Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/101

Rh a double roadway on the sides of an aqueduct of strong masonry, and great height, resting on open arches and massive pillars, which, together, afford fine points both for attack and defence. The sideways of both aqueducts are, moreover, defended by many strong breast works at the gates, and before reaching them.

Worth and Quitman were prompt in pursuing the retreating enemy—the former by the San Cosme aqueduct, and the latter along that of Belen. Each had now advanced some hundred yards. The enemy fled in dismay.

Scott now despatched from Chapultepec—first Clarke's brigade, and then Cadwallader's, to the support of Worth, and gave orders that the necessary heavy guns should follow. Pierce's brigade was, at the same time, sent to Quitman, and, in the course of the afternoon, some additional siege pieces were added to his train. Scott joined the advance of Worth, within the suburb, and beyond the turn at the junction of the aqueduct with the great highway from the west, to the gate of San Cosme.

At this junction of roads, we first passed one of those formidable systems of city defences spoken of above, and it had not a gun!

Within those disgarnished works our troops were engaged in a street fight against the enemy posted in gardens, at windows, and on house-tops—all flat, with parapets. Worth ordered forward the mountain howitzers of Cadwallader's brigade, preceded by skirmishers and pioneer with pickaxes and crowbars, to force windows and doors, and burrow through walls. The assailants were soon in an equality of position fatal to the enemy. By 8 o'clock in the evening Worth had carried two batteries in this suburb. He here posted guards and sentinels, and placed