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PRINTED AND PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY S A ME L J. U O .W SOMERSET,' SOMEItSETi COJNT Y " PA.
New Series.
TUE3DATTr OCTOBER 26, 1847.
Vol. 5. No. 50
i
VI 1
i
f. I I T !
. v if ir Mr-
Battles of Contreros andChnr
ubusco. THE K. V. COURIER AND ENQUIRER.
i The following clear and admirable de
scription' of the march and achievements
of the American Army, under Gen. Scott,
from the day of its leaving- Puebla until it
became master of the city of Mexico, will
be read with universal interest' . ;
San Axgelo, Mexico, Aug. 31, 1847.
"We left Puebla on the morning of the
7ih, and entered upon a beautiful rolling
country of great fertility, supplying with
i:s gardens the inhabitants of Puebla with
food, and surrounded by lofiy mountains,
fcoitib of which were covered with snow.
Cur road-was gradually ascending, and so
food thut on looking back from the head
bf the column our train could be seen for
iniles in rear, dotting with its snow-white
tops the raaguey-covercd plain. "On our
left was Popocatapeli and Iscatafell, the
scow on their not distant tops rendering
the air quite chilly. Gen. Scott did not
Jcave with us, but came on the next day
with Capt. Kearney's dragoons: .
The second day's march was like the
first,"' gradually ascending, passing through
defiles,, narrow passes, and over deep
chasmswhere a more determined enemy
might have seriously annoyed us by mere
ly making use of the obstacles Nature
every where presented. Thick woods
of the finest forest trees were abundant,
and the "rugged nature of the country
would readily carry one back to the
northern parts of New England or the
passes of the "Notch." Here and there
beautiful little lakes were interspersed in
the deep valleys,' and the clearness and
coldness of their waters were almost in
credible. The third day we were to encounter
the much-vaunted pass of 4Rio Frio,"
and also the passage of the mountain
which was to lead us to the El Dorado of
our hopes, the great plain of Mexico. Our
'march' was to be long and difficult, and
three o'clock, saw us under way, with
iieart and hopes full of the prospect before
us. The much dreaded pass is reached
and passed. The mountains which skirt
thd road on the left here close upon it for
jbout a mile, overhanging ' and enfilading
it completely, and affording with their
crests most excellent coverings for an en
emy's marksmen. The newly cut trees
and long range'of breastworks thrown up
on the crest, showed us that preparations
had been made, while numerous parapets
.with embrasures in .the log? taught us
what might have been done. But no men
were there; the muskets and cannon were
"gone. Valencia, with 6,000 Mexicans,
.was full a day's march ahead, making for
jMexico with a speed which betrayed
home sickness. Rio Frio -was found to
be a little stream pouring down from the
Snow mountain, of icy coldness and crys
tal purity. After a slight pause for re
freshment, we commenced our assent of
the ridge which separates the plains of
Pucb!aand Mexico, the former of which
ji had hitherto skirted. For several long
miles we toiled up the hill, only recom
pensed for our labor by what we hoped to
attain at last. When all were pretty
nearly. worn out, a sudden turu in the
read brought to our view a sight which
Loiie can ever forget. The whole vast
plain of Mexico was before us. The
coldness of the air. which was most sen
sibly felt at this great height, our fatigue
and danger were forgotten, and our eyes
were the only sense that thought of enjoy
ment. , Mexico, wiih its lofty steeples and
its chequered domes,' its bright reality,
and its former fame, its modern splendor
and" its ancient magnificence, was before
us; while around on every side its thou
sand lakes' seemed like silver stars on a
velvet mantle.'
We encamped' that night at the base of
the mountain; wiih the enemy's scouts
ori every side of us. . .The nest day we
reached Jiijothu only fifteen miles-from
Mexico by the National Road, which we
had hitherto been following. Here we
tailed until Ger.erals Quitman, Pillow,
and Worth, with their divisions, should
come up. We were separated from the
f it v ' by -the marshes which surround
johe Tezcuco, and by the lake itself.
