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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31113-8.txt b/31113-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96b1ace --- /dev/null +++ b/31113-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3286 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Company 'A', corps of engineers, U.S.A., +1846-'48, in the Mexican war, by Gustavus Woodson Smith + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Company 'A', corps of engineers, U.S.A., 1846-'48, in the Mexican war + +Author: Gustavus Woodson Smith + +Release Date: January 28, 2010 [EBook #31113] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMPANY A CORP OF ENGIN., 1846-48 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + COMPANY "A," + + CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A., + + 1846-'48, + + IN THE + + MEXICAN WAR. + + + + + BY + + GUSTAVUS W. SMITH, + + FORMERLY LIEUTENANT OF ENGINEERS, AND BVT. CAPTAIN, + + U. S. ARMY. + + + + + THE BATTALION PRESS, + 1896. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Executive Document, No. 1, United States Senate, December 7, 1847, +contains a Communication from the Secretary of War, transmitting to +Congress the official reports of commanding generals and their +subordinates in the Mexican War. + +The Secretary says: "The company of engineer soldiers, authorized by the +act of May 15, 1846, has been more than a year on active duty in Mexico, +and has rendered efficient service. I again submit, with approval, the +proposition of the Chief Engineer for an increase of this description of +force." (Senate-Ex. Doc. No. 1, 1847, p. 67.) + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + Page + + PREFACE. 3 + + CHAP. I.--Enlistment--Instruction--Detention on + the Rio Grande--March to Victoria and + Tampico--Landing at Vera Cruz--Death + of Captain Swift. 7 + + CHAP. II.--Engaged in Operations against Vera Cruz. 21 + + CHAP. III.--After the Surrender of Vera Cruz to the + Occupation of Puebla. 28 + + CHAP. IV.--From Puebla to Churubusco. 34 + + CHAP. V.--Capture of the City of Mexico. 48 + + CHAP. VI.--In the City of Mexico; Return to West Point. 57 + + APPENDIX A.--Brief Extracts, from Wilcox's History of the + Mexican War, 1892. 66 + + APPENDIX B.--Promotions of Enlisted Men of the Company. 69 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ENLISTMENT--INSTRUCTION--DETENTION ON THE RIO GRANDE--MARCH TO VICTORIA +AND TAMPICO--LANDING AT VERA CRUZ--DEATH OF CAPTAIN SWIFT. + + +Previous to the war with Mexico there existed among the people of the +United States a strong prejudice against maintaining even a small +regular army in time of peace. Active opposition to a permanent, regular +military establishment extended to the West Point Academy, in which +cadets were trained and qualified to become commissioned officers of the +army. That Academy was then a component part of the Military Engineer +Corps. For years the chief of the Corps had, in vain, urged upon +Congress, the necessity for having, at least one company of enlisted +engineer soldiers as a part of the regular army. + +In the meantime he had, however, succeeded in persuading the Government +at Washington to send--by permission of the Government of France--a +selected Captain of the U. S. Engineer Corps to the French School of +engineer officers at Metz; for the purpose of having in the U. S. Army, +an officer qualified to instruct and command a company of engineer +soldiers in case Congress could be induced to authorize the enlistment +of such a company. + +Captain Alexander J. Swift was the officer selected to be sent to Metz. +On his return to the United States, he was assigned to temporary duty at +West Point awaiting the long delayed passage of an act authorizing the +enlistment of a company of U. S. Engineer soldiers. + +That act was passed soon after the commencement of hostilities with +Mexico. It provided for the enlistment of an engineer company of 100 +men, in the regular army. The company to be composed of 10 sergeants, 10 +corporals, 39 artificers, 39 second class privates, and 2 musicians; all +with higher pay than that of enlisted men in the line of the army. + +Captain Swift was assigned to the command; and, at his request, I was +ordered to report to him as next officer in rank to himself. At my +suggestion, Brevet Second Lieutenant George B. McClellan, who had just +been graduated from the Military Academy, was assigned as junior officer +of the company. + +At that time I had been an officer of engineers for four years; my rank +was that of second lieutenant. All the first lieutenants, and some of +the second lieutenants, of that corps, were then in sole charge of the +construction of separate fortifications, or were engaged in other +important duties. Captain Swift was not disposed to apply for the +assignment of any of those officers to be subalterns under him in a +company of soldiers. + +I had taught McClellan during his last year in the Academy, and felt +assured that he would be in full harmony with me in the duties we would +be called upon to perform under Captain Swift. It is safe to say that no +three officers of a company of soldiers ever worked together with less +friction. The understanding between them was complete. There were no +jars--no doubts or cross purposes--and no conflict of opinion or of +action. + +In the beginning I was charged with the instruction of the company as an +infantry command, whilst the Captain took control of the recruiting, the +collection of engineer implements--including an India Rubber Ponton +Bridge--and he privately instructed McClellan and myself, at his own +house, in the rudiments of practical military engineering which he had +acquired at Metz. In the meantime we taught him, at the same place, the +manual of arms and Infantry tactics which had been introduced into the +army after he was graduated at the Military Academy. In practical +engineer drills the Captain was always in control. + +After the men were passably well drilled in the "Infantry School of the +Company"; the time had come for him to take executive command on the +infantry drill ground. He did this on the first occasion, like a veteran +Captain of Infantry until "at rest" was ordered. + +Whilst the men were "at rest", McClellan and myself quietly, but +earnestly, congratulated him upon his successful _début_ as drill +officer of an Infantry Company. He kindly attributed to our instruction +in his house, whatever proficiency he had acquired in the new tactics +which had then been recently introduced. + +But, after the company was again called to "Attention" and the drill was +progressing, whilst marching with full company front across the plain, +the men all well in line, to my surprise the Captain ordered "faster", +and added "the step is much too slow". Of course we went "faster". In a +short time the Captain ordered "faster still, the step is very much too +slow". This order was several times repeated, and before the drill ended +we were virtually "at a run". + +After the drill was over and the Company dismissed from the parade +ground, I asked the Captain why he had not given the commands "quick +time" and "double quick", instead of saying "faster" and "still faster". +He said he did not intend the step should be "quick time"--much less +"double quick". He only wanted the rate to be in "common time--90 steps +a minute"; and added: "you had not reached that rate when the drill +ended". + +I insisted that he must be mistaken, and told him we were marching in +"common time" or very near it, when he first gave the order, "faster". +He persisted that he was right in regard to the rate of the step--said +"that he had carefully counted it, watch in hand"; and added: "You were, +at the last, not making more than 85 steps to the minute". I was +satisfied that he was mistaken; but he relied implicitly upon the +correctness of his count and the accuracy of his watch. + +McClellan and I proceeded to the company quarters, of which I still had +charge. On the way we referred to the matter of the step, and both of us +were at a loss to account for the misapprehension we were sure the +Captain labored under in regard to it. + +I asked McClellan to take out his watch and count whilst I marched in +"common time". I made 90 steps per minute--and repeated it more than +once. It presently dawned upon us that our Captain, whilst consulting +his watch, had counted only one foot in getting at the number of steps: +and that we were really making 170 steps to the minute when he counted +85. The mystery was solved, the Captain had counted "the left foot" +only. + +When we next went to his house for instruction in details of the school +of the engineer soldier, I asked him how many steps we were making a +minute when he first ordered "faster". He said "about 45". I replied: +"That's it. We have found out what was the matter. You counted only the +left foot. We were marching in 'common time' when you ordered us to move +'faster'; and you pushed us to nearly twice that rate". + +"The cat was out of the bag." The Captain saw it at once and laughed +heartily over the error he had fallen into in the latter part of his +"first appearance" as captain, in drilling the company as infantry. He +made no such mistake thereafter; and the men never knew of his "count", +watch in hand. + +On the 26th of September, 1846, we sailed from New York, 71 rank and +file, for Brazos Santiago, under orders to report to General Taylor, +commanding the U. S. army in Mexico. We landed at Brazos on the 12th of +October, remained at that point for several days, proceeded thence to +the mouth of the Rio Grande and arrived at Carmargo on the 2nd of +November. There the company was delayed for several weeks because +transportation for the engineer train to the headquarters of the Army at +Monterey, was not then available. + +The Company left Carmargo for Brazos, on the 29th of November, under +orders to proceed to Tampico by sea, but was ordered to return to +Matamoros with a portion of its tools, and march, via Victoria, to +Tampico--the bulk of its train to be transported to the latter place by +water. + +Whilst detained at Carmargo instruction in the school of the engineer +soldier was kept up, and infantry drills were constantly practiced. +During that time several thousand troops were in camp near Carmargo, and +the men of the engineer company learned that they were, by the line of +the army, styled: "the pick and shovel brigade". Their officers advised +them not to care for this epithet but, "take it easy, continue to +endeavor to become _model_ infantry, and engraft on that a fair +knowledge of the duties of the engineer soldier". They were assured that +"for heavy work", details would have to be made from the line of the +army; and these details would, for the time, constitute the real "pick +and shovel brigade" under the control of engineer officers, assisted by +trained engineer soldiers. When the time came for close fighting the +engineer company would be at the front. + +The troops stationed on the Rio Grande during the fall of 1846, suffered +greatly from Mexican diarrhoea, fevers and other diseases. Several men +of the engineer company died, and Captain Swift and twenty of the men +were left in hospital at Matamoros, when the company finally left the +latter place. + +Before giving an account of our first march in the enemy's country, it +may be well to state here, that with two exceptions, the enlisted men of +the engineer company were native born, and all but four of them were raw +recruits. Each of those four had served, with credit, during one or more +terms of enlistment in the regular army. Three of them were promptly +made sergeants, and the fourth was a musician (bugler). + +All of the recruits but one, were very carefully selected material, out +of which to form, as soon as practicable, skilled engineer soldiers. The +one exception was a short, fat, dumpy, Long Island Dutchman--a good +cook, specially enlisted by Captain Swift to cook for the men. He was +given the pay and rank of artificer of engineers. The men looked upon +him more as a servant of theirs than as a fellow soldier. He was well +satisfied with his position, prided himself on his special duties, +rather looked down upon "soldiers"--and was impudent by nature. + +All went well enough with the "cook" until he was required to take his +place in the ranks, at regular bi-monthly "muster, and inspection" for +pay. His performance on that occasion was so grotesquely awkward that I +directed he should be put through the "squad-drill" by one of the +sergeants, who was a thoroughly competent, but rather severe, +drill-master. + +The "cook" felt that his rights were invaded, in requiring him to submit +to be drilled. The sergeant made no progress in teaching him. After +three days' trial, he reported to me that he was mortified, and ashamed, +to have to admit he could do nothing with "that cook"; and he asked to +be relieved from the duty of drilling him. In reply to my question: +"Can't you make him obey you?" He replied: "No--the only thing I can do +is to kill him"; and added: "When that kind of thing has to be done, in +this company, my understanding is, the lieutenant in command is the only +one who has the right to kill". + +I relieved the sergeant, and told him I would take the "cook" in hand at +the next drill. On the following day, I marched him off into the dense +chaparral, on the bottom lands near Matamoros. After following obscure +paths, about three miles in their windings through the jungle, I halted +him in a small open space a few hundred yards from the company camp. He +thought no doubt, we were five miles from camp--in a boundless +wilderness--whilst, in fact, we were at no time five hundred yards away. + +I told him of the report that had been made to me of his disobedience, +informed him that I had brought him into the chaparral for the purpose +of compelling him to obey me; called his attention to the fact that we +were in the enemy's country in time of war; all of our lives were in +peril, and that persistent disobedience on the part of any officer or +soldier to the legal authority of those over him, was punishable with +death; that I did not propose to place him before a Court Martial; but, +would kill him, if he did not implicitly obey an order I proposed then +and there to give him. + +I measured 15 paces in front of him and placed a small white chip on the +ground, called him to "attention", ordered him to place his eyes on that +chip, and told him if he removed them from it before I gave the command +"rest", I would run him through with my rapier. + +I then drilled him at the manual of arms for about 20 minutes. Large +beads of perspiration rolled down his face--he began to totter on his +feet--and I gave the command "rest". He had not taken his eyes from the +chip. + +At the command "rest", he drew a long sigh of relief and uttered a +subdued but prolonged "O-h". I asked him if he now thought he could obey +the sergeant. He replied: "Yes, I will obey anybody". + +I told him I would temporarily withdraw what I had said about killing +him, and would put him on his good behavior. I drilled him about two +hours longer; and then took him, by a circuitous route, through the +jungle, back to camp. He was obedient enough thereafter. + +When the war had ended and I was relieved from duty with the company, +one of the men told me that "the cook", on his return from the drill I +had given him said: "The Lieutenant took me way off, ever so far, in the +chaparral, and told me he took me there to kill me if I didn't mind him. +The little devil meant it, and would have done it too, if I had fooled +with him like I had done with the sergeant." + +Except this _case_, of "the cook", there had been no difficulty in +bringing the men of the company to a high standard of drill and +discipline as an infantry company, and a reasonable degree of +proficiency in the school of the engineer soldier. But, on their first +march into the enemy's country, they were called upon to do an immense +amount of hard work not specially referred to in their preliminary +instruction. + + +THE MARCH FROM MATAMOROS TO VICTORIA AND TAMPICO. + +By special orders from General Taylor, brought by Major George A. McCall +to Captain Swift, the latter was charged with the duty of repairing the +road from Matamoros to Victoria, and making it practicable for artillery +and the baggage train; and to do this, if possible, so that the whole +command might make its prescribed daily marches and arrive at Victoria +on a named day. Captain Swift was authorized to call upon the commander +of the forces, on this march, for such assistance as might be needed to +perform the work; and was directed to do no more to the road than was +barely sufficient to enable the trains to pass over it. It was not +expected that we would ever have occasion to pass through that region +again; and it was not proposed to make a permanent road for the benefit +of Mexicans. + +Captain Swift being sick in hospital, the foregoing instructions were +given to me, as Commander of the company, by Major McCall, who, in the +capacity of Adjutant-General of the forces under General Patterson, +accompanied him on this march. + +Under orders from General Taylor, the company of engineers, reduced to +two officers and forty-five enlisted men for service, marched from +Matamoros on the 21st of December, 1846, with a column of volunteers +under General Patterson, to join General Taylor's army at Victoria. We +arrived at the latter place on the 4th of January, 1847. A great deal of +work had been done by details of volunteers and the engineer company in +making the road practicable for artillery and baggage wagons. Without +dwelling upon daily operations, the following statement of the manner in +which we made our way across a difficult stream may be of interest. + +About noon one day I was informed by Major McCall, who had ridden ahead +of the working party, that there was an exceedingly difficult +"river-crossing" about one mile in front, and that he feared we would be +detained there for, perhaps, two days. I galloped forward to the place +designated. It looked ugly. The banks of the stream were something more +than 100 feet high and quite steep. Guiding my horse down to the water's +edge, I crossed the river which was from two to three feet deep, and +about one hundred yards wide. The bottom was fair enough, until within a +few yards of the opposite shore, where it was soft mud. Getting through +this with some difficulty I rode to the top of the bank on the far side. + +To make an ordinary practicable road across that stream would require +two or three day's work of several hundred men. It seemed a clear case +for the free use of drag-ropes to let the wagons down into the stream on +the near side, and haul them up the opposite bank. + +It was plain to me that with a working party of two hundred men--which +was the greatest number we could supply with tools--a straight steep +ramp could be cut on both banks in six or eight hours hard work. The +greatest difficulty would be encountered in getting out of the stream on +the far side. + +Returning quickly to where I had left Major McCall, I asked him to give +me a working party of about 800 men, told him I would find use for that +number and that in my opinion, with that force, the wagon train could be +put across the stream before dark. The commanding General thought my +requisition for the working detail was extravagant, as we scarcely had +tools enough for a quarter of that number of men. But the detail was +ordered, as called for, to report to me. In the meantime the engineer +company and its train was taken to the crossing, and the character of +the work to be done there was explained to the men. + +Leaving Lieutenant McClellan with a portion of the company to take +charge of the near bank, directing him to halt there about 300 of the +working party and send about 500 to me on the opposite bank, I crossed +the stream with the rest of the company and explained to them the work +to be done on that side, particularly the means to be used in getting +out of the river. On each side of the stream the working party was +divided into three "reliefs", or relays--with one hundred men or more +held in reserve, to meet contingencies. + +The working party arrived in good season, tools were promptly +distributed to the first "relief" on each side of the river, and the men +were told that, if they would work as at a "corn-shucking-match", or as +if the "house was on fire", they would be let off in an hour, or less, +depending on the rapidity and effectiveness of their work. It was to be +a race against time. I wanted all the work there was in them, and wanted +it inside of an hour. + +Before the hour was up the "first relief" on each side of the river, was +ordered to stop work, drop their tools, get out of the road and take to +the bushes. The "second relief" was immediately marched into the vacated +places, seized the tools, and worked like the first--and on the same +conditions. So with the "third relief"; and, inside of three hours from +the time the work began, the engineer wagons were crossing the river. +They soon moved on, leaving the rest of the forces to follow at their +leisure. + +The volunteer officers afterwards complained to me that the "wild work" +on the banks of that river, had "scattered" their men so badly, it was +several days before they could be again got into their proper places. + +This case was an exception--a frolic. The usual daily work on the road +was more regular and continuous, without disorder. + +It may perhaps not be out of place here to mention, that about the time +I sent the "first relief" into the bushes, and set the "second relief" +to work under the directions of men of the engineer company, the +commander of the forces, with his staff, arrived on the bank where +McClellan was in charge, and asked for me. He was told that I was on the +opposite bank. Just at that time the confusion and wild yells of the +"first relief" and the loud cheers of the "second relief" when told that +they, too, would be let off inside of an hour, provided they would work +as if engaged in a "corn-shucking-match", astounded the general, and had +to him the appearance of disorder, perhaps mutiny. + +On asking Lieutenant McClellan what it meant, the latter replied: "It is +all right; Lieutenant Smith has the larger portion of the engineer +company with him on that bank; and I can see him, and men of the company +near him in the road, all of whom seem to be quietly giving instructions +to the new working party". + +After starting the "second relief" to digging in the road, I had gone to +the brow of the bank overlooking the work which was being done, mostly +by my own men in the river, where the road was to leave it. The engineer +sergeant in charge of that work informed me that he was then in +immediate need of about twenty additional men. The reserve working force +was not far from me. I called out for a sergeant and twenty men, without +arms or accoutrements, to come to me. Pointing to the river, just under +the place at which I was standing, I directed the sergeant of this +reserve party to take his men down at once and report to the engineer +sergeant in charge there. The bank was precipitous. The sergeant of the +reserve working party said that he would take his men back about one +hundred yards, and go down by the road on which the "second relief" was +working. I demurred, and told him again, to take his men straight to +where they were needed. He still hesitated. I pushed him over the brow of +the bank, and he went headlong into the river. I then ordered his men to +follow him. They did it with a cheer and regular "Comanche-whoop"--sliding +down the slope, which was too steep to stand on. + +This scene, too, was witnessed from across the river by the General of +the forces and his staff. I did not know they were there; but if I had, +it would have made no difference; I was in charge of the working party, +and in haste to finish that _special job_. + +On our arrival at Victoria, the company was relieved from duty under +General Patterson, and I was directed to report to the headquarters of +General Taylor. On the 12th of January the company was ordered to report +to General Twiggs. With two companies of the line to furnish additional +details for labor when required I was charged with the duty of making +the road between Victoria and Tampico practicable for wagons. These +three companies left Victoria on the 13th. + +The following extracts from my official report of the operations of the +Engineer Company for the month of January, 1847, illustrate, in part, +the difficulties met with. + +"The first day, (out from Victoria,) we had three bad boggy brooks to +cross; besides a great deal of cutting to do with axes in order to open +the road; and many bad ravines and gullies to render passable. To make a +bridge, across a boggy stream, with no other material than the short, +knotty, hard and crooked chaparral bush, was no easy matter. The first +day's march was about ten miles--we encamped about sunset after a very +hard day's work." + +In order to shorten the route and save the forces one day's march, we +were, for several days, working on a mule path "cut-off" from the main +road. + +"January 14th. The mule path was infamous. No wagon had ever traveled +that road--the rancheros have a tradition of a bull cart that, it is +said, once passed that way. I believe, however, that the story is not +credited. We worked from dawn of day until dark and encamped about six +miles from where we started in the morning and about the same distance +from the camp we wished to reach that day." + +"January 15th. Another day's tremendous hard work." + +"January 16th. We had again a very severe day's work." + +"January 17th. Road improved very decidedly, but still a good deal to +do. We managed, by getting a little ahead with our repairs after the +army encamped for the night, to get along without seriously delaying the +column." + +We arrived at Tampico on the 23rd. The distance from Victoria to Tampico +is 120 miles; whole distance from Matamoros to Tampico, by way of +Victoria, is 354 miles. + +Although the service was arduous, the men came through it in good +health, and were all the better soldiers for the practical schooling +acquired in that 350 miles of road making. After this experience, +ordinary marches and drills were to them, very light matters. + + +TAMPICO TO VERA CRUZ. + +From Tampico we sailed for Lobos Island and Vera Cruz, on a small +schooner, the Captain of which was a brave little Frenchman, who was not +acquainted with the Mexican Gulf coast, and was not provided with +accurate instruments for taking observations. Late one afternoon the +clouds rolled away, and we distinctly saw the snow-clad peak of Orizaba. +This was the first intimation to us that we were "somewhere", near Vera +Cruz. In a very short time we saw opposite to us a large fleet of +vessels at anchor. + +We were south of Vera Cruz and were passing Anton Lizardo, the place to +which we were bound. But a reef was between us and the anchorage where +the fleet was quietly lying. The Captain of the schooner said he could +cross the reef. Taking his place in the rigging from where he could +better observe the breakers and the currents, the schooner tacked here +and there, rapidly and repeatedly, under the orders of the little +Frenchman; and we were soon clear of the reef and breakers. It was now +nearly dark. In a few moments after reaching the anchorage ground, we +glided up a gentle slope, without perceptible shock; and the bow of the +vessel was almost entirely out of water. + +In less than twenty minutes thereafter a boat from one of our men-of-war +pulled alongside; and when the officer in charge learned who we were, he +said he would report at once to the naval commander; and had no doubt +that the company with its effects would have to be landed on an adjacent +island, while the schooner was being lightened and hauled off into deep +water. + +He said the movements of the little schooner, through the heavy surf, +across the dangerous reef, had been watched from the naval vessels with +intense anxiety, and expectation that we would be wrecked and all hands +lost. This feeling was changed to admiration when it was seen that the +schooner was being very skillfully handled in the difficult channel; and +all rejoiced when they saw the unknown little craft safely in smooth +water; but were surprised, immediately after, to see her put on a course +that would inevitably run her aground. + +We found that Captain Swift with the convalescents from Matamoros on +another vessel, had arrived before us. In the meantime Lieutenant J. G. +Foster, of the Engineer Corps, had been assigned to duty with the +Company. He was with Captain Swift. I at once reported to the latter, +and he resumed command of the Company; but the men remained on separate +vessels. + +Captain Swift was still very sick; to all appearance more feeble than +when we left him at Matamoros. All the men he brought with him were +convalescent. In a few days after our arrival at Anton Lizardo, an order +was issued by General Scott for the transports to move up next morning, +towards Vera Cruz, with a view to landing the army on the main shore, +opposite the Island of Sacrificios, two or three miles south of the +city. On the morning of the day we were to make the landing the whole +company was transferred to another vessel; and all were again together. + +Early in the previous night, McClellan, who had just been aboard the +vessel on which Captain Swift arrived, informed me that the latter +proposed to lead the company ashore. Worth's division was to land first, +and the engineer company was temporarily assigned to that division. +McClellan added: "The Captain is now too feeble to walk across the cabin +of his vessel without assistance--the effort to lead the company in this +landing will be fatal to him, and I told him I thought he ought not to +attempt it. But, he looks upon me as a boy,[1] and I have no influence +with him in this matter. You ought to advise him against this thing. If +he attempts it, it will certainly kill him." + +I fully agreed with McClellan in reference to the physical condition of +the Captain; and the probable, if not certain, result of an attempt on +his part to lead the company in the landing. But for me to advise him +not to go ashore with us, was to request him to give me the command of +his company in this important enterprise. I told McClellan that I felt a +delicacy about the matter which made me hesitate to advise the Captain +to give me the command of the company. He replied: "Yes, but this case +is beyond mere delicacy. The act of leading the company ashore will kill +him; and I think you can persuade him not to undertake it. You ought to +try. I am sure he will not misconstrue your motive." + +Urged thus, I pulled over to the Captain's vessel, after dark found him +alone in the cabin, and quickly told him why I came. He listened +patiently to all I had to say; thanked me cordially for the interest I +took in his physical welfare; said he fully appreciated the kindness +shown; understood the motive which actuated the advice given; and added: +"My mind is made up; I will lead the company in this landing; and would +do so even if I knew that the bare attempt would certainly cost me my +life." + +The next afternoon, the Captain, standing by the gangway, directed the +embarkation of about 20 men in the smaller of the two surf boats in +which the company was to land. Just as that boat was ready to pull away +to make room for the larger boat, I said to him: "I suppose I am to go +with this detachment of the Company; and if so I must get aboard now". +He replied "No. I wish you to go in the larger boat with me". To which I +said: "All right", and added: "McClellan goes with the detachment?" The +Captain said, "Yes." + +When the larger boat for the rest of the Company came along side I +relieved the Captain at the gangway and superintended the embarkation of +the men in that boat. The Captain was lowered over the side of the +vessel in a chair; and I, when all else was ready to pull off, scrambled +down into the closely packed boat, and took my place in the bow. + +Each boat was rowed by sailors from the fleet under the direction of a +naval officer. + +We had reason for anxiety in regard to the resistance we might meet with +from Mexican batteries that could easily have been sheltered behind the +sand hills immediately overlooking the open beach on which the landing +was to be made. A single cannon-shot striking one of the closely packed +surf-boats would probably have sent it, and all on board, to the bottom. +The anxiety of the soldiers was to get ashore before such a fate should +befall them. They cared very little for anything that might happen after +they were on land; but wished to escape the danger of having the boats +sunk under them by Mexican batteries. + +When we were within five or six hundred yards of the beach all were +startled by the whistling of shells and cannon balls close about our +heads. This fire was soon understood to come from our Naval gunboats, +and aimed at small parties of Mexican lookouts on shore. No resistance +was made to the landing of Worth's division. + +When we were within two or three hundred yards of the beach, I made my +way, over the heads of the men to the stern of the boat where the +Captain was seated; and said to him I thought the time had come for him +to get to the bow, if he still intended to lead the company in going +ashore. + +For a moment the most painful expression I ever saw depicted on a human +countenance marked his face. He rallied, however, almost immediately, +and said: "I must, at the last moment, relinquish my command"; and added +"I turn the command over to you until the company is formed in line on +the beach". + +I made my way quickly back to the bow; ordered the right file of the +company, two stalwart corporals--thorough soldiers, to go to the stern +of the boat, take their places near the Captain, keep their eyes on me +after they reached him, spring into the water when they saw me jump from +the bow, seize the Captain, place him on their shoulders or heads, and +bring him to me in the line on shore without a wet thread on him. + +I informed the corporals that I had been placed in full command by +Captain Swift; warned them he would probably resist their bringing him +ashore; but no matter what he said or did, they must obey my orders. +They did it. The corporals were athletes--over six feet in height, young +and active. In the Captain's then physical condition he was as helpless +as an infant in their hands. + +The water where they went overboard was nearly up to their necks; but +when they brought the Captain to me he was as dry as whilst sitting in +the boat. He had resisted them more violently than I anticipated. In +vain they explained to him that they were instructed by me to take him +ashore without his touching the water. He ordered them to put him down, +used all his force to compel them to do so, repeated his orders in no +measured terms, and continued to denounce the corporals after they had +placed him on his feet by my side. + +He was wild with rage. I at once relinquished to him the command of the +company, and said: "Captain, the corporals are not in fault. They simply +obeyed my order whilst I was, by your authority, in command of the +company. Blame me, if you will, but exonerate them." + +He apologised to the corporals for kicking, striking, and otherwise +abusing them, and thanked them for the service they had rendered him. +The termination of this incident made an indelible impression on the men +in favor of their Captain. + +That night the company slept among the sand hills a few hundred yards +from the shore, undisturbed, except by a flurry of firing which occurred +about 10 P. M., between a Mexican detachment and the Light battalion of +Worth's division. This firing continued for a few minutes, and then all +was quiet for the rest of the night. + +About sunrise next morning, the company moved several hundred yards, +into its position on the sand hills, on the right of Worth's division in +the line of investment, facing Vera Cruz which was about two miles +distant. + +The Captain showed wonderful increase of vitality after he reached the +shore. He conducted the company to its assigned place in the line of +investment without much apparent difficulty in walking through the sand. + +But three hours exposure to the hot sun was more than he could bear; his +strength was gone. He lost consciousness and was, by my order, carried +to the beach on an improvised litter. The sergeant of the party was +instructed to report to the naval officer in charge of the surf boats, +and in my name, request that Captain Swift be taken as soon as +practicable, to the steamer which was the headquarters of General Scott. +That request was promptly complied with; but the Captain's vitality was +exhausted. He was sent to the United States on the first steamer that +left Vera Cruz after the landing was effected, and died in New Orleans +within twenty-four hours after his arrival at that place. + +Thus, the army and the country lost the services of one of the best +officers of the U. S. Corps of Military Engineers; and the engineer +company lost their trained Captain. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] At that time, McClellan was about 20 years of age. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST VERA CRUZ. + + +Within a short time after Captain Swift was taken to the beach, I +received an order, from General Worth, directing me to withdraw the +engineer company from the line of investment and report to General +Patterson. The latter instructed me to locate and open a road through +the chaparral to the old Malibran ruins. This was accomplished by the +middle of the afternoon. General Pillow who was to occupy a position +beyond Malibran, requested me to take charge of a working party of his +troops and, with the engineer company, locate and open a road along his +line to the bare sand hills on his left. In this work we were somewhat +disturbed by the fire of Mexican detachments. + +On the 11th, the work of locating and opening the road along the line of +investment was continued, the working party being still a good deal +annoyed by both infantry and artillery fire. At 1 P. M., I reported to +General Patterson that the road was opened, through the chaparral, to +the bare sand hills. He ordered me to report, with the engineer company, +to General Worth; and the latter directed me to report to the General +Headquarters. + +On the same day I was ordered by Colonel Totten, Chief Engineer, to find +and cut off the underground-aqueduct which conveyed water into Vera +Cruz. That business was effectually accomplished by the engineer company +on the 13th.[2] + +From that time, until the commencement of work upon the batteries and +trenches, the engineer company and its officers were engaged in +reconnoitring the ground between the picket line of our army and the +fortifications of the city. My reports were made each night to the Chief +Engineer. The night of the 15th, he pointed out to me, on a map of the +city and its fortifications, the general location in which it was +desired to place the army gun battery, on the southern prolongation of +the principal street of the city, and within about six hundred yards of +its fortifications. He directed me, with the engineer company, to +closely examine that ground. I was informed by him, at the same time, +that Captain R. E. Lee, of the engineer corps, had discovered a +favorable position for a battery, of six heavy naval guns, on the point +of a commanding sand ridge, about nine hundred yards from the western +front of the city; but no final decision would be made in regard to the +naval battery until the army battery could be definitely located. He +said General Scott was getting impatient at the delay; and I was +directed to find, as soon as possible, a position that would satisfy the +conditions prescribed, by the Chief Engineer, for an army battery. + +I explained those conditions to McClellan and to Foster; and informed +them that I would assign one-third of the company to each of them as an +escort--take one-third myself--and we would all three start, at daylight +next morning, in search of a location for the required battery. It was +necessary that we should be extremely careful not to get to fighting +each other in the dense chaparral. + +We found a location that complied with the conditions. In reporting this +fact to the Chief Engineer, I added: "The communication with the battery +will be very difficult--will require a great deal of work--and will be +dangerous". He ordered me to take the engineer company to the selected +ground, next morning, and lay out the battery; and said he would direct +Lieutenant G. T. Beauregard, who had supervised the construction of the +field fortifications at Tampico, to assist in the work. + +At 2 P. M. that day the battery and magazine had been traced out, all +necessary profiles carefully adjusted; and, the whole completed, ready +to commence throwing up the works. We had not been discovered by the +Mexicans--though we could plainly see their sentinels on the walls; and +occasionally hear words of command. After allowing the company to rest +for a couple of hours we started to return to camp. + +In going forward we had the Mexicans before us; and by exercising great +care, at certain places, could avoid being seen. When our backs were +turned to Vera Cruz I felt confident that we would soon be discovered +and fired upon. I had cautioned the men to be as careful as possible; +but, in spite of their best efforts, we were seen, and a heavy fire of +artillery was opened upon us. The order to move at double-quick was +immediately given. The company was conducted about three hundred yards, +to a cut in a low sand ridge, that had been formed by a road crossing +that ridge. All got safely into the cut. The Mexican artillery fire, +aimed at us, was continued for about twenty minutes. We had then before +us an open level plain for five hundred yards. Soon after the fire upon +us had ceased, I ordered the men to scatter and run rapidly across the +plain until they reached a designated place of shelter behind high sand +hills. Beauregard and I brought up the rear in this movement. The +Mexicans re-opened their guns upon us whilst we were crossing the plain +and continued to fire for some time after we reached the shelter above +referred to. + +When I reported the result of that day's work to the Chief Engineer, I +urged him to permit a further examination to be made, for a location of +the army gun battery, before attempting to construct the one we had just +laid out. + +He consented, and we made further reconnaissance the next day. In the +meantime the pickets of Worth's division had been considerably advanced. +On returning from an examination at the extreme front that day I came +across a detachment of the Fifth Infantry not far from the Cemetery. +Whilst explaining the object of my search to a group of four or five +young officers, a person whom I took to be a veteran sergeant, said to +me that he knew a good position for a battery, only a few hundred yards +from where we then were. I asked him to describe it to me. + +From the description he gave I thought the ground referred to would be a +favourable site; and asked him to tell me definitely how to reach it. He +offered to guide me to the place. On getting to the position I found +that the conformation of the ground constituted almost a natural parapet +for a six gun battery--requiring but little work to complete it for use. +It afforded immediate shelter for men and guns. + +It was not on the prolongation of the main street of the city, and it +was farther from the enemy's works than the site where a battery had +already been laid out. But the communications with the proposed new +location were shorter, and could easily be made much safer--in every way +better than was possible in the former case. I thanked my guide for +pointing out the position; and told him I thought it would be adopted by +the Chief Engineer. + +After our return to the group of young officers, my "guide" was soon +called away; and, I then asked one of them the name of that "fine old +Sergeant" who had pointed out such a good location for the battery. To +my amazement he replied: "That was Major Scott, the commander of our +regiment". + +The Major was enveloped in an ordinary soldier's overcoat and wore an +old, common slouched hat. I had mistaken the "famous Martin Scott" for a +"fine old Sergeant" of the line. + +On my return to camp I reported all the facts to the Chief Engineer. The +position first selected and laid out, for the army gun battery, was +abandoned; and the location pointed out by Major Martin Scott was +adopted. + +The work of throwing up batteries, digging trenches, and making covered +communications with them, was commenced on the night of the 18th by +large working parties detailed from the line. After that time, the +officers of the engineer company, including myself, were placed on +general engineer service--supervising the construction of the siege +works. All the engineer officers then with the army, except the Chief, +were in regular turn detailed for that duty; each having some of the men +of the engineer company to assist him. + +After the work upon the army gun battery, the mortar batteries and the +trenches had been fairly commenced, I was transferred to the naval +battery and took my regular turn, with Captain R. E. Lee, and Lieutenant +Z. B. Tower, in superintending its construction. I was in charge of that +work the day it opened its guns upon the fortifications of the city, +having relieved Captain Lee that morning. Seeing him still in the +battery, about the time the firing commenced, I asked him if he intended +to continue in control; adding, "If so, I report to you for instructions +and orders". He replied: "No. I am not in charge. I have remained only +to see my brother, Lieutenant Sydney Smith Lee of the Navy, who is with +one of the heavy guns. My tour of service is over. You are in control; +and, if I can be of any service to you whilst I remain here, please let +me know". + +There had previously been a difference of opinion between Captain Lee +and myself in regard to the dimensions that should be given to the +embrasures. The Chief Engineer decided in favor of Captain Lee, and the +embrasures were changed and made to conform to his views. In a very +short time after the firing began one of the embrasures became so badly +choked that it could not be used until the _debris_ could be removed. +Hastily renewing the blindage of brush-wood that had been used to +conceal the work from view of the enemy during the construction, the +detail of engineer soldiers then on duty, in the battery, cleared the +embrasure of the obstructions, removed the blindage, and the gun resumed +its fire. Just after that incident, I asked Captain Lee what he now +thought in regard to the proper dimensions for the embrasures. He +replied: "They must be made greater when the battery is repaired +to-night." + +The naval detachment had only forty rounds of ammunition; which was +expended in about three hours, and the firing had to cease until the +arrival of the next naval detachment. The latter when it came into the +battery, had only forty rounds of ammunition and was to serve until +relieved, the next afternoon by a third naval detachment. + +Before the ammunition of the first detachment was expended the +embrasures were all in a very bad condition--the battery was almost +entirely unserviceable; and before the second detachment arrived I +caused the embrasures to be filled up, until the battery could be +repaired that night and put in good condition for re-opening the next +day. + +The second naval detachment came into the battery about the middle of +the afternoon. The naval captain in command, without consulting me, +ordered the embrasures to be cleared at once, with the intention of +immediately opening fire. Perceiving what was being done by the sailors +in re-opening the embrasures, I ordered them to stop; and asked by whose +authority they were acting. On being informed that their orders came +from the commander of the detachment, I asked them to point him out to +me. I immediately introduced myself to him, as the engineer officer in +full charge of the construction of the battery, and told him if the +embrasures were cleared the battery would still be unfit for +service--that it could not be repaired until that night, and would then +be put in better condition than it was when it first opened. The army +gun battery would be ready next morning; and its fire, combined with +that of the naval battery, after the latter was put in good condition, +would be very effective. But, if the naval detachment opened fire that +afternoon, the battery being unfit for service, its ammunition would be +exhausted before night without hurting the enemy; and the battery would +necessarily be silent the next day, when the army battery would open its +fire. + +The naval captain insisted that the embrasures should be cleared at +once, and the firing resumed. + +I protested against his clearing the embrasures and told him that, but +for the appearance of the thing, I would leave the battery and take my +men with me if he persisted in carrying out his intentions. I added: "I +will remain here until regularly relieved, but will continue to +_protest_ against the course you propose to pursue". + +He then told me that it was "the General's" order that he should open +fire that afternoon as promptly as possible. + +I asked him why he had not told me of that order in the first place; and +added: "It is not customary for General Scott to give orders to engineer +officers through officers of the navy. But, if you had told me in the +beginning that he had ordered the battery to commence firing as soon as +possible after you reached it, I would have accepted his order--coming +to me through you." + +To this he replied; "I did not say the order came from General Scott." I +asked: "Whom did you mean when you said 'the General.'" He told me that +he meant "General Patterson." To which I replied: "I receive no orders +in reference to this battery except from General Scott or the Chief +Engineer of the Army." + +The naval captain finally said he would not open fire until next +morning; provided I would report the circumstances to General Scott. I +told him it was not usual for me to report my action direct to the +General-in-Chief: but, I would report all the facts to the Chief +Engineer as soon as I was relieved and had returned to camp, and he +would report them to General Scott. + +When I commenced to make my report to the Chief Engineer he stopped me; +and said he was instructed to order me to report in person, to General +Scott as soon as I reached camp. + +I obeyed the order; and was very coldly and formally told by "The +General": He had been informed it was my fault that the naval battery +had not opened fire against Vera Cruz that afternoon. I answered: "I did +prevent the fire being opened; but, that act was not a fault on my part; +and I can convince you of the latter fact if you will give me a +hearing". + +He replied--still very coldly--"I hope you can do so". I then related to +him, in full, all that had occurred--as briefly stated above--between +the commander of the naval detachment and myself. + +My reasons for opposing the opening of the fire of the battery seemed to +produce little or no favorable impression on General Scott until I +reached that part of the narrative in which I replied to the naval +captain's statement that he meant General Patterson when he said "_the +General_". I gave General Scott the exact words I had used in replying +to the naval commander. At this he rose from his seat--came to where I +was standing, and clasping one of my hands in both of his; said: "Thank +God I have young officers with heads on their shoulders and who know how +to use them". He added: "your opinion, and your action, in this matter, +would do credit to a Field Marshal of France"! + +To which I made no reply, but thought to myself: "If there was a +sergeant in the engineer company who, in view of the plain facts of this +case, would not have known that the naval battery ought not to open fire +that afternoon, I would reduce him to the ranks before night." + +The following extracts from my official report of these operations may +not be amiss in this connection: + +"Whenever we have acted as a company I have been most ably and +efficiently supported by Lieutenants McClellan and Foster; and I am +proud to say that the non-commissioned officers and men of the company +have shown great willingness and skill in the discharge of the important +duties assigned them. Great part of our labors have been performed under +fire. On such occasions I have had every reason to be satisfied with the +cool deportment and conduct of the company. + +"In conclusion I regret that I have to state, a serious blow was +inflicted on the military pride of the engineer company in _not_ +allowing them to participate in the ceremonies of the surrender, when it +was well understood that the troops having had most to do in the attack +were selected to take a prominent part in the proceedings." + +We all felt that, if our distinguished Captain had been with us, we +would have been called on to take part in those ceremonies. + +The Chief Engineer, Colonel Joseph G. Totten, in his report of +operations against Vera Cruz, says: "The obligation lies upon me also to +speak of the highly meritorious deportment and valuable services of the +Sappers and Miners, [engineer company] attached to the expedition. +Strenuous as were their exertions, their number proved to be too few, in +comparison with our need of such aid. Had their number been four-fold +greater, there is no doubt the labors of the army would have been +materially lessened and the result expedited." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 245). + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] In illustration of the character of the work done during the first +two or three days after the landing, the following quotations from +General Scott's official report are not irrelevant. He says: + +"The environs of the city outside the fire of its guns, and those of the +castle, are broken into innumerable hills of loose sand, from twenty to +two hundred and fifty feet in height, with almost impassable forests of +chaparral between." "In extending the line of investment around the city +the troops, for three days have performed the heaviest labors in getting +over the hills and cutting through the intervening forests." ("Ex. Doc. +No. 1" p. 216.) + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AFTER THE SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ; TO THE OCCUPATION OF PUEBLA. + + +From the capitulation of Vera Cruz, on the 29th of March, until we left +that place on the 13th of April, the engineer company was principally +engaged in assisting engineer officers in making surveys of the +fortifications and surrounding ground, in dismantling our own batteries, +magazines, &c.; and aiding the Quartermaster's Department in landing and +placing in depot the general engineer train of the army. + +In the meantime, on the 7th of April, I reported, through the senior +engineer, to the Adjutant-General of the forces, that the engineer +company would be ready to move with the advance division of the army on +the 8th, if transportation for its train could be furnished. +Transportation, together with orders to move with the advance division, +were applied for. "The reply was that General Scott would, at the proper +time, order such transportation for the engineer company as he deemed +sufficient--and would, when it was his pleasure, order the company +forward."