The War with Mexico

Front matter

THE WAR WITH MEXICO. BY &. S. RIP LEY, DEEVET MAJOR IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, FIRST LIEUTENANT OF THE SECOND REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY, ETC IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 82 CLIFF STREET. 1849. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty -nine, by Harper & Brothers, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

Chapter I

General Scott's Memoranda on Vera Cruz and its Castle — Concentration of Forces under the Island of Lobos — Organization of his Army — Arrival at Anton Lizardo — Landing opposite Sacrificios — Investment of Vera Cruz — Siege and Bombardment — Capitulation of Vera Cruz and San Juan d'Ulloa — Affair of Puente del Medio — Affair atMedellin — Observations.. Page 9

Chapter II

Preparations for an Advance from Vera Cruz — Order proclaiming Martial Law — Expedition to, and Occupation of Alvarado — Advance from Vera Cruz — Information of the American General on Mexican Affairs — Arrival of advanced Corps at Plan del Rio — Mexican Lines of Cerro Gordo — Twiggs's Intention of attacking them — General Scott's Arrival — Arrival of Worth's Division — Operations of 17th of April — Capture of the Hill of El Telegrafo — Order of Battle — Battle of Cerro Gordo — Occupation of Perote — Observations — Disposition of new Troops made at Washington — Preparations for an Advance — Discharge of seven Regiments of Volunteers: — Naval Expeditions against Tuspan and along the southern Coast of the Gulf 53

Chapter III

Military Contributions — Mission of Mr. N. P. Trist — His Quarrel with General Scott — Action of General Santa Anna at Orizaba — Of Mexican Government at the Capital — State of popular Feeling — Santa Anna's Departure from Orizaba — Worth's Command advances to Puebla — Affair of Amozoque — Occupation of Puebla — State of Things in that City — General Scott's Proclamation of May 11th, 1847 — Opinion of the President of the United States — of General Santa Anna — General Scott advances with Twiggs's Division to Puebla 9"

Chapter IV

Return of Santa Anna to Mexico— Mexican Politics— Santa Anna's Resignation of the Presidency — Action of the Mexican Congress— Withdrawal of CONTENTS. IV Santa Anna's Resignation— Preparations for Defense — Opinions and intend ed Action of General Scott — He orders the Abandonment of Jalapa — Or ganization of Guerillas on the Line of American Communication — Colonel MTutosh marches from Vera Cruz — Affair of Paso de Ovegas — General Cadwalader's Advance— Affair of the National Bridge— Affair of La Haya — General Pillow's Advance — Junction with Cadwalader— Arrival at Paebla— Naval Expedition against Tobasco Page 120

Chapter V

Difficulties of the American Army at Puebla — Opinions and Feelings of the General — His Reconciliation with Mr. Trist — Probable Cause of Reconciliation — Mr. Trist's Action — Proposition of Santa Anna to open Negotiations in consideration of a Bribe of One Million of Dollars — General Scott's Arguments in favor of accepting it — Meeting of General Officers — Opinions — Santa Anna's Action and Policy — Mexican Politics — Mexican Preparation for Defense — American Prisoners — Action and probable Motives of British Legation — Probable Policy of Santa Anna — American Preparations to advance — General Pierce's Movement from Vera Cruz — General Smith's Movement — Affair of San Juan de los Llanos — Garrison of Puebla — Santa Anna's final Proposition to General Scott — He accepts it — Santa Anna's Policy — Preparations — Observations -- 143

Chapter VI

Locality and Defenses of Mexican Capital — Information of American General — March of American Army from Puebla — Arrival in the Valley of Mexico — Reconnaissances of El Penon and Mexicalcingo — Skirmish near Mira Flores — Meeting of general Officers at Ayotla — Plan of Attack proposed by General Scott on Mexicalcingo, with Movement of Worth's Division around Lake Chalco — Observations — Lieutenant-colonel Duncan's Reconnaissance — Change in General Scott's Orders — March of the Army by Chalco Route — Affair at Oka Laka 176

