fall. Leaving pursuit to others, some of Worth's men hasten to direct against the convent the heavy guns at the tête de pont from which they had suffered so severely, together with a hitherto silenced battery of their own. This sudden attack from the side least protected has a startling effect on the garrison, already disheartened by their apparent abandonment for sacrifice, and by the failing ammunition, which is causing a sensible abatement in the cannonade.27 Rincon and his second, Anaya, lately acting president, observe the danger, and rushing forward midst the men, they cheer them on to fresh efforts, joining personally in directing the artillery, regardless of the raking cross-fire. But the brigades in front and on the left take advantage of the diversion to renew their exertions, and soon Smith's men follow up with a charge which gains the parapet and holds it. Another bound, and on to slaughter. Just then the white flag is raised; the futility of resistance is admitted. Instantly there is a hush, as the smoke lifts and dissipates in curling wreaths.23

The conflict still rages in the distance. The pursuers have reached La Candelaria beyond, slashing and thrusting at the straggling mass of fugitives. They already approach the battery protecting the gates of San Antonio Abad, so close upon their heels as to be prepared to enter with the Mexicans. Just then is heard the bugle sounding the recall. They

27 The Apunt. Hist. Guerra, 255-6, declares that by the time of surrender the guns could not be supplied at all. The charge is made of treason in connection with the manufacture and supply of ammunition. Semmes attributes the stoppage to the artillerists being driven from their post by the firing in the rear. Campaign, 290.

28 The fight here had lasted from 10.45 A. M. till 3.30 P. M. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 368. Twenty minutes after the tête de pont fell, adds Scott. Mem., 490. Twiggs received the surrender of 3 generals, Rincon, Anaya, and Arellana, 101 other officers, 1,155 men, 7 guns, and other material. U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, Sen. Ex. 1, p. 324-5. The dead numbered 136 and the wounded 99, including most of the artillerists. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 365. The San Patricio deserters are said to have 'pulled down the white flag of surrender no less than three times.' Letter in New York Courier; Mansfield's Mex. War, 267. Capt. I. M. Smith, who led the assault, according to Scott, himself unfurled the white flag and stayed his men on seeing the condition of affairs. Apunt. Hist. Guerra, 257.

DEFEAT OF THE MEXICANS.

487

halt and yield the vantage, all save a few blinded by excitement. It is a small band of dragoons, led by Captain Kearny. The battery opens upon them, but they heed it not. They spring from the saddle and across the ditch; the Mexicans turn, and, half cut in pieces, the band falls back. The battle is over. 29

Its result was a demoralization among the defenders, with the temporary disorganization of their army, placing the capital for the time at the mercy of the victors. Scott places the Mexican losses at 4,000 killed and wounded and 3,000 captives, including 213 officers, among them eight generals, of whom two were ex-presidents; also 37 pieces of artillery and a large amount of small arms and stores. For his own side he admits 139 dead and 876 wounded, including 76 officers.30 These casualties include the losses at Padierna, Scott embracing the day's operations under five victories, Padierna, San Antonio, Churubusco Convent, the tête de pont, and Shields' charge-a rather fanciful effort with which to draw attention from his several blunders, notably after the actual battle.31

It is affirmed by Santa Anna that the victors might have taken the capital by following up their advantage during the pursuit or for some time after,

29 Kearny lost an arm, and Major Mills, a volunteer on this occasion, fell as he reached the gate. Scott's Mem., 496. In Apunt. Hist. Guerra, 247, an officer is allowed to penetrate on horseback through an opening in the wall; and Santa Anna, Detall, 101, relates that an officer was captured and treated with great consideration by him because of his valiant resolution to take Santa Anna's life or die. A monument was subsequently erected at Churubusco over the remains of Peñúñuri and Martinez de Castro, who had distinguished themselves at the convent, and pensions and honors were bestowed on Rincon's valiant band. See further, Bustamante, Mem. Hist. Mex., MS., vii. 216-17, viii. 35-43; Id., Invasion, MS., 143-7; McSherry, El Puchero, 81-8; Mayer's Mex. Aztec., i. 396–9; Perez, Dicc., i. 493-7, ii. 459-67; Ray. on, Asedio, 74-112, 245–64; Gonzalez, Discurso, 1-8.

30 Besides some missing. U. S. Govt Doc., as above, p. 313-14, 384. Ripley, War with Mex., ii. 282, adds a list of leading officers. Worth suffered most, his casualties being 349, although Shields' loss of 240 was relatively highest; Twiggs had about 200 hors de combat and Pillow nearly 200. Semmes' Campaign, 293, 296. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 371-4, offers no important objections, nor do other Mexican writers. Santa Anna, Detall, 101, vaguely alludes to the loss of more than one third of the army and half of the best artillery.