The road is a causeway running through
tii3 marsh, and is commanded by a steep
end lofty hill called LI Pinnol. This
hill completely'. 'enfilades and commands
the. National Road, and had been fortified
and repaired w ith the greatest C3re by
Santa Annas One side was inaccessible
by nature; the rest had been made so by
art. - lotteries, in alb mounting fifty gnus
cf different calibers, had been placed on
its sides; and a deep ditch, 24 feet wide
end. 10 deep, filled with water, had been
cut, connecting the two parts already sur
Tounded by marshes. On this side Santa
Anna had 23,000 men against our force
f little over "9,000, ail told.
;On the 22d Ave made a reconnoissance
cf the work., which was pronounced im
practicable, as "the lives of 5,000 men
AVDUld Le losse'd" blTore the ditch could be
tressed, v We continued oar search, and
Vound another road, which went rouijd on
ihe left,' but when within five miles of the
t- iv .were halted by coming suddenly, up
i five strong batteries on the hill which
al:
inunded .thiS roaJ,ata place called
giment and three companies of cavalry, in
all about 400 men, we saw that El Pin- i
not lay directly between us and our camp, j
distant full 15 miles. Every eve was 1
fixed on the hill with expectation of an
1 approaching colnmn which should drive
us bac into a Mexican prison, while we
stepped off with the speed and endurance
of 400 Capt. Barclay's! At about mid
night we arrived safely at camp, and
Gen. Scott did us the honor of calling it
"the boldest' reconnoissance of the war."
Gen.. Worth was encamped about five
miles ofl that is in a straight lihe-acioss
the Lake Chalco t at a place ot the same
name, but about ten miles by the road.
The Mexicans had a foundry in the
mountains, at which we were getting some
shells made, and on returning from which
Lieut. Schuyler Hamilton was badly
wounded.
By means of his scouts, Gen. Worth
had found a path Tound the left of Lake
Chalco, which led us to the western gate
cf the city, and which, up to that time,
had not been fortified. On the 14th, Ihe
other divisions, commenced their march,
while we brought up the train and the rear.
In the morning, the train was sent in ad
vance, while Smith's brigade acted as rear
guard. It was composed of the rifles,
1st artillery, and '; the 3d infantry, . with
Taylor's battery. As the rear guaid,
marching slowly along, came up with the
train, word came to Gen. Twiggs that a
force of about five thousand men were
trying to cross the road between them
and the train in order to cut it off. We
were then passing through a small village
which, by a curious coincidence, was
called Buena Vista. On our left were
large fields of half-grown , barley, through
which was seen advancing in splendid or
der the enemy's column. It was the
most splendid sight I had ever seen. The
yellow cloaks, red caps and jackets of the
lancers, and the bright blue and w hile u
niforms of the infantry, were most beauti
fully contrasted with the green of the bar
ley, field. Our line of battle was soon
formed, and , we deployed through the
grain to turn their left and cut them off
from the mountains. A few shots, how
ever, from the battery soon showed them
that they were observed, and counter
marching in haste they left their dead on
the field. Thus ended our fight of Bue
na Vista., That night we staid at Chalco.
The uext day we made a long and toil
some march over a horrible road, through
which, with the utmost difficulty, we
dragged our wagons by the assistance of
both men and mules. The next was
nearly the same, except that the road
was, if possible, worse than before, as the
Mexicans had blocked it up with large
stones, rolled down from the neighboring
hills. This night we encamped at a most
beautiful olive grove, of immense size and
accommodating at once both divisions.
In the town, as well as in Chalco, there
are still standing the churches of the In
dians where the fire-worshipper? as
sembled before Cortez had introduced a
new religion. They are large and sombre
edifices, and, being near the city, arc said
to have been formerly resorted to by the
ancient kings.
The next day we arrived in sight of the
rest of the army, and heard the guns with
which Worth was breaching the walls of
San Antonia. That night the npws of
the death of Capt. Thornton, of the second
dragoons, reached us. He was a brave
officer and a thorough gentleman, but was
always unfortunate in his military career.
