Northern democrat. (Montrose, Pa.) 1844-1848, December 02, 1847, Image 1

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121:IIAl t PlicEl? IF.S#* p.14,2160AN . 1*(1,, ,..
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err subse q uent Inhaftioa. A liberal LUscount will lie made fn
lho .e sr hn ittleertiseb 7.
n - Business ietierrinNi4;ininiinfetitioins t . h4 paper must
•
hernia Paw to cannot! a tteiptioa.
POETRY.
Oh, think notiless I Love Thee!
BY W. 1:1';, GALLAGHER.
Oh, think not !Ass Ilove thee,
That our paths are parted now—,._
For the stars that burn above thee,
, Are not truer than my vow.
As the frag-tanee•to the bloizsein,'
As the rnoonnnto the night,
Our love is to My bosom •
Its sweetnesi and its light.
Oh, think not lOss I love thee,
That thy haUti I thus resign—:
in the heav'n.tat bends above thee,
Imill claim thee yet as wine.
Through the vi6ion of lire's =ruing
Ever - flitted etre like thee—
Anti then, lite7s4apse adorning,
Shalt hence tiat visieni be.
MISCELLANY.
WILLi.&3I TELX.
)Inre than four hundred yeArs ago, the coun
try Nihieh goes by the name of Switzerland, was
under the ..kvstrian government. and. the people
werm liale better thau slaves. - They were wade
to ps y r e ry henry taxes, and t., perform tie
must morial ffieesi*hile the Anstrian; lived
ton the fruits of their labor, and goi•erned
tuern as With a r,a of iron.
(hie of the Alistr:4a g•nverrrnrs by the name
if '::esh.r, was a \ety great tyrant, and did all
ba coin i to break the spirit a the Swiss people,
bit it was of little utte. -
liesler went su far in his tyranny as to com
mand his hat or capfto Le placed on a pole 'in
the market-place,ang attired that every Swiss
who passed should li:4iw'to it. The pour t;niss
people did not like tids at all; but. they vv,:.re
afraid to disobey tlictorder, as imprisonment : or
'eath would be the Oonseciuent.c.
faere was, howev*r, Doe noble-minded man,
who *as afraid or : neither imprisonment or
death, who refused to bow to Gesler's cap
1l
name wiS° William Tell. fie hod not only
reftsed to bow to the bat, hdt incited his f 1-
1 w to throw off the Austrian yoke.
Ile was es(1011 seized and brouLIA into the pres
ene •of the tyrant. IN illiam Tel was a ram us
h anal), and had 14 bow a::d arrows about
s person when he was seized. •Gesler, telli-g
be had forfeited his life, proposed that he
should exhibit a speCimen of his skill as an ar
cher, protuising Una that if he could hit an ap 7
plc at a Certain distance he should be free.
Tell was glad to 14ar this, and began to have
a better opinion of the governor than he de
served; but the cruel -man called Tell's only
Poa, a bqy seven yearsold, forward, and placed
the apple on his head, bidding his father fire
a:
When Tell saw tfis, he nearly- fainted, his
hand trembled so tripeh that he could scarce-'
ly place the arrow izt the string.' :There was;
however, no alters ative; lie must attempt the
feat or die, but that which unnerved his arm
was the fear that his skill Might fail hien, and
that he might kill his Only son.
His child seeing Ms father's distress, sought
to console him. • "Dam sure you. will not hit
me, father," said he "I have seen you strike
a bird on the wing at a great distance, and I
will stand quite still,"
The ground was ti!Ow measured; and the boy
placed against the tree. It is impossible for
you to understand What the unfortunate Tell
felt as he prepared Gil shoot. Twicehe leveled
his arrow, but dropplid it again. His eyes were
so blinded by his-erni)tiun that lie could not se&
the apple. The assetnbled spectators, of Vbom
were great numbers,s'eemed to bold their breath:
At length Tell sunitnonecl up Ms courawe..
dashed the tears frein his eyes, and I.`l'ent'his
bow. Away went the arrow, and ; piercing the'
apple, cat it in'twO nd imbedded itself in the
tree.
The speetatoha s htutod and applauded. Tell
tray taken to Gesler; who was about to lid bins ,
free, when he obsersied another arrow sticking ;
under his girdle.
" Ha!" said he, ":an,arSiaw ! Why 'that tots
etaled weapon ?"
" It was destinekiiir you," replied Tell, "had
I lulled ray
Upon this daringiAreat, Tell .
again
dei
zed by the tyrant's. l / 2 'aoldiens, ansl.,waa _hurried
away to heput to death... it being ,astrong
and resolute man, he made his eseape,o4ftfe"
M tili
g into the mounns, inci ted tlse people to
throw off the tYrattls yoke: '
Iy took tip anus and made Tell their leader.
But he was &obi taken prisoner. and .using
put in a boat with Gesler and , his men, for,the.,
purpose of rowing over one of the lakes, si !storm
arose and the boat was dri*en ashore.' Telt
leaped.out before 4y one else .c.ould land, '
snatching a ecoirdid..ll76, Iroirt, this persoo,,, l
aimed at the OfindrellOt him . dead as he I
eat'n tie boat.%
After this, Tell 4coutied th 4 veeple end Ail
noon gained their freedom; . arei.ewitzerlandlis
a free tondo t 9 this d#7—Mehys Mu cum.