81 Semmes' Campaign, 293.

for no organized resistance could have been offered; all was disorder among the soldiers as well as citizens.32 The American general returned most unconcernedly to the headquarters at Tlalpam, surrendering his advantages and giving Santa Anna time to recover himself. Scott explains his extraordinary conduct by saying that he, as well as Trist, "had been admonished by the best friends of peace against precipitation: lest by wantonly driving away the gov ernment and others, dishonored, he might scatter the elements of peace, excite a spirit of national desperation, and thus indefinitely postpone the hope of accommodation." He also pleads humane considerations, which, if sincere, are creditable enough to the man, but hardly to the general, in his precarious position, to sacrifice one tenth of his small force for an object of questionable value, and then, neglecting to secure the prize, to be compelled to do his work over again.

33

32 Si el enemigo repite su ataque como yo lo esperaba, seguramente ocupa la capital sin mucha resistencia. And Scott writes that after the Mexican army was beaten at Churubusco, 'the feebler defences at the gates of the city -four miles off-could not, as was well known to both parties, delay the victors an hour.' Report 32, in U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, Sen. Ex. 1, p. 380.

33 Id., p. 314. He adds in his Mem., 498, an explanatory note that an assault on the city by day would have involved a loss dangerously great '— which is contradictory to his official report-and by night the carnage among the citizens, their women and children, would have been frightful, as well as pillage, for the soldiers could not be controlled, and time could not be lost in making prisoners. Mansfield commends this christian magnanimity. Life Scott, 433-4; but Ripley, Semines, Kendall, Battles of Mex., and others, naturally condemn him from a military standpoint. Semmes claims for his favorite, Worth, the chief glory of the victory, by carrying the tête de pont, which led to the defeat of Santa Anna and the fall of the convent; but he also says that Worth called the halt at La Candelaria, when the city might have been carried by following up the advantage. Campaign, 290–1.

CHAPTER XIX.

FALL OF THE CAPITAL.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1847.

PANIC AT MEXICO-SCOTT IS LURED INTO AN ARMISTICE-DELUSIVE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS-PATRIOTIC SENTIMENTS-SANTA ANNA MANŒUVRING TO GAIN TIME-MUTUAL RECRIMINATIONS-MOLINO DEL REY-CAPTURE AND RECAPTURE of the Battery-Some MEXICAN HEROES-A BARREN TRIUMPH-INNer Defences of the Capital-The Hill Fortress of CHAPULTEPEC-BOMBARDMENT AND STORMING OF THE CASTLE-WORTH CARRIES THE GATE OF SAN COSME-QUITMAN'S OPERATIONS AGAINST BELEN-SANTA ANNA EVACUATES THE CITY-ENTRY OF SCOTT-A PATRIOTIC UPRISING.

WITHIN the walls of Mexico all was panic and confusion. The very stillness following the battle had cast an ominous chill upon the people, which spread with the creeping shades of night and the threatening clouds-a fitting pall for the scattered slain. None knew but that the Yankees might be stealing up in the darkness, or lurking beneath the walls; and the bugle-sound of the retreating bands, now growing fainter in the distance, might fall with startling blasts before the coming dawn. There was relief, therefore, in the patter of the rain, in the calls of stalking sentries, and in the excitement of preparations for defence, with the hurrying adjutants bearing orders, the tramp of marching regiments, and the bustling noise of sapper parties. Santa Anna was the guiding spirit. With all his blunders and failures, he was still the only one to whom the people could turn, with his energy and tact, his resolution and ability for providing means and organization.

The following morning saw the enemy moving toward the south-west, Worth's division occupying Tacubaya, Pillow's Mixcoac, and Twiggs' San Angel, Quitman's still remaining at Tlalpam, where it had obtained a share in the success by checking the cavalry division. The orders to its leader were to cut the American lines, and he hastened to execute them by an imposing demonstration at a sufficient distance to avoid the disorderly effect of bullets; and under cover of this another less valuable officer was sent with a small body to taunt the garrison with a bold though momentary sweep at nearer range, which involved the expenditure of a certain amount of powder. The closer approach of the Americans reminded Santa Anna of the absolute need for a suspension of hostilities in order to recuperate; but after having by his inefficient manoeuvres added to the list of disasters, he naturally feared to expose himself still further by appearing as a supplicant. He had already induced among others the British consul-general to sound Scott concerning the proposal made at Puebla; and this official willingly accepted the task, influenced thereto by his jealousy of the Americans. He found it easy to play upon the weaknesses of a stubborn and conceited general, and convince him that by pressing bis advantage he might drive away the government, rouse national despair, and dispel the prospects for a near and glorious peace. Already predisposed in favor of some such measure, Scott sent a proposal to open negotiations.' This pleased Santa Anna; for it left his opponent in the apparent position of begging for an armistice. His spirit rose accordingly, and Minister Alcorta received instructions to signify in a tone of condescension that the president would listen to the proposal.2

1 A modification of a harsher note prepared during the preceding evening, demanding the surrender of the capital. Santa Anna, on his side, had allowed his representative to urge an armistice for burying the dead-but only in non-committal verbal form.

2Santa Anna fails not to reproduce this documentary proof of his cleverness, in Detall, 102-4.