good roads) from the last point (by Coyhoacan) to Churubusco. On these roads the American troops rushed in pursuit of the flying enemy, till they united with Worth's cotps in the storm of the church and tete du pont at the last place. From Contreras the Americans pushed on to Churubusco, where General Rincon was stationed, with a large force, constantly augmented by those who fled from Contreras. Six pieces of cannon had been planted by the Mexicans in the centre of a field-work, on the road to Coyhoacan, and at the commencement of the causeway leading to the western gate of the city, and which had to be passed before getting on the road. This hacienda consisted of a stone wall enclosure, within which was a stone building higher than the wall, and a stone church higher than either. The outside walls were pierced for firing down upon assailants. About three hundred yards in rear, and to the east, was the head of the bridge, at the intersection of the causeway. On the morning of the 20th, about 8 A.m., when it was fully ascertain ed that the enemy was in full retreat towards the great causeway road from San Antonia to Mexico, the brigades of Clarke and Garland proceeded to the attack of Antonia. This post, left unsupported by the line of troops, now driven from Contreras, and with comparatively open ground about it, could be turned. Accordingly, Colonel Clarke's brigade, conducted by Captain Mason of the engineers, and Lieutenant Hardcastle of the topographical corps, turned the enemy's right, by a sweep to the left, and came out on the high road to Mexico. In the mean time, the garrison had retreated, and were now cut in the centre by the advancing column of Clarke. The brigade of Garland, advancing in front, now occupied the evacuated hamlet—capturing the artillery in its batteries These brigades were soon united, and rushed on in hot pursuit. The great movement of the day now commenced—the march of the united army (Quitman's second brigade excepted), on the fortified post of Churubusco. This was made in two columns—the division of Worth from San Antonia in front, and the divisions of Twiggs and Pillow, with the brigade of Shields from Coyhoacan; to which point they had pursued the remains of the Mexican army—routed at Contreras, and followed through San Angel. This naturally resolved the battle into two distinct actions on the same field, and so clearly connected, as to be within halfcannon-shot at the centres of contest. These were respectively, the tete du pont, attacked by the first column under Worth, and the fortified church and hacienda, attacked by the column of Twiggs and Pillow. It had got to be about 1 P.m., when the different divisions from the south and west were united, not in line (nor together), but within the same circuit of attack. At the same time, the garrisons of Churubusco (strongly reinforced), the brigade of Perez, at Portalis, the broken corps from San Angel, and the principal divisions of Santa Anna's army were all prepared for battle, having concentrated in and about Churubusco The division of Twiggs had commenced the attack on the fortified church about an hour, amidst an incessant roll of fire, when Worth, with Oadwallader's brigade, commenced manœuvring on the tete du pont. The other fortification attacked by Twiggs was just half-gunshot to the left, and, but for the attack on it, would have poured a destructive fire on Worth. Both were attacked simultaneously; and thus the fire of Pablo de Churubusco was in a measure diverted. The brigade of Colonel Garland, with Smith's light battalion, moved along a little to the right of the road, directly up to the tete du pont. They advanced under the fire of a long line of infantry. Clarke's brigade marched at the same lime, directly on the road; and this again was supported by the 11th and 14th regiments, and the whole moved steadily up under a tremendous discharge of both small-arms and cannon. Most of these corps, advancing perpendicularly, suffered greatly from the fire of batteries at the bridge. head. At length, the line in front of Garland's column gave way, and made a rapid retreat to Mexico. The tete du pont was reached by Clarke's—its deep ditch was crossed by the 5th and 8th infantry--tho parapets stormed—and one of the most formidable defences of Mexico crowned, by its capture, the third action of the memorable 20th of August. In the mean while, a yet more active, bloody, and eventful action took place to the left of Worth's line, in the attack of what may be called the citadel of Churubusco, the fortification at the hacienda, before described. The dispositions were rapidly made, and as quickly executed. The troops moved regularly and gallantly into their places, and the battle of Churubusco was commenced, which, for three hours, was vigorously maintained. In tho centre of the batteries of San Pablo was placed the company of St. Patrick's, formed out of deserters from the American army. These men fought desperately and skilfully, causing the deaths of many of the assailants, and delaying the capture of the post. It was now two hours and a half from the commencement of the battle by the division of Twiggs, when the tete du pont gave way before the storming parties of Worth. The enemy were driven out at the point of the bayonet, and the larger part of Worth's and Pillow's divisions crossed the bridge and followed in vigorous pursuit. Captain Larkin Smith and Lieutenant Snelling of the 8th infantry, however, seized upon a fieldpieco, and fired upon the church, or citadel. The furious battle at that point still continued: but in half an hour more—just three hours from the commencement—the citadel (San Pablo) was entered, sword in hand, by two companies of the 3d infantry under Captains Alexander and J. M. Smith, with Lieutenant Shepler. At the same moment the white flag bad been exhibited, and Captain Alexander received the