I ni
dare TO 001 0TT*1.-.44VONIefI olleo lose
the aiso they lsoaik4etwheloy44l)oA 1 74erc
onesee of,rvo r y . 4thv
Ii imeet,..and ttiv
repent. Th airefa isot,' to take
tfils !tip
fled,
" ask will, ile. ..k.
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DIT IC I4 ininaVIES
iIiIrTMES or Ot - RTRERAS ANli
'RZIPORT'OP MAJ. G. SCOTT.
" . 1! (Duplicate) I
No. 30 4 ADQUARTN.B.S OF THE Ana,
Sa AUGUSTIN, ACAPtLC9 ROAD,
9' Wiles train Mexico, August 19,18417.
Snt ! .--jaca,ying a competent garrison in Pu
ebla, tltis,army advanced upon tho capital, as 1
follows.i—Twiggs', division, precede& by liar-1
net's brigade ; of cavalry i the 7th ; Quitman's'
divhdon, of volunteers, )vith, a small detachment i
of United States. marines, the Bth ; Worth'sj
division, the i 9t4;, and Pillow's division, the i
10,th—ailin AiLmuntli. ;On the Bth, I. over-1
took, and thdu continued , with the leading, di- i t ,
vision. Thei.cuips were, at no tittle, beyond
five beurs .ori supporting distance apart ; andl
on descending into the basin of the capital,
1 (7,5 miles him Puebla ! ) they became morel
closely apprdximated about the head of Lake;
iTesueo,a, littile in front and to the right. On ;
the 1 . 2.6 and 13th we pushed reeunnuisancesl
upon the . Anon, an isolated mound. (eight
miles from Sexieo) of great height, strongly ,
fortified to the top, (three tiers of works,) and
I flooded around tne.base by the season at ruins
Iland sluices from the lakes: This mound, close i
I to,the national rued, c.do he
the principal
• appruaCh to : the city from e east. No doubt I
..,it might hav@ , been, carried, but at a great and
disproportionate loss, and I was anxious to 1
!9ptire the livo of this gallant army fur a gen- ,
! mid battle w,hich 1. knew we had to win before
capturing the city, or obtaining the great ob
!ject-uf tile
,Campaign—a just and honorable',
Lebec. ! 1
Another ) - caonnotsa' nee was directed (the ;
lath) uPon,4l.exicaleingu, to the left of the;
Tenon, a village at a !Unified brid.ge across the
outlet or catlal, leading from Lake Jueldwilco,
to Ole "eapital—five -n.iles irt,m the : latter. It
have Teen easy(tuoskiag the Pawn) to
force the,paasage, but on ti.e other side of the
should have found ourselves, .fotlr
miles 'nitre this r.ad, on a tan-row cau'eway,
Banked ha, the right and letby water, or bog
try _-rounds.,` I'lr:se difficulties, clt,sely
tiirew nie.back upon the prjeet, long enter
tained, of tatTning the:strong eastern defences
of, the city, ' . by passing arowal the south o:
lakes Cta.lco and J, ehimileo, at the f,ot of the
Erika and me - um:aim, so as to reaoh•ta.is
and hence CO manoeuvre, on hard ground, tho
much broke 4, to the south and southwest of
the capital, Nvii h. Las teen more or less wider
ur-'view 10th inst.
-Neehrdi 1) . 5 'a sninlen
th's 1%1 111 liarneys cavalry b.ig
ade,
ading'—we marched in the
• I iduw's wasie 4 .t.
(id the ext..tk,, at .I} - , tla, in order tu throat
en the mitt Mexical Ingo, and t, d e ._ Q i ve
ihe enemy ,a , s lufig as'practicaLie.
Twiggt, en the 11;n rmr, g frtm Ayort
,
t.,wal as C :c
u, m iles) net a cuti.a ut
mord that 4,,u1 le Ls in mi ers—ca‘alry and
inifantr—uMlt r : G en. Valeocia.. Tv- iggs i.alt
d.ployeti info line, ai.d b a,iew r•ut.cls
frpm Capt4i Taylor's field battery. dispe: se
the eneur., killing or woul.diha nat,y men alid.
horses. .NO' mule:tatian I.its..been expe
riCucetl,e'scept a few random shots fr. m goer
rifler( s, ten the heights ; and the niarch.of
cver•lia route deemed impracticable to
tl i ic enemy, toe, mplishhd by the corps—
t anki to their indomitable-zeal aed ph3sifsal
poi ens.
'..Arririu,g here, the 111th, Worth's d:rilion
and Harney's cavalry were pus!‘eil :orwald al
league, to reconnoitre, ancl to carry or to mask I
San AbtoniO, oti the direct road to the capital. j
Thia viilyse._v..ap, found, strongly, d e:en fled ;by t
field-works, he* . ysguos, ..1 4 (4 a. *ruler, us gar- ;
rison. It could only he turned by idfam r%, to I
tlieieft, over a ,field of rolcanie.v.cks andiara.
for, t j o our right, the ground was too br,ggy.
