Chapultepec
Ramón Alcaraz

1847

In the days that transpired from the battle of the Molino del Rey to the 11th, nothing of note occurred; and the enemy made no demonstration upon Chapultepec, insomuch that our military believed General Scott had changed the base of operations and the attacks would be changed to other garitas, undoubtedly less strong.

General Santa Anna, at this time, continued his residence in the Palace. At four in the morning he rose, mounted his horse, and examined the garitas and fortified points, occupied with a multitude of measures, distracting him, perhaps, from forming a general plan and well combined for obtaining a victory.

After the event of the Molino del Rey, the necessity was felt for a great number of troops and sufficient artillery to defend so extensive a city as Mexico. Our forces diminished in the garitas and fortifications, and, without the necessary allowance of artillery, were reduced to fractions not large. They were obliged to oppose the fire of ten, of twelve, of fifteen pices of artillery and the attacks of dense columns of American infantry, that could be reinforced by the troops in reserve. In fine, the enemy were in position to be strongest at the point they might select, and overpower us with numbers; while we, to oppose an equal or greater number of forces in the attack, from necessity left other points uncovered, which could have been easily surprised. General Santa Anna was so fully aware of this, that, on one occasion, a shot hitting the Palace, he mounted hastily on a dragoon horse, and, without waiting for his adjutants, started for the garita of San Antonio.

We must give an idea of the situation held by the enemy around the city, before the storming of Chapultepec, and the position within guarded by our troops.

Their head-quarters were situated at Tacubaya. General Scott resided in the Palace of the Archbishop. The brigade of General Worth was quartered in the houses of the inhabitants.

The divisions of Generals Pillow and Quitman were found in cantonment in Coyoacan.

The general depot of wagons, munitions, and artillery was in Mixcoac.

The rear-guard and reserve, composed of the brigades of Generals Smith and Twiggs, might be met with in San Angel.

From the 9th to the 11th they made the following movements. The united divisions of Pillow and Quitman moved silently in the night of the 11th to Tacubaya.

Before the eastern garitas of the city, that is to say, San Antonio, the Candelaria, and the Niño Perdido, there remained strong detachments of infantry and cavalry, and a battery of 12 pieces of cannon, one half light and the other siege ordnance.

Colonel Harney, commander of the cavalry, with a portion of it had charge of the depot and prisoners that were in Micxoac. Another part of the cavalry covered the American flank and rear.

In the night of the 11th, four batteries were established, to operate against the castle. The first, composed of 2 of sixteens and 1 eight-inch howitzer, was posted in the Hacienda of the Condesa, to breach the south side of the castle, and to defend the causeway running from Chapultepec to Tacubaya.

The second, formed of 1 24-pounder and 1 8-inch howitzer, was situated in a point most commanding of the hills of Del Rey and in front of the angle to the south-east of the castle.

The third, consisting of 1 gun, a sixteen, and 1 8-inch howitzer, was planted some 300 yards to the north-east of the buildings of the Molino.

The fourth, which was only 1 10-inch mortar, was imbedded within the mills, perfectly sheltered and concealed by a high wall of the aqueduct. Finally, 4 pieces of large calibre, 4 howitzers, and 1 mortar were ready to batter the castle.

On the 12th, at three in the afternoon, the division of General Pillow was moved from Tacubaya to the hills of Del Rey, and occupied the mill buildings.

With very slight difference these were the positions of the enemy. The forces of all arms came to 8,000 men with a numerous and well-served artillery, augmented considerably by the pieces lost by us in the fomer battles.

We must give a glance now at the city about to be stormed.

By a decree published on the 29th of July, at the moment the alarm was struck each one of the regidors should direct himself to his respective quarter to attend in good order to whatever the occasion required. The regidors who then occupied their positions, and D. Manuel Reyes Veramendi, first Alcalde, remained in the consistorial houses, receiving all the orders of the General-in-chief. The fortifications of the menaced garitas were strengthened as far as possible by working incessantly in them, in which they were assisted by a multitude of peasants who came with others, to be spectators of the works and military operations. Justice requires us to say that the greater part of the capitularies worked with much energy and patriotism, and that Sr. Reyes Veramendi was indefatigable in the performance of his duties as first Alcalde.

