CHAPULTEPEC, a suburb, and ancient seat of the Monte zumas, situated about two mites southwest of the City of Mexico. On its rocky heights stands the summer palace of the president of the republic, in which is housed also the National Military School. At the base of this rising ground which commands the surround ing country is located a famous grove of cypresses estimated to be some thousand years old. Upon this whole critical position was fought the last actual battle of the War between Mexico and the United States (1846-1848). Major General Winfield Scott after the disaster of El Molino del Rey found that he had available about 7,000 badly shaken United States troops, far from their base and in the heart of a hostile country. Opposing him General Santa Anna, the president of the republic, controlled at least twice that number. The natural and artificial strength of the palace, its proximity to the American goal, and its meaning relative to gov ernmental power, made its possession by the contending forces of the greatest moment. After several days of reconnaissance, feints and preparations, Scott decided that this stronghold between him and the capital must be taken.
On September 12, 1847, an all-day bombardment of the build ings, surrounding forts hnd redoubts convinced him of the neces sity of an assault. During the following night both the American and Mexican batteries and positions were strengthened and Scott's plans for an attack in front and reverse were crystallized. Major General J. A. Quitman's troops were directed to advance to the rear of the palace by way of the Tacubaya road, whereas Major General G. J. Pillow's division was given the task of striking the front by way of El Molino del Rey and the cypress grove. From early dawn on September 13 until eight o'clock—about two hours and a half—the American guns hurled solid shot, grape, canister and shells at the barriers of stone and mortar. At the end of that time the infantry went forward to the assault, the main blow being delivered by regular troops upon the Mexican points of vantage in the cypress grove. Lieutenant "Stonewall" Jackson, later of Civil War fame, handled on his own initiative a section of Magruder's field battery in such a manner as to cut off the northern retreat of the Mexican fugitives. The major portion of Scott's forces went forward doggedly under severe fire. Officers on both sides became casualties to a disproportionate degree. When the United States' troops finally reached the ditch they found there no ladders with which to scale the parapets. Although Brigadier General P. F. Smith gallantly led a turning movement toward the rear of the palace, he was met by such a galling fire that his losses, including the wounded Lieutenant James Long street, were sufficient to stop him.
The suspense and curtailment of enthusiasm among Scott's troops as they crouched behind any available cover, while waiting for the implements that would enable them to go over the top of the barrier, lent serious apprehensions as to the success of the American effort. When, after some twenty minutes, the ladders arrived, the previous restiveness reacted upon the men in the form of ardour to proceed. They swarmed over the parapets with such impetus that in a very few minutes of sharp hand to hand fighting Chapultepec was in their hands. Since its capture was but a means to an end, and the exploitation of the success involved the seizure of the City of Mexico itself, it was necessary to move onward immediately. Quitman set out over the Belen causeway toward the capital. After overwhelming a field redan in his front he came upon decided opposition at the gate which was protected by a formidable citadel beyond. From its embrasures belched a withering fire. Quitman's ammunition having been exhausted and all his staff officers having been killed or wounded, his position was not fortunate.
To check Mexican reinforcements, Scott sent Brigadier Gen eral Worth's brigade, together with some smaller units, along the Veronica causeway. Finding his advance likewise blocked by heavy fire, Worth sent Colonel John Garland's force through the fields to outflank the San Cosme gate which lay about a mile north of Quitman's troops. By crawling through mud, forcing their way through houses and using such cover as was available, in small bodies they reached the rear of the position. During this pro cedure, Lieutenant U. S. Grant had a mountain howitzer dragged through the mud and mounted upon the roof of a building. About six o'clock in the evening Worth forced an entrance into the city proper, and shortly activities ceased for the night. Though the capital was not yet under American control, General Santa Anna chose to retire with his forces to Guadalupe Hidalgo. Next morn ing when Scott was ready to renew hostilities, the City of Mexico was unexpectedly surrendered.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.--Justin H. Smith, The War with Mexico, Vol. I. Bibliography.--Justin H. Smith, The War with Mexico, Vol. I. (1919) ; George B. McClellan, The Mexican War Diary (1917) ; C. M. Wilcox, History of the Mexican War (1892) ; W. A. Ganoe, The His tory of the United States Army (1924) ; Original Correspondence and Reports in Old Files Section, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D.C. (W. A. G.)