Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-11-25
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
BATTLES OF CONTRERAS AND
CHHERUBUSCO.

Report Of Mgor General Scott.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army,
N 2


No 81. Headquarters THE ARMY,
San Augusfia, Acapulco Road,
miles from Mexico, August 10, lS47
SIR: Leaving competent garrison Puebla this army
advanced upon the capital, follows: Twigg's DIVISION
preceded by Haneys brigade Of cavalry 7h Qui,mans
division Of volunteers with small detachment Of u s.
maIines, the Sth; Worih division, the 9Th and Pillows
division, The Otha in this month. On the Sb, overlook
and then continued WITH the leading division. The corps
time, beyond five hours supporting distance
apart; and descending into the basin Of the capital 10
miles from Puebla) they became closely Appropriated
about the head Of Lake Chalco with Lake TescUco little
in front and TO the right On the 18th and 18th we pushed
Tee0nnOisaaceS upon the Penon isolated mound (egh
miles from NIexico) of height strongly fortified to the
top three tiers Of works. and flooded around the base by the
of rains and sluees fOm the lakes. This mound,
close the naOaal road commands the principal approach
the city from the east No dOubt might have been car
ried but At great and dpoportiOnate loss and was
iOus the lives of this gallant army Tor general bat
tie which had win before capturing the city,
obtaining the great object Of the camPaign-a just and
honorable peace.
icacingo 10 the left Of the Penon, village at fortified
bridge across the canal, leading from Lake J0ch
mco 10 the capita-ive miles from the latter Ii might
have easy masking The Penon) to force the
but on the other side of the bridge should have found
ourselves miles fom this road, causeway,
hanked right and left by water, boggy grounds
Those difficulties closely viewed threw back upon the
project long entertained of turning the strong eastern deen
ces The city, by passing around south Of Lakes Chaco and
Jochimilco of the hills and mountains
reach point, and hence hard ground,
though much broken the south and southwest the CAPT.
10Th inst.
Accordingly, by sudden inversion-Worths division,
with Haraey's cavalry brigade leadng-we marched the
18th inst Pillows and Quitmans divisions followed clOsely
and then Twiggss dvsIon which left till the day,
at AyotIa in Penon and Mexcacngo
and 10 deceive the enemy as loRg as practicable
Twisgs the 10th, marching IRON Ayota towards Cha
CO. fix mile) corps of than double his numbers
cavalry and infautTy-under Gen. NaencII Twiggs halt
ed, depOyed into line, and by lew rounds from capt
lors field battery dispersed the enemy, killing woundng
many men or horses moletaton has been expert
epced except few random shots from gueTileToS, the
heights: and the march Of twentySeyen miles, over route
deemed mpaclicabe by the is accomplished by
all cOpsthanks to their indomaoe zeal and physical
prowess.
cavalry were pushed forward econnotIe
carry or Antonio the direct road TO the
tai This village found strongly defended by field wsTks,
heavy guns aad garrison. 1t could only be
turned by infantry the le field Of volcanic rocks
and lava for right, the ground too boggy. 1t
was soon aceTaned by the daring engineers Capt Mason
and Lieuts and Tower that the point could only be
approached by front, causeway fanked
with wet bitches Of great depth Worth was ordered not to
attack but to threaten and to mask the place.
The FIRST shot fired from San Antonio 1.-THE lsIh) killed
Capt s Thornton ID dragons, gallant officer, who was
covering the operations with his company.
The same day, a reconnaissance commenced to the
left Of Augustn first difficult mounds, and farther
on over the same field of volcanic rocks and lava which
tends the mountains, five miles from San Antonio
towards Magdalena. This reconnaissance continued
to-day by Captain Lee assisted by Leuts BesuegaTd and
Tower all of engineers who joined, in the after
coming up Pillows advanced to make practicable road
for heavy artillery and Twiggss thrown farther in 'front.' to
that operation for by the partial reconnaissance Of
yesterday Capt Lee discovered large corps OF observation
in that direction with detachment Of which his supports
cavalry under Capt Kearney and Lieut. COL Graham
respectively had successful skirmish
By three o'clock this afternoon, the advanced divisions
came TO where the road could only be continued
under the direct of % pieces Of the enemyS artillery
(most Of them Of large calibe placed in strong enrenched
camp TO oppose operations and surrounded by every
vantage ground besides immense bodies of cavalry and
infantry hourly reinforced from the city, excellent
road beyond volcanic field, and consequently entirely
beyond the reach Of our cavalry and artillery.