[3] + +Twiggs's division left on the 8th; Patterson's on the 9th; on the 11th +Worth's division was ordered to move on the 13th; Quitman's brigade had +been previously sent on an expedition to Alvarado; the garrison of Vera +Cruz was designated. Thus, every soldier in the army, except the +engineer company, had received instructions either to go forward or to +remain. + +On the night of the 11th, in my evening report to the Adjutant of +engineers, I asked the Senior Engineer[4] then serving with the army; +when and where the engineer company was ordered; what I was ordered to +do; and what transportation, if any, I was to have. + +On these subjects not one word had been stated, in either written or +printed orders, that had come to my knowledge. On the morning of the +12th, General Scott consented that the engineer company should, if +possible, move with the General Headquarters, which left at 4 P. M. that +day. + +I then applied direct to the Chief Quartermaster for transportation. He +told me that it was impossible to let me have any teams at that +time--all the good teams had been taken by the army, General Worth was +getting the last. + +A positive order from headquarters, was then procured by the Adjutant of +engineers, requiring the Quartermaster's Department to furnish +transportation for the engineer train, etc. The teams, such as they +were, came into our camp about dark on the 12th. That night the wagons +were loaded; and we started half an hour before daylight on the 13th. + +The mules were wild, the teamsters could not speak English, some of them +had never harnessed an animal; and it was soon apparent that the men of +the company would have to put their muskets in the wagons and give their +undivided attention to the mules. At 2 P. M., after struggling through +the deep sand, west of the city, we struck the firm beach, and could +make better progress, for about three miles, to Vergara, where the road +leaves the coast, and again passes through deep sand. + +In the meantime one team had become broken down and useless before we +got beyond the city. In order to procure another I had to take some of +my own men into the mule pen. Three Mexicans were given me to lasso the +mules, and five men were required to put them in harness--seasick, wild, +little animals. One teamster deserted; one had his hand, and another had +his leg broken; and a number of mules in different teams, were crippled. + +At Vergara, half the load of each wagon was thrown out, before we +entered upon steep ridges and deep sand immediately after leaving the +beach. All the men were engaged in helping along the half loaded wagons. +That night we slept in the sand ridges. + +On the 14th, we reached Santa Fé, eight miles from Vera Cruz, threw out +the half loads, and returned to Vergara. Before we again reached the +beach, the men had actually to roll the empty wagons up every hill, the +mules not being able to drag them. By 10 P. M., we were again at Santa +Fé, having killed three mules, and the men being worked nearly to death. +Fortunately for us, several good mules that had escaped from preceding +army trains, came out of the chaparral to our feed troughs, were caught, +and "pressed" into engineer service. + +From Santa Fé the road was much better, but at every hill the men had +to take to the wheels and help the mules--this too, after throwing out +half the load at the foot of some of the steeper hills. In this way, we +reached the National Bridge, at 3 P. M. on the 16th. + +General Worth's division was about starting from that place to make a +night march to Plan Del Rio. He informed me that our army would attack +the enemy, at the Cerro Gordo Pass, on the afternoon of the 17th; and +said he desired that the engineer company should accompany his division. +I informed him that my men and animals were utterly exhausted and could +not go any further without several hours rest. But I assured him that we +would be in Plan Del Rio by noon of the next day. We rested at the +National Bridge until 11.30 P. M., on the 16th and reached Plan Del Rio, +about 11 A. M., on the 17th. + +AT CERRO GORDO. Soon after our arrival at Plan Del Rio, I was +ordered to detail an officer and ten men of the engineer company to +report to General Pillow for temporary service with his division. +Lieutenant McClellan was placed in charge of that detail. + +With the remainder of the company, I was directed to report to Captain +R. E. Lee, then acting as Chief Engineer of Twiggs's division; who +instructed me to allow the men to rest, whilst I accompanied him to the +front, where Twiggs's division was about going into action. Captain Lee +informed General Twiggs that the engineer company was at Plan Del Rio, +and had been ordered to serve with his division. I was directed by +General Twiggs to return at once, and bring the company to the front as +soon as possible. + +The action of the 17th was over before the engineer company arrived. +Captain Lee directed me, with a portion of my men and a large detailed +working party, to construct a battery that night, in a position he had +selected on the heights we had gained that afternoon. This was a work of +some difficulty, owing to the rocky nature of the ground and the small +depth of earth--in some places none, and nowhere more than a few inches. + +About 3 A. M. on the 18th I sent one of my men to the foot of the hill +to awaken Lieutenant Foster, who was sleeping there with the company, +and tell him he must relieve me for the rest of the night. + +After putting Foster in charge I started to join the company--and became +sound asleep whilst walking down the hill. Stumbling into a quarry hole, +I found myself sprawling on a dead Mexican soldier--his glazed eyes wide +open, within a few inches of mine. For a moment I felt that horror of a +corpse which many persons have, at times, experienced. The probability +that, in a short time after daylight--in storming the strong position +of the enemy--I might be as dead as the man upon whom I was lying, +forced itself upon me. + +Before I could regain my feet streams of men were rushing past me in the +darkness; and I heard and recognised, the voice of Lieutenant Peter V. +Hagner, of the Ordnance, calling in no measured tone or language, upon +these stampeded men to stop. Whilst promptly aiding Hagner to bring the +fugitives to a halt, I forgot the dead Mexican, and the whole train of +thought connected with the corpse. + +When something like order was restored on the hillside I learned from +Lieutenant Hagner that he had been detailed to take one of our heavy +guns up the hill to the battery. A regiment of Volunteers had been +placed at his disposal to man the drag-ropes. Their arms had been left +at the foot of the hill. On finding his way blocked by trees, Hagner had +sent to procure axes from the engineer train; and in the meantime the +regiment at the drag-ropes had been permitted to lie down. Of course +they went to sleep. Suddenly awakened by a false alarm that the Mexicans +were upon them, they rushed down the hill to get their arms. Hagner soon +procured the required axes and the gun was delivered at the battery in +good time. + +At daylight I was again at the battery. A slight epaulment had been +finished for three pieces of artillery, the platforms were laid, and the +guns in position. I was then instructed by Captain Lee, to send ten men +to report to him for special service; to order Lieutenant Foster with +eight additional men, to report to him (Lee) for the purpose of opening +a road for the light artillery around the foot of the heights; and I was +ordered, with the rest of the company, to report to Colonel Harney, who +was then in command of Persifor Smith's brigade, of Twiggs' division. + +I was instructed to accompany that brigade when it moved forward to +attack the enemy in position on a hill immediately in front of, and +higher than that on which our battery had been constructed. The Mexicans +were in strong force on the higher hill. + +From our lower position we could not clearly see their lines nor +determine how they were fortified. The hill they occupied was flat on +top and their lines were set back from the crest of the precipitous +slope which faced us. The storming brigade was ordered to halt and +reform just before reaching the top of the higher hill. At this point +they were below the plane of the enemy's fire, and were when lying down, +perfectly protected. In this position they were ordered to rest, until +the order should be given to rise, charge and carry the enemy's works +by open assault. + +When the line was thus formed, I requested Colonel Harney not to give +the order to charge until I could go on the plateau, get a clear view of +the enemy's works, and report their character. I soon informed him that +their main line was not more than forty or fifty yards from where our +men were then lying, that the fortifications were very incomplete, +offered no effective obstacle, and we could dash over the works without +a halt. I then ordered my men to drop their tools and use their muskets. + +Whilst I was making this report to Colonel Harney, our attention was +drawn to quite a sharp fire that the Mexicans had suddenly opened from a +point close to the left flank and in the prolongation of our line. I +told him I was certain there were no fortifications in that position; +and I had seen no troops there. The fire increased from that direction, +and Colonel Harney ordered me to proceed rapidly with my men to the left +of our line, direct two companies on that flank to wheel at once, to the +left; and when he gave the order to charge, these two companies and the +engineers would move to the left against the force that was firing upon +us from that side. + +These dispositions on our left were made in a very few moments, and the +order to charge was given immediately thereafter. The brigade sprang up, +dashed over the short intervening space, and were almost instantly +inside of the Mexican incomplete works. + +After a short, but bloody, hand to hand struggle, in which bayonets, +swords, pistols, and butts of muskets were freely used, the Mexicans +retreated in great disorder. The troops that had been faced to the left +just before the order to charge was given, immediately found themselves +in the midst of a detachment of Mexicans, in a nest of surface quarry +holes which gave them protection from distant fire and effectually +concealed them from view until we were among them. The struggle here was +hand to hand, and sharp for a short time. But they were driven from +their quarry holes, back on their main line which gave way, and their +own guns were turned upon them before they could get off the field. + +Thus, Persifor Smith's brigade, under Colonel Harney, carried, and held +possession of, the key-point of the battlefield of Cerro Gordo. + +After the battle the various details of engineer soldiers joined in the +pursuit of the enemy, were collected together at Encerro, and the +company remained with Twiggs division until it reached Jalapa. At this +place it was furnished by the Chief Quartermaster with the finest mule +teams in the army. This gave great satisfaction to the men who had +struggled so hard to get the engineer train forward, through deep sand, +from Vera Cruz. To add to their elation, they had now left the "hot +lands" of the coast behind them, had reached a temperate climate, 4,000 +feet above the level of the sea, had escaped the dread _vomito_ of Vera +Cruz, and had participated closely in the great victory gained by +Scott's army at Cerro Gordo. + +From Jalapa, Worth's division led the way, the engineer company at its +head. During the halt of a few days, at Perote, I procured the transfer +of First Sergeant David H. Hastings, from the Third Artillery to the +engineer company. He was considered one of the best sergeants in the +army, and was at once, made first sergeant of the engineer company. +Previous to that time we had only an acting first sergeant. The company +entered Puebla with Worth's division, and on the arrival of General +Scott at that place we were again ordered to report to general +headquarters. + +During the three months delay of the army, at Puebla, awaiting +reinforcements before moving into the valley of Mexico, the regular +instruction of the company--both as infantry and as engineer +soldiers--was resumed. Besides the "School of the Sapper" as taught them +before they left the United States, the men were now instructed, +theoretically and practically, in the "School of the Miner". They were +engaged too in work upon the fortifications of Puebla; and had practice +in loop-holing walls, and received instruction for placing towns, +villages, etc. in a state of defense. Whilst at Puebla the company +received the sad news of the death of their Captain. + +General Scott, in his official report of the battle of Cerro Gordo, +says; "Lieutenant G. W. Smith led the engineer company as part of the +storming force [under Colonel Harney], and is noticed with distinction". +(Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 263). + +General Twiggs, in his official report of the same battle, states: +"Lieutenant G. W. Smith, of the engineers, with his company of Sappers +and Miners, joined Colonel Harney's command in the assault on the +enemy's main work, and killed two men with his own hand". (Ex. Doc. No. +1, p. 278). + +In Colonel Harney's official report of this battle it is stated: +"Lieutenant G. W. Smith, of the engineers, with his company, rendered +very efficient service in his own department, as well as in the storming +of the fort". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 281). + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] Taken from my official report for the month of April, 1847. G. W. S. + +[4] Colonel Joseph G. Totten. Chief Engineer, had left Vera Cruz and +returned to his duties in Washington City. Major John L. Smith then +became Senior Engineer with General Scott's forces. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FROM PUEBLA TO CHURUBUSCO. + + +On the 7th of August, 1847, the advance of General Scott's army, Twiggs' +division, the engineer company leading, left Puebla and commenced the +forward movement into the valley of Mexico. The company served with that +division, until Worth's division was placed in the lead during the +turning movement made by the army around Lake Chalco. In that movement +the engineer company was at the head of Worth's division. + +The road ran between the western border of the lake and a high range of +hills which, in some places, rose from the water's edge. The road was +narrow and rough; and had been obstructed by rolling immense masses of +stone upon it from the almost overhanging cliffs. These obstructions +were of considerable height; they completely blocked our way; and at +several points ditches had been cut across the road. + +General Worth directed the Light Battalion, under Colonel C. F. Smith, +to advance and drive off the Mexicans who were firing upon us--ordered +me to make the road passable for artillery and wagons as soon as +possible--and notified me that the leading brigade would assist in that +work when called upon. I immediately asked for a detail of 500 men; put +them to work, at once, under the direction of the officers and men of +the engineer company, and everything was progressing rapidly, when, to +my surprise, Lieutenant J. C. Pemberton, aide to General Worth, came up +to me and insisted that the whole character of the operations should be +changed. Whilst he was elaborating his views I cut him short by asking +if he had any orders for me from General Worth. In the meanwhile the +latter had reached the front, without either Pemberton or I being aware +of his presence. Before the aide had time to reply to my question, +General Worth, in a very peremptory tone called out "Come away from +there Mr. Pemberton, and let Mr. Smith alone. This is his business--not +yours". + +In a few hours, the road was put in such condition that, by the use of +drag-ropes and men at the wheels, we were enabled to pass artillery and +wagons over the obstructions; and the column moved on without further +material delay. + +After reaching San Augustine, and passing beyond, the forward movement, +now on the main road, or causeway, leading from Acapulco to the city of +Mexico, was checked by fortifications about six hundred yards in our +front. These fortifications crossed the road at San Antonio, and were +occupied by the enemy in large force. The afternoon of the 18th of +August, was spent in reconnoitring that position. + +About 3 A. M., on the 19th, I received an order to return to San +Augustine with the engineer company and its train. In making our way +from the head of Worth's division, along the main road, towards the +rear, it was somewhat difficult to arouse the men of that division, who +were sleeping on the road, and get them to clear the way for the passage +of our wagons. + +No explanation of the order for our return had been given. Just after +the dawn of day, and before we were clear of the division, two soldiers +on the side of the road, were lighting a fire for the purpose of +preparing coffee. As we passed them, one said to the other: "We are not +going to fight to-day: Twiggs's division is going to fight". The other +of the two replied, sneeringly: "What do you know about it?" To which +the first answered: "Don't you see those young engineer officers, with +the engineer company and their wagons? They are going back, to be sent +on another road with Twiggs's division, we are not going to fight +to-day". As we passed out of hearing of the two soldiers I said to +McClellan, who was riding by my side: "Did you hear that?" He answered +"Yes and I consider it the handsomest compliment that could be paid to +the engineer company. The private soldiers of this army understand that +we are sent where the hardest work and hardest fighting are to be +done--and always at the head of the leading division". + +We reached San Augustine a little after sunrise, August 19. I will now +quote direct from my official report of these operations. + +"Orders were [at once] received, from the headquarters of the army, +directing me to report to Captain R. E. Lee, of the Corps of Engineers, +with the company under my command, and [I] was ordered by Captain Lee to +take ten of my men, and select certain tools from the general engineer +train, in addition to those carried along with the company. I turned +over the command of the engineer company to Lieutenant McClellan, who, +under the direction of Captain Lee, proceeded at once to commence the +work on the road from San Augustine to Contreras." "In about one hour +and a half, I rejoined the command with the necessary implements for [a +large working force in] opening the road. Captain Lee directed me to +retain the men I then had with me, and to take charge of a certain +section of the road, to bring forward my wagons as rapidly as possible, +and to see that the road was practicable before I passed any portion of +it. At this time my company was divided into five sections, each under +an engineer officer directing operations on [different portions of] the +road". + +AT CONTRERAS. General Scott, in his official report, says, "By +three o'clock, this afternoon, [August 19th.] the advanced divisions +came to a point where the new road could only be continued under the +direct fire of 22 pieces of the enemy's artillery [most of them of large +calibre] placed in a strong entrenched camp to oppose our operations, +and surrounded by every advantage of ground, besides immense bodies of +cavalry and infantry". + +In my official report it is stated that; "The head of the column having +halted, I reached the front in time to receive instructions from Captain +Lee to halt the company, collect the scattered parties, and to examine +the road inclining to the left, while he went to the right. Lieutenants +McClellan and Foster had been for some hours detached. Having gone about +four hundred yards, I heard just ahead sharp firing of musketry; and +immediately after met Captain McClellan, of the topographical engineers, +and Lieutenant McClellan, of the engineer company, returning on +horseback--they had come suddenly on a strong picket, and were fired +upon. Lieutenant McClellan had his horse shot under him. Information of +the enemy's picket being in our vicinity was reported to General Twiggs, +who ordered a regiment of rifles forward. There being several engineer +officers present when the rifles came to the front, I returned to my +company, which had been for a short time left without an officer. +Captain Lee about this time, sent back for Captain Magruder's battery, +which was conducted by Lieutenant Foster, and placed in position by +Lieutenant McClellan". + +"The Third Infantry was ordered to support the battery. I moved forward +with this regiment, taking my company and pack mules, loaded with tools, +and placed my command under such shelter as could be found on the left, +near the position occupied by the Third Infantry, and in rear of the +battery. Meeting with Lieutenant McClellan, I directed him still to +remain with the battery, but to order Lieutenant Foster to rejoin the +company. In a few moments this officer reported to me, and brought +information that the troops were preparing to storm the enemy's +position." + +"Riley's brigade had moved in advance by our right. Leaving the mules +and tools, I moved the company forward, falling in with the brigade of +General [Persifor] Smith. Captain Lee being present, with his consent, I +requested the General to allow the engineer company to fight in his +brigade. He told me to take the head of the column, and to direct myself +towards a church in a village, on the left of the enemy's +battery--between it and the city. Whilst passing down the hill and +crossing the ravine, the enemy were rapidly appearing [reinforcements +from the direction of the city] on an eminence beyond the church. +General Smith directed me to take my company as an escort, reconnoitre +the village, and find out whether Colonel Riley's brigade was in the +vicinity. I continued some distance beyond the church; and returned +without seeing the brigade under Colonel Riley, which had, as I +understood afterwards, advanced very near [the rear of] the enemy's +battery. The reinforcements of the enemy upon the hill in our front were +rapidly increasing. They had at this time probably ten thousand men, on +the height, formed in line of battle. Towards dark Colonel Riley's +brigade returned and joined the troops under the command of General +Smith: too late, however, to allow time for forming the troops to attack +the enemy [on the hill] in our front. Lieutenant McClellan joined me +about this time in our movement on the village. Lieutenant Foster, who +was on horseback, became detached with a few of the men, and did not +rejoin me until after the action on the morning of the 20th." + +"General Smith, very soon after dark, informed me that the enemy's main +battery would be stormed, [in rear], at daylight on the morning of the +20th. This would open the road for artillery, and our communications +with [the main army under] General Scott would be re-established. I +received orders to hold the engineer company ready to move at 3 A. M. +and to take my place on the right of the rifles. On the morning of the +20th there was considerable delay in the movement of the brigade [raw +troops] under General Cadwallader, by which General Smith's brigade, now +under the command of Major Dimmick, First Artillery, was detained very +nearly an hour. Part of the Eleventh Regiment [Cadwallader's brigade] +lost its way, caused the Voltigeurs to halt, thus throwing the brigade +under Major Dimmick still further from Riley's, which had moved very +soon after 3 o'clock. At the request of General Cadwallader, Major +Dimmick ordered me to turn over the command of my company to the officer +next in rank, and to move forward and conduct the troops that had lost +their way. The whole force was by sunrise, or little after, halted in a +sheltered position in rear of the enemy's battery". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +Appendix p. 67). + +I reported the cause of the delay to General Smith and requested +instructions to rejoin my company; but he said he desired that I should +remain with him for a while. By his order, the three brigades were soon +put in motion. I again asked him to permit me to rejoin my proper +command. He replied "Not yet" and added: "I will soon give you +instructions". + +Because of a dense fog the delay in reaching the position in rear of the +Mexican works was no material disadvantage. The fog began to disappear +about the time I reported to General Smith. He was then on a ridge at a +point, about 600 yards in rear of the Mexican works. The three brigades +were passing around the extremity of that ridge, several hundred yards +in rear of the General. All was quiet in the lines of the enemy. There +was another ridge south of the one on which General Smith was standing, +and separated from it by a deep and very narrow valley. The sides of +both ridges were precipitous; their tops sloped gently to the enemy's +line. + +General Smith informed me that Riley's brigade would pass partly beyond +the extremity of the second ridge; then face to the left, and attack a +strong Mexican detachment which was in position on that ridge, several +hundred yards in rear of their works. Riley was ordered to drive that +detachment and pursue it closely into the Mexican main lines. +Cadwallader's brigade would go on when Riley faced to the left; and, as +soon as he passed Riley, Cadwallader would also face to the left and +come into action on Riley's right. Smith's own brigade would turn to the +left before reaching the extremity of the second ridge. The Third +Infantry and First Artillery would advance in the deep valley between +the two ridges; whilst the Rifle Regiment, with the engineer company +leading, would ascend the steep slope of the second ridge, and get into +position on the flank, or rear, of the Mexican detachment which Riley +was to attack in front. In the meantime the head of Smith's brigade had +come within view, near the foot of the steep slope of the second ridge, +and was moving towards the Mexican main line. + +General Smith pointed out to me the route to be taken to reach the top +of the second ridge; and ordered that the engineer company and rifles +should bear to the right, and on getting near the Mexican detachment, +remain concealed, and quiet, until Riley's brigade became well engaged; +then join in the attack and pursuit of that detachment. + +With these specific instructions, I was ordered to rejoin my company; +and Lieutenant Beauregard was directed to take general charge of the +movements of Smith's brigade. When Beauregard and I reached the top of +the second ridge we found we were 50 yards, or less, in rear of the +Mexican detachment, which was facing Riley. All was quiet. In a very +few moments Riley's fire commenced. + +The engineer company, followed by the rifle regiment was then forming in +line, under cover, in rear of the Mexican detachment, whose attention +was concentrated on Riley, in their front. We were between that +detachment and the Mexican works. A small portion only of the Rifle +Regiment was in line, when the firing with Riley became very severe, and +the order was given for the engineer company and rifles to rise and fire +into the backs of the enemy. That fire was very destructive. The +Mexicans were astounded; faced squarely about, and in a moment +precipitately retreated. + +In my official report it is stated that: "Colonel Riley's advance became +engaged with a very strong picket, some 300 yards or more from the rear +of the [enemy's] battery, near the crest of the ridge; the engineers and +rifles came up at once in position to take the picket in rear, delivered +a deadly volley within 50 yards, cheered and rushed on. The enemy's +force fled; the head of our column crossed the line of their retreat, +which brought the right of the column [engineer company and rifles] +conducted by Lieutenant Beauregard, in contact with the Seventh +Infantry, which formed the left of Colonel Riley's brigade. I went into +the enemy's battery with the colors of the Seventh Infantry, my company +immediately behind me. The enemy, or at least a portion of them, stood +to their guns well, and delivered a fire of grape into our troops when +the head of the column was within 25 yards of their pieces. Our troops +followed the retreating enemy without halting until they were beyond the +reach of our musketry. Lieutenant Beauregard then strongly advised that +the troops be halted and formed. A short time afterwards General Twiggs, +came up. The pursuit was resumed. At San Angel we had an unimportant +skirmish". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 68). + +The following additional quotations from my official report are not +deemed irrelevant: + +"In the action of the morning of the 20th--the battle of Contreras--my +men acted with great gallantry; their promptness in obeying every order, +and the effect with which they used their muskets, entitle them all to +the highest praise. In my report to the chief engineer in the field, I +shall make special mention of all who, to my knowledge, particularly +distinguished themselves. I will mention here, First Sergeant D. H. +Hastings, of the engineer company, who, by his gallant conduct and +soldiery bearing, in this action, richly deserves promotion to the rank +of commissioned officer in the army. Sergeant Hastings was slightly +wounded by my side in the battery. Sergeant [S. H.] Starr attracted my +particular attention by his gallant and efficient conduct. Sergeant +Starr was the ranking non-commissioned officer with the detachment of +the engineer company which accompanied Colonel Harney's command at the +battle of Cerro Gordo. I would recommend him for promotion [to the grade +of commissioned officer in the army]." + +"Artificer W. H. Bartlett attracted my particular attention by [his] +cool and steady gallantry, Artificer A. S. Read shot the color bearer of +the Twelfth Regiment of artillery, and secured the color." + +"Lieutenant Foster was at this time, as I have before remarked, detached +with a portion of the company; and, at the head of his men, led the +Ninth and Twelfth Regiments of Infantry in their attack on the flank of +the retreating column at Contreras." + +"Lieutenant McClellan, frequently detached, and several times in command +of the engineer company, is entitled to the highest praise for his cool +and daring gallantry, on all occasions, in the actions of both the 19th +and 20th." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 69.) + +In the pursuit, we passed through the village of San Angel; and near +that place, were again halted. During that halt, I noticed a large, high +building, in an extensive open field, five or six hundred yards to the +North. I was satisfied that from the top of that building, with a +powerful field glass, which was a portion of the engineer company +equipment, I would be able to get a good view of the level country for +miles around, and obtain quite definite knowledge of the positions and +movements of the main Mexican forces. + +I communicated my wishes to Major Loring; and asked him if he felt +authorized to support the engineer company, with the Rifle Regiment, in +a close reconnaissance of the building I pointed out. He laughingly +replied: "I have been directed by General Smith to follow you and your +company--of course I will go with you". + +We had not proceeded more than two hundred yards towards the building +when we were overtaken by Lieutenant Van Dorn, Aide to General Smith, +who brought an order requiring the Rifle Regiment and the engineer +company to return to the head of the column on the road. I told Van Dorn +the purpose I had in view, asked him to explain the matter to General +Smith, and expressed my conviction that he would approve the movement, +when he knew its object. Van Dorn replied: "General Smith was very +peremptory. I am directed to see that you and Major Loring, with your +respective commands, return at once". On our way back, Van Dorn said +that General Pillow had reached the front and taken control; and his +belief was that General Pillow had ordered General Smith to recall the +engineer company and the Rifle Regiment. A short time thereafter we +moved from San Angel to Coyoacan, where the head of the column again +halted; and was soon joined by General Scott. + +There is good reason to believe that observations, which could easily +have been made from the roof of the high building above referred to, +would have resulted in obtaining such information in regard to the +Mexican position at the Convent of Churubusco and at the _tęte-de-pont_, +as would have enabled General Scott to complete the rout of the Mexican +Army without incurring the additional loss of nearly one thousand men in +killed and wounded. + +AT CHURUBUSCO. The following quotations are taken from my +official report: + +"Between 12 and 1 o'clock, P. M., [August 20, 1847] I received orders to +move, from the village of [Coyoacan] immediately after the rifle +regiment, on a road intersecting the road from San Antonio to Mexico, in +order to cut off the enemy already retreating from San Antonio. + +"I had not gone two hundred yards when I received orders to countermarch +and move on another route intersecting the road from San Antonio to the +city nearer to Mexico. [The latter road led nearly due east, parallel to +the front of the earthworks at the Convent, distant from those works +about 250 yards]. The regiment of riflemen continued on the road on +which I first started. [This road led south-east from Coyoacan]. The +company took its place [again] at the head of the column [Twiggs's +division]. The column was halted by General Twiggs, and I was directed +by him to send an officer in advance to see the position of a battery +reported to be not far in front. Lieutenant McClellan was sent on one +road; and Lieutenant Stevens of the engineers, was directed by General +Twiggs, to take another. Both officers soon returned and reported a +battery in front of a convent, the roof and steeples of which were in +plain view of the head of the column and within 700 yards. The roof was +crowded with troops; the battery was masked by intervening trees and +corn-fields. General Twiggs then directed these officers to make a +closer reconnaissance and ordered my company as an escort. Having +proceeded 500 yards, we saw [Mexican] troops on our right, left, and in +front. A lancer was taken prisoner. Lieutenant Stevens directed me to +take the prisoner to the general and request an additional escort of two +companies. We were at this time about 300 yards from the battery, but it +was still almost masked from view. I delivered the prisoner and the +message to General Twiggs, and returned at once to my company which I +had left in charge of Lieutenant Foster. Lieutenant Stevens joined +General Twiggs whilst I was with him. When I resumed command of the +company, Lieutenant McClellan reported to me that _our troops were +already engaged in our front_; having, apparently, turned the battery +and convent by our right. One of General Twiggs's staff, [Lieutenant W. +T. H. Brooks, A. A. Adjutant General, Twiggs's division,] was present +and informed us that the rifles with Captain Lee of the engineers, were +reconnoitring the same works, and had gone to our right considerably +farther from the battery than we then were. We all concurred in opinion +that the rifles were engaged with a vastly superior force. There was at +this time no firing of artillery. I ordered Lieutenant McClellan to +report the result of his observations to General Twiggs. He did so, and +on the recommendation of Lieutenants Stevens and McClellan, in which I +concurred, the First Regiment of Artillery was ordered to support the +rifles. The firing on the right increased; it was evident that several +thousands of the enemy were pouring a heavy musketry fire into our +troops on the right. The tops of the convent and the surrounding walls +were lined with troops; the roof was literally covered. Lieutenant +Stevens was of opinion that a few rounds of grape would disperse these +masses and relieve our troops already engaged [on the right] from a +destructive plunging fire. He went back to the general, leaving myself +the senior engineer then in front of the [convent] battery. The fire had +now become very brisk upon my [reconnoitring] party; having placed the +company under the best shelter at hand, with Lieutenant Foster I +proceeded to examine the works to determine the number, character and +position of the pieces of artillery. Nothing heavier than a 4 or +6-pounder had yet been fired." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 69.) + +In my official report it is further stated that: "The troops had become +engaged in our front within ten minutes after a reconnaissance had been +ordered by General Twiggs, and before the officer whom I was escorting +had been able to make a single observation". + +In my official copy of that report, I find the following sentence, which +is not in the printed report: + +"Deeply do I regret that the attack, in advance of the reconnoitring +party, precipitated the attack on our side, and involved us in action +against we knew not what". + +The force which became engaged, far to our right--before the +reconnaissance, supported by the engineer company, fairly commenced, +was the advance of Worth's division pursuing the Mexicans who had +abandoned their strong works at San Antonio. + +Captain James L. Mason, engineer of Worth's division, says, in his +official report, that the works attacked by that division, and "so +gallantly stormed, had not been reconnoitred". + +The engineers in front of the convent, being informed that the rifles +with Captain Lee had gone to our right considerably farther from the +battery, advised that the rifles be supported by an additional regiment. +The same engineers advised that one gun be sent to the front to drive +the Mexicans from the roof of the convent, and thus relieve our troops +on the right from a destructive plunging fire. + +The additional escort of two companies, asked for by the reconnoitring +engineers, had not come to the front. After Lieutenant Stevens had gone +back to General Twiggs, to have one gun with a few rounds of proper +ammunition sent forward for the purpose of clearing the roof of the +convent, the firing in our front, on the San Antonio road, had +materially increased; and the fire from the convent, upon the engineer +company, was becoming troublesome. There had been, to me, unexpected +delay in bringing the one gun forward; and I determined, as already +stated, to place the men under the best shelter at hand, and endeavor to +make, in person, a closer examination of the works. + +Resuming quotations from my official report--it is therein stated: + +"At this time the First Artillery came up to where I was. The lamented +and gallant Burke, at the head of the leading company, asked which +direction they were to take. I inquired what were his orders. He said +that the regiment was ordered to support the Rifles. I pointed to the +smoke, which was all we could see by which to determine the position of +our troops engaged in a corn-field on our right; told him that they +reached their present place by moving farther to the rear, out of range +of the works; and remarked to him that the fire through which he would +have to pass in the direction he was going was very severe. He replied +that they were ordered to move by that road to support the Rifles. The +First Artillery filed by and soon encountered, at a distance of 150 +yards from the enemy, the heaviest fire of artillery and musketry, +followed almost immediately after [by that] brought to bear upon +Taylor's battery, which had been ordered to fire upon the convent; and, +in selecting a place suitable for managing the guns, had most +unfortunately been placed, entirely exposed, directly in front of a well +constructed battery with heavy pieces firing in embrasure." + +"As the First Artillery filed by me, I ordered my company to be formed, +determined to go on with the reconnaissance; and if possible, send back +to the general, [Twiggs,] accurate information in reference to the works +of the enemy and the position of our own troops, which at that time I +could not understand. In moving forward, I was opposite the centre of +the [First] Artillery which inclined more to the left, toward the +battery, whilst I kept nearer the [principal road leading almost due +east from Coyoacan]. The ground was level, but some shelter was afforded +to small bodies of men, by the ditches, maguey plant, etc. I ordered my +men to separate, to shelter themselves as much as possible, [and] to +keep within supporting distance of me. I proceeded about two hundred +yards. I ordered every man to shelter himself in a small ditch which was +fortunately near us; immediately after I heard the fire of Taylor's +battery passing directly over my head. [When that fire commenced we +were] in the corn-field, about half-way between Taylor's battery and the +enemy. Requiring my command to lie close, with Lieutenant Foster, I made +my way to an old ruined wall in the open space east of the corn-field, +and from that position sent Lieutenant Foster to General Twiggs to +report the extent of the line engaged on the right, that we were +directly in front of the works [which were now in plain view], and that, +in my opinion, the whole force under General Twiggs's command should +turn the enemy's position by our left. Another battery [of the enemy] +was seen distinctly to our right and far in rear of the Churubusco +battery, apparently enfilading our line engaged on the right. General +Twiggs had already sent Colonel Riley's brigade to turn the position by +our left, and take the battery by the gorge. When Lieutenant Foster +returned, I withdrew the company to a position of more safety, and +joined General Smith and Lieutenant Stevens, who were near the place +from which I started with the First Artillery. I remained there [under +General Smith's order] until after the action." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +Appendix, pp. 70-71.) + +That point was about 300 yards south-west of the convent. There were +several adobe houses near, and from it a road along which there were +some huts, led to the convent, and another road, almost due east, passed +in front of the convent. In moving forward I had kept nearer the latter +road, the First Artillery nearer the former. The point I reached in the +open, east of the corn-field, was within less than 100 yards of the +works at the convent, and there was every indication that these works +did not extend along the western side of that building. + +The place at which I joined General Smith and Lieutenant Stevens, after +I returned from beyond the corn-field, was that at which it had been +proposed to place one gun, under cover of the adobe hut; run it out by +hand; fire, and run it under shelter again to reload. By this means, a +few rounds of grape, canister, and shrapnel, could have cleared the roof +of the convent. + +In more senses than one, the firing of Taylor's battery through the +ranks of the engineer company, in the corn-field, was a surprise to me. +I learned from Lieutenant Stevens that, when he applied for one gun to +be sent to the front, those in authority had deemed it best to send +forward a whole battery, and place it in an open field, square in front +of the fortifications. + +The battle of Churubusco was commenced, and mostly fought, haphazard, +against the front of the Mexican fortified lines, without giving time +for proper reconnaissance. + +General Scott, in his official report of the battle, says: "Lieutenant +Stevens of the engineers, supported by Lieutenant G. W. Smith's company +of sappers and miners, of the same corps, was sent to reconnoitre the +strongly fortified church or convent of San Pablo in the hamlet of +Churubusco--one mile off [from Coyoacan]. Twiggs with one of his +brigades [Smith's, less the rifles] and Captain Taylor's field battery, +were ordered to follow and to attack the convent. Major Smith, senior +engineer, was despatched to concert with Twiggs the mode of attack, and +Twiggs's other brigade [Riley's] I soon ordered to support him." (Ex. +Doc. No. 1, p. 309.) + +Major John L. Smith, senior engineer, says: "Lieutenant Stevens in the +reconnaissance of the position of Churubusco, was assisted by Lieutenant +McClellan and escorted by the company of sappers and miners. This +company also participated in the operations of the right [of Twiggs's +division]". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 353.) + +Major Dimmick, commanding the First Regiment of Artillery, says: "About +12 o'clock, M., the battalion was ordered to attack the position of the +enemy at the church, reported by the engineers at the time to have but +one piece of artillery. The point of attack selected by the senior +engineer officer was masked by a corn-field, in front of which I +deployed the battalion and ordered it to advance, when almost instantly +a shower of musketry, grape and round shot poured upon us, under which +the battalion advanced". + +"The right had advanced to within one hundred yards of a regular bastion +front, the curtain of which had four pieces in embrasure, besides nearly +a thousand infantry, both of which kept up such a constant stream of +fire that I could not advance further in line; I therefore ordered the +men to cover themselves as well as possible. The left of the battalion +advanced to within seventy yards of the work, being exposed to the fire +of two pieces of artillery, _en barbette_, in addition to the fire of a +considerable force of infantry and some of them still nearer, so that +they had a destructive fire on the cannoniers and infantry; which +position the battalion maintained until the enemy were driven from their +guns and bastion, when they were followed into their work and +surrendered." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 78.) + +Captain Francis Taylor, commanding light battery, says: "On reaching +Churubusco, we came in sight of a church, where the enemy was posted, +having, as was supposed, an entrenched battery thrown across the road. +Troops were soon thrown forward to attack this place; and, after a short +time, I was ordered to place the battery in a position where it was +thought I could drive the enemy from the roof and walls of the church, +and sustain the other troops in their efforts to carry this place by +storm. On taking the position assigned me, I found we were exposed to a +most terrible fire of artillery and musketry, of a regular entrenchment, +covering the front of the church to which we were opposite, and which +the intervening Indian corn hid from our sight at the time. Here I +opened my battery, and it was served with great precision for about an +hour and a half, notwithstanding it was exposed, during that time, to a +constant shower of grape, round shot, shell and musketry. At last, +finding my loss was becoming very great, and having succeeded in driving +the enemy from the roof and walls of the church, and given to our troops +such support as was in my power, I determined to withdraw the pieces". +(Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 73). + +The connection between the reconnaissance of the engineers, and the +operations of the First Artillery and Taylor's battery at Churubusco, +has already been described in extracts taken from my official report. + +In his official report, General Persifor F. Smith says: "Lieutenant G. +W. Smith, in command of the engineer company, and Lieutenant McClellan, +his subaltern, distinguished themselves throughout the whole of the +three actions [19th and 20th at Contreras; and at Churubusco]. Nothing +seemed to them too bold to be undertaken, or too difficult to be +executed; and their services as engineers were as valuable as those they +rendered in battle at the head of their gallant men. Lieutenant Foster, +being detached from his company during the action at Contreras, did not +fall under my notice; but in the action on the 19th and at Churubusco, +he was equally conspicuous for his gallantry". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 332). + +General Twiggs, in his official report, says: "To Lieutenant G. W. +Smith, of the engineers, who commanded the company of sappers and +miners, I am under obligations for his services on this and on other +occasions. Whenever his legitimate duties with the pick and spade were +performed, he always solicited permission to join in the advance of the +storming party with his muskets, in which position his gallantry, and +that of his officers and men, was conspicuously displayed at Contreras +as well as Cerro Gordo." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 325.) + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF MEXICO. + + +During the armistice, which was entered into just after the battle of +Churubusco, and terminated on the 6th of September, the engineer company +was quartered in the village of San Angel. On the 7th of September I +received orders to move the company, its train, and the general engineer +train of the army to Tacubaya. + +MOLINO DEL REY. That night I was ordered to detail an officer +and ten men of the engineer company to report to General Worth. +Lieutenant Foster was placed in charge of this detail. He and his men +were on the right of the storming party of five hundred picked men, of +Worth's division, which led the attack against Molino Del Rey on the +morning of the 8th. In that attack Lieutenant Foster was very severely +wounded and disabled. + +CHAPULTEPEC. On the 11th of September, I received orders to +furnish details of men from the company to assist engineer officers in +supervising the construction of batteries against Chapultepec. I was +placed in charge of Battery No. 1, on the Tacubaya road, against the +southern face of the Castle; and Lieutenant McClellan in charge of +Battery No. 2, against the southwestern angle. On the night of the 12th, +the details were all called in, and I was directed to furnish implements +to the different storming parties which were to assault the castle of +Chapultepec on the morning of the 13th. + +SAN COSME GARITA. At 3 P. M., that day, I received orders to +join the siege train, and report to General Worth whose column was to +attack the city by the San Cosme route. + +At 4 P. M., I reported to General Worth, who was then with his forces, +in the suburbs of the city, on the San Cosme causeway, at the point +where it changes direction, at an angle of nearly ninety degrees, and is +then nearly straight for about six hundred yards to the fortified Garita +in our front. He informed me that Lieutenant Stevens had just been +severely wounded and this made me the senior engineer with Worth's +division. He directed me to go forward in person, closely examine the +condition of affairs at the front, endeavor to determine the best method +of operating against the fortified Garita, and report to him the result +of my observations as soon as possible. He directed me, particularly, to +have in view the question whether it would be advisable to bring the +siege guns forward against the embrasured battery at the Garita. Just as +I was leaving him, he said: "If you find there are two different methods +by which the Garita can be carried, one in a shorter time at a sacrifice +of men, the other in longer time, but a saving of men, choose the +latter". And he added: "There have been too many valuable lives, of +officers and men, lost recently in my division, for nothing". + +Though he did not specify the action referred to, he meant the battle of +Molino Del Rey. Under these instructions, I proceeded to the extreme +front, made the requisite examination of our position and that of the +enemy, and soon came back. I reported that the houses on the left of the +causeway were built up continuously to the battery at the Garita, we +could easily break through the walls from house to house; and, under +perfect cover, reach the top of a three-story building, with flat roof +and stone parapet, within 40 yards of the battery. A fire of musketry +from that roof would make the works untenable; and we could thus in a +short time drive the enemy from the fortified Garita, and secure a good +lodgement within the city, without material loss and without using the +siege guns. + +General Worth directed me to bring forward the engineer company, which +was with the siege train a short distance to the rear, and commence +operations on the proposed plan; and at the same time ordered that +Clarke's brigade should render any assistance I might call for. + +An hour or more before sunset we reached the top of the house above +referred to. From that position the inside of the enemy's works could be +plainly seen almost to the foot of the interior slope of the parapet. +Our first fire upon the Mexicans, who were unconscious of the impending +peril, was very deadly. Those who were not killed or disabled by that +fire seemed dazed for an instant; but in a few moments, they +precipitately retreated, leaving the San Cosme Garita without a single +defender in the works. One of their pieces of artillery was withdrawn a +few hundred yards, but was then abandoned. + +Immediately after that first fire, a portion of the force with me on the +roof became engaged with the enemy who appeared on house tops in rear +of their battery. We soon drove them from their position. The other +portion of our men fell back to the stairs, made their way to the lower +story, broke open the thick, heavily barred, strong door, passed into +the street, entered the abandoned works, and pursued the enemy. In the +meantime, some of our troops from the right of the causeway had come +forward and, a very small number of them, were slightly in advance of us +in reaching the abandoned battery. + +Colonel Garland, commander of the first brigade of Worth's division, on +the right of the causeway, says, in his official report: "The enemy then +took position at the Garita San Cosme, where they were supported by two +pieces of artillery which raked the streets with grape and canister. +Finding a secure position to the right of the second defence, [about 350 +yards in front of the Garita], I reorganized the command as it came up; +mounted a howitzer on the top of a convent, which, under the direction +of Lieutenant [U. S.] Grant, Quartermaster, 4th Infantry, and Lieutenant +Lendrum, 3rd Artillery, annoyed the enemy considerably. About this time, +report was made to me that considerable progress had been made by the +troops on the other side of the street by means of crowbars and +pickaxes, working through houses and yards. This caused me to watch +closely for the first movement of the enemy indicative of retreat. The +moment this was discovered, the 4th Infantry, followed by detachments of +the 2nd and 3rd Artillery, under Colonel Belton, rushed up the road, +when they entered the work simultaneously with the forces operating to +the right and left, Captain McKenzie's storming party slightly in +advance". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 170.) + +Referring to this operation, General Worth, in his official report, +says; "the moment had now arrived for the final and combined attack upon +the last stronghold of the enemy in my quarter; it was made, by our men +springing, as if by magic, to the tops of the houses into which they had +patiently and quietly made their way with the bar and pick, and to the +utter surprise and consternation of the enemy, opening upon him, within +easy range, a destructive fire of musketry. A single discharge, in which +many of his gunners were killed at their pieces, was sufficient to drive +him in confusion from the breastworks; when a prolonged shout from our +brave fellows announced that we were in possession of the Garita of San +Cosme and already in the city of Mexico". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 392.) + +The American army having thus captured the fortifications of the capital +of the enemy's country, a magnificent city of nearly 200,000 +inhabitants, a secure lodgement was immediately effected in large +houses, on the left of the street, a few hundred yards from the Garita. +I then proceeded, with the engineer company and an infantry detachment, +several hundred yards farther; and found a strong position, on the right +of the street where the troops could rest protected from fire. Going +farther to the front, I discovered that, 150 yards in advance there was +a large convent, on the left of the street, occupied by a strong force. +The next cross street, the Paseo, had batteries upon it. These facts +were reported to General Worth, who ordered forward two brigades--one to +occupy each of the positions selected--and, directed me to place those +troops, station the picket-guards, and then, with Lieutenant McClellan, +report at his headquarters which was several hundred yards within the +Garita. + +The aqueduct, in the middle of the street along which we advanced, was +an open stone trough, supported at a height of ten feet, or more, by +pillars and arches. There was a good deal of firing down the street from +Mexican detachments; but, by taking shelter under the arches, between +the pillars, our men, in small groups, were quite well protected. A +little before dark, whilst I was under one of the arches at the extreme +front, endeavoring to get a closer view of the enemy at the convent and +on the Paseo, I was joined by Lieutenant Sydney Smith, of the Fourth +Infantry, who had borne several messages from me to General Worth during +the afternoon. In a few moments after he joined me we heard horses feet +rapidly approaching us from the direction of the citadel. These horsemen +were captured, and proved to be three Mexican officers, one of whom was +Adjutant-General on the staff of Santa Anna. + +Accompanied by Lieutenant McClellan, I reported to General Worth at 10 +P. M., and was ordered by him to suspend operations for the night and +resume them at daylight. He received us both very kindly, expressed +satisfaction with the manner in which the works at the Garita had been +carried, and approved of all the dispositions that had been subsequently +made of the troops at the front. I called his attention again to the +convent, told him that the large Mexican force in that position might +give us a great deal of trouble next morning, and asked him to permit +me, with the engineer company supported by a detachment of about five +hundred men, to pass the convent that night, get into a strong position +beyond it, and thus induce the enemy to abandon that position before +morning; and said I thought it probable a detachment of five hundred men +could reach the main plaza of the city, that night, without material +difficulty; and that, in case this force encountered serious opposition, +they could take possession of some one of the many large, strong +buildings on the way, and hold their own against the whole Mexican army +until relief could reach them. + +General Worth not only refused to comply with my request; but, ordered +both myself and Lieutenant McClellan to remain at his headquarters until +3 A. M., at which hour he said he would have us called, and we could +then go to the front and resume our duties. + +That arrangement left the engineer company, for the night, at the +extreme front, without an officer. In spite of my earnest remonstrances +General Worth insisted that we should remain. On the latter point he was +inexorable. I finally asked him if I was under arrest. He said "No" and +added: "You soon will be if you show further hesitation in obeying my +order for you to remain here". + +Being awakened by one of General Worth's aides, I asked if it was +already 3 o'clock. It seemed to me that I had not been asleep five +minutes. The aide said: "It is about 1 o'clock. A deputation from the +civil authorities has just informed General Worth that Santa Anna's army +evacuated the city before midnight, and they offered to surrender the +city. They have been passed on to General Scott, at Tacubaya; and +General Worth wishes to see you at once". + +The latter told me more fully about the deputation and their proposal to +surrender; expressed some doubt in reference to the evacuation of the +city by the Mexican army; directed me to return to the front; take the +engineer company and a detachment of infantry; proceed carefully +forward, using every precaution; and report to him the slightest +indication that the city had not been evacuated. I was directed to +examine closely every large building and strong position along our +route; and not pass them until thoroughly satisfied that they were not +occupied by Mexican soldiers. + +This forward movement commenced about 2 A. M. There was some delay in +determining whether the strong convent, mentioned above, had been +evacuated. Accounts on that subject were conflicting; but a thorough +examination of the whole position showed that it was abandoned. I +reported that fact to General Worth, and informed him that we would move +on with great care, in strict compliance with his instructions. + +All buildings of importance were broken open. None of them were occupied +by the enemy. From time to time, I reported these facts to General +Worth; and, at daylight, I informed him that, from a church steeple near +the Alameda, I could see that the Citadel, which had stopped the advance +of General Quitman's troops early in the afternoon of the 13th, was +deserted. At that time, Lieutenant McClellan reported to me there were +no signs of the enemy in any portion of the Alameda; and I suggested to +General Worth that his whole division be moved forward. + +In the meantime, with the engineer company and the infantry detachment, +I passed beyond the Alameda, breaking open, as before, and examining all +strong buildings on our route. We had gone more than two blocks in +advance of the Alameda, and were closely approaching the Main Plaza and +the National Palace, when I received a positive order to countermarch my +command, and report to General Worth at the Alameda. I demurred, and +told the aide, who bore the order, that I had obeyed all of General +Worth's cautionary instructions; that there was no enemy in our front, +and no reason for calling us back. The aide replied: "The order is +positive. You must go back." I then gave the order to countermarch. On +our way, the aide, who was a classmate and intimate friend of mine, said +to me; "General Worth is very cross, he is angry. My opinion is that he +has received orders from the headquarters of the army which have riled +him up badly". + +A few days later I learned from General Worth that he received a +peremptory order from General Scott not to permit any one under his +command to pass beyond the Alameda, until further instructions were +received from the General-in-Chief. + +For several hours after the engineer company took its place on the right +of Worth's division, at the Alameda, all seemed to be quiet in the city. +General Quitman's troops, from the Belen Gate, had passed the abandoned +citadel, reached the Main Plaza, and took possession of the National +Palace. Later, General Scott, with his staff officers and mounted +escort, entered the city. + +About that time a shot was fired, evidently aimed at General Worth, from +a narrow street or lane, opposite the head of the division. The shot +missed Worth, but very severely wounded Colonel Garland. General Worth, +immediately ordered me to take the engineer company, go into the lane, +find the man who fired the shot, and hang him. + +Within fifty yards we found the man who I believed fired the shot, a +rope was placed around his neck, but I did not order my men to hang him. +I had no _positive_ proof against him. I took the man to General Worth, +reported the circumstances of the case, in full; stated the reasons for +my belief that the prisoner fired the shot which severely wounded +Colonel Garland; and added: "In the absence of specific proof against +this man I have brought him to you, and await your further +instructions". + +To which General Worth replied, in a cold and haughty manner: "This is +not the way in which my orders are obeyed by officers of _my division_". + +Colonel Duncan, who was close beside General Worth, both mounted, whilst +I was on foot, said, at once, before I could make any reply to the +foregoing censure: "General Worth, you are wrong; Lieutenant Smith is +right. Under the circumstances he ought not to have hanged this man. It +is for you, the Major-General commanding these forces, to decide that +matter. Give the order. You see he and his men are ready to obey you. +Give the order". + +In the meantime, the men of the engineer company, without instructions +from me, had passed the rope over an adjacent large lantern iron; and +stood ready to string the man up. General Worth did not give the order. +The man was not hanged. + +In less than an hour after Colonel Garland was wounded, lawless bands of +armed Mexicans commenced firing from the parapet roofs of houses, from +church steeples and windows, in various parts of the city, upon our +troops in the open streets. An order was then given, by General Scott, +for Worth's forces to move beyond the Alameda and join with the rest of +the army, in putting down the rising of armed outlaws who made this +murderous attack upon us eight or ten hours after the city surrendered. +In these operations the engineer company was with Worth's division until +the recall was sounded late that afternoon. + +General Scott, in his official report, says: "I communicated, about +daylight [on the 14th], orders to Worth and Quitman to advance slowly +and cautiously [to guard against treachery] towards the heart of the +city, and to occupy its stronger and more commanding points. Quitman +proceeded to the great plaza or square, planted guards and hoisted the +colors of the United States on the national palace, containing the halls +of Congress and executive apartments of Federal Mexico. In this grateful +service, Quitman might have been anticipated by Worth, but for my +express orders halting the latter at the head of the _Alameda_, [a green +park] within three squares of that goal of general ambition". (Ex. Doc. +No. 1, p. 383.) + +General Worth, in his official report, says: "At 5 A. M., on the 14th, +my troops and heavy guns advanced into the city, and occupied the +Alameda to the point where it fronts the palace, and there halted at 6 +o'clock, the general-in-chief having instructed me to take a position +and await his further orders. Shortly afterwards a straggling +assassin-like fire commenced from the house-tops, which continued, in +various parts of the city through the day, causing us some loss. The +first shot, fired at a group of officers at the head of my column, +struck down Colonel Garland, badly wounded. About the time of our +entrance into the city, the convicts in the different prisons, to the +number of some thirty thousand men, were liberated by order of the +flying government, armed and distributed in the most advantageous +houses, including the churches, convents, and even the hospitals, for +the purpose of exciting, if possible, the city to revolt". + +In speaking of the general operations of his forces in the capture of +the city, General Worth adds: + +"Officers and men of every corps carried themselves with wonted +gallantry and conduct. Of the staff; Lieutenants Stevens, Smith, and +McClellan, engineers, displayed the gallantry, skill and conduct, which +so eminently distinguished their corps". