426 ADVANCE OF THE AMERICANS INTO THE CITY.

did coaches; horse and foot, officers and soldiers, camp followers and citizens-a motley mass-mingled together in confusion.

At one o'clock in the morning of the 14th, a deputation from the ayuntamiento, or city council, came to the advanced post of General Worth, announcing that the officers of the national government and the army had commenced retiring from the city, and that they were authorized to confer with the General-in-chief of the American forces. On their arrival at the head-quarters of General Scott, they informed him of the evacuation, and demanded terms of capitulation in favor of the church, the citizens, and the municipal authorities. They were promptly informed by General Scott that he would sign no capitulation; that the city had been virtually in his possession, from the time when a lodgement had been made on the previous day; that he regretted the escape of the Mexican troops; that he should levy a moderate contribution for special purposes; and that "the American army should come under no terms not self-imposed-such only as its own honor, the dignity of the United States, and the spirit of the age," demanded and required.*

Upon the termination of the interview with the city deputation, General Scott dispatched orders to Generals Worth and Quitman, to advance slowly and cautiously towards the heart of the city. At six o'clock, the head of General Worth's division had reached the street leading direct from the Alameda to the plaza mayor, on which the National Palace, containing the halls of Congress and the executive offices of the national government, is situated; and it would have been the firs to arrive at " that goal of general ambition,"† had it • Official Report of General Scott, September 18th, 1847. + Ibid.

66

ENTRY OF GENERAL SCOTT

427

not been halted by direction of General Scott. At dawn of day, General Quitman had taken possession of the citadel, upon the invitation of the civil authorities which was temporarily garrisoned by the South Carolina volunteers; and he soon after moved the remainder of his column, the rifle regiment leading the way, in the direction of the National Palace. Arriving at the great square, he formed his men in front of the Palacio, and at seven o'clock in the morning of the 14th of September, 1847, the American flag," the first strange banner which had ever waved over that palace since the conquest of Cortés,"*-was planted by Captain Roberts, of the rifles, and saluted by the whole command, with every demonstration of applause and satisfaction.

General Scott and his staff, in full uniform, entered the capital at eight o'clock, escorted by Major Sumner with his battalion of cavalry. General Quitman was. immediately appointed civil and military governor of the city, and General Scott issued an order, cautioning his soldiers to be upon their guard, to commit no disorders, and to avoid straggling from the head-quarters of their respective corps.† Shortly after the troops

* Official Report of General Quitman, September 29th, 1847.

"GENERAL ORDERS,{

"Head Quarters of the Army,
Mexico, Sept. 14, 1847.

"1. Under the favor of God, the valor of this army, after many glorious victories, has hoisted the colors of our country in the Capital of Mexico, and on the palace of its government.

"2. But the war is not ended. The Mexican army and government have fled, only to watch an opportunity to return upon us in vengeance. We must then be on our guard.

"3. Companies and regiments will be kept together, and all stand on the alert. Our safety is in military discipline.

"4. Let there be no drunkenness, no disorders, and no straggling. Stragglers will be in great danger of assassination, and marauders shall be punished by courts martial.

"5. All the rules so honorably observed by this glorious army, ir

428

ATTACK OF THE LEPEROS

entered the city, and while they were al out occupying the most important points, they were attacked by crowds of leperos,* and convicts liberated by the authorities of the state and nation prior to the evacuation of the capital, together with soldiers in disguise, who had not accompanied the army, or had returned after the flight.

.Escopetas were fired from half-opened doors and windows, and from the corners of the streets and alleys; and missiles of every description were thrown from the flat roofs of the houses. The Americans suffered considerably at first, from this irregular and annoying fire; Colonel Garland was badly wounded; Lieutenant Sydney Smith and several men were killed; and a number of other officers and men received severe

Puebla, must be observed here. The honor of the army, and the honor of our country, call for the best behavior on the part of all. The valiant must, to win the approbation of God and their country, be sober, orderly, and merciful. His noble brethren in arms will not be deaf to this hasty appeal from their commander and friend.

"6. Major General Quitman is appointed civil and military governor

of Mexico.

"By command of Major General Scott.

"H. L. SCOTT,

"Acting Assistant Adjutant General" The leperos of Mexico correspond, very nearly, to the lazaroni of Italian towns and cities. The number in the city of Mexico, in 1823, estimated, in Ward's Mexico, at 20,000. The object of these marauders appeared to be to plunder the wealthy citizens, as much as to harass the American troops. During the disturbance, a party of Mexican lancers penetrated a short distance into the city from the north, but were driven back. They were probably sent by Santa Anna, to learn whether any thing could be gained by a return with his forces. A principal reason for his liberating the convicts may have been, the hope that the Americans would be thrown into such confusion, that he would be able to drive them from the city. If he entertained such an expectation, he was very much deceived in regard to the materials of which the American army was composed.