letter to William Marcy, 18 September 1847

Report No. 34.

HEADQUARTERS OP THE ARMY,

NATIONAL PALACE OF MEXICO,

MEXICO, September 18, 1847. SIR: At the end of another series of arduous and brilliant operations, of more than forty-eight hours continuance, this glorious army hoisted, on the morning of the 14th, the colors of the United States on the walls of this palace.

The victory of the 8th, at the Molinos del Rey, was followed by daring reconnaissances on the part of our distinguished engineers Captain Lee, Lieutenants Beauregard, Stevens and Tower Major Smith, senior, being sick, and Captain Mason, third in rank, wound ed. Their operations were directed principally to the south toward the gates of the Piedad, San Angel, (Nino Perdido), San Antonio, and the Paseo de la Yiga.

This city stands on a slight swell of ground, near the centre of an irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditch in its greater extent a navigable canal of great breadth and depth very difficult to bridge in the presence of an enemy, and. serving at once for drain age, custom-house purposes, and military defence ; leaving eight entrances or gates, over arches each of which we found defended by a system of strong works, that seemed to require nothing but some men and guns to be impregnable.

Outside and within the cross-fires of those gates, we found to the south other obstacles but little less for midable. All the approaches near the city are over elevated causeways, cut in many places (to oppose us), and flanked on both sides by ditches, also of unusual dimensions. The numerous cross-roads are flanked in like manner, having bridges at the intersections, recently broken. The meadows thus checkered, are, moreover, in many spots, under water or marshy ; for, it will be remembered, we were in the midst of the wet season, though with less rain than usual, and we could not wait for the fall of the neighboring lakes and the consequent drainage of the wet grounds at the edge of the city the lowest in the whole basin.

After a close personal survey of the southern gates, covered by Pillow's division and Eiley s brigade of Twiggs s with four times our numbers concentrated in our immediate front I determined, on the llth, to avoid that network of obstacle, and to seek, by a sudden inversion to the southwest and west, less un favorable approaches.

To economize the lives of our gallant officers and men, as well as to insure success, it became indispensable that this resolution should be long masked from the enemy ; and again, that the new movement when discovered, should be mistaken for a feint, and the old as indicating our true and ultimate point of attack.

Accordingly, on the spot, the llth, I ordered Quitman's division from Coyoacan, to join Pillow ~by day light before the southern gates, and then that the two major-generals with their divisions, should ly night proceed (two miles) to join me at TACUBAYA, where I was quartered with Worth's division. Twiggs, with Riley's brigade and Captains Taylor's and Steptoe's field batteries the latter of 12-pounders was left in front of those gates to manoeuvre, to threaten, or to make false attacks, in order to occupy and deceive the enemy. Twiggs's other brigade (Smith's) was left at supporting distance in the rear at San Angel, till the morning of the 13th, and also to support our general depot at Mixcoac. The stratagem against the south was admirably executed throughout the 12th and down to the afternoon of the 13th, when it was too late for the enemy to recover from the effects of his delusion.

The first step in the new movement was to carry Chapultepec, a natural and isolated mound of great elevation, strongly fortified at its base, on its acclivities and heights. Besides a numerous garrison, here was the military college of the republic, with a large number of sub-lieutenants and other students. Those works were within direct gunshot of the village of TACUBAYA, and, until carried, we could not approach the city on the west without making a circuit too wide and too hazardous.

In the course of the same night (that of the llth), heavy batteries within easy ranges were established. "No. 1, on our right, under the command of Captain Drum, 4th Artillery (relieved the next day for some hours by Lieutenant Andrews of the 3d), and No. 2, commanded by Lieutenant Hagner, Ordnance both supported by Quitman's division. !N~os. 3 and 4, on the opposite side, supported by Pillow's division, were commanded, the former by Captain Brooks and Lieutenant S. S. Anderson, 2d Artillery, alternately, and the latter by Lieutenant Stone, Ordnance. The batteries were traced by Captain Huger, Ordnance, and Captain Lee, Engineer, and constructed by them with the able assistance of the young officers of those corps and of the artillery.

To prepare for an assault, it was foreseen that the play of the batteries might run into the second day; but recent captures had not only trebled our siege pieces, but also our ammunition ; and we knew that we should greatly augment both by carrying the place. I was, therefore, in no haste in ordering an assault be fore the works were well crippled by our missiles.

