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waist-deep, and over the parapets into the works at the head of the bridge, carried it by storm.

The convent was now closely invested, and immediate preparations were made to storm it. The garrison, being dispirited by the events of the day, and having expended their ammunition, surrendered just as the assaulting party had mounted the parapet. General Rincon, with the officers and soldiers who had not attempted to make their escape, 1,200 in number, surrendered themselves as prisoners of war. The American force engaged in the conflicts of the day amounted to about 6,000 men ; their loss was about 1,100, among whom were 76 officers. The Mexican loss in the battle of Churubusco is estimated to have been about 7,000 men in killed, wounded, and missing.

In the action, sixty-nine of the battalion of San Patricio, deserters from the American army, were made prisoners. In a general court-martial held afterward, twenty-nine of them were found guilty, and sixteen were hung on the 10th of September. Some, who had deserted before the actual commencement of hostilities, were branded on the cheek with the letter D, and in addition were severely whipped; others were recommended to mercy, which was granted.

147. Battle of Molina del Rey, and Storming of Chapultepec.

After the battle of Churubusco, an armistice was agreed upon by General Scott and the Mexican authorities. The terms of this armistice having been violated by the Mexicans, and no satisfactory explanations having been given, it was terminated on the 7th of September. Preparations were immediately made for a final advance on the capital. At this time, the whole effective force under the command of General Scott, consisted of but 8,500

men.

At three o'clock in the morning of the 8th of September, General Worth's division moved to attack Molina del Rey, a range of strong stone buildings about 1,100 yards from the castle of Chepultepec. This place was ordered to be destroyed by General Scott, as he was informed that the Mexicans were within at work casting cannon, shot, &c. The American infantry advanced down the plain upon the enemy's works, and when they had approached within a short distance, the Mexicans opened a most deadly fire upon them, and of the fourteen American officers who went into the attack, eleven fell dead or wounded. As the Americans fell back, the Mexicans rushed forward and murdered nearly every wounded man left on the field. A large body of Mexican lancers, numbering it is said about four thousand men, seeing the effect of the deadly fire on the Americans rushed onward to charge and put them to rout. This was prevented by the spirited exertions of Colonel Duncan with his light battery, and a small number of dragoons and mounted riflemen.

The Americans rallied and pressed forward to the conflict. An attack was made on Casa Mata, a work on the Mexican right. When within about thirty yards, Colonel M'Intosh the commander, fell mortally wounded, and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, the second in command, was shot dead by the fire poured upon them by the enemy, which swept off about one third of the attacking party. On the American right, the contest continued with fury; the Americans keeping up their fire on Molino del Rey, which was obstinately defended. The Americans at length broke into the building through the gates; when a sanguinary contest ensued; they finally succeeded in getting possession of the Mexican works. The American force engaged in this action was 3,447. Their loss in killed and wounded, amounted to 787, including 59 officers. The Mexican force engaged was estimated at 10,000. It is said their loss, including killed, wounded, and prisoners, amounted to 3,000. Among their killed, were Generals Leon and Balderas, both brave and valuable officers.

The principal obstacle now remaining to the approach of the city, was the fortress of Chapultepec, which was built upon a rocky elevation 150 feet in height. The fortifications around it, and the castle on its summit, made this place truly formidable. A military college, once the palace of a Spanish viceroy, and its dependent buildings, were within the fortifications. The only practicable ascent to the castle, was on the west and southwestern sides; and these were extremely rugged and precipitous. The Mexican defensive force in the castle and its dependencies, amounted to about 6,000 men, commanded by General Bravo, a distinguished officer.

On the 12th of September. it was determined to cannonade Chapultepec, previous to its being stormed. In order to divert the attention of the enemy, General Twiggs was ordered to make a demonstration near the southern part of the city; this stratagem was admirably executed. The batteries commenced their fire upon Chapultepec early in the morning, and continued it through the day, causing shocking destruction to its garrison. On the morning of the 13th, the storming parties advanced to the attack. General Pillow's division began the ascent of Chapultepec on the west side. The advance was necessarily slow, over rocks, chasms, mines, and over the works of the enemy, exposed to a heavy fire of cannon and musketry. The enemy were driven from shelter to shelter, so closely that they had no time to fire their mines. As the troops gained the summit of the hill, General Pillow was wounded, and Colonel Ransom was shot dead at the head of his regiment, the command of which fell on Major Seymour, who scaled the parapet, entered the citadel, and with his own hands struck the Mexican flag from its walls.

Although the conflict continued in other parts of the vicinity, yet the fall of Chapultepec may be considered as the finishing blow of this contest between Mexico and the United States. On the night of the 13th, General Santa Anna abandoned the city of Mexico. Early in the morning of the 14th of September, 1847, Generals Quitman and Smith entered the capital at the head

of their commands. At eight o'clock, General Scott and staff entered the city amid the huzzas of the soldiery on all sides. As he entered escorted by the cavalry, the band of the dragoons struck up "Hail Columbia," and when the grand plaza and the national palace were reached, the American flag was descried waving triumphantly over the " Halls of the Montezumas."

148. California.

On the 2d of February, 1848, a "treaty of peace, friendship, and settlement," was signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo, by Mr. Trist, in behalf of the United States, and the Mexican commissioners. By this treaty, Mexico relinquished all claim to Texas, and the country lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, and ceded to the United States the territories of New Mexico and Upper California. For this cession, the United States agreed to pay to Mexico fifteen millions of dollars.

The acquisition of this territory by the United States, is an important event in their history, also in the history of this continent, and indeed in the history of the world. The great point of interest just at present, in this newlyacquired territory, is its "placers" or deposites of gold. This precious metal is found near the banks and in the beds of streams which empty into the bay of San Francisco, one of the best harbors in the world.

It is probable that the existence of gold in these regions, has been known to individuals for a long period, but owing to a want of energy and enterprise on the part of the Spaniards and their descendants, together with the jealousies, and political troubles with which they have been afflicted, any attempt to collect the precious metal has been prevented. The discovery which first gave rise to the present "gold excitement," was made about forty or fifty miles up the river Sacramento, near a place known as "Sutter's Fort." Captain Sutter, desirous of erecting a saw-mill, contracted with a Mr. Marshall for

that purpose in September, 1847. In making the necessary excavations, he observed in the mud and dirt thrown up some glittering particles, which on examination proved to be gold. Further explorations soon followed, and at length satisfactory evidence was given that large portions · of the valley abounded in the precious metal.

California by the treaty with Mexico, having become a part of the territory of the United States, numerous vessels were fitted out in various parts of the country, and in foreign countries; and thousands of adventurers sailed for the "gold region." The excitement still continues. A government has been established, towns and villages are rapidly springing up, and California now (1850), asks for admission into the American Union as a sovereign state.

149. Gold-Digging in California.

The following, relative to the California gold-mines is extracted from the official report of Colonel Mason, the military commandant of California, dated August 17, 1848:

"I started on the 12th of June last, to make a tour through the northern part of California. My principal purpose, however, was to visit the newly-discovered gold "placer" in the valley of the Sacramento. . . . . We reached San Francisco on the 20th, and found that all, or nearly all, its male inhabitants had gone to the mines. The town, which a few months before was so busy and thriving, was then almost deserted.

"On the evening of the 25th, the horses of the escort were crossed to Sousoleto in a launch, and on the following day we resumed the journey to Sutter's fort, where we arrived on the morning of the 2d of July. Along the whole route, mills were lying idle, fields of wheat were open to cattle and horses, and farms going to waste. At Sutter's, there was more life and business. Launches were discharging their cargoes at the river, and carts were hauling goods to the fort, where already were es

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