The North-Carolina standard., 1847-09-29

0uu AuSuSlln ana joined Gen. Pillows division.
which was then taking up its march in the direc-
tlon OF Contreras. Gen. Pillow continued his
march, opening the road as he went, until he
renched high point, from whence we had the
enemy and his fortifcations in full view Between
one and two o'clock the division of Gen. Twiggs
came up with the advance and moved forward
Gen. Smiths brigade advancing to the left, and
Col Riley's 10 the right. Gen. Pillow placed at
the disposal of Gen. Twiggs Capt Magruders
battery, and Lieut.. Cadwalader's howilzers-bolh
OF which belonged to the proper division Of Gen.
Pillow.
With great difficulty, the two batteries moved
forward, having to travel half a mile over brok-
en- and confused mass Of lava, apparently impas-
sable even for footmen. The enemy opened his
heavy batteries from Contreras and the advanc-
ing troops of Gen. Smiths brigade holly engaged
the cnemy's infantry, which he had thrown out
across deep ravne and creek in front of his for
ti6calions. He appeared determined to maintain
his position in front Of bis fort6calions, using his
artillery for time against the brigade OF our
army as they came up, but he was not able to
stand the severity Of the conflict and was COM
PEELED 10 retire with heavy loss. He then concen-
troted his fire upon The howilzers and Capt Ma
gruder's battery. These two batteries sustained
for more than an hour, the fire of twenty-five
pieces of artillery, mostly Of large calibre, when
they were ordered by Gen. Smith to retire from
and among others we have to lament the death Of
Lieut.. Johnson; Lieut.. Calender was also severe
y wounded.
Gen Pillow had ordered Gen Pierce's brigade
TO the support of Gen. Smith, and Gen. Cadwaa-
dcr's to the support Of Col. Riley. At this state
of the battle, while it was raging with extreme
severity, the enemy appeared on the left of the
Ensado where Col. Riley had arrived, with
force of IL, 900 men, (which we afterwards learn
ed was under the command Of Santa Anna himsel0
apparently threatening the safety of Col. Riley
and Gen. Cadwalader. Gen. Pillow ordered the
18th Infantry, under Col. Morgan, to the support
of Gen. Cadwalader Gen. Scott came upon the
ground about This time, bringing with him Gen.
Shields brigade Of volunteers (South Carolina and
New York; whom he advanced to the support
of the forces under Gen. Cadwalader.
Gen. Twiggs, finding his command so separa-
ted. and that it was utterly impossible, from the
nature of The ground, for him to reach the point
he intended 10 occupy. as night approached, he
fell back with a portion of his staff TO the place
where Gen. Scott was passing the night, exposed
TO a severe rain, without shelter or anything more
than his usual uniform, 10 protect him from the
inclemency of the weather.
Magruder's and the howilzer battery beng dis
abled, and it being evident that our left was ad-
vancing on route prepared for US by the enemy
he having cleared away all the brush and other
obstacles that obstructed his view, thereby expos
ing our infantry to a destructive fire they ap-
preached, and it being doubtful whether they
could cross the ravine after they had reached il,
Gen. Smith directed Captain Magruder and the
howizer battery 10 open, in order to attract the at
tention of the enemy while he made movement
to the right which he had determined on in order
to try one of the enemy's fanks. Leaving three
companies of the Sd infantry TO support the bat
teIy, and about 20 men Of Major Dimick's com.
I - -
Gen Smith moved off with the sappcrs and mi
ners, Lieut. Smith, is, artillery, Maj Dimick, and
Sd artillery, Capt. Alexander, and as many of the
rife regiment as could be got together, they hav-
ing been detached during the day as skirmisheTs,
and to cover the engineers in their reconnaissance
After passing over the broken and irregular sur
face of land and crossing the deep ravines he sue
cecded in reaching the village of Ensaldo Gen;
Smith being the ranking officer present. General
CadwaIader reported to him with regiments of
Gen Pillows division. Col. RIley's brigade had
crossed the ravine, and gone up towards Contre-
ras, after strong body of the enemy, which he
drove of. The enemy was now drawn up in two
lnes above the village, on the right of the fort
the front infantry, and the rear cavalry. The viii
lage of Enaaldo is protected on one side by deep
ravinc-on the road between it and the stream Is
a house and garden, surrounded by high and
rather strong stone wall the village is inter sected
by narrow Ianes between high dikes, enclosure of
gardens full Of fruit trees and shrubbery aording
protection and concealInent for the men. The
church, standing in the centre, also afforded pro-
lection, if necessary. Gen. Smith now directed
Gen. Cadwalader's force to be drawn up on the
outer edge of the village facing the enemy's hea-
w force on the left Of the fort-formed the Sd in
fantry and riffs in column of company, left Of
front on the right flank, and placed Lieut. Smiths
sappcrs and miners, and Capt. Irwin's company
of the llth infantry, in the church, and Maj.
Dimick's regiment in the garden on the road, in
order to secure that avenue and bis rear.
Gen. Smith now determined to attack the large
force on the cnemy's right; with Col. Riley on
the left, Gen CadwaIadcr on the right of the for
mer retired in echelon, but before the movement
could be completed night approached and the enc
my's line could not be secn-ihereEore the ORDER
was countermanded, and Gen. Cadwalader resum-
ed his position on the edge ofthe village; Col. Ri
ley's brigade was formed in long lane inside par
aile to IT, the rifles his left, and the Sd infantry
in the churchyard. Thus they remained exposed
to severe rain all night without fire or shelter-
the officers fom generals down sharing the Sc
verity of the weather-but perhaps 1t only whet-
ted their appetites for more glorious and deter-
mined engagement in the morning. But now
imagine the position Of this portion of~the army,
numbering $500 at the outside, without artillery
or cavalry, while the enemy in front and on the
left had 10 900 troops-those in th' fort said 10 be
The best of Mexico-with % pieces OF artillery,
and among his troops about 1000 cavalry. 1t
was evident that some decisive action had to be
taken-that some great effort had to be made.
and Gen. Smith and Col. Riley, seconded as they