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, pp. 393-4.) + +General Scott adds: "Captain Lee, engineer, so constantly distinguished, +also bore important orders from me [September 13] until he fainted from +a wound and the loss of two nights' sleep at the batteries. Lieutenants +Beauregard, Stevens, and Tower, all wounded, were employed with the +divisions, and Lieutenants G. W. Smith and G. B. McClellan with the +company of sappers and miners. Those five lieutenants of engineers, like +their captain, won the admiration of all about them". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +p. 385.) + +Major John L. Smith, senior engineer, says: "Lieutenant Smith reports +all the sappers who were engaged on the 13th and 14th, to have conducted +themselves with intelligence and intrepidity altogether satisfactory; +but, he mentions the orderly sergeant, Hastings, who was wounded, as +being eminently distinguished, and he mentions also artificer Gerber, as +having been particularly distinguished". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 430.) + +Without dwelling upon details of the fighting in the streets and houses +on the 14th, it may be stated that, a short time before the recall was +sounded, when Orderly Sergeant Hastings fell, Lieutenant McClellan +seized the Sergeant's musket, fired at, and killed the man who shot +Hastings. In a few moments thereafter the company passed the dead body +of that "liberated", _convict_ Mexican. + +The unoccupied private house in which we were quartered that night was +near the place at which the man, who shot Colonel Garland, had been left +tied to a lantern iron with a rope around his neck. When we returned the +man was gone. Nothing further was said or done upon our side, in his +_case_. + +An hour or more after we were comfortably "settled in our new home", I +noticed that McClellan was very quiet for a considerable time, +evidently thinking of matters which deeply interested him. An occasional +marked change seemed to come over the spirit of his dream. Finally I +awakened him from his reverie, saying: "A penny for your thoughts. I +have been watching you for half an hour or more, and would like much to +know, honor bright, what you have been thinking about". + +To which he replied: "I have been making a 'general review' of what we +have gone through since we left West Point, one year ago this month, +bound for the 'Halls of the Montezumas'; have been again on the Rio +Grande, that grave-yard of our forces; have gone over the road from +Matamoros to Victoria and Tampico, where we had so much hard work; went +through the siege of Vera Cruz, where we were left out in the cold +during the ceremonies of surrender, and later, had to make our way as +best we could, with the engineer train through the horrid sand; glanced +at Cerro Gordo, where it was my misfortune to be with General Pillow's +'whipped community'; stopped again with our friends, the Monks, in the +convent at Puebla; crossed over the mountains; came by way of San +Antonio, Contreras, Churubusco, Chapultepec and the San Cosme Garita, +into this city. Here we are--the deed is done--I am glad no one can say +'poor Mac' over me". + +The capture of the city, and its occupation by General Scott's army, +virtually ended the war made by the United States against Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN THE CITY OF MEXICO--RETURN TO WEST POINT. + + +After the street fighting on the 14th, the city was quiet and remained +so. The men of the company were fairly entitled to a good rest and a new +outfit of clothing; but the quartermaster could not then furnish the +latter. At their request, I authorized them to purchase a better quality +of cloth than that furnished by the government, and to have finer +material for trimmings than the coarse cotton braid allowed by the +regulations. The clothing was made by good tailors and paid for by the +men. In the course of a month or six weeks, the company was provided +with handsome, well-fitting uniforms. + +In the meantime, drills were suspended for about a month. During that +period the only duty required of the men, other than that of ordinary +guard over their quarters and the engineer train of the army, was that +of details to assist engineer officers in making surveys of the recent +battlefields. + +In the latter part of October, the surveys of the battlefields being +completed, and the men provided with new and well-fitting uniforms, +infantry drills were resumed. An order was issued requiring the company +to be formed without arms, the next day, in the Alameda, for squad +drill. Immediately thereafter, one of my most trusted sergeants informed +me that this order caused great dissatisfaction in the company. He said +the men felt they would be degraded if now turned back to the +beginning--at squad drill without arms--thus placing them in the +position of raw recruits, whilst the rest of the army were being +exercised at brigade and division drill, "evolutions of the line," with +all attendant "pomp and circumstance". + +The sergeant warned me that the state of feeling in the company would, +in his opinion, lead to serious trouble if the order was carried into +effect. I thanked him for the information. + +When the men were formed on the drill ground next day, I told them I +was aware of their opposition to the order; but, that I was under the +impression I commanded that company, and if there was a man amongst them +who felt disposed to dispute my legal authority he was requested to step +to the front. No one moved. I then directed the artificers and privates +to go to their quarters, and inform the sergeant of the guard they had +my permission to be absent until evening parade. Turning to the +non-commissioned officers, I stated that, in my judgment, there was no +occasion for them to feel degraded if drilled by their own officers at +squad drill without arms. + +I drilled the sergeants, McClellan the corporals. Whilst the +non-commissioned officers were being thus drilled, the men were allowed +daily liberty from quarters. Later, the non-commissioned officers +drilled the men in squads under the supervision of the officers. +Instruction and practice in the infantry "School of the Company" was +then resumed; and, after a time, each non-commissioned officer was +required, in turn, to take his place by my side and drill the company. +On those occasions, the men were warned that no inattention or +remissness on their part would be tolerated; no matter how lenient with +them I might choose to be when commanding in person. + +It is safe to say that within six weeks from the time squad drills +without arms were commenced in the engineer company, in the City of +Mexico, that company as Infantry, was better drilled than any other in +the army. In that respect, and in discipline, they were pattern +soldiers. Regular instruction in the "School of the Engineer Soldier" +was then resumed. + +From raw recruits, on the Rio Grande, disturbed by the epithet, "pick +and shovel brigade" applied to them, at that time, by the soldiers of +the line, the engineer company had become veterans of more than half a +dozen important battles; had always been in the front of the fighting; +and had often been called upon to direct large working parties of +soldiers, detailed to use the "pick and shovel". + +About two months after we entered the city of Mexico, it was reported to +me, by the sergeant of the guard, that Artificer Gerber was then absent, +two hours beyond the time limit of his pass. I directed the sergeant to +send Gerber to me, in my quarters, as soon as he returned. + +Frederick W. Gerber was one of the four men, enlisted by Captain Swift, +who had served in the old regular army. He was enlisted as musician, and +was the finest bugler in the service. He was soon made company clerk, +and had thorough knowledge of routine "company papers". He was German +by birth. As company clerk his duties brought him in close relations +with the commander of the company; and I soon formed a very high +estimate of his qualities as a soldier--and as a man in every respect; +except that he would, on occasion, at intervals, when off duty, indulge +too freely in strong drink. + +I had repeatedly threatened to deprive him of his warrant as artificer, +if he did not quit drinking to excess; but I was reluctant to do so, +especially because his promotion to that grade was in reward for +distinguished gallantry in the attack on the "key-point" of the Mexican +position at the battle of Cerro Gordo. + +When it was reported to me that he had not returned within the time of +his "pass", I was quite sure he was again "on a spree". It was several +hours later when he reported to me as ordered by the sergeant of the +guard. + +I was alone when he entered my room. He had evidently been drinking to +excess; but was to some extent recovering. I charged him with being +drunk; told him he had behaved so well in that respect lately that I had +made up my mind to recommend his being promoted to the grade of +corporal; and even to that of sergeant, when opportunity was afforded +me, and added: "You know I cannot make such recommendation whilst you +continue this habit of getting drunk". He replied: "The lieutenant is +mistaken; I am not drunk, and, if he will allow me, I will satisfy him +on that point; and explain to him how I happened to overstay my pass". I +told him to go on with his explanation. + +He said that soon after he left the company quarters, early that +morning, with permission to be absent for four hours, he met with a +sergeant he had known as a private in the old regular service long +before the war. They were glad to see each other, took a few drinks, and +then hired a carriage for a drive of several hours in the great city +they had helped to capture. He added: "During the drive the sergeant got +mad and threatened to have me arrested. I told him that 'no d----d +infantry sergeant had rank enough to arrest an artificer of engineers'. +He then offered to fight me. We stopped the carriage, got out, drew our +swords, and I told him to come on, and we would soon settle the matter. +He attacked me, and I disarmed him, kept his sword, made him get into +the carriage, drove to General Twiggs's headquarters, reported to the +sergeant of his guard, told him what had occurred; and asked him to +hold, as a prisoner, the sergeant that had attacked me". + +"But he, being also an infantry sergeant, released the sergeant I had +brought there, made me a prisoner, and demanded my sword. I gave it to +him; but, when he ordered me to give up the sword I had captured, I told +him I would see him d----d first; and I kept it. I then asked to be +taken before General Twiggs. They told me he was out". + +"In three or four hours General Twiggs returned, and when he was passing +through the sally-port, the guard all in line, at present-arms, saluting +him, I rushed in front of his horse, and calling him by name, told him +his guard had made me a prisoner, and I asked for justice at his hands. +He ordered me to get out of his way. Still standing in front of his +horse, I again asked for justice. To which he replied: 'Who in the h--ll +are you?' When I told him who I was, he said: 'How is it that you are a +prisoner in my guard-house?' I told General Twiggs the whole story: and +showed him the infantry Sergeant's sword I had captured; and which his +guard tried to make me give up. General Twiggs then asked me if I was +willing to hand that sword to him. I gave it to him at once; and he +ordered the sergeant of the guard to release me and give me back my own +sword. I then came straight home." + +After hearing Gerber's story, on which I placed implicit reliance, I +strongly advised him to let liquor alone in future: and, again told him +I would gladly have him promoted, if he would quit drinking. + +Some time after we returned to the United States, and I had left the +company, I learned that, during the time Gerber was closeted with me, +opinion in the company was divided, and ran high in regard to the course +I would take in his case. All the men knew that he was deservedly a +great favorite of mine. Some of them said I would let him off; others +that I would deprive him of his warrant as artificer, and otherwise +punish him. + +These conflicting opinions as to what I would do in Gerber's case, were +freely backed by heavy bets among the men. When he joined them, all were +anxious to know what "the lieutenant" was going to do--"what did he +say?" To which he replied: "It is none of your business". For some time +they could get nothing more from him. But he finally said: "D----n it, +if you must know; the lieutenant told me he would make me a corporal". + +The sergeant who gave me the facts just related, added: "Previous to +that time, Gerber was believed, by the whole company, to be a perfectly +truthful man. But many of the men thought he lied on that occasion. +Although he has been truthful ever since, there is still, amongst us, +very grave suspicion in regard to the correctness of his assertion that +you then told him you would make him a corporal. I would like very much +to know the truth in regard to that matter". I replied: "Gerber told the +truth". + +It will be shown later, by extracts from official correspondence, that I +was not permitted to recommend for promotion, in the company, any of the +gallant men under my command who were so highly distinguished in the +various battles that occurred in the Valley of Mexico. So I had no +opportunity to have Gerber made a corporal--much less a sergeant.[5] + +The following extracts from correspondence, and from my monthly reports, +give a brief official account of the affairs of the company after the +capture of the City of Mexico. + +On the 4th of October, 1847, I addressed to Lieutenant I. I. Stevens, +Adjutant of Engineers, for the information of the senior engineer in the +field, and the General in Chief, a letter from which the following +quotations are taken: + +"By the last advices that I have received I learn that only six engineer +recruits have been made in the United States since September, 1846. +During that time the effective strength of the company in the field has +been reduced from seventy-one to thirty-six. Something must be done. I +have endeavored to reenlist good men whose terms of enlistment in other +corps had expired; I have tried to get transfers of good men, and +succeeded in obtaining but one. The senior engineer, believing that more +could be done, attempted it himself--he procured none". + +"At Vera Cruz my men were worked too hard; many of them are suffering +yet from disease contracted there. Time, labor and life would have been +saved if we had had the proportion of engineer soldiers usual in the +armies of civilized nations. At Cerro Gordo, when I could furnish ten +men [for details], fifty, at least, were necessary. In the operations in +this valley, the same necessity has been felt for a larger number of +soldiers of this character. There ought to be more companies of engineer +soldiers in this army. Certainly, measures should be taken to complete +the number of men allowed in the only company now authorized. I know of +none so likely to succeed as sending an officer and non-commissioned +officers [to the United States] on this duty". + +In my official report for the month of November, 1847, it is stated: +"The system of instruction now being pursued is the following: From 9 A. +M. until 10:45 A. M., recitations and instruction of the whole company, +under direction of both officers, in _Manuel du Sapeur_, together with +lectures and recitations on field fortifications. From 11 A. M. until +12:30 P. M., [infantry drill]. From 2 P. M. until 4 P. M., recitations +in arithmetic and practice in writing. Each officer has a section in +arithmetic, and gives a general superintendence to a section in writing. +Instruction in writing is given by sergeants". + +"I have nothing new to offer either in reference to the property, the +enlistment of men, or the settlement of the accounts of the late Captain +Swift. All, in my opinion, matters of importance; but already referred +to, [in previous reports and correspondence], perhaps, too often". + +"It is just one year since, by the casualties of service, the command of +this company devolved upon myself as the senior officer for duty with +the engineer troops. During this time the interests of the general +engineer service, particularly of the non-commissioned officers and men, +have materially suffered for want of an officer of rank at the head of +the company. In the French service _two_ captains are assigned to every +company of this character, and the companies are all [well] instructed +before they take the field. I earnestly recommend that four officers of +engineers be assigned to duty with this company. The commander should be +an officer of rank; his position permanent. In case the Chief Engineer +should order an officer into the field to take command of Company A, +engineers, I respectfully request that I may be ordered to the United +States as soon as relieved from this duty". + +On the 1st of February, 1848, I reported that the course of instruction, +adopted for the company, "had been continued, with satisfactory progress +on the part of non-commissioned officers and men". + +On the 27th of February, 1848, in a letter to Colonel Totten, Chief +Engineer, Washington, D. C., transmitting copies of certain papers, I +stated: + +"I would respectfully refer you to my communication of October 4th, +1847, addressed to the then Adjutant of Engineers, in which I strongly +urged that the interest of the engineer service required that an officer +and non-commissioned officers should be ordered to the United States for +the purpose of obtaining recruits for this company. Such is the course +pursued in every other arm of service: and I hesitate not to say that, +had my recommendation, as commander of the engineer company, been acted +upon favorably, at that time, we would now have in this city, a full +company. I have referred often to the wants of the company, without +favorable action having been had on my recommendations. We are not +furnished with men, not allowed to take the usual and, in my opinion, +necessary means of procuring recruits. I respectfully request to be +relieved from the command of the engineer company without further delay +than is necessary for the arrival of the captain commander in this +city". + +Owing to casualties of service, I had almost continually commanded the +company, its train, and the general engineer train of the army for more +than a year. My rank was that of Second Lieutenant--low on that list. I +was conscious that my rank or _lack_ of rank, rather, was, in some +essential respects, a detriment to the company. + +It was believed that the war was over; but, in freely expressing +willingness to give up the command I had long exercised, to which I had +no claim based upon rank, I did not hesitate to say that: "If the war +should be continued, and an additional company of engineer soldiers was +authorized to be raised, thus creating an engineer battalion, I would be +more than willing to command it in the field: _provided_, I was made +Major, by brevet, and assigned to duty with that rank". + +In my official report for the month of March, 1848, it is stated: +"During the month, daily instruction [of the company] in branches +pertaining to engineering has been omitted, I have thought it best to +pay more attention to their improvement in writing and arithmetic. The +infantry exercises are continued". + +On the 1st of May, I reported: "During the month of April the course of +instruction and drill pursued in March has been continued, with +satisfactory results". + +"Three _privates_ of this company have been appointed [by the government +at Washington] commissioned officers. Three _sergeants_, all men of +intelligence, education and character, have been recommended [by me], in +compliance with law, for commissions; they having all been repeatedly +distinguished for gallant and high soldierly conduct in battle. [As yet] +none of these sergeants have received [appointments]". + +When it became generally known in the army that the Mexican Government +had agreed to the proposed treaty of peace, and that the formal +ratification would soon be consummated, I requested the senior engineer, +Captain R. E. Lee, to direct me to sell the tools, etc., of the engineer +train, in the city of Mexico: order me to proceed to the coast by the +first opportunity, for the purpose of looking up, and accounting for, a +large amount of engineer property for which the estate of the late +Captain A. J. Swift was responsible; and authorize me to turn over the +command of the engineer company to Lieutenant McClellan, when I started +for the coast. + +In compliance with Captain Lee's instructions, the tools were sold. They +brought more than they had originally cost in the United States. I left +the city of Mexico the day the treaty of peace was signed on the part of +the Mexicans; and accompanied General Persifor F. Smith to Vera Cruz, at +which place he was charged with making all preparations for the +transportation of the army to the United States. Before leaving the City +of Mexico I turned over the command of the engineer company to +Lieutenant McClellan. I was detained in Vera Cruz about two weeks, +obtaining information in regard to, and making disposition of, the +public property in that vicinity, for which Captain Swift's estate was +then held responsible. + +The accounting officers of the government in Washington, had charged +against him, on their books, the value of large amounts of property +which had been shipped to, but never received by him. Several vessels, +partly loaded with portions of that property, were shipwrecked by +northers during the siege of Vera Cruz. In the time I spent at that +place after the war ended, I obtained knowledge which enabled me to +clear up all accounts against the estate of Captain Swift. The amount of +that nominal indebtedness far exceeded the value of his property; which +would have been unfairly sacrificed to the government, and have left his +name unjustly tarnished as that of a defaulter, if conclusive evidence +of the facts in the case had not been furnished to the accounting +officers. + +The engineer company, under Lieutenant McClellan, accompanied by all the +engineer officers from the City of Mexico, left that city on the 28th of +May, 1848, and marched to Vera Cruz. From the latter place the company +was transported by steamer to New York City; arrived at West Point, N. +Y., on the 22nd of June; reported to the superintendent of the Military +Academy, and was immediately ordered to report to Captain George W. +Cullum, of the engineer corps, as its new commander. I remained about a +week in Vera Cruz after the company sailed; arrived at West Point in +July; and was ordered to report to Captain Cullum. + +A short time thereafter, I asked to be relieved from duty with the +company; and applied for six months leave of absence. The leave was +granted, and it was understood that, on its expiration, I would be +ordered to other engineer service. + +Before the expiration of my leave, the war men of the company procured +the passage of an act by Congress, authorizing their discharge from the +service. Under that act nearly all the men of the company, who had +served in Mexico, immediately obtained their discharge from the army. +This virtually reduced the company to the detachment of recruits which +had been collected and retained at West Point. + +At the expiration of my leave of absence I was formally relieved from +further direct service with the engineer company; and at the request of +the Chief Engineer, consented to undertake the enlistment of new +recruits to fill the places in the company vacated by the war men, who +had been discharged. That business was finished within a few months. I +was then ordered on other engineer duty and, thus, my connection with +the engineer company ended. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[5] Frederick W. Gerber, was enlisted in Co. "A." June 29, 1846, after +previous service in the 4th Infantry, which he joined in 1839, and under +the Act of March 3, 1849, was discharged April 6, 1849. He was +reenlisted the same day and continued in the service until his death at +the Post of Willets Point, N. Y., November 10, 1875. He was appointed +Artificer, April 18, 1847, Corporal, August 1, 1848, Sergeant, February +1, 1849, and was Sergeant Major of the Battalion of Engineers from +February 21, 1867, to the date of his death. + + + + +APPENDIX A. + +BRIEF EXTRACTS, FROM WILCOX'S HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN WAR, 1892. + + +"General Patterson was ordered to march [December, 1846,] from Matamoros +to Victoria with three regiments of volunteers, two pieces of artillery, +and the engineer company under Lieut. G. W. Smith". (p. 187.) + +VERA CRUZ. "This line of investment, through the chaparral and +over the sand hills, was located by Lieut. G. W. Smith, of the +engineers, assisted by Lieut. G. B. McClellan, and a roadway along the +line was made under the supervision of these two lieutenants with the +engineer company and a party of several hundred soldiers". (p. 246.) + +CERRO GORDO. "On the arrival of the engineer company and train +at Plan del Rio [April 17th, 1847], Lieut. G. B. McClellan with a party +of ten men reported to General Pillow, and Lieut. G. W. Smith with [the +rest of] his men and a portion of the train to General Twiggs". + +"That night [17th] one 24-pounder and two 24-pound howitzers were placed +in position on the Atalaya, the battery being constructed under the +supervision of Lieut. G. W. Smith, assisted by Lieut. John G. Foster of +the engineers, the location of the battery having been determined by +Capt. R. E. Lee". (p. 286.) + +FROM PUEBLA TO THE VALLEY OF MEXICO. "Riley's brigade was +guided by Capt. Lee, assisted by Lieut. John G. Foster with ten men of +the engineer company". (p. 287-8.) + +"It was the rule with General Scott that one of the only two regular +divisions should always be in front. The engineer company headed the +column. There was but one company of engineer soldiers in the United +States army". (p. 339.) + +IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO. "Beyond San Gregorio, the border of +Xochimilco was skirted, and here obstructions in the road were first +encountered, a ditch having been dug across it, and large stones rolled +down from the hillside; but these obstacles were soon overcome by the +engineer company with a detail from the leading brigade, while the +Mexicans, who were firing from the heights above, were driven off by +Colonel C. F. Smith's light battalion". (p. 355.) + +CONTRERAS. "The engineer company was recalled from Worth, and +with a working party of 500 men, was ordered to make the road to +Padierna practicable for artillery". (p. 362.) + +"When Smith's brigade advanced as described, the engineer company, under +Lieut. G. W. Smith, went into action with the Third Infantry of that +brigade". (p. 363.) + +"General Smith moved to his right and front across the _pedrigal_, the +Rifles, with the engineer company at their head, leading". + +"At 2:30 A. M. of the 20th [August, 1847], the troops under General +Smith began to form and take their places preparatory to the march which +would bring them on Valencia's rear. Leading the Rifles in front of the +brigade was the engineer company". (p. 369.) + +"The engineer company and the Rifles, being already in position in rear +of the Mexican detachment, then rose and firing a volley upon it, and +Riley continuing on upon them, they faced about, broke, and fled in the +utmost precipitation to the main line in rear, pursued by Riley, the +Rifles and engineer company". (p. 70.) + +CHURUBUSCO. "At Coyoacan General Scott joined, having +previously ordered his columns to halt there. Lieut. I. I. Stevens, +ordered about the same time to advance on the direct road and +reconnoitre, was supported by the engineer company under Lieut. G. W. +Smith. This reconnaissance covered the Convent of San Pablo in the +village of Churubusco". (p. 378-9.) + +CHAPULTEPEC. "Battery No. 1 was constructed under Lieut. G. W. +Smith's supervision, and Battery No. 2 under Lieut. G. B. McClellan's. +Details were made from Quitman's division to assist the engineer company +in the construction of these works, but although directed to report +immediately after dark they did not arrive until near 4 A. M., of the +12th; hence these works, which were to have been finished before +daylight, were hardly commenced by that time. The engineers were +however, indefatigable, and the batteries were completed rapidly". (p. +452.) + +CITY OF MEXICO. "Lieut. G. W. Smith, with the company and train +under his command, reported to General Worth on the [San Cosme] +causeway, [in the afternoon, September 13th], was informed that the +wounding of Lieut. Stevens made him [Smith] the senior engineer of the +attack then going on, and was instructed to go to the front, closely and +carefully examine the state of affairs, return as soon as practicable, +and report the best method of conducting the attack". He reported "that +infantry alone on the left of the road could capture the gate, without +artillery and with little loss, by making its way through the houses. He +was ordered to take the engineer company and tools, return to the front, +and carry out the plan proposed". (p. 476.) + +"The Mexicans did not remain long in front of Worth; after dark the +signal for retreat of one command was given, and being heard by all, +they left the buildings and scattered in all directions, their officers +being unable to restrain them. In a little while, however, they repaired +to the citadel. In one of the pavilions a council was held. Santa Anna +presided, explained the untoward incidents of the day, and asked the +opinions of those present as to whether or not the defence of the +capital should be prolonged. There was discussion and opposition, but, +Santa Anna announced his decision in these emphatic words: 'I resolve +that this night this city must be evacuated'". (p. 480-1.) + +"At 1 o'clock A. M. of the 14th commissioners from the municipal +government of the city approached the advanced post of Worth's command, +were passed to his headquarters, and by him sent to General Scott's +headquarters in Tacubaya". (p. 481.) + +"General Worth then directed the two engineer officers, serving with his +command, to proceed to the front and with a detachment of infantry and +the engineer company, closely examine all strong buildings, and direct +operations toward the Main Plaza and National Palace. The senior +engineer being directed to make known promptly any indication that the +rumored evacuation was incorrect, reported that everything indicated +that the Mexican army had abandoned the city". (p. 481.) + + + + +APPENDIX B. + +PROMOTIONS OF ENLISTED MEN OF THE COMPANY. + + + TEPE AGUALCO, MEXICO, + _May 4, 1847_. + + _Colonel JOSEPH G. TOTTEN_, + _Chief Engineer_, + _Washington City_. + + SIR: + + "I have the honor to inform you that, on the 25th of April, + First Sergeant Hastings of 'K' Company, Third Artillery, + was, by order of General Worth, transferred to the Engineer + Corps, subject to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief. + + "Sergeant Hastings has the reputation of being one of the + best first sergeants in the army. He was for 7 or 8 years + orderly sergeant in the Second Infantry. He is an intimate + friend of Sergeant Everett;[6] is a well educated man, very + intelligent; a remarkably fine looking soldier, a good drill + sergeant. + + "By birth he is an Irishman--he came to this country quite + young, and was brought up in Po'keepsie, N. Y. + + "We were very much in want of an orderly sergeant. I think + there can be no doubt but we have secured a prize. + + "I would be glad if you would send a Sergeant's warrant for + David H. Hastings. I respectfully recommend the following + promotions and appointments in the engineer company: + + Corporal Benjamin W. Coit, acting lance sergeant since 1st + of February, to be sergeant from February 1st, 1847: + + Artificer Charles A. Viregg, lance corporal since 1st of + February, to be corporal from February 1st, 1847: + + Artificer Ethan T. Sheldon, lance corporal since 1st of + February, to be corporal from February 1st, 1847: + + Artificer William A. Noyes, to be corporal from the 18th of + April, 1847: + + "Privates Charles A. Pierce, Jacob T. Smith, Benjamin L. + Boomer, Edwin M. Holloway, James Brannan, Joseph A. Mower, + David P. Weaver, Thomas Bigley, Seth H. Taylor, and Charles + A. Porter, to be artificers from the 29th of March, 1847: + + "Musician Frederick W. Gerber to be artificer from the 18th + of April, 1847: + + "Privates Augustus B. Hussey, James B. Vansant, and William + S. Bliss, to be artificers from the 29th of March, 1847: + + "Corporal William Bartlett, reduced to the grade of + artificer, May 1st, 1847: + + "Artificer Hiram B. Yeager to be corporal from May 1st, + 1847: + + "Artificer Charles W. Bont reduced to the grade of second + class private from May 1st, 1847: + + "I respectfully call to the attention of the Chief Engineer + the fact that, in accordance with his suggestion, I have + delayed making the above recommendations, and now urge them + as my deliberate opinion. I hope they will be favorably + acted upon. + + "My monthly return for April shows a total of sixty-two. My + recommendations make, in the company, six sergeants, six + corporals, one musician, twenty-three artificers and + twenty-six second class privates". + + Very respectfully, + Your obdt. servt., + GUS. W. SMITH, + _Lieut., Comdg. Engr. Co._ + +The foregoing recommendations were approved and the appointments were +received whilst the company was in the city of Puebla. + +Soon after the war ended, Sergeants Hastings, Starr and Everett were +promoted to be commissioned officers in the "Old Regular Army" of the +United States. Later, Sergeant Warren L. Lothrop was given a commission +in that army. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[6] Thornton S. Everett was property sergeant of the engineer company; +had charge of its train from the time of his enlistment in the company +until its return to West Point; and, in addition, had charge, in Mexico, +of the general engineer train of the army. + + + + + +------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | + | | + | Page 8 a changed to at | + | Page 9 Camargo changed to Carmargo | + | Page 10 Camargo changed to Carmargo | + | Page 11 montly changed to monthly | + | Page 11 chapparel changed to chaparral | + | Page 12 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 12 referrred changed to referred | + | Page 13 extravagent changed to extravagant | + | Page 15 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 20 relinguished changed to relinquished | + | Page 21 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 22 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 27 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 28 Twigg's changed to Twiggs's | + | Page 29 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 30 Twigg's changed to Twiggs's | + | Page 31 hights changed to heights | + | Page 38 quite changed to quiet | + | Page 41 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan | + | Page 44 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan | + | Page 45 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan | + | Page 49 come changed to came | + | Page 52 posession changed to possession | + | Page 64 amonnts changed to amounts | + | Page 64 seige changed to siege | + | Page 64 indebtness changed to indebtedness | + | Page 66 chapparal changed to chaparral | + +------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Company 'A', corps of engineers, +U.S.A., 1846-'48, in the Mexican war, by Gustavus Woodson Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMPANY A CORP OF ENGIN., 1846-48 *** + +***** This file should be named 31113-8.txt or 31113-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/1/1/31113/ + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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S. A., 1846-'48, in the Mexican +war, by Gustavus Woodson Smith. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h5,h6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h2 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h3 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h4 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} /* small caps */ + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} /* no indenting */ + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} /* block indent */ + .right {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} /* right aligning paragraphs */ + .tdr {text-align: right;} /* right align cell */ + .tdrb {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} /* right align cell */ + .tdl {text-align: left;} /* left align cell */ + .tdlt {text-align: left; vertical-align: top;} /* left align cell, vertical align top */ + .tr {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} /* transcriber's notes */ + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + color: silver; + background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers */ + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 90%;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right; font-size: 90%;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: text-top; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.pn { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + color: silver; background-color: inherit; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers in poems */ + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Company 'A', corps of engineers, U.S.A., +1846-'48, in the Mexican war, by Gustavus Woodson Smith + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Company 'A', corps of engineers, U.S.A., 1846-'48, in the Mexican war + +Author: Gustavus Woodson Smith + +Release Date: January 28, 2010 [EBook #31113] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMPANY A CORP OF ENGIN., 1846-48 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h1> COMPANY "A,"</h1> + +<h1> CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A.,</h1> + +<h3> 1846-'48,</h3> + +<h4> IN THE</h4> + +<h2> MEXICAN WAR.</h2> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4> BY</h4> + +<h2> GUSTAVUS W. SMITH,</h2> + +<h3> FORMERLY LIEUTENANT OF ENGINEERS, AND BVT. CAPTAIN,</h3> + +<h3> U. S. ARMY.</h3> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h3> THE BATTALION PRESS,<br /> + 1896.</h3> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Executive Document, No. 1, United States Senate, December 7, 1847, +contains a Communication from the Secretary of War, transmitting to +Congress the official reports of commanding generals and their +subordinates in the Mexican War.</p> + +<p>The Secretary says: "The company of engineer soldiers, authorized by the +act of May 15, 1846, has been more than a year on active duty in Mexico, +and has rendered efficient service. I again submit, with approval, the +proposition of the Chief Engineer for an increase of this description of +force." (Senate-Ex. Doc. No. 1, 1847, p. 67.)</p> + +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap" width="22%"> </td> + <td class="tdl" width="70%"> </td> + <td class="tdr" width="8%" style="font-size: 80%;">Page</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap">Preface</td> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Chap. I.</td> + <td class="tdl">Enlistment—Instruction—Detention on the Rio Grande—March + to Victoria and Tampico—Landing at Vera Cruz—Death of Captain Swift.</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Chap. II.</td> + <td class="tdl">Engaged in Operations against Vera Cruz</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Chap. III.</td> + <td class="tdl">After the Surrender of Vera Cruz to the Occupation of Puebla.</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Chap. IV.</td> + <td class="tdl">From Puebla to Churubusco.</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Chap. V.</td> + <td class="tdl">Capture of the City of Mexico.</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Chap. VI.</td> + <td class="tdl">In the City of Mexico; Return to West Point.</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Appendix A.</td> + <td class="tdl">Brief Extracts, from Wilcox's History of the Mexican War, 1892.</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlt smcap">Appendix B.</td> + <td class="tdl">Promotions of Enlisted Men of the Company.</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h2>ENLISTMENT—INSTRUCTION—DETENTION ON THE RIO GRANDE—MARCH TO VICTORIA +AND TAMPICO—LANDING AT VERA CRUZ—DEATH OF CAPTAIN SWIFT.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Previous to the war with Mexico there existed among the people of the +United States a strong prejudice against maintaining even a small +regular army in time of peace. Active opposition to a permanent, regular +military establishment extended to the West Point Academy, in which +cadets were trained and qualified to become commissioned officers of the +army. That Academy was then a component part of the Military Engineer +Corps. For years the chief of the Corps had, in vain, urged upon +Congress, the necessity for having, at least one company of enlisted +engineer soldiers as a part of the regular army.</p> + +<p>In the meantime he had, however, succeeded in persuading the Government +at Washington to send—by permission of the Government of France—a +selected Captain of the U. S. Engineer Corps to the French School of +engineer officers at Metz; for the purpose of having in the U. S. Army, +an officer qualified to instruct and command a company of engineer +soldiers in case Congress could be induced to authorize the enlistment +of such a company.</p> + +<p>Captain Alexander J. Swift was the officer selected to be sent to Metz. +On his return to the United States, he was assigned to temporary duty at +West Point awaiting the long delayed passage of an act authorizing the +enlistment of a company of U. S. Engineer soldiers.</p> + +<p>That act was passed soon after the commencement of hostilities with +Mexico. It provided for the enlistment of an engineer company of 100 +men, in the regular army. The company to be composed of 10 sergeants, 10 +corporals, 39 artificers, 39 second class privates, and 2 musicians; all +with higher pay than that of enlisted men in the line of the army.</p> + +<p>Captain Swift was assigned to the command; and, at his request, I was +ordered to report to him as next officer in rank to himself. At my +suggestion, Brevet Second Lieutenant George B. McClellan, who had just +been graduated from the Military Academy, was assigned as junior officer +of the company.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>At that time I had been an officer of engineers for four years; my rank +was that of second lieutenant. All the first lieutenants, and some of +the second lieutenants, of that corps, were then in sole charge of the +construction of separate fortifications, or were engaged in other +important duties. Captain Swift was not disposed to apply for the +assignment of any of those officers to be subalterns under him in a +company of soldiers.</p> + +<p>I had taught McClellan during his last year in the Academy, and felt +assured that he would be in full harmony with me in the duties we would +be called upon to perform under Captain Swift. It is safe to say that no +three officers of a company of soldiers ever worked together with less +friction. The understanding between them was complete. There were no +jars—no doubts or cross purposes—and no conflict of opinion or of +action.</p> + +<p>In the beginning I was charged with the instruction of the company as an +infantry command, whilst the Captain took control of the recruiting, the +collection of engineer implements—including an India Rubber Ponton +Bridge—and he privately instructed McClellan and myself, at his own +house, in the rudiments of practical military engineering which he had +acquired at Metz. In the meantime we taught him, at the same place, the +manual of arms and Infantry tactics which had been introduced into the +army after he was graduated at the Military Academy. In practical +engineer drills the Captain was always in control.</p> + +<p>After the men were passably well drilled in the "Infantry School of the +Company"; the time had come for him to take executive command on the +infantry drill ground. He did this on the first occasion, like a veteran +Captain of Infantry until "at rest" was ordered.</p> + +<p>Whilst the men were "at rest", McClellan and myself quietly, but +earnestly, congratulated him upon his successful <i>début</i> as drill +officer of an Infantry Company. He kindly attributed to our instruction +in his house, whatever proficiency he had acquired in the new tactics +which had then been recently introduced.</p> + +<p>But, after the company was again called to "Attention" and the drill was +progressing, whilst marching with full company front across the plain, +the men all well in line, to my surprise the Captain ordered "faster", +and added "the step is much too slow". Of course we went "faster". In a +short time the Captain ordered "faster still, the step is very much too +slow". This order was several times repeated, and before the drill ended +we were virtually "at a run".</p> + +<p>After the drill was over and the Company dismissed from the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>parade +ground, I asked the Captain why he had not given the commands "quick +time" and "double quick", instead of saying "faster" and "still faster". +He said he did not intend the step should be "quick time"—much less +"double quick". He only wanted the rate to be in "common time—90 steps +a minute"; and added: "you had not reached that rate when the drill +ended".</p> + +<p>I insisted that he must be mistaken, and told him we were marching in +"common time" or very near it, when he first gave the order, "faster". +He persisted that he was right in regard to the rate of the step—said +"that he had carefully counted it, watch in hand"; and added: "You were, +at the last, not making more than 85 steps to the minute". I was +satisfied that he was mistaken; but he relied implicitly upon the +correctness of his count and the accuracy of his watch.</p> + +<p>McClellan and I proceeded to the company quarters, of which I still had +charge. On the way we referred to the matter of the step, and both of us +were at a loss to account for the misapprehension we were sure the +Captain labored under in regard to it.</p> + +<p>I asked McClellan to take out his watch and count whilst I marched in +"common time". I made 90 steps per minute—and repeated it more than +once. It presently dawned upon us that our Captain, whilst consulting +his watch, had counted only one foot in getting at the number of steps: +and that we were really making 170 steps to the minute when he counted +85. The mystery was solved, the Captain had counted "the left foot" +only.</p> + +<p>When we next went to his house for instruction in details of the school +of the engineer soldier, I asked him how many steps we were making a +minute when he first ordered "faster". He said "about 45". I replied: +"That's it. We have found out what was the matter. You counted only the +left foot. We were marching in 'common time' when you ordered us to move +'faster'; and you pushed us to nearly twice that rate".</p> + +<p>"The cat was out of the bag." The Captain saw it at once and laughed +heartily over the error he had fallen into in the latter part of his +"first appearance" as captain, in drilling the company as infantry. He +made no such mistake thereafter; and the men never knew of his "count", +watch in hand.</p> + +<p>On the 26th of September, 1846, we sailed from New York, 71 rank and +file, for Brazos Santiago, under orders to report to General Taylor, +commanding the U. S. army in Mexico. We landed at Brazos on the 12th of +October, remained at that point for several days, proceeded thence to +the mouth of the Rio Grande and arrived at Carmargo on the 2nd of +November. There the company <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>was delayed for several weeks because +transportation for the engineer train to the headquarters of the Army at +Monterey, was not then available.</p> + +<p>The Company left Carmargo for Brazos, on the 29th of November, under +orders to proceed to Tampico by sea, but was ordered to return to +Matamoros with a portion of its tools, and march, via Victoria, to +Tampico—the bulk of its train to be transported to the latter place by +water.</p> + +<p>Whilst detained at Carmargo instruction in the school of the engineer +soldier was kept up, and infantry drills were constantly practiced. +During that time several thousand troops were in camp near Carmargo, and +the men of the engineer company learned that they were, by the line of +the army, styled: "the pick and shovel brigade". Their officers advised +them not to care for this epithet but, "take it easy, continue to +endeavor to become <i>model</i> infantry, and engraft on that a fair +knowledge of the duties of the engineer soldier". They were assured that +"for heavy work", details would have to be made from the line of the +army; and these details would, for the time, constitute the real "pick +and shovel brigade" under the control of engineer officers, assisted by +trained engineer soldiers. When the time came for close fighting the +engineer company would be at the front.</p> + +<p>The troops stationed on the Rio Grande during the fall of 1846, suffered +greatly from Mexican diarrhœa, fevers and other diseases. Several men +of the engineer company died, and Captain Swift and twenty of the men +were left in hospital at Matamoros, when the company finally left the +latter place.</p> + +<p>Before giving an account of our first march in the enemy's country, it +may be well to state here, that with two exceptions, the enlisted men of +the engineer company were native born, and all but four of them were raw +recruits. Each of those four had served, with credit, during one or more +terms of enlistment in the regular army. Three of them were promptly +made sergeants, and the fourth was a musician (bugler).</p> + +<p>All of the recruits but one, were very carefully selected material, out +of which to form, as soon as practicable, skilled engineer soldiers. The +one exception was a short, fat, dumpy, Long Island Dutchman—a good +cook, specially enlisted by Captain Swift to cook for the men. He was +given the pay and rank of artificer of engineers. The men looked upon +him more as a servant of theirs than as a fellow soldier. He was well +satisfied with his position, prided himself on his special duties, +rather looked down upon "soldiers"—and was impudent by nature.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>All went well enough with the "cook" until he was required to take his +place in the ranks, at regular bi-monthly "muster, and inspection" for +pay. His performance on that occasion was so grotesquely awkward that I +directed he should be put through the "squad-drill" by one of the +sergeants, who was a thoroughly competent, but rather severe, +drill-master.</p> + +<p>The "cook" felt that his rights were invaded, in requiring him to submit +to be drilled. The sergeant made no progress in teaching him. After +three days' trial, he reported to me that he was mortified, and ashamed, +to have to admit he could do nothing with "that cook"; and he asked to +be relieved from the duty of drilling him. In reply to my question: +"Can't you make him obey you?" He replied: "No—the only thing I can do +is to kill him"; and added: "When that kind of thing has to be done, in +this company, my understanding is, the lieutenant in command is the only +one who has the right to kill".</p> + +<p>I relieved the sergeant, and told him I would take the "cook" in hand at +the next drill. On the following day, I marched him off into the dense +chaparral, on the bottom lands near Matamoros. After following obscure +paths, about three miles in their windings through the jungle, I halted +him in a small open space a few hundred yards from the company camp. He +thought no doubt, we were five miles from camp—in a boundless +wilderness—whilst, in fact, we were at no time five hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>I told him of the report that had been made to me of his disobedience, +informed him that I had brought him into the chaparral for the purpose +of compelling him to obey me; called his attention to the fact that we +were in the enemy's country in time of war; all of our lives were in +peril, and that persistent disobedience on the part of any officer or +soldier to the legal authority of those over him, was punishable with +death; that I did not propose to place him before a Court Martial; but, +would kill him, if he did not implicitly obey an order I proposed then +and there to give him.</p> + +<p>I measured 15 paces in front of him and placed a small white chip on the +ground, called him to "attention", ordered him to place his eyes on that +chip, and told him if he removed them from it before I gave the command +"rest", I would run him through with my rapier.</p> + +<p>I then drilled him at the manual of arms for about 20 minutes. Large +beads of perspiration rolled down his face—he began to totter on his +feet—and I gave the command "rest". He had not taken his eyes from the +chip.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>At the command "rest", he drew a long sigh of relief and uttered a +subdued but prolonged "O-h". I asked him if he now thought he could obey +the sergeant. He replied: "Yes, I will obey anybody".</p> + +<p>I told him I would temporarily withdraw what I had said about killing +him, and would put him on his good behavior. I drilled him about two +hours longer; and then took him, by a circuitous route, through the +jungle, back to camp. He was obedient enough thereafter.</p> + +<p>When the war had ended and I was relieved from duty with the company, +one of the men told me that "the cook", on his return from the drill I +had given him said: "The Lieutenant took me way off, ever so far, in the +chaparral, and told me he took me there to kill me if I didn't mind him. +The little devil meant it, and would have done it too, if I had fooled +with him like I had done with the sergeant."</p> + +<p>Except this <i>case</i>, of "the cook", there had been no difficulty in +bringing the men of the company to a high standard of drill and +discipline as an infantry company, and a reasonable degree of +proficiency in the school of the engineer soldier. But, on their first +march into the enemy's country, they were called upon to do an immense +amount of hard work not specially referred to in their preliminary +instruction.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">THE MARCH FROM MATAMOROS TO VICTORIA AND TAMPICO.</p> + +<p>By special orders from General Taylor, brought by Major George A. McCall +to Captain Swift, the latter was charged with the duty of repairing the +road from Matamoros to Victoria, and making it practicable for artillery +and the baggage train; and to do this, if possible, so that the whole +command might make its prescribed daily marches and arrive at Victoria +on a named day. Captain Swift was authorized to call upon the commander +of the forces, on this march, for such assistance as might be needed to +perform the work; and was directed to do no more to the road than was +barely sufficient to enable the trains to pass over it. It was not +expected that we would ever have occasion to pass through that region +again; and it was not proposed to make a permanent road for the benefit +of Mexicans.</p> + +<p>Captain Swift being sick in hospital, the foregoing instructions were +given to me, as Commander of the company, by Major McCall, who, in the +capacity of Adjutant-General of the forces under General Patterson, +accompanied him on this march.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>Under orders from General Taylor, the company of engineers, reduced to +two officers and forty-five enlisted men for service, marched from +Matamoros on the 21st of December, 1846, with a column of volunteers +under General Patterson, to join General Taylor's army at Victoria. We +arrived at the latter place on the 4th of January, 1847. A great deal of +work had been done by details of volunteers and the engineer company in +making the road practicable for artillery and baggage wagons. Without +dwelling upon daily operations, the following statement of the manner in +which we made our way across a difficult stream may be of interest.</p> + +<p>About noon one day I was informed by Major McCall, who had ridden ahead +of the working party, that there was an exceedingly difficult +"river-crossing" about one mile in front, and that he feared we would be +detained there for, perhaps, two days. I galloped forward to the place +designated. It looked ugly. The banks of the stream were something more +than 100 feet high and quite steep. Guiding my horse down to the water's +edge, I crossed the river which was from two to three feet deep, and +about one hundred yards wide. The bottom was fair enough, until within a +few yards of the opposite shore, where it was soft mud. Getting through +this with some difficulty I rode to the top of the bank on the far side.</p> + +<p>To make an ordinary practicable road across that stream would require +two or three day's work of several hundred men. It seemed a clear case +for the free use of drag-ropes to let the wagons down into the stream on +the near side, and haul them up the opposite bank.</p> + +<p>It was plain to me that with a working party of two hundred men—which +was the greatest number we could supply with tools—a straight steep +ramp could be cut on both banks in six or eight hours hard work. The +greatest difficulty would be encountered in getting out of the stream on +the far side.</p> + +<p>Returning quickly to where I had left Major McCall, I asked him to give +me a working party of about 800 men, told him I would find use for that +number and that in my opinion, with that force, the wagon train could be +put across the stream before dark. The commanding General thought my +requisition for the working detail was extravagant, as we scarcely had +tools enough for a quarter of that number of men. But the detail was +ordered, as called for, to report to me. In the meantime the engineer +company and its train was taken to the crossing, and the character of +the work to be done there was explained to the men.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>Leaving Lieutenant McClellan with a portion of the company to take +charge of the near bank, directing him to halt there about 300 of the +working party and send about 500 to me on the opposite bank, I crossed +the stream with the rest of the company and explained to them the work +to be done on that side, particularly the means to be used in getting +out of the river. On each side of the stream the working party was +divided into three "reliefs", or relays—with one hundred men or more +held in reserve, to meet contingencies.</p> + +<p>The working party arrived in good season, tools were promptly +distributed to the first "relief" on each side of the river, and the men +were told that, if they would work as at a "corn-shucking-match", or as +if the "house was on fire", they would be let off in an hour, or less, +depending on the rapidity and effectiveness of their work. It was to be +a race against time. I wanted all the work there was in them, and wanted +it inside of an hour.