Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-06-24

ight artillery, though in very exposed
position, did great execution. The enc
amy had a, Ieasf eight pieces of artillery,
and maintained an incessanl fire upon our
advance. .,,.a
The ac,icnnow became general. and al.
though the enemv's infantry gave way
before the steady fire and resstless pro
gress Of our own,. yet his artillery was
still in position 10 check our advance
several pieces occupying The pass across
the ravine which he had chosen for his po-
silion. Perceiving that no decisive. ad-
vantage could be gai9ed until this artillery
was sileuced, | ordered Captain May to
charge the batteries with his squadron of
dragons This was galanlry aud efiec-
tually executed, the enemy was driven
from his guns, aud General LA Vaga. who
remained alone al one Of the batteries,
was taken prisoner. The squadron which
suffered much in this charge, moi being
Immediately supported by infantry. could
not retain possession of the artillery tar
ken, bu, il was completely silenced.. In
The meantime the 9Th infantry had been or.
dered up aud had become warmly enga-
ged on the right Of the road. The regi-
menl aud a part Of the 5th were now or:
dered to charge the batteries, which was
handsomely done, and the enemy entirely
driven from his artillery and his position
on the left uf the road. ll."l
The light companies OF the 1si brigade
and The Sd and 4h regiments of infantry
had been deployed on the right Of The
road, where at various points, they be-
came briskly engaged with the enemy.
A small party under Capt. Buchanan and
Lieu,s. Wood and Hays, 4th iu(antry,
composed chiefly Of men OF that regiment,
drove the enemy from aibreast.wofk which
he occupied, aud captured piece of ar
lillery. An attempt to,recover this piece
was repelled BY Capt. Barbour, 81 infau-
try. The enemy was at last completely
driven from bis position on The right Of
the road, and retreated precipitalcly, leaV-
ing baggage Of every description. The
4Gh iufaary took possessions Of camp
where the head quarters of the Mexican
eneral.in chief was established. All his
effiicaI correspondence was captured at
is place.: ~ ,,,,......a, .:'s". ais,4..
thThe artillery battalion Except the flank
ompanies) had been ordered 10 guard the
baggage train, which was packed some
distance in rear. That baltalion,was or
dered up TO pursue the eneinY,. and with
4stffs fdi iiff aatfy aptaine flers dragoons,
and Capt. Duncan's batlecy. followed him
rapidly to lbe river,. making number Of
prisoners. Great numbers Of the enemy
were drowned in attempting 10, cross the
river near The lown.,Thc corps last. men,
toned encamped near the riyer-the re
mainder Of the army on the field of.battie.
The strength OF our marching force on
Ills day, as exhibited in the next field re-
pori, was l73 officers, and 2,0d9 men--
aggregate 2,222. e. The actual number en-
gagged with The enemy did uot exceed L.
100. Our loss was three officers killed,
and seventy -one wounded. Among the
officers killed, have to regret the loss Of
Lieutenant inge, 81 dragoohs, who fell a,
The head of his platoon, while CALAMITY
charging the eneny's battery, of Lieuien-
ant Cochrane, OF The 9TH, and Lieut. Chad
bourne, + The 9Th infantry, who likewise
mel their death III the ,hickesi of the fight.
The. officers wounded were Lieutenant
Colonel Payne, Inspector General; Lieut..
Dobbins, 81 infantry, serving with the
light infantry advance, slightly; Lieut..
i, Co!one Mclnosh, 5th infantry. severely,
Uwlce;} Captain Hooe, 5th infantry, Sc.
verely. (righl arm since amputated.) IL.
Fow Ter, 5:h infantry. slightly; Captain
| Montgomery, 9Th infantry. slightly; LIS
Gates aud Jordan, 9Th infantry, eevrely,
leach twice y Lieu,s. Selden. Maclay,
| Bonrbank and Morris, Sd iufantEy;sIightly
A labolar statement of the killed aud
wounded is annexed herewith. -.
have no accurate data from which to
estimate the eGemy's force on this day.
He is known 10 have. been reinforced az.
ter the action of the Sh, both by cavalry
and infantry, and no doubt 10 an extent al
least equal 10 his loss on that day. 1t is
probable that 5000 men were opposed 10
us, and in a position ckusen by themselves,
and strongly defended with artillery. Tho
enemy's loss was very great. Nearly 200
of his dead were buried by Us OF the day
succeeding the battle. His loss in killed.
wounded. and missing. in !he two affairs
of he 9Th aud 9th. is think, moderately
estimated at 1000 men.
Our victory have been decisive. A
small furce has overcome immense odds
of the hes, troops that Mexico can fur
nish-veteran regiments, perfectly equip.
ped and appointed. Eight pieces of ar
tillery. several colors and, standards, 9
great number of prisoners. including four.
Teen officers, and large amount Of bag.
gage aud publ property have fallen in
our hands.
The causes Of vlttorv are doubtless IL
be found in the superb qualities of ou
officers and men, ave already in for
mer reports, paid G neral tribute TO the
admirable conduct of the troops on botl
, days. Enow becomes my duty-and
. feel II TO be one Of great delicacy-to no