Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-10-23

euNW! b@uCe's "vfe MAKING movement
from the left Of their hne passing around
skirt az woods towards our nsht flank. an.
psreatly wi h the intention OF turning Ia, he
ordered the 81 AMI 9th regiments OF in6ntry
10 nercbin that direction aud Intercept them
This movement was promptly executed. aud
under cover of the woods anil the smoke OF
our guns. these regiments gained position
about half mile from the maiu body OF the
army, where the Lancers must pass; aud il
was su, q lew moments before they We're seen
approaching around the point of woods which
bad uniii now concealed them.
The Regiments were instantly thrown into
a square, the 9th in trout, the 81 about three
hundred wards in the rear aud in this posi-
ton they awaited the enemy.
When the Lancers espied our troops formed
IN square, they were taken BY surprise, halted
at distance OF some four hundred yards from
the 9th Infantry. and formed for charge
iheu numbers appeared most overpoweTiug.
and II was Afterwards sscrrisined that the odds
were at least three TO one ia their favor.
As soon as their columns were formed, the
charge was sounded from numerous trumpets
through their lines--st the same time setting
up most unearthly shout, and putting their
horses at full speed, they came bounding to-
wards the 9th "a little bind Of three hundred
and forty nen.)
As they came sweeping down tho prairie,
dressed in the wild costume OF the Mexican
cavalry, their appco rance was truly terrific;
but The officers encouraged their men TO stand
hrm IN their places, and not TO permit their
renks TO be broken, Expressing upon Them the
Importance oI maintaining their square IL
required all their efforts to give confidence 20
the soldiers, as they had heard the most tot
midoble accounts OF these troops they were
considered the choice corps of the Mexican
army, and II was upon them that their Gen
eral placed The most reliance Indeed they
bod been pronounced by one OF our dragon
officers fine body Of well disciplined troops.
This, together with the TACT that they were
one thousand strong, rendered the situation
oil the 9th anything but enyiable at this par
ticulsr juncture.
Ii Is stated By an experienced officer. that
the situation of soldiers when in sousre A.
gainst cavalry, awaiting charge. is the most
trying Of all Others. There is an excitement
IN the attacking party which stimulates the
most 'inid. and blupts the thought OF danger.
The enthusiasm Of the impetuous assault
when making the charge, spreads from man
I'D man like wild-tire, and the most cowarlly
get some sparks of courage from their drawer
comrades around them: ON the contrary, the
imposing array OF q large body OF horse com
Ing. upon them at full speed, is enough TO
shake The nerves oi brave men. The moral
eilrct - very great; and the Mexican General
liornIon) taking stNantsge OF this iact, ex-
pecied To cut the square 10 pieces in a short
time. Little did he know OF the material of
our army; the men behaved mo st nolly. Not
man proved. spoke, or fired shot, but per
United the lnncers TO approach fire their car
Dimes into the square. and when within dis
lance oi thirty yards from the second front
the command WAS given in a distinct and aud.
lflIlss nj xss,ffs f..re H.
aim, fire." IL was well timed, ami well di.
rccted; aud most fatal aud decisive was the
effect. Thirty riders plunged hcadlong from
lheir saddles never to mount again: and the
Others, thrown into the utmost terror aud COZ
fusion, turned back to their army, aud did not
make their appearance again.
II was while the l.sncers were retresting.
tliat two pieces OF MEXICAN artillery, each
drawn By five mu.eS, were sra Dproaching
within two hundrci yards OF the square,
lido Tesglittisyrh inlo battery at this
difia Md given the Infantry . round OF
gTaPs Let upon the condensed slusre
wosT &c been must fatal; bat they contia-
lisss - SE<,sse SUI Deser. WhereupoR
Cos. -, ~ f<.ied Tor Lieut.. Rilsely. who
had been with bin during The day with two
pieces OF Ri1ggoids artillery. bat had been
detained with the main army when the 9Th
were ordered to the right. Al thi, moment
sonIe one exclaimed ''lhrre he Comes!" and
sure enough be was discovered approaching
from Ihe direction OF the army, his horses
dying at the very top ol their speed. aud in
AN incredibly short space OF time had reached
the square, wheeled his guns into battery, un.
lim6ered, aud before the Mexicans bad lime
to deiach their mules from their guns, ne was
pouring chafges OF grape and canister Into
them from his battery
The first shot killed four gunners at ono of
the pieces, and wss followed up by Others
equally Elective. which soon placed - Mes
slenrs Me1icanos' completely "hofs du com
bat aud drove them back in double Quick
time TO their lines without fifing shot in
return
Thus Il will be seen that ;lIs 9th Infantry
Tspnis-d the Lancers with great loss on the
9Th, and that Lieut.. Ridgey repulscd The Ar.
iiliery on The same day. bit thit the opera
hons oi each wers separate and distinct from
the o'iIer, and that Lieut.. Ridgley did not fire
d shot at the Lancefs or DO '.day execution"
among them at the lime they charged the In.
iantIy,
Correspondence Of he u. States 0oss,ts
WAsHlSGrog. October 18th, lS46.
IL Is very difficult 10 ascer Iain at what cost
HNa -