LOSSES IN KILLED AND WOUNDED.

595

ing fourteen officers. Wounded, eight hundred and seventy-seven, including sixty-two officers. Missing, (probably killed) thirty-eight rank and file. Total, one thousand and fifty-two.

"September 8.-Killed, one hundred and sixteen, including nine officers. Wounded, six hundred and sixty-five, including forty-nine officers. Missing, eighteen rank and file. Total, seven hundred and eighty-nine.

"September 12, 13, 14.-Killed, one hundred and thirty, includ ing ten officers. Wounded, seven hundred and three, including sixty-eight officers. Missing, twenty-nine rank and file. Total, eight hundred and sixty-two.

"Grand total of losses, two thousand seven hundred and three, including three hundred and eighty-three officers.

"On the other hand, this small force has beaten, on the same occasions, in view of their capital, the whole Mexican army, of (at the beginning) thirty odd thousand men-posted, always, in chosen positions, behind intrenchments, or more formidable defences of nature and art; killed or wounded, of that number, more than seven thousand officers and men; taken three thousand seven hundred and thirty prisoners, one-seventh officers, including thirteen generals, of whom three had been presidents of this republic; captured more than twenty colours and standards, seventy-five pieces of ordnance, besides fifty-seven wall-pieces, twenty thousand small arms, an immense quantity of shot, shells, powder, &c., &c.

0'

F that enemy, once so formidable in numbers, appointments, artillery, &c., twenty odd thousand men have disbanded themselves in despair, leaving, as is known, not more than three fragments-the largest about two thousand five hundred-now wandering in different directions, without magazines or a military chest, and living at free quarters upon their own people.

"General Santa Anna, himself a fugitive, is believed to be on the point of resigning the chief magistracy, and escaping to neutral Guatimala A new president, no doubt, will soon be declared, and the federal congress is expected to reassemble at Queretaro, one hundred and twenty-five miles north of this, on the Zacatecas road, some time in October. I have seen and given safe conduct through this city to several of its members. The government will find itself without resources; no army, no arsenals, no magazines, and but little revenue, internal or external. Still such is the obstinacy, or rathe

infatuation, of this people, that it is very doubtful whether the new authorities will dare sue for peace on the terms which, in the recent negotiations, were made known by our minister.

"In conclusion, I beg to enumerate, once more, with due commendation and thanks, the distinguished staff officers, general and personal, who, in our last operations in front of the enemy, accompanied me, and communicated orders to every point and through every danger. Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, acting inspector-general; Major Turnbull and Lieutenant Hardcastle, topographical engi neers; Major Kirby, chief paymaster; Captain Irwin, chief quartermaster; Captain Grayson, chief commissary; Captain H. L. Scott, chief in the adjutant-general's department; Lieutenant Williams, aidde-camp; Lieutenant Lay, military secretary, and Major J. P. Gaines, Kentucky cavalry, volunteer aid-de-camp. 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. The ordnance officers, Captain Huger, Lieutenants Hagner, Stone, and Reno, were highly effective, and distinguished at the several batteries; and I must add that Captain McKinstrey, assistant quartermaster, at the close of the operations, executed several important commissions for me as a special volunteer.

"Surgeon-General Lawson, and the medical staff generally, were skilful and untiring in and out of fire, in administering to the numerous wounded."

Comment upon the achievements described in this extract is unnecessary. The immediate result, as has been already stated, was the undisputed possession of the most splendid capital of the American continent; the remote result, the restoration of peace, and cession of an immense tract of territory to the United States.

N the march of the American army from Puebla towards the capital, the command of that city was intrusted to Colonel Childs. His total force was about four hundred men, consisting of forty-six cavalry, under Captain Ford, two companies of artillery, under Captains Kendrick and Miller, and six companies of the 1st Pennsylvania volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Black. With this small command, the grand depot in the city named San Jose, and the posts of Loreto and Guadalupe, were to be garrisoned and held against the combined efforts of the military and populace in Puebla. San Jose was the key of the colonel's position, on the safety of which that of every other depended.

In addition to the smallness of the garrison, and the extent of space to be covered, the Americans were encumbered with eighteen hundred sick. The hospitals for these were situated in isolated positions, while the surgeons were provided with but six attendants.

After the departure of the main army, no acts of hostility other than the occasional murdering of a straggling soldier, occurred until September 13, the same day in which the Mexican capital was taken. During the night of that date, the enemy opened a fire upon the Americans from the streets of Puebla. Colonel Childs had for some time been expecting this, and had removed all the hospitals within. the protection of San Jose, and placed every man of his command on duty. The firing of the 13th continued languidly until after daylight, when every thing became quiet. On the night of the 14th, the guns were reopened with a violence which convinced the colonel that the siege had commenced in earnest. A storm of bombs and shot was thrown into the fortifications until morning, while numerous bodies of troops were heard taking up positions around the American stations. On the 15th, large parties of cavalry were observed in the fields, gathering together the sheep and cattle, and endeavouring to turn the stream of water which supplies San Jose. In the evening, Colonel Childs organized two parties to secure, if possible, some of the live stock. They succeeded in capturing thirty oxen and four hundred sheep-a most seasonable supply at the time.

URING the day, the fire of the enemy was unabated, and large reinforcements were observed to join them from the interior. Nearly every station in the city from which a battery could be discharged, was now occupied by the Mexicans, and under a most tremendous fire, the Americans laboured night and day in completing their defences, and preparing for an assault.

On the 22d, General Santa Anna arrived with a large force from Mexico. His appearance was hailed by discharges of cannon, a general ringing of bells, and other demonstrations of joy. A battery at Loreto was opened by command of Colonel Childs, which, throwing shells and round shot into the heart of the city, did considerable execution, besides causing a temporary suspension of the rejoicing. Santa Anna, with his customary

activity, immediately began preparations for an assault. New batteries were planted, storming parties designated, anu a more perfect organization of the besiegers enforced.

On the 25th, Childs received a summons to surrender, with the assurance that he would be treated in a manner worthy of his valour and military rank. This was declined. After despatching his answer, the colonel rode to the different posts of his garrison, announcing the demand, together with the reply. This was received by the soldiers in a manner which convinced him of their determination to endure every hardship and danger rather than disgrace themselves by yielding to the Mexican forces.

After receiving this answer from the American commander, Santa Anna opened his batteries upon San Jose, which now became the principal point of attack. Its garrison consisted of Ford's cavalry, Miller's artillery, four companies of volunteers, and a hospital, with its guard, under Captain Rowe. The whole was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Black. "The duty required of this command,"