Home of the Brave (50 page)

Those corps, excepting
Taylor’s battery, belonged to the brigade of Brigadier-General P.
F. Smith, who closely directed the whole attack in front with his
habitual coolness and ability ; while Riley’s brigade the 3d and
4th Infantry, under Captain T. Morris and Lieutenant-Colonel
Plimpton respectively vigorously engaged the right of the work and
part of its rear.

At the moment the Rifles,
belonging to Smith’s, were detached in support of Brigadier-General
Shields’s on our extreme left, and the 4th Artillery, acting as
infantry, under Major Gardner, belonging to Riley’s brigade, had
been left in charge of the camp, trophies, etc., at Contreras.
Twiggs’s division at Churubusco had thus been deprived of the
services of two of its most gallant and effective
regiments.

The immediate results of
this victory were the capture of seven field pieces, some
ammunition, one color, three generals, and one thousand two hundred
and sixty-one prisoners, including other officers.

Captains E. A. Capron and
M. I. Burke, and Lieutenant S. Hoffman, all of the 1st Artillery,
and Captain J. W. Anderson and Lieutenant Thomas Easley, both of
the 2d Infantry five officers of great merit fell gallantly before
this work.

The capture of the enemy’s
citadel was the fourth great achievement of our arms in the same
day.

It has been stated that
some two hours and a half before, Pierce’s, followed closely by the
volunteer brigade both under the command of Brigadier-General
Shields had been dispatched to our left to turn the enemy’s works ;
to prevent the escape of the garrisons and to oppose the extension
of the enemy’s numerous corps from the rear upon and around our
left.

Considering the inferior
numbers of the two brigades, the objects of the movement were
difficult to accomplish. Hence the reinforcement (the Rifles, etc.)
sent forward a little later.

In a winding march of a
mile around to the right, this temporary division found itself on
the edge of an open wet meadow, near the road from San Antonio to
the capital, and in the presence of some four thousand of the
enemy’s infantry, a little in rear of Churubusco, on that road.
Establishing the right at a strong building, Shields extended his
left parallel to the road, to outflank the enemy toward the
capital. But the enemy extending his right supported by three
thousand cavalry more rapidly (being favored by better ground), in
the same direction, Shields concentrated the division about a
hamlet and determined to attack in front. The battle was long, hot
and varied but ultimately, success crowned the zeal and gallantry
of our troops, ably directed by their distinguished commander,
Brigadier-General Shields. The 9th, 12th, and 15th Regiments, under
Colonel Eansom, Captain Wood, and Colonel Morgan respectively, of
Pierce’s brigade (Pillow’s division), and the New York and South
Carolina Volunteers, under Colonels Burnett and Butler,
respectively, of Shields’s own brigade (Quitman’s division),
together with the mountain howitzer battery, now under Lieutenant
Reno of the Ordnance Corps, all shared in the glory of this action
our fifth victory in the same day.

Brigadier-General Pierce,
from the hurt of the evening before under pain and exhaustion
fainted in the action. Several other changes in command occurred on
this field. Thus Colonel Morgan being severely wounded, the command
of the 15th Infantry devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Howard ;
Colonel Burnett receiving a like wound, the command of the New York
Volunteers fell to Lieutenant-Colonel Baxter ; and, on the fall of
the lamented Colonel P. M. Butler earlier badly wounded, but
continuing to lead nobly in the hottest part of the battle the
command of the South Carolina Volunteers devolved first, on
Lieutenant-Colonel Dickinson, who being severely wounded (as before
in the siege of VERA CRUZ), the regiment ultimately fell under the
orders of Major Gladden.

Lieutenants David Adams
and W. E. Williams of the same corps Captain Augustus Quarles and
Lieutenant J.B. Goodman of the 15th, and Lieutenant E. Chandler,
New York Volunteers all gallant officers, nobly fell in the same
action.

Shields took three hundred
and eighty prisoners, including officers and it cannot be doubted
that the rage of the conflict between him and the enemy, just in
the rear of the tete de pont and the convent, had some influence on
the surrender of those formidable defenses.

