not been halted by direction of General Scott. At dawn of day, General Quitman had taken possession of the citadel, upon the invitation of the civil authorities which was temporarily garrisoned by the South Carolina volunteers; and he soon after moved the remainder of his column, the rifle regiment leading the way, in the direction of the National Palace. Arriving at the great square, he formed his men in front of the Palacio, and at seven o'clock in the morning of the 14th of September, 1847, the American flag," the first strange banner which had ever waved over that palace since the conquest of Cortés,"[1] — was planted by Captain Roberts, of the rifles, and saluted by the whole command, with every demonstration of applause and satisfaction.
General Scott and his staff, in full uniform, entered the capital at eight o'clock, escorted by Major Sumner with his battalion of cavalry. General Quitman was immediately appointed civil and military governor of the city, and General Scott issued an order, cautioning his soldiers to be upon their guard, to commit no disorders, and to avoid straggling from the head-quarters of their respective corps.[2] Shortly after the troops
- ↑ Official Report of General Quitman, September 29th, 1847.
- ↑
"Head Quarters of the Army, "General Orders Mexico, Sept. 14. 1847. No.285 "1. Under the favor of God, the valor of this army, after many glorious victories, has hoisted the colors of our country in the Capital of Mexico, and on the palace of its government.
"2. But the war is not ended. The Mexican army and government have fled, only to watch an opportunity to return upon us in vengeance. We must then be on our guard.
"3. Companies and regiments will be kept together, and all stand on the alert. Our safety is in military discipline.
"4. Let there be no drunkenness, no disorders, and no straggling. Stragglers will be in great danger of assassination, and marauders shall be punished by courts martial.
"5. All the rules so honorably observed by this glorious army, in