Chapter VII

Santa Anna's Movement from El Penon to the South and West of the Capital — Preparations for Defense in that Quarter — Movement of Valencia to San Angel — Differences between Valencia and Santa Anna — Arrival of American Army at San Augustin — Reconnaissance in front of San Antonio — Reconnaissance in Direction of Padierna — Movements ordered by General Scott on the Night of August 18th — Advance of Pillow's Division Communications and Orders — Advance of Twiggs's Division — Battle of Contreras — Retreat of Santa Anna-^-Movement of American Army to Coyacan — General Scott's Orders and Dispositions CONTENTS. V

Chapter VIII

General Worth's Operations against San Antonio — Battle of Churubusco — State of Affairs immediately succeeding it in the City of Mexico — Positions of the American Army— Quitman's Position at San Augustin Page 252 CHAPTER, IX. Observations — March around Lake Chalco — Reconnaissances upon San Antonio and Padierna — Construction of the Road — Commencement of Battle of Contreras — General Cadwalader's and Colonel Riley's Operations — Generals Twiggs's and Smith's Operations — March by San Angel on San Antonio — Worth's Operations against San Antonio — Battle of Churubusco — Mexican Operations 285

Chapter X

Proposals for an Armistice — Views of American General Officers — General Scott's Instructions to American Commissioners — Terms of the Armistice — Mr. Trist commences Negotiations — Appointment of Mexican Commissioners — Action of President Santa Anna — First Meetings of Commissioners — Mexican Opposition to Negotiations — Attack of Leperos on American Train in the City — Protests by Deputies and State Authorities — American Terms of Peace — Mexican Reply — Negotiations — Offer of Mr. Trist — Opinion in the American Army — Action of General Scott — Failure of Negotiations — End of the Armistice — State of the American Army — Trial and Execution of Deserters 316

CHAPTER XL

General Scott's Information concerning a Mexican Foundery — His Resolution to destroy it — Orders to General Worth — Order preparatory to a final Attack upon the City of Mexico — Position and Defenses of Molino del Rey — Information, Opinions, and Orders concerning Attack — Battle of Molino del Ret — Immediate Effect upon American Army — Upon Mexicans — Reconnaissance of 8th of September 357

Chapter XII

Occupation of Piedad — Mexican Lines of Defense about the Garita of San Antonio — General Scott's Orders — Reconnaissances — Meeting of General Officers at Piedad — Views and Opinions — Selection of Chapultepec as Point of Attack — Santa Anna's Movement of September 11th — Skirmish near Hacienda Morales — Movement of American Troops on the Evening of September 11th — Rock and Castle of Chapultepec — Position of American Batteries — Operations and Cannonade, September 12th — Orders for Assault CONTENTS. VI

Chapter. XIII

Dispositions for the Attack on Chapultepee— Stormingof the Castle— Assault of Batteries on the Tacubaya Road— Of Barricades on the North of Chapultepee — Pursuit along the Belen Road— Capture of Battery — Storming of Garita Belen— Santa Anna's Efforts for Defense — Pursuit along the San Cosme Road — Capture of Work at the Angle of Aqueduct of Barricade — Storming of Garita San Cosme — Entrance into Mexico — Retreat of Mexican Army— Deputation to General Scott— Occupation of the City .. Page 411

Chapter. XIV

Observations — Agreement to the Armistice — The Battle of Molino del Rey — Events and Dispositions between the 8th and 12th of September — The Storming of Chapultepee — The Attacks on the Garitas of Belen and San Cosme — Reflections 448

Chapter XV

Situation of General Santa Anna — His Action — Blockade of Garrison of Puebla — Movement of Troops from the Northern to the Southern Line of Operations — March of Re-enforcements from Vera Cruz — Affairs at Paso de Ovejas, Puente Nacional, and Cerro Gordo — Advance of General Lane's Command — Affair at Huamantla — Affair at Atlixco — Observations and Reflections 488 /

Chapter XVI

Delay in Movements of American Army — Organization of Mexican Government under Pena y Pefia — Action of the new Government with reference to General Paredes — With reference to General Santa Anna — Removal of Seat of Government to Queretaro — Meeting of Mexican Congress — Difficulties of Mexican Government — Intrigues and Discussions in Congress Election of President Anaya — Action of his Government — Appointment of Commissioners — Meeting of the Governors of States — Adjournment of Congress — Remarks 515

