The Arkansas banner., 1847-09-20
IMPoRTlNT FROA GENERAL sCOfPs ARMr.
Battles of coutreras and Churubusco.

 Battles of Coutreras and Churubusco. -----i---4.-~- Total defeat of the Ne1itanS---Gen. Stett en
 ramped within two and half miles of tn City of Mexitb---iFmixiie hftwern the iwt
 Armies--NesOtionS with Ar. frist for [ Peace eemmeHted.
 The U. s. steamship Mary Kingslaad. Capt. Johr Davis arrived at an early hour this morning. By her we have received ohr letters from Mir Kendall from the 2ad to the 2Sih of August, all dated from Tacubaya. courier dispatched by him on the 29th with the first account of the battle fought or that day was cut oti.
 From a map and plan of the batt1t -heIa before us note that they are called the battles of Contreras and Churubusco--so called from field works of the enemy of those names. The victories were decisive but so far as we can judge from hasty peruSal oi a portion of our letters. the proposition Tor an ar- mistice was made by Gen. Scott-probably al the suggestion of the British embassy. The report we have hitherto given that the city of Mexico a: our mercy appears 10 have been uRfouhded. Should peace not follow from the negotiations now pending another battle must ensue, the enemy having force of from fifteen 10 twenty thousand men yet eft.- But the road appears 10 be completely open to us and the city is only two and half miles from our encampment.
 Our entire loss in killed and wonnded is short oi eleven hundred that of the enemy is nos well huCNu- Ills fpss III klueu alcDe iS UcficftQ 10 DC full equal 10 entire loss, and if Is estimated that at least 5000 prisoners were taken. The number of his wounded was not ascertaned, but is supposed 10 be very large. Gen. Scott himself received a wound in the leg below the knee, bat from the manner iu which MT. Kendall speaks ul it, we are led 10 hope the injury slight one.
 Editorial correspondence of the Picayuae.l
 TAcrBAYA, (near Mexico,) Aug P. isI7.
 The celebrated Archbishop's Palace of Tacubaya is now occupied by Gen. Scott aud portion oi the army after twice defeating the enemy in two of the hardes, fought battles of the war, are quar- tered immediately around him. l have already sent you oil hurried sketch of the glorious events of the 2oth and the present letter must be but hurried synopsis of the battles, which have shed such additional glory upon the American arms
 At o'clock on the morning Of the lsth, Ger, Scott arrived at San Augustih, and at 10 o'clock Gen. Worth was in full march for the city of Mexi co by tie main road. Major Smith and T0rnbali apt Mason efTd other engineer oilice4s, sen, in advance, supported by Capt. Blakes squadron of dfagoons to recouitre, as if was known the ny was a force al or near San Antonio The patty, when within thousand ysfds, was fired upon from battery, which marked by trees, and the first ball from 12 ponnder instantly killed Capt Thornton, of the 2d dragons, besides severe y wounding galde Jonathan Fiizwalters. Col. Garland's brigade was ordered to occupy the hacienda of Carrera, within plain sight and range of the enemy's batteries al San Antonio while Col. Clarke's brigade and the battery under Col Dun can took station m the rear close by. The en- gneer officers were at sent out To reconnoitTe by Gen. Worth 10 ascertain the praciihilitJ ofturn- ing the strong woiks of the enemy, and in the an time Gen. Scott had despatched Capt. Lee with a supportinglf party, composed oi Capt. kearney's squadron and body of the lIth Infantry under Col. Graham to ascertain the practicabiiy of finding a road by which the village oi San Angel could be reached. aud thus turn the strong hold al San An tonic. This latter party he'd, sharp encounter with the advance of the enemy the main body be- ing found posted at strong point not far from the factory of Couireras. In the sklrmlsh six or eight Mexlcans were killed and as many more la ken prisoneFs--oH our side rot man was touched. The result of the reconnaissance proved tavoTabiy. Il .as asceitaiEed tAat load could ba made which would enable the army 10 reach San Angel, and then turn the s,rcng batteries al San Antonio, and perhaps others the enemy might have upon the road between that and the city of Mexico. The Mexcans were plainly seen in force at q command ing position Coutrefas and Il was evident thai they had Ramber Of cannon ia position; but at a council held al night, II vas determined upon to attack them the following day.
 Ia the mean iiine while this reconaoisanee was in progress, Gen. Worth bad established his head quarters a te hacienda Of Cufrefa, while from the windows countless numbers of the enemy could be seen a, work upon the batteries oi San Anionio.-- About noon they opened upon the hacienda with round shot and shell, nealuyeveTy one 0f which took effect. but without doing other injury than 10 the building. Late in the evening the bat teres again opened, but with other result than showing the position of the different guns. For a mars el the batteries ssent daTlng the night. Had the fire been kept up, the hacienda might have been torn in pieces and the entire command ec:n- peiled to retire. Before going further, il may be well to state the city of Mexico lies about npe miles nearly north of San Augustiu, that San Antonio IS about three miles in the direction, while the point occupied by Gen. Valencia, Bsar CoutIeraS, for he had comnaDs al that place, IS al least three miles in direction nearly west. Ii was tea miles the way many Of our troops had to march, for you caanoi imagine more rough, uneten and jagged surface.
 At o'clock on the morning oi the 18th the bat ieries again opened on Gen. orihs position al the hacienda neaI San Aatoaio, the balls crushing through the walls and filling Inc rooms with iTag- uen,s of plaster and broken furniture. Shell also bqfst in the air over he building and the pieces dropped among the men stationed ln ths real. So hot vas tbe fire that the troops obliged 10 gain shelter hehnG the building. but still d.d DoE giNe up the position. About aine clock the 'iitisieEs Q! Gens. Pillow and Fwiggs were ordered to $dtanee in tie dfecion of Co.lsegas. aha by ia the al tcfnooH were in plain sght oi e enemy batteries, and within range oi his heasirr gans-
 The brigade Of Gen. r. r. Smith vas ordered To advance directly towards the enemy works, while that ot Col. Riley moved toa ais small village io Inc right. with orders 10 gsin the mala read and thus be enabled to cut oi any TolBtofcemelts which might be sent t0 Valencia I.om the city. An in- cessaui hfing oi cannon was oPened upon tfe ad- vance Of Gen. Smith, aud soon the kities were en- gagged ia skirmlshiag with the pickes et the enemy and driving them in. The I2 poaader battery oi Capt. Magrade. was pressed forward siih al speed. as was also inc rocket and mountain hoglizer bal tery, naw commasded by Lieut.. Callenaer, of lie Ordnance Department. AS they could gala position they opened arou the enemy. but were s0 much expessd to a ire from heavier guns tha, they were soon SieResd. Lieut.. J0EnsoH of ibe Isl Artillery, bat attached to Magfaders battery, was moftaiiy wounded, while Lieut.. CalIeaaer was sexese.y woaaded is bolA legs Al o'clock the brigade oi Gen cadwaiender was ordered out 10 support Gel. Riley, heavy feiaiorceaes,ss being oa lheiT Way out from the city. while Gen Pierce $ bsigade was sent to sustain Geb. Smith. The firing from the batteries o he enemy continued incessaEt
 hs rem hill just outside iberaage Of their guns, the spectacle was most grand and imposing
 Al sbogt o'clock Gen Scolt arrived, and sec