On the morning of the 19lh we left the
little village where we had heard this sad
news, and took the road to San Juan, a
bout seven miles to the west, and only a
toul ten miles from the city. When we.
arrived here we heard the sound of Gen.
Worth's guns, who was said to have at
tacked 6tm Jiugustine, a village three
miles nearer the capital, where Santa An
na was said to be with 20,000 men.
When we arrived . at San Juan the men
were told to sling their blankets across
their shoulders, put their knapsacks into
their wagons, and to put two days' bread
and beef in their haversacks. When this
order came all knew that the time had
come. The officers arranged their effects,
put on their old coat3, and filled their hav
ersacks and flasks. Soon we were ready
for any thing but a thrashing. We here
heard the position of the enemy, which
was nearly as follows; Santa Anna with
20,000 men, was zl San JJugusline; Va
lencia, with 10,000, was at a hill called
Contreros, which commanded another
road parallel to the San Augustine road,
but which led into it between the city and
Santa Anna. Now, by cutting a road a
cross, if we could whip Valencia, we
would follow the road up, and thus get in
between Santa Anna and Mexico, and
whip him tool Gen. Worth (supported
by Gen. Quitman) was to keep Santa An
na in check, while Twiggs (backed ,by
Pillow) was'to try and astonish Valencia,
which yon will'see he did very effectual
ly. '.Pillow, with, some of the ten regi
ments was to cut the road. " "
We left San Juan about 1 o'clock, not
particularly desiring a fight so late in the
day,. but still not shunning it in case-we
could have a respectable chance. , About
a hill, whither ye had Jbri urf eves
1 pulling Magruder's battery and tbemoun-
taia howitzers, we suddenly espied Va-
lencia fortified on a hill about two hundred
yards ofl, and strongly reinforced by a
column which had just come out of 'the
city. We laid down close to avoid draw- ( "Jail tn was passed down.and we com- ed ourselves, not conquured Mexico, and
ing their fire, while the battery moved menced our march. The enemy's works men' work was before us yet.
past at a full gallop. Just then General were on a hill side, be.iind which , rose ! At 8 A. M. we formed again, and Gen.
Smith's :voice rung out "Forward the other and slightly higher hills, separated ' Twiggs having taken command, we star
itlesto support the balttry." On they k by deep ravines and gullies, and inter-. ted on the road to Mexico. We had
went till we got about eight hundred yards ' sected by streams. The w hole face of hardly marched a mile bofore we were
from the work, when the enemy opened the country was of stiff clay, which ren- , sharply fired upon from both sides of the
upon them with his long guns, which dered it almost impossible to advance. ' road, and our right was deployed to drive
were afterwards found to be sixteen and W'e formed our line aboat a quarter of a the enemy in. We soon found that we
eight inch howitzers.; The ground was mile from the enemy's works, Riley's ; had caught, up with the retreating party,
the worst possible for artillery, covered brigade on our right. At about four we ! from the very brisk firing in front, and
with rocks large and small, prickly pear started, winding through a thick orchard we drove them through the little town of
and cactus, intersected by ditches filled which effectually concealed us, even had ! Sun Angel, where they had been halting
with water and lined with maguey plant, it not been dark," debauching into a deep in force. About half a mile from this
itself imperviable to cavalry, and with ravine which ran within about five hun- town wc entered the suburbs of another
patches of corn which concealed the en-
emy s skirmishers while it impeded our us directly in rear and out of sight of their
own passage. The artillery advanced batteries. At -'dawn of day we reached
but slowly under a tremendous fire, which our place after incredible exertions, anil
greatly injured it before it got in range, ' got ready for our, charge.' The men
and the thickness of the undergrowth threw off their wet blankets and looked
caused the skirmishers thrown forward to to their pieces, while the officers got ready
lose their relative position, as well.as the for a rush, and the first smile that lit up
column. About 4 the battery got in po- our faces for twelve hours boded but lit
sition under a most murderous fire of tie good for the Mexicans. On the right
grape, canister, and round shot. . Here and opposite the right of their works, was
the superiority of the enemy's pieces ren- . Riley's brigade of the 2d and 1st infantry,
dered our.fire nugatory. We could get Tn rear of our left was Cadwalader's bri
but three pieces iu battery, while they gade, as a support, with Shield's brigade
had twenty-seven, all of them three times ( ia rear as a reserve the whole division
the caliber of ours. For two hours our ' under command of Gen. Smith, in the ab-
troops stood the storm of iron and lead
they hailed upon them unmoved. " At
every discharge they laid flat down to a
void the storm and then sprung up to
6erve the guns. At the end of that time
two of the guns were dismounted and we
badly hurt, thirteen of the horses were
killed and disabled, and fifteen c f the can
noniers killed and wounded; The regi
ment was then recalled. The lancers had
been repelled in three successive charges.