On the other part, the aspect of the city, saving the frequent passing movement of troops through the streets, was truly sad and frightful. The emigration of many families from the beginning of hostilities by the enemy in the valley of Mexico, had deprived this city of the bustle and life which are observed ordinarily, a circumstance which was increased by the seclusion to which others had resorted either from excessive selfishness or pusillanimity.

We will speak in the first place of Chapultepec, the key of Mexico, as then was commonly said, and whose reminiscences and traditions made it doubly important for the enemy, and moreover for the military projects they had conceived.

On the exterior it had the following fortifications. A horn-work in the road which leads to Tacubaya. A parapet in the gate at the entrance. Within the inclosure which surrounds the woods to the south side a breast-work was constructed, and a ditch eight yards wide and three in depth.

Within there were the following defences, many of them incomplete. In the circuit of the botanical garden, was a stand supported by a wall serving for a parapet. For some 250 yards there was a scaffold which ran round the inclosure of the woods, from which the soldiers could fire from under cover. A breast-work at the south enfiladed the entrance. Another was at the east and the last at the summer house at the foot of the hill. Moreover at the point where it was supposed the enemy would pass six mines were dug, of which three were charged.

On the first level landing-place to the south a parapet was built, and another at the glorieta between the two entrances.

Ascending to the building it was met protected with blinds in that part called the dormitories, and the circuit of the edifice was surrounded with sacks of earth.

The artillery defending this fortification were 2 pieces of twenty-fours, 1 of eight, 3 field of fours, and 1 howitzer of 68, in all 7 pieces.

The chief of the castle was General D. Nicolas Bravo and the second General D. Mariano Monterde.

The chief of the section of engineers who had labored with indefatigable energy was D. Juan Cano, and the commandante of artillery D. Manuel Gamboa. Generals Noriega, Dosamantes and Perez were likewise sent afterwards to the fortress.

The troops on the 12th were some 200 men at the foot of the hill, distributed in groups, assisted by the students of the military college, and some more forces, who in all did not amount to 800 men.

Although in that which we have asserted it can have but little difference, still in connexion it must be noted for a simple relation of the events, that if Chapultepec was not an insignificant place, yet it could not be deemed impregnable, and much less held to oppose the formidable batteries of the enemy.

In our opinion a grave error was committed in not fixing the attention on the fortifications of the woods and at the foot of the hill, instead of the building, which was incapable of withstanding a bombardment of two or three days.

The garitas were defended by good works of fortification. At the San Antonio there were 6 pieces of ordnance of large calibre and 4 smaller on the fortification of the causeway. General Mariano Martinez commanded at this point.

The garita of the Niño Perdido connected with the San Antonio, had 2 field pieces in its fortifications and was protected by a corps of the National Guard.

The line from the garita of San Cosme to Santo Tomas was intrusted to General D. Joaquin Rangel, who covered it with his brigade and 2 pieces of artillery, one of eight and one of twelve. In the morning of the 13th it was reinforced with 1 howitzer of twenty-four.

In the garita of Belen there was 1 piece of eight and in another part of the arches 2 of the calibre of six and eight. General Terres commanded and Colonel D. Guadalupe Perdigon Garay was second at this place.

In the San Lázaro, Guadalupe, and Villejo, there had only been left some small detachments of infantry without any artillery.

The cavalry remained in the direction of Tacubaya and the hacienda of Morales, and frequently all of them or a part were in the city.

There were, moreover, 1 piece of artillery at the fountain of the Victoria in the paseo of Bucareli, and 1 in the causeway which leads from the same paseo to the arches and convent of San Fernando.

General Santa Anna distributed his disposable forces at the posts that he believed would be attacked, varying each moment the situations of the corps, and remaining with a force in reserve to send and to assist in person with it at the point requisite.

This was then, in brief, the situation which the two armies preserved. We will now return to the transactions of war that followed.

On the 11th, General Santa Anna passed in review one portion of the infantry, at a place situated between the causeway of the Candelaria and the San Antonio, in commemoration of the victory obtained over the Spaniards at Tampico; and General Tornel distributed an analogous proclamation very properly, to excite the enthusiasm of the defenders of Mexico. The military honors bestowed upon Santa Anna, and the vivas and music gave to this scene a martial solemnity. Being over, the troops retired to their quarters.

