# Chapter XI: The Battles for Mexico City explained — Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

> Chapter companion for Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant.

## What happens

Grant recounts the final campaign against Mexico City, including the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec. He describes General Scott's strategy, the armistice negotiations, and the eventual assault on the capital. Grant reflects on the unnecessary bloodshed at Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, and notes the political context of the war as one of conquest in the interest of an institution.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Horrors and Cost of War

Grant reflects on the unnecessary bloodshed at Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, noting that alternative maneuvers could have avoided heavy casualties.

### Personal Integrity and Self-Reliance

Grant defends General Pierce's courage against unfair political criticisms, emphasizing personal honor over political affiliation.

### Slavery and Racial Justice

Grant states the war was 'one of conquest, in the interest of an institution,' implicitly criticizing the expansion of slavery.

## Character check-ins

### Ulysses S. Grant

Narrator and participant; present at Molino del Rey and other engagements.

### Winfield Scott

Commanding general of the U.S. forces; directed the campaign and armistice negotiations.

### Franklin Pierce

Volunteer general injured by a fall from his horse; later unfairly criticized during his presidential campaign.

### Philip Kearney

Captain who rode to the gates of Mexico City and was wounded; later a general in the Civil War.

### John A. Quitman

Volunteer from Mississippi; commanded the column against the Belen garita.

### William J. Worth

Commanded the column against the San Cosme garita.

### Gideon J. Pillow

Assigned by Scott to capture Chapultepec, though Scott retained control of details.

### James Shields

Brigade commander ordered to turn the enemy's right at Churubusco.

## Key lines

> The war was one of conquest, in the interest of an institution, and the probabilities are that private instructions were for the acquisition of territory out of which new States might be carved.

Grant asserts the Mexican-American War was a war of conquest aimed at expanding slavery, with secret orders to acquire land for new slave states.

_Grant's critical view of the war's purpose, linking territorial expansion to the institution of slavery._

> In later years, if not at the time, the battles of Molino del Rey and Chapultepec have seemed to me to have been wholly unnecessary.

Grant later concluded that the assaults on Molino del Rey and Chapultepec were avoidable and resulted in needless casualties.

_Grant's retrospective judgment on the tactical decisions of the campaign._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters