Chapter XIII: Part 13

Negotiations were instantly opened; but the duplicity and bad faith of the Mexican government daily became more and more apparent. Infractions of the armistice constantly took place; and on the sixth of September General Scott notified Santa Anna, that unless full satisfaction was made, before twelve o’clock, meridian, on the following day, he should consider it at an end from and after that hour. The reply of the Mexican President was both insulting and evasive,--and General Scott made immediate preparations to renew offensive operations. Having been informed that there was a cannon foundry in El Molino del Rey, to which a number of bells had been sent from the city to be cast into guns--though this afterwards proved to be a mistake--and that there was a large deposit of powder in Casa de Mata, he determined to drive the enemy from these works, and to seize the powder and destroy the foundry. The performance of this service was confided to General Worth, with his division, reïnforced by the brigade of General Cadwalader and other small detachments. It was brilliantly executed on the eighth of September, in spite of the opposition of nearly the whole Mexican army, but with the loss of near eight hundred men killed and wounded, out of thirty-four hundred.

The capital itself still remained in the possession of the enemy, who labored night and day to complete their defences. Including the works at the garitas, there were forty-seven batteries, designed for one hundred and seventy-seven guns, and seventeen infantry breastworks, constructed around the city. All the batteries, however, could not be manned at the same time, in consequence of the deficiency in artillery. The most formidable works were at the garita of San Antonio, and on the heights of Chapultepec.

After completing his reconnaissances, General Scott made a demonstration before the southern gates of the city, with the divisions of Generals Pillow and Quitman, on the afternoon of the eleventh of September, in order to deceive the enemy; but when it became dark, he directed those officers to join him with their columns, at Tacubuya, whither his headquarters had been sometime previous removed. General Twiggs was left at Piedad with his division, to threaten, or make false attacks, on the batteries near the garita of San Antonio.

On the twelfth instant, four heavy batteries were planted, and opened, on the castle of Chapultepec, less than a mile distant from Tacubaya,--while General Twiggs directed a vigorous fire upon the batteries in the vicinity of the southern gates. The cannonade was very effective; the enemy were driven from their outworks on the heights of Chapultepec, and the main fortification was seriously crippled. On the night of the twelfth, final arrangements were made for storming the castle early on the following morning. Before midday on the thirteenth, the works were bravely carried at the point of the bayonet, by the divisions of Generals Pillow and Quitman,--the former being supported by the division of General Worth, and the latter by the brigade of General Smith. Immediately after the reduction of the castle, Generals Worth and Quitman followed the retreating masses of the Mexican troops along the San Cosmé, and Chapultepec, or Tacubaya causeways. The latter was the first to gain a foothold in the city; the garita of Belén being carried by his men shortly after one o’clock in the afternoon. The route taken by General Worth was much longer, but he steadily advanced on his way, driving the enemy from every redoubt and battery; and, during the evening, he securely established himself inside of the garita of San Cosmé. Between nine and ten o’clock, a few shells were thrown from a mortar brought up to his column, in the direction of the National Palace, on the great plaza, in order to obtain the exact distance.

[Sidenote: CAPTURE OF MEXICO.]

Santa Anna and his ministers did not think it advisable again to encounter the American army, or to bring upon the city the horrors of a bombardment. During the night of the thirteenth, the Mexican commander hastily evacuated the capital with all his forces; and on the morning of the fourteenth of September, General Scott entered and took possession with his troops,--the civil officers making an unconditional surrender of the town. For upwards of twenty-four hours, the Americans were annoyed by the _leperos_, and lower classes of the populace, who fired, and hurled missiles upon them, from the roofs and windows. The vigilant measures of General Scott speedily checked the _émeute_, and the American flag waved undisturbed over the Palacio of Mexico.[48]

A rigid system of police was at once established and enforced by the American commander,--whose watchful care for the comfort and welfare of his men, whose regard for the rights of the citizens, and whose respect for his vanquished opponents, manifested at all times and on all occasions, won golden opinions from both friends and foes.

The brilliant campaign of General Scott,--especially remarkable for the wonderful display of his military knowledge and ability, his rapidity of decision, the power and compass of his mind, the clearness of his plans, and the strategical skill which so often rendered all the labors of the enemy completely nugatory,--terminated with the fall of the Mexican capital. Large reïnforcements were sent to join him, by the aid of which his communications with the seacoast were effectually opened. For a few weeks, Santa Anna, who had resigned his office of provisional president, attempted to continue the war, but he eventually abandoned the contest and quitted the country. The new administration exhibited a more friendly and pacific disposition; the negotiations were resumed, and on the second day of February, 1848, a treaty of peace was signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was subsequently duly ratified.

[Sidenote: RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES.]

On the nineteenth of February, General Scott was relieved from duty in Mexico, at his own request; and shortly thereafter he returned to the United States, where he was received with the most flattering demonstrations of respect. The thanks of Congress and a gold medal were voted to him. Resolutions of congratulation were adopted by a number of State Legislatures, and in the city of New York and other towns, public processions and festivities were had, in honor of the gallant commander and successful soldier.

The athletic frame and robust constitution of General Scott indicate that his life may be prolonged for many years. While he is still living, and occupying so high a place in the estimation of his countrymen, it would, perhaps, be as unwise, as it is unnecessary, to speak of his character more in detail. It may be, that he is reserved for other and higher honors,--but whatever fortune befal him, it will ever be a proud satisfaction to his friends, to point to his triumphant march to the Mexican capital, as the most splendid achievement recorded in modern history.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES:

[34] Tom. iv., p. 150.

[35] The charge was, in substance, that General Scott
remarked at a public table, that he had never seen
but two traitors, viz.: Generals Wilkinson and
Burr,--and that General Wilkinson was a liar and a
scoundrel. Whatever may have been the justice of
Scott’s sentence, for violating the rules of military
subordination, he had certainly strong reasons for
associating the name of Wilkinson with that of Burr,
inasmuch as there were then weighty suspicions
attaching to the conduct of the former which have
never been wholly removed.

[36] See Memoir of General Pike, _ante_.

[37] Close behind Scott was Colonel Porter, who
complained that the long legs of the former gave him
an undue advantage.

[38] See Memoirs of Brown and Macomb, _ante_.

[39] _Ante_, p. 34, et seq.

[40] Captain Towson, with his three guns, was on the
other flank, opposite the enemy’s left.

[41] _Ante_, p. 45, et seq.

[42] He visited Europe again in 1829, and made the tour
of France, Belgium and Germany--his principal object
being to procure professional information.

[43] See Memoirs of Generals Gaines and Macomb, _ante_.

[44] See Memoir of General Gaines, _ante_.

[45] See Memoir of General Gaines, _ante_.

[46] Macaulay.

[47] The artillery regiments in the American service,
are equipped, and act, as infantry, with the
exception of the detached companies serving with
batteries.

[48] The casualties consequent upon the capture of
Chapultepec and the reduction of the city, on the
side of the Mexicans, were 1,000 killed, 1,500
wounded, and 823 taken prisoners. The Americans lost
130 killed, 704 wounded, and 29 missing. Among the
captures of the latter, were 100 pieces of artillery,
a number of colors and standards, and small arms and
ammunition in sufficient quantities to supply an army
during a campaign.

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Transcriber’s Note:

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