</p> + +<p>Before the hour was up the "first relief" on each side of the river, was +ordered to stop work, drop their tools, get out of the road and take to +the bushes. The "second relief" was immediately marched into the vacated +places, seized the tools, and worked like the first—and on the same +conditions. So with the "third relief"; and, inside of three hours from +the time the work began, the engineer wagons were crossing the river. +They soon moved on, leaving the rest of the forces to follow at their +leisure.</p> + +<p>The volunteer officers afterwards complained to me that the "wild work" +on the banks of that river, had "scattered" their men so badly, it was +several days before they could be again got into their proper places.</p> + +<p>This case was an exception—a frolic. The usual daily work on the road +was more regular and continuous, without disorder.</p> + +<p>It may perhaps not be out of place here to mention, that about the time +I sent the "first relief" into the bushes, and set the "second relief" +to work under the directions of men of the engineer company, the +commander of the forces, with his staff, arrived on the bank where +McClellan was in charge, and asked for me. He was told that I was on the +opposite bank. Just at that time the confusion and wild yells of the +"first relief" and the loud cheers of the "second relief" when told that +they, too, would be let off inside of an hour, provided they would work +as if engaged in a "corn-shucking-match", astounded the general, and had +to him the appearance of disorder, perhaps mutiny.</p> + +<p>On asking Lieutenant McClellan what it meant, the latter replied: "It is +all right; Lieutenant Smith has the larger portion of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>the engineer +company with him on that bank; and I can see him, and men of the company +near him in the road, all of whom seem to be quietly giving instructions +to the new working party".</p> + +<p>After starting the "second relief" to digging in the road, I had gone to +the brow of the bank overlooking the work which was being done, mostly +by my own men in the river, where the road was to leave it. The engineer +sergeant in charge of that work informed me that he was then in +immediate need of about twenty additional men. The reserve working force +was not far from me. I called out for a sergeant and twenty men, without +arms or accoutrements, to come to me. Pointing to the river, just under +the place at which I was standing, I directed the sergeant of this +reserve party to take his men down at once and report to the engineer +sergeant in charge there. The bank was precipitous. The sergeant of the +reserve working party said that he would take his men back about one +hundred yards, and go down by the road on which the "second relief" was +working. I demurred, and told him again, to take his men straight to +where they were needed. He still hesitated. I pushed him over the brow +of the bank, and he went headlong into the river. I then ordered his men +to follow him. They did it with a cheer and regular +"Comanche-whoop"—sliding down the slope, which was too steep to stand +on.</p> + +<p>This scene, too, was witnessed from across the river by the General of +the forces and his staff. I did not know they were there; but if I had, +it would have made no difference; I was in charge of the working party, +and in haste to finish that <i>special job</i>.</p> + +<p>On our arrival at Victoria, the company was relieved from duty under +General Patterson, and I was directed to report to the headquarters of +General Taylor. On the 12th of January the company was ordered to report +to General Twiggs. With two companies of the line to furnish additional +details for labor when required I was charged with the duty of making +the road between Victoria and Tampico practicable for wagons. These +three companies left Victoria on the 13th.</p> + +<p>The following extracts from my official report of the operations of the +Engineer Company for the month of January, 1847, illustrate, in part, +the difficulties met with.</p> + +<p>"The first day, (out from Victoria,) we had three bad boggy brooks to +cross; besides a great deal of cutting to do with axes in order to open +the road; and many bad ravines and gullies to render passable. To make a +bridge, across a boggy stream, with no other material than the short, +knotty, hard and crooked chaparral bush, was no easy matter. The first +day's march was about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>ten miles—we encamped about sunset after a very +hard day's work."</p> + +<p>In order to shorten the route and save the forces one day's march, we +were, for several days, working on a mule path "cut-off" from the main +road.</p> + +<p>"January 14th. The mule path was infamous. No wagon had ever traveled +that road—the rancheros have a tradition of a bull cart that, it is +said, once passed that way. I believe, however, that the story is not +credited. We worked from dawn of day until dark and encamped about six +miles from where we started in the morning and about the same distance +from the camp we wished to reach that day."</p> + +<p>"January 15th. Another day's tremendous hard work."</p> + +<p>"January 16th. We had again a very severe day's work."</p> + +<p>"January 17th. Road improved very decidedly, but still a good deal to +do. We managed, by getting a little ahead with our repairs after the +army encamped for the night, to get along without seriously delaying the +column."</p> + +<p>We arrived at Tampico on the 23rd. The distance from Victoria to Tampico +is 120 miles; whole distance from Matamoros to Tampico, by way of +Victoria, is 354 miles.</p> + +<p>Although the service was arduous, the men came through it in good +health, and were all the better soldiers for the practical schooling +acquired in that 350 miles of road making. After this experience, +ordinary marches and drills were to them, very light matters.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">TAMPICO TO VERA CRUZ.</p> + +<p>From Tampico we sailed for Lobos Island and Vera Cruz, on a small +schooner, the Captain of which was a brave little Frenchman, who was not +acquainted with the Mexican Gulf coast, and was not provided with +accurate instruments for taking observations. Late one afternoon the +clouds rolled away, and we distinctly saw the snow-clad peak of Orizaba. +This was the first intimation to us that we were "somewhere", near Vera +Cruz. In a very short time we saw opposite to us a large fleet of +vessels at anchor.</p> + +<p>We were south of Vera Cruz and were passing Anton Lizardo, the place to +which we were bound. But a reef was between us and the anchorage where +the fleet was quietly lying. The Captain of the schooner said he could +cross the reef. Taking his place in the rigging from where he could +better observe the breakers and the currents, the schooner tacked here +and there, rapidly and repeatedly, under the orders of the little +Frenchman; and we were soon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>clear of the reef and breakers. It was now +nearly dark. In a few moments after reaching the anchorage ground, we +glided up a gentle slope, without perceptible shock; and the bow of the +vessel was almost entirely out of water.</p> + +<p>In less than twenty minutes thereafter a boat from one of our men-of-war +pulled alongside; and when the officer in charge learned who we were, he +said he would report at once to the naval commander; and had no doubt +that the company with its effects would have to be landed on an adjacent +island, while the schooner was being lightened and hauled off into deep +water.</p> + +<p>He said the movements of the little schooner, through the heavy surf, +across the dangerous reef, had been watched from the naval vessels with +intense anxiety, and expectation that we would be wrecked and all hands +lost. This feeling was changed to admiration when it was seen that the +schooner was being very skillfully handled in the difficult channel; and +all rejoiced when they saw the unknown little craft safely in smooth +water; but were surprised, immediately after, to see her put on a course +that would inevitably run her aground.</p> + +<p>We found that Captain Swift with the convalescents from Matamoros on +another vessel, had arrived before us. In the meantime Lieutenant J. G. +Foster, of the Engineer Corps, had been assigned to duty with the +Company. He was with Captain Swift. I at once reported to the latter, +and he resumed command of the Company; but the men remained on separate +vessels.</p> + +<p>Captain Swift was still very sick; to all appearance more feeble than +when we left him at Matamoros. All the men he brought with him were +convalescent. In a few days after our arrival at Anton Lizardo, an order +was issued by General Scott for the transports to move up next morning, +towards Vera Cruz, with a view to landing the army on the main shore, +opposite the Island of Sacrificios, two or three miles south of the +city. On the morning of the day we were to make the landing the whole +company was transferred to another vessel; and all were again together.</p> + +<p>Early in the previous night, McClellan, who had just been aboard the +vessel on which Captain Swift arrived, informed me that the latter +proposed to lead the company ashore. Worth's division was to land first, +and the engineer company was temporarily assigned to that division. +McClellan added: "The Captain is now too feeble to walk across the cabin +of his vessel without assistance—the effort to lead the company in this +landing will be fatal to him, and I told him I thought he ought not to +attempt it. But, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>he looks upon me as a boy,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> and I have no influence +with him in this matter. You ought to advise him against this thing. If +he attempts it, it will certainly kill him."</p> + +<p>I fully agreed with McClellan in reference to the physical condition of +the Captain; and the probable, if not certain, result of an attempt on +his part to lead the company in the landing. But for me to advise him +not to go ashore with us, was to request him to give me the command of +his company in this important enterprise. I told McClellan that I felt a +delicacy about the matter which made me hesitate to advise the Captain +to give me the command of the company. He replied: "Yes, but this case +is beyond mere delicacy. The act of leading the company ashore will kill +him; and I think you can persuade him not to undertake it. You ought to +try. I am sure he will not misconstrue your motive."</p> + +<p>Urged thus, I pulled over to the Captain's vessel, after dark found him +alone in the cabin, and quickly told him why I came. He listened +patiently to all I had to say; thanked me cordially for the interest I +took in his physical welfare; said he fully appreciated the kindness +shown; understood the motive which actuated the advice given; and added: +"My mind is made up; I will lead the company in this landing; and would +do so even if I knew that the bare attempt would certainly cost me my +life."</p> + +<p>The next afternoon, the Captain, standing by the gangway, directed the +embarkation of about 20 men in the smaller of the two surf boats in +which the company was to land. Just as that boat was ready to pull away +to make room for the larger boat, I said to him: "I suppose I am to go +with this detachment of the Company; and if so I must get aboard now". +He replied "No. I wish you to go in the larger boat with me". To which I +said: "All right", and added: "McClellan goes with the detachment?" The +Captain said, "Yes."</p> + +<p>When the larger boat for the rest of the Company came along side I +relieved the Captain at the gangway and superintended the embarkation of +the men in that boat. The Captain was lowered over the side of the +vessel in a chair; and I, when all else was ready to pull off, scrambled +down into the closely packed boat, and took my place in the bow.</p> + +<p>Each boat was rowed by sailors from the fleet under the direction of a +naval officer.</p> + +<p>We had reason for anxiety in regard to the resistance we might meet with +from Mexican batteries that could easily have been sheltered behind the +sand hills immediately overlooking the open <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>beach on which the landing +was to be made. A single cannon-shot striking one of the closely packed +surf-boats would probably have sent it, and all on board, to the bottom. +The anxiety of the soldiers was to get ashore before such a fate should +befall them. They cared very little for anything that might happen after +they were on land; but wished to escape the danger of having the boats +sunk under them by Mexican batteries.</p> + +<p>When we were within five or six hundred yards of the beach all were +startled by the whistling of shells and cannon balls close about our +heads. This fire was soon understood to come from our Naval gunboats, +and aimed at small parties of Mexican lookouts on shore. No resistance +was made to the landing of Worth's division.</p> + +<p>When we were within two or three hundred yards of the beach, I made my +way, over the heads of the men to the stern of the boat where the +Captain was seated; and said to him I thought the time had come for him +to get to the bow, if he still intended to lead the company in going +ashore.</p> + +<p>For a moment the most painful expression I ever saw depicted on a human +countenance marked his face. He rallied, however, almost immediately, +and said: "I must, at the last moment, relinquish my command"; and added +"I turn the command over to you until the company is formed in line on +the beach".</p> + +<p>I made my way quickly back to the bow; ordered the right file of the +company, two stalwart corporals—thorough soldiers, to go to the stern +of the boat, take their places near the Captain, keep their eyes on me +after they reached him, spring into the water when they saw me jump from +the bow, seize the Captain, place him on their shoulders or heads, and +bring him to me in the line on shore without a wet thread on him.</p> + +<p>I informed the corporals that I had been placed in full command by +Captain Swift; warned them he would probably resist their bringing him +ashore; but no matter what he said or did, they must obey my orders. +They did it. The corporals were athletes—over six feet in height, young +and active. In the Captain's then physical condition he was as helpless +as an infant in their hands.</p> + +<p>The water where they went overboard was nearly up to their necks; but +when they brought the Captain to me he was as dry as whilst sitting in +the boat. He had resisted them more violently than I anticipated. In +vain they explained to him that they were instructed by me to take him +ashore without his touching the water. He ordered them to put him down, +used all his force to compel them to do so, repeated his orders in no +measured terms, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>and continued to denounce the corporals after they had +placed him on his feet by my side.</p> + +<p>He was wild with rage. I at once relinquished to him the command of the +company, and said: "Captain, the corporals are not in fault. They simply +obeyed my order whilst I was, by your authority, in command of the +company. Blame me, if you will, but exonerate them."</p> + +<p>He apologised to the corporals for kicking, striking, and otherwise +abusing them, and thanked them for the service they had rendered him. +The termination of this incident made an indelible impression on the men +in favor of their Captain.</p> + +<p>That night the company slept among the sand hills a few hundred yards +from the shore, undisturbed, except by a flurry of firing which occurred +about 10 P. M., between a Mexican detachment and the Light battalion of +Worth's division. This firing continued for a few minutes, and then all +was quiet for the rest of the night.</p> + +<p>About sunrise next morning, the company moved several hundred yards, +into its position on the sand hills, on the right of Worth's division in +the line of investment, facing Vera Cruz which was about two miles +distant.</p> + +<p>The Captain showed wonderful increase of vitality after he reached the +shore. He conducted the company to its assigned place in the line of +investment without much apparent difficulty in walking through the sand.</p> + +<p>But three hours exposure to the hot sun was more than he could bear; his +strength was gone. He lost consciousness and was, by my order, carried +to the beach on an improvised litter. The sergeant of the party was +instructed to report to the naval officer in charge of the surf boats, +and in my name, request that Captain Swift be taken as soon as +practicable, to the steamer which was the headquarters of General Scott. +That request was promptly complied with; but the Captain's vitality was +exhausted. He was sent to the United States on the first steamer that +left Vera Cruz after the landing was effected, and died in New Orleans +within twenty-four hours after his arrival at that place.</p> + +<p>Thus, the army and the country lost the services of one of the best +officers of the U. S. Corps of Military Engineers; and the engineer +company lost their trained Captain.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTE:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> At that time, McClellan was about 20 years of age.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h2>ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST VERA CRUZ.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Within a short time after Captain Swift was taken to the beach, I +received an order, from General Worth, directing me to withdraw the +engineer company from the line of investment and report to General +Patterson. The latter instructed me to locate and open a road through +the chaparral to the old Malibran ruins. This was accomplished by the +middle of the afternoon. General Pillow who was to occupy a position +beyond Malibran, requested me to take charge of a working party of his +troops and, with the engineer company, locate and open a road along his +line to the bare sand hills on his left. In this work we were somewhat +disturbed by the fire of Mexican detachments.</p> + +<p>On the 11th, the work of locating and opening the road along the line of +investment was continued, the working party being still a good deal +annoyed by both infantry and artillery fire. At 1 P. M., I reported to +General Patterson that the road was opened, through the chaparral, to +the bare sand hills. He ordered me to report, with the engineer company, +to General Worth; and the latter directed me to report to the General +Headquarters.</p> + +<p>On the same day I was ordered by Colonel Totten, Chief Engineer, to find +and cut off the underground-aqueduct which conveyed water into Vera +Cruz. That business was effectually accomplished by the engineer company +on the 13th.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>From that time, until the commencement of work upon the batteries and +trenches, the engineer company and its officers were engaged in +reconnoitring the ground between the picket line of our army and the +fortifications of the city. My reports were made each night to the Chief +Engineer. The night of the 15th, he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>pointed out to me, on a map of the +city and its fortifications, the general location in which it was +desired to place the army gun battery, on the southern prolongation of +the principal street of the city, and within about six hundred yards of +its fortifications. He directed me, with the engineer company, to +closely examine that ground. I was informed by him, at the same time, +that Captain R. E. Lee, of the engineer corps, had discovered a +favorable position for a battery, of six heavy naval guns, on the point +of a commanding sand ridge, about nine hundred yards from the western +front of the city; but no final decision would be made in regard to the +naval battery until the army battery could be definitely located. He +said General Scott was getting impatient at the delay; and I was +directed to find, as soon as possible, a position that would satisfy the +conditions prescribed, by the Chief Engineer, for an army battery.</p> + +<p>I explained those conditions to McClellan and to Foster; and informed +them that I would assign one-third of the company to each of them as an +escort—take one-third myself—and we would all three start, at daylight +next morning, in search of a location for the required battery. It was +necessary that we should be extremely careful not to get to fighting +each other in the dense chaparral.</p> + +<p>We found a location that complied with the conditions. In reporting this +fact to the Chief Engineer, I added: "The communication with the battery +will be very difficult—will require a great deal of work—and will be +dangerous". He ordered me to take the engineer company to the selected +ground, next morning, and lay out the battery; and said he would direct +Lieutenant G. T. Beauregard, who had supervised the construction of the +field fortifications at Tampico, to assist in the work.</p> + +<p>At 2 P. M. that day the battery and magazine had been traced out, all +necessary profiles carefully adjusted; and, the whole completed, ready +to commence throwing up the works. We had not been discovered by the +Mexicans—though we could plainly see their sentinels on the walls; and +occasionally hear words of command. After allowing the company to rest +for a couple of hours we started to return to camp.</p> + +<p>In going forward we had the Mexicans before us; and by exercising great +care, at certain places, could avoid being seen. When our backs were +turned to Vera Cruz I felt confident that we would soon be discovered +and fired upon. I had cautioned the men to be as careful as possible; +but, in spite of their best efforts, we were seen, and a heavy fire of +artillery was opened upon us. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>order to move at double-quick was +immediately given. The company was conducted about three hundred yards, +to a cut in a low sand ridge, that had been formed by a road crossing +that ridge. All got safely into the cut. The Mexican artillery fire, +aimed at us, was continued for about twenty minutes. We had then before +us an open level plain for five hundred yards. Soon after the fire upon +us had ceased, I ordered the men to scatter and run rapidly across the +plain until they reached a designated place of shelter behind high sand +hills. Beauregard and I brought up the rear in this movement. The +Mexicans re-opened their guns upon us whilst we were crossing the plain +and continued to fire for some time after we reached the shelter above +referred to.</p> + +<p>When I reported the result of that day's work to the Chief Engineer, I +urged him to permit a further examination to be made, for a location of +the army gun battery, before attempting to construct the one we had just +laid out.</p> + +<p>He consented, and we made further reconnaissance the next day. In the +meantime the pickets of Worth's division had been considerably advanced. +On returning from an examination at the extreme front that day I came +across a detachment of the Fifth Infantry not far from the Cemetery. +Whilst explaining the object of my search to a group of four or five +young officers, a person whom I took to be a veteran sergeant, said to +me that he knew a good position for a battery, only a few hundred yards +from where we then were. I asked him to describe it to me.</p> + +<p>From the description he gave I thought the ground referred to would be a +favourable site; and asked him to tell me definitely how to reach it. He +offered to guide me to the place. On getting to the position I found +that the conformation of the ground constituted almost a natural parapet +for a six gun battery—requiring but little work to complete it for use. +It afforded immediate shelter for men and guns.</p> + +<p>It was not on the prolongation of the main street of the city, and it +was farther from the enemy's works than the site where a battery had +already been laid out. But the communications with the proposed new +location were shorter, and could easily be made much safer—in every way +better than was possible in the former case. I thanked my guide for +pointing out the position; and told him I thought it would be adopted by +the Chief Engineer.</p> + +<p>After our return to the group of young officers, my "guide" was soon +called away; and, I then asked one of them the name of that "fine old +Sergeant" who had pointed out such a good location for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>the battery. To +my amazement he replied: "That was Major Scott, the commander of our +regiment".</p> + +<p>The Major was enveloped in an ordinary soldier's overcoat and wore an +old, common slouched hat. I had mistaken the "famous Martin Scott" for a +"fine old Sergeant" of the line.</p> + +<p>On my return to camp I reported all the facts to the Chief Engineer. The +position first selected and laid out, for the army gun battery, was +abandoned; and the location pointed out by Major Martin Scott was +adopted.</p> + +<p>The work of throwing up batteries, digging trenches, and making covered +communications with them, was commenced on the night of the 18th by +large working parties detailed from the line. After that time, the +officers of the engineer company, including myself, were placed on +general engineer service—supervising the construction of the siege +works. All the engineer officers then with the army, except the Chief, +were in regular turn detailed for that duty; each having some of the men +of the engineer company to assist him.</p> + +<p>After the work upon the army gun battery, the mortar batteries and the +trenches had been fairly commenced, I was transferred to the naval +battery and took my regular turn, with Captain R. E. Lee, and Lieutenant +Z. B. Tower, in superintending its construction. I was in charge of that +work the day it opened its guns upon the fortifications of the city, +having relieved Captain Lee that morning. Seeing him still in the +battery, about the time the firing commenced, I asked him if he intended +to continue in control; adding, "If so, I report to you for instructions +and orders". He replied: "No. I am not in charge. I have remained only +to see my brother, Lieutenant Sydney Smith Lee of the Navy, who is with +one of the heavy guns. My tour of service is over. You are in control; +and, if I can be of any service to you whilst I remain here, please let +me know".</p> + +<p>There had previously been a difference of opinion between Captain Lee +and myself in regard to the dimensions that should be given to the +embrasures. The Chief Engineer decided in favor of Captain Lee, and the +embrasures were changed and made to conform to his views. In a very +short time after the firing began one of the embrasures became so badly +choked that it could not be used until the <i>debris</i> could be removed. +Hastily renewing the blindage of brush-wood that had been used to +conceal the work from view of the enemy during the construction, the +detail of engineer soldiers then on duty, in the battery, cleared the +embrasure of the obstructions, removed the blindage, and the gun resumed +its <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>fire. Just after that incident, I asked Captain Lee what he now +thought in regard to the proper dimensions for the embrasures. He +replied: "They must be made greater when the battery is repaired +to-night."</p> + +<p>The naval detachment had only forty rounds of ammunition; which was +expended in about three hours, and the firing had to cease until the +arrival of the next naval detachment. The latter when it came into the +battery, had only forty rounds of ammunition and was to serve until +relieved, the next afternoon by a third naval detachment.</p> + +<p>Before the ammunition of the first detachment was expended the +embrasures were all in a very bad condition—the battery was almost +entirely unserviceable; and before the second detachment arrived I +caused the embrasures to be filled up, until the battery could be +repaired that night and put in good condition for re-opening the next +day.</p> + +<p>The second naval detachment came into the battery about the middle of +the afternoon. The naval captain in command, without consulting me, +ordered the embrasures to be cleared at once, with the intention of +immediately opening fire. Perceiving what was being done by the sailors +in re-opening the embrasures, I ordered them to stop; and asked by whose +authority they were acting. On being informed that their orders came +from the commander of the detachment, I asked them to point him out to +me. I immediately introduced myself to him, as the engineer officer in +full charge of the construction of the battery, and told him if the +embrasures were cleared the battery would still be unfit for +service—that it could not be repaired until that night, and would then +be put in better condition than it was when it first opened. The army +gun battery would be ready next morning; and its fire, combined with +that of the naval battery, after the latter was put in good condition, +would be very effective. But, if the naval detachment opened fire that +afternoon, the battery being unfit for service, its ammunition would be +exhausted before night without hurting the enemy; and the battery would +necessarily be silent the next day, when the army battery would open its +fire.</p> + +<p>The naval captain insisted that the embrasures should be cleared at +once, and the firing resumed.</p> + +<p>I protested against his clearing the embrasures and told him that, but +for the appearance of the thing, I would leave the battery and take my +men with me if he persisted in carrying out his intentions. I added: "I +will remain here until regularly relieved, but will continue to +<i>protest</i> against the course you propose to pursue".</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>He then told me that it was "the General's" order that he should open +fire that afternoon as promptly as possible.</p> + +<p>I asked him why he had not told me of that order in the first place; and +added: "It is not customary for General Scott to give orders to engineer +officers through officers of the navy. But, if you had told me in the +beginning that he had ordered the battery to commence firing as soon as +possible after you reached it, I would have accepted his order—coming +to me through you."</p> + +<p>To this he replied; "I did not say the order came from General Scott." I +asked: "Whom did you mean when you said 'the General.'" He told me that +he meant "General Patterson." To which I replied: "I receive no orders +in reference to this battery except from General Scott or the Chief +Engineer of the Army."</p> + +<p>The naval captain finally said he would not open fire until next +morning; provided I would report the circumstances to General Scott. I +told him it was not usual for me to report my action direct to the +General-in-Chief: but, I would report all the facts to the Chief +Engineer as soon as I was relieved and had returned to camp, and he +would report them to General Scott.</p> + +<p>When I commenced to make my report to the Chief Engineer he stopped me; +and said he was instructed to order me to report in person, to General +Scott as soon as I reached camp.</p> + +<p>I obeyed the order; and was very coldly and formally told by "The +General": He had been informed it was my fault that the naval battery +had not opened fire against Vera Cruz that afternoon. I answered: "I did +prevent the fire being opened; but, that act was not a fault on my part; +and I can convince you of the latter fact if you will give me a +hearing".</p> + +<p>He replied—still very coldly—"I hope you can do so". I then related to +him, in full, all that had occurred—as briefly stated above—between +the commander of the naval detachment and myself.</p> + +<p>My reasons for opposing the opening of the fire of the battery seemed to +produce little or no favorable impression on General Scott until I +reached that part of the narrative in which I replied to the naval +captain's statement that he meant General Patterson when he said "<i>the +General</i>". I gave General Scott the exact words I had used in replying +to the naval commander. At this he rose from his seat—came to where I +was standing, and clasping one of my hands in both of his; said: "Thank +God I have young officers with heads on their shoulders and who know how +to use them". He added: "your opinion, and your action, in this matter, +would do credit to a Field Marshal of France"!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>To which I made no reply, but thought to myself: "If there was a +sergeant in the engineer company who, in view of the plain facts of this +case, would not have known that the naval battery ought not to open fire +that afternoon, I would reduce him to the ranks before night."</p> + +<p>The following extracts from my official report of these operations may +not be amiss in this connection:</p> + +<p>"Whenever we have acted as a company I have been most ably and +efficiently supported by Lieutenants McClellan and Foster; and I am +proud to say that the non-commissioned officers and men of the company +have shown great willingness and skill in the discharge of the important +duties assigned them. Great part of our labors have been performed under +fire. On such occasions I have had every reason to be satisfied with the +cool deportment and conduct of the company.</p> + +<p>"In conclusion I regret that I have to state, a serious blow was +inflicted on the military pride of the engineer company in <i>not</i> +allowing them to participate in the ceremonies of the surrender, when it +was well understood that the troops having had most to do in the attack +were selected to take a prominent part in the proceedings."</p> + +<p>We all felt that, if our distinguished Captain had been with us, we +would have been called on to take part in those ceremonies.</p> + +<p>The Chief Engineer, Colonel Joseph G. Totten, in his report of +operations against Vera Cruz, says: "The obligation lies upon me also to +speak of the highly meritorious deportment and valuable services of the +Sappers and Miners, [engineer company] attached to the expedition. +Strenuous as were their exertions, their number proved to be too few, in +comparison with our need of such aid. Had their number been four-fold +greater, there is no doubt the labors of the army would have been +materially lessened and the result expedited." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 245).</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTE:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> In illustration of the character of the work done during +the first two or three days after the landing, the following quotations +from General Scott's official report are not irrelevant. He says: +</p> + +<p class="noin">"The environs of the city outside the fire of its guns, and those of the +castle, are broken into innumerable hills of loose sand, from twenty to +two hundred and fifty feet in height, with almost impassable forests of +chaparral between." "In extending the line of investment around the city +the troops, for three days have performed the heaviest labors in getting +over the hills and cutting through the intervening forests." ("Ex. Doc. +No. 1" p. 216.)</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h2>AFTER THE SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ; TO THE OCCUPATION OF PUEBLA.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>From the capitulation of Vera Cruz, on the 29th of March, until we left +that place on the 13th of April, the engineer company was principally +engaged in assisting engineer officers in making surveys of the +fortifications and surrounding ground, in dismantling our own batteries, +magazines, &c.; and aiding the Quartermaster's Department in landing and +placing in depot the general engineer train of the army.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, on the 7th of April, I reported, through the senior +engineer, to the Adjutant-General of the forces, that the engineer +company would be ready to move with the advance division of the army on +the 8th, if transportation for its train could be furnished. +Transportation, together with orders to move with the advance division, +were applied for. "The reply was that General Scott would, at the proper +time, order such transportation for the engineer company as he deemed +sufficient—and would, when it was his pleasure, order the company +forward."<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>Twiggs's division left on the 8th; Patterson's on the 9th; on the 11th +Worth's division was ordered to move on the 13th; Quitman's brigade had +been previously sent on an expedition to Alvarado; the garrison of Vera +Cruz was designated. Thus, every soldier in the army, except the +engineer company, had received instructions either to go forward or to +remain.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 11th, in my evening report to the Adjutant of +engineers, I asked the Senior Engineer<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> then serving with the army; +when and where the engineer company was ordered; what I was ordered to +do; and what transportation, if any, I was to have.</p> + +<p>On these subjects not one word had been stated, in either written or +printed orders, that had come to my knowledge. On the morning of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>the +12th, General Scott consented that the engineer company should, if +possible, move with the General Headquarters, which left at 4 P. M. that +day.</p> + +<p>I then applied direct to the Chief Quartermaster for transportation. He +told me that it was impossible to let me have any teams at that +time—all the good teams had been taken by the army, General Worth was +getting the last.</p> + +<p>A positive order from headquarters, was then procured by the Adjutant of +engineers, requiring the Quartermaster's Department to furnish +transportation for the engineer train, etc. The teams, such as they +were, came into our camp about dark on the 12th. That night the wagons +were loaded; and we started half an hour before daylight on the 13th.</p> + +<p>The mules were wild, the teamsters could not speak English, some of them +had never harnessed an animal; and it was soon apparent that the men of +the company would have to put their muskets in the wagons and give their +undivided attention to the mules. At 2 P. M., after struggling through +the deep sand, west of the city, we struck the firm beach, and could +make better progress, for about three miles, to Vergara, where the road +leaves the coast, and again passes through deep sand.</p> + +<p>In the meantime one team had become broken down and useless before we +got beyond the city. In order to procure another I had to take some of +my own men into the mule pen. Three Mexicans were given me to lasso the +mules, and five men were required to put them in harness—seasick, wild, +little animals. One teamster deserted; one had his hand, and another had +his leg broken; and a number of mules in different teams, were crippled.</p> + +<p>At Vergara, half the load of each wagon was thrown out, before we +entered upon steep ridges and deep sand immediately after leaving the +beach. All the men were engaged in helping along the half loaded wagons. +That night we slept in the sand ridges.</p> + +<p>On the 14th, we reached Santa Fé, eight miles from Vera Cruz, threw out +the half loads, and returned to Vergara. Before we again reached the +beach, the men had actually to roll the empty wagons up every hill, the +mules not being able to drag them. By 10 P. M., we were again at Santa +Fé, having killed three mules, and the men being worked nearly to death. +Fortunately for us, several good mules that had escaped from preceding +army trains, came out of the chaparral to our feed troughs, were caught, +and "pressed" into engineer service.</p> + +<p>From Santa Fé the road was much better, but at every hill the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>men had +to take to the wheels and help the mules—this too, after throwing out +half the load at the foot of some of the steeper hills. In this way, we +reached the National Bridge, at 3 P. M. on the 16th.</p> + +<p>General Worth's division was about starting from that place to make a +night march to Plan Del Rio. He informed me that our army would attack +the enemy, at the Cerro Gordo Pass, on the afternoon of the 17th; and +said he desired that the engineer company should accompany his division. +I informed him that my men and animals were utterly exhausted and could +not go any further without several hours rest. But I assured him that we +would be in Plan Del Rio by noon of the next day. We rested at the +National Bridge until 11.30 P. M., on the 16th and reached Plan Del Rio, +about 11 A. M., on the 17th.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">At Cerro Gordo.</span> Soon after our arrival at Plan Del Rio, I was +ordered to detail an officer and ten men of the engineer company to +report to General Pillow for temporary service with his division. +Lieutenant McClellan was placed in charge of that detail.</p> + +<p>With the remainder of the company, I was directed to report to Captain +R. E. Lee, then acting as Chief Engineer of Twiggs's division; who +instructed me to allow the men to rest, whilst I accompanied him to the +front, where Twiggs's division was about going into action. Captain Lee +informed General Twiggs that the engineer company was at Plan Del Rio, +and had been ordered to serve with his division. I was directed by +General Twiggs to return at once, and bring the company to the front as +soon as possible.</p> + +<p>The action of the 17th was over before the engineer company arrived. +Captain Lee directed me, with a portion of my men and a large detailed +working party, to construct a battery that night, in a position he had +selected on the heights we had gained that afternoon. This was a work of +some difficulty, owing to the rocky nature of the ground and the small +depth of earth—in some places none, and nowhere more than a few inches.</p> + +<p>About 3 A. M. on the 18th I sent one of my men to the foot of the hill +to awaken Lieutenant Foster, who was sleeping there with the company, +and tell him he must relieve me for the rest of the night.</p> + +<p>After putting Foster in charge I started to join the company—and became +sound asleep whilst walking down the hill. Stumbling into a quarry hole, +I found myself sprawling on a dead Mexican soldier—his glazed eyes wide +open, within a few inches of mine. For a moment I felt that horror of a +corpse which many persons have, at times, experienced. The probability +that, in a short time after <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>daylight—in storming the strong position +of the enemy—I might be as dead as the man upon whom I was lying, +forced itself upon me.</p> + +<p>Before I could regain my feet streams of men were rushing past me in the +darkness; and I heard and recognised, the voice of Lieutenant Peter V. +Hagner, of the Ordnance, calling in no measured tone or language, upon +these stampeded men to stop. Whilst promptly aiding Hagner to bring the +fugitives to a halt, I forgot the dead Mexican, and the whole train of +thought connected with the corpse.</p> + +<p>When something like order was restored on the hillside I learned from +Lieutenant Hagner that he had been detailed to take one of our heavy +guns up the hill to the battery. A regiment of Volunteers had been +placed at his disposal to man the drag-ropes. Their arms had been left +at the foot of the hill. On finding his way blocked by trees, Hagner had +sent to procure axes from the engineer train; and in the meantime the +regiment at the drag-ropes had been permitted to lie down. Of course +they went to sleep. Suddenly awakened by a false alarm that the Mexicans +were upon them, they rushed down the hill to get their arms. Hagner soon +procured the required axes and the gun was delivered at the battery in +good time.</p> + +<p>At daylight I was again at the battery. A slight epaulment had been +finished for three pieces of artillery, the platforms were laid, and the +guns in position. I was then instructed by Captain Lee, to send ten men +to report to him for special service; to order Lieutenant Foster with +eight additional men, to report to him (Lee) for the purpose of opening +a road for the light artillery around the foot of the heights; and I was +ordered, with the rest of the company, to report to Colonel Harney, who +was then in command of Persifor Smith's brigade, of Twiggs' division.</p> + +<p>I was instructed to accompany that brigade when it moved forward to +attack the enemy in position on a hill immediately in front of, and +higher than that on which our battery had been constructed. The Mexicans +were in strong force on the higher hill.</p> + +<p>From our lower position we could not clearly see their lines nor +determine how they were fortified. The hill they occupied was flat on +top and their lines were set back from the crest of the precipitous +slope which faced us. The storming brigade was ordered to halt and +reform just before reaching the top of the higher hill. At this point +they were below the plane of the enemy's fire, and were when lying down, +perfectly protected. In this position they were ordered to rest, until +the order should be given to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>rise, charge and carry the enemy's works +by open assault.</p> + +<p>When the line was thus formed, I requested Colonel Harney not to give +the order to charge until I could go on the plateau, get a clear view of +the enemy's works, and report their character. I soon informed him that +their main line was not more than forty or fifty yards from where our +men were then lying, that the fortifications were very incomplete, +offered no effective obstacle, and we could dash over the works without +a halt. I then ordered my men to drop their tools and use their muskets.</p> + +<p>Whilst I was making this report to Colonel Harney, our attention was +drawn to quite a sharp fire that the Mexicans had suddenly opened from a +point close to the left flank and in the prolongation of our line. I +told him I was certain there were no fortifications in that position; +and I had seen no troops there. The fire increased from that direction, +and Colonel Harney ordered me to proceed rapidly with my men to the left +of our line, direct two companies on that flank to wheel at once, to the +left; and when he gave the order to charge, these two companies and the +engineers would move to the left against the force that was firing upon +us from that side.</p> + +<p>These dispositions on our left were made in a very few moments, and the +order to charge was given immediately thereafter. The brigade sprang up, +dashed over the short intervening space, and were almost instantly +inside of the Mexican incomplete works.</p> + +<p>After a short, but bloody, hand to hand struggle, in which bayonets, +swords, pistols, and butts of muskets were freely used, the Mexicans +retreated in great disorder. The troops that had been faced to the left +just before the order to charge was given, immediately found themselves +in the midst of a detachment of Mexicans, in a nest of surface quarry +holes which gave them protection from distant fire and effectually +concealed them from view until we were among them. The struggle here was +hand to hand, and sharp for a short time. But they were driven from +their quarry holes, back on their main line which gave way, and their +own guns were turned upon them before they could get off the field.</p> + +<p>Thus, Persifor Smith's brigade, under Colonel Harney, carried, and held +possession of, the key-point of the battlefield of Cerro Gordo.</p> + +<p>After the battle the various details of engineer soldiers joined in the +pursuit of the enemy, were collected together at Encerro, and the +company remained with Twiggs division until it reached Jalapa. At this +place it was furnished by the Chief Quartermaster with the finest mule +teams in the army. This gave great satisfaction to the men who had +struggled so hard to get the engineer train forward, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>through deep sand, +from Vera Cruz. To add to their elation, they had now left the "hot +lands" of the coast behind them, had reached a temperate climate, 4,000 +feet above the level of the sea, had escaped the dread <i>vomito</i> of Vera +Cruz, and had participated closely in the great victory gained by +Scott's army at Cerro Gordo.</p> + +<p>From Jalapa, Worth's division led the way, the engineer company at its +head. During the halt of a few days, at Perote, I procured the transfer +of First Sergeant David H. Hastings, from the Third Artillery to the +engineer company. He was considered one of the best sergeants in the +army, and was at once, made first sergeant of the engineer company. +Previous to that time we had only an acting first sergeant. The company +entered Puebla with Worth's division, and on the arrival of General +Scott at that place we were again ordered to report to general +headquarters.</p> + +<p>During the three months delay of the army, at Puebla, awaiting +reinforcements before moving into the valley of Mexico, the regular +instruction of the company—both as infantry and as engineer +soldiers—was resumed. Besides the "School of the Sapper" as taught them +before they left the United States, the men were now instructed, +theoretically and practically, in the "School of the Miner". They were +engaged too in work upon the fortifications of Puebla; and had practice +in loop-holing walls, and received instruction for placing towns, +villages, etc. in a state of defense. Whilst at Puebla the company +received the sad news of the death of their Captain.</p> + +<p>General Scott, in his official report of the battle of Cerro Gordo, +says; "Lieutenant G. W. Smith led the engineer company as part of the +storming force [under Colonel Harney], and is noticed with distinction". +(Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 263).</p> + +<p>General Twiggs, in his official report of the same battle, states: +"Lieutenant G. W. Smith, of the engineers, with his company of Sappers +and Miners, joined Colonel Harney's command in the assault on the +enemy's main work, and killed two men with his own hand". (Ex. Doc. No. +1, p. 278).</p> + +<p>In Colonel Harney's official report of this battle it is stated: +"Lieutenant G. W. Smith, of the engineers, with his company, rendered +very efficient service in his own department, as well as in the storming +of the fort". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 281).</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Taken from my official report for the month of April, 1847. +G. W. S.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Colonel Joseph G. Totten. Chief Engineer, had left Vera +Cruz and returned to his duties in Washington City. Major John L. Smith +then became Senior Engineer with General Scott's forces.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h2>FROM PUEBLA TO CHURUBUSCO.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>On the 7th of August, 1847, the advance of General Scott's army, Twiggs' +division, the engineer company leading, left Puebla and commenced the +forward movement into the valley of Mexico. The company served with that +division, until Worth's division was placed in the lead during the +turning movement made by the army around Lake Chalco. In that movement +the engineer company was at the head of Worth's division.</p> + +<p>The road ran between the western border of the lake and a high range of +hills which, in some places, rose from the water's edge. The road was +narrow and rough; and had been obstructed by rolling immense masses of +stone upon it from the almost overhanging cliffs. These obstructions +were of considerable height; they completely blocked our way; and at +several points ditches had been cut across the road.</p> + +<p>General Worth directed the Light Battalion, under Colonel C. F. Smith, +to advance and drive off the Mexicans who were firing upon us—ordered +me to make the road passable for artillery and wagons as soon as +possible—and notified me that the leading brigade would assist in that +work when called upon. I immediately asked for a detail of 500 men; put +them to work, at once, under the direction of the officers and men of +the engineer company, and everything was progressing rapidly, when, to +my surprise, Lieutenant J. C. Pemberton, aide to General Worth, came up +to me and insisted that the whole character of the operations should be +changed. Whilst he was elaborating his views I cut him short by asking +if he had any orders for me from General Worth. In the meanwhile the +latter had reached the front, without either Pemberton or I being aware +of his presence. Before the aide had time to reply to my question, +General Worth, in a very peremptory tone called out "Come away from +there Mr. Pemberton, and let Mr. Smith alone. This is his business—not +yours".</p> + +<p>In a few hours, the road was put in such condition that, by the use of +drag-ropes and men at the wheels, we were enabled to pass artillery and +wagons over the obstructions; and the column moved on without further +material delay.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>After reaching San Augustine, and passing beyond, the forward movement, +now on the main road, or causeway, leading from Acapulco to the city of +Mexico, was checked by fortifications about six hundred yards in our +front. These fortifications crossed the road at San Antonio, and were +occupied by the enemy in large force. The afternoon of the 18th of +August, was spent in reconnoitring that position.</p> + +<p>About 3 A. M., on the 19th, I received an order to return to San +Augustine with the engineer company and its train. In making our way +from the head of Worth's division, along the main road, towards the +rear, it was somewhat difficult to arouse the men of that division, who +were sleeping on the road, and get them to clear the way for the passage +of our wagons.</p> + +<p>No explanation of the order for our return had been given. Just after +the dawn of day, and before we were clear of the division, two soldiers +on the side of the road, were lighting a fire for the purpose of +preparing coffee. As we passed them, one said to the other: "We are not +going to fight to-day: Twiggs's division is going to fight". The other +of the two replied, sneeringly: "What do you know about it?" To which +the first answered: "Don't you see those young engineer officers, with +the engineer company and their wagons? They are going back, to be sent +on another road with Twiggs's division, we are not going to fight +to-day". As we passed out of hearing of the two soldiers I said to +McClellan, who was riding by my side: "Did you hear that?" He answered +"Yes and I consider it the handsomest compliment that could be paid to +the engineer company. The private soldiers of this army understand that +we are sent where the hardest work and hardest fighting are to be +done—and always at the head of the leading division".</p> + +<p>We reached San Augustine a little after sunrise, August 19. I will now +quote direct from my official report of these operations.</p> + +<p>"Orders were [at once] received, from the headquarters of the army, +directing me to report to Captain R. E. Lee, of the Corps of Engineers, +with the company under my command, and [I] was ordered by Captain Lee to +take ten of my men, and select certain tools from the general engineer +train, in addition to those carried along with the company. I turned +over the command of the engineer company to Lieutenant McClellan, who, +under the direction of Captain Lee, proceeded at once to commence the +work on the road from San Augustine to Contreras." "In about one hour +and a half, I rejoined the command with the necessary implements for [a +large working force in] opening the road. Captain Lee directed me to +retain the men I then had with me, and to take charge of a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>certain +section of the road, to bring forward my wagons as rapidly as possible, +and to see that the road was practicable before I passed any portion of +it. At this time my company was divided into five sections, each under +an engineer officer directing operations on [different portions of] the +road".</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">At Contreras.</span> General Scott, in his official report, says, "By +three o'clock, this afternoon, [August 19th.] the advanced divisions +came to a point where the new road could only be continued under the +direct fire of 22 pieces of the enemy's artillery [most of them of large +calibre] placed in a strong entrenched camp to oppose our operations, +and surrounded by every advantage of ground, besides immense bodies of +cavalry and infantry".</p> + +<p>In my official report it is stated that; "The head of the column having +halted, I reached the front in time to receive instructions from Captain +Lee to halt the company, collect the scattered parties, and to examine +the road inclining to the left, while he went to the right. Lieutenants +McClellan and Foster had been for some hours detached. Having gone about +four hundred yards, I heard just ahead sharp firing of musketry; and +immediately after met Captain McClellan, of the topographical engineers, +and Lieutenant McClellan, of the engineer company, returning on +horseback—they had come suddenly on a strong picket, and were fired +upon. Lieutenant McClellan had his horse shot under him. Information of +the enemy's picket being in our vicinity was reported to General Twiggs, +who ordered a regiment of rifles forward. There being several engineer +officers present when the rifles came to the front, I returned to my +company, which had been for a short time left without an officer. +Captain Lee about this time, sent back for Captain Magruder's battery, +which was conducted by Lieutenant Foster, and placed in position by +Lieutenant McClellan".</p> + +<p>"The Third Infantry was ordered to support the battery. I moved forward +with this regiment, taking my company and pack mules, loaded with tools, +and placed my command under such shelter as could be found on the left, +near the position occupied by the Third Infantry, and in rear of the +battery. Meeting with Lieutenant McClellan, I directed him still to +remain with the battery, but to order Lieutenant Foster to rejoin the +company. In a few moments this officer reported to me, and brought +information that the troops were preparing to storm the enemy's +position."</p> + +<p>"Riley's brigade had moved in advance by our right. Leaving the mules +and tools, I moved the company forward, falling in with the brigade of +General [Persifor] Smith. Captain Lee being present, with his consent, I +requested the General to allow the engineer <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>company to fight in his +brigade. He told me to take the head of the column, and to direct myself +towards a church in a village, on the left of the enemy's +battery—between it and the city. Whilst passing down the hill and +crossing the ravine, the enemy were rapidly appearing [reinforcements +from the direction of the city] on an eminence beyond the church. +General Smith directed me to take my company as an escort, reconnoitre +the village, and find out whether Colonel Riley's brigade was in the +vicinity. I continued some distance beyond the church; and returned +without seeing the brigade under Colonel Riley, which had, as I +understood afterwards, advanced very near [the rear of] the enemy's +battery. The reinforcements of the enemy upon the hill in our front were +rapidly increasing. They had at this time probably ten thousand men, on +the height, formed in line of battle. Towards dark Colonel Riley's +brigade returned and joined the troops under the command of General +Smith: too late, however, to allow time for forming the troops to attack +the enemy [on the hill] in our front. Lieutenant McClellan joined me +about this time in our movement on the village. Lieutenant Foster, who +was on horseback, became detached with a few of the men, and did not +rejoin me until after the action on the morning of the 20th."