Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-09-29

rRoM the wAsnlNoroN UNION
Very interesting Letter from distinguished Off
Ger TO his Correspondent in Washington.
TACUBAYA, August %, i

TAcUBAYA, August y, lS47.
We are now located in one wing of the Arch
bishops palace Chapul,epec, with its magnificent
grove Is before us, and overlook the great city
surrounded by its lakes, and embosomed in its
mountains. | never realized the beauty of the val
ley of Mexico until reached this spot. To see il
now, lighted by the soft, bright moon, with every
village, spire, hut, and mountain reflected In its
silver lakes, you would think it even surpassed the
description we read of it, There are also some stu
pendous works fart around us. But can tell
you nothing, for have not yet been i'm the city,
though have Knocked at It's gates In the alb
sence, then, of something more interesting, shall
have to tell you of the operations Of the army.
On the 9TH instant. Gen. Twiggs' division left
Puebla. 1t was followed on the Sth by Gen. Quit
mans, on the 9th by Gen. Worth's, and on the
10Th by Gen. Pillows. Gen. Scott left ON the Sth,
and overlook Gen. Twiggs that night at San Mar
tim. Our march the mountains was undis-
tur6ed, except by rumors of guerras and ress-
lance. Both disappeared we approached, and
we left their abandoned works as we found them.
On the llth, Gen. Twiggs encamped at Ayotla,
10 miles from Mexico, on the direct road The o.
Their divisions, on each succeeding day. came up i'm
order, and took positions in the rear-Gen Worth
occupying Chaco. The reconnaissance of the 10Th
and 18th satisfied us of the strength of the epemv,s
defences in our front Their principal defence was
at Ell Penon, commanding the causeway between
the lakes Of Tezcuco and Chaco The hill of Ell
Penon is about 800 feet high, having three pateaus
OF different elevations. Ii stands i'm the waters of
Lake Tezcuco. Its base is surrounded by dry
trench, and its sides arranged with breastworks from
Its base to Its crest II was armed with thirty pie
ces of cannon, and defended by 1000 men. under
Gen. Santa Anna in person. The causewav passed
directly by its base--the waters of the lake wash
ing each side of the causeway for two miles in front
ana the whole distance seven miles TO the CITY,
There was battery on the causeway about four
hundred yards in advance of the Penon another by
ls side, third about mile in front OF the entrance
To the city, and a fourth at the entrance About
two miles in front Of the Penon road branched off
to the left, and crossed the outlet of Lake Hocbi
milco. at the village of Mexicacinpo. six miles
from the main road. This village surrounded bv
marsh, was enveloped in batteries, and only an
preached over paved causeway mile in Ienptb.
Beyond, the causeway continued through the marsh
Tor two miles further, and opened upon terra frma
at the village OF ChurubuscO, which was also frti
, fled, and which shall see more of presentlv-
The reconnaissance Of the 18th satisfied us thai the
route south of Lake Chaco was practicable for orr
wagons, or could be made so. That day Gen Pill
lows division closed upon the village of Cbalco
and the next morning (l5th) Gen Worth led off
south of the lake. The divisions took up the line
'of march In succession, Gen. Twipps brinuinU nm
the rear, and we turned backs upon the forlif-
cations of the Penon and Mexcalcingo Gen. Va
'lencia, with oOOO men, made an attempt to annoy
our rear as 1t turned Lake Chalco but Gen TwipGs
having his train in 'front.' and his division well in
hand, wheeled into line TO the left and with one
'disctaTge of Taylor's battery, tumbled over some
men and horses, and sent the rest flying over the
hills like the wild ducks from the lakes. He then
broke again into column. and resumed his march
~ The rancheros and guerilleros lowering about our
front gave us little trouble: and the working parties
filled up the trenches, and rolled away the rocks
that had been placed there to retard us, without
stopping our march. On the 18th. Gen. Worth
'encamped at San Augustin. on the Acapulco road.
and moved down on the 18th two aad q half miles
In front OF San Antonio to make room for the other
division to close upon him.
The 10Th was devoted to reconnoisances San
Antonio was situated similarly to Mexicalcinpo-
Batteries commanded the causewav in front and
swept over the marshes to the left as far as the
lake The pedregal. volcanic rocks, rendered
the right impossible for every thing but infantry
and difficult for them. One and half mile in the
rear were situated the delences OF Churubusco.
commanding the approach over the pedregaI, and
by the way of MeXcalcngo route was discov-
cred west from San Augustin over the spurs of the
mountain to the San Angel road. by which these
positions could be turned. Gen. Twigos' division
coming up on the morning OF the 18th, was thrown
FORWARD on this route, to the working parties
formed from Pillows division By p M. we
mad surmounted the hills, and approached the two
divisions OF the army, with their field batteries
&c, within cannon range Of Vaenca's entrench-
mens, situated on the San Angel road, and com
1nanding the only approach through the pedregal or
Voicanic rocks The working parties were returned
to their regiments the tools repacked, and prepara
tlons made to dslodge the enemy before continuing
~he road further. On approaching his front within
'eaunister range, and driving in his advanced parties
posted behind breastworks across the road. with
Magruder's and the howzer batteries, it was found
ina. te ground on his left offered the greatest ad
vantage Tor the attack He lay entrenched on ris.
nng ground, behind deep ravne, about midway
Ibetween us, to which the ground gently descended
t1rom both directions. His front was defended nv
'aour o-inch howzers, and three long l6- FOUNDERS
one lo-pounder, and some of smaller caliber His
right was almost equally strong and. after CROSSING
the ravine, approached over smooth ground in the
form of natural glacis, and taken in reverse by n
1oay OF rancheros and lancers. The heads Of the
unieleht divisions were accordingly changed to the
right; and each leaving their horses and batteries
pehind, slowly wendell their way among the vol
canlc rocks to the ravne, which they passed in front
OF the small village of San Raymond ont of pun
shot of Valencia's batteries. They were now on
the flrm San Angel road, between Valencia and re-
Aiei out santa Anna coming out 10 his support with
seven Thousand infantry and cavalry, drew up in
battle array the hills of Conrer0s, to our rGbt.
Coionei hiley's brigade, that had been moved to
the right earlier in the day to cooperate with a
front attack, and had passed beyond the San ANGEL
road, now falling back upon the village which we
had taken possession of, General Smith at once de
termlned to drive away the force threatening our
,Ight by the tlrae his dispositions were made
the sun had set; and night dawninc on it was fear
ed we should not have light enough for our work.
The attack was therefore suspended till morning.
The troops bivouacked around the VILLAGE
without food, without shelter, and without fire. II
was afterwards determined TO return TO the original
ln'ehuon OF ASSEMBLING Valencia's entertainments.