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The Battle of Chapultepec in September 1847 was a United States victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. The castle, sitting atop a 200-foot (60 m) tall hill, was an important position for the defense of the city. Its capture paved the way for the fall of Mexico City. ==Background== On September 8, 1847, in the costly Battle of Molino del Rey, U.S. forces had managed to drive the Mexicans from their positions near the base of Chapultepec Castle guarding Mexico City from the west. However, Army engineers were still interested in the southern causeways to the city.〔Bauer, K.J., 1974, The Mexican War, 1846-1848, New York:Macmillan, ISBN 0803261071〕 General Winfield Scott held a council of war with his generals and engineers on September 11.〔 Scott was in favor of attacking Chapultepec and only General David E. Twiggs agreed.〔 Most of Scott's officers favored the attack through the southern gates, including Captain Robert E. Lee.〔 A young lieutenant, P. G. T. Beauregard, gave a text book speech that persuaded General Franklin Pierce to change his vote in favor of the western attack.〔 Antonio López de Santa Anna was in command of the army at Mexico City. He understood that Chapultepec Castle was an important position for the defense of the city.〔 The castle sat atop a 200-foot (60 m) tall hill which in recent years was being used as the Mexican Military Academy.〔 General Nicolás Bravo, however, had fewer than 1,000 men〔 (832: Total including 250: 10th Infantry, 115: Querétaro Battalion, 277: Mina Battalion, 211: Union Battalion, 27: Toluca Battalion and 42: la Patria Battalion with seven guns( Gen. Manuel Gamboa with 2-24 lbs, 1-8 lb., 3-4 lbs. & 1 howitzer (68) ) to hold the hill, including 200 cadets, some as young as 13 years old. A gradual slope from the castle down to the Molino del Rey made an inviting attack point. According to military records at the General National Archives in Mexico City, Chapultepec Castle was only defended by 400 men, 300 from de Batallón de San Blas under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Xicoténcatl, and the castle's garrison of 100 men, including the cadets. The additional Mexican troops were used in external walled redoubts of the castle to protect a large rectangular piece of ground in front of the castle itself. This area was protected by high walls and was about three-quarters of a mile long by one-quarter mile deep. This area was critical to the defense of the castle because the slope of the hill from the west was so gentle, it also encompassed the southern slopes which were moderate compared to the steep escarpments on the east and north. Also the source of water for the castle was located within this area. Scott organized two storming parties.〔 The first party consisted of Captain Samuel Mackenzie's 256 men and Gideon Pillow's division, who would advance from the Molino east up the hill.〔 The second storming party consisted of Captain Silas Casey's men and John A. Quitman's division, advancing along the Tacubaya road.〔 However, Casey was replaced by Major Levi Twiggs. Only David E. Twiggs' division and Bennett Riley's brigade were left on the American right flank.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of Chapultepec」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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