Mexican War:  The Gate of San Cosme

Pursuit to the Gate of San Cosme

From the report of Major-General Winfield Scott, September 18, 1847

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 defense.  The sideways of both aqueducts are, moreover, defended by many strong breastworks 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.

The division commanded by Major-General Worth, after the capture of Chapultepec, pushed forward after the enemy in retreat to the city by the San Cosme road.  A party of the 14th infantry, under the command of Captain Glenn, with Lieutenants Blackburn, Davis and Isaacs, that had become detached from their regiments in pursuit of the enemy, joined, and acted with, the command of General Worth, in its advance, and capture of the battery and garita of San Cosme.

Major-General Quitman moved forward with his division upon the road to the city, by the garita de Belen, and the 9th regiment was ordered forward to unite with his command.

After making some hasty arrangements in regard to securing the prisoners in the fortress, and placing the necessary guards to secure the captured ammunition, I received orders to march with the regiment of voltigeurs and the howitzer battery, (to the command of which Captain Edwards was assigned, after Lieutenant Reno was wounded,) and the 11th and the 14th infantry, upon the arrival of the siege train from Tacubaya, under Captain Huger, in support of General Worth's division, upon the San Cosme road.

The 15th regiment was left to garrison Chapultepec.  I moved forward, with the voltigeur and 11th regiments, and the howitzer battery, leaving the 14th regiment to bring on the siege train as soon as it arrived.


Excerpted from:  The Philadelphia Grays' collection of official reports of Brigadier-General George Cadwalader's Services during the Campaign of 1847, IN MEXICO, Phiadelphia, T. K. and P. G. Collins, Printers 1848



Acknowledgements:
Mexican War:  Pursuit to the Gate of San Cosme
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Last modified: November 01, 2012