Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/437

Rh was said to be a cannon foundry, to be cast into guns. It was also known, that there was a large deposit of powder in Casa de Mata, — that the ammunition was much needed by the enemy, — and that, without the manufacture of new pieces, they would be unable to arm all the works at the different gates.

In the forenoon of the 7th instant, Captain Mason made a reconnaissance of El Molino del Rey, — approaching near enough to the Mexican lines to converse with the officers, — and discovered a large body of troops in the vicinity. General Scott accordingly determined to leave the general plan of attack upon the city for full reconnaissances, and, as it was impossible to cut the communication with the mill, without first carrying the fortifications on the heights of Chapultepec, for which he was not yet quite prepared, to drive the enemy from Casa de Mata and El Molino, seize the powder, and destroy the foundry. The performance of this service, to be executed under the formidable guns of Chapultepec, was assigned to the veteran division of General Worth, then quartered at Tacubaya, reinforced by the brigade of General Cadwalader, from General Pillow's division; three squadrons of the 2nd dragoons, one troop of the 1st dragoons, part of a troop of the 3rd dragoons, and a company of mounted rifles, under Major Sumner; a small party of sappers under Lieutenant Foster, of the engineers; two twenty-four pounders from the siege train, with a. detachment of ordnance men, under Captain Huger, acting chief of ordnance; and three pieces of field artillery, under Captain Drum, with his company of