At the same time pains were taken to rouse Mexico City. Suspicion of Santa Anna persisted, but his credit had been improved not a little by Valencia's conduct, and the public felt inclined to believe in him once more. The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico, now passed through the streets. Under orders from Tornel the clergy preached a crusade against the heretical invaders. Tales of alleged American atrocities supplemented their exhortations. People were ordered to sharpen their daggers, and make ready to throw paving-stones from the azoteas. That Scott's handful--only some 8000 available men and supposed to number even less--could beat 18,000 or 20,000 valiant Mexicans, protected by strong defences, and capture a city still occupied by perhaps 200,000 persons, appeared incredible. Citizens as well as troops grew confident. When the bells began to ring at about half-past nine on the morning of the seventh, all welcomed the alarm; and when Santa Anna visited the chosen terrain during the afternoon to issue his orders for battle, he was received with applause.[28.3] [BATTLE OF MOLINO DEL REY] Scott also prepared. September 7 the engineer company and Cadwalader's brigade advanced from Mixcoac to Tacubaya, the rest of Pillow's division and one of Twiggs's brigades moved toward the city as a feint, and Twiggs's other brigade and Quitman's division were ordered to concentrate at Mixcoac. Captain Mason and Lieutenant Foster of the engineers daringly reconnoitred the Mexican position, and, although Casa Mata--standing on low ground and partially masked by its earthworks and the maguey--was not adequately made out, they analyzed the situation correctly otherwise. Then, to prevent errors, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Duncan and two engineers did the work a second time; and Scott and Worth also made observations. Information that he deemed thoroughly safe led the commander-in-chief to believe that guns needed for the defence of the city were now under construction at El Molino, and he desired Worth to have a party destroy the works and material during the coming night--in his opinion an easy task--and immediately retire. At Worth's request, however, a daybreak attack and, as the natural consequence, a broader plan were decided upon.[28.4] [Illustration: BATTLE OF EL MOLINO]