It was soon ascertained, by the during engi
neeris„Capt. Mason and Lieuts. Stereos and'
Tower, - that the point could only be approach
ed,
by the front, over a. narrow causeway,. I
flanked with wet ditches ] of great depth.— I
Worth was ordered nut ; to attack, but to
threaten arid to mask the idace. •
The ilest,e ! hot fired irom San Antonio (the
ISt.h)liilled,Capt.ain 5, Tbn‘mton, 2d dragoons.,
a dallant officer, Who was
,k!:overing the opera
tions- with . Ids eenvany. 'i,
'rhe same day, a ecconpoisance was corn
meoced to the left } of San iAugustin, first over
diffienit mounds, 011 farther on, over the same
fields id 4 vol e anie rOcks and lava which c.extend.to the motintainaMionte; five '4;tiles, , from San
Antonio ,to Magdalena. • The re,connoisance
wag continued to-day. by Captain Lee, assisted I
by. Captain Beauragard and Tower, all of the'
engineera , ,;.,whO';4ro-joined, in the afternoon.{
by Major Smith of the same corps. Other di- I
visions eotning jr.rl PElow's was advanced to
make a practleablnreid for heavy artillery, and I
Twiggs tkrolynlatther in front, to cover that
I operation; ;for ly theleartial reconnoisance of i
yesterslayy Capt.-7 , ; discovered a large corps
Of-observation:in_ tilitection,. with; a detach- I
tent of whidh Ilia. upports of cavalry ..ard footi
tinder Capt. IlCorney and,Lieut.:o6l.-Grrahatn/
/TerfOitively c htidt nisaversful Air= ith. • - ;
Bythree•Velorit.this'aftths advanced
I divisions earn° to a point Where the new road
1 notild'only be contitfued ttitder the direct 'fire
i ofZpiertes of the ens ` try's artillery, (most 01-
th :pf tale calibre;,) Placid iii,a4frortgly en
tr 'COW itmunli 'to 4iPiTtie l our - .operatidor, and
williciikkedTby eery adrialatagent.grointd,!: be- I
ai* jaidienacfbodies-:tif - eit.airrand %filial,
' hotiktrretnthreed from 'the city, :over all exeel-'
lent tod! , *ond the volcanic field, and !eoime
qneintly beirtcnd!the - tette h, : 'oS our iiivilry and
artillery ' ,- 1 -::' . , • , i
Arriving on the word an heir literj Amid
that' 11114 V, iid Tlii . gge division Al had ridttut 7
eid to dialodOihe .
. oe . #l,:y-,:picking- their "way
(all cilflekiod i tiot)'idoitg • his front, arid : ix-, 1
1 tenditiA'fhemeelvelamarda _the road:froiiithe
! &y: OIL the eientlwileff)Ctiptein Navvies .
' eeki *OE", of 12/sadi6 piumien, arid' ,Liest)
-0-!. -
<'fToro'me~VVWi;;lilinl6M
MONTROSE PA., THURSDAYS
tltiletideo,s battery of Mounted howitzers and
rocketsltad„also, with great difficulty been ad
vdn'ieti vygliiti mien, of. the entrenched camp.
These' haiteries, Inost 'gallantly served, suffer
coirldn the course of the afternoon from
the . enemy's superior metal.
The'battle, though mostly stationary,. con
tinued to range with greatest violence until
nightfall: - . Brevet Brig. Gen. P. F. Smith!.
and Brevet Col. Riley's brigades, (Twiggs' di
visinn,).slipported by Brig. Generals Pierce's
& Cadwgladers's brigades, (Pillow's division,)
were mote than three hours under a heavy Ste
of artillqy aid musketry, along the almostim
passable'ietine front and to the left of the en
treucheCeamp, Besides the 22 pieces of ar
tillery, the camp and ravine were defender)
closely b`i masses of infantry, and these again
supported by clouds 'of cavalry, at hand and
hoverinein view. Consequently, no decided
itnpressitin could be made, by daylight, our the
enemy's
s inost formidable position, because, in
dependetit of the difficulty of the ravine, our in
fantry, unaccompanied by eavalry and artillery.
could hot' 'advance in column without 'being
!mowedlciiiwn the grape and cannister of the
lalitteripsi,nor advance in line without being
ridden over. by the enemy's numerons cavalry.
All our -6rps however, including Magruders
and Calliinder's last batteries, not only main
tained'tht expcsed positions early gained. but
all uttenipted charges upc,n them, respectively
!—partietpally orr Riley, twice closely engaged
with eavelry in greatly superior numbers—
were'. repulsed and punished.
Front an eminence, soon after arriving near
the seend, I observed the church and hamlet of
Contreras, (or Ausa!pa} on the road leading
up from the Capital, through, the entrenched
campAci,Magdale'ne, and seeing, at the same]
time, thmstream of reinforcements advancing)
' by that valid, from the city, I ordered (through
Maj. Gni. Pillow) Col. Morgan, with his reg- I
`intent the till then held in reserve by I
' Pillow, to more forwardt ind to occupy Contre- I
ras (or All.salda)—being persuaded if occupi
ed, it tvoiid wrest the reinforcements and ul
timately 'eevicl. the battle.
