway. During the night, the firing of the enemy having ceased, two batteries for heavy guns and a breastwork for infantry were erected within the garita, under the superintendence of Lieutenant Beauregard, the requisite supply of ammunition obtained, and the guns mounted ready to open at daylight. POSSESSION TAKEN OF THE CITY. 423 When the morning of the 14th of September dawned, and while the undaunted column was preparing to recommence the attack, the defenders of the Citadel, finding all further resistance useless, despatched to General Quitman a white flag of surrender. Before this, however, as early as four o'clock on the same morning, General Scott had been waited upon by a deputation of the city council, who, after reporting the evacuation of the capital by the Mexican government and army, demanded terms of capitulation in favour of the church, the citizens, and the municipal authorities. To this Scott replied, that, as the city had been virtually in his possession ever since the forcing of the garitas, he intended not to accept but to impose such terms as were consistent with the honour of the army, the dignity of the United States, and the spirit of the age.* Upon this the Ayuntamiento retired, and orders were shortly afterwards given to Worth and Quitman to advance cautiously and take up commanding positions within the city. Acting under these instructions, Worth promptly moved forward his command, and at six o'clock, A. M., occupied two sides of the Alameda, while Quitman, after leaving Smith's brigade and the South Carolina regiment to garrison the Citadel, marched with the remainder of his column through the principal streets, and took possession of the Grand Plaza, where the colours of the United States were for the first time flung abroad from the National Palace. Soon after were seen the waving plumes and commanding person of the General-in-chief, as he rode into the Plaza, escorted by the 2d dragoons; and a deafening hurrah greeted the gallant hero, who, amid so many difficulties and disappointments, and with means totally inadequate, had, by prudent arrangements, and that military skill in which he is unsurpassed by any commander * Scott's Official Despatch. of modern times, triumphed over every difficulty, and established his head-quarters in the very palace of the enemy's capital. But the daring victors were not yet to enjoy that repose which their protracted and arduous services so imperiously demanded. While in the act of occupying the city, a fire was opened upon them from the roofs of houses, from the windows and loops, and from the corners of streets. This insurrection of the leperos and liberated convicts, instigated by many Mexican soldiers in the dress of citizens, occasioned a desultory contest of twenty-four hours' duration, when it was effectually put down, and on the morning of the 16th of September, 1847, the army of the United States of North America, after a series of victories untarnished by a single defeat, was in complete and unmolested possession of the Capital of the Republic of Mexico, from the National Palace of which, General Scott addressed the following despatch to the Secretary of War: "HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, National Palace of Mexico, Sept. 18, 1847. } "SIR-At the end of another series of arduous and brilliant operations of more than forty-eight hours' continuance, this glorious army hoisted, on the morning of the 14th, the colours of the United States on the walls of this palace. "The victory of the 8th, at the Molino del Rey, was followed by daring reconnoissances on the part of our distinguished engineers-Captain Lee, Lieutenants Beauregard, Stevens, and Tower -Major Smith, senior, being sick, and Captain Mason, third in rank, wounded. Their operations were directed principally to the south towards the gates of the Piedad, San Angel (Niño Perdido), San Antonio, and the Paseo de la Viga. "This city stands on a slight swell of ground, near the centre of an irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditch in its greater extent a navigable canal of great breadth and depth-very diffi |