As soon as the tete de
pont was carried, the greater part of Worth’s and Pillow’s forces
passed that bridge in rapid pursuit of the flying enemy. These
distinguished generals, coming up with Brigadier-General Shields,
now also victorious, the three continued to press upon the
fugitives to within a mile and a half of the capital. Here, Colonel
Harney, with a small part of his brigade of cavalry, rapidly passed
to the front, and charged the enemy up to the nearest
gate.

The cavalry charge was
headed by Captain Kearny, of the 1st Dragoons, having in squadron
with his own troop, that of Captain McReynolds of the 3d making the
usual escort to general headquarters ; but, being early in the day
detached for general service, was now under Colonel Harney’s
orders. The gallant captain not hearing the recall, that had been
sounded, dashed up to the San Antonio gate, sabering in his way all
who resisted. Of the seven officers of the squadron, Kearny lost
his left arm McReynolds and Lieutenant Lorimer Graham were both
severely wounded, and Lieutenant K. S. Ewell, who succeeded to the
command of the escort, had two horses killed under him. Major F. D.
Mills, of the 15th infantry, a volunteer in this charge, was killed
at the gate.

So terminated the series
of events which I have but feebly presented. My thanks were freely
poured out on the different fields to the abilities and science of
generals and other officers to the zeal and prowess of all the rank
and file included. But a reward infinitely higher the applause of a
grateful country and Government will, I cannot doubt, be accorded,
in due time, to so much merit of every sort, displayed by this
glorious army, which has now overcome all difficulties distance,
climate, ground, fortifications, numbers.

It has in a single day, in
many battles, as often defeated thirty-two thousand, men made about
three thousand prisoners, including eight generals (two of them
ex-presidents) and two hundred and five other officers killed or
wounded four thousand of all ranks besides entire corps dispersed
and dissolved; captured thirty-seven pieces of ordnance more than
trebling our siege train and field batteries with a large number of
small arms, a full supply of ammunition of every kind, etc.,
etc.

These great results have
overwhelmed the enemy. Our loss amounts to one thousand and
fifty-three killed, one hundred and thirty-nine, including sixteen
officers wounded, eight hundred and seventy-six, with sixty
officers. The greater number of the dead and disabled were of the
highest worth. Those under treatment, thanks to our very able
medical officers, are generally doing well.

I regret having been
obliged, on the 20th, to leave Major-General Quitman, an able
commander, with a part of his division the fine 2d Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and the veteran detachment of United States Marines at
our important depot, San Augustine. It was there that I had placed
our sick and wounded; the siege , supply, and baggage trains. If
these had been lost, the army would have been driven almost to
despair ; and considering the enemy’s very great excess of numbers,
and the many approaches to the depot, it might well have become,
emphatically, the post of honor.

After so many victories,
we might, with but little additional loss, have occupied the
capital the same evening. But Mr. Trist, commissioner, etc., as
well as myself, had been admonished by the best friends of peace
intelligent neutrals and some American residents against
precipitation lest, by wantonly driving away the government and
others dishonored we might scatter the elements of peace, excite a
spirit of national desperation, and thus indefinitely postpone the
hope of accommodation.

Deeply impressed with this
danger, and remembering our mission to conquer a peace the army
very cheerfully sacrificed to patriotism to the great wish and want
of our country the éclat that would have followed an entrance sword
in hand into a great

There were other reasons
such as are alluded to in my report of the capture of VERA CRUZ. If
we had proceeded to assault the city by day light our loss would
have been dangerously great, and if a little later in the night,
the slain, on the other side, including men, women, and children,
would have been frightful, because if the assailants stopped to
make prisoners before occupying all the strongholds, they would
soon become prisoners themselves. Other atrocities, by the victors,
are, in such cases, inevitable. Pillage always follows, and seems
authorized by the usage of war. Hence I promised (September 13), at
the gates of Mexico, a contribution in lieu of pillage, in order to
avoid the horrors in question, and the consequent loss of
discipline and decency capital. Willing to leave something to this
republic of no immediate value to us on which to rest her pride,
and to recover temper I halted our victorious corps at the gates of
the city (at least for a time), and have them now cantoned in the
neighboring villages, where they are well sheltered and supplied
with all necessaries.

