Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/467

Rh brought his guns into action, and served them efficiently, until, being wounded at the gateway, he resigned his charge to Lieutenant Beauregard, of the engineers. A vigorous attack was at once made by the command, when the works were reduced.

The column under General Quitman, guided by Lieutenant Tower, had advanced to the assault, along the Tacubaya road, with equal promptitude and enthusiasm. General Smith moved in reserve with his brigade, prolonging his right beyond that flank of the assaulting column, to protect it from skirmishers, and from the enemy's forces lining the causeway leading from Chapultepec to the city. Lieutenant Hunt, who had reported to General Quitman, with a howitzer and six-pounder gun belonging to Duncan's battery, followed the main column, and having gained a position in the road, within easy range of the castle, opened his fire, throwing shell and shrapnel shot that exploded directly over the parapets on the lower part of the hill, from which the enemy's ﬁre seemed hottest, and elevating his pieces as the troops advanced. The storming parties under Major Twiggs and Captain Casey, supported by the battalion of marines, under Lieutenant Colonel Watson, dashed forward, with hearty cheers, upon the battery at the south-east angle of the height. Major Twiggs receiving a mortal wound, Captain Miller, of the 2nd Pennsylvania, took command of his party; and Captain Casey being also disabled, Captain Paul, of the 7th infantry, assumed his place. The contest at the battery was hand-to-hand, and for a short time was stoutly maintained. Parties of the rifle regiment joined the stormers, and entered the works with them. Being unable to