1 Rhey Was already on the enemy's left, in ad-h
cancel of the hamlet. A few minutes:later,
Brig. Gdin. Shield& with his volunteer 'brigade
,(ICcrwiY(trl: and South Carolina Regiments—
,Quittrian!s division) coming up under my or
' durs, frt.tn.San Augustin, I directed Shields to
follow arid sustain Morgan. These corps, over
the etrente difilKilties of ground—partially
covered With a low forest—before described,
:reached ICot,trertis, and found Cadwallader's
brigade in position, observing the formidable
movement from the eal teal, and much needing
'the tiinely reinforcement.
1 It ovaa abendy dark, and the cold rain had
!begun td fall in. tOrtents upon our unsheltered
trtylpS., Or the hamlet, though strong defensive
situatvan h. hi only the wounded men, and
un'orfunately, the new regiments have; little
or nothing to eat in their haver sacks. Wet.
, hungry and- wit} out the possibility of sleep, all
our ri s, I learn, are full of confidence,
. and only; wait 'or the last hoar of darkness to
. .
gain tnelposittons whence to storm, and carry
the eseniie'a w, rks.
,
. Of 04 seven officers despatched, since about
sus down from my position, oprosite.to the en
en,v's cehtre, aid on this side of the fields of
reeks ano lava—to communicate instructions
to the lignilet—not ow? has succeeded ih get
ting thrOugh those difficulties, increased by
da.kness!.. They have all - returned.. But the
calla! t airl• ludefati4able Captain Lee, of the
engineero, who has been constantly with the
uperatilfor..es, i-: jug in from Shields, Smith,
Cadwallid, r, &,!., to rep ,rt as above, and to
a 4; that!a powerftil diversion be made against
the rehire of the: - entrencle - d camp toward. s
tnorningl
Brigadier General Tninrgs, cut off, as above
from the part of.his divi"lon beyond the im
practicable grourd, and Capt. Lee, are gone,
under 4 orders, to collect the forces remaining
im this tie, with Which to make that diversion
about :5 io'clook in the inf , rning. C
And here I will end this report, commenced
at thiste, and, in another, continue the nar
rative e ..the great events which then impend
ed. i
I harp the honor to be, sir, with high re
spect, Aufmcst obedient servant.
WIN FIELD SCOTT
Ilan. c . VV.II. L. 3lincr, Secr'y of War.
No. 32. i (Duplicate.)
iiiii&DQUAIITELS OF THE A lIMY, -
TSCVII.i YA, at the Gates of Mexico,
• August 25, 1847. )
Su:My report, No. 31, commenced in the !
night or,the 19th instant, closed the operations'
of th 4 army with that day. •
The titorcing of the 20th opened with one of
a series ,'of unsurpassed achievements,, all in
view of the capital, and to which I shall give '
the -general name—Battle of Mezico.
In thil night of the 19th, Brigadier General
Shields,fl), F. Smith and Cadwalader, and Col.
Riley,-Writh their brigades, and. the 15th ltegi
melt, under Col. Morgan, detached from Brig
adier. Oneral Pierce—found themselves in and
dbontthe important position±the village, ham
tet or Mcicnda, called, indiff&ently, Contreras,l
Ansalcitt, San Geronitno,ha.f a mile nearer to the l
citAttlan the enemy's entrenched- camp onl
the kanle,road,, towards the factory of Magda-.
;env., , .
-Thatk.amp had. been, unexpectedly, our for
ittidalihijpoint of attack the:arteirsoottiWore,
ituid we bed no* to take. it,) without the; ibt of
vavalryr:artillery, Or, to throw,-loack our
14 - ncetVigorps;4pon. the road from :San Angus
-6n to the, city, and thence' force a • passage
thmugliliSan Antonio.
• Aec(44l,, ingly, to meet eontingeneies, Major
Generat.'Worth was ordered to leave, etrly.in
Itheitiorping of the 20th, one of his brigades to
I OP* 8 ,01 3 - Antonio, and to , mardritith the oth
lerl six niiles, via San Augustine, upon Contre--
6„,:: , destination • was given te Major •
Oenfmti:tuitman and his remaining inigads in
13,n (dr the element, this
1
!igairlsoo,.Of Shit important-depot with:Mersey',
l*igaide4fcergrx W bolo yolk! etli Fie Eiti
ECEMBER 2, ,1847.
the in ',
ening rooks, ilee:;-t? meth the field of
1 1 1 4 I
~ Eversion, for an earliei heir (6000'
had been arranged the night befoie, according
to the,suggestion of Brigadier General SMith,
rceeivicltbroagh the engineer, Captain Lee,
who conveyed my orders to our truops remain
ing on the ground opposite to the enemy's cen
tre—tbe paint for the diversion of a real attack,
as cirCsinstances might allow.
Guided by Captain-Lee, it prnved the latter,
urrderltie command of Col. Ransom, of the
9th, hiving with him that regiment and some
compatits of three others—the 3a, 12th, and
rides. I
Shields:the senior officer at the:hamlet, haw
ing artived in the night,, after Smith bad ar
ranged with Cadwalader and 'Riley the plan of
attack for the morning, delicately waived inter
ferenm ; but reserved to - himself the double
task of holding the hainlet with, his two regi
meuts(South Carolina and New 'York volun
teers)egainet ten times his numbers on the side
of the city, including the - slopes to his left, and,
in case the camp in his rear shbuld be carried,
to face about and cut off the flying enemy.
