Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-26
Battles Of CCntreraS and ChurubuScC.
REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL SCOTT
HEADQUARTERS OF The ARxY,I


hEFOhl OF MAJOh OENERAL SCOII.
HEADQUARTERS oy The ARxY,I
9 miles from Mexico, August 10. I947.
SIE: Leaving q competent garrison in Puabla,
This army advanced upon the capital, as follows;
Twiggs' division; preceded BY Harney's brigade
Of cavalry, the 7th; QU'mau 'sdiyIsion Of yolun.
leers, with a small detachment q T. s. marines.
the 9Th, WORMS division, the 9Th, and Pillows
division, the lOlh-al in this month. On the
Bib, overlook, and then continued with. the lea.
ding division. The corps were, ii no time, be.
yond five hours, or supporting distance. apar.
and on descending into The basin cf the capital
Us miles from Puebla) they became more close.
" aprroximaied abcu, the head Of Lake Chalco.
with Lake Tescuco a irtle in front and 10 the
right. On the l2'h and 18Th we puslcd a recon.
HoissaRee upon the Peon, auisoaicd mound te:ghl
miles from Msxico) Of grea! eight. strongly for.
rfed 10 the top (lhree tiers Of works. ard food
ed around the base BY the season Of rams and
sluices from the lakes. This mound, close to the
national road, commands the prncira. approsch
10 the city from the east. No doubIt might
have been carried, but at great and dspropor.
tionae oss was anxious 10 spare the lives Of
this gallant army for a general battle which
knew we had TO win before capturing the civ or
obtaining the great object Of the campaign--a just
and honorable peace.
Another reconnaissance was directed lthe l3thj
upon MeTicalcingo, TO the left of the Pentn, q
village al fortified bridge across the outlet or ca
nal, leading from the later, 1t might have been
easy (making the Penon) 10 force the passdge:
but on the other side Of the bridge, we should
have found ourselves, four miles from this rotd,
on a narrow causeway, fanked 10 The right and
left by water, or boggy grounds. Those dificuI.
ties, closely viewed, threw me back upon the pro-
ject, long entertained, Of turning the strong eas.
tern deiences Of the city, by passing around souh
Of Lakes Chalco and Jochimilce. a, the fnot Of
The hills and mouE'e!ls, so as 10 Teach this point,
and hence TO manGuvre, on hard ground, though
much broken, TO the south and southwest of the
capital, which has been more or less under our
view, since The 10Th instant.
Arriving here, the 18th, Worlh's division and
Harney's cavalry were pushed forward league,
TO reconnoitre and to carry or 10 make San Anro.
MO, on the direct road 10 the capital. This viii
lage was found strongly defended by fed-works,
heavy guns, and a numerous garrison. Il could
only be turned by infantry, TO the left, over field
Of volcanic rocks and lava; for, to cur right the
ground was TOO boggy. ltwas soon ascerlained
by the daring engineers, Capt. Mason and Lieurs.
Stevens and Tower, that the point could only be
approached, by the front, over narrow cause
way, fanked with wet dnches Of great deplh.-
Worth was ordered not 10 attack, bur 10 threaten
and to mask the place.
The first shot fired from San Antonio Che 18th)
killed Captain s. Thornton, Cd dragons, a gal.
liant officer, who was covering the operations with
his company.
The same day, reconnaissance was commen.
ced TO the left of San Augustine, first over diff.
cult mounds. and farther, over The same field of
volcanic rocks and lava which extends 10 the
mountains. some five miles, from San Antonio 10.
wards MagdaIena.
By three o'clock, the advanced divisions came
10 point where the new road could only be con.
unued under the direct fire Of 22 pieces Of the
enemy's artillery (moSl Of them Of large calibre)
placed in strong enrenchrd camp 10 oppose our
operations, and surrounded by every advantage
Of ground besides immense bodies of cavalry
and infantry, hourly reinforced from the city,
over an excellent road beyond the volcanic field.
and consequently entirely beyond the reach of
our cavalry and artillery.
Arriving on the ground an hour later, found
that Pillows and Twiggs' division had advanced
10 disIodge the enemy, picking their way Gall Of
fcers on foor) along his front, and extending
themselves towards the road, from the city and
The enemy's left.
The battle, though mostly stationary, continu.
ed TO rage with great violence, until nightlaIl.-
Brevet Brig. Gen. P. F. Smith 5 and Brewer Col.
Riley's brgades (Twiggs' diviSion) supported by
Brig. Gen. Perce's and CadwaIader's brieades
| pillows divison) were more than three hours
under heavy fire Of artillery and musketry a.
long The almost impossible ravine in front and to
the left of the enrrenched camp. Besides the %
pieces of artillery, The camp and ranks were de-
Tended closely by masses of infantry, and these
again supported by clouds Of cavalry at hand
and lowering in view. Consequently no decided
impression could be made by day light on the
enemy's most formidable position, because, indie.
pendent of The difficulty Of The ravine, our 10.
fanry, unaccompanied by cavalry and artillery.
could not advance in column without being mow-
ed down by the grape and canister Of the bate.
res, nor advance in line wiihoUr being ridden
over by The enemy'S numerous cavalry. All our
corps, however, including Magruder's and Callen.
der's last batteries, not only maintained the expo.
sed positions early gained, but all attempted char
ges upon them, respectvely-parlicuIarly on Ri
ley, twice close engaged with cavalry in greatly
superior numbers-were repulsed and punished.
From an eminence, soon after arriving near
the scene, observed the church and hamlet Of
Contreras or AnsaIda, on The road leading up
from the capital, through the intrenched camp
to Magdaleua and seeing, at the same time, the
swea,n Of re,uiorcsnents advancing BY that road
g.--a