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Namesake
Chapultepec For his final assault on Mexico City on September 13, 1847, American General Winfield Scott deployed 7,200 men southwest of the capital. Here rose the rocky, 200 foot high
hill of Chapultepec, where Mexican President General Antonio de Santa Anna had posted 1,000 troops. Another 4,000 Mexicans manned secondary fortifications in the area, while some 10,000
stood behind the walls of the city itself. Early on September 13, Scott’s artillery opened a bombardment of Chapultepec. Then at 8 am the 4th and 3rd divisions began ascending the hill.
Despite heavy enemy fire, Pillow’s Americans steadily climbed the slope, aided by ladders and pickaxes. By 9:30 am they had reached and cleared the summit despite the stiff resistance of
Los Ninos, about 100 boy cadets who defended the Mexican Military Academy. The fall of Chapultepec opened the causeways to the western garitas (stone police customs stations) of the city.
By evening the 1st and 4th divisions had stormed and taken two of these garitas. The attack cost Scott 130 killed, 703 wounded and 29 missing.
Photo - Painting by CArl Nebel of the Battle of Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War from the book "The War Between the United States and Mexico, Illustrated"
by Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot, 1851. (Wikipedia)
Map - Battle of Chapultepec, Disposition of Forces. (Wikipedia) |
Tommy Trampp |
