Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/459

Rh men, under Lieutenant Hagner — joined in the fierce cannonade.

The furious storm of missiles poured from the American batteries upon the castle of Chapultepec and its defences, drove the enemy's light troops and skirmishers from the grove in the surrounding inclosure, and compelled most of the supporting force, stationed in and near the fortress, to retire out of range. At the same time the fire of the guns in the castle, which had vigorously answered the attack, was sensibly slackened. Availing themselves of the favorable moment, the American ordnance and engineer officers prepared batteries 3 and 4 for action. Number 3 was manned by Captain Brooks, of the 2nd artillery, with his company, who was relieved, in the evening, by another company of the same regiment, under Lieutenant Anderson, assisted by Lieutenant Russell, of the 4th infantry: — — during the fire, the stock of the sixteen pounder was broken, leaving only the 8-inch howitzer in the battery; but the broken piece was subsequently replaced by a twenty-four pounder gun. Number 4 was served by a detachment of ordnance men under Lieutenant Stone.

Shortly after daybreak, on the 12th, Lieutenant Colonel Hébert had taken possession of El Molino del Rey, under a severe shower of shot and shell from the Castle of Chapultepec, with a force organized for the purpose, and General Cadwalader afterwards occupied it with his brigade. General Pillow displayed the remainder of his division, including Magruder's battery, and excepting the 12th infantry, which constituted part of the garrison of Mixcoac, on the battle-ﬁeld of the 8th instant, with the cavalry command of Major Sumner on his left, both to support batteries 3 and 4, and to hold in