At - 3 o'clock, A. 11., the great .movement
commenced on the retr of the enemy's camp,
Riley leading, followed suceeasirely by Cad
wal;der's and Smitkee brigades, the latter tem-1
poraftly under the orders of Major Diwick of I
the Ist artillery—the,whole force being com
mantled by Smith, the senior in theigeneral at
'tack, and whose arrangements, skill- slid 1- i
lantry always challenge the higheii admiral. o'n.
The march was rendered tedious by the
darkness, rain, and niud ; bfit about sunrise,
Riley, conducted by Lieut. Tower, engineer,
had reached an elevation behind the enemy,
whence he precipitated his columns ;—stormed
the entrenchments, i planted bis several colors
upon them, and carried the work—all in seven
teen minutes. '
Conducted by Lieut. Beauregard., engineer,
and Lieut. Brooks of Twiggy' ,staff, both of}
whom, like Lieut. Tower, had, in the night,!
twice reconnoitered the ground*--Cadwalader
brought up to the general assault, two of his!
regiinerds—the voltigeurs and the llth, and it
the appointed time, Cul. Rausontwith his tem
porary brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, en
gineer, not only made the movement to divert
and to distract the enemy; but, after'crossing
the deep ravine in .his front, advanced, and
poured into the works and upon the fugitives,
Many volleys of his destructive Musketry.'
In the meantime Smith's own "brigade, under
the temporary command orMajor Dimick, fol
lowing the movements of Riley and (& dwala
der, discovered, opposite to, and outs of the
works, -a long line of 31exican cavalry, drawn
up as a support. ,Dimick, baying at the bead
u: the brigade the company ot sappers and
usadr Liwt. Smith,,,engtneer. who had
conducted the march, was ordered by Brigadier .
General-Smith, to form line faced;to the enemy,
and in a charge against a flank, routed the
cavalry.
Shields. too, by the wise disposition of his
brigade and gallant activitv, contributed much
to the ge neral results. 11; held masses of cav
alry sud infantry, supported by artillery, in
check below him, and captured hundreds, with
one general, (Mendoza) of those , wbo fled from
above.
I doubt whether a more trillitint 'or decisive
victory—taking into t•iew, Omuta artificial de
fences, batte, ice, and the extreme disparity of
numbers—without cavalry pr artnery-on our
side—is to be fouhd on record. ; Including :all
our corps directed ag,ainet:tile entrenched camp,
with Shield's brigade at the hamlet, we posi
tively did not number over 5,5(11),;rank and•file;
and Fe knew, by sight. an .since, more cer
tainly by .many captured doOments and lettere r
that the enemy bad actually en' aged on the
spot 7,000 men, with at lea:41)112,000. more
hovering within sight, and etriking distance- 7
both . on the lfith and 20th.1 not killed or
captured, now tied with precipitation. •
Thus was the great vietory,lof . Contreras
achieved; one road to the capital{ opened.; 700
of the enemy killed ; 843 prisoners, including,
among 88 officers, 4 generals ; besides- many
colors and standards; 22 piecesof brass ord
nance—half of large calibre; (thousands of
small arms and accoutrements an immense
quantity of shot; shells, powder4andcartridg
; 700 pack mules, many horse!), ; all m
our hands.
It is highly, gratifying to. find` hat, by skill
ful arrangement, and xeoution, our
loss in killed and wounded, did not exceed, on
the spot 60—among the former the brave Cap
tain Charles Hanson, of the 7th,- tlfantry—not
-more distinguished for gallantry; than for mod.
esty, morals, and piety. Lieut.' J. P. Johni:
stone, st artillery, !erring .with.. Magruder's
batt .a, young officer of the, highest prom
ise, wee' lied the wk.:ling befote.
One of the most pleasing in'el
victory is the recapture, in the t
taro Drum, 4th artillery, under
ner, of the two brtiii six.poundi
another company of the same reg'
without the loss of honor, 14 th .,
tle of Buena Vistabout
whole regiment bad 'mourned for
months!' Coming np, 'little I
happiness to join in the protrac
gallant 4th on the
joyous event
the whole army emiathises in: •
and pit - Illation.
The
baplikbeing i #on.bqfore,it
b
nigeir• of Wardet and .Onitin
were ip eight, loth *ere m*oo,l
latewaitionw=—Weith, to 4464
in frO4,_with , bie 0* tole.
proae*io the *T. by . rwmt . '
divisions --moving frOm_
Salt legel tad 007,001.:
Antcoile, wi knew that :14. •• •
ar shorter and betterLrnikki4.
otes. 4'14. othp!.**
Oromd,
ria4•:,brigeo• logehoictioNot
der sheinstadb4___.••colders,
.L 0 f :)1
trhOWIS now - 0 1 13 PsEivr•P I TAP
.41 .
, • r - - -
1 activity, late the :evenini bisfore, by where
hurt received from the fall of his hors .
