Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-06-08
from The New Orleans Picayunc.
TO THE. PITRT.IC.


public, in reference TO the operations OF The brigade
Of Gen. Pillow. a, The battle OF Cerro Gofdo seem
10 require Of the undersigned, officers OF The "a
| Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, simple State
ment OF facts Ii will be seen that The statement
| differs materially from The accounts which have
| heretofore reached the public cal; and mat the
idea il CONVEYS OF the military talents OF General
| Pillow is by no means complimentary 10 that OIL
GER But the undersigned utterly disclaim any
other motive in making this publication than such
as arises from desire 10 do justice 10 others and
| To have Justice for themselves. They are unwii
ling 10 accord 10 The uncharitable the privilege o.
yielding 10 the brave men they commanded only
that questionable sort Of reputation which oilen
attaches 10 men who have been engaged IN an
unsuccessful enterprise, unless it be shown thai
impossibililies were required OF Ihem
On The evening OF he l7ih April lasi, General
Scott promulgated 10 The army his orders Tor the
action on The ensuing day. To Gen. IwigSss
division, with Shields's brigade, was assigned
the duly OF carrying The height OF Cerro Gord",
Of turning The enemys lett wing and securing 'he
Jaapa road in his rear, as 10 intercept his re-
| ireal: while Gen Pillow was 10 march "alone
the route be had carefully reconnoilered, and
| stand ready, as soon as he heard the report OF
small arms on our right, or sooner il circumsian'
| ces should favor him, TO pierce the enemy's line
of baueries-lhe nearer the river the better, as ne
may select" Gen. Pillows plan OF attack was
arranged by himself, as follows: The command
of Col. Haskell, supported BY Col. ROBBERS, "a
| Pennsylvania Volunteers, was 10 assai NO. =
| the centre fieldwok on the enemys right; while
| al The s,me moment No. l. on The extreme right
| of The enemy's line, was 10 be attacked by Col.
| Wynkoop, Isl Regiment Pennsylvania Volun'
leers, supported by Col. Campbell, OF the lst Ten
nesseeans.
The risht OF the enemy extended from the lei'
of the Jalapa road To the gorge in The mountains
through which the river flows. Along This line
| The enemy had established himself on three DINE
renl heights, divided from each other by almost
imnassabIe ravines Each Of these three heights
we're strengthened by admirably constructed held
works, known 10 our engineers as No. | 2 ana :,
| These works were manned by upwards OF 5000
men 1900 of whom occupied the cenlrel Held
work.
There can be no doub, but that Gen. Sanla An
ma. relying on The great natural strength OF Cerro
Gordo and the apparent impassabllity oil Inc
ground on his left, had not laugh. himself to be-
! lieve that Gen. Scott would endeaVor TO lurn ms
position there, but that he had strengthened his
right under the impression that 1t was 10 De Inc
| great pon! oil attack.
On The morning of the 18Th The brigade OF Gen.
pillow was moved by him IRON the camp in The
following order-Col. Wynkoop in front, follow
ed by Col. Haskell, behind whom came Colonel
| Campbell, while Col Roberts brought up The
rear. D;versing from The Jalapa road TO the leii,
nearest The feIdworks, the regiments moving IN
the same order, each by the right flank, entered
a narrow path leading 10 point near The centre
of the enemy's line OF works. In This oroer Inc
brigade was moved 10 The scene oil action. Con-
,inung along The path, The right oil Col. Wyn'
koop's regiment had reached point oil rising
ground about $50 yards from The enemy, Wneh
| Gen. Pillow, fearful that The enemy had eiIher
| discovered him or would do il, suddenly withdrew
Col Wynknop BY The lett flank, flling him by The
left flank SQUARE off TO the left from The path and
| directed him 10 cross The ravne which was i'm
mediately on the left Of the path and form ms line
OF baule parallel with the enemy'> WORKS, undel
cover of the hill and chaparral and hold himself
in readiness TO assault No. l.
| While COL Wynkoop was executing lhis or.
der as rapidly as The ruggedness oil The ground
would allow him, The general commenced the
work OF placing the command OF Col Haskell IN
position This he did by directing Col. Haskell
10 rest his right on the right Of the path, extending
his left square off 10 the lett, so as 10 form his line
Of battle parallel with the centre field work OF the
enemy. By this manGuvre il will be perceived
tha, the ranks of COL Haskelrs command were
reversed, the front rank becoming The rear, and
| the right Of the regiment lis left While this no.
vel order was in process OF execution, and before
the independent company oil Kentucky volunteers
under Capt, John S. Williams, and Capt. Charles
MAYORS company Of Pennsylvania volunteers
which were the 9th and 10Th companies, had eo
into position, the enemy opened his upon us. Q
is proper 10 remark here that The command o.
Col. Haskell consisted OF his own regiment and
Of Capt. Williams Kentucky company and Capt
The general Immediately ordered The assault
The men answered the order with shout, and
advanced rapidly and with The greatest en'husi'
ann in the direction OF the enemy, who was To-
ialIy concealed from Them by the density OF The cha
nar2al Progressing steadily in the face Of a m os
deadly and incessaul fire for more than s5Oyards
over rugged and stony ascent, The command
emerged from the chaparal into the open space
before the works from which the chaparal baC
been ielled for nearly Two hundred yards and lei