Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-09-25

II
written by this gallant officer relative and have taken the
bberty to publish extracts from it, The responsibility
f the publication must entirely with US the author
bad no idea OF Its being by any sav his relatives
and immediate friends and hence the reason that it contains
20 minute history of his personal Post
II Headquarters lst Brigade Sd Dirision I. s. A.
II Nersoque, Mecico, Augusd27, ls47.
Since left Vera Cruz this hour have had means of
communicating with the States. Although but few months
the service knoo what fatigue anxiety Snd exposure
Yonray TO my expectations and contrary my orders from
Pc Department at Washington, compelled for the want
the requisite provisions for transportation 10 remain for
more than three weeks Vera Cruz and more than four in
era Caente, (lhe vomito region, is caed left the
dreaded city the 10th of July with 500 mn Of all arms,
pnd tram OF wagons, which, when closed up extended
more than two miles, On the 9th Of August reached Pue
PIE, without the loss of single wagon, with my command
hne condition. My command attacked six times on
march, but the eys force in each instance was easily
psprsed with ing loss side. The National Bridge
deded the enemy great natural advantages to which they
had added breasworks high bluff which commanded the
bridge perfectly Across the main bridge they had also thrown
barncade. discovered that there way in
which hiA position could be turned, and that my artillery
the most commanding point where could be
placed determined, Of course, to under the pung
ing fire ohe enemys escopetas My order to advance
admirably executed At the moment Lieut.. Colonel Bon
hams battalion rushed forward with shout the enemy pour
ed down heavy fire, by which several Of my
severely wounded. Col Bonhams horse shot me,
and ball pissed through the rim of my hat in very dis
agreeable proximity my face Our leaped the bari
cade, followed by Capt Duperus company of cavalry and
in less than minutes the enemy in flight in every di
recdon, and the American flag waved upon the high bluff
which they hid occupied The Mexican force, they said
afterwards nssed of 500 Had they possessed
rage and sk in the of arms loss must have been
very great You hardly conceive the strength of the
ura defencts of the road which passed Rumors
to me every night that would be attacked by
large forces be day, but they nowhere any thing
like brave ind stern resistance.
The oca reports of the great battle of Mexico will pro-
biby reach this letter. and shall therefore not
attempt to ge the minute details 1t fierce and bloody
beyond any thing that has occurred In this war; The battle
offered in m,ny respects from that at Buena VISTA There
Gen. Taylor received the enemy in strong position selected
by himself Our force the 10th consisted of less than nine
thousand mems the Mexican force, within supporting distance
AID engaged undoubtedly exceeded thirty thousand We
attacked him in position upon ground Of his sclecon
admirably fortified You will distinguish, far numbers
concerned between the battle of the morning and that of
the aernoon although spoken of in the official reports
engagement uHder the designation OF Me battle of Mexi
CO.. We took during tine day, thirty live pieces of artillery,
al immense quantity Of ammunition, eight hundred mules
and horses, and than thousand prisoners, among
them eight generals and any number of colones
The Mexican loss in killed and wounded must have been
Our troops buried five hundred Mexcans upon the
field of battle, commenced in the morning at Conrero and
he loss in the afternoon much greater Our loss has been
heavy With this small army could not afford TO purchase
many such victories such price, of the regiments of
is entire force In killed and wounded number less
han ,o00 and among them lament to say unusual pro-
portion Of valuable officers The New England regiment su
ered severely and behaved throughout in the most gallant
My horse full speed the evening OF the l9th
when leading my brigade through perfect shower of round
shot and Shells fell under upon ledge OF rocks by which
sustained injury by the shock and bruises but espe-
,aly by spran in my left knee which came under
lim. At first was not conscious of any serious injury, but
became exceedingly faint, when Dr. Richie, surgeon OF
he 18th, "a portion of my command who following the
advancing columns closely overlook me, and administered to
ne well he could under the circumstances In few
moments washable walk with difficulty and pressed for
ward Capt. McGuders battery where found the horse
poor gallant Lieut. Johnston, who had just received
al wound of which he died that evening permitted to
AXE him. (my having been totally disabled helped
the saddle and continued in until o'clock that night
L exceedingly dark the rain poured in torrents and be-
ng separated from my servants and baggage, without
covering add this that during the afternoon of the
9h had gained advantages over the enemy, who
NAMED firmly entrenched with thousand opposed
about four thousand sde without the possibility of
bringing artillery to BEAR and you will readily conceive
hat situation not the most agreeable. The morning
,f the goth was however, brilliant the night OF the 18th
dark and gloomy. Soon after daylight the enemys works
carried with the bayone and of their thousand
men, regular troops, under the command OF Gen. Valencia
probably four thousand be found to-day As pass
ed this field pursuit of the fugves, the awful
he road and adjacent fields every where with manged
bodies OF the dead and dying continued the pursuit until
one O'clock when front up with the enemys strong
works Churuhusco and San Antonio where the great
lict of the afternoon commenced. At San Angel dispositions
having made attack in the enemy works
he San Augusn road, Gen Scott ordered me TO march my
brigade in with that Of the intrepid Gen. Shields
the open country Santa Catana andhe above
named road in order off the enemys retreat gain
ID the position sought and although the enemys line
perfectly formed and extended far the eye could reach
either direction they attacked vigorously and
uly Arriving at ditch which impossible for my
horse TO leap dsmouned and hurried forward without think
ng If nv injury the head of my BRIGADE for two three
hundred yards when turning suddenly upon my knee, the
cartilage of which had been seriously injured tainted and fell
upon bank in the direct and within perfect reach OF
he enemy fire. That escaped seems to me now provlden
ia The rout and overthrow of the whole Mexican force
became complete and could easily have taken the
,y but Gen. Scott met with proposition for arms
ice, aer demanding the surrender Of the city, with view
10 open negotiations for peace
In my Judgment the army, foil OF ardor and confidence,
Kumaney and wisely restrained Major Gen. Quitman
Gen. perer F. Smith, and myself were appointed Commits
soners 10 meet the Mexican Commissioners settle the terms
Of the armce had taken off my spurs slept an hour
nights consequences of engagements and the pain
my knee obeycd the summons helped into my sad
lle, and rode two and half miles to Tacubaya, where the
commission assembled the house of Mr. Mcintosh the Brit
sh Consul General Our conference commenced late in the
afternoon and at four o'clock the next morning the articles
we're signed
That was thoroughly exhausted you will readily imagine
slept hour or two that morning Gen. Worths quarters
and my spraned knee which by far my most serious IN
ury has been daily improving, and to-day ride without
much inconvenience have lost several dear friends although
acquaintance had been Of short Duration visited the
hospital yesterday and officers and with shots IN all
Of their persons. Although all who not really dy
ing seemed cheerful and many who had lost limbs IN high