- ! - Aitegng:seseestsil *dem ,ces ~ e ; field,,iu
si lt
he midst of-pruoisiarrand trti 'd me+
ing instructions te i tlitrney . 's brigade of cavalry,
left at Sin 'Angue n, to ' )6lnute,,`llietiottiilly
-furrowed Pillow's Movement. ' 1 ~
Arriving at'Cojteacan, two miles by a cross!
road, from the rear of San Antonio,. t first de
tached Capt. Lee, 'engineer, with 'Capt. Kear-
ney's troop, Ist drigoons,'-auyportedhy the rib
regiment, under bleier Loring, to yeeonneitre'
that strong poitd.i and next despateFed Major
Gen. Pillow, with one of his brigades- Caderal
ailed's) to make the attack uponfite a =neat 1
with Major Gen. Worth, on the oppoidte fide:
At the same time, by anotheei , road to the
left, Lieut. Stevens, of the engineers, supported
by Lieut. G. W. Smith's company 0 uppers
and miners, of the same corps, wu, sent to, re
connoitre the stroegly fortified church or con
vent of San Pahle, l in the hamlet Of Churnatte
co—one mile off, Twiggs, with, one of ithe
brigades , (Stnith'S.---less the rifles, and Captain
Taylor's field battery, were ordered' to follow
and attack the odtlvent. ' Major Smith, senior
engineer, was despatched to cutter! with
I Twiggy the mode' and - means of attack, and
Twiggs' other brigatle_(Riley's) I Bolin ordered
lisp to support hitn. • • , „.:
1 Next (but all is ten toinutes)-I sent Pierce
r(just able to keep ; the saddle) with his brigade
Pillow's division) conducted by Capt. Lee,
engineer, --by a third road, a little-farther to our
tleft, to attack they enemy's right add reat, in
.
I order to favor thelmovement upon the convect
land cut off the 'retreat towards- the capital.
And finally, Shields, senior brigadier to Pierce,
with the New York and South Carolina .volun
i teem, (Quitman's :division,) was ordered to fol
-1 low Pierce, &lady, and to take the
,' command
of our left wing. : All these movements were
made with the utmost alacrity by Mu gallant
troops and commanders.
Finding myself at Coyoacan, from wbbil so
, many roads conveniently branched, rithout.es
-1 cart or reserve, I' had to advaece, for safety,
!close upon Twiggs rear. The battle now raged
from the right to the left of our whol e line. )
I Learning, 'on the return of CaptaLee, that
Shields, in the rear-of Cbtrubuseki was hard I
pressed, and in danger of beintontilanked, it'
not overwhelmed, by greatly superior numbers,
I immediately sent, under 'Major Sumner, 24
dragoons, the rifles (Twiggs' reserve): and
,Capt. 4 ibley's troop, 2d dragoons, then at hand,
to support onr left, guided by the Same engi.
neer. . ; i
About an hour earlier, Worth had,ly skilful
and daring movements upon the !front and
right, turned and: forced San Autonio---ite gar
rison, no. doubt, Inuch shaken by cur decisive
victory at Costr
n t. • A
His second b ' de (Col. Clarkate)continat—
cd by Capt. Maw*, engineei, assisted by Lieut.
t:pogreghical engineer,, turned the
right, and by a Wide sweep, came but upon the
high road to the capital. At tbbi point the
heavy 'garrison (,000 men) in retreat, wis, by
Clarke, cut in thii centre one portibn, the rear
driven upon Dolores,. off to the right ; and the
other upon Chnrubusco, the . direct Hie of
our operations. The first brigade, (Colonel
Garland's,) same division, consisting ofthe 2d
artillery, under Major Galt, the 3d artillery,
under Lieut. Col. Balton, and the 4thinfantry,
commaplied by Maj. F. Lee; with Lieut. Col:
Duncaris field battery (temporarily) followed
in pursuit through the town, taking one gen
eral prisoner, the abandoned guns; (five pieces)
much ammunition and other public property.
The forcing of - San Antonio was the stcond
brilliant event of the day.
.
Worth's division being aoon-reunited in hot
pursuit, he was. joined by Maj. Gen. Pillow;
who, marching from Coyoacan and discovering
that San Antonio bad . beenearried, immediate.
ly turned to the left, according to liiv instruc
tions, and though much impeded briitehirs and,
swamps. hastened to the attack of Churribuseo..
The hamlet or scattered'housee. bearing this
name, presented. besides the fortilid convent,
a strong field-work (tete de Pont ) otitli regular
bastions and curtains , at t h e head'Of a bridge
over which the road passes from San Antonio
to the capital. . 1 .. .
The whole remaining forces of 31Celeo—:some
27,000 men—cavalry, artillery, .and infantry,
collected from every quarter—were now in, on
the flanks or within supporting disteeee of those
works, and seemed resolved - to make a last and
desperate stand ; for if beaten herb the feebler
defences at ,the gates of the eity—'.4 miles !off—
could not, us was well known 'to bcth parties,
delay the victors an hour. The.mipital of ini
ancient empire, now of a' great republic ; or an
early peace, the assailants were Seskili t ed to'win.
Not an Anterieinantl we were less than
third of the enemy's numbers—had a doilbt as
to the result.
.
The fortified church or convent,: botlY press
ed by Twiigs, had already held out about An
hour, when. IVorth still, Pillow - the latter hav
ing with him only-, 01'41w/tinder's b, leade4e
gen to *nanmuvre &poly upon the ' tete de:pa,4l, ,
with the, minFent at halt gun shot,. o their ltft.
Garlin4'a brigade, (IyOrrl'i,d4risio ,) to which
had-been *deed the lied buttalititi puler Lieut.
