Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-05-20

works. drove the enemy from them, planted the
colors of the LIST artillery, Sd and 9Th infantry
the enemy'e flag still hying-and after some min
utes of sharp firing, finished the conquest with
the bayonet
1t is a most pleasing duty TO say that the high
est praise is due to Harvey, Childs Plympton,
Loring, Alexander, their gallant officers and men,
for this brilliant service, independent of the great
results which soon followed
Worth's division of regulars coming up at this
time, he detached Brevet Lieut.. Col. G. +. Smith,
with his light battalion, to support the assault,
but not in time.
The General, reaching the tower few min.
utes before me, and observing a white flag dis
played from the nearest portion OF the enemy to-
ward the batteries below, sent out Coonels Ilar-
ney and Chds to hold parley. The surrender
followed in an hour or two.
Major General Patterson left a sick bed to
share in the dangers and fatgues of the day;
and after the surrender went forward to command
the advanced forces towards Xalapa.
Brigadier General Pillow and his brigade
twice assaulted with great daring the enemy's
line of batteries on our left; and though without
success they contributed much to distract and
dismay their immediate opponents
President Santa Anna, with Generals Canali-
20 and Almonte, and some six or eight thousand
men, escaped toward xalupa just before Cerro
Gordo was carried, aud before Twigg's division
reached the national road above.
| have determined 10 parole the prisoners-o
ficers and men-as have not the means of feed
ing them here, beyond to-day, and cannot afford
to detach heavy body of horse and foot, with
wagons, TO accompany them 10 Vera Cruz. Our
baggage train, though increasing, is not yet large
enough TO give an assured progress to this army
Besides, greater number of prisoners would
probably, escape from the escort in the long and
deep sandy road, without subsistence ten to
one-that we shall find again, out of the same
body of men, in the ranks opposed to us.
Not one of the Vera Cruz prisoners is believ-
ed to have been in The lines of Cerro Gordo.-
Some six of the officers, highest in rank, refuse
to give their paroles except to go to Vera Cruz,
and thence, perhaps, to the United State.
The small arms and their accoutremenls, be-
ing of no value to our army here or at home,
have ordered them to be destroyed for we have
not the means of transporting them.
am, also, somewhat embarrassed with the
pieces of artillery -all bronve---which we have
captured. 1t would take brigade, and half the
mules OF this trmy to transport them SO miles. A
field battery shall take for service with the ar.
my; bot the heavy metal must be collected and
left here for the present. We have our own siege
train and the proper carriages with us.
Being much occupied with the prisoners, and
all the details of forward movement, besides
Vera Cruz have time 10 add no more--intend-
ing to be at Xalapa early tomorrow. We shall
rot, probably, again meet with serious opposition
this side of Pero:e--certainy not, unless delay
ed by the want of the means of transportation.
have the honor to remain sir, with high re-
spect, your most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
IS. Invite attention to the accompanying
letter to President Santa Anna, taken in his car
rage yesterday also to his proclamation issued
on hearing that We had captured Vera Cruz, &c.
in which he says; IF the enemy advance one
: step more, the national independence will be bu-
ried in the abyss Of the past" We have taker
that step.
make second postscript, to say that there is
some hope, am happy to learn, that Gen. Shields
, may survive his wounds,
+ One of the principal motives for parolng the
prisoners Of war, is to diminish the resistance Of
other garrisons on our march. w. S.
Hon. VIM l.. MARCY, Secretary of War.