On the morning of the
21st, being about to take up battering or assaulting positions, to
authorize me to summon the city to surrender, or to sign an
armistice with a pledge to enter at once into negotiations for
peace a mission came out to propose a truce. Rejecting its terms, I
dispatched my contemplated note to President Santa Anna omitting
the summons. The 22d, commissioners were appointed by the
commanders of the two armies the armistice was signed the 23d, and
ratifications exchanged the 24th.

All matters in dispute
between the two governments have been thus happily turned over to
their plenipotentiaries, who have now had several conferences, and
with, I think, some hope of signing a treaty of peace.

There will be transmitted
to the Adjutant-General reports from divisions, brigades, etc., on
the foregoing operations, to which I must refer, with my hearty
concurrence in the just applause bestowed on corps and individuals
by their respective commanders. I have been able this report being
necessarily a summary to bring out, comparatively, but little of
individual merit not lying directly in the way of the narrative.
Thus I doubt whether I have, in express terms, given my approbation
and applause to the commanders of divisions and independent
brigades but left their fame upon higher grounds the simple record
of their great deeds and the brilliant results. To the staff, both
general and personal, attached to general headquarters, I was again
under high obligations for services in the field, as always in the
bureau. I add their names, etc. : Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock,
Acting Inspector-General ; Major J. L. Smith, Captain B. E. Lee (as
distinguished for felicitous execution as I, of course, expunge
none of the praises therein bestowed on certain division and
brigade commanders, but as a caution to future generals-in-chief I
must say I soon had abundant reason to know, that I had in haste
too confidently relied upon the partial statements of several of
those commanders respecting their individual skill and prowess, and
the merits of a few of their favorites subordinates. I except from
this remark, Generals Quitman, Shields, P. F. Smith, N. S. Clarke,
Riley, and Cadwallader. for science and daring), Captain Mason,
Lieutenants Stevens, Beauregard, Tower, G. W. Smith, George B.
McClellan, and Foster all of the Engineers; Major Turnbull, Captain
J. McClellan, and Lieutenant Hardcastle, Topographical Engineers;
Captain Huger and Lieutenant Hagner, of the Ordnance ; Captains
Irwin and Wayne, of the Quartermaster’s Department ; Captain
Grayson, of the Commissariat; Surgeon-General Lawson, in his
particular department ; Captain H. L. Scott, Acting
Adjutant-General ; Lieutenant T. Williams, Aide-de-Camp, and
Lieutenant Lay, Military Secretary.

Lieutenant Schuyler
Hamilton, another aide-de camp, had a week before been thrown out
of activity by a severe wound received in a successful charge
of

This gallant, intelligent
officer being sent with a detachment of cavalry from Chalco to an
iron foundry, some fifteen miles off, beyond Mira Flores, to make
contingent arrangements for shots and shells we having brought up
but few of either, from the want of road power returning, fell into
an ambuscade, and though he cut his way through, was, while slaying
one man to his front, pierced through the body with a lance, by
another, and thus thrown hors de combat for the remainder of the
campaign. In 1861, he, as a private, was in one of the first
regiments of volunteers that hastened to the defense of WASHINGTON
again became one of my aides-de-camp, and, in succession, a
distinguished brigadier and major-general of volunteers in the
Southwest. cavalry against cavalry, and four times his numbers; but
on the 20th, I had the valuable services, as volunteer aids, of
Majors Kirby and Van Buren, of the Pay Department, always eager for
activity and distinction, and of a third, the gallant Major J. P.
Gaines, of the Kentucky Volunteers.

I have the honor to be,
etc., etc.,

WINFIELD SCOTT.