Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/17

, had moved out, on the 7th, a very large force, said by some prisoners taken on the 8th, to be 8,000 men, besides a thousand within the works of Chapultepec. This force was covered by buildings and entrenchments extending full a mile in length, its left being at the Molino del Rey, near some woods at the base of the Chapultepec hill, while its right was within a strongly built hacienda, of stone, as usual.

Early in the morning of the 8th, the attack was made by a division of our troops, and the fight was continued rather more than an hour and a half, when the enemy was driven from his entire line with the loss, besides killed, of many prisoners and of several pieces of field artillery, all he ventured to bring into the engagement.

As the enemy supposed this attack was intended to lead the way to Chapultepec, and as Chapultepec was not assailed, the opinion in the city was quite decided that we had sustained a defeat, although we had in fact most completely accomplished the only object in view. Our loss in the fight was very great, and although something like the means of casting cannon had been found and destroyed—although we had taken many prisoners (several hundreds) and several pieces of artillery—still, we believe the army would much rather have dispensed with the glories of that day, as it was accompanied with unusual sorrow and mourning for many of its noblest spirits.

The general then began his preparations for a final attack. He ordered a depot of sick and wounded, of captured artillery, &c., including prisoners, to be established at a small village called Miscoac, to the right of Tacubaya, through which he had passed in coming from Coyoacan; and in front of this village, at a place called Piedad, he posted a division to threaten the city in that direction. Immediately there was seen an immense number of laborers busily engaged night and day in fortifying the causeways, by which the city was accessible from Piedad. It was wonderful to see the activity with which they worked.

At the end of three or four days, the fortifications in that direction seemed very complete, and lined with artillery and men.

It was evident that the enemy looked upon that as the contemplated place of attack, and for this very reason, perhaps, the general made his arrangements to attack, not there on the right, but at Chapultepec on his left, but still he kept up a show of attack from the Piedad. On the morning of the 12th of September, the firing commenced from three or four batteries upon Chapultepec, but no show of force was made, and