The bombardment and cannonade, under the direction of Captain Huger, were commenced early in the morning of the 12th. Before nightfall, which necessarily stopped our batteries, we had perceived that a good impression had been made on the castle and its outworks, and that a large body of the enemy had remained outside, toward the city, from an early hour, to avoid our fire, but to be at hand on its cessation in order to reenforce the garrison against an assault. The same outside force was discovered the next morning after our batteries had reopened upon the castle, by which we again reduced its garrison to the minimum needed for the guns.

Pillow and Quitman had been in position since early in the night of the llth. Major-General "Worth was now ordered to hold his division in reserve, near the foundery, to support Pillow ; and Brigadier-General Smith, of Twiggs's division, had just arrived with his brigade from Piedad (two miles), to support Quitman. Twiggs s guns before the southern gates, again reminded us, as the day before, that he, with Riley's brigade and Taylor's and Steptoe s batteries, was in activity threatening the southern gates, and thus hold ing a great part of the Mexican army on the defensive.

Worth's division furnished Pillow's attack with an assaulting party of some two hundred and fifty volunteer officers and men, under Captain McKenzie, of the 2d Artillery ; and Twiggs's division supplied a similar one, commanded by Captain Casey, 2d Infantry, to Quitman. Each of these little columns was furnished with scaling ladders.

The signal I had appointed for the attack was the momentary cessation of fire on the part of our heavy batteries. About eight o clock in the morning of the 13th, judging that the time had arrived, by the effect of the missiles we had thrown, I sent an aide-de-camp to Pillow,, and another to Quitman, with notice that the concerted signal was about to be given. Both columns now advanced with an alacrity that gave assurance of prompt success. The batteries, seizing opportunities, threw shots and shells upon the enemy- over the heads of our men with good effect, particularly at every attempt to reenforce the works from without to meet our assault.

Major-General Pillow's approach on the west side, lay through an open grove filled with sharpshooters, who were speedily dislodged : when, being up with the front of the attack, and emerging into open space at the foot of a rocky aoclivity, that gallant leader was struck down by an agonizing wound. The immediate command devolved on Brigadier-General Cadwallader, in the absence of the senior brigadier (Pierce) of the same division an invalid since the events of August 19. On a previous call of Pillow, "Worth had just sent him a reenforcement Colonel Clarke s brigade.

The broken acclivity was still to be ascended, and a strong redoubt, midway, to be carried, before reach ing the castle on the heights. The advance of our brave men, led by brave officers; though necessarily slow, was unwavering, over rocks, chasms, and mines, and under the hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The redoubt now yielded to resistless valor, and the shouts that followed announced to the castle the fate that impended. The enemy were steadily driven from shelter to shelter. The retreat allowed not time to fire a single mine, without the certainty of blowing up friend and foe. Those who, at a distance, attempted to apply matches to the long trains, were shot down by our men. There was death below, as well as above ground. At length the ditch and wall of the main work were reached ; the scaling ladders were brought up and planted by the storming parties ; some of the daring spirits, first in the assault, were cast down killed or wounded ; but a lodgment was soon made ; streams of heroes followed ; all opposition was over come, and several of our regimental colors flung out from the upper walls, amidst long-continued shouts and cheers, which sent dismay into the capital. No scene could have been more animating or glorious.

Major-General Quitman, nobly supported by Brigadier-Generals Shields and Smith (P. F.), his other officers and men, was up with the part assigned him. Simultaneously with the movement on the west, he had gallantly approached the southeast of the same works over a causeway with cuts and batteries, and defended by an army strongly posted outside, to the east of the works. Those formidable obstacles Quitman had to face, with but little shelter for his troops or space for manoeuvring. Deep ditches, flanking the causeway, made it difficult to cross on either side into the adjoin ing meadows, and these again were intersected by other ditches. Smith and his brigade had been early thrown out to make a sweep to the right, in order to present a front against the enemy's line (outside), and to turn two intervening batteries, near the foot of Chapultepec.

