Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-16

agree that The loss among the soldiery is compa-
ratively small, and the destruction among The
women and children IS very great Among their
killed is Gen Felix Valdez, an offlcer oil some
celebrity
Al The lime Of the surrender the Mexicans had
but two days ammunition and three days SUBJ
sslence, which accounts lor their generally With
holding their fire during The hishI.
During the bombardmenl our army have
thrown The following number and size oil shot:
Army Battery.
5000 ,en-inch she'll, 90 lbs. each.
500 round shot 20
200 eight-inch howlzershall %
Nary Battery.
1000 Paixhan shot 6S
500 round shot SO
Milsquito Fleet.
200 shot and shell, averaging 81
Making in all 6, 700 shot and shell
weighing 463,6O0 lbs
The destruction in the city is most awful-one-
half of il is destroyed. Houses are blown 10 pie
ces and furniture scattered in every directon-ihe
streets torn up, and the strongest buildings serl-
ously damaged.
Gen. Scott has certainly achieved great, glo-
rious and almost boodless victory, over an enc
my in position that was considered impreena.
| ble Throughout The whole affair ne has pre-
| served the most perfect equilibrium of temper and
The characteristic GOODNESS and courage oil great
general and noble soldier and while under the
necessity OF demanding from The enemy his own
terms, he has tempered The yigor of the clrcum-
stances with humaniiy-lhe best evidences OF
brave and competent officer.
The Engineer Corps under Col. Tot,en have
applied themselves 10 The discharge of their duties
as became them in their position, and endured
The privaiions and exposure TO The weather and
1 III fire. pf he regard
| loss OF life.
No division or portion OF the army has been
better conducted than that Of the Ordnance
throughout The whole Of the operations, and no
men are entitled TO greater degree Of creditthan
| Capt. Huger and Lieut.. HagneT their duty has
been arduous, and they have abored night and
day TO discharge it, in fair weather anc foul, ooth
at The general depot and in the entertainments,
and saw these officers up 10 their knees In Wa
Ter during The prevalence OF The heavy norther 10
rescue their stores from loss.
The Charleston Mercury has The following, de-
rived from an officer of The Navy:
"We understand that Gen. Scott delayed open
ing his guns upon the city for eight hours 10 give
the women and children an opportunity OF With
drawing, assuring them OF protection for them
selves, and whatever properly they might choose
10 carry with hem. Not an individual embraced
|
and children during The bombardment was
source of The most painful regre; 10 the Genera
and the Army. Though no accurate return had
been made, il was believed that the slain in The
city during the investment exceeded eight hu?-
bred. The city and castle surrendered uncondi-
tionally. There have been captured between 500
and 700 cannon, of various calibres, about TO-,
900 stand OF arms, and considerable amount Of
military stores. There was great abundance OF
provisions and water in The city, but scarcely any
| in The castle.
"Gen Scott has shown great prompltrde in iol'
lowing up his victory. A sufficient force 10 take
Alvarado was Immediately dispatched under Ge-
neral Quiman. The main army, il is supposed,
would take up The line OF march for the city OF
Mexico BIZ way Of the castle Of PeTote liz force
is full 10000 electives. A battle was expected
at Puenle del Rcy, slrcng pass, unless II could
be turned, Of which there are good hopes.
1.-THE United States steamer Hunter was wreck
ed on Green Island Reef, on The night Of The 20lh
ullimo, ailer having taken possession OF prize,
supposed 10 be the French vessel that run the
blockade. The oficers and crew Of The steamer
were all saved, as were those OF The prize.
Colonel Harvey had a very handsome affair
with body Of Mexican horse on the 25th March.
| The correspondent Of The Picayune gives the fol.
lowing correct detailed account of the gallant e1-
pos The first report OF It was very much ex-
aeseraed. II will be seen that our friend Thorn
| ton had share OF the honor:
Colonel Harvey started on the morning oflhe
25th with Captain Thorn,ons squadron, under the
immediate command of Major Sumner, and fifty
dismounted dragons under Captain Ker, To-
wards Medein river, where it was reported that
strong force OF Mexican cavalry had placed
themselves. When he reached the stone bridge
over the Moreno, about six miles from here, be
began 10 reconnoiire, as he had received intorma-
zion that he bridge was fortified, and guarded by
two thousand men and TWO pieces Of artillery
Small parties of lancers were seen among The
lhicke,s as the dragons approached, and when
within about sixty yards Of the bridge, Captain
Ker's command received heavy fire from the
breastworks, which killed one Corporal, and
severely wounded two men. Seeing that The
bridge was fortified and defended by strong
force, The Colonel fell back and sent request for
two pieces of artillery. Captain Hardee, who
was engaged on the beach getting his horses
ashore, hearing Of The fgh collected as many Of
his men as had reached the beach, and in passing
through the camp took ali he could find there,
and marched them (between forty and fifty
| in number) on foot, 10 the Colonels assistance.
Colonel Haskell, OF The second Tennessee Regi-
ment with part of four companies, and Captain
Cheaiham oil The Isl Tennessee Regiment, also
Joined the Dragons, and shortly alter, Lieut..
Judd, Of The Sd artillery, with his subaltern, Ii.
| Il. Brown, appeared with TWO pieces OF cannon.
Cant. Ker was placed upon The RICH, of The road
leading TO the bridge; and Tennesseans on the
left Of il; Cant. Hardee and Lieut.. II i'll were or.
dered 10 support The guns and be ready to charge
| into The work, and Major Sumner, with the
wounded men, was held in reserve Lieut.. judd
now advanced cautiously towards the bridge, and
as soon as he was seen he received The concen-
;.aled fire of the Mexicans, about fifty yards dis
tant. The parties on The right and lett were now
ordered 10 extend and commence firing 10 direct
tn. enemy's attention from Judd's guns. Lieut..
Judd tearessly opened upon The bridge, and al
Ter sx or eight well-direcled rounds drove the enc
nv under cover. HASKELL, Cheaham, and Har-
dee, with their men, now rushed nrepidy into
The fertilization, eaping over The barricade.-
The enemy fell back and formed beyond The
bridge. Col. Harvey ordered The obstacles 10 be
cleared away, and Major Summers mounted men
raloped up and charged across the bridge. The
MEXICAN foot fed into The chararra but the caval-
nv were met and routed. party OF thirty lancers
turned off into bye-road were pursued by Lieuls.
Lowry and Cakes and three men, and all but hvc
were either dismounled or sabrec. Maj. Sumner
and Capt Sibley had number Of personal en-
| counters with the enemy who were, in every in
| stance, either killeQoi uisuiouuru. ne puisult
was continued to the village OF Nedelin, six
miles beyond the bridge where sa another parry Of
The adiulan, of The ID Dragons, pursued them
with three men. A supporting party was sent
after him bu, his horse being decter han The
others. he first caught up with the purused, two
Of whom closed upon him. He fought gallanlly
with them, but received Two lance wound, in the
arm and breast, and fell from his horse The
nursut was continued TWO miles farther, but
night coming on, The party returned TO Med
elm, rested three hours, and returned 10 camp
which they reached al 3 o'clock in the morning
Major Gen Patterson, with Col. Camp6elrs regi.
menl, arrived al The bridge soon aver Ool. nar-
in very seulIemaniy manner declined taking
command bul assisted in The attack and assault,
behaving very CALAMITY, as did likewise Col.
Garnrhan