Col.-Smith ,. continued . to advance; in riVievi4
under the lire of a long line of ffiffinto.,ol94
the left of the brigade • and Clarke, iof the' seine
division; directed his itrigade alonfl i the reatt or
close by itii)eide. ~ Tiro of Pillow. and Cad
*elide's regiments; the llth ;and .14tlijkintp- '
poked; • and pertkipetei le „Wel teek.;tue,, Ye-.
Ment.r , tbe'oeber (the italtigollfs>''. waV leftil
,p F euur
tiatir4e,: l!itjart of, Abet* . nor .'' . iodikrty.
Clirkele brigade,;4draminil. /.7. ' 011
Were leaks° mate melt by, • i ire .44.4,1t0
tete de, pont, and they woultk , ,hoe , ar ig are d
greatly' more byllenit attoe_ Ite*t,,be ton ., en t,
:
b 4 for, the press* of
,Tortgigil I ,' ' tie iritiaT
ibie ofibet Wort' '','" ',., ', '' - '!,'' - I:''±i'' , .;.' '
1 thio wei,l--0 1 ,1*0 „Olt del j ,il#o l oiiiv
et knitkr, o /0041 1 04 0 944 111 c4 444 1
ant the tog. ,
.41,14. a 1540.104 1 .14,. tot*
moslif It
lumultOdageart443ll.:*.kiMS: ti, is aitc Os isibut '...11414 1 4* -
wit AS intigais 11 , 1 ) „., • ' '' '
Isho d i r 144
Identm of the
rka, by Cap-
I u,j6r Gard
e, taken from
tnent, though
i. gloriona, bat- ,
IA guns the
1 so many long
er; I had the
'. cheer* of ihe
and; indeed"
is just pride
o sav i atleing
dkvisionk
sok to that
640 Ado*.
Pon as mi.
and,
' through
ar** 'SO
oithitir
otp:
divOia‘livtd
'Mow,
t:114 Cres,
O*W 0001
t 1 '
i
;•41 %gal
111'1'1 015. ;f1).
• 11,4 ;:q f iti 100;it
'• e F '';;;„1 14 blEalflite;
;' 1 • , s' - )0 Itia
;• 1 017. 1
h . :, V An-L-yo 9.6
.otpx.
OEM
=1
MEM
) 4n ~.Ikrlitli) 14113R1
"I" 41110141&.;
Jr
kn0W0 1144 1 93 7,e 1 V the - Otero 1 0 .104,141 1 Plekkik
gadO)Arbicli isititeMewe mak exposl4lo lb. A
road.—the llth regiment, niedmaleisittmottes,
CehmetatwOwia.l4ll4;ei '
Colonel Tivinadelt.lietli of--o . MwelodescOomp ',;,.
gade, Pillow!. divis4 en., , Abeht , tles %sip
._
1 1 03
the camels • ~frontl . 0f,137414; 40114 , .1 6 •16.1.
conflict of -hour. nes4 a "11. '. gm. i01y,,,1i_43 -
retreatito I thecapital._ i , ~ ~... ~ ,„, i t s '
The ins ' • ..tAmilte of 41 44irv—.4:Ateliic
triumph ;of tha 4.ayi *re.: 1 1, 114i-Piatio4ll9* 1 ,
prisoners, much assonOtiow;alo4 , 4 2 wescolote,"tih rt ,
ken in Sbe tete 4 peetl .. ;: I. _,;I: ia + - ...A tilt ,:,.:•
As the concurrent Attack upon tbeikeelliWebn -
..faiored phytimelly and nee, rallY,lo4llllllll '
on the We de pont, sety,esecipremft no,AfftelitT
the fall of thoilatteelotekibu‘l49 1444 1 1 0Kert
of the former. .The AWo , WorkeweteselliPeelliefi
460 mit &Part ;Imed, as.wmeep-ilteelfereafAL
possession of Ile tde de pont, a elaptelevet kel,
pounder, was tinned and Orel—first 111111446
Larkin• Smith, and neat by Lieut. Boelliesik,hotia,;,-..
of the Bth infantry—several titeeenpeliAlla,—
; convent. Iu the. *Os Wet - ietereekrisiellion
Col.:Demme, 0104 . Wordel: Await:3.l6a
lantly bronght - two of .hie guile, beeti,twt ; ski
Ishort range, frcsne . the San ientoniermul, wpow g
; the principal face settle work, and °nibs tor m a
l er of the church, which, in the obatinater teme , ,,
test had-been Ofteerefilled with peels et the,. ;
best sharp -shootertof the enm.Y. , . ~ IL: ri 7:1,1
iqually, twenty minutes atter the treiapeet
had been carried `by Worth sad Pillow, estasetr 4
the end of a desperate conflictAtwehours . Isted ft
a half, 'the church or convent--;be scitalletLett a "
the strong line ; of defences along iltiwe Ayala& or,
Churubusco—fielded to Twigge , divilliOskamlCl
; threw out, me all _sides, signals of aurrose*sr.,:,
The white flags, however, were,netuexbih4di.v
until the moment when the 3d infantry o*my, ,
Capt. , Alexander, had cleared theoserieefAiwl , -
and bayonet, and had entered.themork oc ; 4apti. ; ;
J. M. Smith and,ldeut. 0. U.Shepherkbotk 1.1-t
of that regiment with their compenees s itmltho
glory of leading the assault; , ,! "The;- foreeme ref„
ceived the surrender ; and- Cant,. Alemendsgruenl
stoutly hung out, from a baldony. ,the celerafet ,
the gallant bd. Ifejor Ditnieit.ssetesf ti .
the lit artillery,. 'erring -as in es eistampl ~
nearly abreast with the leacliinguilm.l o -eu.,.=.:4
LieuL J. F:;lions, lit. artillery., sid-dessaMis
'to Brigadier General Cadwalader,e,youngoffi r3 .
cer of great merit and corniouousitaimttle. Ain
several previous occasions, received,-.is frontlef
the work, a Mortalwound. ( Since dead ,),, ):7 , -,,
Captain Tayi/s field batteryoettaehed.leo .
Twiegs' divisinn, opened its effective literAChath'.
early moment, upon the outiworks of theesmikk ,
vent and the tower of its &Arch.' ‘Exposedstric
the severest fa* of the enemy; the- eeitaia,•:kieu
officers and Men, won universal admiration:s Maki
at length much disabled, in *en ased.bormsk i tke
battery was, by superior Ordent,.; withiaraim4-
from the actilia 'thirty agetatesbethre tite.te
render of the , convent. A. ; - ,_ ~1,, , ,v.i0.1 .. .--lie,
Those corps, exceptinglAyleriehatfety,sheen
longed to -the' brigade of Brig. cien..f.mithiwkrat
closely directed the whole•infra* MC
his habitual coolnessend ibilitiiiirklitiWit
brigade—.tht2d and itit infantryoueler,o9lo[
T. 'Morris and Lint, Col.. Plyreptionoiwirebter
ively ; vignrovuily engagediberight of" k 2
and part of its rear. AtltheMounteklbsetillemi
belonging to Smith's, were detachedluesupporto
of Brig. Getiil Shield's on ienimttremelegand
the 4th artillery. acting as infalitryvisedir nog
jor Gardner, ;belonging to ltileesibriptie,rbeit
been leftist charge of the cateepr trephimeiltexe
at Contreras.. Twiggs'idivisien i eet Cheeramtd .
co, had thus heen_deprived-of the selreicesiott
two of its most gallant andeffective-MOMMetm i -
The immediate results of - his 'eficesarYllwrette
the capture of 7 field-pieceb, sumeiwwwesisfir t
tion, ,one-color,, , ,threse , generals% huditi26lb ptsiti
onersiincheding ether officeie.; , ~-; <;:z , .,11. -rgio
Ili ,
Captains E.:A. ;Capron 44M: a t: :o;iiedic.
Lieut. B.: Roffman, all of - tiselitaxt . 'lose
Capt. J..W.Andersim anitLievt.iTh, Awl
ley, both of the 2d infantrY-4Te laimuemet
great merit-441 gallantly bbfore fAuti Wit& aft
Thal eailtiere of the , enetnyTe Aitedidi Molls%
fourti great Achievement of our, armis[iyalst
same day. •- , - ; _ , .... 1 nifisir tOra.
It his — been stated. that ; some temhitrealtdi
a half before: . Pierce's, fo ll inifed-eletwirldipthel
volunteer * brigade'; bottinnder thetaimiliA at
Brig. Gen. Shields ';' , llad bein detimh4etetsail
left to turn the enemy's sinrksl.:i4o liraviii i ia
the escape of the gareistses; Andtri;* , 'the
extension' or the` entitles' TS tit ' ' sfatie
the' rear, upcstvendlaromidour . , lei "PsimtEt
Coisidering theinferior nattieeterebeieweri .
brigades, thApbjects of theisevenseet wifetis dlf
Smelt to' accomplisk:-' ' Hence thicreistferemeessW
(the rifles, fitcq) sent forward* , littleol4tteir
' In is" Winding Maid of 'a Mile mituftflothil:
right,. thiefeeiswitry'divisioh - tote & ifieVr oar
the edge 'ortin efen'wettemideler;nett*Hrods
from Beit'Aiitonne to . : the , reepitill , iitsidoitia OW
presence of Some 4000 of the enemyi*deleriv ,
a Bohan reitr ,- OV,Plittribuiecp;:ortegio ibia,
Egtabliabing tt;eriett. itti IVA*, r { .beNiteir
Shields extended'bia leftmiefelietibibstireiK}
t e e
to -outthink 'Aiseelient r rtoiratifitihir ides
But flu) enemy' extend_ipg Ilk tighirs
by 3000 . eavfill; int;relailidlyltseing
by bettergrohlid)in ibelamelliqeti* food&
concilitritesttbediVielotillAwitatlaitil=
detertnined'tel'atteekiiirfrifivitzi:thite k . I
long, Ulf ink 'NOW ,-;but, toltiOdetrik
slAviniii theweal snit r'relteettOleitel Ottetitlet*
LaNy Artieketi ' l l4 their" a .ft%iiiiiteditiessiliC
es: 2 lliic 'clime* libleloW ;.1 1 rhelth3Wilnit
15tli' ' '- ' ' '"' t4il•aiii.l'''''
. _.
tali'
or
Nine
of 1
togel
Mt,
Atikiry
I,,f a h m
'cor
tok s 1
*op
-!, 4 2.
; .4.IJdC