This movement was also intended to support Quitman's storming parties, both on the causeway. The first of these, furnished by Twiggs's division, was com manded in succession by Captain Casey, 2d Infantry, and Captain Paul, 7th Infantry, after Casey had been severely wounded ; and the second, originally under the gallant Major Twiggs, Marine Corps, killed, and then Captain Miller, 2d Pennsylvania Yolunteers. The storming party, now commanded by Captain Paul, seconded by Captain Roberts of the Rifles, Lieutenant Stewart, and others of the same regiment, Smith's brigade, carried the two batteries in the road, took some guns, with many prisoners, and drove the enemy posted behind in support. The New York and South Carolina Volunteers (Shields s brigade), and the 2d Pennsylvania Volunteers, all on the left of Quitman's line, together with portions of his storming parties, crossed the mead ows in front under a heavy fire, and entered the outer enclosure of Chapultepec just in time to join in the final assault from the west.

Besides Major-Generals Pillow and Quitman, Brigadier-Generals Shields, Smith, and Cadwallader, the following are the officers and corps most distinguished in those brilliant operations : The Yoltigeur regiment, in two detachments, commanded respectively by Colonel Andrews and Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Johnston the latter mostly in the lead, accompanied by Major Caldwell ; Captains Barnard and C. J. Biddle, of the same regiment the former the first to plant a regimen tal color, and the latter among the first in the assault ; the storming party of Worth's division, under Captain McKenzie, 2d Artillery, with Lieutenant Selden, 8th Infantry, early on the ladder and badly wounded ; Lieutenant Armistead, 6th Infantry, the first to leap into the ditch to plant a ladder ; Lieutenant Rogers, of the 4th, and J. P. Smith, of the 5th Infantry both mortally wounded; the 9th Infantry, under Colonel Ransom, who was killed while gallantly leading that gallant regiment ; the 15th Infantry, under Lieutenant- Colonel Howard and Major Woods, with Captain Chase, whose company gallantly carried the redoubt, midway up the acclivity; Colonel Clarke s brigade (Worth's division), consisting of the 5th, 8th, and part of the 6th regiments of infantry, commanded respectively by Captain Chapman, Major Montgomery, and Lieutenant Edward Johnson the latter specially noticed with Lieutenants Longstreet (badly wounded, advancing, colors in hand), Pickett, and Merchant the last three of the 8th Infantry; portions of the United States Marines, New York, South Carolina, and 2d Pennsyl vania Volunteers, which, delayed with their division (Quitman s) by the hot engagement below, arrived just in time to participate in the assault of the heights ; particularly a detachment, under Lieutenant Reed, [New York Volunteers, consisting of a company of the same, with one of marines ; and another detachment, a portion of the storming party (Twiggs s division, serving with Quitman), under Lieutenant Steele, 2d Infantry, after the fall of Lieutenant Gantt, 7th In fantry.

In this connection, it is but just to recall the deci sive effect of the heavy batteries, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, commanded by those excellent officers, Captain Drum, 4th Artillery, assisted by Lieutenants Benjamin and Porter of his own company ; Captain Brooks and Lieutenant Anderson, 2d Artillery, assisted by Lieutenant Russell, 4th Infantry, a volunteer ; Lieutenants Hagner and Stone, of the Ordnance, and Lieutenant Andrews, 3d Artillery the whole superintended by Captain Huger, Chief of Ordnance with this army, an officer distinguished by every kind of merit. The Mountain Howitzer Battery, under Lieutenant Reno, of the Ord nance, deserves also to be particularly mentioned. Attached to the Yoltigeurs, it followed the movements of that regiment, and again won applause.

In adding to the list of individuals of conspicuous merit, I must limit myself to a few of the many names which might be enumerated : Captain Hooker, Assist ant Adjutant-General, who won special applause, successively, in the staff of Pillow and Cadwallader ; Lieu tenant Lovell, 4th Artillery (wounded), chief of Quitman's staff; Captain Page, Assistant Adjutant-General (wounded), and Lieutenant Hammond, 3d Artillery, both of Shields's staff, and Lieutenant Yan Dora (7th Infantry), Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier-General Smith.

