# Complete history of the late Mexican war/Battle of Sierra Gorda

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BATTLE OF SIERRA GORDA.
General Twiggs' division of our army arrived, within three miles of the position of the enemy, April 11th, and General Patterson's on the 12th. On the 16th, we had six thousand men ready for action, while the enemy numbered from eight to twelve thousand. They occupied a chain of works along the road, the nearest of which was about a mile and a quarter from General Scott's headquarters, The road over which we had to pass, was barricaded and cut up in every way to impede our progress. Beyond the first fortification there are several others completely commanding the gorge, through which the road to ​Jalapa runs. There were twenty-four pieces of field artillery besides about fourteen heavy cannon in position. The high and rocky ravine of the river protected their right flank and a series of abrupt and apparently impassable mountains and ridges covered their left. A front attack, which the enemy expected on account of our bravery, must have been fatal to us. General Scott outwitted the One Leg and had a road cut to the right, so as to escape the front fire, and turn his position on the left flank. A deserter from our camp made this known to the enemy, and they sent General La Vega with a large force to aid the left flank.
General Scott, on the 17th of April, to cover his flank movements, sent General Twiggs against the fort on the steep ascent in front, and a little to the left of the Sierra. This expedition was commanded by Colonel Harney, who carried the position under a heavy fire of grape and musketry. This was an important post gained, situated in front and near the enemy's strongest fortification. By great labor, one of our large guns was placed upon the top of the fort, and blazed away at a strong fort in the rear; but with little effect.
April 18th, early in the morning, our army moved to the attack in columns. General Twiggs's division attacked the enemy's left and carried the breast works after a slight resistance, at the point of the bayonet, and completely routed the enemy at that point. Pillow's brigade, accompanied by General Shields's, passed along the Jalapa road with rapidity, and took a position to stop the retreat of the enemy. General Worth moved forward toward the left to aid Twiggs. Twiggs had steep and ough ground to pass over, was constantly exposed to ​the fire of the enemy in front and to the cross-fire of the forts and batteries.
The fight was tremendous for a short time, and finally the enemy gave way on all sides. Three thousand men with field and other officers surrendered. A large amount of small arms, ordnance and batteries were taken. Six thousand of the enemy gained the rear of our army on the Jalapa road and were pursued. We lost two hundred and fifty killed and wounded, and among the latter was General Shields. The Mexican loss was about one hundred more than ours, besides those taken prisoners. We captured thirty pieces of cannon, much ammunition, and the private baggage and money chest of Santa Anna, containing twenty thousand dollars. On the 19th, Jalapa, and on the 22d, Perote, were taken without opposition.
Nothing prevented our men from being utterly destroyed but the steepness of the ascent under which they could shelter. But they sought no shelter, and onward rushed against a hailstorm of balls and musket-shot, led by the gallant Harney, whose noble bearing elicited the applause of the whole army. His conspicuous and stalwart frame at the head of his brigade, his long arm waving his men on to the charge, his sturdy voice ringing above the clash of arms and din of conflict, attracted the attention and admiration alike of the enemy and of our own men. On, on, he led the columns, whose front lines melted before the enemy's fire like snow-flakes in a torrent, and staid not their course until leaping over the rocky barriers, and bayonetting their gunners, they drove the enemy pell mell from the fort, delivering a deadly fire into their ranks, from their own guns, as they hastily retired.
General Scott, between whom and Colonel Harney there had existed some coolness, rode up to the colonel ​after this achievement, and remarked to him—"Colonel Harney, I cannot now adequately express my admiration of your gallant achievement, but at the proper time I shall take great pleasure in thanking you in proper terms."
It was here the enemy received their heaviest loss, and their General Vasquez was killed. A little after. General Worth, having, by great exertions, passed the steep and craggy heights on the enemy's left, summoned a strong fort in the rear of the Sierra to surrender. This fort was manned by a large force under General Pinzon, a mulatto officer of considerable ability and courage, who, seeing the Sierra carried, thought prudent to surrender, which he did with all his force. General Shields was not so fortunate in the battery which he attacked, and which was commanded by General la Vega. A heavy fire was opened on him, under which the fort was carried with some loss by the gallant Illinoisians, under Baker and Bennett, supported by the New Yorkers, under Burnett. Among those who fell under this fire was the gallant general, who received a grape-shot through his lungs, by which he was completely paralyzed, and at the last account was in a lingering state. On the enemy's right, General Pillow commenced the attack against the strong forts near the river. The Tennesseeans, under Haskell, led the column, and the other volunteer regiments followed. This column unexpectedly encountered a heavy fire from a masked battery, by which Haskell's regiment was nearly cut to pieces, and the other volunteer regiments were severely handled. General Pillow withdrew his men, and was preparing for another attack, when the operations at the other points having proved successful, the enemy concluded to surrender. Thus the victory was complete, and four generals, and about six thousand men, were taken ​prisoners by our army. One of their principal generals and a large number of other officers killed. The Mexican force on this occasion certainly exceeded our own."
In addition to the loss of the enemy in killed and taken they lost about thirty pieces of brass cannon, mostly of large calibre, manufactured at the royal foundry of Seville. A large quantity of fixed ammunition, of a very superior quality, together with the private baggage and money chest of Santa Anna, containing twenty thousand dollars, was also captured.
On the same day that the battle of Sierra Gordo was fought, a portion of the American Gulf Squadron, under Commodore Perry, captured the town of Tuspan, on the Gulf.
On the 19th, the city of Jalapa was captured by a detachment under General Twiggs; and on the 22d, General Worth entered the town of Perote. Both these cities were taken without opposition; and in the latter were found immense stores of small arms, ammunition, and the large guns of the city and castle.