Fifty years in camp and field

12–13 September 1847

Battle of Chapultepec

CONFERENCE FOR PEACE. THE FIELD REVIEWED

''Tacubaya, Aug. 22. The General arrived here yester- day about 5 P.M., with his staff and an escort of cavalry, and took quarters in the bishop's palace, about half or three quarters of a mile from Chapultepec — the hill which commands the city. The commandant of Chapultepec received orders from Mexico not to fire on us here, which fact was communi- cated by a flag towards evening. At this time General Worth's division marched into this place; it was raining heavily and continued to rain tiU late at night. This morning the English courier came from the city and gave us unofficial intelligence that Santa Anna had appointed commissioners to arrange terms of an armistice, and he had come out at the request of the English consul to offer a house belonging to Kitti as a convenient place for the meeting. Meantime a Mexican mail-carrier was intercepted by us, and he says that Santa Anna has not more than 4000 troops left out of the 20,000. I asked him what had become of them. He said they had 'run away!*

PAILURB OP NEGOTIATIONS. ARMISTICE AT AN END

**The capital of the Mexican republic is precisely north- east from the bishop's palace at Tacubaya, where I am writing, and about two and one-half miles distant. Chapultepec is ex- actly north of me, about 900 yards — say half a mile. It is an isolated elevation of 1 50 feet, crowned with white, neat-looking buildings which constitute a military college. It is defended by ditches and artillery, but our engineers say it can readily be taken by us, and with our mortars upon that height we should command a great part of the city of Montezuma. General Scott intends to demand the evacuation of Chapultepec as a condition precedent to an armistice.

PAILURB OP NEGOTIATIONS. ARMISTICE AT AN END

** While I write I am struck with the magnificence of the morning, as the majestic sun rises clear nearly in front of my window, through which I have Chapultepec in full illu- mination, with the city of Montezuma a little to the right. Vegetation under my window exceedingly rich; many fruits: apples, not very good ; very good peaches and fine bananas. G^een peas for dinner yesterday; com always in season. What a country to dream in!

SIGNED

1 In his official report General Scott thus enumerated the men entitled to honorable mention after the storming of Chapultepec and the capture of the city of Mexico: "I beg to enumerate once more, with due commenda- tion and thanks, the distinguished staff officers who, in our last operations in front of the enemy, accompanied me and communicated orders to every point and through every danger: Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, Acting In- spector-General,'* etc.