Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-12-15


look to our left hanL to sustain the assault
ing column il necessary, or to discomiit the
enemy, (the ground being favorablc,) as cir
cun,stances might require. Cadwalader's
brigade was held in reserve, in q position
on the ridge, between the battering guns
and Mcintosh's brigade, and in easy sup
port of either. The cavalry, under Major
Sumner, to envelope our extreme left, and
be governed by clrcumstances--to repel or
attack, as the commanders judgment might
, suggest. The troops to be put in position
under cover Of the night; and the work to be-
gin rs soon as the heavy metal could be
properly directed. Col, Duncan was char
ged with the general disposition of the ar
tillery. Accordingly, at 3 o'clock in the
morning Of the 9Th, the several columns
were pu. in motion, on as many different
routes; and when the gray Of the morning
enabled them to be seen, they were as &C
curately in position as if posted in midday
for review. The early dawn was the mo-
ment appointed for the attack, which was
announced TO our troops by the opening of
Huger's guns on Ell Molino del Rey, upon
which they continued to play actively until
this point of the enemy's line became sem
s;bly shaken, when the assaulting party,
commanded by wright, and guided by that
ACCOMPLISHED officer, Capt. Mason of the
engineers. assisted by Lieut.. Foster, dashed
gnllantly forward to the assault. mistaken
by the Calling fire Of musketry and canister
that was showered upon them, on they rush
ed, driving infantry and artillery men at
the point of the bayonet. The enemy g
field battery was taken. and his own guns
were traied upon his retreating masses; be-
fore, however, they could be discharged,
perceiving that he had been dispossessed of
this strong position by comparatively a
handful of men, he made desperate effort
to regain it. Accordingly. his retreating
forces rallied and formed with this object.
Aided by the infantry, which covered the
housetops (within reach of which the Bate
ny had been moved during the night the
enemy's whole line opened upon the assault
ing party q terrific fire of musketry, which
struck down cleren out of the fourteen Off
GERS that composed the commund, and nom
commissioned officers and men in proportion;
including amongst the officers, Bvt. Ma or
Wright, the commanded; Capt. Mason and
Lieut. Foster, engineers, all severely woun-
dcd. This severe shock staggered for a
moment, that gallant band. The light bat
talon, held to cover Huger's battery, under
Capt. T.. Kirby Smith. I4ieut. Col. Smith
being sick } and the right wing Of Cadwal-
adcrs brigade, were promptly ordered for
ward to support, which order was executed
in til. most gallant style; the enemy was
again routed, and this point of his line car
RED, and fully possessed by our troops. In
the mean time Garland's (lst) brigade,
ably sustained by Capt. Drums artillery,
| q laH be l,ft ftor h
stinate and very severe contest, drove him
from this apparently impregnuble position,
lnmed i~.eiy under the guns Of the castle of
Chapultepec. Drums section, and the bat
terlnG guns under Capt. liuger, advanced to
the ensly's position, and the captured guns
OF the enemy we're now opened on his re-
treating forces, on which they continued I'M
til beyound their reach. While this work
was in progress Of accomplishment by our
centre and right, our troops on the left were
| not idle, Duncan's battery opened on the
right OF the enemy's line, up TO the time en-
gaged; and the I'd brigade, under Col Nc
lntoSh, vas Row ordered to assault the ex-
trcme right OF the enemy's line, The d.
rectlon Of this brigade soon caused it to
mask Duncan baltery--the fire of which
for the moment, was discontinued; and the
brigade moved steadily on to the assault Of
Casa Mutn, which. instead Of an ordinary
field entrenchment, as was supposed, proved
to be strong stone citadel. surrounded
with ouslioned entertainments and lmpasFa-
bic dltches-an Did Spanish work, recently
repaired and enlarged. When within easy
musLet range, the enemy opened u most
dreadful IRE upon our advancing troops,
which was kept up, without intermission,
until our ga]iont men renched the very
slope of tie parapet Of the work that sur
rounded the citadel. by this time; large
proportion Of the command was either kill
ed or wounded, amongst whom were the
three senior officers present.-Brevet Col.
MrIntoeh, Bvt. Lieut.. Col. Scott, of the 9Th
infantry, and Ma or Waits Sth infantry;
the second killed. and the first and last des-
perately wounded. Still, the fire from the
citadel was undated. In this crisis Of the
attack, the command wna,' momentarily.
thrown into disorder and fell back on the
loft of Duncan's battery, where they rallied.
As the Cd brigade moved to the assault,
discovered approaching rapidly upon our
left flank, to reinforce the enemy's right
As soon as Duncan's battery was masked,
Us CeioEe lHeHtloheu, supporter Wy "Hu'C"
voltigeurs, Of Cadwallader's brigade, it mo-
we'd promptly to the extreme left of our line,
to check the threatened assault on this
point. The enemy's cavalry came rapidly,
within canister range. when the whole bat
terry opened most effective fire, which soon
broke the squadrons, and drove them back
in disorder. During this fire upon the enc
my's cavalry, Maj. Summers command mo-
we'd to the front. and changed direction in
admirable order, under most appalling fire
from the Casa Mata. This movement en-
ab!ed his command to cross the ravine i'm
mediately on the left of Duncan's battery,
where it remained. doing noble service, un.
til the close of the action. Atthe very mo.
ment the cavalry were driven beyond reach.
our own troops drew back from before the
Casa Mata, and enabled the guns of Dun
cans battery to reopen upon this position;
which, after short and swell directed fire,
the enemy abandoned. The guns of the
battery were now turned upon his retreat
ing columns, and continued to play upon
them until beyond reach.
He was now driven from every point Of
the field, and his strong lines, which had
certainly been defended we'll were in our