gineer, with Captain
Kearny's troop, 1st Dragoons, supported by the Rifle regiment,
under Major Loring, to reconnoitre that strong point; and next
despatched Major-General Pillow, with one of his brigades
(Cadwallader's), to make the attack upon it, in concert with
Major-General Worth on the opposite side.

At the same time, by another road to the left, Lieutenant Stevens
of the Engineers, supported by Lieutenant G. W. Smith's company
of sappers and miners, of the same corps, was sent to reconnoitre
the strongly fortified church or convent of San Pablo, in the
hamlet of Churubusco, one mile off, Twiggs with one of his
brigades (Smith's, less the Rifles) and Captain Taylor's field
battery, were ordered to follow and to attack the convent. Major
Smith, senior Engineer, was despatched to concert with Twiggs the
mode and means of attack, and Twiggs' other brigade (Riley's) I
soon ordered up to support him.

Next (but all in ten minutes) I sent Pierce (just able to (p. 318)
keep the saddle) with his brigade (Pillow's division),
conducted by Captain Lee, Engineer, by a third road a little
farther to our left, to attack the enemy's right and rear, in
order to favor the movement upon the convent, and to cut off a
retreat toward the capital. And finally, Shields, senior
brigadier to Pierce, with the New York and South Carolina
Volunteers (Quitman's division), was ordered to follow Pierce
closely, and to take the command of our left wing. All these
movements were made with the utmost alacrity by our gallant
troops and commanders.

Finding myself at Coyoacan, from which so many roads conveniently
branched, without escort or reserve, I had to advance for safety
close upon Twiggs' rear. The battle now raged from the right to
the left of our whole line.

Learning on the return of Captain Lee, that Shields in the rear
of Churubusco was hard pressed, and in danger of being
outflanked, if not overwhelmed, by greatly superior numbers, I
immediately sent under Major Sumner, 2d Dragoons, the Rifles
(Twiggs' reserve) and Captain Sibley's troop, 2d Dragoons, then
at hand, to support our left, guided by the same engineer.

About an hour earlier, Worth had, by skillful and daring
movements upon the front and right, turned and forced San
Anto