General Santa Anna, believing suddenly that the Americans were about to attack the garita of the Niño Perdido, sallied out in person at the head of a band of cavalry and some 25 guerrilias, commanded by Colonel Martinez, and made a reconnoissance to the point near to the inclosure of the hermitage, where were situated the enemy's batteries, which threw some balls and shells. He then retired, and there was nothing further of importance on that day.

At dawn on the 12th, the enemy's battery, situated in the hermitage, opened its fire on the garita of the Niño Perdido, without any other object, as we can learn from the documents published by the American chiefs, than to call attention, and to properly be able to plant the ordnance which should batter Chapultepec in the places which we have mentioned.

In effect, in a few minutes, these batteries began to fire upon Chapultepec. At first they caused no destruction. But rectifying their aim, the walls of the building commenced to be pierced by balls in all directions, experiencing great ravages also in the roofs, caused by the bombs which the mortar threw, that, as we have said, was concealed in the court of the Molino. The artillery of Chapultepec answered with much precision and accuracy. The engineers worked incessantly to repair the damage done by the enemy's projectiles, and the troops quite behind the parapets suffered from this storm of balls. The most intelligent in the military art judge that the troops could have been placed at the foot of the hill, to avoid the useless loss, leaving in the building only the artillerymen and the requisite engineers. This was not done, and the carcasses of the bombs and hollow balls killed and wounded many soldiers, who had not even the pleasure of discharging their muskets.

General Santa Anna was found between the garitas of San Antonio and the Candelaria, when the bombardment of Chapultepec commenced, without also any cessation of the activity of the batteries of the hermitage. After having received and spoken to an adjutant of General Bravo, he proceeded to the Viga, taking the vicinities of the Candelaria. He there placed the reserve, composed of the brigades of Lombardini and Rangel, who had together about 2,500 men.

General Santa Anna ordered that at the bridge called that of Chapultepec, should be placed the Matamoros battalion of Morilia, and to the left of it the San Blas. The rest of the reserve remained in the arches. Except some skirmishing sustained by a few companies of the battalion of San Blas, to prevent the enemy constructing a certain battery at a forward rancho of the Condesa, and some shots exchanged between the horn-work and the enemy's battery, the troops had been all the morning in complete inaction; and suffering from the destruction which the enemy's balls occasioned among them, evincing calmness in receiving death and ready to advance to action. The reader, by the simple narration of these events, will think with us, that for the grand conflicts, and for the great transactions of life, a creative, a well-balanced and directing head is requisite. All our operations in this war had felt this want, and in turn it flowed back exclusively upon the unhappy soldiers and the good meritorious officers.

The batteries of the enemy continued their fire with the greatest vigor, and this was so intense that at noon General Santa Anna entered to Chapultepec, and to the foot of the causeway, to observe the better its effect. It was perceived that none of his adjutants accompanied him, and D. Antonio Haro and Colonel Carrasco alone followed, who went to leave with General Bravo the musket park detained; for the Americans prevented with their fire the communication by the causeway. When this officer was presented General Bravo was breakfasting with the greatest coolness, and the balls and bombs crushing around him the walls and blinds.

Lic. Lazo Estrada and other officers who accompanied General Bravo, gave also to the troops the most beautiful example of valor, despising the danger to which they were exposed; General Saldaña being especially distinguished, who remained serene in the midst of the shower of stones, which a bomb had thrown down on his head. In the evening, General Santa Anna in person, entered the woods with a battalion to reinforce the work which looked to the east from the side of the cattle pond, and where the enemy were directing their fire to dislodge the troops guarding it. As soon as his presence was noticed, the firing was redoubled, and a bomb cut to pieces the commandante of battalion, Mendez, a valiant officer who had served in the North, and killed or wounded thirty soldiers. General Santa Anna ordered the troops to withdraw, and he himself retired with his staff to the gate, where he ordered a work to be thrown up to defend that side of the garden and the foot of the entrance. At nine, after concluding, he returned with his reserves to the Palace.

The bombardment had been horrible. It commenced a little after five in the morning, and did not cease until seven in the evening. In these fourteen hours the American batteries, perfectly served, had maintained a projectile in the air, and the greater part of their discharges taking effect. In the corridor, converted into a surgical hospital, were found mixed up the putrid bodies, the wounded breathing mournful groans and the young boys of the college; and, singular fact! the assistance and requisite medicines were wanting. General Bravo had resisted with valor and calmness this storm of fire; but knowing he would soon be assaulted, he demanded reinforcements of General Santa Anna, who answered through Generals Rangel and Peña, that he did not think of sending more troops until the hour of the storming.