</p> + +<p>"General Smith, very soon after dark, informed me that the enemy's main +battery would be stormed, [in rear], at daylight on the morning of the +20th. This would open the road for artillery, and our communications +with [the main army under] General Scott would be re-established. I +received orders to hold the engineer company ready to move at 3 A. M. +and to take my place on the right of the rifles. On the morning of the +20th there was considerable delay in the movement of the brigade [raw +troops] under General Cadwallader, by which General Smith's brigade, now +under the command of Major Dimmick, First Artillery, was detained very +nearly an hour. Part of the Eleventh Regiment [Cadwallader's brigade] +lost its way, caused the Voltigeurs to halt, thus throwing the brigade +under Major Dimmick still further from Riley's, which had moved very +soon after 3 o'clock. At the request of General Cadwallader, Major +Dimmick ordered me to turn over the command of my company to the officer +next in rank, and to move forward and conduct the troops that had lost +their way. The whole force was by sunrise, or little after, halted in a +sheltered position in rear of the enemy's battery". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +Appendix p. 67).</p> + +<p>I reported the cause of the delay to General Smith and requested +instructions to rejoin my company; but he said he desired that I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>should +remain with him for a while. By his order, the three brigades were soon +put in motion. I again asked him to permit me to rejoin my proper +command. He replied "Not yet" and added: "I will soon give you +instructions".</p> + +<p>Because of a dense fog the delay in reaching the position in rear of the +Mexican works was no material disadvantage. The fog began to disappear +about the time I reported to General Smith. He was then on a ridge at a +point, about 600 yards in rear of the Mexican works. The three brigades +were passing around the extremity of that ridge, several hundred yards +in rear of the General. All was quiet in the lines of the enemy. There +was another ridge south of the one on which General Smith was standing, +and separated from it by a deep and very narrow valley. The sides of +both ridges were precipitous; their tops sloped gently to the enemy's +line.</p> + +<p>General Smith informed me that Riley's brigade would pass partly beyond +the extremity of the second ridge; then face to the left, and attack a +strong Mexican detachment which was in position on that ridge, several +hundred yards in rear of their works. Riley was ordered to drive that +detachment and pursue it closely into the Mexican main lines. +Cadwallader's brigade would go on when Riley faced to the left; and, as +soon as he passed Riley, Cadwallader would also face to the left and +come into action on Riley's right. Smith's own brigade would turn to the +left before reaching the extremity of the second ridge. The Third +Infantry and First Artillery would advance in the deep valley between +the two ridges; whilst the Rifle Regiment, with the engineer company +leading, would ascend the steep slope of the second ridge, and get into +position on the flank, or rear, of the Mexican detachment which Riley +was to attack in front. In the meantime the head of Smith's brigade had +come within view, near the foot of the steep slope of the second ridge, +and was moving towards the Mexican main line.</p> + +<p>General Smith pointed out to me the route to be taken to reach the top +of the second ridge; and ordered that the engineer company and rifles +should bear to the right, and on getting near the Mexican detachment, +remain concealed, and quiet, until Riley's brigade became well engaged; +then join in the attack and pursuit of that detachment.</p> + +<p>With these specific instructions, I was ordered to rejoin my company; +and Lieutenant Beauregard was directed to take general charge of the +movements of Smith's brigade. When Beauregard and I reached the top of +the second ridge we found we were 50 yards, or less, in rear of the +Mexican detachment, which was facing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>Riley. All was quiet. In a very +few moments Riley's fire commenced.</p> + +<p>The engineer company, followed by the rifle regiment was then forming in +line, under cover, in rear of the Mexican detachment, whose attention +was concentrated on Riley, in their front. We were between that +detachment and the Mexican works. A small portion only of the Rifle +Regiment was in line, when the firing with Riley became very severe, and +the order was given for the engineer company and rifles to rise and fire +into the backs of the enemy. That fire was very destructive. The +Mexicans were astounded; faced squarely about, and in a moment +precipitately retreated.</p> + +<p>In my official report it is stated that: "Colonel Riley's advance became +engaged with a very strong picket, some 300 yards or more from the rear +of the [enemy's] battery, near the crest of the ridge; the engineers and +rifles came up at once in position to take the picket in rear, delivered +a deadly volley within 50 yards, cheered and rushed on. The enemy's +force fled; the head of our column crossed the line of their retreat, +which brought the right of the column [engineer company and rifles] +conducted by Lieutenant Beauregard, in contact with the Seventh +Infantry, which formed the left of Colonel Riley's brigade. I went into +the enemy's battery with the colors of the Seventh Infantry, my company +immediately behind me. The enemy, or at least a portion of them, stood +to their guns well, and delivered a fire of grape into our troops when +the head of the column was within 25 yards of their pieces. Our troops +followed the retreating enemy without halting until they were beyond the +reach of our musketry. Lieutenant Beauregard then strongly advised that +the troops be halted and formed. A short time afterwards General Twiggs, +came up. The pursuit was resumed. At San Angel we had an unimportant +skirmish". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 68).</p> + +<p>The following additional quotations from my official report are not +deemed irrelevant:</p> + +<p>"In the action of the morning of the 20th—the battle of Contreras—my +men acted with great gallantry; their promptness in obeying every order, +and the effect with which they used their muskets, entitle them all to +the highest praise. In my report to the chief engineer in the field, I +shall make special mention of all who, to my knowledge, particularly +distinguished themselves. I will mention here, First Sergeant D. H. +Hastings, of the engineer company, who, by his gallant conduct and +soldiery bearing, in this action, richly deserves promotion to the rank +of commissioned <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>officer in the army. Sergeant Hastings was slightly +wounded by my side in the battery. Sergeant [S. H.] Starr attracted my +particular attention by his gallant and efficient conduct. Sergeant +Starr was the ranking non-commissioned officer with the detachment of +the engineer company which accompanied Colonel Harney's command at the +battle of Cerro Gordo. I would recommend him for promotion [to the grade +of commissioned officer in the army]."</p> + +<p>"Artificer W. H. Bartlett attracted my particular attention by [his] +cool and steady gallantry, Artificer A. S. Read shot the color bearer of +the Twelfth Regiment of artillery, and secured the color."</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Foster was at this time, as I have before remarked, detached +with a portion of the company; and, at the head of his men, led the +Ninth and Twelfth Regiments of Infantry in their attack on the flank of +the retreating column at Contreras."</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant McClellan, frequently detached, and several times in command +of the engineer company, is entitled to the highest praise for his cool +and daring gallantry, on all occasions, in the actions of both the 19th +and 20th." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 69.)</p> + +<p>In the pursuit, we passed through the village of San Angel; and near +that place, were again halted. During that halt, I noticed a large, high +building, in an extensive open field, five or six hundred yards to the +North. I was satisfied that from the top of that building, with a +powerful field glass, which was a portion of the engineer company +equipment, I would be able to get a good view of the level country for +miles around, and obtain quite definite knowledge of the positions and +movements of the main Mexican forces.</p> + +<p>I communicated my wishes to Major Loring; and asked him if he felt +authorized to support the engineer company, with the Rifle Regiment, in +a close reconnaissance of the building I pointed out. He laughingly +replied: "I have been directed by General Smith to follow you and your +company—of course I will go with you".</p> + +<p>We had not proceeded more than two hundred yards towards the building +when we were overtaken by Lieutenant Van Dorn, Aide to General Smith, +who brought an order requiring the Rifle Regiment and the engineer +company to return to the head of the column on the road. I told Van Dorn +the purpose I had in view, asked him to explain the matter to General +Smith, and expressed my conviction that he would approve the movement, +when he knew its object. Van Dorn replied: "General Smith was very +peremptory. I am directed to see that you and Major Loring, with your +respective commands, return at once". On our way <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>back, Van Dorn said +that General Pillow had reached the front and taken control; and his +belief was that General Pillow had ordered General Smith to recall the +engineer company and the Rifle Regiment. A short time thereafter we +moved from San Angel to Coyoacan, where the head of the column again +halted; and was soon joined by General Scott.</p> + +<p>There is good reason to believe that observations, which could easily +have been made from the roof of the high building above referred to, +would have resulted in obtaining such information in regard to the +Mexican position at the Convent of Churubusco and at the <i>tête-de-pont</i>, +as would have enabled General Scott to complete the rout of the Mexican +Army without incurring the additional loss of nearly one thousand men in +killed and wounded.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">At Churubusco.</span> The following quotations are taken from my +official report:</p> + +<p>"Between 12 and 1 o'clock, P. M., [August 20, 1847] I received orders to +move, from the village of [Coyoacan] immediately after the rifle +regiment, on a road intersecting the road from San Antonio to Mexico, in +order to cut off the enemy already retreating from San Antonio.</p> + +<p>"I had not gone two hundred yards when I received orders to countermarch +and move on another route intersecting the road from San Antonio to the +city nearer to Mexico. [The latter road led nearly due east, parallel to +the front of the earthworks at the Convent, distant from those works +about 250 yards]. The regiment of riflemen continued on the road on +which I first started. [This road led south-east from Coyoacan]. The +company took its place [again] at the head of the column [Twiggs's +division]. The column was halted by General Twiggs, and I was directed +by him to send an officer in advance to see the position of a battery +reported to be not far in front. Lieutenant McClellan was sent on one +road; and Lieutenant Stevens of the engineers, was directed by General +Twiggs, to take another. Both officers soon returned and reported a +battery in front of a convent, the roof and steeples of which were in +plain view of the head of the column and within 700 yards. The roof was +crowded with troops; the battery was masked by intervening trees and +corn-fields. General Twiggs then directed these officers to make a +closer reconnaissance and ordered my company as an escort. Having +proceeded 500 yards, we saw [Mexican] troops on our right, left, and in +front. A lancer was taken prisoner. Lieutenant Stevens directed me to +take the prisoner to the general and request an additional escort of two +companies. We were at this time about 300 yards from the battery, but it +was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>still almost masked from view. I delivered the prisoner and the +message to General Twiggs, and returned at once to my company which I +had left in charge of Lieutenant Foster. Lieutenant Stevens joined +General Twiggs whilst I was with him. When I resumed command of the +company, Lieutenant McClellan reported to me that <i>our troops were +already engaged in our front</i>; having, apparently, turned the battery +and convent by our right. One of General Twiggs's staff, [Lieutenant W. +T. H. Brooks, A. A. Adjutant General, Twiggs's division,] was present +and informed us that the rifles with Captain Lee of the engineers, were +reconnoitring the same works, and had gone to our right considerably +farther from the battery than we then were. We all concurred in opinion +that the rifles were engaged with a vastly superior force. There was at +this time no firing of artillery. I ordered Lieutenant McClellan to +report the result of his observations to General Twiggs. He did so, and +on the recommendation of Lieutenants Stevens and McClellan, in which I +concurred, the First Regiment of Artillery was ordered to support the +rifles. The firing on the right increased; it was evident that several +thousands of the enemy were pouring a heavy musketry fire into our +troops on the right. The tops of the convent and the surrounding walls +were lined with troops; the roof was literally covered. Lieutenant +Stevens was of opinion that a few rounds of grape would disperse these +masses and relieve our troops already engaged [on the right] from a +destructive plunging fire. He went back to the general, leaving myself +the senior engineer then in front of the [convent] battery. The fire had +now become very brisk upon my [reconnoitring] party; having placed the +company under the best shelter at hand, with Lieutenant Foster I +proceeded to examine the works to determine the number, character and +position of the pieces of artillery. Nothing heavier than a 4 or +6-pounder had yet been fired." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 69.)</p> + +<p>In my official report it is further stated that: "The troops had become +engaged in our front within ten minutes after a reconnaissance had been +ordered by General Twiggs, and before the officer whom I was escorting +had been able to make a single observation".</p> + +<p>In my official copy of that report, I find the following sentence, which +is not in the printed report:</p> + +<p>"Deeply do I regret that the attack, in advance of the reconnoitring +party, precipitated the attack on our side, and involved us in action +against we knew not what".</p> + +<p>The force which became engaged, far to our right—before the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>reconnaissance, supported by the engineer company, fairly commenced, +was the advance of Worth's division pursuing the Mexicans who had +abandoned their strong works at San Antonio.</p> + +<p>Captain James L. Mason, engineer of Worth's division, says, in his +official report, that the works attacked by that division, and "so +gallantly stormed, had not been reconnoitred".</p> + +<p>The engineers in front of the convent, being informed that the rifles +with Captain Lee had gone to our right considerably farther from the +battery, advised that the rifles be supported by an additional regiment. +The same engineers advised that one gun be sent to the front to drive +the Mexicans from the roof of the convent, and thus relieve our troops +on the right from a destructive plunging fire.</p> + +<p>The additional escort of two companies, asked for by the reconnoitring +engineers, had not come to the front. After Lieutenant Stevens had gone +back to General Twiggs, to have one gun with a few rounds of proper +ammunition sent forward for the purpose of clearing the roof of the +convent, the firing in our front, on the San Antonio road, had +materially increased; and the fire from the convent, upon the engineer +company, was becoming troublesome. There had been, to me, unexpected +delay in bringing the one gun forward; and I determined, as already +stated, to place the men under the best shelter at hand, and endeavor to +make, in person, a closer examination of the works.</p> + +<p>Resuming quotations from my official report—it is therein stated:</p> + +<p>"At this time the First Artillery came up to where I was. The lamented +and gallant Burke, at the head of the leading company, asked which +direction they were to take. I inquired what were his orders. He said +that the regiment was ordered to support the Rifles. I pointed to the +smoke, which was all we could see by which to determine the position of +our troops engaged in a corn-field on our right; told him that they +reached their present place by moving farther to the rear, out of range +of the works; and remarked to him that the fire through which he would +have to pass in the direction he was going was very severe. He replied +that they were ordered to move by that road to support the Rifles. The +First Artillery filed by and soon encountered, at a distance of 150 +yards from the enemy, the heaviest fire of artillery and musketry, +followed almost immediately after [by that] brought to bear upon +Taylor's battery, which had been ordered to fire upon the convent; and, +in selecting a place suitable for managing the guns, had most +unfortunately been placed, entirely exposed, directly in front of a well +constructed battery with heavy pieces firing in embrasure."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>"As the First Artillery filed by me, I ordered my company to be formed, +determined to go on with the reconnaissance; and if possible, send back +to the general, [Twiggs,] accurate information in reference to the works +of the enemy and the position of our own troops, which at that time I +could not understand. In moving forward, I was opposite the centre of +the [First] Artillery which inclined more to the left, toward the +battery, whilst I kept nearer the [principal road leading almost due +east from Coyoacan]. The ground was level, but some shelter was afforded +to small bodies of men, by the ditches, maguey plant, etc. I ordered my +men to separate, to shelter themselves as much as possible, [and] to +keep within supporting distance of me. I proceeded about two hundred +yards. I ordered every man to shelter himself in a small ditch which was +fortunately near us; immediately after I heard the fire of Taylor's +battery passing directly over my head. [When that fire commenced we +were] in the corn-field, about half-way between Taylor's battery and the +enemy. Requiring my command to lie close, with Lieutenant Foster, I made +my way to an old ruined wall in the open space east of the corn-field, +and from that position sent Lieutenant Foster to General Twiggs to +report the extent of the line engaged on the right, that we were +directly in front of the works [which were now in plain view], and that, +in my opinion, the whole force under General Twiggs's command should +turn the enemy's position by our left. Another battery [of the enemy] +was seen distinctly to our right and far in rear of the Churubusco +battery, apparently enfilading our line engaged on the right. General +Twiggs had already sent Colonel Riley's brigade to turn the position by +our left, and take the battery by the gorge. When Lieutenant Foster +returned, I withdrew the company to a position of more safety, and +joined General Smith and Lieutenant Stevens, who were near the place +from which I started with the First Artillery. I remained there [under +General Smith's order] until after the action." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +Appendix, pp. 70-71.)</p> + +<p>That point was about 300 yards south-west of the convent. There were +several adobe houses near, and from it a road along which there were +some huts, led to the convent, and another road, almost due east, passed +in front of the convent. In moving forward I had kept nearer the latter +road, the First Artillery nearer the former. The point I reached in the +open, east of the corn-field, was within less than 100 yards of the +works at the convent, and there was every indication that these works +did not extend along the western side of that building.</p> + +<p>The place at which I joined General Smith and Lieutenant <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>Stevens, after +I returned from beyond the corn-field, was that at which it had been +proposed to place one gun, under cover of the adobe hut; run it out by +hand; fire, and run it under shelter again to reload. By this means, a +few rounds of grape, canister, and shrapnel, could have cleared the roof +of the convent.</p> + +<p>In more senses than one, the firing of Taylor's battery through the +ranks of the engineer company, in the corn-field, was a surprise to me. +I learned from Lieutenant Stevens that, when he applied for one gun to +be sent to the front, those in authority had deemed it best to send +forward a whole battery, and place it in an open field, square in front +of the fortifications.</p> + +<p>The battle of Churubusco was commenced, and mostly fought, haphazard, +against the front of the Mexican fortified lines, without giving time +for proper reconnaissance.</p> + +<p>General Scott, in his official report of the battle, says: "Lieutenant +Stevens of the engineers, supported by Lieutenant G. W. Smith's company +of sappers and miners, of the same corps, was sent to reconnoitre the +strongly fortified church or convent of San Pablo in the hamlet of +Churubusco—one mile off [from Coyoacan]. Twiggs with one of his +brigades [Smith's, less the rifles] and Captain Taylor's field battery, +were ordered to follow and to attack the convent. Major Smith, senior +engineer, was despatched to concert with Twiggs the mode of attack, and +Twiggs's other brigade [Riley's] I soon ordered to support him." (Ex. +Doc. No. 1, p. 309.)</p> + +<p>Major John L. Smith, senior engineer, says: "Lieutenant Stevens in the +reconnaissance of the position of Churubusco, was assisted by Lieutenant +McClellan and escorted by the company of sappers and miners. This +company also participated in the operations of the right [of Twiggs's +division]". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 353.)</p> + +<p>Major Dimmick, commanding the First Regiment of Artillery, says: "About +12 o'clock, M., the battalion was ordered to attack the position of the +enemy at the church, reported by the engineers at the time to have but +one piece of artillery. The point of attack selected by the senior +engineer officer was masked by a corn-field, in front of which I +deployed the battalion and ordered it to advance, when almost instantly +a shower of musketry, grape and round shot poured upon us, under which +the battalion advanced".</p> + +<p>"The right had advanced to within one hundred yards of a regular bastion +front, the curtain of which had four pieces in embrasure, besides nearly +a thousand infantry, both of which kept up such a constant stream of +fire that I could not advance further in line; I therefore ordered the +men to cover themselves as well as possible. The left of the battalion +advanced to within seventy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>yards of the work, being exposed to the fire +of two pieces of artillery, <i>en barbette</i>, in addition to the fire of a +considerable force of infantry and some of them still nearer, so that +they had a destructive fire on the cannoniers and infantry; which +position the battalion maintained until the enemy were driven from their +guns and bastion, when they were followed into their work and +surrendered." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 78.)</p> + +<p>Captain Francis Taylor, commanding light battery, says: "On reaching +Churubusco, we came in sight of a church, where the enemy was posted, +having, as was supposed, an entrenched battery thrown across the road. +Troops were soon thrown forward to attack this place; and, after a short +time, I was ordered to place the battery in a position where it was +thought I could drive the enemy from the roof and walls of the church, +and sustain the other troops in their efforts to carry this place by +storm. On taking the position assigned me, I found we were exposed to a +most terrible fire of artillery and musketry, of a regular entrenchment, +covering the front of the church to which we were opposite, and which +the intervening Indian corn hid from our sight at the time. Here I +opened my battery, and it was served with great precision for about an +hour and a half, notwithstanding it was exposed, during that time, to a +constant shower of grape, round shot, shell and musketry. At last, +finding my loss was becoming very great, and having succeeded in driving +the enemy from the roof and walls of the church, and given to our troops +such support as was in my power, I determined to withdraw the pieces". +(Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 73).</p> + +<p>The connection between the reconnaissance of the engineers, and the +operations of the First Artillery and Taylor's battery at Churubusco, +has already been described in extracts taken from my official report.</p> + +<p>In his official report, General Persifor F. Smith says: "Lieutenant G. +W. Smith, in command of the engineer company, and Lieutenant McClellan, +his subaltern, distinguished themselves throughout the whole of the +three actions [19th and 20th at Contreras; and at Churubusco]. Nothing +seemed to them too bold to be undertaken, or too difficult to be +executed; and their services as engineers were as valuable as those they +rendered in battle at the head of their gallant men. Lieutenant Foster, +being detached from his company during the action at Contreras, did not +fall under my notice; but in the action on the 19th and at Churubusco, +he was equally conspicuous for his gallantry". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 332).</p> + +<p>General Twiggs, in his official report, says: "To Lieutenant <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>G. W. +Smith, of the engineers, who commanded the company of sappers and +miners, I am under obligations for his services on this and on other +occasions. Whenever his legitimate duties with the pick and spade were +performed, he always solicited permission to join in the advance of the +storming party with his muskets, in which position his gallantry, and +that of his officers and men, was conspicuously displayed at Contreras +as well as Cerro Gordo." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 325.)</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h2>CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF MEXICO.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>During the armistice, which was entered into just after the battle of +Churubusco, and terminated on the 6th of September, the engineer company +was quartered in the village of San Angel. On the 7th of September I +received orders to move the company, its train, and the general engineer +train of the army to Tacubaya.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Molino Del Rey.</span> That night I was ordered to detail an officer +and ten men of the engineer company to report to General Worth. +Lieutenant Foster was placed in charge of this detail. He and his men +were on the right of the storming party of five hundred picked men, of +Worth's division, which led the attack against Molino Del Rey on the +morning of the 8th. In that attack Lieutenant Foster was very severely +wounded and disabled.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chapultepec.</span> On the 11th of September, I received orders to +furnish details of men from the company to assist engineer officers in +supervising the construction of batteries against Chapultepec. I was +placed in charge of Battery No. 1, on the Tacubaya road, against the +southern face of the Castle; and Lieutenant McClellan in charge of +Battery No. 2, against the southwestern angle. On the night of the 12th, +the details were all called in, and I was directed to furnish implements +to the different storming parties which were to assault the castle of +Chapultepec on the morning of the 13th.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">San Cosme Garita.</span> At 3 P. M., that day, I received orders to +join the siege train, and report to General Worth whose column was to +attack the city by the San Cosme route.</p> + +<p>At 4 P. M., I reported to General Worth, who was then with his forces, +in the suburbs of the city, on the San Cosme causeway, at the point +where it changes direction, at an angle of nearly ninety degrees, and is +then nearly straight for about six hundred yards to the fortified Garita +in our front. He informed me that Lieutenant Stevens had just been +severely wounded and this made me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>the senior engineer with Worth's +division. He directed me to go forward in person, closely examine the +condition of affairs at the front, endeavor to determine the best method +of operating against the fortified Garita, and report to him the result +of my observations as soon as possible. He directed me, particularly, to +have in view the question whether it would be advisable to bring the +siege guns forward against the embrasured battery at the Garita. Just as +I was leaving him, he said: "If you find there are two different methods +by which the Garita can be carried, one in a shorter time at a sacrifice +of men, the other in longer time, but a saving of men, choose the +latter". And he added: "There have been too many valuable lives, of +officers and men, lost recently in my division, for nothing".</p> + +<p>Though he did not specify the action referred to, he meant the battle of +Molino Del Rey. Under these instructions, I proceeded to the extreme +front, made the requisite examination of our position and that of the +enemy, and soon came back. I reported that the houses on the left of the +causeway were built up continuously to the battery at the Garita, we +could easily break through the walls from house to house; and, under +perfect cover, reach the top of a three-story building, with flat roof +and stone parapet, within 40 yards of the battery. A fire of musketry +from that roof would make the works untenable; and we could thus in a +short time drive the enemy from the fortified Garita, and secure a good +lodgement within the city, without material loss and without using the +siege guns.</p> + +<p>General Worth directed me to bring forward the engineer company, which +was with the siege train a short distance to the rear, and commence +operations on the proposed plan; and at the same time ordered that +Clarke's brigade should render any assistance I might call for.</p> + +<p>An hour or more before sunset we reached the top of the house above +referred to. From that position the inside of the enemy's works could be +plainly seen almost to the foot of the interior slope of the parapet. +Our first fire upon the Mexicans, who were unconscious of the impending +peril, was very deadly. Those who were not killed or disabled by that +fire seemed dazed for an instant; but in a few moments, they +precipitately retreated, leaving the San Cosme Garita without a single +defender in the works. One of their pieces of artillery was withdrawn a +few hundred yards, but was then abandoned.</p> + +<p>Immediately after that first fire, a portion of the force with me on the +roof became engaged with the enemy who appeared on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>house tops in rear +of their battery. We soon drove them from their position. The other +portion of our men fell back to the stairs, made their way to the lower +story, broke open the thick, heavily barred, strong door, passed into +the street, entered the abandoned works, and pursued the enemy. In the +meantime, some of our troops from the right of the causeway had come +forward and, a very small number of them, were slightly in advance of us +in reaching the abandoned battery.</p> + +<p>Colonel Garland, commander of the first brigade of Worth's division, on +the right of the causeway, says, in his official report: "The enemy then +took position at the Garita San Cosme, where they were supported by two +pieces of artillery which raked the streets with grape and canister. +Finding a secure position to the right of the second defence, [about 350 +yards in front of the Garita], I reorganized the command as it came up; +mounted a howitzer on the top of a convent, which, under the direction +of Lieutenant [U. S.] Grant, Quartermaster, 4th Infantry, and Lieutenant +Lendrum, 3rd Artillery, annoyed the enemy considerably. About this time, +report was made to me that considerable progress had been made by the +troops on the other side of the street by means of crowbars and +pickaxes, working through houses and yards. This caused me to watch +closely for the first movement of the enemy indicative of retreat. The +moment this was discovered, the 4th Infantry, followed by detachments of +the 2nd and 3rd Artillery, under Colonel Belton, rushed up the road, +when they entered the work simultaneously with the forces operating to +the right and left, Captain McKenzie's storming party slightly in +advance". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 170.)</p> + +<p>Referring to this operation, General Worth, in his official report, +says; "the moment had now arrived for the final and combined attack upon +the last stronghold of the enemy in my quarter; it was made, by our men +springing, as if by magic, to the tops of the houses into which they had +patiently and quietly made their way with the bar and pick, and to the +utter surprise and consternation of the enemy, opening upon him, within +easy range, a destructive fire of musketry. A single discharge, in which +many of his gunners were killed at their pieces, was sufficient to drive +him in confusion from the breastworks; when a prolonged shout from our +brave fellows announced that we were in possession of the Garita of San +Cosme and already in the city of Mexico". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 392.)</p> + +<p>The American army having thus captured the fortifications of the capital +of the enemy's country, a magnificent city of nearly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>200,000 +inhabitants, a secure lodgement was immediately effected in large +houses, on the left of the street, a few hundred yards from the Garita. +I then proceeded, with the engineer company and an infantry detachment, +several hundred yards farther; and found a strong position, on the right +of the street where the troops could rest protected from fire. Going +farther to the front, I discovered that, 150 yards in advance there was +a large convent, on the left of the street, occupied by a strong force. +The next cross street, the Paseo, had batteries upon it. These facts +were reported to General Worth, who ordered forward two brigades—one to +occupy each of the positions selected—and, directed me to place those +troops, station the picket-guards, and then, with Lieutenant McClellan, +report at his headquarters which was several hundred yards within the +Garita.</p> + +<p>The aqueduct, in the middle of the street along which we advanced, was +an open stone trough, supported at a height of ten feet, or more, by +pillars and arches. There was a good deal of firing down the street from +Mexican detachments; but, by taking shelter under the arches, between +the pillars, our men, in small groups, were quite well protected. A +little before dark, whilst I was under one of the arches at the extreme +front, endeavoring to get a closer view of the enemy at the convent and +on the Paseo, I was joined by Lieutenant Sydney Smith, of the Fourth +Infantry, who had borne several messages from me to General Worth during +the afternoon. In a few moments after he joined me we heard horses feet +rapidly approaching us from the direction of the citadel. These horsemen +were captured, and proved to be three Mexican officers, one of whom was +Adjutant-General on the staff of Santa Anna.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by Lieutenant McClellan, I reported to General Worth at 10 +P. M., and was ordered by him to suspend operations for the night and +resume them at daylight. He received us both very kindly, expressed +satisfaction with the manner in which the works at the Garita had been +carried, and approved of all the dispositions that had been subsequently +made of the troops at the front. I called his attention again to the +convent, told him that the large Mexican force in that position might +give us a great deal of trouble next morning, and asked him to permit +me, with the engineer company supported by a detachment of about five +hundred men, to pass the convent that night, get into a strong position +beyond it, and thus induce the enemy to abandon that position before +morning; and said I thought it probable a detachment of five hundred men +could reach the main plaza of the city, that night, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>without material +difficulty; and that, in case this force encountered serious opposition, +they could take possession of some one of the many large, strong +buildings on the way, and hold their own against the whole Mexican army +until relief could reach them.</p> + +<p>General Worth not only refused to comply with my request; but, ordered +both myself and Lieutenant McClellan to remain at his headquarters until +3 A. M., at which hour he said he would have us called, and we could +then go to the front and resume our duties.</p> + +<p>That arrangement left the engineer company, for the night, at the +extreme front, without an officer. In spite of my earnest remonstrances +General Worth insisted that we should remain. On the latter point he was +inexorable. I finally asked him if I was under arrest. He said "No" and +added: "You soon will be if you show further hesitation in obeying my +order for you to remain here".</p> + +<p>Being awakened by one of General Worth's aides, I asked if it was +already 3 o'clock. It seemed to me that I had not been asleep five +minutes. The aide said: "It is about 1 o'clock. A deputation from the +civil authorities has just informed General Worth that Santa Anna's army +evacuated the city before midnight, and they offered to surrender the +city. They have been passed on to General Scott, at Tacubaya; and +General Worth wishes to see you at once".</p> + +<p>The latter told me more fully about the deputation and their proposal to +surrender; expressed some doubt in reference to the evacuation of the +city by the Mexican army; directed me to return to the front; take the +engineer company and a detachment of infantry; proceed carefully +forward, using every precaution; and report to him the slightest +indication that the city had not been evacuated. I was directed to +examine closely every large building and strong position along our +route; and not pass them until thoroughly satisfied that they were not +occupied by Mexican soldiers.</p> + +<p>This forward movement commenced about 2 A. M. There was some delay in +determining whether the strong convent, mentioned above, had been +evacuated. Accounts on that subject were conflicting; but a thorough +examination of the whole position showed that it was abandoned. I +reported that fact to General Worth, and informed him that we would move +on with great care, in strict compliance with his instructions.</p> + +<p>All buildings of importance were broken open. None of them were occupied +by the enemy. From time to time, I reported these facts to General +Worth; and, at daylight, I informed him that, from a church steeple near +the Alameda, I could see that the Citadel, which had stopped the advance +of General Quitman's troops <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>early in the afternoon of the 13th, was +deserted. At that time, Lieutenant McClellan reported to me there were +no signs of the enemy in any portion of the Alameda; and I suggested to +General Worth that his whole division be moved forward.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, with the engineer company and the infantry detachment, +I passed beyond the Alameda, breaking open, as before, and examining all +strong buildings on our route. We had gone more than two blocks in +advance of the Alameda, and were closely approaching the Main Plaza and +the National Palace, when I received a positive order to countermarch my +command, and report to General Worth at the Alameda. I demurred, and +told the aide, who bore the order, that I had obeyed all of General +Worth's cautionary instructions; that there was no enemy in our front, +and no reason for calling us back. The aide replied: "The order is +positive. You must go back." I then gave the order to countermarch. On +our way, the aide, who was a classmate and intimate friend of mine, said +to me; "General Worth is very cross, he is angry. My opinion is that he +has received orders from the headquarters of the army which have riled +him up badly".</p> + +<p>A few days later I learned from General Worth that he received a +peremptory order from General Scott not to permit any one under his +command to pass beyond the Alameda, until further instructions were +received from the General-in-Chief.</p> + +<p>For several hours after the engineer company took its place on the right +of Worth's division, at the Alameda, all seemed to be quiet in the city. +General Quitman's troops, from the Belen Gate, had passed the abandoned +citadel, reached the Main Plaza, and took possession of the National +Palace. Later, General Scott, with his staff officers and mounted +escort, entered the city.</p> + +<p>About that time a shot was fired, evidently aimed at General Worth, from +a narrow street or lane, opposite the head of the division. The shot +missed Worth, but very severely wounded Colonel Garland. General Worth, +immediately ordered me to take the engineer company, go into the lane, +find the man who fired the shot, and hang him.</p> + +<p>Within fifty yards we found the man who I believed fired the shot, a +rope was placed around his neck, but I did not order my men to hang him. +I had no <i>positive</i> proof against him. I took the man to General Worth, +reported the circumstances of the case, in full; stated the reasons for +my belief that the prisoner fired the shot which severely wounded +Colonel Garland; and added: "In the absence of specific proof against +this man I have brought him to you, and await your further +instructions".</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>To which General Worth replied, in a cold and haughty manner: "This is +not the way in which my orders are obeyed by officers of <i>my division</i>".</p> + +<p>Colonel Duncan, who was close beside General Worth, both mounted, whilst +I was on foot, said, at once, before I could make any reply to the +foregoing censure: "General Worth, you are wrong; Lieutenant Smith is +right. Under the circumstances he ought not to have hanged this man. It +is for you, the Major-General commanding these forces, to decide that +matter. Give the order. You see he and his men are ready to obey you. +Give the order".</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the men of the engineer company, without instructions +from me, had passed the rope over an adjacent large lantern iron; and +stood ready to string the man up. General Worth did not give the order. +The man was not hanged.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour after Colonel Garland was wounded, lawless bands of +armed Mexicans commenced firing from the parapet roofs of houses, from +church steeples and windows, in various parts of the city, upon our +troops in the open streets. An order was then given, by General Scott, +for Worth's forces to move beyond the Alameda and join with the rest of +the army, in putting down the rising of armed outlaws who made this +murderous attack upon us eight or ten hours after the city surrendered. +In these operations the engineer company was with Worth's division until +the recall was sounded late that afternoon.</p> + +<p>General Scott, in his official report, says: "I communicated, about +daylight [on the 14th], orders to Worth and Quitman to advance slowly +and cautiously [to guard against treachery] towards the heart of the +city, and to occupy its stronger and more commanding points. Quitman +proceeded to the great plaza or square, planted guards and hoisted the +colors of the United States on the national palace, containing the halls +of Congress and executive apartments of Federal Mexico. In this grateful +service, Quitman might have been anticipated by Worth, but for my +express orders halting the latter at the head of the <i>Alameda</i>, [a green +park] within three squares of that goal of general ambition". (Ex. Doc. +No. 1, p. 383.)</p> + +<p>General Worth, in his official report, says: "At 5 A. M., on the 14th, +my troops and heavy guns advanced into the city, and occupied the +Alameda to the point where it fronts the palace, and there halted at 6 +o'clock, the general-in-chief having instructed me to take a position +and await his further orders. Shortly afterwards a straggling +assassin-like fire commenced from the house-tops, which continued, in +various parts of the city through the day, causing us <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>some loss. The +first shot, fired at a group of officers at the head of my column, +struck down Colonel Garland, badly wounded. About the time of our +entrance into the city, the convicts in the different prisons, to the +number of some thirty thousand men, were liberated by order of the +flying government, armed and distributed in the most advantageous +houses, including the churches, convents, and even the hospitals, for +the purpose of exciting, if possible, the city to revolt".</p> + +<p>In speaking of the general operations of his forces in the capture of +the city, General Worth adds:</p> + +<p>"Officers and men of every corps carried themselves with wonted +gallantry and conduct. Of the staff; Lieutenants Stevens, Smith, and +McClellan, engineers, displayed the gallantry, skill and conduct, which +so eminently distinguished their corps". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, pp. 393-4.)</p> + +<p>General Scott adds: "Captain Lee, engineer, so constantly distinguished, +also bore important orders from me [September 13] until he fainted from +a wound and the loss of two nights' sleep at the batteries. Lieutenants +Beauregard, Stevens, and Tower, all wounded, were employed with the +divisions, and Lieutenants G. W. Smith and G. B. McClellan with the +company of sappers and miners. Those five lieutenants of engineers, like +their captain, won the admiration of all about them". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +p. 385.)</p> + +<p>Major John L. Smith, senior engineer, says: "Lieutenant Smith reports +all the sappers who were engaged on the 13th and 14th, to have conducted +themselves with intelligence and intrepidity altogether satisfactory; +but, he mentions the orderly sergeant, Hastings, who was wounded, as +being eminently distinguished, and he mentions also artificer Gerber, as +having been particularly distinguished". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 430.)</p> + +<p>Without dwelling upon details of the fighting in the streets and houses +on the 14th, it may be stated that, a short time before the recall was +sounded, when Orderly Sergeant Hastings fell, Lieutenant McClellan +seized the Sergeant's musket, fired at, and killed the man who shot +Hastings. In a few moments thereafter the company passed the dead body +of that "liberated", <i>convict</i> Mexican.</p> + +<p>The unoccupied private house in which we were quartered that night was +near the place at which the man, who shot Colonel Garland, had been left +tied to a lantern iron with a rope around his neck. When we returned the +man was gone. Nothing further was said or done upon our side, in his +<i>case</i>.</p> + +<p>An hour or more after we were comfortably "settled in our new home", I +noticed that McClellan was very quiet for a considerable <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>time, +evidently thinking of matters which deeply interested him. An occasional +marked change seemed to come over the spirit of his dream. Finally I +awakened him from his reverie, saying: "A penny for your thoughts. I +have been watching you for half an hour or more, and would like much to +know, honor bright, what you have been thinking about".</p> + +<p>To which he replied: "I have been making a 'general review' of what we +have gone through since we left West Point, one year ago this month, +bound for the 'Halls of the Montezumas'; have been again on the Rio +Grande, that grave-yard of our forces; have gone over the road from +Matamoros to Victoria and Tampico, where we had so much hard work; went +through the siege of Vera Cruz, where we were left out in the cold +during the ceremonies of surrender, and later, had to make our way as +best we could, with the engineer train through the horrid sand; glanced +at Cerro Gordo, where it was my misfortune to be with General Pillow's +'whipped community'; stopped again with our friends, the Monks, in the +convent at Puebla; crossed over the mountains; came by way of San +Antonio, Contreras, Churubusco, Chapultepec and the San Cosme Garita, +into this city. Here we are—the deed is done—I am glad no one can say +'poor Mac' over me".</p> + +<p>The capture of the city, and its occupation by General Scott's army, +virtually ended the war made by the United States against Mexico.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h2>IN THE CITY OF MEXICO—RETURN TO WEST POINT.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>After the street fighting on the 14th, the city was quiet and remained +so. The men of the company were fairly entitled to a good rest and a new +outfit of clothing; but the quartermaster could not then furnish the +latter. At their request, I authorized them to purchase a better quality +of cloth than that furnished by the government, and to have finer +material for trimmings than the coarse cotton braid allowed by the +regulations. The clothing was made by good tailors and paid for by the +men. In the course of a month or six weeks, the company was provided +with handsome, well-fitting uniforms.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, drills were suspended for about a month. During that +period the only duty required of the men, other than that of ordinary +guard over their quarters and the engineer train of the army, was that +of details to assist engineer officers in making surveys of the recent +battlefields.</p> + +<p>In the latter part of October, the surveys of the battlefields being +completed, and the men provided with new and well-fitting uniforms, +infantry drills were resumed. An order was issued requiring the company +to be formed without arms, the next day, in the Alameda, for squad +drill. Immediately thereafter, one of my most trusted sergeants informed +me that this order caused great dissatisfaction in the company. He said +the men felt they would be degraded if now turned back to the +beginning—at squad drill without arms—thus placing them in the +position of raw recruits, whilst the rest of the army were being +exercised at brigade and division drill, "evolutions of the line," with +all attendant "pomp and circumstance".</p> + +<p>The sergeant warned me that the state of feeling in the company would, +in his opinion, lead to serious trouble if the order was carried into +effect. I thanked him for the information.</p> + +<p>When the men were formed on the drill ground next day, I told <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>them I +was aware of their opposition to the order; but, that I was under the +impression I commanded that company, and if there was a man amongst them +who felt disposed to dispute my legal authority he was requested to step +to the front. No one moved. I then directed the artificers and privates +to go to their quarters, and inform the sergeant of the guard they had +my permission to be absent until evening parade. Turning to the +non-commissioned officers, I stated that, in my judgment, there was no +occasion for them to feel degraded if drilled by their own officers at +squad drill without arms.</p> + +<p>I drilled the sergeants, McClellan the corporals. Whilst the +non-commissioned officers were being thus drilled, the men were allowed +daily liberty from quarters. Later, the non-commissioned officers +drilled the men in squads under the supervision of the officers. +Instruction and practice in the infantry "School of the Company" was +then resumed; and, after a time, each non-commissioned officer was +required, in turn, to take his place by my side and drill the company. +On those occasions, the men were warned that no inattention or +remissness on their part would be tolerated; no matter how lenient with +them I might choose to be when commanding in person.</p> + +<p>It is safe to say that within six weeks from the time squad drills +without arms were commenced in the engineer company, in the City of +Mexico, that company as Infantry, was better drilled than any other in +the army. In that respect, and in discipline, they were pattern +soldiers. Regular instruction in the "School of the Engineer Soldier" +was then resumed.</p> + +<p>From raw recruits, on the Rio Grande, disturbed by the epithet, "pick +and shovel brigade" applied to them, at that time, by the soldiers of +the line, the engineer company had become veterans of more than half a +dozen important battles; had always been in the front of the fighting; +and had often been called upon to direct large working parties of +soldiers, detailed to use the "pick and shovel".</p> + +<p>About two months after we entered the city of Mexico, it was reported to +me, by the sergeant of the guard, that Artificer Gerber was then absent, +two hours beyond the time limit of his pass. I directed the sergeant to +send Gerber to me, in my quarters, as soon as he returned.</p> + +<p>Frederick W. Gerber was one of the four men, enlisted by Captain Swift, +who had served in the old regular army. He was enlisted as musician, and +was the finest bugler in the service. He was soon made company clerk, +and had thorough knowledge of routine <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>"company papers". He was German +by birth. As company clerk his duties brought him in close relations +with the commander of the company; and I soon formed a very high +estimate of his qualities as a soldier—and as a man in every respect; +except that he would, on occasion, at intervals, when off duty, indulge +too freely in strong drink.</p> + +<p>I had repeatedly threatened to deprive him of his warrant as artificer, +if he did not quit drinking to excess; but I was reluctant to do so, +especially because his promotion to that grade was in reward for +distinguished gallantry in the attack on the "key-point" of the Mexican +position at the battle of Cerro Gordo.</p> + +<p>When it was reported to me that he had not returned within the time of +his "pass", I was quite sure he was again "on a spree". It was several +hours later when he reported to me as ordered by the sergeant of the +guard.</p> + +<p>I was alone when he entered my room. He had evidently been drinking to +excess; but was to some extent recovering. I charged him with being +drunk; told him he had behaved so well in that respect lately that I had +made up my mind to recommend his being promoted to the grade of +corporal; and even to that of sergeant, when opportunity was afforded +me, and added: "You know I cannot make such recommendation whilst you +continue this habit of getting drunk". He replied: "The lieutenant is +mistaken; I am not drunk, and, if he will allow me, I will satisfy him +on that point; and explain to him how I happened to overstay my pass". I +told him to go on with his explanation.</p> + +<p>He said that soon after he left the company quarters, early that +morning, with permission to be absent for four hours, he met with a +sergeant he had known as a private in the old regular service long +before the war. They were glad to see each other, took a few drinks, and +then hired a carriage for a drive of several hours in the great city +they had helped to capture. He added: "During the drive the sergeant got +mad and threatened to have me arrested. I told him that 'no d——d +infantry sergeant had rank enough to arrest an artificer of engineers'. +He then offered to fight me. We stopped the carriage, got out, drew our +swords, and I told him to come on, and we would soon settle the matter. +He attacked me, and I disarmed him, kept his sword, made him get into +the carriage, drove to General Twiggs's headquarters, reported to the +sergeant of his guard, told him what had occurred; and asked him to +hold, as a prisoner, the sergeant that had attacked me".</p> + +<p>"But he, being also an infantry sergeant, released the sergeant I had +brought there, made me a prisoner, and demanded my sword. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>I gave it to +him; but, when he ordered me to give up the sword I had captured, I told +him I would see him d——d first; and I kept it. I then asked to be +taken before General Twiggs. They told me he was out".</p> + +<p>"In three or four hours General Twiggs returned, and when he was passing +through the sally-port, the guard all in line, at present-arms, saluting +him, I rushed in front of his horse, and calling him by name, told him +his guard had made me a prisoner, and I asked for justice at his hands. +He ordered me to get out of his way. Still standing in front of his +horse, I again asked for justice. To which he replied: 'Who in the h—ll +are you?' When I told him who I was, he said: 'How is it that you are a +prisoner in my guard-house?' I told General Twiggs the whole story: and +showed him the infantry Sergeant's sword I had captured; and which his +guard tried to make me give up. General Twiggs then asked me if I was +willing to hand that sword to him. I gave it to him at once; and he +ordered the sergeant of the guard to release me and give me back my own +sword. I then came straight home."</p> + +<p>After hearing Gerber's story, on which I placed implicit reliance, I +strongly advised him to let liquor alone in future: and, again told him +I would gladly have him promoted, if he would quit drinking.</p> + +<p>Some time after we returned to the United States, and I had left the +company, I learned that, during the time Gerber was closeted with me, +opinion in the company was divided, and ran high in regard to the course +I would take in his case. All the men knew that he was deservedly a +great favorite of mine. Some of them said I would let him off; others +that I would deprive him of his warrant as artificer, and otherwise +punish him.</p> + +<p>These conflicting opinions as to what I would do in Gerber's case, were +freely backed by heavy bets among the men. When he joined them, all were +anxious to know what "the lieutenant" was going to do—"what did he +say?" To which he replied: "It is none of your business". For some time +they could get nothing more from him. But he finally said: "D——n it, +if you must know; the lieutenant told me he would make me a corporal".</p> + +<p>The sergeant who gave me the facts just related, added: "Previous to +that time, Gerber was believed, by the whole company, to be a perfectly +truthful man. But many of the men thought he lied on that occasion. +Although he has been truthful ever since, there is still, amongst us, +very grave suspicion in regard to the correctness of his assertion that +you then told him you would make him a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>corporal. I would like very much +to know the truth in regard to that matter". I replied: "Gerber told the +truth".</p> + +<p>It will be shown later, by extracts from official correspondence, that I +was not permitted to recommend for promotion, in the company, any of the +gallant men under my command who were so highly distinguished in the +various battles that occurred in the Valley of Mexico. So I had no +opportunity to have Gerber made a corporal—much less a sergeant.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>The following extracts from correspondence, and from my monthly reports, +give a brief official account of the affairs of the company after the +capture of the City of Mexico.