Those operations all occurred on the west, southeast, and heights of Chapultepec. To the north, and at the base of the mound, inaccessible on that side, the llth Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hebert, the 14th, under Colonel Trousdale, and Captain Magruder s field battery, 1st Artillery, one section advanced under Lieutenant Jackson, all of Pillow's division, had, at the same time, some spirited affairs against superior numbers, driving the enemy from a battery in the road, and capturing a gun. In these, the officers and corps named gained merited praise. Colonel Trousdale, the commander, though twice wounded, continued on duty until the heights were carried.

Early in the morning of the 13th, I repeated the orders of the night before to Major-General Worth, to be with his division at hand to support the movement of Major-General Pillow from our left. The latter seems soon to have called for that entire division, standing momentarily in reserve, and "Worth'sent him Colonel Clarke s brigade. The call, if not unnecessary, was at least, from the circumstances, unknown to me at the time; for, soon observing tl^jat the very large body of the enemy, in the road in front of Major-General Quitman's right, was receiving reinforcements from the city less than a mile and a half to the east I sent instructions to Worth, on our opposite flank, to turn Chapultepec with his division, and to proceed cautiously by the road at its northern base, in order, if not met by very superior numbers, to threaten or to attack in rear that body of the enemy. The movement it was also believed could not fail to distract and to in timidate the enemy generally.

Worth promptly advanced with his remaining brigade Colonel Garland s Lieutenant - Colonel C. F. Smith's light battalion, Lieutenant - Colonel Duncan's field battery all of his division and three squadrons of dragoons, under Major Sumner, which I had just ordered up to join in the movement.

Having turned the forest on the west, and arriving opposite to the north centre of Chapultepec, "Worth came up with the troops in the road, under Colonel Trousdale, and aided, by a flank movement of a part of Garland s brigade, in taking the one-gun breastwork, then under the fire of Lieutenant Jackson s section of Captain Magruder s field battery. Continuing to ad vance, this division passed Chapultepec, attacking the right of the enemy's line, resting on that road, about the moment of the general retreat consequent upon the capture of the formidable castle and its outworks.

Arriving some minutes later, and mounting to the top of the castle, the whole field to the east lay plainly under my view.

There are two routes from Chapultepec to the capital the one on the right entering the same gate, Belen, with the road from the south, via Piedad ; and the other obliquing to the left, to intersect the great western, or San Cosme road, in a suburb outside of the gate of San Cosme.

Each of these routes (an elevated causeway) presents a double roadway on the sides of an aqueduct of strong masonry, and great height, resting on open arches and massive pillars, which, together, afford fine points both for attack and defence. The sideways of both aqueducts were, moreover, defended by many strong breast works at the gates, and before reaching them. As we had expected, we found the four tracks unusually dry and solid for the season.

Worth and Quitman were prompt in pursuing the retreating enemy the former by the San Cosme aqueduct, and the latter along that of Belen. Each had now advanced some hundred yards.

Deeming it all-important to profit by our successes, and the consequent dismay of the enemy, which could not be otherwise than general, I hastened to despatch from Chapultepec, first Clarke s brigade, and then Cadwallader's, to the support of "Worth, and gave orders that the necessary heavy guns should follow. Pierce's brigade was,, at the same time, sent to Quitman, and in the course of the afternoon I caused some additional siege pieces to be added to his train. Then after designating the 15th Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Howard Morgan, the colonel, had been disabled by a wound at Churubusco as the garrison of Chapultepec, and giving directions for the care of the prisoners of war, the captured ordnance and ordnance stores, I proceeded to join the advance of "Worth, within the suburb, and beyond the turn at the junction of the aqueduct with the great highway from the west to the gate of San Cosme.

At this junction of roads, we first passed one of those formidable systems of city defences, spoken of above, and it had not a gun ! a strong proof, 1. That the enemy had expected us to fail in the attack upon Chapultepec, even if we meant anything more than a feint ; 2. That in either case, we designed, in his belief, to return and double our forces against the southern gates, a delusion kept up by the active demonstrations of Twiggs with the forces posted on that side ; and 3. That advancing rapidly from tht reduction of Chapultepec, the enemy had not time to shift guns our previous captures had left him, comparatively, but few from the southern gates.