In the balance of the night General Monterde labored with assiduity to repair the damage caused by the bombs, and to replace the blinds and strengthen the fortifications. But the time was very limited and peremptory. Nevertheless all hope was not lost, and an incident to which they gave great importance in the capital, came to reanimate them. This was the proximity of a force of the State of Mexico, at whose head was placed the Governor D. Francisco Modesto Olaguíbel.

From the time the Americans had descended into the valley of Mexico, the authorities of the State had renewed their efforts as well to defend the inhabitants as to send some aid to the capital if it was necessary. The patriotic Vice-Governor D. Diego Perez Fernandez, the same who afterwards endeavored alone with a pistol in hand to check in San Augustin de las Cuevas a part of the enemy's cavalry, had marched to Acapulco, from whence he had brought some artillery to the capital. This service can be estimated by those who know the roads of the South. At the place called Rio Hondo, on the road to Toluca, good fortifications had been raised and a few pieces of artillery had been cast. The Governor Olaguíbel knowing then the decision of the Americans to attack the capital, united the troops as far as possible, placed himself at their head, and on the 11th came to Sante Fé with about 700 men. It is easy to understand that so small a force could not impede with any favorable result by operating upon the rear of the enemy, and its appearance did not diminish in any way the catastrophe commencing with the bombardment.

General Pillow put in observation of the movements of this force, a large body of Colonel Harney's cavalry, without these Americans venturing on an attack or drawing very near.

The section, then, of the State of Mexico which presented itself in fulfilment of its duty, executed in view of the enemy various movements by order of General Santa Anna. In one of these it was hoped as very probable, if it would not cause a defeat in the rearguard of the enemy, at least it would draw off their attack, which according to their preparations they were about to make on Chapultepec.

General Alvarez offered to Governor Olaguíbel two brigades of cavalry, with which, united to the troops, they might be able to undertake a movement upon the enemy. This offer was accepted, and General D. Angel Guzman presented himself voluntarily to lead this assistance. Olaguíbel waited, and even through his adjutants demanded, a reinforcement, which never came. Finally he marched by order of General Alvarez to take post in the hacienda of the Morales, holding it necessary to extend from under the American battery.

On the 13th at daybreak the enemy's batteries returned to open their fire upon Chapultepec much more vividly than on the day before.

General Santa Anna having in the preceding night caused all the reserve to enter Mexico, leaving only about 800 men in Chapultepec; many of whom deserted shamefully. Some were visible at six in the morning on the causeway of Belen, with the brigade of Lombardini and the battalion of Hidalgo of the National Guard. As soon as General Bravo observed the movement of the enemy's troops he sent to advise General Santa Anna that he was going to be attacked, demanding park and reinforcements. He likewise placed Lieutenant Alaman ready to spring the mines. General Santa Anna unfortunately, who in the whole of this had neither comprehended the vulnerable point of the enemy nor his own, nor the time when to attack decisively, judged that Chapultepec was not about to be stormed, and therefore did not reinforce, contenting himself with defending the apertures of the causeways of Anzures and the Condesa.

The enemy, who had formed three strong columns, under the orders of Pillow, Quitman, and Worth, occupied the woods with the rifles, and sallying out of the Molino, overturned our few skirmishers, who defended at the foot. The column of General Worth, leaping the position and feigning an attack by the causeway of Anzures, called the attention of General Santa Anna. A cloud of skirmishers, advancing rapidly over the bridge of the causeway of the Condesa, sheltered themselves among the stocks of the magueys that had been cut down, and in the unevenness of the ground, and in the huts in the vicinity. The enemy, seeing their plan take effect and that the false attacks were resisted with vigor, directed the bulk of their columns that entered by the Molino to storming the hill. These, flanked and preceded by skirmishers, began to climb up, some by the opening, and others at that part accessible from the north-west. In the meanwhile a cloud of skirmishers ascended, and appropriating the rocks, bushes, dead angles, and the unfortunate ground for our fortifications, destroyed with their sure shots the defenders, or distracted them from attending to the storming columns. These encountered no more formal resistance than what the entrance afforded and the foot of the hill, with the brave and distinguished Lieut.-Colonel D. Santiago Xicoténcal's battalion of San Blas. But this chief being flanked, pushed back, and killed, along with the greater part of his officers and soldiers, the Americans advanced to the second landing in the road leading up the hill, with a banner displayed, which sometimes fell from the one bearing it being killed, and the columns slightly giving way. Another, however, taking the colors, the advance continued to the rampart, where our defenders, astounded by the bombardment, fatigued, wanting sleep, and hungry, were hurled over the rocks by the bayonet or taken prisoners. A company of the New York regiment ascended to the top of the building, where some of the students still fired, and who were the last defenders of that Mexican flag which was quickly replaced by the American.

