The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-09-18
CANTON MISSISSIPPI SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER Is,


fire was opened upon the head of his column
by force stationed at advantageous positions
above the road 70 the left. The enemy wal
quickly dispersed, however, by Colonel c. F
Smiths ligh, battalion and the Cd Artillery
Under Major Gait. As the division neared the
hacienda of La NOVA the advance was AGAR
fired upon, but again the enemy's pickets were
driven in, without loss. A turn Of the road
beyond La NOVA brought the pleasant village
Of San Augustine in sight, and after two o.
three light skrmishes, in which the Mexicani
had two or three lancers killed and wounded
our troops had quiet possession Of San Angus
tine. Our only loss during the dag was one
man, a soldier Of Smiths light battalion, who
was wounded from a corn-teld near Xochi
milco.
At Z O'Clock on the morning Of the 18Th
Gen. Scott arrived at San Augustine, and at II
O'Clock Gen. Worth was in full march for the
city of Mexico by the main road. Majoil
Smith and Turnbull, Capt. Mason and othel
engineer officers, were sent in advance, sup
ported by Capt. Bakers squadron Of dragons
10 reconnotre, as it was known that the enemy
was in force at or near San Antonio. The
party, when within thousand yards, was fired
| upon from a battery, which was masked by
trees, and the first ball from l2-pounder in
stantly killed Capt Thornton, of the I'd ORA
goons, besides severely wounding guide
Jonathan Fitzwalters. Col. Garlsnd's brigade
was now ordered to occupy the hacienda Of
Carrera, within plain sight and range Of the
enemy's batteries at San Antonio, while Col.
Clark's brigade and the battery under Colonel
Duncan took a station in the rear close by
The engineer officers were at once sent out to
reconnoitre by Gen. Worth to ascertain the
pracricability Of turning the strong works Of
the enemy, and in the meantime Gen. Scott had
despatched Capt. Lee with supporting party,
composed of Capt. Kearny's squadron and a
body of the It'll Infantry under Col. Graham,
to ascertain the practicability Of finding a
road by which the village Of San Angel could
be reached, and thus turn the strong hold at
San Antonio. THIS latter party had a sharp
encounter with the advance OF the enemy, the
main body being found posted at a strong poirli
not far from the factory of Coutreras. In
skirmish some six or eight Mexicans wer1l
led and as many more taken prisopSEa(
side not a man was touclt3 1 ~
the reconnaissance proved fa,s
asce rrained that a road cou1i
would -n.bis 81. sru,y 70
and thus turn the strong bs.'ss'r as
Mo, and perhaps others the encse 10
upon the road between that an y6
Mexico. The Mexicans were FER, 10y
iorce at a commanding position near Couireras
and il WINS evident that they had a number OF
cannon IN position; but at a council held at
night, il was determined upon o attack them
the following day.
In the mean time, while this reconnaissance
wus in progress, Gen. Worth had established
his head quarters at the hacienda Of Curera,
while from the windows countless numbers OF
the en,m my could be seen at work upon the
batteries Of San A ntonio. A bout noon they
opened upon the hacienda with both round
shot and shell, nearly every one If which took
effect, but without doing other injury than to
the building. Late in the evening the Bate
ries again opened, but with no other result than
showing the position Of the different guns
For marvel the batteries were silent during
the night. Had the fire been kept ur, the ha-
cienda might have been torn in pieces and the
entire command compelled to retire. Before
going further, it may be well to state that the
city of Mexico lies about nine miles nearly
north Of San Augustine, that San A ntonio is
about three miles in The same direction, while
the point occu lied by Gen. Valencia. near Cou-
treras, for he had command at that place, lie at
least three miles in straight line and in d.
rection nearly west. II was ten miles the way
many Of our troops d to march, for you can
not imagine more rough, uneven and jagged
surface.
At3 O'Clock on the morning Of the 10Th the
batteries again opened on Gen. Worth's posi-
ton at the hacienda near San Antonio, the
balls crushing through the walls and filing the
rooms with fragments Of plaster and broken
furniture. Shell also burst in the air over the
building and the pieces dropped among the
men stationed 10 the rear. So hot was the FIRE
tina, the troops were obliged to gain SHELTER be-
hind the building, but still did not give up the
position. About Q O'Clock the divisions Of
Gems. Pillow and Twiges were ordered to adj
vance in the direction Of Coutreras, and by
in the afternoon were in plain sight Of the enc
my's bstteries, and within range Of the heavier
guns. The brigade Of Gen. P. +. Smith was
ordered TO advance directly towards the enc
my's works, whilst that Of Col Riley moved
towards a small village to the right, with or
deu to gain the main road and thus be enabled
TO cut of any reinforcemens which might be
sent to Valencia from the city. An incessant
firing Of cannon wss opened upon the advance
Of Gen. Smith, and soon the Rifles were en-
gagged in diminishing with the pickets Of the
enemy and driving them in. The I2-pounder
battery Of Capt. Msgrsder was pressed for.
ward with all speed, ss also was the rocket and
mOuntsin howitzer, now commanded BY Lieut..
Calender, Of the Ordnance Department. As
soon as they could gain position they opened
upon the enemy, but were 80 much exposed to
FIRE from heavier guns that they were soon 81
fenced. Ii. johnson, Of the let Artillery, but