Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-09-23
Ibc 1flexiton fUor.
THE GREAT BATTLES.


Picayune, who was on the spot. The battles
took place on the 10 and Goth of August
Editorial Correspondence of the Pcayuno
TAcupAYo, (noar Mexico,) Aug. 90, 1s47.
The celebrated Archbshop's Palace of Tacu
bayo is now occupied by Gen. Scott and por.
ton of the army after twice defeating the enc
my in two of the hardest fought battles of the
war, are quartered Immediately around him.
have already sent you off hurried sketch of
the glorious events Of the Goth, and even the
present letter must be but hurried synopsis of
the battles which have shed such additional
glory upon the American arms
On the 18th inst. a reconnaissance made by
Col DuGcan having proved that road for artil
lery and wagons could be cut from Chalco to
San Augustin, Gen Wor,h's division moved on
the afternoon of the 18th in that direction. Gen
Pillow followed the next morning; at the same
hour Gen. Quitnan broke up his encampment
at Buena Vista, small hacienda between Vienta
de Cordova and Ayota, and Immediately Gen.
Twiggs was in motion from the latter place. By
this move new line of operations was taken up
on the southern and northwestern side OF the
city of Mexico, and the strong works of the
Penon and MeXicnlzlngo, upon which Santa An
ma had bestowed such immense care and labor,
were completely turned.
On the 10th of August, Gen. Worth marched
as far as the hacienda Of San Gregorio beyond
which it was found that the enemy had cut up
and ditched the miserable trail along which the
artillery and wagons were obliged 10 pass lie
would have gone to Santa Cruz, another hacien-
da league farther on, had not an order come
up from Gen. Scott for halt. 1t seemed that
Gen. Twiggs had met large force of the enemy
drawn up in front of him near Chalco, us if with
the intention of disputing his advance, cutting
him off from the main body of the army, and
perhaps bringing on general action. General
Twiggs promptly ordered some of his heavier
guns 10 be uulmbered, and after few dischar-
ges the enemy YVES dispersed, with the loss Of
five or six killed, but the demonstration made by
the Mexicans, as have before said, caused n
halt of Gen. Worth's division before half a days
march was made.
AT 6 o'clock, on the morning OF the 18th, Gen.
Worth resumed his march, his route running
through corn-fields and narrow and rocky lanes,
along which carriages had never passed before.
The filing up of the bitches caused some little
delay, but by o'clock the advance was in sight
of Santa Cruz, and the spires and domes of The
noted capital of Mexico could be discerned in
the distance The distractions in the road, of
which ] have spoken, were obviously of recent
construction evidence that the enemy had but
Just got wind of our al prOach and that General
Scott had completely stolen march upon Santa
Anna.
Other than the ditches and rocks which had
been rolled down from the precipitous hill side
no opposition was made to the advance of Gen.
Worth, until he had reached point in the road
not far from Santa Cruz-but now scattering
fire was opened upon the head of his column, by
force stationed at advantageous positions above
the road to the left. The enemy was quickly
Dispersed however, ay Col. G. +. Smiths light
battalion and the I'd artillery, under Major Gait
Al - ,l,o h,o IL & I
qu, the advance was again fired upon, but aruir
the eneniy's pickets were driven in, without loss
A turn in the road beyond La NOVA brough
the pleasant village Of San Augustin in sight
and after two or three light skirmshes in which
the Mexicans had two or three lancers killed AM
wounded, our troops had quiet possession of Sal
Augustin. Our only loss during the day was
one man, soldier Of Smiths light battalion, wht
was wounded from corn-fied near Xcchmlco
At7 o'clock, on the morning of the 18TH Gen
Scott arrived at San Augusin, and at 10 o'clocl
Gen. Worth was IN full march for the city o
Mexico, by tho main road. Majors Smith arr
Turnbul, Capt. Mason and other engineer off
GERS, were sent in advance supported by Capt
Blake's squadron of Dragons, to reconnotre, a
it was known the enemy was in force at or nea
San Antonio. The party, when within thou
sand yards, was fired upon by battery, whcl
was masked by trees, and the first ball from
twelve-pounder instantly killed Capt Thornton
Of the 2d Dragons, besides severely woundln!
a guide-JoDathan Filzwalters. Col. Garland
brigade was now ordered to occupy the haciend
of Carrera, within plain sight and range of tn
enemys batteries of San Antonio, while Co
Clarke's brigade, and the battery under Col. Dun
can, took u station in the rear, close by. Tn
engineer officers were at once sent out to recon
noitre by Gen. Worth, TO ascertain the prac
tcabiliiy of turning the strong works OF the en-
emy and, in the mean time, Gen Scott had dc
spatched Capt Lee with supporting party
composed Of Capt. Kearncy's squadron, and
body of the infantry under Col. Graham
to ascertain the practicabity Of finding a roa
by which the village of San Angel could b
reached and thus turn the stronghold at San An
tonic. This latter party had sharp encounte
with the advance of the enemy, the main bod
being found posted at a strong point not far iror
the factory Of Contreras. IN the skirmish, som
ak or eight MeXicans were killed, and as man
more taken prsoners-on our side not man wa
touched. The result of the reconnaissance
proved favorable. 1t was ascertained that
road could be made, which would enable the al
my to reach San Angel, and thus turn the stron
batteries at San Antonio, and perhaps others tn
enemy might have upon the road between tha
and the city of Mexico. The Mexicans wer
plainly seen in force at commanding positlo
| near Contreras, and it was evident that they ha
number of cannon in position; but at couf
Gil held at night, it was determined upon TO al
tack them the following day.
In the meantime, while this reconnaissance
was in progress, Gen. Worth had established hi
! headquarters at the hacienda Of Carrera, Will
! from the windows countless numbers of the Ell
envy could be seen at work upon the batteries @
San Antonio. Abou, noon they opened upo
| the hacienda with both round shot and shell
nearly every one Of which took effect, but with
out doing other injury than TO the building
Late in tie evening the batteries again opened
but with no other result than showing the pos
ton OF the different guns. For n marvel, ia
batteries were silent during the night. Had tn
fire been kept up, the hacienda might have bee
torn in pieces, and the entire command compel
ed to retire. Before going further, it may
well TO state that the city Of Mexico lies abol
nine miles nearly north Of San Augustn, tht
San Antonio is about three miles in the same d
rectlon, while the point occupied by Gen. VI
lencla, near Contreras, for he had command
that place, is at least three miles in Il straigl
line and in direction nearly west IL was te
miles the way many Of our troops had to mare
for you cannot imagine more rough, uncvC
and jagged surface
At o'clock on the morning of the 18th Il
batteries again opened on Gen. Wortll's positiC
at the hacienda near San Antonio the bal
crushing through the walls, and filling the room
with fragments Of plaster and broken furnitur
Shells also burst in the air over the buildin
and the pieces dropped among the men station(