The 3d infantry and 1st artillery had also
engaged and successfully repelled the en
,cmy's skirmishers without loss of cither
officers or men. The greatest loss had
been . ut the batteries. Ofiicers looked
gloomy for the first day's fight, but the
brigade was formed, and Gen. Smith in
person took rrunmaiuL-X AILifilteviv--
and followed him with a yell, as, creeping
low to avoid the grape, (which was com
ing very fast,) we made a circuit in rear
of the batteries, and passing off to the
right we were soon lost to view in the
chaparral and cactus.
Passing over the path that we scram
bled through, behold us at almost 6 o'clock
in the evening, tired, hungry, and sorrow
ful, emerging from the chaparrel and cros
sing the road between it and Valencia.
Here we found Cadwalader and his bri
gade already formed, and discovered Ri
lev's brigade skirmishing in rear of the
enemy's wo;ks Valencia was ignorant
of our approach, and we were as yet safe.
In front of us was -Valencia, strongly en
trenched on a hill side and surrounded by
a regular field work, concealed from us by
an orchard iu our rear. Mendoza, with
a column of G.O00, was in the road, but
thinking us to be friends. On our righi
was a large range of hills whose contin
ued crest was parallel to the road, and in
which were formed in line of battle 5,-
000 of the best -Mexican cavalry. On
our left we were separated from our own
forces by an almost impassable wilderness
and it was now twilight. Even Smith
lookeJ round for help. Suddenly a thou
sand vivas came across the hill side like
the yells of prairie wolves in the dead of
night, and the squadrons on our right
formed for charging. ' Smith is himself a
gain! "Face to the rear!" 44 Wail till you
see their red op, and then give it to
them!" Furiously they came on a few
yards, then-changed their minds, and,
disgusted at our cool reception, retired to
their couches.
- On the edge of the road, between us
and Valeucin, , a Mexican hamlet spread
out, with its mud huts, large orchards,
deep cut roads, and a strong r church; and
through the centre of this hamlet ran a
path parallel to the main road, but con
cealed from it; it is nearly a mile long.
In this road Smith's and Riley's brigade
spent the night. Shields, who came up
in the night, lay in the orchard, while
Cadwalader was nearest . the enemy's
works.,- As we were, within range of the
batteries, which could enfilade the road in
which we lay, we built a stone breastwork
at either end to conceal ourselves from
their view and grape. .There wc were,
Completely surrounded by the enemy, cut
off from our communications, ignorant of
the ground, without artillery, weary, dis
pirited, and dejected. We were a dis
heartened set. With Santa 'Anna and
Salas's promise of "no quartern' s force
01 four to one against us, and one half de
feated already. . no succor from Puebla,
and no news from Gen. Scott, all seemed
dark. Suddenly ihe words came whis
pered along, "we storm at midnight"
Now we are ourselves again!; Bat what
a horrible night! There we lay, too tired
to eat, too wet to sleep, in the middle of
that muddy road, officers and men side by
side, with a heavy rain pouring down up
on us, the officers without blankets or o-
vercoats, (they had lost them . in coming
across, and the, men worn out
ut with fa-
rain: .was so
:ucne.-. Acout miumgaxxne:
heavy that the streams in ihb road flooded
uS, and there we stood crowded "together,
; drenched and benumbed,-waiting till day-
light. ; - T v ''' ;
K At half nast threes the welcome word
dred yards of the'work, and which carried i
sence of Gen. Twiggs. They had a
smoolh place to rusli down on the ene
my's work, with the brow of the hill to
keep under until the word was given.