Arriving the ground horr later found that Pillows
and TwIggss divisions had advanced disodge the
picking their way (a officers Oot along his 'front.'
extending themselves towards the road, from the city
the enemys left Captain Magruders field battery of 1.
and FOUNDERS and Lieut. CalIenders battery Of mounted
howtzeTs rockets had also with great difficulty beer
advanced within Of the entrencbed camp. These bat
teIies calamity served suffered much In the
the afternoon, from the enemy's superior metal.
The battle though mostly stationary, continued to rage
with great violence until nghtall Bevel Brig. Gen. p
Smiths and BTevet COL Rileys bgades Twiggss division
supported by Brig Generals Pieces and Cadwaladers br
gldes pillows divsOn more than three hours unde
heavy FIRE of artillery and musketTy along the almost i'm
passabe avne in font and to the left OF the enrenchet
camp Besides the p pieces of artillery the camp and
defended closely by of infantry and these
again supported by clouds of cavalry at hand aud lowering
Consequently no decided impression could be made
by daylight on the enemy formidable position because
independent Of the difficulty Of the ravne, infantry
unaccompaned by cavalry and artillery, could not advance
iser of batteries advance in line without being rid
den by the enemy numerous cavay. All corps
however including Magrudes and Caenders last batteries
only maintained the exposed positions early gained bu
all attempted charges upon them
on Riley twice closely engaged with cavalry greatly supe
TOT numbers-were repulsed and punished
From eminence, after arriving the scene,
observed and hamlet of Coneras for Ansalda
the road leading from the capital through the enrench
cd camp Magdaens and seeing, at the time, Tho
of TenfOrcements advancing by that road from the
city ordered Through Maj Gen. Pillow COL Morgan will
his regiment the 18TH Till then held il by Pillow
10 forward and occupy COntTeras Tor Analda be
ing persuaded if occupied it would the enemys rein
foIcements and ultimately decide the battle.
Riley was already the enemys left in advance Of th
hamlet few minutes later, Brgadier Gen. Shields, witt
his volunteer brigade New York and South Carolina regi
ments-Quitmans dvisiOn) coming up under my orders
from San Augustin directed Shields to follow and sustain
Morgan These corps the extreme difficulties Of gToun
partially covered with low f0Iest-befOre described
reached Coneas and found Csdwaades brigade 10 posi-
ton, observing the formidable from the capital
and much needing the timely reinforcement.
already dark, and the cold rain had begun to fall
torrents upon unsheeIed troops for the hamlet, thong
strong defensive position hold only the wounded
and unfortunately the new regiments have little nothn
10 eat in their hayeTsack Wet, hungry and without tn
possibility Of sleep, all gallant corps learn full
confidence and only wait for the last hour of darkness
gain the positions whence storm and carry The enemy
works.
OF the seven officers despatched since about sundowr
from my position, opposite the enemy's centre, and th
side of the field OF rocks and lava-to communicate nsuC
tions hame-nOt has succeeded getting thToug
those difficulties, increased by darkness They have all II
But the gallant and ndefatgable Capt Lee of tn
engineers who has been constantly with the operating
is Just in from Shields Smith, Cadwalader, &C., to report
3boVe and ask that powerful diversion be made again
the Of the eniTenched camp towards morning.
Brig. Gen. Twiggs cut off, above, from the part Of h
division beyond the mpfaciicable ground and Captain lie
are gone under my ORDERS collect remaining
this side with which to make that diversion about OcloC
in The morning.
And here will end this report, commenced its date
another continue the narrative Of the great events wh
then irhpended.