Chapter X: Advance to Mexico, El Peñon, Contreras, Churubusco

Advance to valley of Mexico--Description of defenses--General
Scott and staff with Twiggs's division reach Ayotla--Daring
reconnoissances of El Peñon by Lieutenant Stevens--March
around Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco--Occupy San Augustin--
Reconnoissances of enemy's positions--San Antonio road
strongly fortified--Pedregal--Intrenched camp at Contreras--
Battle of Contreras--Lieutenant Stevens urges decisive movement
adopted by Twiggs--"Attack the enemy's left; you cut him off
from reinforcements and hurl him into the gorges of the
mountains"--Stormy night--Discouragement--Scene at Scott's
headquarters--Second day's battle--Reconnoitring from church
steeple at Coyoacan--Enemy in full retreat on San Antonio
road--Instant advance by Twiggs, led by Lieutenant Stevens,
who comes up against fortified convent and brings on battle
of Churubusco--Description of battle--Terrible scenes of
battlefield banished sleep--Letter to wife--Tacubaya occupied--
Armistice 163

CHAPTER XI

MOLINO DEL REY.--CHAPULTEPEC.--CAPTURE OF CITY OF MEXICO.--RETURN TO
UNITED STATES

General Scott and staff enter Tacubaya--Take quarters in
Bishop's Palace--Commissioners to negotiate peace--Mexican
treachery--Armistice terminated--Battle of Molino del
Rey--Useless attacks--Severe losses--Battle of
Chapultepec--Castle stormed--Quitman advances on Tacubaya
causeway--Worth on San Cosme causeway--Lieutenant Stevens,
with Worth, wounded--Enemy retreat in night--American troops
occupy city--Lieutenant Stevens's remarks on the
movements--His character sketches of Lee, Beauregard, Tower,
Smith, McClellan, Foster, Mason--Removed to city--quartered
in the Palace--Severe wound--Ups and downs--Mounts
crutches--Journeys in ambulance with Lieutenant Foster to
Puebla--Arrives at New Orleans 202

CHAPTER XII

HEROES HOME FROM THE WAR

Proceeds to Washington--Flattering reception--Gives full
accounts to Colonel Totten--Joyful reunion with family in
Newport--Shoots mad dog--Ordered to Savannah--Letter to
brother--Character of Cromwell--Makes garden--Justice of
Mexican war--Savannah orders countermanded--Resumes works at
Bucksport--Purchases house, garden, poultry--Characteristic
reply to inquiry as to willingness to be sent to Pacific
coast--Brevetted captain and major--Efforts to secure justice
for brother officers--Opinion of General Taylor--Brevet
pay--McClellan asks assistance for engineer company--
Lieutenant Stevens's views--Advocates reorganization
of the army 226