At last, just at daylight, Gen. Smith
sloyly walked up and asked if all was
ready. A look answered him. "Men
forward." . And we did "forward."
Springing up at once, Riley's brigade o
pened, when the crack of a hundred ri
fles started the Mexicans from their aston
ishment, and they opened their fire.
Useless fire, for we were so close that
they overshot us, and before they could
turn their pieces on us, we were on them.
Then such cheers arose as you never
heard. The men rushed forward like
demons, yelling and firing the while.
l lie ttiiiiac nua iiigurttai, -wi -wnrugu
they fired sharply, it was of no use.
The earthern parapet was cleared in an
instant, and the blows of the stocks could
be plainly heard mingled with the yells
and groans around. Just before the eharge
was made, a large body of lancers came
winding up the road, looking most splen
didly in their brilliant uniforms. They
never got to work, but turned snd fled.
In an instant all was one mass of confu
sion, each trying to be foremost in the
flight. The road was literally blocked
up, and while many perished by their
own guns.it was almost impossible to
fire on the mass, from the danger of kil
ling our own men. Some fled up the ra
vine on the left, or on the right, and ma
ny ef these were slain by turning their
own gun3 on them. Toward the city
the Rifles and 2d Infantry led off the pur
suit, beeing that a large crowd ot the
fugitives were jammed up in a pass in the
road, some of our" men ran through ,the
cornfield, and by thus heading them oft
and firing down upon mem, about 30 men
took over 500 prisoners, nearly a hun
dred of them officers.
After disarming the prisoners, as the
pursuit had ceased, we went back to the
fort, where we found our troops in full
possession, and the rout complete.
We found that the enemy's position
was much stronger than we had supposed,
and their artillery much larger and more
abundant. Our own loss was small,
which may be accounted for by their per
fect surprise at our charge, as to them we
appeared as if rising out of the earth, so
unperceived was our approach. Our loss
was "one officer killed Capt. Hanson of
the 7th Infantry, and Lieut. Van Buren
of the Rifles shot through the leg and
about 60 men killed and wounded. Their
force consisted of 8000 men under Valen
cia, with a reserve, which had not yet ar
rived, under Santa Anna., Their loss as
since ascertained was as follows: killed
and buried sinct: the fight, 750 wounded
1000, and 1500 prisoners, exclusive of of
ficers, including -4 Generals,.Sahs, Men
doza, Garci t and Gaudaloupe, in addi.ion
to dozens of Colonels, Majors, Captains,
&c. We captured in all on the hill 22
pieces of cannon, including five 8 inch
howitzers, two long 18, three long 16,
and several of 12 and 8 inches, and also
the two identical 6 pounders captured by
the Mexicans at Buena Vista, taken from
Capt. Washington's battery ol the 4th ar
tillery. The first officer who saw them
happened to be the officer of the 4th se
lected by General Scott to command the
new battery of that regiment, Capt Drum.
In addition were taken immense quanti
ties of ammunition and muskets, in fact
the way was strewed with muskets, es
copets, lances and flags for miles. Large
quantities of horses and mules were also
captured, though large numbers were kil
led. - - '
., Thus ended the glorious battle of Con
treras, in which 2000 men, under Gen.
P. r . Smith, completely routed and des-
' troyed an army of 8000 men under Gen.
j Valencie, with Santa Anna and a force of
i 20,000 raw within, 4 ve mile?.; -Their ar-j
not
parti
cipatcd m the second -batilc." Most peo'
plo would have thought that a pretty good
day's work. -Not so. We had onlv sav-
called San Katberina, when a large party
in the church vard fired on the head of
the column, and the balls came right a
mong us. Our men kept rushing on their
rear and cutting them down, until a dis
charge of grape shot from a large piece
in front drove them back to the column.
