Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-05-14
BATTLE OF CERRO GOEs DO.

OFFICIAL DESPATCH OF GEN. SCOTT.
We find the following account of this great
victory, in the Union Of Saturday last -
HEADarArTEts OF THE ARMY
Plan del Rio SO miles from Vera Cruz, April 10. 5
SIR: The plan of attack, sketched in Gen
eral Orders, No. Ill, published in last
weeks Journal,l herewith, was finely execu-
ted by this gallant army, before two o'clock,
D. m, yesterday. We are quite embarrassed
with the results of victory-prlsoners of war,
heavy ordinance, field batteries, small arms,
and accoutrements. 5000 men laid down their
arms with the usual proportion Of field and
company officers, besides five generals, sever
al of them of great distinction. Plnson, jar
zero, La Vega, Noriega and Obando A sixth
general, Vasquez, was killed in defending the
battery tower) in the rear OF the whole Mex
lean army, the capture of which gave usthose
glorious results.
Our loss, though comparatively small, in
numbers, has been serious. Brigadier Gen.
Shields, a commander of activity, zeal, and
talent, is fear, if not dead, MORALLY woun-
died. He is some five miles from me at the
moment The field of operations covered
many miles, broken by mountains and deep
chasms, and | have not a report, yet, from
any division or brigade. Twiggs division,
followed by Shields (now Col, Baker's) bril-
gade, are now at, or near Xalapa, and Worth's
division is en- route thither, all pursuing, with
good results, as learn, that part of the Mex
lean army-perhaps six or seven thousand
men. who fled before our right had carried the
tower, and gained the Xalapa road Pillows
brigade alone, is near me at this depot of woun-
ded, sick, and prisoners, and | have time only
to give from him the names of 1st Lieut.. F. B.
Nelson, and I'd C. G. Gill, both of the I'd Ten
nessee foot (Haske's regimenD among the
killed, and in the brigade 1O6, of all ranks,
killed or wounded. Among the latter, the
gallant brigader general himself has smart
wound in the arm, but not disabled, and Mai
R. Farsueson, I'd Tennessee; Capt H. F.
Murray, ID Lieut. G. T. Sutherland, LIST Lieut.
w P. Hale, (adjutanD all of the same regi-
ment, severely, and LIST Lieut. W. Yearwood
MORALLY wounded. And know, from per-
| sonal observation on the ground, that Isl
| Lieut. Ewel, of the rifles, if not now dead
, was MORALLY wounded, in entering, sword in
i hand, the entertainments around the captured
7 tower Second Lieut.. Derby, Typographical
2 engineers, also saw, at the same place, Sc
: verely wounded, and Capt. Patten, ID u S
=, Infantry, lost his right hand. Maj. Sumner
r I'd U. S. Dragons, was slightly wounded the
n day before, and Capt. Johnson, Typographical
5 eng ineers now lieutenant colonel of infantry
! was very severely wounded some days earle
: while recohnotring. Unjust not omit to ado
: that Capt. Mason and I'd Lieut. Davis both O
b the rifles, were among the very severely
e wounded in storming the same tower. | est
mate our total lost, in killed and wounded
:, may be about 25O and that of the enemy $50
}. In the pursuit towards XaIapa (25 miles hence
e learn we have added much to the enemy
+ loss in prisoners, killed, and wounded. II
t. fact, supposed his retreating army to be near
) ly disorganized and hence my haste to follow
n in an hour or two, to profit by events.
l. In this hurried and imperfect report mus
e not omit to say that Brigader General Twiggs
: in passing the mountain range beyond Cerr
/. Gorio, crowned with the tower, detached fror
e his division, as I suggested the day before
Is strong force to carry that height, which com
manded XaIapa road at the foot, and could nc
Is fail. if carried, 10 cut off the whole or any pal
IF of the enemv's forces from retreat in any di
j. recton. portion OF the lst artillery, unde
20 the often distinguished Brevet Col Childs, tn
IS 81 infantry, under Capt. Alexander, the 1t
" infantry, under Lieut. Col. Plymton, and tn
$ rifles under Major Moring, all under the ten
lg porary command of Col Harvey, ID dragoons
n during the confinement to his bed of Brevt
Brig. Gen. P F. Smith, composed that de
a. tachment The style of execution, which
t. had the pleasure to witness, was most brilliaI
Il, and decisive. The brigade assembled the Ion
ne and difficult slope of Cerro Gordo, witho,
VS. shelter, and under the tremendous fire of a
he tillery and musketry with the utmost stead
Iy ness, reached the breastworks, drove the en-,
ed my from them, planted the colors OF the 1
IS, artillery, Sd and 7th infantry-the enemy's fla
lie still f1ying-and, after some minutes of shai
- firing. finished the conquest with the bayone
lis It is most pleasing duty to say that II
he highest praise is due to Harvey, Child
er Plymton, Loring. Alexander, their gallant o
a ficers and men, for this brilliant service, ind
ur pendent of the great results which soon 70
lowed.
& Worth's division Of regulars coming up