Within those disgarnished works, I found our troops engaged in a street fight against the enemy posted in gardens, at windows and on housetops all flat, with parapets. Worth ordered forward the mountain how itzers of Cadwallader's brigade, preceded "by skirmish ers and pioneers, with pick-axes and crow-bars, to force windows and doors, or to burrow through walls. The assailants were soon on an equality of position fatal to the enemy. By eight o clock in the evening, Worth had carried two batteries in this suburb. According to my instructions, he here posted guards and sentinels, and placed his troops under shelter for the night, within the San Cosme gate (custom-house.)

I had gone back to the foot of Chapultepec, the point from which the two aqueducts begin to diverge, some hours earlier, in order to be near that new depot, and in easy communication with Quitman and Twiggs, as well as with Worth.

From this point I ordered all detachments and stragglers to their respective corps, then in advance ; sent to Quitman additional siege guns, ammunition, intrenching tools ; directed Twiggs's remaining brigade (Kiley s) from Piedad, to support Worth ; and Captain Steptoe s field battery, also at Piedad, to rejoin Quitman's division.

I had been, from the first, well aware that the western or San Cosme, was the less difficult route to the centre and conquest of the capital ; and therefore intended that Quitman should only manoeuvre and threaten the Belen or southwestern gate, in order to favor the main attack by Worth knowing that the strong defences at the Belen were directly under the guns of the much stronger fortress, called the citadel, just within. Both of these defences of the enemy were also within easy supporting distance from the San Angel (or Nino Perdido) and San Antonio gates. Hence the greater support, in numbers, given to Worth's movement as the main attack.

Those views I repeatedly, in the course of the day, communicated to Major- General Quitman ; but being in hot pursuit, gallant himself, and ably supported by Brigadier-Generals Shields and Smith'shields badly wounded before Chapultepec and refusing to retire as Well as by all the officers and men of the column, Quitman continued to press forward, under flank and direct fires, carried an intermediate battery of two guns, and then the gate, before two o clock in the after noon, but not without proportionate loss, increased by his steady maintenance of that position.

Here, of the heavy battery 4th Artillery Captain Drum and Lieutenant Benjamin were mortally wound ed, and Lieutenant Porter, its third in rank, slightly. The loss of these two most distinguished officers the army will long mourn. Lieutenants I. B. Moragne and William Canty, of the South Carolina Volunteers, also of high merit, fell on the same occasion besides many of our bravest non-commissioned officers and men, particularly in Captain Drum s veteran company. I cannot in this place, give names or numbers ; but full returns of the killed and wounded of all corps, in their recent operations, will accompany this report.

Quitman, within the city, adding several new defences to the position he had won, and sheltering his corps as well as practicable, now awaited the return of daylight under the guns of the formidable citadel, yet to be subdued.

At about four o clock next morning (September 14), a deputation of the ayuntamiento (city council) waited upon me to report that the Federal Government and the army of Mexico had fled from the capital some three hours before, and to demand terms of capitula tion in favor of the church, the citizens, and the mumcipal authorities. I promptly replied, that I would sign no capitulation ; that the city had been virtually in our possession from the time of the lodgments effected by Worth and Quitman the day before ; that I re gretted the silent escape of the Mexican army ; that I should levy upon the city a moderate contribution, for special purposes ; and that the American army should come under no terms, not s^Z/^-imposed such only as its own honor, the dignity of the United States, and the spirit of the age, should, in my opinion, imperiously demand and impose.

For the terms so imposed, I refer the department to subsequent general orders, Eos. 287 and 289 (para graphs 7, 8, and 9, of the latter), copies of which are herewith enclosed.

At the termination of the interview with the city deputation, I communicated, about daylight, orders to Worth and Quitman to advance slowly and cautiously (to guard against treachery) toward 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.

The capital, however, was not taken by any one or two corps, but by the talent, the science, the gallantry, the vigor of this entire army. In the glorious conquest, all had contributed early and powerfully the killed, the wounded, and the fit for duty at VERA CRUZ, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, San Antonio, Churubusco (three battles), the Molinos del Key, and Chapultepec as much as those who fought at the gates of Belen and San Cosme.