In this short space of time five men were
killed, ten taken prisoners, and a small co
lor captured, which was carried the rest
of the da v.
0
Meanwhile, Gen. Worth hod made a
demonstration on San Antonia, where the
enemy was fortified in a strong hacienda;
but they retired on his approach to Chu
rubusco, where the'works were deemed
impregnable. They consisted of a forti
fied hacienda, which was surrounded by
a high and thick wall on all sides. In
side the wall was a stone
roof of which was flat and
building, the
higher tli3n
the walls. Above all this was" a stone
church, still higher than the rest and ha
ving a large steeple. The wall was pier
ced with loop holes, and so arranged that
there were two tiers of men firing at the
same time. They thus had four different
ranges of men firing at once, and four
ranks were formed on each range and pla
ced at such a height that they could not
only overlook all the surrounding country,
but at the same time they had a plunging
fire upon us. Outside the hacienda, and
completely commanding the avenues of
rrjrjriTrn:ii, - aa a ncra- oi VAnmiur er
round two sides of the work and protec
ted by a deep, wet ditch, and armed with
seven large pieces. This hacienda is at
the commencement of the causeway lead
ing to the western gate of the city, and
had to be passed before getting on the
road.' About 300 yards in the rear of
this work, another field work had been
built where a cross road meets the cause
way, at a point where it crosses a river,
thus forming a bridge head, or tele de
pont. This was also very strong and ar
med with three very large pieces of can
non. The works were surrounded on
every side by large corn fields, which
were filled with the enemy's skiimishers,
so that it was difficult to make a recon
noisance. It was therefore decided to
make the attack immediately, as thev
were full of men and extended for nearly
a mite on the rOad to the city, completely
covering the causeway. The attack com
menced about 1 P. M. Gen." Twigg's
division attacKcd on the side towards
which they approached the fort, i. e. op
posite the city. Gen. Worth's attacked
the bridge head which he took in about
au hour and a half; while Generals Pil
low and Quitman were on the extreme
left, between the causeway and Twigg's
division. The Rifles were on the left
and in the rear of the work, entrusted by
Gen. Scott with, the task ol charging the
work in case Gen. Pierce gae way.
The firing w.is most tremendous in fact
one continued roll while the combat last-
! cd. The enemy from their elevated po
sition, could readily see our men, who
were unable to get a clear view Irom their
position. Three cf tic pieces were man
ned by " The Deserters" a body of about
100, who had deserted from the ranks of
our army during the war. They were
enrolled in two companies, commanded
bv a deserter, and were better uniformed
and disciplined than the rest of the army.
These men fought most desperately, and
are said not only to have shot down seve
ral of our officers whom they knew, but
to have pulled down the white flag of
surrender, no less than three times.
The battle raged most furiously for a
bout three hours, wheu both sides having
lost a great many, the enemy began to
give way. As soon as they commenced
retreating, Kearney's squadron passed
through the tele de pont, and charging
through the retreating column, pursued
them to the very gate of the city. As
they got within about 500 yards of the
gate, they were opened upon with grape
and canister, and several officers wound
ed. Amongst the number was Captain
Kearney, 1st Dragoons, who lost his left
arm above the elbow. LieutCfaham,
of New York, received a severe j!??h 4
wound in his left arm. . Capt. McRey
nolds, ditto. Our loss in this second bat
tle was large.' We lost in killed seven of
ficers. Capts. Capron, Blake, 1st artille
ry; Lieu is. Irons, Johnson, Hoffman,
Capt. Anderson, Lieut. Easely, 2d infan
try. Capt. Hanson, 7lh infantry. Lieut.
Irons died on the 23th. Col. Butler of
i South Carolina, and about . 30 officers
woucjtd-cidusiv?. er the .fotaatrers. ; i
my was so completely routed that
1500 men rejoined Santa Anna and pa
: The official returns give our loss ia
killed and wounded at 1150 besides offi
cer. The Mexican loss is 500 killed in
the 2nd battle, 1000 wounded, and 1100
prisoners, exclusive of officers. Thre
more Generals were taken, among them
General Rincon, and Anaya, the provi
sional President; also, ten pieces of can
non, and an immense amount of ammu
nition and stores. Santa Anna; in his re
port, states his loss in killed, 'wounded
.and missing, at 12,000. He has only
18,000 left out of 30,000, which he give
as his force on the 20th, in both actions.