Chapter XVII

American Military Action after the Fall of Mexico — Policy of General Scott —Disposition of Troops on Line of Communication — His intended Action — Correspondence — Instructions from Washington — Military Contributions — Recall of Mr. Trist — Action of General Scott — of Mr. Trist — Quarrels among General Officers— General Order, No. 349— Causes— Observations — Movement of Re-enforcements from Vera Cruz — Arrival at Mexico Alfair of Matamoras— Intended Expeditions to Zacatecas and San Luis— CONTENTS VII Unauthorized Negotiations — Delay of Expeditions — Reasons — Observa tions — Occupation of Pachuca — Reorganization of the Army — Occupation of Toluca — of Cuernavaca — Guerilla Robbery at Santa Fe — Expeditions to Tehuacan and Orizaba — Conclusion of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo — Observations — Recall of General Scott Page 533

Chapter XVIII

Expiration of General Anaya's Term of Service as President of Mexico — Reaccession of Pefla y Peiia — Failure of Mexican Deputies to assemble— Causes — Schemes of General Paredes — Pronunciamiento at San Luis de Potosi — Of Don Juan Alvarez — Action of Santa Anna — Of Peria y Pena's Government — Conclusion of the Treaty — Receipt of the News in Mexico — Armistice 585

Chapter XIX

Affairs in California and on western Coast of Mexico — Preparations for naval Operations — Seizure of Guyamas — Seizure of Mazatlan — Affair at Muleje — Affairs at La Paz and San Jose — at Guyamas and San Bias — Second Attack on San Jose — Affair at San Antonio — at Todos Santos — Affairs in New Mexico and Chihuahua — General Price's Movement to Chihuahua — Occupation of the City — Affair at Santa Cruz de las.Rosales 601

Chapter XX

Political Condition of the United States — Policy of the Administration — Recommendations of President Polk — Action of Congress — Instructions to General Scott — Action of the Government in reference to the Dispute of the General Officers — Court of Inquiry — Result — Action of the Government on Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo — Its Ratification. State of Things in Mexico under General Butler — Affair of Sequalteplan — Condition of Mexican Government — Session of Congress — Action upon the Treaty — Its Ratification by Mexican Congress. Evacuation of Mexico by the American Army — General Observations .

Chapter I

General Scott's Memoranda on Vera Cruz and its Castle — Concentration of Forces under the Island of Lobos — Organization of his Army — Arrival at Anton Lizardo — Landing opposite Sacrificios — Investment of Vera Cruz — Siege and Bombardment — Capitulation of Vera Cruz and San Juan d'Ulloa — Affair of Puente del Medio — Affair at Medellin — Observations. Major-general Scott submitted his first written memoranda on " Vera Cruz and its Castle" to the Secretary of War at Washington on the 27th of October.* He had had a previous conversation with the Secretaries of War and Navy on the same subject, and, by a comparison of the dates with those of the letters to General Taylor, in which the subject is treated of, it appears that the con sideration of the attack on Vera Cruz, with a view to positive action, was entertained about the latter part of the month of October.

On the 12th of No vember the general-in-chief added a supplement to his memoranda, which, with some few important exceptions, contained expressions of the same views as the first of the papers. f In both, Vera Cruz was spoken of as the first great object to be attacked, but with a view to a * " Vera Cruz and its Castle." Executive Document, No. 59, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 54. t " Supplement." Idem, p. 56. movement thence on the capital of Mexico. Un less with that in view, in the opinion of the gen eral-in-chief it was not worth one tenth of the lives, time, and money which its capture and that of the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa would cost. The estimated necessary force for the immediate object was an army of at least 10,000 men, consisting of cavalry (say) 2000, artillery (say) 600, and the remainder infantry.

This estimate was not diminished in the supplement, although General Scott averred that personal/y he would be willing to undertake the capture of Vera Cruz, and, through it, the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, with a less number and the as sistance of the blockading squadron.* The estimate of force was not based upon the capacity of either city or castle for resistance ; for, although the locality and strength of7 both were known to a degree, no definite plan of attack on either was proposed ; and the discrepancies in the views presented on the 27th of October and on the 12th of November, in reference to this matter, are remarkable enough to induce the belief that no very serious consideration was given to the subject by General Scott. In the first it was said, " The castle, after the loss of the city, might still hold out for many tveeks, perhaps months, until compelled to surrender from ivant of subsistence," &c.f In the supplement, with no statement of additional * " Supplement."

