While marching to this field we heard a number of heavy explosions which we soon learned were due to the blowing up of the bridges along all our possible lines of retreat back to the coast. That meant, as every soldier well knew, a declaration by our Mexican foe of “War to the knife, and the knife to the hilt.” General Scott halted the army on a lofty plateau overlooking the valley where stretched the serried lines of the enemy and where “The sheen of the spears was like stars on the sea, When the blue waves roll nightly on deep Galilee.” He there briefly addressed the several commands, and expressed his firm conviction, that each man would do his duty as an American soldier, and thus assure victory to our arms. That word “Duty,” a code of honor in itself, unknown in its full import, to every language but our own, has ever inspired the loftiest achievements of the English speaking race. The battle opened at noon, by the attack of the Division of General Worth (the Marshal Ney of the Army) on the enemy’s left flank, and soon became general. The degree of resistance that we encountered, is indicated by the following extract from the report of Brig. Genl. Shields as to the operations of his own brigade and it is doubtless applicable to every command on that field: “My brigade composed of the 1st New York regiment of Volunteers, and the Palmetto (S. C.) regiment, advanced steadily against the right flank of the enemy under as terrible a fire as any that soldiers ever faced.” At sundown the battle ended with the defeat of the Mexican army which retreated in great disorder toward the city. The Dragoons, under Harney, followed the flying enemy fast and far, and Major Phil. Kearney, not hearing the recall sounded, or rather not heeding it, pursued them to the walls of the city, sabreing the gunners at its very gate, where he lost his right arm, and returned wounded behind one of his soldiers. Our loss was 1,045 killed and wounded, while that of the enemy was estimated at 7,000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners. We captured 5,000 prisoners and 86 pieces of artillery. Among the many deeds of heroism done at Churubusco, I must note one of the most daring that has passed into history. In our charge upon the field-work known as the tête de pont, we found our way blocked by a burning Mexican ammunition wagon, that threatened a destructive explosion. At this juncture Sergeant Alexander M. Keneday of the 3rd Dragoons, attached to Worth’s escort, sprang into the wagon, and calling three of his comrades to his aid, with the sparks flying around him threw the packages of gunpowder into the river below, thus saving many lives and enabling our charging columns to advance. Sergeant Keneday is now the honored Secretary of our National Association.