Magruder’s battery, it appears, was retained in reserve throughout the battle of Churubusco, and Jackson’s share in the victory was confined to the engagement of the previous day.  But his small charge of three guns had been handled with skill and daring.  Magruder was more than satisfied.  “In a few moments,” ran his official report, “Lieutenant Jackson, commanding the second section of the battery, who had opened fire upon the enemy’s works from a position on the right, hearing our fire still further in front, advanced in handsome style, and kept up the fire with equal briskness and effect.  His conduct was equally conspicuous during the whole day, and I cannot too highly commend him to the Major-General’s favourable consideration.”

The extreme vigour with which the Americans had prosecuted their operations now came to an untimely pause.  After his double victory at Contreras and Churubusco, General Scott proposed an armistice.  The whole of the Mexican army had been encountered.  It had been decisively defeated.  Its losses, in men and materiel, had been very heavy.  The troops were utterly demoralised.  The people were filled with consternation, and a rapid advance would probably have been followed by an immediate peace.  But Scott was unwilling to drive his foes to desperation, and he appears to have believed that if they were spared all further humiliation they would accede without further resistance to his demands.

The Mexicans, however, were only playing for time.  During the negotiations, in direct defiance of the terms of the armistice, Santa Anna strengthened his fortifications, rallied his scattered army, and prepared once more to confront the invader.  Scott’s ultimatum was rejected, and on September 5 hostilities were renewed.

September 8.

Three days later the position of Molino del Rey, garrisoned by the choicest of the Mexican troops, was stormed at dawn.  But the enemy had benefited by his respite.  The fighting was desperate. 800 Americans were killed and wounded before the intrenchments and strong buildings were finally carried; and although the Mexicans again lost 3000 men, including two generals, their spirit of resistance was not yet wholly crushed.

Driven from their outworks, they had fallen back on a still more formidable line.  Behind the Molino del Rey rose the hill of Chapultepec, crowned by the great castle which had been the palace of Montezuma and of the Spanish viceroys, now the military college of the Republic and the strongest of her fortresses.  Three miles from the city walls, the stronghold completely barred the line of advance on the San Cosme Gate.  Heavy guns mounted on the lofty bastions which encircled the citadel, commanded every road, and the outflanking movements which had hitherto set at nought the walls and parapets of the Mexicans were here impracticable.  Still, careful reconnaissance had shown that, with all its difficulties, this was the most favourable