Executive Document, No. 59, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 57. t " Vera Cruz and.its Castle." Idem, p. 55. •information, it was given, as the opinion of the general-in-chief, " that the fall of the castle ivould necessarily soon folloiv that of the city."* Although it can hardly be believed that the esti mate of numerical strength necessary for the in vestment and capture of the town and castle was too large under any anticipated state of things, yet the data which were enumerated as the basis of the estimate were in some degree erroneous. They were, however, speculative rather than real, for it can hardly be deemed that General Scott knew any thing of the condition of things in Mexico on the 12th of November. The principal of these was, that Mexico could assemble at Vera Cruz, or in the vicinity, an army of " some twenty or thirty thousand men to garrison and cover (in the field)" the city ;f and this at the time when her main army was at San Luis, when the Mexican government was bankrupt, and, without success, was straining every nerve to supply Santa Anna's army, and when the whole tierra caliente of Mexico, in the vicinity of Vera Cruz, could not support an army of half the greater number estimated.

About the date of the supplemental memoranda the idea of assigning General Scott to the com mand of the expedition was entertained, and per haps as remarkable a portion of the document as any is that in which he assumes to be careful of the credit of the administration, to which he was * "Supplement." Executive Document, No. 59. House of Representa tives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 57. t Idem ibidem. known to be hostile. After enumerating many considerations, he said, "All these calculations (many of them probabilities) ought to be carefully considered before fitting out an expedition, the failure of which, from inadequate means, ivould be fatal to the credit of the administration and the character of our country."* This expressed anxiety, taken in connection with the suggestion that he, "the highest in army rank," was "the proper officer to carry out on the spot the instructions of the gov ernment in respect to that division" (of troops be tween the lines of operation), " and to direct the principal attacking column on and from Vera Cruz,"f and with the discrepancies existing in his memo randa, would induce the belief that the chief object of the papers was to obtain the assignment to such command of " the highest in army rank."

With regard to the division of the forces, he es timated, on the 12th of November, that he could draw the entire requisite number of troops for the expedition against Vera Cruz from General Tay lor's command, leaving to that officer 11,000 men, of which 2500 should be regular troops. With that force he supposed that General Taylor could " threaten, and probably take, Saltillo, if not San Luis de Potosi, &c, &c, combined with the move ment on the new line of operations from Vera Cruz ;" for he did not, at the time, advise that op erations on the northern line should be confined to * " Supplement." Executive Document, No. 59, House of Representa tives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 57. t Idem. Idem, p. 59. defense, although it was apprehended, with refer ence to that line, that the people of Mexico presented this dilemma : "If you come with feio, we will overwhelm you ; if you come with many, you will overwhelm yourselves."* On the 16th he addressed additional memoran da to the Secretary of War, in which the numbers for the different lines were stated to be estimated at 13,250 men for the northern line, and 14,000 for the expedition against and from Vera Cruz.

To make up these numbers, he depended upon the arrival at Brazos San Jago of nine new regiments of volunteers by the time he was in readiness to sail from that point. Having proved upon paper, to his own satisfac tion, that it was practicable to raise the force from the troops then and soon to be in service, and the expedition having been determined upon by the President, he received orders to hold himself in readiness to proceed to Mexico and take the direc tion of the expedition. He considered the assignment as a personal favor, and was personally grate ful ;f and having obtained the command, of which he had deprived himself, originally, by his own act, * " Vera Cruz aud its Castle." Executive Document, No. 59, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 54. t " I left Washington highly flattered with the confidence and kindness the President had Bhown me in many long personal interviews on military matters.