Thus ended thev Battle of Churubusco)
one of most furious and deadly for ln
length of any of the war. For reasons
which he deemed conclusiveGen. Scott
did not enter the city that night, but en
camped on the batde field, about four
miles from the western gate of the city
The next day a flag of truce came out,
and propositions were made which iesui
ted in an armistice.
Meanwhile the army is encamped ia
the villages around tho city, recruiting
from their fatigues, and nursing the sick
and wounded. There arc but few sick,
and the wounded are getting along com
fortably in their hospitals. '
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT RICH
MOND. We regret to learn, by a Telegraphia
despatch last evening , from Richmond,
that a destructive fire occurred in that city
yesterday morning. Gallego's raluabisi
flour mills were totally destroyed; al
so, the Shockoe tobacco warehouse,
Haxall and Brothers' office, the stores of
John Robinson, Alfred Harris Butler
wood's tinncry, W. Williams's auction
establishment, Messrs. Ford & Wood
son's and Shepherd's commission houses,
besides a number of small buildings.
Since the foregoing was put in type, a
friend has sent us the annexed letter, da
ted at Richmond at 7 o'clock 'yesterday
morning :
"Ere this reaches you half the business
part of Richmond will be in ashes. A
boiit half past five the Gallego mills wera
discovered to be on fire, and by the timo
the engines arrived the whole of thoss
which were next communicated to Mor
ris's Warehouse, now a part of Shockro
Warehouse, and thence to the buildings
on Cary street, south side, extending
down to Williams &, Haxall's opposite
the Columbian. When I left the sccna
all the houses with the exception of Wil
liams fc Haxall's, at the corner, were on
fire, all being shingled. The fire still con
tinues to rage, and seems to bafiie the ef
forts of our vigilant and active firemen,'
who have heretofore been able to sava
where all seemed lost. God only knews
where it will be arrested. Yours ia
haste.
P. S. The whole square cn fire
Shields & Somerville, Beasley & Co.,
Bow & Dean, Haxall fc Williams, Shoc
koe Warehouse and the Colurabiaa ia
danger. Nat. Int.
til uauicj,
THE LATE HIGH WATERS.
The high waters have done much dam
age in this region. Large quantities of
corn and hay have been destroyed on the
low grounds of the Potomac. Imraenso
quantities of fencing have been swept a
way. In Cumberland, the pavements
and cellars have suffered much injury.
The water in Wills Creek was not as
high as it had been before, but the tor
rents that poured from the hill sides into
the streets have never been equalled.
The Somerset coach was washed away a
bout four miles from Cumberland; and
the two horses drowned. Tho passen
gers, two females and one man, escaped
with difficulty One of the-females was
saved by the driver. . ,
We have heard of no loss of life ia
consequence of the high waters. Cum
berland Civilian.
A Small Business. A New York pi
per says that while Gen. Tom Thumb
wa3 exhibiting at Hartford, last week, ha
offered $500 reward for a child as short
as himself who could walk. Mrs. Fo
ley, a woman of that city, thereupon pre
sented her. little daughter one year old,
and one inch less than the General; yet
she could walk alone. The reward was
therefore fairly won; but the man of small
dimensions crceped out of a small hole,
and said he offered the amount for a child
of such a description, and refused to pay
it unless the mother would give him the
infant. This of course she - would net
do. .
Strange Facts. In a Boston paper,
we find an account of the doings of tho
meeting of natnralists there, which says:
"It has beeu long" known thattwo rays of
light may le so tfvown on each other as
to produce darkness. Professor Henry
showed that two rays of heat might ba so
combined as to produce cold." ,
Forging a Will. Three men, named
Snider. Sharp and Devinet were recently
tried in Tuscnrawns county, Ohio, on ths
charge of forging a will. They v
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