El Molino del Rey, capture of.
Almost within cannon-shot distance of the city of
Mexico is
Chapultepec, a hill composed of porphyritic rock, and known in the
Aztec language as “Grasshoppers' Hill.”
It rises from the ancient shore of Lake Tezcuco, and was the favorite resort of the
Aztec princes.
It was also the site of the palace and gardens of
Montezuma.
That hill was crowned with a strong castle and military college, supported by numerous outworks, which, with the steepness of the ascent to it, seemed to make it impregnable.
Only the slope towards the city was easily ascended, and that was covered with a thick forest.
At the foot of the hill was a stone building, with thick high walls, and towers at the end, known as El
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Battle of El Molino Del Rey. |
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Molino del
Rey— “The
King's Mill.”
About 400 yards from this was another massive stone building, known as
Casa de Mata.
The former was used (1847) as a cannon foundry by the Mexicans, and the latter was a depository of gunpowder.
Both were armed and strongly garrisoned.
General Scott, at
Tacubaya, ascertained that
Santa Ana, while negotiations for peace were going on, had sent church-bells out of the city to be cast into cannon, and he determined to seize both of these strong buildings and deprive the Mexicans of those sources of strength.
He proposed to first attack El Molino del
Rey, which was commanded by
General Leon.
The
Mexican forces at these defences were about 14,000 strong, their left wing resting on El Molino del
Rey, their centre forming a connecting line with
Casa de Mata and supported by a field-battery, and their right wing resting on the latter.
To the division of
General Worth was intrusted the task of assailing the works before them.
At three o'clock on the morning of Sept. 8 (1847) the assaulting columns moved to the attack,
Garland's brigade forming the right wing.
The battle began at dawn by
Huger's 24-pounder opening on El Molino del
Rey, when
Major Wright, of the 8th Infantry, fell upon the centre with 500 picked men. On the left was the 2d Brigade, commanded by
Colonel McIntosh, supported by
Duncan's battery.
The assault of
Major Wright on the centre drove back infantry and artillery, and the
Mexican field-battery was captured.
The
Mexicans soon rallied and regained their position, and a terrible struggle ensued.
El Molino del
Rey was soon assailed and carried by
Garland's brigade, and at the same time the battle around
Casa de Mata was raging fiercely.
For a moment the
Americans reeled, but soon recovered, when a large column of Mexicans was seen filing around the right of their intrenchments to fall upon the
Americans who had been driven back, when
Duncan's battery opened upon them so destructively that the
Mexican column was scattered in confusion.
Then
Sumner's dragoons charged upon them, and their rout was complete.
The slaughter had been dreadful.
Nearly one-fourth of
Worth's corps were either killed or wounded.
The
Mexicans had left 1,000 dead on the field.
Their best leaders had been slain, and 800 men had been made prisoners.
The strong buildings were blown up, and none of the defences of
Mexico outside its gates remained to them, excepting the castle of
Chapultepec (q. v.)and its supports.