For more than two months my expressions of gratitude were daily and fervent, nor were they much less emphatic toward the head of the War De partment."— General Scott to Mr. Marcy, February 24lh, 1848. Executive Document, No. 59, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 4. he set about making his estimates for material on such a scale as should leave little chance of a failure, which might ruin his own and the credit of the administration. Some of these, including "140 flat boats, to put ashore at once say 5000 men, with eight pieces of light artillery," and " a pontoon train to pass rivers,"* had been included in his memoran da of November 16th. The last item, which was strongly urged, is evidence sufficient of the knowl edge possessed by the general-in-chief of the coun try in which he was to operate ; for, on the whole route between Vera Cruz and the capital of Mex ico, there is not one stream deserving the name of any thing larger than a creek, and which is not fordable.

The estimates for ordnance and ammunition were left with the Secretary of War before the de parture of General Scott from Washington, and in cluded, besides a large siege train of twenty-four pounders and eight-inch howitzers, from forty to fifty mortars, and from eighty to one hundred thousand ten-inch shells, f Among other provisions for his expedition, he obtained a sum of money for se cret service, and was given verbal instructions to prosecute operations as his judgment, under a full view of all the circumstances, should dictate. t General Scott desired more explicit instructions ; * " Memoranda for the Secretary of War." Executive Document, No. 59 House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 60. t Mr. Marcy to General Scott, April 21st, 1848. Idem, p. 24. t Idem, November 23d, 1847 (not sent).

Executive Document, No. 60, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 836. and, having mentioned the subject to the Secretary of War, in compliance with a request, he submitted a projet which went more fully into details, and expressed more fully the confidence reposed in the general by the President ;* but it^was not adopted or signed, and, since it was not, it may be believed that the submitted projet expressed more than the President felt, and that he did not choose to com mit himself in full to the support of General Scott. On the 24th of November the general-in-chief left Washington for Mexico, by way of New York and New Orleans. The quarter-master, General Jessup, had proceeded to the latter place, to be nearer the seat of war, and to further the business of his department, and with him General Scott com pleted his arrangements for the transportation req uisite for his expedition.

While at New Orleans he employed several spies to proceed to Mexico and obtain information, and opened a correspondence with Commodore Connor upon the subject of the expedition and making arrangements for the recep tion of the intelligence obtained.! He then pro ceeded to Brazos San Jago, and, upon his arrival, took the action and issued the orders which have been noticed in chapter eighth of the first volume of this narrative. The troops from General Taylor's command con centrated rapidly at their different points of em- * Executive Document, No. 59, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 61, 62. t Executive Document, No. 60, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Congress, p. 842, 847. 1Q THE WAR WITH MEXICO. barkation, all being in position at or near Brazos San Jago and Tampico by the end of January ; but various delays and disappointments occurred in the arrival of transports, which prevented the speedy sailing of the expedition.

Most of them had their rise in natural causes ; but, when taken, in connec tion with the attempt to supersede him by the ap pointment of a lieutenant general, some were sub sequently attributed by the general-in-chief to the intention of the authorities at Washington to sacri fice him.* And it is a somewhat remarkable fact, that, while engaged in directing the Vera Cruz ex pedition, General Scott had arrived at the same con clusion with reference to himself, which, in conse quence of his action, General Taylor had expressed in his own case, that he was doomed to be sacrificed. But in the month of February the transports be gan to arrive at Brazos San Jago, and the embark ation of the troops was commenced. Each vessel, as soon as she received her complement, proceeded at once to the rendezvous, under the island of Lobos, some sixty miles to the south of Tampico.

Scott sailed on the 15th, leaving Worth to super intend the embarkation of the remaining troops, and, touching at Tampico, made arrangements to leave a competent garrison, and hastened the move ment from that point. On the 21st he arrived at the general rendezvous. On the 25th Worth sail- * General Scott to Mr. Marcy, February 24th, 1848. Executive Docu ment, No. 59, House of Representatives, first Session of the thirtieth Con gress, p. 11. ed from Brazos San Jago, having seen all the troops afloat from that point except the battalion of the second regiment of dragoons, which was to embark on the two following days. From Tampico, Twiggs's division was on board ship by the 28th, and Patterson's embarking rap idly. While at Lobos General Scott organized his army. The first brigade of regulars, under Worth, was made up of Duncan's field battery, the second and third regiments of artillery, the fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth regiments of infantry, and two independent companies of volunteers.