The mines did not happen to be sprung by Lieut. Aleman; for when he went to the place where the slow matches were, he found it occupied by the Americans, a circumstance which was officially mentioned by them, and which we believe, in justice to the young man who has been wrongfully accused.

The enemy, who had made the false attacks against the causeways, remained quiet, annoying only those with a few shots who retreated on the sides of the arches, in the direction of Belen, in the best possible order, and whom the balls of a 12 lb. piece cut up so much, which was stationed on the hill on the side of the corridor. The Americans waited for a moment to make a reconnoissance, and only detached some skirmishers in observation.

General Perez was killed at the beginning of the attack of Chapultepec, and Lieut.-Colonel Cano, discharging his duty, was pierced by a rifle ball, and expired at nine at night on this day. The loss of this youth was sensibly felt by the sciences and by the country. General Dosamentes, who fought with much boldness, was wounded, and General Bravo was taken prisoner by Lieutenant Charles Brower. This general had not in this action falsified the historical character with which he is advantageously known within the Republic and beyond it. It is not, consequently, so certain as General Santa Anna has asserted, that he was encountered buried in the ditch to his very neck. Some other chiefs, officers, and students were likewise made prisoners. They had fulfilled their duty to the last moment, and it would afford us much pleasure to mention their names if we could recollect them all. In the defence of the causeway of the Condesa and the horn-work, the company of sharpshooters of San Blas especially distinguished themselves, as also the Matamoros battalion of Morelia, the captain, Traconis, and D. José Barreiro, major of brigade, being wounded.

The enemy, in all this affray, sustained a considerable loss, although much less than what they suffered at the Molino del Rey. One of the officers who led the storming column was killed, and likewise several engineers. General Pillow was severely wounded in the leg.

General Rangel, with some pickets, marched for the Veronica where he united with General D. Matias Peña, and after making courageous efforts on the causeway of Chapultepec, in leading the battalion of grenadiers, supported his falling back by firing upon the advance guard of Worth, who with some pieces of artillery was pushing forward in the same direction. In this manner arriving at the fortification of Santo Tomas, the troops halted, occupied the parapet, and defended it so boldly, that the column of Worth was checked, that had determined to take possession of this work. As well in the horn-work as in this scene, General Rangel conducted himself with much bravery and coolness.

If it be that as well in the attack of Chapultepec as in the retreat there were some actions deserving criticism if not even castigation, it is still impossible to deny that likewise some isolated and very honorable scenes passed. Moreover these afforded evidence of there being much cool blood and valor to prove that in some of these Mexican souls, patriotism was as pure as in the days of the Independence.

From the beginning of this chapter we have proposed only to make a simple narrative of facts, in their order, and joined in the best possible method. But if we were to add a description of the picture which this venerable and ancient grove of Chapultepec presented, covered with a dense cloud of smoke that reposed for a moment in the bowers of all colors, shaken with the loud roar of artillery and fire-arms as if a stream of flashes were dooming it to destruction: its delicate turf covered with the dying and dead bodies, the waters of its fountains blood-stained, and bombs and balls demolishing the strong trunks of the trees: if our pen, we repeat, had the power of that of Tacitus, we are certain the reader could not conclude this chapter, without being filled with horror, and without feeling the hairs to rise upon his head.

Ramon Alacaraz. The Other Side: Or Notes for the History of the War Between Mexico and the United States Written in Mexico. Albert C. Ramsey, translator. (New York:1850), pp. 353-365.