surrender, and hoisted on the balcony the flags of the gallant 3d infantry. The brigades of Pierce and Shields, supported by the rifles, bad encountered, to the rear of the works of Churubusco, four thousand Mexican infantry supported by three thousand cavalry. Hotly and furiously did the battle rage in this quarter. In the citadel (church) of Churubusco the brave Generals Rincon and Anaya, with hundreds of others, were taken prisoners. Thus had toe army of Scott at Contreras, Antonia, the Tete du Pont, Churubusco, and in the field, five times in one day, defeated the enemy in sight of the capital of Mexico. After the close of this day—one of the most extraordinary in the annals of war—General Scott proceeded towards Tacubaya, but on the way was met with propositions for peace. This was the 20th of August, and that night General Scott took up his quarters in the archiepiscopal palace of Mexico, the city being within his grasp. He, however, waited quietly till the morning, moved by a noble sentiment of humanity, which will be a crown of glory upon his brow when the bays of battle Lave all faded and withered. The next day negotiations were commenced, and were continued in an unsatisfactory manner to the 6th of September, when General Scott gave notice to General Santa Anna of certain violations of the armistice having been committed by the Mexicans, and was replied to by similar allegations on the part of the enemy. The next day it was understood that the negotiations had failed, and measures were immediately taken for the recommencement of hostilities. During the pending of negotiations twenty-nine Irishmen, who had sworn allegiance to the United States and were taken in arms against us at Churubusco, were tried by a court-martial, and sixteen of them hung as traitors. On the 7th of September a general reconnaisonce of the city was rade, with a view to carrying it by assault, and of the formidable defences in fron of Tacubaya, commanding the principal causeway and the aqueduct sup plying the city with water. The village of Tacubaya is about two miles and a half from the city of Mexico. Twelve hundred yards north were the hill and fortified buildings of Chepultepec, and here the causeway branches off to the east, and runs, about two miles in length, to the city. The Tacubaya road entered the San Cosmo causeway, about two miles further These causeways were the principal avenues to the city, and the cannon of Chepultepec commanded them as well as the city itself. The first thing to be done, therefore, was to take the castle of Chepultepec. The only accessible side of Chepultepec was towards the city, up a thickly.. wooded slope. At the foot of this hill-slope, adjoining the grove of trees, is El Molino del Rev, a high stone building, with towers at the end. This was strongly garrisoned. A little to the west of El Molino is Casa de Mata, a stone building somewhat similar, and, like it, strongly armed. At half-past four o'clock on the morning of the 8th, the attack upon Molino del Rey commenced, by the firing of Huger's battery—at the same time the storming party rushing in and driving the Mexican artillerymen from their field-batteries, about six hundred yards south of El Molino, in the midst of a terrible fire. The Mexicans, perceiving the smallness of the American force, rallied and resumed a deadly fire, striking down eleven of the fourteen American officers who had advanced to the charge. For a moment they regained possession of their batteries, but were repulsed by a battalion of reserve, and the point carried. Meanwhile Molino del Rey itself had been carried by Garland's brigade, and Casa de Mata had fallen, after an obstinate and bloody resistance, and was at once blown up. These feats having been accomplished, and these defences rendered entirely useless to the Mexicans, our troops, according to the directions of General Scott, fell back upon Tacubaya, having suffered in these fierces. encounters of the war a loss of nearly one-fourth their entire number. On the 11th the reconnaisances of General Scott were all completed, and the final assault decided on. The general had determined to attack the southwestern gates by the Chepultepec causeway; but, to deceive the enemy, a masked movement was arranged on the San Antonio gates, which took place by daylight. At night the greater part of the troops engaged in this movement were withdrawn, and batteries erected to command the fortress of Chepultepec. At daylight they commenced firing, and continued during the whole day, being answered by a most destructive fire from the enemy. At nine o'clock the next morning, the assault by storm commenced, and in a few hours the apparently impregnable fortress of Chepultepec was in the hands of our troops, and the whole Mexican army in full flight for the city. At the suburb of San Cosmo another stand was made, but only for a few minutes; and at eight o'clock in the evening the American army rested before the undefended walls of Mexico. At daylight on the 14th, the ayuntamento of Mexico waited upon General Scott and informed him that both the government and army had marchod out during the night, and demanded terms of capitulation. The reply was that, as the city had been virtually in his power the day before, the army would come under no terms save such as it should choose to impose upon itself. The general then gave orders to Worth and Quitman to advance and occupy the city. These directions were obeyed with alacrity; and at seven o'clock, A. M., the stars and stripes rose above the National Palace of Mexico. We here insert General Scott's official account of tbe memorable en gagements before the city of Mexico: Headquarter! of the Army National Palace of Mexico, Sept. 18, 1847. > Sir,—At the end of another series of arduous and brilliant operations of more thar forty-eight hours' continuance, this glorious army hoisted, |