The second bri gade, under Twiggs, of Taylor's field battery, the first and fourth regiments of artillery, the first, second, third, and seventh regiments of infantry, and the regiment of mounted riflemen. The volunteers were organized into a division of three brigades, under General Patterson. The brigade under General Pillow consisted of the first and second Tennessee and first and second Pennsylvania regiments, and Steptoe's battery of twelve pounders. General Quitman's brigade was made up of the South Carolina, Georgia, and Ala bama regiments, and General Shields's of one regiment of New York troops and two of Illinois. In addition to this force of infantry and field artillery was the cavalry, consisting of detachments from the first and second regiments of dragoons, and one regiment of Tennessee horse.

II.— B The whole numerical force of the army was over twelve thousand men. The order of landing was also issued at Lobos, and constituted Worth's brigade the first line, Pat terson's division the second, and Twiggs's brigade the third. Worth having arrived on the 2d of March, the fleet of transports broke up from the anchorage un der Lobos, although the entire force had not then reached the rendezvous, and made sail for Anton Lizardo. By the 6th the greater part of the whole fleet was concentrated there, and preparations were made for the descent. On the 7th, General Scott and Commodore Connor, accompanied by most of the general and staff officers present with the fleet, and many naval officers, reconnoitered the coast with a view to select a point of landing. The whole party was on board a small steamer, which passed in close proximity to the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, whence the enemy opened several heavy guns, but all of his shot missed ; a fortunate cir cumstance for the Americans, for one heavy shell, had it struck, would have sunk the steamer, and destroyed the organization of both the army and squadron.

The point finally determined upon as that of de barkation was on the shore immediately west of the island of Sacrificios, some three miles south of the city and castle. The island afforded shelter for the fleet, and no batteries or other preparation for resistance were discovered at the point or in the immediate vicinity. The order was issued for the debarkation to take place on the morning of the 8th, and the troops were in readiness, but the weath er indicated a norther, and, by the advice of the naval officers, the descent was postponed until the following day. Vera Cruz, a city of about 15,000 inhabitants, is immediately upon the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded, on its land fronts, by a continual line of fortifications, which, although neither en tirely regular nor strong for defense against regular approaches, are nevertheless formidable to a direct assault.

The northwestern side of the town is washed by the waters of the Gulf. At the south eastern angle, on the beach, is Fort San Jago, a bastion of considerable capacity, with a cavalier, mounting several heavy guns. A continued line of bastions and redans, ten in number, encircles the town, ending at Fort Conception, a bastion similar to Fort San Jago, at the most northern point, and on the shore of the Gulf. The intermediate bas tions and redans are small, though solidly built, and capable of mounting from eight to ten guns each. The curtains by which they are connected are of thin wall, proof only against musketry, and of but little use. None of the defenses of the city are protected by ditches, as the heavy northers which prevail would soon fill them with the driving sand ; but, upon the receipt of intelligence of the intended attack, efforts had been made to supply their place by digging a system of troux de loups about the walls.

Within them and between the bastions, the ground was covered with a thick growth of prickly pear, in itself a serious obstacle. At the time of the American attack, the fortifi cations of the city were armed with eighty-six can non of different calibers. The greater number were of heavy metal, including six eight-inch sea-coast howitzers and eight heavy mortars. The garrison was of some 3000 men, including artillery and in fantry of the line, active battalions of states in the vicinity, and the national guards of Vera Cruz. The country about Vera Cruz is generally a lev el, sandy plain, bounded by sand-hills at different distances from the town. On the south and west, the first of these are at a distance of about one thousand yards. On the north the plain extends nearly two miles, to the hamlet of Vergara.

The sand-hills are of different heights, and the valleys between them are filled with thorny underbrush. The Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa is upon a reef immediately opposite, and a thousand yards from the city. The body of the work is a quadrangle of great capacity. The southern bastion has a cav alier of high command. The sea front, which, how ever, looks upon the Gallega reef, is covered by a demi-lune and redoubts of re-entering place of arms, and beyond these by a water battery, ex tending entirely along the front. These outworks, however, as they look only seaward, give but little additional strength to the castle, for the channels of approach to the city are either from the north or the south, and the direct fire upon them must he given from the body of the work. One hundred and twenty-eight guns were mount ed upon the castle.