Democratic banner., 1847-09-20

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the air over the building, and tile pieces
dropped among the men stationed in The
rear. So hot was the fire that the troops
were obliged 10 gain shelter behind the
building, but still did notgive up The position.
About Q O'clock the divisions or Gems. Pill
low and Twiggs were ordered TO advance in
the direction of Coutreras, and by in the
afternoon were in plain sight of the ensmy's
batteries, and within :angc of his heavier
guns. The brigade of Gen: P. -F;sSmith
was ordered TO advance directly towards
the cnemy's works, while that Of Col, Riley
moved towards tho small village to the right
with orders to gain tie main road and ttus
be enabled TO cut off any reinforcemepts
which might be sent to Valencia from The
city. An inccssant firing of cannon vas
opened upoE.thc ADVANCE dfGep;, aSnN4i.,
and soon The rifles were engaged in skirm-
fishing with the pickcts Of The enemy and
driving them in. ,",
The twclte-poundcr battery Of Capt.
lMagrudcr was pressed forward with all
as was also the rocket and mountain
'howitzcr battery, now commanded by Lieut..
Calender, of the Ordnance Department.
As soon as they could gain aposition, they
opened upon the enemy, but were so much
exposed to a FIRE from heavier guns That
they were soon siIenced. Lieut.. johnson,
of the 1st Artillery, but attached to Magru-
der's battery, was mortally wounded, while
Lieut.. Calender was severely wounded in
both legs. At 3o'clock the brigade of Gen.
Cadwallader was ordered out to support
Col. Riley, heavy reinforcement being seen
on their way out of the city, while General
IPicrce's brigade was sent to sustain Gen.
Smith. The firing from the batteries Of the
Ienemy continued incessant, while from a
hill just outside the range of their guns, the
About 4 o'clock Gen. Scott arrived, and
the immense strengths of the Mex
leans, at once ordered Gen. Shields bri-
gade from San Augustine part of General
lQuitman's command-to the right, to sup
port Riley and Cadwallader, and prevent,
if possible, a juncture of The forces coming
out from the city with those of Valencia.
But few of the movements of our troops
could be seen from the hill where we were
posted, owing to the dense chapparal, sharp
rocks and r~avineS, but not not a motion of
the enemy but what was plainly visible
The order of battle Of Valencia was certain
ly most mposing-infantry were seen drawn
up TO support the batteries, while long lines
of the ememy's cavalry were stationed in
the rear, as if waiting the shock of battle.-
Two separate charges of the latter were
distinctly seen repulsed by Col. Riley, who
had moved his brigade at one time to a po-
sition partially in the rear Of the enemy's
work. Col. Harvey was exceedingly anx-
ious to march his cavalry to the scene ofac-
ton, blu! it was deemed utterly Impractical
bic. The nature of the ground was such,
that the infantry ever had great difficulty
in finding their way across the pcdegrdL, as
the Mexicans term it-ground covered with
sharp, Jagged rocks.
Until night had fairly closed in, the fire
from the cncmy's batteries did lot slacken
it had been u continuous roar nearly six
hours. Gen. Scott retired to San Angus
tin about 8 O'Clock, and in the midst of a
hard rain which had Just commenced fall
ing, Gems. Twiggs and Pillow came in about
IL O'Clock, wet and completely exhausted.
1t was impossible to use horses on rough
and exceedingly broken ground on which
they had deem operating for nearly twelve
hours. Not anticipating the immense
strength of the enemy or the almost insur-
mountable difficulties of reaching them, it
had been at first Thought that the batteries
would be taken at a dash, and that the troops
would be all comfortably quartercd in San
Angel for the night; instead of this, a large
portion of them were compelled to bivouac
without blankets in the midst of n p~ittiless
rain, and on the ground whore they could
not even stretch themselves out. Add 20
This, the prospects of the morrow were far
from ilattcring-wcrc enough TO diSlnay any
but the stoutcst hearts, that the enemy
would doubtless reinforce and strengthen
his works during the night, having every
superiority in knowledge of the ground
add again to this that the men were weak
encd by long exertionS, van of food, and
chilled by the continuous night rain, and it
is not saying TO much 10 assert that the
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