Soon after we had entered, and were in the act of occupying the city, a fire was opened upon us from the flat roofs of the houses, from windows and corners of streets, by some two thousand convicts, liberated the night before, by the flying Government joined by, perhaps, as many Mexican soldiers, who had disbanded themselves and thrown off their uniforms. This unlaw ful war lasted more than twenty-four hours, in spite of the exertions of the municipal authorities, and was not put down till we had lost many men, including several officers, killed or wounded, and had punished the miscreants. Their objects were to gratify national hatred ; and, in the general alarm and confusion, to plunder the wealthy inhabitants particularly the deserted houses. But families are now generally returning ; business of every kind has been resumed, and the city is already tranquil and cheerful, under the admirable conduct (with exceptions very few and trifling) of our gallant troops.

This army has been more disgusted than surprised that, by some sinister process on the part of certain in dividuals at home, its numbers have been, generally, almost trebled in our public papers beginning at WASHINGTON.

Leaving, as we all feared, inadequate garrisons at VERA CRUZ, Perote, and Puebla with much larger hospitals ; and being obliged, most reluctantly, from the same cause (general paucity of numbers) to abandon Jalapa, we marched [August 7-10] from Puebla with only ten thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight rank and file. This number includes the garrison of Jalapa, and the two thousand four hundred and twenty-nine men brought np by Brigadier-General Pierce, August 6.

At Contreras, Churubusco, etc. [August 20], we had but eight thousand four hundred and ninety-seven men engaged after deducting the garrison of SAN AUGUSTIN (our general depot), the intermediate sick and the dead ; at the Molinos del Jftey (September 8), but three brigades, with some cavalry and artillery making in all three thousand two hundred and fifty-one men were in the battle ; in the two days September 12 and 13 our whole operating force, after deducting again the recent killed, wounded, and sick, together with the garrison of Mixcoac (the then general depot) and that of TACUBAYA, was but seven thousand one hundred and eighty ; and, finally, after deducting the new garrison of Chapultepec, with the killed and wounded of the two days, we took possession (September 14) of this great capital with less than six thousand men ! And I reassert, upon accumulated and unquestionable evidence, that, in not one of these conflicts, was this army opposed by fewer than three and a half times its numbers in several of them, by a yet greater excess.

I recapitulate our losses since we arrived in the basin of Mexico :

August 19, 20 : Killed, 137, including 14 officers. Wounded, 877, including 62 officers. Missing (probably killed), 38 rank and file. Total, 1,052. September 8: Killed, 116, including 9 officers. Wounded, 665, including 49 officers. Missing, 18 rank and tile. Total, 789.

September 12, 13, 14 : Killed, 130, including 10 officers. Wounded, 703, including 68 officers. Missing, 29 rank and -file. Total, 862.

Grand total of losses, 2,703, including 383 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 3,730 prisoners, one-seventh officers, including thirteen generals, of whom three had been presidents of this republic ; captured more than twenty colors and standards, seventy- five pieces of ordnance, besides fifty-seven wall pieces, twenty thousand small arms,* an immense quantity of shots, shells, powder, etc., etc.

Of that enemy, once so formidable in numbers, appointments, artillery, etc., twenty-odd thousand 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 Guatemala. 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 rather infatuation, of this people, that it is very doubtful whether the new authorities will dare to 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 In spector - General ; Major Turnbull and Lieutenant Hardcastle, Topographical Engineers ; Major Kirby, Chief Paymaster ; Captain Irwin, Chief Quartermas ter ; Captain Grayson, Chief Commissary ; Captain H. L. Scott, Chief in the Adjutant-General s Department ; Lieutenant "Williams, Aide-de-Camp ; Lieutenant Lay, Military Secretary, and Major J. P. Gaines, Kentucky Cavalry, Yolunteer Aide-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 wound ed, 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 Eeno, were highly effective, and distinguished at the several batteries; and I may add that Captain McKinstry, 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 ministering to the numerous wounded.

To illustrate the operations in this basin, I enclose two beautiful drawings, prepared under the directions of Major Turnbull, mostly from actual survey. I have the honor to be, etc., etc.,

* Besides those in the hands of prisoners. The twenty thousand new muskets (British manufacture) found in the citadel, were used in a novel way. Iron being scarce in the interior, the barrels made excellent shoes for our horses and mules, and the brass cuffs or bands were worked up into spear heads for the color-staffs, and spurs for the cavalry and all mounted officers.

WINFIELD SCOTT. HON. WM. L. MARCY, Secretary of War.