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of October, 1847, I addressed to Lieutenant I. I. Stevens, +Adjutant of Engineers, for the information of the senior engineer in the +field, and the General in Chief, a letter from which the following +quotations are taken:</p> + +<p>"By the last advices that I have received I learn that only six engineer +recruits have been made in the United States since September, 1846. +During that time the effective strength of the company in the field has +been reduced from seventy-one to thirty-six. Something must be done. I +have endeavored to reenlist good men whose terms of enlistment in other +corps had expired; I have tried to get transfers of good men, and +succeeded in obtaining but one. The senior engineer, believing that more +could be done, attempted it himself—he procured none".</p> + +<p>"At Vera Cruz my men were worked too hard; many of them are suffering +yet from disease contracted there. Time, labor and life would have been +saved if we had had the proportion of engineer soldiers usual in the +armies of civilized nations. At Cerro Gordo, when I could furnish ten +men [for details], fifty, at least, were necessary. In the operations in +this valley, the same necessity has been felt for a larger number of +soldiers of this character. There ought to be more companies of engineer +soldiers in this army. Certainly, measures should be taken to complete +the number of men allowed in the only company now authorized. I know of +none so likely to succeed as sending an officer and non-commissioned +officers [to the United States] on this duty".</p> + +<p>In my official report for the month of November, 1847, it is stated: +"The system of instruction now being pursued is the following: From 9 A. +M. until 10:45 A. M., recitations and instruction <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>of the whole company, +under direction of both officers, in <i>Manuel du Sapeur</i>, together with +lectures and recitations on field fortifications. From 11 A. M. until +12:30 P. M., [infantry drill]. From 2 P. M. until 4 P. M., recitations +in arithmetic and practice in writing. Each officer has a section in +arithmetic, and gives a general superintendence to a section in writing. +Instruction in writing is given by sergeants".</p> + +<p>"I have nothing new to offer either in reference to the property, the +enlistment of men, or the settlement of the accounts of the late Captain +Swift. All, in my opinion, matters of importance; but already referred +to, [in previous reports and correspondence], perhaps, too often".</p> + +<p>"It is just one year since, by the casualties of service, the command of +this company devolved upon myself as the senior officer for duty with +the engineer troops. During this time the interests of the general +engineer service, particularly of the non-commissioned officers and men, +have materially suffered for want of an officer of rank at the head of +the company. In the French service <i>two</i> captains are assigned to every +company of this character, and the companies are all [well] instructed +before they take the field. I earnestly recommend that four officers of +engineers be assigned to duty with this company. The commander should be +an officer of rank; his position permanent. In case the Chief Engineer +should order an officer into the field to take command of Company A, +engineers, I respectfully request that I may be ordered to the United +States as soon as relieved from this duty".</p> + +<p>On the 1st of February, 1848, I reported that the course of instruction, +adopted for the company, "had been continued, with satisfactory progress +on the part of non-commissioned officers and men".</p> + +<p>On the 27th of February, 1848, in a letter to Colonel Totten, Chief +Engineer, Washington, D. C., transmitting copies of certain papers, I +stated:</p> + +<p>"I would respectfully refer you to my communication of October 4th, +1847, addressed to the then Adjutant of Engineers, in which I strongly +urged that the interest of the engineer service required that an officer +and non-commissioned officers should be ordered to the United States for +the purpose of obtaining recruits for this company. Such is the course +pursued in every other arm of service: and I hesitate not to say that, +had my recommendation, as commander of the engineer company, been acted +upon favorably, at that time, we would now have in this city, a full +company. I have referred often to the wants of the company, without +favorable <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>action having been had on my recommendations. We are not +furnished with men, not allowed to take the usual and, in my opinion, +necessary means of procuring recruits. I respectfully request to be +relieved from the command of the engineer company without further delay +than is necessary for the arrival of the captain commander in this +city".</p> + +<p>Owing to casualties of service, I had almost continually commanded the +company, its train, and the general engineer train of the army for more +than a year. My rank was that of Second Lieutenant—low on that list. I +was conscious that my rank or <i>lack</i> of rank, rather, was, in some +essential respects, a detriment to the company.</p> + +<p>It was believed that the war was over; but, in freely expressing +willingness to give up the command I had long exercised, to which I had +no claim based upon rank, I did not hesitate to say that: "If the war +should be continued, and an additional company of engineer soldiers was +authorized to be raised, thus creating an engineer battalion, I would be +more than willing to command it in the field: <i>provided</i>, I was made +Major, by brevet, and assigned to duty with that rank".</p> + +<p>In my official report for the month of March, 1848, it is stated: +"During the month, daily instruction [of the company] in branches +pertaining to engineering has been omitted, I have thought it best to +pay more attention to their improvement in writing and arithmetic. The +infantry exercises are continued".</p> + +<p>On the 1st of May, I reported: "During the month of April the course of +instruction and drill pursued in March has been continued, with +satisfactory results".</p> + +<p>"Three <i>privates</i> of this company have been appointed [by the government +at Washington] commissioned officers. Three <i>sergeants</i>, all men of +intelligence, education and character, have been recommended [by me], in +compliance with law, for commissions; they having all been repeatedly +distinguished for gallant and high soldierly conduct in battle. [As yet] +none of these sergeants have received [appointments]".</p> + +<p>When it became generally known in the army that the Mexican Government +had agreed to the proposed treaty of peace, and that the formal +ratification would soon be consummated, I requested the senior engineer, +Captain R. E. Lee, to direct me to sell the tools, etc., of the engineer +train, in the city of Mexico: order me to proceed to the coast by the +first opportunity, for the purpose of looking up, and accounting for, a +large amount of engineer property for which the estate of the late +Captain A. J. Swift was responsible; and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>authorize me to turn over the +command of the engineer company to Lieutenant McClellan, when I started +for the coast.</p> + +<p>In compliance with Captain Lee's instructions, the tools were sold. They +brought more than they had originally cost in the United States. I left +the city of Mexico the day the treaty of peace was signed on the part of +the Mexicans; and accompanied General Persifor F. Smith to Vera Cruz, at +which place he was charged with making all preparations for the +transportation of the army to the United States. Before leaving the City +of Mexico I turned over the command of the engineer company to +Lieutenant McClellan. I was detained in Vera Cruz about two weeks, +obtaining information in regard to, and making disposition of, the +public property in that vicinity, for which Captain Swift's estate was +then held responsible.</p> + +<p>The accounting officers of the government in Washington, had charged +against him, on their books, the value of large amounts of property +which had been shipped to, but never received by him. Several vessels, +partly loaded with portions of that property, were shipwrecked by +northers during the siege of Vera Cruz. In the time I spent at that +place after the war ended, I obtained knowledge which enabled me to +clear up all accounts against the estate of Captain Swift. The amount of +that nominal indebtedness far exceeded the value of his property; which +would have been unfairly sacrificed to the government, and have left his +name unjustly tarnished as that of a defaulter, if conclusive evidence +of the facts in the case had not been furnished to the accounting +officers.</p> + +<p>The engineer company, under Lieutenant McClellan, accompanied by all the +engineer officers from the City of Mexico, left that city on the 28th of +May, 1848, and marched to Vera Cruz. From the latter place the company +was transported by steamer to New York City; arrived at West Point, N. +Y., on the 22nd of June; reported to the superintendent of the Military +Academy, and was immediately ordered to report to Captain George W. +Cullum, of the engineer corps, as its new commander. I remained about a +week in Vera Cruz after the company sailed; arrived at West Point in +July; and was ordered to report to Captain Cullum.</p> + +<p>A short time thereafter, I asked to be relieved from duty with the +company; and applied for six months leave of absence. The leave was +granted, and it was understood that, on its expiration, I would be +ordered to other engineer service.</p> + +<p>Before the expiration of my leave, the war men of the company procured +the passage of an act by Congress, authorizing their discharge from the +service. Under that act nearly all the men of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>the company, who had +served in Mexico, immediately obtained their discharge from the army. +This virtually reduced the company to the detachment of recruits which +had been collected and retained at West Point.</p> + +<p>At the expiration of my leave of absence I was formally relieved from +further direct service with the engineer company; and at the request of +the Chief Engineer, consented to undertake the enlistment of new +recruits to fill the places in the company vacated by the war men, who +had been discharged. That business was finished within a few months. I +was then ordered on other engineer duty and, thus, my connection with +the engineer company ended.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTE:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Frederick W. Gerber, was enlisted in Co. "A." June 29, +1846, after previous service in the 4th Infantry, which he joined in +1839, and under the Act of March 3, 1849, was discharged April 6, 1849. +He was reenlisted the same day and continued in the service until his +death at the Post of Willets Point, N. Y., November 10, 1875. He was +appointed Artificer, April 18, 1847, Corporal, August 1, 1848, Sergeant, +February 1, 1849, and was Sergeant Major of the Battalion of Engineers +from February 21, 1867, to the date of his death.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>APPENDIX A.</h2> + +<h2>BRIEF EXTRACTS, FROM WILCOX'S HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN WAR, 1892.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>"General Patterson was ordered to march [December, 1846,] from Matamoros +to Victoria with three regiments of volunteers, two pieces of artillery, +and the engineer company under Lieut. G. W. Smith". (p. 187.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Vera Cruz.</span> "This line of investment, through the chaparral and +over the sand hills, was located by Lieut. G. W. Smith, of the +engineers, assisted by Lieut. G. B. McClellan, and a roadway along the +line was made under the supervision of these two lieutenants with the +engineer company and a party of several hundred soldiers". (p. 246.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cerro Gordo.</span> "On the arrival of the engineer company and train +at Plan del Rio [April 17th, 1847], Lieut. G. B. McClellan with a party +of ten men reported to General Pillow, and Lieut. G. W. Smith with [the +rest of] his men and a portion of the train to General Twiggs".</p> + +<p>"That night [17th] one 24-pounder and two 24-pound howitzers were placed +in position on the Atalaya, the battery being constructed under the +supervision of Lieut. G. W. Smith, assisted by Lieut. John G. Foster of +the engineers, the location of the battery having been determined by +Capt. R. E. Lee". (p. 286.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">From Puebla to the Valley of Mexico.</span> "Riley's brigade was +guided by Capt. Lee, assisted by Lieut. John G. Foster with ten men of +the engineer company". (p. 287-8.)</p> + +<p>"It was the rule with General Scott that one of the only two regular +divisions should always be in front. The engineer company headed the +column. There was but one company of engineer soldiers in the United +States army". (p. 339.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In the Valley of Mexico.</span> "Beyond San Gregorio, the border of +Xochimilco was skirted, and here obstructions in the road were first +encountered, a ditch having been dug across it, and large <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>stones rolled +down from the hillside; but these obstacles were soon overcome by the +engineer company with a detail from the leading brigade, while the +Mexicans, who were firing from the heights above, were driven off by +Colonel C. F. Smith's light battalion". (p. 355.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Contreras.</span> "The engineer company was recalled from Worth, and +with a working party of 500 men, was ordered to make the road to +Padierna practicable for artillery". (p. 362.)</p> + +<p>"When Smith's brigade advanced as described, the engineer company, under +Lieut. G. W. Smith, went into action with the Third Infantry of that +brigade". (p. 363.)</p> + +<p>"General Smith moved to his right and front across the <i>pedrigal</i>, the +Rifles, with the engineer company at their head, leading".</p> + +<p>"At 2:30 A. M. of the 20th [August, 1847], the troops under General +Smith began to form and take their places preparatory to the march which +would bring them on Valencia's rear. Leading the Rifles in front of the +brigade was the engineer company". (p. 369.)</p> + +<p>"The engineer company and the Rifles, being already in position in rear +of the Mexican detachment, then rose and firing a volley upon it, and +Riley continuing on upon them, they faced about, broke, and fled in the +utmost precipitation to the main line in rear, pursued by Riley, the +Rifles and engineer company". (p. 70.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Churubusco.</span> "At Coyoacan General Scott joined, having +previously ordered his columns to halt there. Lieut. I. I. Stevens, +ordered about the same time to advance on the direct road and +reconnoitre, was supported by the engineer company under Lieut. G. W. +Smith. This reconnaissance covered the Convent of San Pablo in the +village of Churubusco". (p. 378-9.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chapultepec.</span> "Battery No. 1 was constructed under Lieut. G. W. +Smith's supervision, and Battery No. 2 under Lieut. G. B. McClellan's. +Details were made from Quitman's division to assist the engineer company +in the construction of these works, but although directed to report +immediately after dark they did not arrive until near 4 A. M., of the +12th; hence these works, which were to have been finished before +daylight, were hardly commenced by that time. The engineers were +however, indefatigable, and the batteries were completed rapidly". (p. +452.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">City of Mexico.</span> "Lieut. G. W. Smith, with the company and train +under his command, reported to General Worth on the [San Cosme] +causeway, [in the afternoon, September 13th], was informed that the +wounding of Lieut. Stevens made him [Smith] the senior engineer of the +attack then going on, and was instructed to go to the front, closely and +carefully examine the state of affairs, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>return as soon as practicable, +and report the best method of conducting the attack". He reported "that +infantry alone on the left of the road could capture the gate, without +artillery and with little loss, by making its way through the houses. He +was ordered to take the engineer company and tools, return to the front, +and carry out the plan proposed". (p. 476.)</p> + +<p>"The Mexicans did not remain long in front of Worth; after dark the +signal for retreat of one command was given, and being heard by all, +they left the buildings and scattered in all directions, their officers +being unable to restrain them. In a little while, however, they repaired +to the citadel. In one of the pavilions a council was held. Santa Anna +presided, explained the untoward incidents of the day, and asked the +opinions of those present as to whether or not the defence of the +capital should be prolonged. There was discussion and opposition, but, +Santa Anna announced his decision in these emphatic words: 'I resolve +that this night this city must be evacuated'". (p. 480-1.)</p> + +<p>"At 1 o'clock A. M. of the 14th commissioners from the municipal +government of the city approached the advanced post of Worth's command, +were passed to his headquarters, and by him sent to General Scott's +headquarters in Tacubaya". (p. 481.)</p> + +<p>"General Worth then directed the two engineer officers, serving with his +command, to proceed to the front and with a detachment of infantry and +the engineer company, closely examine all strong buildings, and direct +operations toward the Main Plaza and National Palace. The senior +engineer being directed to make known promptly any indication that the +rumored evacuation was incorrect, reported that everything indicated +that the Mexican army had abandoned the city". (p. 481.)</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>APPENDIX B.</h2> + +<h2>PROMOTIONS OF ENLISTED MEN OF THE COMPANY.</h2> +<br /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="right"><span class="smcap">Tepe Agualco, Mexico</span>,<br /> + <i>May 4, 1847</i>.</p> + +<p class="noin"><i>Colonel JOSEPH G. TOTTEN</i>,<br /> + <i>Chief Engineer</i>,<br /> + <i>Washington City</i>.</p> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">Sir</span>:</p> + + +<p>"I have the honor to inform you that, on the 25th of April, +First Sergeant Hastings of 'K' Company, Third Artillery, +was, by order of General Worth, transferred to the Engineer +Corps, subject to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief.</p> + +<p>"Sergeant Hastings has the reputation of being one of the +best first sergeants in the army. He was for 7 or 8 years +orderly sergeant in the Second Infantry. He is an intimate +friend of Sergeant Everett;<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> is a well educated man, very +intelligent; a remarkably fine looking soldier, a good drill +sergeant.</p> + +<p>"By birth he is an Irishman—he came to this country quite +young, and was brought up in Po'keepsie, N. Y.</p> + +<p>"We were very much in want of an orderly sergeant. I think +there can be no doubt but we have secured a prize.</p> + +<p>"I would be glad if you would send a Sergeant's warrant for +David H. Hastings. I respectfully recommend the following +promotions and appointments in the engineer company:</p> + +<p>Corporal Benjamin W. Coit, acting lance sergeant since 1st +of February, to be sergeant from February 1st, 1847:</p> + +<p>Artificer Charles A. Viregg, lance corporal since 1st of +February, to be corporal from February 1st, 1847:</p> + +<p>Artificer Ethan T. Sheldon, lance corporal since 1st of +February, to be corporal from February 1st, 1847:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>Artificer William A. Noyes, to be corporal from the 18th of +April, 1847:</p> + +<p>"Privates Charles A. Pierce, Jacob T. Smith, Benjamin L. +Boomer, Edwin M. Holloway, James Brannan, Joseph A. Mower, +David P. Weaver, Thomas Bigley, Seth H. Taylor, and Charles +A. Porter, to be artificers from the 29th of March, 1847:</p> + +<p>"Musician Frederick W. Gerber to be artificer from the 18th +of April, 1847:</p> + +<p>"Privates Augustus B. Hussey, James B. Vansant, and William +S. Bliss, to be artificers from the 29th of March, 1847:</p> + +<p>"Corporal William Bartlett, reduced to the grade of +artificer, May 1st, 1847:</p> + +<p>"Artificer Hiram B. Yeager to be corporal from May 1st, +1847:</p> + +<p>"Artificer Charles W. Bont reduced to the grade of second +class private from May 1st, 1847:</p> + +<p>"I respectfully call to the attention of the Chief Engineer +the fact that, in accordance with his suggestion, I have +delayed making the above recommendations, and now urge them +as my deliberate opinion. I hope they will be favorably +acted upon.</p> + +<p>"My monthly return for April shows a total of sixty-two. My +recommendations make, in the company, six sergeants, six +corporals, one musician, twenty-three artificers and +twenty-six second class privates".</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="padding-right: 10em;">Very respectfully,</span><br /> +<span style="padding-right: 8em;">Your obdt. servt.,</span><br /> +<span style="padding-right: 6em;">GUS. W. SMITH,</span><br /> +<span style="padding-right: 1.5em;"><i>Lieut., Comdg. Engr. Co.</i></span></p></div> + +<p>The foregoing recommendations were approved and the appointments were +received whilst the company was in the city of Puebla.</p> + +<p>Soon after the war ended, Sergeants Hastings, Starr and Everett were +promoted to be commissioned officers in the "Old Regular Army" of the +United States. Later, Sergeant Warren L. Lothrop was given a commission +in that army.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTE:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Thornton S. Everett was property sergeant of the engineer +company; had charge of its train from the time of his enlistment in the +company until its return to West Point; and, in addition, had charge, in +Mexico, of the general engineer train of the army.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Transcriber's Note</p> +<br /> + +Typographical errors corrected in the text:<br /> +<br /> +Page 8 a changed to at<br /> +Page 9 Camargo changed to Carmargo<br /> +Page 10 Camargo changed to Carmargo<br /> +Page 11 montly changed to monthly<br /> +Page 11 chapparel changed to chaparral<br /> +Page 12 chapparal changed to chaparral<br /> +Page 12 referrred changed to referred<br /> +Page 13 extravagent changed to extravagant<br /> +Page 15 chapparal changed to chaparral<br /> +Page 20 relinguished changed to relinquished<br /> +Page 21 chapparal changed to chaparral<br /> +Page 22 chapparal changed to chaparral<br /> +Page 27 chapparal changed to chaparral<br /> +Page 28 Twigg's changed to Twiggs's<br /> +Page 29 chapparal changed to chaparral<br /> +Page 30 Twigg's changed to Twiggs's<br /> +Page 31 hights changed to heights<br /> +Page 38 quite changed to quiet<br /> +Page 41 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan<br /> +Page 44 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan<br /> +Page 45 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan<br /> +Page 49 come changed to came<br /> +Page 52 posession changed to possession<br /> +Page 64 amonnts changed to amounts<br /> +Page 64 seige changed to siege<br /> +Page 64 indebtness changed to indebtedness<br /> +Page 66 chapparal changed to chaparral<br /> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Company 'A', corps of engineers, +U.S.A., 1846-'48, in the Mexican war, by Gustavus Woodson Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMPANY A CORP OF ENGIN., 1846-48 *** + +***** This file should be named 31113-h.htm or 31113-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/1/1/31113/ + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Company 'A', corps of engineers, U.S.A., 1846-'48, in the Mexican war + +Author: Gustavus Woodson Smith + +Release Date: January 28, 2010 [EBook #31113] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMPANY A CORP OF ENGIN., 1846-48 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + COMPANY "A," + + CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A., + + 1846-'48, + + IN THE + + MEXICAN WAR. + + + + + BY + + GUSTAVUS W. SMITH, + + FORMERLY LIEUTENANT OF ENGINEERS, AND BVT. CAPTAIN, + + U. S. ARMY. + + + + + THE BATTALION PRESS, + 1896. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Executive Document, No. 1, United States Senate, December 7, 1847, +contains a Communication from the Secretary of War, transmitting to +Congress the official reports of commanding generals and their +subordinates in the Mexican War. + +The Secretary says: "The company of engineer soldiers, authorized by the +act of May 15, 1846, has been more than a year on active duty in Mexico, +and has rendered efficient service. I again submit, with approval, the +proposition of the Chief Engineer for an increase of this description of +force." (Senate-Ex. Doc. No. 1, 1847, p. 67.) + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + Page + + PREFACE. 3 + + CHAP. I.--Enlistment--Instruction--Detention on + the Rio Grande--March to Victoria and + Tampico--Landing at Vera Cruz--Death + of Captain Swift. 7 + + CHAP. II.--Engaged in Operations against Vera Cruz. 21 + + CHAP. III.--After the Surrender of Vera Cruz to the + Occupation of Puebla. 28 + + CHAP. IV.--From Puebla to Churubusco. 34 + + CHAP. V.--Capture of the City of Mexico. 48 + + CHAP. VI.--In the City of Mexico; Return to West Point. 57 + + APPENDIX A.--Brief Extracts, from Wilcox's History of the + Mexican War, 1892. 66 + + APPENDIX B.--Promotions of Enlisted Men of the Company. 69 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ENLISTMENT--INSTRUCTION--DETENTION ON THE RIO GRANDE--MARCH TO VICTORIA +AND TAMPICO--LANDING AT VERA CRUZ--DEATH OF CAPTAIN SWIFT. + + +Previous to the war with Mexico there existed among the people of the +United States a strong prejudice against maintaining even a small +regular army in time of peace. Active opposition to a permanent, regular +military establishment extended to the West Point Academy, in which +cadets were trained and qualified to become commissioned officers of the +army. That Academy was then a component part of the Military Engineer +Corps. For years the chief of the Corps had, in vain, urged upon +Congress, the necessity for having, at least one company of enlisted +engineer soldiers as a part of the regular army. + +In the meantime he had, however, succeeded in persuading the Government +at Washington to send--by permission of the Government of France--a +selected Captain of the U. S. Engineer Corps to the French School of +engineer officers at Metz; for the purpose of having in the U. S. Army, +an officer qualified to instruct and command a company of engineer +soldiers in case Congress could be induced to authorize the enlistment +of such a company. + +Captain Alexander J. Swift was the officer selected to be sent to Metz. +On his return to the United States, he was assigned to temporary duty at +West Point awaiting the long delayed passage of an act authorizing the +enlistment of a company of U. S. Engineer soldiers. + +That act was passed soon after the commencement of hostilities with +Mexico. It provided for the enlistment of an engineer company of 100 +men, in the regular army. The company to be composed of 10 sergeants, 10 +corporals, 39 artificers, 39 second class privates, and 2 musicians; all +with higher pay than that of enlisted men in the line of the army. + +Captain Swift was assigned to the command; and, at his request, I was +ordered to report to him as next officer in rank to himself. At my +suggestion, Brevet Second Lieutenant George B. McClellan, who had just +been graduated from the Military Academy, was assigned as junior officer +of the company. + +At that time I had been an officer of engineers for four years; my rank +was that of second lieutenant. All the first lieutenants, and some of +the second lieutenants, of that corps, were then in sole charge of the +construction of separate fortifications, or were engaged in other +important duties. Captain Swift was not disposed to apply for the +assignment of any of those officers to be subalterns under him in a +company of soldiers. + +I had taught McClellan during his last year in the Academy, and felt +assured that he would be in full harmony with me in the duties we would +be called upon to perform under Captain Swift. It is safe to say that no +three officers of a company of soldiers ever worked together with less +friction. The understanding between them was complete. There were no +jars--no doubts or cross purposes--and no conflict of opinion or of +action. + +In the beginning I was charged with the instruction of the company as an +infantry command, whilst the Captain took control of the recruiting, the +collection of engineer implements--including an India Rubber Ponton +Bridge--and he privately instructed McClellan and myself, at his own +house, in the rudiments of practical military engineering which he had +acquired at Metz. In the meantime we taught him, at the same place, the +manual of arms and Infantry tactics which had been introduced into the +army after he was graduated at the Military Academy. In practical +engineer drills the Captain was always in control. + +After the men were passably well drilled in the "Infantry School of the +Company"; the time had come for him to take executive command on the +infantry drill ground. He did this on the first occasion, like a veteran +Captain of Infantry until "at rest" was ordered. + +Whilst the men were "at rest", McClellan and myself quietly, but +earnestly, congratulated him upon his successful _debut_ as drill +officer of an Infantry Company. He kindly attributed to our instruction +in his house, whatever proficiency he had acquired in the new tactics +which had then been recently introduced. + +But, after the company was again called to "Attention" and the drill was +progressing, whilst marching with full company front across the plain, +the men all well in line, to my surprise the Captain ordered "faster", +and added "the step is much too slow". Of course we went "faster". In a +short time the Captain ordered "faster still, the step is very much too +slow". This order was several times repeated, and before the drill ended +we were virtually "at a run". + +After the drill was over and the Company dismissed from the parade +ground, I asked the Captain why he had not given the commands "quick +time" and "double quick", instead of saying "faster" and "still faster". +He said he did not intend the step should be "quick time"--much less +"double quick". He only wanted the rate to be in "common time--90 steps +a minute"; and added: "you had not reached that rate when the drill +ended". + +I insisted that he must be mistaken, and told him we were marching in +"common time" or very near it, when he first gave the order, "faster". +He persisted that he was right in regard to the rate of the step--said +"that he had carefully counted it, watch in hand"; and added: "You were, +at the last, not making more than 85 steps to the minute". I was +satisfied that he was mistaken; but he relied implicitly upon the +correctness of his count and the accuracy of his watch. + +McClellan and I proceeded to the company quarters, of which I still had +charge. On the way we referred to the matter of the step, and both of us +were at a loss to account for the misapprehension we were sure the +Captain labored under in regard to it. + +I asked McClellan to take out his watch and count whilst I marched in +"common time". I made 90 steps per minute--and repeated it more than +once. It presently dawned upon us that our Captain, whilst consulting +his watch, had counted only one foot in getting at the number of steps: +and that we were really making 170 steps to the minute when he counted +85. The mystery was solved, the Captain had counted "the left foot" +only. + +When we next went to his house for instruction in details of the school +of the engineer soldier, I asked him how many steps we were making a +minute when he first ordered "faster". He said "about 45". I replied: +"That's it. We have found out what was the matter. You counted only the +left foot. We were marching in 'common time' when you ordered us to move +'faster'; and you pushed us to nearly twice that rate". + +"The cat was out of the bag." The Captain saw it at once and laughed +heartily over the error he had fallen into in the latter part of his +"first appearance" as captain, in drilling the company as infantry. He +made no such mistake thereafter; and the men never knew of his "count", +watch in hand. + +On the 26th of September, 1846, we sailed from New York, 71 rank and +file, for Brazos Santiago, under orders to report to General Taylor, +commanding the U. S. army in Mexico. We landed at Brazos on the 12th of +October, remained at that point for several days, proceeded thence to +the mouth of the Rio Grande and arrived at Carmargo on the 2nd of +November. There the company was delayed for several weeks because +transportation for the engineer train to the headquarters of the Army at +Monterey, was not then available. + +The Company left Carmargo for Brazos, on the 29th of November, under +orders to proceed to Tampico by sea, but was ordered to return to +Matamoros with a portion of its tools, and march, via Victoria, to +Tampico--the bulk of its train to be transported to the latter place by +water. + +Whilst detained at Carmargo instruction in the school of the engineer +soldier was kept up, and infantry drills were constantly practiced. +During that time several thousand troops were in camp near Carmargo, and +the men of the engineer company learned that they were, by the line of +the army, styled: "the pick and shovel brigade". Their officers advised +them not to care for this epithet but, "take it easy, continue to +endeavor to become _model_ infantry, and engraft on that a fair +knowledge of the duties of the engineer soldier". They were assured that +"for heavy work", details would have to be made from the line of the +army; and these details would, for the time, constitute the real "pick +and shovel brigade" under the control of engineer officers, assisted by +trained engineer soldiers. When the time came for close fighting the +engineer company would be at the front. + +The troops stationed on the Rio Grande during the fall of 1846, suffered +greatly from Mexican diarrhoea, fevers and other diseases. Several men +of the engineer company died, and Captain Swift and twenty of the men +were left in hospital at Matamoros, when the company finally left the +latter place. + +Before giving an account of our first march in the enemy's country, it +may be well to state here, that with two exceptions, the enlisted men of +the engineer company were native born, and all but four of them were raw +recruits. Each of those four had served, with credit, during one or more +terms of enlistment in the regular army. Three of them were promptly +made sergeants, and the fourth was a musician (bugler). + +All of the recruits but one, were very carefully selected material, out +of which to form, as soon as practicable, skilled engineer soldiers. The +one exception was a short, fat, dumpy, Long Island Dutchman--a good +cook, specially enlisted by Captain Swift to cook for the men. He was +given the pay and rank of artificer of engineers. The men looked upon +him more as a servant of theirs than as a fellow soldier. He was well +satisfied with his position, prided himself on his special duties, +rather looked down upon "soldiers"--and was impudent by nature. + +All went well enough with the "cook" until he was required to take his +place in the ranks, at regular bi-monthly "muster, and inspection" for +pay. His performance on that occasion was so grotesquely awkward that I +directed he should be put through the "squad-drill" by one of the +sergeants, who was a thoroughly competent, but rather severe, +drill-master. + +The "cook" felt that his rights were invaded, in requiring him to submit +to be drilled. The sergeant made no progress in teaching him. After +three days' trial, he reported to me that he was mortified, and ashamed, +to have to admit he could do nothing with "that cook"; and he asked to +be relieved from the duty of drilling him. In reply to my question: +"Can't you make him obey you?" He replied: "No--the only thing I can do +is to kill him"; and added: "When that kind of thing has to be done, in +this company, my understanding is, the lieutenant in command is the only +one who has the right to kill". + +I relieved the sergeant, and told him I would take the "cook" in hand at +the next drill. On the following day, I marched him off into the dense +chaparral, on the bottom lands near Matamoros. After following obscure +paths, about three miles in their windings through the jungle, I halted +him in a small open space a few hundred yards from the company camp. He +thought no doubt, we were five miles from camp--in a boundless +wilderness--whilst, in fact, we were at no time five hundred yards away. + +I told him of the report that had been made to me of his disobedience, +informed him that I had brought him into the chaparral for the purpose +of compelling him to obey me; called his attention to the fact that we +were in the enemy's country in time of war; all of our lives were in +peril, and that persistent disobedience on the part of any officer or +soldier to the legal authority of those over him, was punishable with +death; that I did not propose to place him before a Court Martial; but, +would kill him, if he did not implicitly obey an order I proposed then +and there to give him. + +I measured 15 paces in front of him and placed a small white chip on the +ground, called him to "attention", ordered him to place his eyes on that +chip, and told him if he removed them from it before I gave the command +"rest", I would run him through with my rapier. + +I then drilled him at the manual of arms for about 20 minutes. Large +beads of perspiration rolled down his face--he began to totter on his +feet--and I gave the command "rest". He had not taken his eyes from the +chip. + +At the command "rest", he drew a long sigh of relief and uttered a +subdued but prolonged "O-h". I asked him if he now thought he could obey +the sergeant. He replied: "Yes, I will obey anybody". + +I told him I would temporarily withdraw what I had said about killing +him, and would put him on his good behavior. I drilled him about two +hours longer; and then took him, by a circuitous route, through the +jungle, back to camp. He was obedient enough thereafter. + +When the war had ended and I was relieved from duty with the company, +one of the men told me that "the cook", on his return from the drill I +had given him said: "The Lieutenant took me way off, ever so far, in the +chaparral, and told me he took me there to kill me if I didn't mind him. +The little devil meant it, and would have done it too, if I had fooled +with him like I had done with the sergeant." + +Except this _case_, of "the cook", there had been no difficulty in +bringing the men of the company to a high standard of drill and +discipline as an infantry company, and a reasonable degree of +proficiency in the school of the engineer soldier. But, on their first +march into the enemy's country, they were called upon to do an immense +amount of hard work not specially referred to in their preliminary +instruction. + + +THE MARCH FROM MATAMOROS TO VICTORIA AND TAMPICO. + +By special orders from General Taylor, brought by Major George A. McCall +to Captain Swift, the latter was charged with the duty of repairing the +road from Matamoros to Victoria, and making it practicable for artillery +and the baggage train; and to do this, if possible, so that the whole +command might make its prescribed daily marches and arrive at Victoria +on a named day. Captain Swift was authorized to call upon the commander +of the forces, on this march, for such assistance as might be needed to +perform the work; and was directed to do no more to the road than was +barely sufficient to enable the trains to pass over it. It was not +expected that we would ever have occasion to pass through that region +again; and it was not proposed to make a permanent road for the benefit +of Mexicans. + +Captain Swift being sick in hospital, the foregoing instructions were +given to me, as Commander of the company, by Major McCall, who, in the +capacity of Adjutant-General of the forces under General Patterson, +accompanied him on this march. + +Under orders from General Taylor, the company of engineers, reduced to +two officers and forty-five enlisted men for service, marched from +Matamoros on the 21st of December, 1846, with a column of volunteers +under General Patterson, to join General Taylor's army at Victoria. We +arrived at the latter place on the 4th of January, 1847. A great deal of +work had been done by details of volunteers and the engineer company in +making the road practicable for artillery and baggage wagons. Without +dwelling upon daily operations, the following statement of the manner in +which we made our way across a difficult stream may be of interest. + +About noon one day I was informed by Major McCall, who had ridden ahead +of the working party, that there was an exceedingly difficult +"river-crossing" about one mile in front, and that he feared we would be +detained there for, perhaps, two days. I galloped forward to the place +designated. It looked ugly. The banks of the stream were something more +than 100 feet high and quite steep. Guiding my horse down to the water's +edge, I crossed the river which was from two to three feet deep, and +about one hundred yards wide. The bottom was fair enough, until within a +few yards of the opposite shore, where it was soft mud. Getting through +this with some difficulty I rode to the top of the bank on the far side. + +To make an ordinary practicable road across that stream would require +two or three day's work of several hundred men. It seemed a clear case +for the free use of drag-ropes to let the wagons down into the stream on +the near side, and haul them up the opposite bank. + +It was plain to me that with a working party of two hundred men--which +was the greatest number we could supply with tools--a straight steep +ramp could be cut on both banks in six or eight hours hard work. The +greatest difficulty would be encountered in getting out of the stream on +the far side. + +Returning quickly to where I had left Major McCall, I asked him to give +me a working party of about 800 men, told him I would find use for that +number and that in my opinion, with that force, the wagon train could be +put across the stream before dark. The commanding General thought my +requisition for the working detail was extravagant, as we scarcely had +tools enough for a quarter of that number of men. But the detail was +ordered, as called for, to report to me. In the meantime the engineer +company and its train was taken to the crossing, and the character of +the work to be done there was explained to the men. + +Leaving Lieutenant McClellan with a portion of the company to take +charge of the near bank, directing him to halt there about 300 of the +working party and send about 500 to me on the opposite bank, I crossed +the stream with the rest of the company and explained to them the work +to be done on that side, particularly the means to be used in getting +out of the river. On each side of the stream the working party was +divided into three "reliefs", or relays--with one hundred men or more +held in reserve, to meet contingencies. + +The working party arrived in good season, tools were promptly +distributed to the first "relief" on each side of the river, and the men +were told that, if they would work as at a "corn-shucking-match", or as +if the "house was on fire", they would be let off in an hour, or less, +depending on the rapidity and effectiveness of their work. It was to be +a race against time. I wanted all the work there was in them, and wanted +it inside of an hour. + +Before the hour was up the "first relief" on each side of the river, was +ordered to stop work, drop their tools, get out of the road and take to +the bushes. The "second relief" was immediately marched into the vacated +places, seized the tools, and worked like the first--and on the same +conditions. So with the "third relief"; and, inside of three hours from +the time the work began, the engineer wagons were crossing the river. +They soon moved on, leaving the rest of the forces to follow at their +leisure. + +The volunteer officers afterwards complained to me that the "wild work" +on the banks of that river, had "scattered" their men so badly, it was +several days before they could be again got into their proper places. + +This case was an exception--a frolic. The usual daily work on the road +was more regular and continuous, without disorder. + +It may perhaps not be out of place here to mention, that about the time +I sent the "first relief" into the bushes, and set the "second relief" +to work under the directions of men of the engineer company, the +commander of the forces, with his staff, arrived on the bank where +McClellan was in charge, and asked for me. He was told that I was on the +opposite bank. Just at that time the confusion and wild yells of the +"first relief" and the loud cheers of the "second relief" when told that +they, too, would be let off inside of an hour, provided they would work +as if engaged in a "corn-shucking-match", astounded the general, and had +to him the appearance of disorder, perhaps mutiny. + +On asking Lieutenant McClellan what it meant, the latter replied: "It is +all right; Lieutenant Smith has the larger portion of the engineer +company with him on that bank; and I can see him, and men of the company +near him in the road, all of whom seem to be quietly giving instructions +to the new working party". + +After starting the "second relief" to digging in the road, I had gone to +the brow of the bank overlooking the work which was being done, mostly +by my own men in the river, where the road was to leave it. The engineer +sergeant in charge of that work informed me that he was then in +immediate need of about twenty additional men. The reserve working force +was not far from me. I called out for a sergeant and twenty men, without +arms or accoutrements, to come to me. Pointing to the river, just under +the place at which I was standing, I directed the sergeant of this +reserve party to take his men down at once and report to the engineer +sergeant in charge there. The bank was precipitous. The sergeant of the +reserve working party said that he would take his men back about one +hundred yards, and go down by the road on which the "second relief" was +working. I demurred, and told him again, to take his men straight to +where they were needed. He still hesitated. I pushed him over the brow of +the bank, and he went headlong into the river. I then ordered his men to +follow him. They did it with a cheer and regular "Comanche-whoop"--sliding +down the slope, which was too steep to stand on. + +This scene, too, was witnessed from across the river by the General of +the forces and his staff. I did not know they were there; but if I had, +it would have made no difference; I was in charge of the working party, +and in haste to finish that _special job_. + +On our arrival at Victoria, the company was relieved from duty under +General Patterson, and I was directed to report to the headquarters of +General Taylor. On the 12th of January the company was ordered to report +to General Twiggs. With two companies of the line to furnish additional +details for labor when required I was charged with the duty of making +the road between Victoria and Tampico practicable for wagons. These +three companies left Victoria on the 13th. + +The following extracts from my official report of the operations of the +Engineer Company for the month of January, 1847, illustrate, in part, +the difficulties met with. + +"The first day, (out from Victoria,) we had three bad boggy brooks to +cross; besides a great deal of cutting to do with axes in order to open +the road; and many bad ravines and gullies to render passable. To make a +bridge, across a boggy stream, with no other material than the short, +knotty, hard and crooked chaparral bush, was no easy matter. The first +day's march was about ten miles--we encamped about sunset after a very +hard day's work." + +In order to shorten the route and save the forces one day's march, we +were, for several days, working on a mule path "cut-off" from the main +road. + +"January 14th. The mule path was infamous. No wagon had ever traveled +that road--the rancheros have a tradition of a bull cart that, it is +said, once passed that way. I believe, however, that the story is not +credited. We worked from dawn of day until dark and encamped about six +miles from where we started in the morning and about the same distance +from the camp we wished to reach that day." + +"January 15th. Another day's tremendous hard work." + +"January 16th. We had again a very severe day's work." + +"January 17th. Road improved very decidedly, but still a good deal to +do. We managed, by getting a little ahead with our repairs after the +army encamped for the night, to get along without seriously delaying the +column." + +We arrived at Tampico on the 23rd. The distance from Victoria to Tampico +is 120 miles; whole distance from Matamoros to Tampico, by way of +Victoria, is 354 miles. + +Although the service was arduous, the men came through it in good +health, and were all the better soldiers for the practical schooling +acquired in that 350 miles of road making. After this experience, +ordinary marches and drills were to them, very light matters. + + +TAMPICO TO VERA CRUZ. + +From Tampico we sailed for Lobos Island and Vera Cruz, on a small +schooner, the Captain of which was a brave little Frenchman, who was not +acquainted with the Mexican Gulf coast, and was not provided with +accurate instruments for taking observations. Late one afternoon the +clouds rolled away, and we distinctly saw the snow-clad peak of Orizaba. +This was the first intimation to us that we were "somewhere", near Vera +Cruz. In a very short time we saw opposite to us a large fleet of +vessels at anchor. + +We were south of Vera Cruz and were passing Anton Lizardo, the place to +which we were bound. But a reef was between us and the anchorage where +the fleet was quietly lying. The Captain of the schooner said he could +cross the reef. Taking his place in the rigging from where he could +better observe the breakers and the currents, the schooner tacked here +and there, rapidly and repeatedly, under the orders of the little +Frenchman; and we were soon clear of the reef and breakers. It was now +nearly dark. In a few moments after reaching the anchorage ground, we +glided up a gentle slope, without perceptible shock; and the bow of the +vessel was almost entirely out of water. + +In less than twenty minutes thereafter a boat from one of our men-of-war +pulled alongside; and when the officer in charge learned who we were, he +said he would report at once to the naval commander; and had no doubt +that the company with its effects would have to be landed on an adjacent +island, while the schooner was being lightened and hauled off into deep +water. + +He said the movements of the little schooner, through the heavy surf, +across the dangerous reef, had been watched from the naval vessels with +intense anxiety, and expectation that we would be wrecked and all hands +lost. This feeling was changed to admiration when it was seen that the +schooner was being very skillfully handled in the difficult channel; and +all rejoiced when they saw the unknown little craft safely in smooth +water; but were surprised, immediately after, to see her put on a course +that would inevitably run her aground. + +We found that Captain Swift with the convalescents from Matamoros on +another vessel, had arrived before us. In the meantime Lieutenant J. G. +Foster, of the Engineer Corps, had been assigned to duty with the +Company. He was with Captain Swift. I at once reported to the latter, +and he resumed command of the Company; but the men remained on separate +vessels. + +Captain Swift was still very sick; to all appearance more feeble than +when we left him at Matamoros. All the men he brought with him were +convalescent. In a few days after our arrival at Anton Lizardo, an order +was issued by General Scott for the transports to move up next morning, +towards Vera Cruz, with a view to landing the army on the main shore, +opposite the Island of Sacrificios, two or three miles south of the +city. On the morning of the day we were to make the landing the whole +company was transferred to another vessel; and all were again together. + +Early in the previous night, McClellan, who had just been aboard the +vessel on which Captain Swift arrived, informed me that the latter +proposed to lead the company ashore. Worth's division was to land first, +and the engineer company was temporarily assigned to that division. +McClellan added: "The Captain is now too feeble to walk across the cabin +of his vessel without assistance--the effort to lead the company in this +landing will be fatal to him, and I told him I thought he ought not to +attempt it. But, he looks upon me as a boy,[1] and I have no influence +with him in this matter. You ought to advise him against this thing. If +he attempts it, it will certainly kill him." + +I fully agreed with McClellan in reference to the physical condition of +the Captain; and the probable, if not certain, result of an attempt on +his part to lead the company in the landing. But for me to advise him +not to go ashore with us, was to request him to give me the command of +his company in this important enterprise. I told McClellan that I felt a +delicacy about the matter which made me hesitate to advise the Captain +to give me the command of the company. He replied: "Yes, but this case +is beyond mere delicacy. The act of leading the company ashore will kill +him; and I think you can persuade him not to undertake it. You ought to +try. I am sure he will not misconstrue your motive." + +Urged thus, I pulled over to the Captain's vessel, after dark found him +alone in the cabin, and quickly told him why I came. He listened +patiently to all I had to say; thanked me cordially for the interest I +took in his physical welfare; said he fully appreciated the kindness +shown; understood the motive which actuated the advice given; and added: +"My mind is made up; I will lead the company in this landing; and would +do so even if I knew that the bare attempt would certainly cost me my +life." + +The next afternoon, the Captain, standing by the gangway, directed the +embarkation of about 20 men in the smaller of the two surf boats in +which the company was to land. Just as that boat was ready to pull away +to make room for the larger boat, I said to him: "I suppose I am to go +with this detachment of the Company; and if so I must get aboard now". +He replied "No. I wish you to go in the larger boat with me". To which I +said: "All right", and added: "McClellan goes with the detachment?" The +Captain said, "Yes." + +When the larger boat for the rest of the Company came along side I +relieved the Captain at the gangway and superintended the embarkation of +the men in that boat. The Captain was lowered over the side of the +vessel in a chair; and I, when all else was ready to pull off, scrambled +down into the closely packed boat, and took my place in the bow. + +Each boat was rowed by sailors from the fleet under the direction of a +naval officer. + +We had reason for anxiety in regard to the resistance we might meet with +from Mexican batteries that could easily have been sheltered behind the +sand hills immediately overlooking the open beach on which the landing +was to be made. A single cannon-shot striking one of the closely packed +surf-boats would probably have sent it, and all on board, to the bottom. +The anxiety of the soldiers was to get ashore before such a fate should +befall them. They cared very little for anything that might happen after +they were on land; but wished to escape the danger of having the boats +sunk under them by Mexican batteries. + +When we were within five or six hundred yards of the beach all were +startled by the whistling of shells and cannon balls close about our +heads. This fire was soon understood to come from our Naval gunboats, +and aimed at small parties of Mexican lookouts on shore. No resistance +was made to the landing of Worth's division. + +When we were within two or three hundred yards of the beach, I made my +way, over the heads of the men to the stern of the boat where the +Captain was seated; and said to him I thought the time had come for him +to get to the bow, if he still intended to lead the company in going +ashore. + +For a moment the most painful expression I ever saw depicted on a human +countenance marked his face. He rallied, however, almost immediately, +and said: "I must, at the last moment, relinquish my command"; and added +"I turn the command over to you until the company is formed in line on +the beach". + +I made my way quickly back to the bow; ordered the right file of the +company, two stalwart corporals--thorough soldiers, to go to the stern +of the boat, take their places near the Captain, keep their eyes on me +after they reached him, spring into the water when they saw me jump from +the bow, seize the Captain, place him on their shoulders or heads, and +bring him to me in the line on shore without a wet thread on him. + +I informed the corporals that I had been placed in full command by +Captain Swift; warned them he would probably resist their bringing him +ashore; but no matter what he said or did, they must obey my orders. +They did it. The corporals were athletes--over six feet in height, young +and active. In the Captain's then physical condition he was as helpless +as an infant in their hands. + +The water where they went overboard was nearly up to their necks; but +when they brought the Captain to me he was as dry as whilst sitting in +the boat. He had resisted them more violently than I anticipated. In +vain they explained to him that they were instructed by me to take him +ashore without his touching the water. He ordered them to put him down, +used all his force to compel them to do so, repeated his orders in no +measured terms, and continued to denounce the corporals after they had +placed him on his feet by my side. + +He was wild with rage. I at once relinquished to him the command of the +company, and said: "Captain, the corporals are not in fault. They simply +obeyed my order whilst I was, by your authority, in command of the +company. Blame me, if you will, but exonerate them." + +He apologised to the corporals for kicking, striking, and otherwise +abusing them, and thanked them for the service they had rendered him. +The termination of this incident made an indelible impression on the men +in favor of their Captain. + +That night the company slept among the sand hills a few hundred yards +from the shore, undisturbed, except by a flurry of firing which occurred +about 10 P. M., between a Mexican detachment and the Light battalion of +Worth's division. This firing continued for a few minutes, and then all +was quiet for the rest of the night. + +About sunrise next morning, the company moved several hundred yards, +into its position on the sand hills, on the right of Worth's division in +the line of investment, facing Vera Cruz which was about two miles +distant. + +The Captain showed wonderful increase of vitality after he reached the +shore. He conducted the company to its assigned place in the line of +investment without much apparent difficulty in walking through the sand. + +But three hours exposure to the hot sun was more than he could bear; his +strength was gone. He lost consciousness and was, by my order, carried +to the beach on an improvised litter. The sergeant of the party was +instructed to report to the naval officer in charge of the surf boats, +and in my name, request that Captain Swift be taken as soon as +practicable, to the steamer which was the headquarters of General Scott. +That request was promptly complied with; but the Captain's vitality was +exhausted. He was sent to the United States on the first steamer that +left Vera Cruz after the landing was effected, and died in New Orleans +within twenty-four hours after his arrival at that place. + +Thus, the army and the country lost the services of one of the best +officers of the U. S. Corps of Military Engineers; and the engineer +company lost their trained Captain. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] At that time, McClellan was about 20 years of age. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST VERA CRUZ. + + +Within a short time after Captain Swift was taken to the beach, I +received an order, from General Worth, directing me to withdraw the +engineer company from the line of investment and report to General +Patterson. The latter instructed me to locate and open a road through +the chaparral to the old Malibran ruins. This was accomplished by the +middle of the afternoon. General Pillow who was to occupy a position +beyond Malibran, requested me to take charge of a working party of his +troops and, with the engineer company, locate and open a road along his +line to the bare sand hills on his left. In this work we were somewhat +disturbed by the fire of Mexican detachments. + +On the 11th, the work of locating and opening the road along the line of +investment was continued, the working party being still a good deal +annoyed by both infantry and artillery fire. At 1 P. M., I reported to +General Patterson that the road was opened, through the chaparral, to +the bare sand hills. He ordered me to report, with the engineer company, +to General Worth; and the latter directed me to report to the General +Headquarters. + +On the same day I was ordered by Colonel Totten, Chief Engineer, to find +and cut off the underground-aqueduct which conveyed water into Vera +Cruz. That business was effectually accomplished by the engineer company +on the 13th.[2] + +From that time, until the commencement of work upon the batteries and +trenches, the engineer company and its officers were engaged in +reconnoitring the ground between the picket line of our army and the +fortifications of the city. My reports were made each night to the Chief +Engineer. The night of the 15th, he pointed out to me, on a map of the +city and its fortifications, the general location in which it was +desired to place the army gun battery, on the southern prolongation of +the principal street of the city, and within about six hundred yards of +its fortifications. He directed me, with the engineer company, to +closely examine that ground. I was informed by him, at the same time, +that Captain R. E. Lee, of the engineer corps, had discovered a +favorable position for a battery, of six heavy naval guns, on the point +of a commanding sand ridge, about nine hundred yards from the western +front of the city; but no final decision would be made in regard to the +naval battery until the army battery could be definitely located. He +said General Scott was getting impatient at the delay; and I was +directed to find, as soon as possible, a position that would satisfy the +conditions prescribed, by the Chief Engineer, for an army battery. + +I explained those conditions to McClellan and to Foster; and informed +them that I would assign one-third of the company to each of them as an +escort--take one-third myself--and we would all three start, at daylight +next morning, in search of a location for the required battery. It was +necessary that we should be extremely careful not to get to fighting +each other in the dense chaparral. + +We found a location that complied with the conditions. In reporting this +fact to the Chief Engineer, I added: "The communication with the battery +will be very difficult--will require a great deal of work--and will be +dangerous". He ordered me to take the engineer company to the selected +ground, next morning, and lay out the battery; and said he would direct +Lieutenant G. T. Beauregard, who had supervised the construction of the +field fortifications at Tampico, to assist in the work. + +At 2 P. M. that day the battery and magazine had been traced out, all +necessary profiles carefully adjusted; and, the whole completed, ready +to commence throwing up the works. We had not been discovered by the +Mexicans--though we could plainly see their sentinels on the walls; and +occasionally hear words of command. After allowing the company to rest +for a couple of hours we started to return to camp. + +In going forward we had the Mexicans before us; and by exercising great +care, at certain places, could avoid being seen. When our backs were +turned to Vera Cruz I felt confident that we would soon be discovered +and fired upon. I had cautioned the men to be as careful as possible; +but, in spite of their best efforts, we were seen, and a heavy fire of +artillery was opened upon us. The order to move at double-quick was +immediately given. The company was conducted about three hundred yards, +to a cut in a low sand ridge, that had been formed by a road crossing +that ridge. All got safely into the cut. The Mexican artillery fire, +aimed at us, was continued for about twenty minutes. We had then before +us an open level plain for five hundred yards. Soon after the fire upon +us had ceased, I ordered the men to scatter and run rapidly across the +plain until they reached a designated place of shelter behind high sand +hills. Beauregard and I brought up the rear in this movement. The +Mexicans re-opened their guns upon us whilst we were crossing the plain +and continued to fire for some time after we reached the shelter above +referred to. + +When I reported the result of that day's work to the Chief Engineer, I +urged him to permit a further examination to be made, for a location of +the army gun battery, before attempting to construct the one we had just +laid out. + +He consented, and we made further reconnaissance the next day. In the +meantime the pickets of Worth's division had been considerably advanced. +On returning from an examination at the extreme front that day I came +across a detachment of the Fifth Infantry not far from the Cemetery. +Whilst explaining the object of my search to a group of four or five +young officers, a person whom I took to be a veteran sergeant, said to +me that he knew a good position for a battery, only a few hundred yards +from where we then were. I asked him to describe it to me. + +From the description he gave I thought the ground referred to would be a +favourable site; and asked him to tell me definitely how to reach it. He +offered to guide me to the place. On getting to the position I found +that the conformation of the ground constituted almost a natural parapet +for a six gun battery--requiring but little work to complete it for use. +It afforded immediate shelter for men and guns. + +It was not on the prolongation of the main street of the city, and it +was farther from the enemy's works than the site where a battery had +already been laid out. But the communications with the proposed new +location were shorter, and could easily be made much safer--in every way +better than was possible in the former case. I thanked my guide for +pointing out the position; and told him I thought it would be adopted by +the Chief Engineer. + +After our return to the group of young officers, my "guide" was soon +called away; and, I then asked one of them the name of that "fine old +Sergeant" who had pointed out such a good location for the battery. To +my amazement he replied: "That was Major Scott, the commander of our +regiment". + +The Major was enveloped in an ordinary soldier's overcoat and wore an +old, common slouched hat. I had mistaken the "famous Martin Scott" for a +"fine old Sergeant" of the line. + +On my return to camp I reported all the facts to the Chief Engineer. The +position first selected and laid out, for the army gun battery, was +abandoned; and the location pointed out by Major Martin Scott was +adopted. + +The work of throwing up batteries, digging trenches, and making covered +communications with them, was commenced on the night of the 18th by +large working parties detailed from the line. After that time, the +officers of the engineer company, including myself, were placed on +general engineer service--supervising the construction of the siege +works. All the engineer officers then with the army, except the Chief, +were in regular turn detailed for that duty; each having some of the men +of the engineer company to assist him. + +After the work upon the army gun battery, the mortar batteries and the +trenches had been fairly commenced, I was transferred to the naval +battery and took my regular turn, with Captain R. E. Lee, and Lieutenant +Z. B. Tower, in superintending its construction. I was in charge of that +work the day it opened its guns upon the fortifications of the city, +having relieved Captain Lee that morning. Seeing him still in the +battery, about the time the firing commenced, I asked him if he intended +to continue in control; adding, "If so, I report to you for instructions +and orders". He replied: "No. I am not in charge. I have remained only +to see my brother, Lieutenant Sydney Smith Lee of the Navy, who is with +one of the heavy guns. My tour of service is over. You are in control; +and, if I can be of any service to you whilst I remain here, please let +me know". + +There had previously been a difference of opinion between Captain Lee +and myself in regard to the dimensions that should be given to the +embrasures. The Chief Engineer decided in favor of Captain Lee, and the +embrasures were changed and made to conform to his views. In a very +short time after the firing began one of the embrasures became so badly +choked that it could not be used until the _debris_ could be removed. +Hastily renewing the blindage of brush-wood that had been used to +conceal the work from view of the enemy during the construction, the +detail of engineer soldiers then on duty, in the battery, cleared the +embrasure of the obstructions, removed the blindage, and the gun resumed +its fire. Just after that incident, I asked Captain Lee what he now +thought in regard to the proper dimensions for the embrasures. He +replied: "They must be made greater when the battery is repaired +to-night." + +The naval detachment had only forty rounds of ammunition; which was +expended in about three hours, and the firing had to cease until the +arrival of the next naval detachment. The latter when it came into the +battery, had only forty rounds of ammunition and was to serve until +relieved, the next afternoon by a third naval detachment. + +Before the ammunition of the first detachment was expended the +embrasures were all in a very bad condition--the battery was almost +entirely unserviceable; and before the second detachment arrived I +caused the embrasures to be filled up, until the battery could be +repaired that night and put in good condition for re-opening the next +day. + +The second naval detachment came into the battery about the middle of +the afternoon. The naval captain in command, without consulting me, +ordered the embrasures to be cleared at once, with the intention of +immediately opening fire. Perceiving what was being done by the sailors +in re-opening the embrasures, I ordered them to stop; and asked by whose +authority they were acting. On being informed that their orders came +from the commander of the detachment, I asked them to point him out to +me. I immediately introduced myself to him, as the engineer officer in +full charge of the construction of the battery, and told him if the +embrasures were cleared the battery would still be unfit for +service--that it could not be repaired until that night, and would then +be put in better condition than it was when it first opened. The army +gun battery would be ready next morning; and its fire, combined with +that of the naval battery, after the latter was put in good condition, +would be very effective. But, if the naval detachment opened fire that +afternoon, the battery being unfit for service, its ammunition would be +exhausted before night without hurting the enemy; and the battery would +necessarily be silent the next day, when the army battery would open its +fire. + +The naval captain insisted that the embrasures should be cleared at +once, and the firing resumed. + +I protested against his clearing the embrasures and told him that, but +for the appearance of the thing, I would leave the battery and take my +men with me if he persisted in carrying out his intentions. I added: "I +will remain here until regularly relieved, but will continue to +_protest_ against the course you propose to pursue". + +He then told me that it was "the General's" order that he should open +fire that afternoon as promptly as possible. + +I asked him why he had not told me of that order in the first place; and +added: "It is not customary for General Scott to give orders to engineer +officers through officers of the navy. But, if you had told me in the +beginning that he had ordered the battery to commence firing as soon as +possible after you reached it, I would have accepted his order--coming +to me through you." + +To this he replied; "I did not say the order came from General Scott." I +asked: "Whom did you mean when you said 'the General.'" He told me that +he meant "General Patterson." To which I replied: "I receive no orders +in reference to this battery except from General Scott or the Chief +Engineer of the Army." + +The naval captain finally said he would not open fire until next +morning; provided I would report the circumstances to General Scott. I +told him it was not usual for me to report my action direct to the +General-in-Chief: but, I would report all the facts to the Chief +Engineer as soon as I was relieved and had returned to camp, and he +would report them to General Scott. + +When I commenced to make my report to the Chief Engineer he stopped me; +and said he was instructed to order me to report in person, to General +Scott as soon as I reached camp. + +I obeyed the order; and was very coldly and formally told by "The +General": He had been informed it was my fault that the naval battery +had not opened fire against Vera Cruz that afternoon. I answered: "I did +prevent the fire being opened; but, that act was not a fault on my part; +and I can convince you of the latter fact if you will give me a +hearing". + +He replied--still very coldly--"I hope you can do so". I then related to +him, in full, all that had occurred--as briefly stated above--between +the commander of the naval detachment and myself. + +My reasons for opposing the opening of the fire of the battery seemed to +produce little or no favorable impression on General Scott until I +reached that part of the narrative in which I replied to the naval +captain's statement that he meant General Patterson when he said "_the +General_". I gave General Scott the exact words I had used in replying +to the naval commander. At this he rose from his seat--came to where I +was standing, and clasping one of my hands in both of his; said: "Thank +God I have young officers with heads on their shoulders and who know how +to use them". He added: "your opinion, and your action, in this matter, +would do credit to a Field Marshal of France"! + +To which I made no reply, but thought to myself: "If there was a +sergeant in the engineer company who, in view of the plain facts of this +case, would not have known that the naval battery ought not to open fire +that afternoon, I would reduce him to the ranks before night." + +The following extracts from my official report of these operations may +not be amiss in this connection: + +"Whenever we have acted as a company I have been most ably and +efficiently supported by Lieutenants McClellan and Foster; and I am +proud to say that the non-commissioned officers and men of the company +have shown great willingness and skill in the discharge of the important +duties assigned them. Great part of our labors have been performed under +fire. On such occasions I have had every reason to be satisfied with the +cool deportment and conduct of the company. + +"In conclusion I regret that I have to state, a serious blow was +inflicted on the military pride of the engineer company in _not_ +allowing them to participate in the ceremonies of the surrender, when it +was well understood that the troops having had most to do in the attack +were selected to take a prominent part in the proceedings." + +We all felt that, if our distinguished Captain had been with us, we +would have been called on to take part in those ceremonies. + +The Chief Engineer, Colonel Joseph G. Totten, in his report of +operations against Vera Cruz, says: "The obligation lies upon me also to +speak of the highly meritorious deportment and valuable services of the +Sappers and Miners, [engineer company] attached to the expedition. +Strenuous as were their exertions, their number proved to be too few, in +comparison with our need of such aid. Had their number been four-fold +greater, there is no doubt the labors of the army would have been +materially lessened and the result expedited." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 245). + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] In illustration of the character of the work done during the first +two or three days after the landing, the following quotations from +General Scott's official report are not irrelevant. He says: + +"The environs of the city outside the fire of its guns, and those of the +castle, are broken into innumerable hills of loose sand, from twenty to +two hundred and fifty feet in height, with almost impassable forests of +chaparral between." "In extending the line of investment around the city +the troops, for three days have performed the heaviest labors in getting +over the hills and cutting through the intervening forests." ("Ex. Doc. +No. 1" p. 216.) + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AFTER THE SURRENDER OF VERA CRUZ; TO THE OCCUPATION OF PUEBLA. + + +From the capitulation of Vera Cruz, on the 29th of March, until we left +that place on the 13th of April, the engineer company was principally +engaged in assisting engineer officers in making surveys of the +fortifications and surrounding ground, in dismantling our own batteries, +magazines, &c.; and aiding the Quartermaster's Department in landing and +placing in depot the general engineer train of the army. + +In the meantime, on the 7th of April, I reported, through the senior +engineer, to the Adjutant-General of the forces, that the engineer +company would be ready to move with the advance division of the army on +the 8th, if transportation for its train could be furnished. +Transportation, together with orders to move with the advance division, +were applied for. "The reply was that General Scott would, at the proper +time, order such transportation for the engineer company as he deemed +sufficient--and would, when it was his pleasure, order the company +forward."[3] + +Twiggs's division left on the 8th; Patterson's on the 9th; on the 11th +Worth's division was ordered to move on the 13th; Quitman's brigade had +been previously sent on an expedition to Alvarado; the garrison of Vera +Cruz was designated. Thus, every soldier in the army, except the +engineer company, had received instructions either to go forward or to +remain. + +On the night of the 11th, in my evening report to the Adjutant of +engineers, I asked the Senior Engineer[4] then serving with the army; +when and where the engineer company was ordered; what I was ordered to +do; and what transportation, if any, I was to have. + +On these subjects not one word had been stated, in either written or +printed orders, that had come to my knowledge. On the morning of the +12th, General Scott consented that the engineer company should, if +possible, move with the General Headquarters, which left at 4 P. M. that +day. + +I then applied direct to the Chief Quartermaster for transportation. He +told me that it was impossible to let me have any teams at that +time--all the good teams had been taken by the army, General Worth was +getting the last. + +A positive order from headquarters, was then procured by the Adjutant of +engineers, requiring the Quartermaster's Department to furnish +transportation for the engineer train, etc. The teams, such as they +were, came into our camp about dark on the 12th. That night the wagons +were loaded; and we started half an hour before daylight on the 13th. + +The mules were wild, the teamsters could not speak English, some of them +had never harnessed an animal; and it was soon apparent that the men of +the company would have to put their muskets in the wagons and give their +undivided attention to the mules. At 2 P. M., after struggling through +the deep sand, west of the city, we struck the firm beach, and could +make better progress, for about three miles, to Vergara, where the road +leaves the coast, and again passes through deep sand. + +In the meantime one team had become broken down and useless before we +got beyond the city. In order to procure another I had to take some of +my own men into the mule pen. Three Mexicans were given me to lasso the +mules, and five men were required to put them in harness--seasick, wild, +little animals. One teamster deserted; one had his hand, and another had +his leg broken; and a number of mules in different teams, were crippled. + +At Vergara, half the load of each wagon was thrown out, before we +entered upon steep ridges and deep sand immediately after leaving the +beach. All the men were engaged in helping along the half loaded wagons. +That night we slept in the sand ridges. + +On the 14th, we reached Santa Fe, eight miles from Vera Cruz, threw out +the half loads, and returned to Vergara. Before we again reached the +beach, the men had actually to roll the empty wagons up every hill, the +mules not being able to drag them. By 10 P. M., we were again at Santa +Fe, having killed three mules, and the men being worked nearly to death. +Fortunately for us, several good mules that had escaped from preceding +army trains, came out of the chaparral to our feed troughs, were caught, +and "pressed" into engineer service. + +From Santa Fe the road was much better, but at every hill the men had +to take to the wheels and help the mules--this too, after throwing out +half the load at the foot of some of the steeper hills. In this way, we +reached the National Bridge, at 3 P. M. on the 16th. + +General Worth's division was about starting from that place to make a +night march to Plan Del Rio. He informed me that our army would attack +the enemy, at the Cerro Gordo Pass, on the afternoon of the 17th; and +said he desired that the engineer company should accompany his division. +I informed him that my men and animals were utterly exhausted and could +not go any further without several hours rest. But I assured him that we +would be in Plan Del Rio by noon of the next day. We rested at the +National Bridge until 11.30 P. M., on the 16th and reached Plan Del Rio, +about 11 A. M., on the 17th. + +AT CERRO GORDO. Soon after our arrival at Plan Del Rio, I was +ordered to detail an officer and ten men of the engineer company to +report to General Pillow for temporary service with his division. +Lieutenant McClellan was placed in charge of that detail. + +With the remainder of the company, I was directed to report to Captain +R. E. Lee, then acting as Chief Engineer of Twiggs's division; who +instructed me to allow the men to rest, whilst I accompanied him to the +front, where Twiggs's division was about going into action. Captain Lee +informed General Twiggs that the engineer company was at Plan Del Rio, +and had been ordered to serve with his division. I was directed by +General Twiggs to return at once, and bring the company to the front as +soon as possible. + +The action of the 17th was over before the engineer company arrived. +Captain Lee directed me, with a portion of my men and a large detailed +working party, to construct a battery that night, in a position he had +selected on the heights we had gained that afternoon. This was a work of +some difficulty, owing to the rocky nature of the ground and the small +depth of earth--in some places none, and nowhere more than a few inches. + +About 3 A. M. on the 18th I sent one of my men to the foot of the hill +to awaken Lieutenant Foster, who was sleeping there with the company, +and tell him he must relieve me for the rest of the night. + +After putting Foster in charge I started to join the company--and became +sound asleep whilst walking down the hill. Stumbling into a quarry hole, +I found myself sprawling on a dead Mexican soldier--his glazed eyes wide +open, within a few inches of mine. For a moment I felt that horror of a +corpse which many persons have, at times, experienced. The probability +that, in a short time after daylight--in storming the strong position +of the enemy--I might be as dead as the man upon whom I was lying, +forced itself upon me. + +Before I could regain my feet streams of men were rushing past me in the +darkness; and I heard and recognised, the voice of Lieutenant Peter V. +Hagner, of the Ordnance, calling in no measured tone or language, upon +these stampeded men to stop. Whilst promptly aiding Hagner to bring the +fugitives to a halt, I forgot the dead Mexican, and the whole train of +thought connected with the corpse. + +When something like order was restored on the hillside I learned from +Lieutenant Hagner that he had been detailed to take one of our heavy +guns up the hill to the battery. A regiment of Volunteers had been +placed at his disposal to man the drag-ropes. Their arms had been left +at the foot of the hill. On finding his way blocked by trees, Hagner had +sent to procure axes from the engineer train; and in the meantime the +regiment at the drag-ropes had been permitted to lie down. Of course +they went to sleep. Suddenly awakened by a false alarm that the Mexicans +were upon them, they rushed down the hill to get their arms. Hagner soon +procured the required axes and the gun was delivered at the battery in +good time. + +At daylight I was again at the battery. A slight epaulment had been +finished for three pieces of artillery, the platforms were laid, and the +guns in position. I was then instructed by Captain Lee, to send ten men +to report to him for special service; to order Lieutenant Foster with +eight additional men, to report to him (Lee) for the purpose of opening +a road for the light artillery around the foot of the heights; and I was +ordered, with the rest of the company, to report to Colonel Harney, who +was then in command of Persifor Smith's brigade, of Twiggs' division. + +I was instructed to accompany that brigade when it moved forward to +attack the enemy in position on a hill immediately in front of, and +higher than that on which our battery had been constructed. The Mexicans +were in strong force on the higher hill. + +From our lower position we could not clearly see their lines nor +determine how they were fortified. The hill they occupied was flat on +top and their lines were set back from the crest of the precipitous +slope which faced us. The storming brigade was ordered to halt and +reform just before reaching the top of the higher hill. At this point +they were below the plane of the enemy's fire, and were when lying down, +perfectly protected. In this position they were ordered to rest, until +the order should be given to rise, charge and carry the enemy's works +by open assault. + +When the line was thus formed, I requested Colonel Harney not to give +the order to charge until I could go on the plateau, get a clear view of +the enemy's works, and report their character. I soon informed him that +their main line was not more than forty or fifty yards from where our +men were then lying, that the fortifications were very incomplete, +offered no effective obstacle, and we could dash over the works without +a halt. I then ordered my men to drop their tools and use their muskets. + +Whilst I was making this report to Colonel Harney, our attention was +drawn to quite a sharp fire that the Mexicans had suddenly opened from a +point close to the left flank and in the prolongation of our line. I +told him I was certain there were no fortifications in that position; +and I had seen no troops there. The fire increased from that direction, +and Colonel Harney ordered me to proceed rapidly with my men to the left +of our line, direct two companies on that flank to wheel at once, to the +left; and when he gave the order to charge, these two companies and the +engineers would move to the left against the force that was firing upon +us from that side. + +These dispositions on our left were made in a very few moments, and the +order to charge was given immediately thereafter. The brigade sprang up, +dashed over the short intervening space, and were almost instantly +inside of the Mexican incomplete works. + +After a short, but bloody, hand to hand struggle, in which bayonets, +swords, pistols, and butts of muskets were freely used, the Mexicans +retreated in great disorder. The troops that had been faced to the left +just before the order to charge was given, immediately found themselves +in the midst of a detachment of Mexicans, in a nest of surface quarry +holes which gave them protection from distant fire and effectually +concealed them from view until we were among them. The struggle here was +hand to hand, and sharp for a short time. But they were driven from +their quarry holes, back on their main line which gave way, and their +own guns were turned upon them before they could get off the field. + +Thus, Persifor Smith's brigade, under Colonel Harney, carried, and held +possession of, the key-point of the battlefield of Cerro Gordo. + +After the battle the various details of engineer soldiers joined in the +pursuit of the enemy, were collected together at Encerro, and the +company remained with Twiggs division until it reached Jalapa. At this +place it was furnished by the Chief Quartermaster with the finest mule +teams in the army. This gave great satisfaction to the men who had +struggled so hard to get the engineer train forward, through deep sand, +from Vera Cruz. To add to their elation, they had now left the "hot +lands" of the coast behind them, had reached a temperate climate, 4,000 +feet above the level of the sea, had escaped the dread _vomito_ of Vera +Cruz, and had participated closely in the great victory gained by +Scott's army at Cerro Gordo. + +From Jalapa, Worth's division led the way, the engineer company at its +head. During the halt of a few days, at Perote, I procured the transfer +of First Sergeant David H. Hastings, from the Third Artillery to the +engineer company. He was considered one of the best sergeants in the +army, and was at once, made first sergeant of the engineer company. +Previous to that time we had only an acting first sergeant. The company +entered Puebla with Worth's division, and on the arrival of General +Scott at that place we were again ordered to report to general +headquarters. + +During the three months delay of the army, at Puebla, awaiting +reinforcements before moving into the valley of Mexico, the regular +instruction of the company--both as infantry and as engineer +soldiers--was resumed. Besides the "School of the Sapper" as taught them +before they left the United States, the men were now instructed, +theoretically and practically, in the "School of the Miner". They were +engaged too in work upon the fortifications of Puebla; and had practice +in loop-holing walls, and received instruction for placing towns, +villages, etc. in a state of defense. Whilst at Puebla the company +received the sad news of the death of their Captain. + +General Scott, in his official report of the battle of Cerro Gordo, +says; "Lieutenant G. W. Smith led the engineer company as part of the +storming force [under Colonel Harney], and is noticed with distinction". +(Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 263). + +General Twiggs, in his official report of the same battle, states: +"Lieutenant G. W. Smith, of the engineers, with his company of Sappers +and Miners, joined Colonel Harney's command in the assault on the +enemy's main work, and killed two men with his own hand". (Ex. Doc. No. +1, p. 278). + +In Colonel Harney's official report of this battle it is stated: +"Lieutenant G. W. Smith, of the engineers, with his company, rendered +very efficient service in his own department, as well as in the storming +of the fort". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 281). + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] Taken from my official report for the month of April, 1847. G. W. S. + +[4] Colonel Joseph G. Totten. Chief Engineer, had left Vera Cruz and +returned to his duties in Washington City. Major John L. Smith then +became Senior Engineer with General Scott's forces. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FROM PUEBLA TO CHURUBUSCO. + + +On the 7th of August, 1847, the advance of General Scott's army, Twiggs' +division, the engineer company leading, left Puebla and commenced the +forward movement into the valley of Mexico. The company served with that +division, until Worth's division was placed in the lead during the +turning movement made by the army around Lake Chalco. In that movement +the engineer company was at the head of Worth's division. + +The road ran between the western border of the lake and a high range of +hills which, in some places, rose from the water's edge. The road was +narrow and rough; and had been obstructed by rolling immense masses of +stone upon it from the almost overhanging cliffs. These obstructions +were of considerable height; they completely blocked our way; and at +several points ditches had been cut across the road. + +General Worth directed the Light Battalion, under Colonel C. F. Smith, +to advance and drive off the Mexicans who were firing upon us--ordered +me to make the road passable for artillery and wagons as soon as +possible--and notified me that the leading brigade would assist in that +work when called upon. I immediately asked for a detail of 500 men; put +them to work, at once, under the direction of the officers and men of +the engineer company, and everything was progressing rapidly, when, to +my surprise, Lieutenant J. C. Pemberton, aide to General Worth, came up +to me and insisted that the whole character of the operations should be +changed. Whilst he was elaborating his views I cut him short by asking +if he had any orders for me from General Worth. In the meanwhile the +latter had reached the front, without either Pemberton or I being aware +of his presence. Before the aide had time to reply to my question, +General Worth, in a very peremptory tone called out "Come away from +there Mr. Pemberton, and let Mr. Smith alone. This is his business--not +yours". + +In a few hours, the road was put in such condition that, by the use of +drag-ropes and men at the wheels, we were enabled to pass artillery and +wagons over the obstructions; and the column moved on without further +material delay. + +After reaching San Augustine, and passing beyond, the forward movement, +now on the main road, or causeway, leading from Acapulco to the city of +Mexico, was checked by fortifications about six hundred yards in our +front. These fortifications crossed the road at San Antonio, and were +occupied by the enemy in large force. The afternoon of the 18th of +August, was spent in reconnoitring that position. + +About 3 A. M., on the 19th, I received an order to return to San +Augustine with the engineer company and its train. In making our way +from the head of Worth's division, along the main road, towards the +rear, it was somewhat difficult to arouse the men of that division, who +were sleeping on the road, and get them to clear the way for the passage +of our wagons. + +No explanation of the order for our return had been given. Just after +the dawn of day, and before we were clear of the division, two soldiers +on the side of the road, were lighting a fire for the purpose of +preparing coffee. As we passed them, one said to the other: "We are not +going to fight to-day: Twiggs's division is going to fight". The other +of the two replied, sneeringly: "What do you know about it?" To which +the first answered: "Don't you see those young engineer officers, with +the engineer company and their wagons? They are going back, to be sent +on another road with Twiggs's division, we are not going to fight +to-day". As we passed out of hearing of the two soldiers I said to +McClellan, who was riding by my side: "Did you hear that?" He answered +"Yes and I consider it the handsomest compliment that could be paid to +the engineer company. The private soldiers of this army understand that +we are sent where the hardest work and hardest fighting are to be +done--and always at the head of the leading division". + +We reached San Augustine a little after sunrise, August 19. I will now +quote direct from my official report of these operations. + +"Orders were [at once] received, from the headquarters of the army, +directing me to report to Captain R. E. Lee, of the Corps of Engineers, +with the company under my command, and [I] was ordered by Captain Lee to +take ten of my men, and select certain tools from the general engineer +train, in addition to those carried along with the company. I turned +over the command of the engineer company to Lieutenant McClellan, who, +under the direction of Captain Lee, proceeded at once to commence the +work on the road from San Augustine to Contreras." "In about one hour +and a half, I rejoined the command with the necessary implements for [a +large working force in] opening the road. Captain Lee directed me to +retain the men I then had with me, and to take charge of a certain +section of the road, to bring forward my wagons as rapidly as possible, +and to see that the road was practicable before I passed any portion of +it. At this time my company was divided into five sections, each under +an engineer officer directing operations on [different portions of] the +road". + +AT CONTRERAS. General Scott, in his official report, says, "By +three o'clock, this afternoon, [August 19th.] the advanced divisions +came to a point where the new road could only be continued under the +direct fire of 22 pieces of the enemy's artillery [most of them of large +calibre] placed in a strong entrenched camp to oppose our operations, +and surrounded by every advantage of ground, besides immense bodies of +cavalry and infantry". + +In my official report it is stated that; "The head of the column having +halted, I reached the front in time to receive instructions from Captain +Lee to halt the company, collect the scattered parties, and to examine +the road inclining to the left, while he went to the right. Lieutenants +McClellan and Foster had been for some hours detached. Having gone about +four hundred yards, I heard just ahead sharp firing of musketry; and +immediately after met Captain McClellan, of the topographical engineers, +and Lieutenant McClellan, of the engineer company, returning on +horseback--they had come suddenly on a strong picket, and were fired +upon. Lieutenant McClellan had his horse shot under him. Information of +the enemy's picket being in our vicinity was reported to General Twiggs, +who ordered a regiment of rifles forward. There being several engineer +officers present when the rifles came to the front, I returned to my +company, which had been for a short time left without an officer. +Captain Lee about this time, sent back for Captain Magruder's battery, +which was conducted by Lieutenant Foster, and placed in position by +Lieutenant McClellan". + +"The Third Infantry was ordered to support the battery. I moved forward +with this regiment, taking my company and pack mules, loaded with tools, +and placed my command under such shelter as could be found on the left, +near the position occupied by the Third Infantry, and in rear of the +battery. Meeting with Lieutenant McClellan, I directed him still to +remain with the battery, but to order Lieutenant Foster to rejoin the +company. In a few moments this officer reported to me, and brought +information that the troops were preparing to storm the enemy's +position." + +"Riley's brigade had moved in advance by our right. Leaving the mules +and tools, I moved the company forward, falling in with the brigade of +General [Persifor] Smith. Captain Lee being present, with his consent, I +requested the General to allow the engineer company to fight in his +brigade. He told me to take the head of the column, and to direct myself +towards a church in a village, on the left of the enemy's +battery--between it and the city. Whilst passing down the hill and +crossing the ravine, the enemy were rapidly appearing [reinforcements +from the direction of the city] on an eminence beyond the church. +General Smith directed me to take my company as an escort, reconnoitre +the village, and find out whether Colonel Riley's brigade was in the +vicinity. I continued some distance beyond the church; and returned +without seeing the brigade under Colonel Riley, which had, as I +understood afterwards, advanced very near [the rear of] the enemy's +battery. The reinforcements of the enemy upon the hill in our front were +rapidly increasing. They had at this time probably ten thousand men, on +the height, formed in line of battle. Towards dark Colonel Riley's +brigade returned and joined the troops under the command of General +Smith: too late, however, to allow time for forming the troops to attack +the enemy [on the hill] in our front. Lieutenant McClellan joined me +about this time in our movement on the village. Lieutenant Foster, who +was on horseback, became detached with a few of the men, and did not +rejoin me until after the action on the morning of the 20th." + +"General Smith, very soon after dark, informed me that the enemy's main +battery would be stormed, [in rear], at daylight on the morning of the +20th. This would open the road for artillery, and our communications +with [the main army under] General Scott would be re-established. I +received orders to hold the engineer company ready to move at 3 A. M. +and to take my place on the right of the rifles. On the morning of the +20th there was considerable delay in the movement of the brigade [raw +troops] under General Cadwallader, by which General Smith's brigade, now +under the command of Major Dimmick, First Artillery, was detained very +nearly an hour. Part of the Eleventh Regiment [Cadwallader's brigade] +lost its way, caused the Voltigeurs to halt, thus throwing the brigade +under Major Dimmick still further from Riley's, which had moved very +soon after 3 o'clock. At the request of General Cadwallader, Major +Dimmick ordered me to turn over the command of my company to the officer +next in rank, and to move forward and conduct the troops that had lost +their way. The whole force was by sunrise, or little after, halted in a +sheltered position in rear of the enemy's battery". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +Appendix p. 67). + +I reported the cause of the delay to General Smith and requested +instructions to rejoin my company; but he said he desired that I should +remain with him for a while. By his order, the three brigades were soon +put in motion. I again asked him to permit me to rejoin my proper +command. He replied "Not yet" and added: "I will soon give you +instructions". + +Because of a dense fog the delay in reaching the position in rear of the +Mexican works was no material disadvantage. The fog began to disappear +about the time I reported to General Smith. He was then on a ridge at a +point, about 600 yards in rear of the Mexican works. The three brigades +were passing around the extremity of that ridge, several hundred yards +in rear of the General. All was quiet in the lines of the enemy. There +was another ridge south of the one on which General Smith was standing, +and separated from it by a deep and very narrow valley. The sides of +both ridges were precipitous; their tops sloped gently to the enemy's +line. + +General Smith informed me that Riley's brigade would pass partly beyond +the extremity of the second ridge; then face to the left, and attack a +strong Mexican detachment which was in position on that ridge, several +hundred yards in rear of their works. Riley was ordered to drive that +detachment and pursue it closely into the Mexican main lines. +Cadwallader's brigade would go on when Riley faced to the left; and, as +soon as he passed Riley, Cadwallader would also face to the left and +come into action on Riley's right. Smith's own brigade would turn to the +left before reaching the extremity of the second ridge. The Third +Infantry and First Artillery would advance in the deep valley between +the two ridges; whilst the Rifle Regiment, with the engineer company +leading, would ascend the steep slope of the second ridge, and get into +position on the flank, or rear, of the Mexican detachment which Riley +was to attack in front. In the meantime the head of Smith's brigade had +come within view, near the foot of the steep slope of the second ridge, +and was moving towards the Mexican main line. + +General Smith pointed out to me the route to be taken to reach the top +of the second ridge; and ordered that the engineer company and rifles +should bear to the right, and on getting near the Mexican detachment, +remain concealed, and quiet, until Riley's brigade became well engaged; +then join in the attack and pursuit of that detachment. + +With these specific instructions, I was ordered to rejoin my company; +and Lieutenant Beauregard was directed to take general charge of the +movements of Smith's brigade. When Beauregard and I reached the top of +the second ridge we found we were 50 yards, or less, in rear of the +Mexican detachment, which was facing Riley. All was quiet. In a very +few moments Riley's fire commenced. + +The engineer company, followed by the rifle regiment was then forming in +line, under cover, in rear of the Mexican detachment, whose attention +was concentrated on Riley, in their front. We were between that +detachment and the Mexican works. A small portion only of the Rifle +Regiment was in line, when the firing with Riley became very severe, and +the order was given for the engineer company and rifles to rise and fire +into the backs of the enemy. That fire was very destructive. The +Mexicans were astounded; faced squarely about, and in a moment +precipitately retreated. + +In my official report it is stated that: "Colonel Riley's advance became +engaged with a very strong picket, some 300 yards or more from the rear +of the [enemy's] battery, near the crest of the ridge; the engineers and +rifles came up at once in position to take the picket in rear, delivered +a deadly volley within 50 yards, cheered and rushed on. The enemy's +force fled; the head of our column crossed the line of their retreat, +which brought the right of the column [engineer company and rifles] +conducted by Lieutenant Beauregard, in contact with the Seventh +Infantry, which formed the left of Colonel Riley's brigade. I went into +the enemy's battery with the colors of the Seventh Infantry, my company +immediately behind me. The enemy, or at least a portion of them, stood +to their guns well, and delivered a fire of grape into our troops when +the head of the column was within 25 yards of their pieces. Our troops +followed the retreating enemy without halting until they were beyond the +reach of our musketry. Lieutenant Beauregard then strongly advised that +the troops be halted and formed. A short time afterwards General Twiggs, +came up. The pursuit was resumed. At San Angel we had an unimportant +skirmish". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 68). + +The following additional quotations from my official report are not +deemed irrelevant: + +"In the action of the morning of the 20th--the battle of Contreras--my +men acted with great gallantry; their promptness in obeying every order, +and the effect with which they used their muskets, entitle them all to +the highest praise. In my report to the chief engineer in the field, I +shall make special mention of all who, to my knowledge, particularly +distinguished themselves. I will mention here, First Sergeant D. H. +Hastings, of the engineer company, who, by his gallant conduct and +soldiery bearing, in this action, richly deserves promotion to the rank +of commissioned officer in the army. Sergeant Hastings was slightly +wounded by my side in the battery. Sergeant [S. H.] Starr attracted my +particular attention by his gallant and efficient conduct. Sergeant +Starr was the ranking non-commissioned officer with the detachment of +the engineer company which accompanied Colonel Harney's command at the +battle of Cerro Gordo. I would recommend him for promotion [to the grade +of commissioned officer in the army]." + +"Artificer W. H. Bartlett attracted my particular attention by [his] +cool and steady gallantry, Artificer A. S. Read shot the color bearer of +the Twelfth Regiment of artillery, and secured the color." + +"Lieutenant Foster was at this time, as I have before remarked, detached +with a portion of the company; and, at the head of his men, led the +Ninth and Twelfth Regiments of Infantry in their attack on the flank of +the retreating column at Contreras." + +"Lieutenant McClellan, frequently detached, and several times in command +of the engineer company, is entitled to the highest praise for his cool +and daring gallantry, on all occasions, in the actions of both the 19th +and 20th." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 69.) + +In the pursuit, we passed through the village of San Angel; and near +that place, were again halted. During that halt, I noticed a large, high +building, in an extensive open field, five or six hundred yards to the +North. I was satisfied that from the top of that building, with a +powerful field glass, which was a portion of the engineer company +equipment, I would be able to get a good view of the level country for +miles around, and obtain quite definite knowledge of the positions and +movements of the main Mexican forces. + +I communicated my wishes to Major Loring; and asked him if he felt +authorized to support the engineer company, with the Rifle Regiment, in +a close reconnaissance of the building I pointed out. He laughingly +replied: "I have been directed by General Smith to follow you and your +company--of course I will go with you". + +We had not proceeded more than two hundred yards towards the building +when we were overtaken by Lieutenant Van Dorn, Aide to General Smith, +who brought an order requiring the Rifle Regiment and the engineer +company to return to the head of the column on the road. I told Van Dorn +the purpose I had in view, asked him to explain the matter to General +Smith, and expressed my conviction that he would approve the movement, +when he knew its object. Van Dorn replied: "General Smith was very +peremptory. I am directed to see that you and Major Loring, with your +respective commands, return at once". On our way back, Van Dorn said +that General Pillow had reached the front and taken control; and his +belief was that General Pillow had ordered General Smith to recall the +engineer company and the Rifle Regiment. A short time thereafter we +moved from San Angel to Coyoacan, where the head of the column again +halted; and was soon joined by General Scott. + +There is good reason to believe that observations, which could easily +have been made from the roof of the high building above referred to, +would have resulted in obtaining such information in regard to the +Mexican position at the Convent of Churubusco and at the _tete-de-pont_, +as would have enabled General Scott to complete the rout of the Mexican +Army without incurring the additional loss of nearly one thousand men in +killed and wounded. + +AT CHURUBUSCO. The following quotations are taken from my +official report: + +"Between 12 and 1 o'clock, P. M., [August 20, 1847] I received orders to +move, from the village of [Coyoacan] immediately after the rifle +regiment, on a road intersecting the road from San Antonio to Mexico, in +order to cut off the enemy already retreating from San Antonio. + +"I had not gone two hundred yards when I received orders to countermarch +and move on another route intersecting the road from San Antonio to the +city nearer to Mexico. [The latter road led nearly due east, parallel to +the front of the earthworks at the Convent, distant from those works +about 250 yards]. The regiment of riflemen continued on the road on +which I first started. [This road led south-east from Coyoacan]. The +company took its place [again] at the head of the column [Twiggs's +division]. The column was halted by General Twiggs, and I was directed +by him to send an officer in advance to see the position of a battery +reported to be not far in front. Lieutenant McClellan was sent on one +road; and Lieutenant Stevens of the engineers, was directed by General +Twiggs, to take another. Both officers soon returned and reported a +battery in front of a convent, the roof and steeples of which were in +plain view of the head of the column and within 700 yards. The roof was +crowded with troops; the battery was masked by intervening trees and +corn-fields. General Twiggs then directed these officers to make a +closer reconnaissance and ordered my company as an escort. Having +proceeded 500 yards, we saw [Mexican] troops on our right, left, and in +front. A lancer was taken prisoner. Lieutenant Stevens directed me to +take the prisoner to the general and request an additional escort of two +companies. We were at this time about 300 yards from the battery, but it +was still almost masked from view. I delivered the prisoner and the +message to General Twiggs, and returned at once to my company which I +had left in charge of Lieutenant Foster. Lieutenant Stevens joined +General Twiggs whilst I was with him. When I resumed command of the +company, Lieutenant McClellan reported to me that _our troops were +already engaged in our front_; having, apparently, turned the battery +and convent by our right. One of General Twiggs's staff, [Lieutenant W. +T. H. Brooks, A. A. Adjutant General, Twiggs's division,] was present +and informed us that the rifles with Captain Lee of the engineers, were +reconnoitring the same works, and had gone to our right considerably +farther from the battery than we then were. We all concurred in opinion +that the rifles were engaged with a vastly superior force. There was at +this time no firing of artillery. I ordered Lieutenant McClellan to +report the result of his observations to General Twiggs. He did so, and +on the recommendation of Lieutenants Stevens and McClellan, in which I +concurred, the First Regiment of Artillery was ordered to support the +rifles. The firing on the right increased; it was evident that several +thousands of the enemy were pouring a heavy musketry fire into our +troops on the right. The tops of the convent and the surrounding walls +were lined with troops; the roof was literally covered. Lieutenant +Stevens was of opinion that a few rounds of grape would disperse these +masses and relieve our troops already engaged [on the right] from a +destructive plunging fire. He went back to the general, leaving myself +the senior engineer then in front of the [convent] battery. The fire had +now become very brisk upon my [reconnoitring] party; having placed the +company under the best shelter at hand, with Lieutenant Foster I +proceeded to examine the works to determine the number, character and +position of the pieces of artillery. Nothing heavier than a 4 or +6-pounder had yet been fired." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 69.) + +In my official report it is further stated that: "The troops had become +engaged in our front within ten minutes after a reconnaissance had been +ordered by General Twiggs, and before the officer whom I was escorting +had been able to make a single observation". + +In my official copy of that report, I find the following sentence, which +is not in the printed report: + +"Deeply do I regret that the attack, in advance of the reconnoitring +party, precipitated the attack on our side, and involved us in action +against we knew not what". + +The force which became engaged, far to our right--before the +reconnaissance, supported by the engineer company, fairly commenced, +was the advance of Worth's division pursuing the Mexicans who had +abandoned their strong works at San Antonio. + +Captain James L. Mason, engineer of Worth's division, says, in his +official report, that the works attacked by that division, and "so +gallantly stormed, had not been reconnoitred". + +The engineers in front of the convent, being informed that the rifles +with Captain Lee had gone to our right considerably farther from the +battery, advised that the rifles be supported by an additional regiment. +The same engineers advised that one gun be sent to the front to drive +the Mexicans from the roof of the convent, and thus relieve our troops +on the right from a destructive plunging fire. + +The additional escort of two companies, asked for by the reconnoitring +engineers, had not come to the front. After Lieutenant Stevens had gone +back to General Twiggs, to have one gun with a few rounds of proper +ammunition sent forward for the purpose of clearing the roof of the +convent, the firing in our front, on the San Antonio road, had +materially increased; and the fire from the convent, upon the engineer +company, was becoming troublesome. There had been, to me, unexpected +delay in bringing the one gun forward; and I determined, as already +stated, to place the men under the best shelter at hand, and endeavor to +make, in person, a closer examination of the works. + +Resuming quotations from my official report--it is therein stated: + +"At this time the First Artillery came up to where I was. The lamented +and gallant Burke, at the head of the leading company, asked which +direction they were to take. I inquired what were his orders. He said +that the regiment was ordered to support the Rifles. I pointed to the +smoke, which was all we could see by which to determine the position of +our troops engaged in a corn-field on our right; told him that they +reached their present place by moving farther to the rear, out of range +of the works; and remarked to him that the fire through which he would +have to pass in the direction he was going was very severe. He replied +that they were ordered to move by that road to support the Rifles. The +First Artillery filed by and soon encountered, at a distance of 150 +yards from the enemy, the heaviest fire of artillery and musketry, +followed almost immediately after [by that] brought to bear upon +Taylor's battery, which had been ordered to fire upon the convent; and, +in selecting a place suitable for managing the guns, had most +unfortunately been placed, entirely exposed, directly in front of a well +constructed battery with heavy pieces firing in embrasure." + +"As the First Artillery filed by me, I ordered my company to be formed, +determined to go on with the reconnaissance; and if possible, send back +to the general, [Twiggs,] accurate information in reference to the works +of the enemy and the position of our own troops, which at that time I +could not understand. In moving forward, I was opposite the centre of +the [First] Artillery which inclined more to the left, toward the +battery, whilst I kept nearer the [principal road leading almost due +east from Coyoacan]. The ground was level, but some shelter was afforded +to small bodies of men, by the ditches, maguey plant, etc. I ordered my +men to separate, to shelter themselves as much as possible, [and] to +keep within supporting distance of me. I proceeded about two hundred +yards. I ordered every man to shelter himself in a small ditch which was +fortunately near us; immediately after I heard the fire of Taylor's +battery passing directly over my head. [When that fire commenced we +were] in the corn-field, about half-way between Taylor's battery and the +enemy. Requiring my command to lie close, with Lieutenant Foster, I made +my way to an old ruined wall in the open space east of the corn-field, +and from that position sent Lieutenant Foster to General Twiggs to +report the extent of the line engaged on the right, that we were +directly in front of the works [which were now in plain view], and that, +in my opinion, the whole force under General Twiggs's command should +turn the enemy's position by our left. Another battery [of the enemy] +was seen distinctly to our right and far in rear of the Churubusco +battery, apparently enfilading our line engaged on the right. General +Twiggs had already sent Colonel Riley's brigade to turn the position by +our left, and take the battery by the gorge. When Lieutenant Foster +returned, I withdrew the company to a position of more safety, and +joined General Smith and Lieutenant Stevens, who were near the place +from which I started with the First Artillery. I remained there [under +General Smith's order] until after the action." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +Appendix, pp. 70-71.) + +That point was about 300 yards south-west of the convent. There were +several adobe houses near, and from it a road along which there were +some huts, led to the convent, and another road, almost due east, passed +in front of the convent. In moving forward I had kept nearer the latter +road, the First Artillery nearer the former. The point I reached in the +open, east of the corn-field, was within less than 100 yards of the +works at the convent, and there was every indication that these works +did not extend along the western side of that building. + +The place at which I joined General Smith and Lieutenant Stevens, after +I returned from beyond the corn-field, was that at which it had been +proposed to place one gun, under cover of the adobe hut; run it out by +hand; fire, and run it under shelter again to reload. By this means, a +few rounds of grape, canister, and shrapnel, could have cleared the roof +of the convent. + +In more senses than one, the firing of Taylor's battery through the +ranks of the engineer company, in the corn-field, was a surprise to me. +I learned from Lieutenant Stevens that, when he applied for one gun to +be sent to the front, those in authority had deemed it best to send +forward a whole battery, and place it in an open field, square in front +of the fortifications. + +The battle of Churubusco was commenced, and mostly fought, haphazard, +against the front of the Mexican fortified lines, without giving time +for proper reconnaissance. + +General Scott, in his official report of the battle, says: "Lieutenant +Stevens of the engineers, supported by Lieutenant G. W. Smith's company +of sappers and miners, of the same corps, was sent to reconnoitre the +strongly fortified church or convent of San Pablo in the hamlet of +Churubusco--one mile off [from Coyoacan]. Twiggs with one of his +brigades [Smith's, less the rifles] and Captain Taylor's field battery, +were ordered to follow and to attack the convent. Major Smith, senior +engineer, was despatched to concert with Twiggs the mode of attack, and +Twiggs's other brigade [Riley's] I soon ordered to support him." (Ex. +Doc. No. 1, p. 309.) + +Major John L. Smith, senior engineer, says: "Lieutenant Stevens in the +reconnaissance of the position of Churubusco, was assisted by Lieutenant +McClellan and escorted by the company of sappers and miners. This +company also participated in the operations of the right [of Twiggs's +division]". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 353.) + +Major Dimmick, commanding the First Regiment of Artillery, says: "About +12 o'clock, M., the battalion was ordered to attack the position of the +enemy at the church, reported by the engineers at the time to have but +one piece of artillery. The point of attack selected by the senior +engineer officer was masked by a corn-field, in front of which I +deployed the battalion and ordered it to advance, when almost instantly +a shower of musketry, grape and round shot poured upon us, under which +the battalion advanced". + +"The right had advanced to within one hundred yards of a regular bastion +front, the curtain of which had four pieces in embrasure, besides nearly +a thousand infantry, both of which kept up such a constant stream of +fire that I could not advance further in line; I therefore ordered the +men to cover themselves as well as possible. The left of the battalion +advanced to within seventy yards of the work, being exposed to the fire +of two pieces of artillery, _en barbette_, in addition to the fire of a +considerable force of infantry and some of them still nearer, so that +they had a destructive fire on the cannoniers and infantry; which +position the battalion maintained until the enemy were driven from their +guns and bastion, when they were followed into their work and +surrendered." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 78.) + +Captain Francis Taylor, commanding light battery, says: "On reaching +Churubusco, we came in sight of a church, where the enemy was posted, +having, as was supposed, an entrenched battery thrown across the road. +Troops were soon thrown forward to attack this place; and, after a short +time, I was ordered to place the battery in a position where it was +thought I could drive the enemy from the roof and walls of the church, +and sustain the other troops in their efforts to carry this place by +storm. On taking the position assigned me, I found we were exposed to a +most terrible fire of artillery and musketry, of a regular entrenchment, +covering the front of the church to which we were opposite, and which +the intervening Indian corn hid from our sight at the time. Here I +opened my battery, and it was served with great precision for about an +hour and a half, notwithstanding it was exposed, during that time, to a +constant shower of grape, round shot, shell and musketry. At last, +finding my loss was becoming very great, and having succeeded in driving +the enemy from the roof and walls of the church, and given to our troops +such support as was in my power, I determined to withdraw the pieces". +(Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 73). + +The connection between the reconnaissance of the engineers, and the +operations of the First Artillery and Taylor's battery at Churubusco, +has already been described in extracts taken from my official report. + +In his official report, General Persifor F. Smith says: "Lieutenant G. +W. Smith, in command of the engineer company, and Lieutenant McClellan, +his subaltern, distinguished themselves throughout the whole of the +three actions [19th and 20th at Contreras; and at Churubusco]. Nothing +seemed to them too bold to be undertaken, or too difficult to be +executed; and their services as engineers were as valuable as those they +rendered in battle at the head of their gallant men. Lieutenant Foster, +being detached from his company during the action at Contreras, did not +fall under my notice; but in the action on the 19th and at Churubusco, +he was equally conspicuous for his gallantry". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 332). + +General Twiggs, in his official report, says: "To Lieutenant G. W. +Smith, of the engineers, who commanded the company of sappers and +miners, I am under obligations for his services on this and on other +occasions. Whenever his legitimate duties with the pick and spade were +performed, he always solicited permission to join in the advance of the +storming party with his muskets, in which position his gallantry, and +that of his officers and men, was conspicuously displayed at Contreras +as well as Cerro Gordo." (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 325.) + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF MEXICO. + + +During the armistice, which was entered into just after the battle of +Churubusco, and terminated on the 6th of September, the engineer company +was quartered in the village of San Angel. On the 7th of September I +received orders to move the company, its train, and the general engineer +train of the army to Tacubaya. + +MOLINO DEL REY. That night I was ordered to detail an officer +and ten men of the engineer company to report to General Worth. +Lieutenant Foster was placed in charge of this detail. He and his men +were on the right of the storming party of five hundred picked men, of +Worth's division, which led the attack against Molino Del Rey on the +morning of the 8th. In that attack Lieutenant Foster was very severely +wounded and disabled. + +CHAPULTEPEC. On the 11th of September, I received orders to +furnish details of men from the company to assist engineer officers in +supervising the construction of batteries against Chapultepec. I was +placed in charge of Battery No. 1, on the Tacubaya road, against the +southern face of the Castle; and Lieutenant McClellan in charge of +Battery No. 2, against the southwestern angle. On the night of the 12th, +the details were all called in, and I was directed to furnish implements +to the different storming parties which were to assault the castle of +Chapultepec on the morning of the 13th. + +SAN COSME GARITA. At 3 P. M., that day, I received orders to +join the siege train, and report to General Worth whose column was to +attack the city by the San Cosme route. + +At 4 P. M., I reported to General Worth, who was then with his forces, +in the suburbs of the city, on the San Cosme causeway, at the point +where it changes direction, at an angle of nearly ninety degrees, and is +then nearly straight for about six hundred yards to the fortified Garita +in our front. He informed me that Lieutenant Stevens had just been +severely wounded and this made me the senior engineer with Worth's +division. He directed me to go forward in person, closely examine the +condition of affairs at the front, endeavor to determine the best method +of operating against the fortified Garita, and report to him the result +of my observations as soon as possible. He directed me, particularly, to +have in view the question whether it would be advisable to bring the +siege guns forward against the embrasured battery at the Garita. Just as +I was leaving him, he said: "If you find there are two different methods +by which the Garita can be carried, one in a shorter time at a sacrifice +of men, the other in longer time, but a saving of men, choose the +latter". And he added: "There have been too many valuable lives, of +officers and men, lost recently in my division, for nothing". + +Though he did not specify the action referred to, he meant the battle of +Molino Del Rey. Under these instructions, I proceeded to the extreme +front, made the requisite examination of our position and that of the +enemy, and soon came back. I reported that the houses on the left of the +causeway were built up continuously to the battery at the Garita, we +could easily break through the walls from house to house; and, under +perfect cover, reach the top of a three-story building, with flat roof +and stone parapet, within 40 yards of the battery. A fire of musketry +from that roof would make the works untenable; and we could thus in a +short time drive the enemy from the fortified Garita, and secure a good +lodgement within the city, without material loss and without using the +siege guns. + +General Worth directed me to bring forward the engineer company, which +was with the siege train a short distance to the rear, and commence +operations on the proposed plan; and at the same time ordered that +Clarke's brigade should render any assistance I might call for. + +An hour or more before sunset we reached the top of the house above +referred to. From that position the inside of the enemy's works could be +plainly seen almost to the foot of the interior slope of the parapet. +Our first fire upon the Mexicans, who were unconscious of the impending +peril, was very deadly. Those who were not killed or disabled by that +fire seemed dazed for an instant; but in a few moments, they +precipitately retreated, leaving the San Cosme Garita without a single +defender in the works. One of their pieces of artillery was withdrawn a +few hundred yards, but was then abandoned. + +Immediately after that first fire, a portion of the force with me on the +roof became engaged with the enemy who appeared on house tops in rear +of their battery. We soon drove them from their position. The other +portion of our men fell back to the stairs, made their way to the lower +story, broke open the thick, heavily barred, strong door, passed into +the street, entered the abandoned works, and pursued the enemy. In the +meantime, some of our troops from the right of the causeway had come +forward and, a very small number of them, were slightly in advance of us +in reaching the abandoned battery. + +Colonel Garland, commander of the first brigade of Worth's division, on +the right of the causeway, says, in his official report: "The enemy then +took position at the Garita San Cosme, where they were supported by two +pieces of artillery which raked the streets with grape and canister. +Finding a secure position to the right of the second defence, [about 350 +yards in front of the Garita], I reorganized the command as it came up; +mounted a howitzer on the top of a convent, which, under the direction +of Lieutenant [U. S.] Grant, Quartermaster, 4th Infantry, and Lieutenant +Lendrum, 3rd Artillery, annoyed the enemy considerably. About this time, +report was made to me that considerable progress had been made by the +troops on the other side of the street by means of crowbars and +pickaxes, working through houses and yards. This caused me to watch +closely for the first movement of the enemy indicative of retreat. The +moment this was discovered, the 4th Infantry, followed by detachments of +the 2nd and 3rd Artillery, under Colonel Belton, rushed up the road, +when they entered the work simultaneously with the forces operating to +the right and left, Captain McKenzie's storming party slightly in +advance". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, Appendix, p. 170.) + +Referring to this operation, General Worth, in his official report, +says; "the moment had now arrived for the final and combined attack upon +the last stronghold of the enemy in my quarter; it was made, by our men +springing, as if by magic, to the tops of the houses into which they had +patiently and quietly made their way with the bar and pick, and to the +utter surprise and consternation of the enemy, opening upon him, within +easy range, a destructive fire of musketry. A single discharge, in which +many of his gunners were killed at their pieces, was sufficient to drive +him in confusion from the breastworks; when a prolonged shout from our +brave fellows announced that we were in possession of the Garita of San +Cosme and already in the city of Mexico". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 392.) + +The American army having thus captured the fortifications of the capital +of the enemy's country, a magnificent city of nearly 200,000 +inhabitants, a secure lodgement was immediately effected in large +houses, on the left of the street, a few hundred yards from the Garita. +I then proceeded, with the engineer company and an infantry detachment, +several hundred yards farther; and found a strong position, on the right +of the street where the troops could rest protected from fire. Going +farther to the front, I discovered that, 150 yards in advance there was +a large convent, on the left of the street, occupied by a strong force. +The next cross street, the Paseo, had batteries upon it. These facts +were reported to General Worth, who ordered forward two brigades--one to +occupy each of the positions selected--and, directed me to place those +troops, station the picket-guards, and then, with Lieutenant McClellan, +report at his headquarters which was several hundred yards within the +Garita. + +The aqueduct, in the middle of the street along which we advanced, was +an open stone trough, supported at a height of ten feet, or more, by +pillars and arches. There was a good deal of firing down the street from +Mexican detachments; but, by taking shelter under the arches, between +the pillars, our men, in small groups, were quite well protected. A +little before dark, whilst I was under one of the arches at the extreme +front, endeavoring to get a closer view of the enemy at the convent and +on the Paseo, I was joined by Lieutenant Sydney Smith, of the Fourth +Infantry, who had borne several messages from me to General Worth during +the afternoon. In a few moments after he joined me we heard horses feet +rapidly approaching us from the direction of the citadel. These horsemen +were captured, and proved to be three Mexican officers, one of whom was +Adjutant-General on the staff of Santa Anna. + +Accompanied by Lieutenant McClellan, I reported to General Worth at 10 +P. M., and was ordered by him to suspend operations for the night and +resume them at daylight. He received us both very kindly, expressed +satisfaction with the manner in which the works at the Garita had been +carried, and approved of all the dispositions that had been subsequently +made of the troops at the front. I called his attention again to the +convent, told him that the large Mexican force in that position might +give us a great deal of trouble next morning, and asked him to permit +me, with the engineer company supported by a detachment of about five +hundred men, to pass the convent that night, get into a strong position +beyond it, and thus induce the enemy to abandon that position before +morning; and said I thought it probable a detachment of five hundred men +could reach the main plaza of the city, that night, without material +difficulty; and that, in case this force encountered serious opposition, +they could take possession of some one of the many large, strong +buildings on the way, and hold their own against the whole Mexican army +until relief could reach them. + +General Worth not only refused to comply with my request; but, ordered +both myself and Lieutenant McClellan to remain at his headquarters until +3 A. M., at which hour he said he would have us called, and we could +then go to the front and resume our duties. + +That arrangement left the engineer company, for the night, at the +extreme front, without an officer. In spite of my earnest remonstrances +General Worth insisted that we should remain. On the latter point he was +inexorable. I finally asked him if I was under arrest. He said "No" and +added: "You soon will be if you show further hesitation in obeying my +order for you to remain here". + +Being awakened by one of General Worth's aides, I asked if it was +already 3 o'clock. It seemed to me that I had not been asleep five +minutes. The aide said: "It is about 1 o'clock. A deputation from the +civil authorities has just informed General Worth that Santa Anna's army +evacuated the city before midnight, and they offered to surrender the +city. They have been passed on to General Scott, at Tacubaya; and +General Worth wishes to see you at once". + +The latter told me more fully about the deputation and their proposal to +surrender; expressed some doubt in reference to the evacuation of the +city by the Mexican army; directed me to return to the front; take the +engineer company and a detachment of infantry; proceed carefully +forward, using every precaution; and report to him the slightest +indication that the city had not been evacuated. I was directed to +examine closely every large building and strong position along our +route; and not pass them until thoroughly satisfied that they were not +occupied by Mexican soldiers. + +This forward movement commenced about 2 A. M. There was some delay in +determining whether the strong convent, mentioned above, had been +evacuated. Accounts on that subject were conflicting; but a thorough +examination of the whole position showed that it was abandoned. I +reported that fact to General Worth, and informed him that we would move +on with great care, in strict compliance with his instructions. + +All buildings of importance were broken open. None of them were occupied +by the enemy. From time to time, I reported these facts to General +Worth; and, at daylight, I informed him that, from a church steeple near +the Alameda, I could see that the Citadel, which had stopped the advance +of General Quitman's troops early in the afternoon of the 13th, was +deserted. At that time, Lieutenant McClellan reported to me there were +no signs of the enemy in any portion of the Alameda; and I suggested to +General Worth that his whole division be moved forward. + +In the meantime, with the engineer company and the infantry detachment, +I passed beyond the Alameda, breaking open, as before, and examining all +strong buildings on our route. We had gone more than two blocks in +advance of the Alameda, and were closely approaching the Main Plaza and +the National Palace, when I received a positive order to countermarch my +command, and report to General Worth at the Alameda. I demurred, and +told the aide, who bore the order, that I had obeyed all of General +Worth's cautionary instructions; that there was no enemy in our front, +and no reason for calling us back. The aide replied: "The order is +positive. You must go back." I then gave the order to countermarch. On +our way, the aide, who was a classmate and intimate friend of mine, said +to me; "General Worth is very cross, he is angry. My opinion is that he +has received orders from the headquarters of the army which have riled +him up badly". + +A few days later I learned from General Worth that he received a +peremptory order from General Scott not to permit any one under his +command to pass beyond the Alameda, until further instructions were +received from the General-in-Chief. + +For several hours after the engineer company took its place on the right +of Worth's division, at the Alameda, all seemed to be quiet in the city. +General Quitman's troops, from the Belen Gate, had passed the abandoned +citadel, reached the Main Plaza, and took possession of the National +Palace. Later, General Scott, with his staff officers and mounted +escort, entered the city. + +About that time a shot was fired, evidently aimed at General Worth, from +a narrow street or lane, opposite the head of the division. The shot +missed Worth, but very severely wounded Colonel Garland. General Worth, +immediately ordered me to take the engineer company, go into the lane, +find the man who fired the shot, and hang him. + +Within fifty yards we found the man who I believed fired the shot, a +rope was placed around his neck, but I did not order my men to hang him. +I had no _positive_ proof against him. I took the man to General Worth, +reported the circumstances of the case, in full; stated the reasons for +my belief that the prisoner fired the shot which severely wounded +Colonel Garland; and added: "In the absence of specific proof against +this man I have brought him to you, and await your further +instructions". + +To which General Worth replied, in a cold and haughty manner: "This is +not the way in which my orders are obeyed by officers of _my division_". + +Colonel Duncan, who was close beside General Worth, both mounted, whilst +I was on foot, said, at once, before I could make any reply to the +foregoing censure: "General Worth, you are wrong; Lieutenant Smith is +right. Under the circumstances he ought not to have hanged this man. It +is for you, the Major-General commanding these forces, to decide that +matter. Give the order. You see he and his men are ready to obey you. +Give the order". + +In the meantime, the men of the engineer company, without instructions +from me, had passed the rope over an adjacent large lantern iron; and +stood ready to string the man up. General Worth did not give the order. +The man was not hanged. + +In less than an hour after Colonel Garland was wounded, lawless bands of +armed Mexicans commenced firing from the parapet roofs of houses, from +church steeples and windows, in various parts of the city, upon our +troops in the open streets. An order was then given, by General Scott, +for Worth's forces to move beyond the Alameda and join with the rest of +the army, in putting down the rising of armed outlaws who made this +murderous attack upon us eight or ten hours after the city surrendered. +In these operations the engineer company was with Worth's division until +the recall was sounded late that afternoon. + +General Scott, in his official report, says: "I communicated, about +daylight [on the 14th], orders to Worth and Quitman to advance slowly +and cautiously [to guard against treachery] towards the heart of the +city, and to occupy its stronger and more commanding points. Quitman +proceeded to the great plaza or square, planted guards and hoisted the +colors of the United States on the national palace, containing the halls +of Congress and executive apartments of Federal Mexico. In this grateful +service, Quitman might have been anticipated by Worth, but for my +express orders halting the latter at the head of the _Alameda_, [a green +park] within three squares of that goal of general ambition". (Ex. Doc. +No. 1, p. 383.) + +General Worth, in his official report, says: "At 5 A. M., on the 14th, +my troops and heavy guns advanced into the city, and occupied the +Alameda to the point where it fronts the palace, and there halted at 6 +o'clock, the general-in-chief having instructed me to take a position +and await his further orders. Shortly afterwards a straggling +assassin-like fire commenced from the house-tops, which continued, in +various parts of the city through the day, causing us some loss. The +first shot, fired at a group of officers at the head of my column, +struck down Colonel Garland, badly wounded. About the time of our +entrance into the city, the convicts in the different prisons, to the +number of some thirty thousand men, were liberated by order of the +flying government, armed and distributed in the most advantageous +houses, including the churches, convents, and even the hospitals, for +the purpose of exciting, if possible, the city to revolt". + +In speaking of the general operations of his forces in the capture of +the city, General Worth adds: + +"Officers and men of every corps carried themselves with wonted +gallantry and conduct. Of the staff; Lieutenants Stevens, Smith, and +McClellan, engineers, displayed the gallantry, skill and conduct, which +so eminently distinguished their corps". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, pp. 393-4.) + +General Scott adds: "Captain Lee, engineer, so constantly distinguished, +also bore important orders from me [September 13] until he fainted from +a wound and the loss of two nights' sleep at the batteries. Lieutenants +Beauregard, Stevens, and Tower, all wounded, were employed with the +divisions, and Lieutenants G. W. Smith and G. B. McClellan with the +company of sappers and miners. Those five lieutenants of engineers, like +their captain, won the admiration of all about them". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, +p. 385.) + +Major John L. Smith, senior engineer, says: "Lieutenant Smith reports +all the sappers who were engaged on the 13th and 14th, to have conducted +themselves with intelligence and intrepidity altogether satisfactory; +but, he mentions the orderly sergeant, Hastings, who was wounded, as +being eminently distinguished, and he mentions also artificer Gerber, as +having been particularly distinguished". (Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 430.) + +Without dwelling upon details of the fighting in the streets and houses +on the 14th, it may be stated that, a short time before the recall was +sounded, when Orderly Sergeant Hastings fell, Lieutenant McClellan +seized the Sergeant's musket, fired at, and killed the man who shot +Hastings. In a few moments thereafter the company passed the dead body +of that "liberated", _convict_ Mexican. + +The unoccupied private house in which we were quartered that night was +near the place at which the man, who shot Colonel Garland, had been left +tied to a lantern iron with a rope around his neck. When we returned the +man was gone. Nothing further was said or done upon our side, in his +_case_. + +An hour or more after we were comfortably "settled in our new home", I +noticed that McClellan was very quiet for a considerable time, +evidently thinking of matters which deeply interested him. An occasional +marked change seemed to come over the spirit of his dream. Finally I +awakened him from his reverie, saying: "A penny for your thoughts. I +have been watching you for half an hour or more, and would like much to +know, honor bright, what you have been thinking about". + +To which he replied: "I have been making a 'general review' of what we +have gone through since we left West Point, one year ago this month, +bound for the 'Halls of the Montezumas'; have been again on the Rio +Grande, that grave-yard of our forces; have gone over the road from +Matamoros to Victoria and Tampico, where we had so much hard work; went +through the siege of Vera Cruz, where we were left out in the cold +during the ceremonies of surrender, and later, had to make our way as +best we could, with the engineer train through the horrid sand; glanced +at Cerro Gordo, where it was my misfortune to be with General Pillow's +'whipped community'; stopped again with our friends, the Monks, in the +convent at Puebla; crossed over the mountains; came by way of San +Antonio, Contreras, Churubusco, Chapultepec and the San Cosme Garita, +into this city. Here we are--the deed is done--I am glad no one can say +'poor Mac' over me". + +The capture of the city, and its occupation by General Scott's army, +virtually ended the war made by the United States against Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN THE CITY OF MEXICO--RETURN TO WEST POINT. + + +After the street fighting on the 14th, the city was quiet and remained +so. The men of the company were fairly entitled to a good rest and a new +outfit of clothing; but the quartermaster could not then furnish the +latter. At their request, I authorized them to purchase a better quality +of cloth than that furnished by the government, and to have finer +material for trimmings than the coarse cotton braid allowed by the +regulations. The clothing was made by good tailors and paid for by the +men. In the course of a month or six weeks, the company was provided +with handsome, well-fitting uniforms. + +In the meantime, drills were suspended for about a month. During that +period the only duty required of the men, other than that of ordinary +guard over their quarters and the engineer train of the army, was that +of details to assist engineer officers in making surveys of the recent +battlefields. + +In the latter part of October, the surveys of the battlefields being +completed, and the men provided with new and well-fitting uniforms, +infantry drills were resumed. An order was issued requiring the company +to be formed without arms, the next day, in the Alameda, for squad +drill. Immediately thereafter, one of my most trusted sergeants informed +me that this order caused great dissatisfaction in the company. He said +the men felt they would be degraded if now turned back to the +beginning--at squad drill without arms--thus placing them in the +position of raw recruits, whilst the rest of the army were being +exercised at brigade and division drill, "evolutions of the line," with +all attendant "pomp and circumstance". + +The sergeant warned me that the state of feeling in the company would, +in his opinion, lead to serious trouble if the order was carried into +effect. I thanked him for the information. + +When the men were formed on the drill ground next day, I told them I +was aware of their opposition to the order; but, that I was under the +impression I commanded that company, and if there was a man amongst them +who felt disposed to dispute my legal authority he was requested to step +to the front. No one moved. I then directed the artificers and privates +to go to their quarters, and inform the sergeant of the guard they had +my permission to be absent until evening parade. Turning to the +non-commissioned officers, I stated that, in my judgment, there was no +occasion for them to feel degraded if drilled by their own officers at +squad drill without arms. + +I drilled the sergeants, McClellan the corporals. Whilst the +non-commissioned officers were being thus drilled, the men were allowed +daily liberty from quarters. Later, the non-commissioned officers +drilled the men in squads under the supervision of the officers. +Instruction and practice in the infantry "School of the Company" was +then resumed; and, after a time, each non-commissioned officer was +required, in turn, to take his place by my side and drill the company. +On those occasions, the men were warned that no inattention or +remissness on their part would be tolerated; no matter how lenient with +them I might choose to be when commanding in person. + +It is safe to say that within six weeks from the time squad drills +without arms were commenced in the engineer company, in the City of +Mexico, that company as Infantry, was better drilled than any other in +the army. In that respect, and in discipline, they were pattern +soldiers. Regular instruction in the "School of the Engineer Soldier" +was then resumed. + +From raw recruits, on the Rio Grande, disturbed by the epithet, "pick +and shovel brigade" applied to them, at that time, by the soldiers of +the line, the engineer company had become veterans of more than half a +dozen important battles; had always been in the front of the fighting; +and had often been called upon to direct large working parties of +soldiers, detailed to use the "pick and shovel". + +About two months after we entered the city of Mexico, it was reported to +me, by the sergeant of the guard, that Artificer Gerber was then absent, +two hours beyond the time limit of his pass. I directed the sergeant to +send Gerber to me, in my quarters, as soon as he returned. + +Frederick W. Gerber was one of the four men, enlisted by Captain Swift, +who had served in the old regular army. He was enlisted as musician, and +was the finest bugler in the service. He was soon made company clerk, +and had thorough knowledge of routine "company papers". He was German +by birth. As company clerk his duties brought him in close relations +with the commander of the company; and I soon formed a very high +estimate of his qualities as a soldier--and as a man in every respect; +except that he would, on occasion, at intervals, when off duty, indulge +too freely in strong drink. + +I had repeatedly threatened to deprive him of his warrant as artificer, +if he did not quit drinking to excess; but I was reluctant to do so, +especially because his promotion to that grade was in reward for +distinguished gallantry in the attack on the "key-point" of the Mexican +position at the battle of Cerro Gordo. + +When it was reported to me that he had not returned within the time of +his "pass", I was quite sure he was again "on a spree". It was several +hours later when he reported to me as ordered by the sergeant of the +guard. + +I was alone when he entered my room. He had evidently been drinking to +excess; but was to some extent recovering. I charged him with being +drunk; told him he had behaved so well in that respect lately that I had +made up my mind to recommend his being promoted to the grade of +corporal; and even to that of sergeant, when opportunity was afforded +me, and added: "You know I cannot make such recommendation whilst you +continue this habit of getting drunk". He replied: "The lieutenant is +mistaken; I am not drunk, and, if he will allow me, I will satisfy him +on that point; and explain to him how I happened to overstay my pass". I +told him to go on with his explanation. + +He said that soon after he left the company quarters, early that +morning, with permission to be absent for four hours, he met with a +sergeant he had known as a private in the old regular service long +before the war. They were glad to see each other, took a few drinks, and +then hired a carriage for a drive of several hours in the great city +they had helped to capture. He added: "During the drive the sergeant got +mad and threatened to have me arrested. I told him that 'no d----d +infantry sergeant had rank enough to arrest an artificer of engineers'. +He then offered to fight me. We stopped the carriage, got out, drew our +swords, and I told him to come on, and we would soon settle the matter. +He attacked me, and I disarmed him, kept his sword, made him get into +the carriage, drove to General Twiggs's headquarters, reported to the +sergeant of his guard, told him what had occurred; and asked him to +hold, as a prisoner, the sergeant that had attacked me". + +"But he, being also an infantry sergeant, released the sergeant I had +brought there, made me a prisoner, and demanded my sword. I gave it to +him; but, when he ordered me to give up the sword I had captured, I told +him I would see him d----d first; and I kept it. I then asked to be +taken before General Twiggs. They told me he was out". + +"In three or four hours General Twiggs returned, and when he was passing +through the sally-port, the guard all in line, at present-arms, saluting +him, I rushed in front of his horse, and calling him by name, told him +his guard had made me a prisoner, and I asked for justice at his hands. +He ordered me to get out of his way. Still standing in front of his +horse, I again asked for justice. To which he replied: 'Who in the h--ll +are you?' When I told him who I was, he said: 'How is it that you are a +prisoner in my guard-house?' I told General Twiggs the whole story: and +showed him the infantry Sergeant's sword I had captured; and which his +guard tried to make me give up. General Twiggs then asked me if I was +willing to hand that sword to him. I gave it to him at once; and he +ordered the sergeant of the guard to release me and give me back my own +sword. I then came straight home." + +After hearing Gerber's story, on which I placed implicit reliance, I +strongly advised him to let liquor alone in future: and, again told him +I would gladly have him promoted, if he would quit drinking. + +Some time after we returned to the United States, and I had left the +company, I learned that, during the time Gerber was closeted with me, +opinion in the company was divided, and ran high in regard to the course +I would take in his case. All the men knew that he was deservedly a +great favorite of mine. Some of them said I would let him off; others +that I would deprive him of his warrant as artificer, and otherwise +punish him. + +These conflicting opinions as to what I would do in Gerber's case, were +freely backed by heavy bets among the men. When he joined them, all were +anxious to know what "the lieutenant" was going to do--"what did he +say?" To which he replied: "It is none of your business". For some time +they could get nothing more from him. But he finally said: "D----n it, +if you must know; the lieutenant told me he would make me a corporal". + +The sergeant who gave me the facts just related, added: "Previous to +that time, Gerber was believed, by the whole company, to be a perfectly +truthful man. But many of the men thought he lied on that occasion. +Although he has been truthful ever since, there is still, amongst us, +very grave suspicion in regard to the correctness of his assertion that +you then told him you would make him a corporal. I would like very much +to know the truth in regard to that matter". I replied: "Gerber told the +truth". + +It will be shown later, by extracts from official correspondence, that I +was not permitted to recommend for promotion, in the company, any of the +gallant men under my command who were so highly distinguished in the +various battles that occurred in the Valley of Mexico. So I had no +opportunity to have Gerber made a corporal--much less a sergeant.[5] + +The following extracts from correspondence, and from my monthly reports, +give a brief official account of the affairs of the company after the +capture of the City of Mexico. + +On the 4th of October, 1847, I addressed to Lieutenant I. I. Stevens, +Adjutant of Engineers, for the information of the senior engineer in the +field, and the General in Chief, a letter from which the following +quotations are taken: + +"By the last advices that I have received I learn that only six engineer +recruits have been made in the United States since September, 1846. +During that time the effective strength of the company in the field has +been reduced from seventy-one to thirty-six. Something must be done. I +have endeavored to reenlist good men whose terms of enlistment in other +corps had expired; I have tried to get transfers of good men, and +succeeded in obtaining but one. The senior engineer, believing that more +could be done, attempted it himself--he procured none". + +"At Vera Cruz my men were worked too hard; many of them are suffering +yet from disease contracted there. Time, labor and life would have been +saved if we had had the proportion of engineer soldiers usual in the +armies of civilized nations. At Cerro Gordo, when I could furnish ten +men [for details], fifty, at least, were necessary. In the operations in +this valley, the same necessity has been felt for a larger number of +soldiers of this character. There ought to be more companies of engineer +soldiers in this army. Certainly, measures should be taken to complete +the number of men allowed in the only company now authorized. I know of +none so likely to succeed as sending an officer and non-commissioned +officers [to the United States] on this duty". + +In my official report for the month of November, 1847, it is stated: +"The system of instruction now being pursued is the following: From 9 A. +M. until 10:45 A. M., recitations and instruction of the whole company, +under direction of both officers, in _Manuel du Sapeur_, together with +lectures and recitations on field fortifications. From 11 A. M. until +12:30 P. M., [infantry drill]. From 2 P. M. until 4 P. M., recitations +in arithmetic and practice in writing. Each officer has a section in +arithmetic, and gives a general superintendence to a section in writing. +Instruction in writing is given by sergeants". + +"I have nothing new to offer either in reference to the property, the +enlistment of men, or the settlement of the accounts of the late Captain +Swift. All, in my opinion, matters of importance; but already referred +to, [in previous reports and correspondence], perhaps, too often". + +"It is just one year since, by the casualties of service, the command of +this company devolved upon myself as the senior officer for duty with +the engineer troops. During this time the interests of the general +engineer service, particularly of the non-commissioned officers and men, +have materially suffered for want of an officer of rank at the head of +the company. In the French service _two_ captains are assigned to every +company of this character, and the companies are all [well] instructed +before they take the field. I earnestly recommend that four officers of +engineers be assigned to duty with this company. The commander should be +an officer of rank; his position permanent. In case the Chief Engineer +should order an officer into the field to take command of Company A, +engineers, I respectfully request that I may be ordered to the United +States as soon as relieved from this duty". + +On the 1st of February, 1848, I reported that the course of instruction, +adopted for the company, "had been continued, with satisfactory progress +on the part of non-commissioned officers and men". + +On the 27th of February, 1848, in a letter to Colonel Totten, Chief +Engineer, Washington, D. C., transmitting copies of certain papers, I +stated: + +"I would respectfully refer you to my communication of October 4th, +1847, addressed to the then Adjutant of Engineers, in which I strongly +urged that the interest of the engineer service required that an officer +and non-commissioned officers should be ordered to the United States for +the purpose of obtaining recruits for this company. Such is the course +pursued in every other arm of service: and I hesitate not to say that, +had my recommendation, as commander of the engineer company, been acted +upon favorably, at that time, we would now have in this city, a full +company. I have referred often to the wants of the company, without +favorable action having been had on my recommendations. We are not +furnished with men, not allowed to take the usual and, in my opinion, +necessary means of procuring recruits. I respectfully request to be +relieved from the command of the engineer company without further delay +than is necessary for the arrival of the captain commander in this +city". + +Owing to casualties of service, I had almost continually commanded the +company, its train, and the general engineer train of the army for more +than a year. My rank was that of Second Lieutenant--low on that list. I +was conscious that my rank or _lack_ of rank, rather, was, in some +essential respects, a detriment to the company. + +It was believed that the war was over; but, in freely expressing +willingness to give up the command I had long exercised, to which I had +no claim based upon rank, I did not hesitate to say that: "If the war +should be continued, and an additional company of engineer soldiers was +authorized to be raised, thus creating an engineer battalion, I would be +more than willing to command it in the field: _provided_, I was made +Major, by brevet, and assigned to duty with that rank". + +In my official report for the month of March, 1848, it is stated: +"During the month, daily instruction [of the company] in branches +pertaining to engineering has been omitted, I have thought it best to +pay more attention to their improvement in writing and arithmetic. The +infantry exercises are continued". + +On the 1st of May, I reported: "During the month of April the course of +instruction and drill pursued in March has been continued, with +satisfactory results". + +"Three _privates_ of this company have been appointed [by the government +at Washington] commissioned officers. Three _sergeants_, all men of +intelligence, education and character, have been recommended [by me], in +compliance with law, for commissions; they having all been repeatedly +distinguished for gallant and high soldierly conduct in battle. [As yet] +none of these sergeants have received [appointments]". + +When it became generally known in the army that the Mexican Government +had agreed to the proposed treaty of peace, and that the formal +ratification would soon be consummated, I requested the senior engineer, +Captain R. E. Lee, to direct me to sell the tools, etc., of the engineer +train, in the city of Mexico: order me to proceed to the coast by the +first opportunity, for the purpose of looking up, and accounting for, a +large amount of engineer property for which the estate of the late +Captain A. J. Swift was responsible; and authorize me to turn over the +command of the engineer company to Lieutenant McClellan, when I started +for the coast. + +In compliance with Captain Lee's instructions, the tools were sold. They +brought more than they had originally cost in the United States. I left +the city of Mexico the day the treaty of peace was signed on the part of +the Mexicans; and accompanied General Persifor F. Smith to Vera Cruz, at +which place he was charged with making all preparations for the +transportation of the army to the United States. Before leaving the City +of Mexico I turned over the command of the engineer company to +Lieutenant McClellan. I was detained in Vera Cruz about two weeks, +obtaining information in regard to, and making disposition of, the +public property in that vicinity, for which Captain Swift's estate was +then held responsible. + +The accounting officers of the government in Washington, had charged +against him, on their books, the value of large amounts of property +which had been shipped to, but never received by him. Several vessels, +partly loaded with portions of that property, were shipwrecked by +northers during the siege of Vera Cruz. In the time I spent at that +place after the war ended, I obtained knowledge which enabled me to +clear up all accounts against the estate of Captain Swift. The amount of +that nominal indebtedness far exceeded the value of his property; which +would have been unfairly sacrificed to the government, and have left his +name unjustly tarnished as that of a defaulter, if conclusive evidence +of the facts in the case had not been furnished to the accounting +officers. + +The engineer company, under Lieutenant McClellan, accompanied by all the +engineer officers from the City of Mexico, left that city on the 28th of +May, 1848, and marched to Vera Cruz. From the latter place the company +was transported by steamer to New York City; arrived at West Point, N. +Y., on the 22nd of June; reported to the superintendent of the Military +Academy, and was immediately ordered to report to Captain George W. +Cullum, of the engineer corps, as its new commander. I remained about a +week in Vera Cruz after the company sailed; arrived at West Point in +July; and was ordered to report to Captain Cullum. + +A short time thereafter, I asked to be relieved from duty with the +company; and applied for six months leave of absence. The leave was +granted, and it was understood that, on its expiration, I would be +ordered to other engineer service. + +Before the expiration of my leave, the war men of the company procured +the passage of an act by Congress, authorizing their discharge from the +service. Under that act nearly all the men of the company, who had +served in Mexico, immediately obtained their discharge from the army. +This virtually reduced the company to the detachment of recruits which +had been collected and retained at West Point. + +At the expiration of my leave of absence I was formally relieved from +further direct service with the engineer company; and at the request of +the Chief Engineer, consented to undertake the enlistment of new +recruits to fill the places in the company vacated by the war men, who +had been discharged. That business was finished within a few months. I +was then ordered on other engineer duty and, thus, my connection with +the engineer company ended. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[5] Frederick W. Gerber, was enlisted in Co. "A." June 29, 1846, after +previous service in the 4th Infantry, which he joined in 1839, and under +the Act of March 3, 1849, was discharged April 6, 1849. He was +reenlisted the same day and continued in the service until his death at +the Post of Willets Point, N. Y., November 10, 1875. He was appointed +Artificer, April 18, 1847, Corporal, August 1, 1848, Sergeant, February +1, 1849, and was Sergeant Major of the Battalion of Engineers from +February 21, 1867, to the date of his death. + + + + +APPENDIX A. + +BRIEF EXTRACTS, FROM WILCOX'S HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN WAR, 1892. + + +"General Patterson was ordered to march [December, 1846,] from Matamoros +to Victoria with three regiments of volunteers, two pieces of artillery, +and the engineer company under Lieut. G. W. Smith". (p. 187.) + +VERA CRUZ. "This line of investment, through the chaparral and +over the sand hills, was located by Lieut. G. W. Smith, of the +engineers, assisted by Lieut. G. B. McClellan, and a roadway along the +line was made under the supervision of these two lieutenants with the +engineer company and a party of several hundred soldiers". (p. 246.) + +CERRO GORDO. "On the arrival of the engineer company and train +at Plan del Rio [April 17th, 1847], Lieut. G. B. McClellan with a party +of ten men reported to General Pillow, and Lieut. G. W. Smith with [the +rest of] his men and a portion of the train to General Twiggs". + +"That night [17th] one 24-pounder and two 24-pound howitzers were placed +in position on the Atalaya, the battery being constructed under the +supervision of Lieut. G. W. Smith, assisted by Lieut. John G. Foster of +the engineers, the location of the battery having been determined by +Capt. R. E. Lee". (p. 286.) + +FROM PUEBLA TO THE VALLEY OF MEXICO. "Riley's brigade was +guided by Capt. Lee, assisted by Lieut. John G. Foster with ten men of +the engineer company". (p. 287-8.) + +"It was the rule with General Scott that one of the only two regular +divisions should always be in front. The engineer company headed the +column. There was but one company of engineer soldiers in the United +States army". (p. 339.) + +IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO. "Beyond San Gregorio, the border of +Xochimilco was skirted, and here obstructions in the road were first +encountered, a ditch having been dug across it, and large stones rolled +down from the hillside; but these obstacles were soon overcome by the +engineer company with a detail from the leading brigade, while the +Mexicans, who were firing from the heights above, were driven off by +Colonel C. F. Smith's light battalion". (p. 355.) + +CONTRERAS. "The engineer company was recalled from Worth, and +with a working party of 500 men, was ordered to make the road to +Padierna practicable for artillery". (p. 362.) + +"When Smith's brigade advanced as described, the engineer company, under +Lieut. G. W. Smith, went into action with the Third Infantry of that +brigade". (p. 363.) + +"General Smith moved to his right and front across the _pedrigal_, the +Rifles, with the engineer company at their head, leading". + +"At 2:30 A. M. of the 20th [August, 1847], the troops under General +Smith began to form and take their places preparatory to the march which +would bring them on Valencia's rear. Leading the Rifles in front of the +brigade was the engineer company". (p. 369.) + +"The engineer company and the Rifles, being already in position in rear +of the Mexican detachment, then rose and firing a volley upon it, and +Riley continuing on upon them, they faced about, broke, and fled in the +utmost precipitation to the main line in rear, pursued by Riley, the +Rifles and engineer company". (p. 70.) + +CHURUBUSCO. "At Coyoacan General Scott joined, having +previously ordered his columns to halt there. Lieut. I. I. Stevens, +ordered about the same time to advance on the direct road and +reconnoitre, was supported by the engineer company under Lieut. G. W. +Smith. This reconnaissance covered the Convent of San Pablo in the +village of Churubusco". (p. 378-9.) + +CHAPULTEPEC. "Battery No. 1 was constructed under Lieut. G. W. +Smith's supervision, and Battery No. 2 under Lieut. G. B. McClellan's. +Details were made from Quitman's division to assist the engineer company +in the construction of these works, but although directed to report +immediately after dark they did not arrive until near 4 A. M., of the +12th; hence these works, which were to have been finished before +daylight, were hardly commenced by that time. The engineers were +however, indefatigable, and the batteries were completed rapidly". (p. +452.) + +CITY OF MEXICO. "Lieut. G. W. Smith, with the company and train +under his command, reported to General Worth on the [San Cosme] +causeway, [in the afternoon, September 13th], was informed that the +wounding of Lieut. Stevens made him [Smith] the senior engineer of the +attack then going on, and was instructed to go to the front, closely and +carefully examine the state of affairs, return as soon as practicable, +and report the best method of conducting the attack". He reported "that +infantry alone on the left of the road could capture the gate, without +artillery and with little loss, by making its way through the houses. He +was ordered to take the engineer company and tools, return to the front, +and carry out the plan proposed". (p. 476.) + +"The Mexicans did not remain long in front of Worth; after dark the +signal for retreat of one command was given, and being heard by all, +they left the buildings and scattered in all directions, their officers +being unable to restrain them. In a little while, however, they repaired +to the citadel. In one of the pavilions a council was held. Santa Anna +presided, explained the untoward incidents of the day, and asked the +opinions of those present as to whether or not the defence of the +capital should be prolonged. There was discussion and opposition, but, +Santa Anna announced his decision in these emphatic words: 'I resolve +that this night this city must be evacuated'". (p. 480-1.) + +"At 1 o'clock A. M. of the 14th commissioners from the municipal +government of the city approached the advanced post of Worth's command, +were passed to his headquarters, and by him sent to General Scott's +headquarters in Tacubaya". (p. 481.) + +"General Worth then directed the two engineer officers, serving with his +command, to proceed to the front and with a detachment of infantry and +the engineer company, closely examine all strong buildings, and direct +operations toward the Main Plaza and National Palace. The senior +engineer being directed to make known promptly any indication that the +rumored evacuation was incorrect, reported that everything indicated +that the Mexican army had abandoned the city". (p. 481.) + + + + +APPENDIX B. + +PROMOTIONS OF ENLISTED MEN OF THE COMPANY. + + + TEPE AGUALCO, MEXICO, + _May 4, 1847_. + + _Colonel JOSEPH G. TOTTEN_, + _Chief Engineer_, + _Washington City_. + + SIR: + + "I have the honor to inform you that, on the 25th of April, + First Sergeant Hastings of 'K' Company, Third Artillery, + was, by order of General Worth, transferred to the Engineer + Corps, subject to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief. + + "Sergeant Hastings has the reputation of being one of the + best first sergeants in the army. He was for 7 or 8 years + orderly sergeant in the Second Infantry. He is an intimate + friend of Sergeant Everett;[6] is a well educated man, very + intelligent; a remarkably fine looking soldier, a good drill + sergeant. + + "By birth he is an Irishman--he came to this country quite + young, and was brought up in Po'keepsie, N. Y. + + "We were very much in want of an orderly sergeant. I think + there can be no doubt but we have secured a prize. + + "I would be glad if you would send a Sergeant's warrant for + David H. Hastings. I respectfully recommend the following + promotions and appointments in the engineer company: + + Corporal Benjamin W. Coit, acting lance sergeant since 1st + of February, to be sergeant from February 1st, 1847: + + Artificer Charles A. Viregg, lance corporal since 1st of + February, to be corporal from February 1st, 1847: + + Artificer Ethan T. Sheldon, lance corporal since 1st of + February, to be corporal from February 1st, 1847: + + Artificer William A. Noyes, to be corporal from the 18th of + April, 1847: + + "Privates Charles A. Pierce, Jacob T. Smith, Benjamin L. + Boomer, Edwin M. Holloway, James Brannan, Joseph A. Mower, + David P. Weaver, Thomas Bigley, Seth H. Taylor, and Charles + A. Porter, to be artificers from the 29th of March, 1847: + + "Musician Frederick W. Gerber to be artificer from the 18th + of April, 1847: + + "Privates Augustus B. Hussey, James B. Vansant, and William + S. Bliss, to be artificers from the 29th of March, 1847: + + "Corporal William Bartlett, reduced to the grade of + artificer, May 1st, 1847: + + "Artificer Hiram B. Yeager to be corporal from May 1st, + 1847: + + "Artificer Charles W. Bont reduced to the grade of second + class private from May 1st, 1847: + + "I respectfully call to the attention of the Chief Engineer + the fact that, in accordance with his suggestion, I have + delayed making the above recommendations, and now urge them + as my deliberate opinion. I hope they will be favorably + acted upon. + + "My monthly return for April shows a total of sixty-two. My + recommendations make, in the company, six sergeants, six + corporals, one musician, twenty-three artificers and + twenty-six second class privates". + + Very respectfully, + Your obdt. servt., + GUS. W. SMITH, + _Lieut., Comdg. Engr. Co._ + +The foregoing recommendations were approved and the appointments were +received whilst the company was in the city of Puebla. + +Soon after the war ended, Sergeants Hastings, Starr and Everett were +promoted to be commissioned officers in the "Old Regular Army" of the +United States. Later, Sergeant Warren L. Lothrop was given a commission +in that army. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[6] Thornton S. Everett was property sergeant of the engineer company; +had charge of its train from the time of his enlistment in the company +until its return to West Point; and, in addition, had charge, in Mexico, +of the general engineer train of the army. + + + + + +------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | + | | + | Page 8 a changed to at | + | Page 9 Camargo changed to Carmargo | + | Page 10 Camargo changed to Carmargo | + | Page 11 montly changed to monthly | + | Page 11 chapparel changed to chaparral | + | Page 12 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 12 referrred changed to referred | + | Page 13 extravagent changed to extravagant | + | Page 15 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 20 relinguished changed to relinquished | + | Page 21 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 22 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 27 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 28 Twigg's changed to Twiggs's | + | Page 29 chapparal changed to chaparral | + | Page 30 Twigg's changed to Twiggs's | + | Page 31 hights changed to heights | + | Page 38 quite changed to quiet | + | Page 41 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan | + | Page 44 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan | + | Page 45 Coyocan changed to Coyoacan | + | Page 49 come changed to came | + | Page 52 posession changed to possession | + | Page 64 amonnts changed to amounts | + | Page 64 seige changed to siege | + | Page 64 indebtness changed to indebtedness | + | Page 66 chapparal changed to chaparral | + +------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Company 'A', corps of engineers, +U.S.A., 1846-'48, in the Mexican war, by Gustavus Woodson Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMPANY A CORP OF ENGIN., 1846-48 *** + +***** This file should be named 31113.txt or 31113.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/1/1/31113/ + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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