The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-08
victory but the dead and the wounded left by the enemy
ratraaA d.,ri..x III

in his preclpate retreat during the night
For full narrative of the events OF this memorable
engagement respectfully refer you to the dispatches of
the Commanding General and the reports OF the officers
in subordinate command.
To Mai Gen. Taylor, and to the gallant officers and
brave under his command, is justly due the eminent
glory of this victory Considering The disparity of num-
bes III favor OF the enemy the steady valor and mness
with which troops often small detachments with
stood and repealed the repeated assaults OF superior forces
and the many deeds OF noble daring displayed amid the
changing scenes OF this perilous conflict the battle OF
Buena Vlsta will well sustain comparison win any Oh
the brilliant achievements in this war; which have gwen
such widespread renown to our arms.
Our forces engaged in this battle did not exceed hye
thousand four hundred men, and these were manly vol
unteers while that of the enemy not less hah twenty
thousandhs best troops under the immaculate coihahu
of Gen. Santa Anna victory so glorious ana SO I'M
poant in its consequences not achieved without Sc
ous loss Among those who ended their career OF honor
and glory on the battlefield OF Buena VISTA the nation
nouns the loss of of her bravest and nobest sons
The killed wounded, and missing, were about seven
hundred The loss of the enemy, from the best estimate
that could be made more than double that number
on the field besides the thousands who perlshed In his
hurried and disastrous retreat.
In the confidence of victory and for the purpose of Sc
curing the full fruits OF it, considerable body OF the
emys cavalry sent into the rear OF our advanced po-
sitions and for short time interrupted lines of
munication harassed trains, and killed number of
escorts and teamsters but the line was soon reopened
and the usual facilities OF communication restored
The expedition from the island OF Lobos, under the
command of Major General Scott appeared of Vera Cruz,
and effected landing in admirable order that city
on the 9th of March, For the of this most diff
cult and hazardous operation the army is much indebted
to the valuable assistance rendered by squadron and
it's services acknowledged in just terms OF commend
alton by the Commanding General The city was at
once invested, and arrangements, exhibiting great skill
science and Judgment were made for an attack Though
continually under the fire of heavy batteries from the
castle and city, these arrangements were completed on
the 22d, when the enemy was summoned to surrender
On receiving a refusal, bombardmen commenced, in
which our naval forces honorably and efficiently partc
pated, and continued with destructive effect until
The morning of the Goth, when overures were received
which resulted in the surrender to our arms the goth
of March, of both the city of Vera Cruz and the castle Of
San Juan de Uoa, with their ornaments, munitions
and garrsons consisting OF five thousand prisoners and
as many stands of arms four hundred pieces of ordnance
and large quantity of ordnance stores.
Distinguished credit is alike due to the officers and
men of the army and navy for this signal triumph. In
the series OF successful which have attended the
progress of the war, the capture OF Vera Cruz accom-
panied as it was by the reduction OF the castle OF San
Juan de Uoa may well be regarded of the great
est importance. Aside from its moral effect upon the
enemy advantages in other respects were OF the great
est magnitude fortress long renowned Tor its strength,
with the large quantity OF munitions OF war there accu
INFLATED, passed into our possession, and with It was
acquired the eectua means OF controlling the COM
mercia intercourse with the enemy, and OF excluding
foreign aid and supplies along the Gull OF Mexico; and
new and preferable base for military operations against
the interior and the capital OF the enemys country
at the same time established.
ties in procuring sufficient means for transportation, our
army commenced its movement on the Sth OF April IN the
direction of the city Of Mexico Perhaps no country in
terposes so many and such formidable obstacles to the
progress OF invading army as Mexico; and nowhere
in that country did they present themselves IN more APP
palng aspect than the route which lay before our adj
yancing column The difficult passes the Plan del
Ro about fifty miles from Vera Cruz were occupied by
numerous Mexican force, and the commanding heights
of Cerro Gordo strongly fortified To disodge the
enemy from these positions and to storm his tOrtcaons,
held by superior force, required the best efforts OF skill
military science, and daring adventures and these high
attributes not wanting In this time OF greatest need
dipu( mapdzf
the mastery arrangements of the attack on Cero Gordo
and not less credit is due TO the officers and men by whom
they carried into complete effect Without knowl
edge of the details of the operations so well presented in
the annexed reports OF the General and those IN
command under him, the glory reflected on arms by
the battle of Cerro Godo be fully appreciated
the numerous instances of conspicuous merit among the
officers and be fully presented to the admiration and
gratitude of the nation To ALL in all grades the highest
praise is but an inadequate reward for their noble conduct
The field of these brilliant operations was several
miles in extent and at different points all the variety of
talents and qualities which shed lustre upon accomplish
ed officers and disciplined soldiers was called into requi
sition The enemy was completely routed and pursued
many miles from the principal scene OF action Our en-
tire force, this series of brilliant engagements did not
exceed eight thousand five hundred men that OF the
emy amounted to twelve thousand, and his loss from
ten to twelve hundred in killed and wounded. besides
three thousand prisoners including many general officers
together with large amount OF ordnance arms and mu
nitions OF war Our entire number of killed, wounded
and missing, was four hundred andhlrty-one and the
nation has again to depore the loss here as IN other
eds OF some OF the pIlRneSt du pio'eot VI o hcioe
army mDort,n, victory of cero Gordo cleared the way
to the advance of army into the heart OF the enemys
country Jalapa was at occupied by our troops,
and in quick succession, Perote with its strong castle
and large armament and the populous and wealthy city
Of Pyebla
Cruz our victorious army had advanced through several
OF the most densey peoped and loyal departments OF
Mexico in the direction OF its capital nearly two hun
bred miles.
Before leaving Jalapa about three thousand hun
dred volunteers, whose period of service approached TO-
wards its termination, discharged by the Command
ing General The army, thus reduced in strength,
remained at Puebla until early in August Having been
reinforced with about five thousand men, it then
commenced its movement upon the city OF Mexico The
undertaking to be achieved, compared with the means
EMPLOYED was one of unexampled difficulty and daring,
and TO insure success, required wonderful combination
Of military science, consummate skill and disciplined
vaor il was no less than the subjugaton of the we'll
chosen place of refugee to which the defeated generals
and routed armies of the enemy had retired for safety
the ancient seat of the Aztec empre-afterwards the
SPLENDID metropolis of the Spanish viceroyaiy and
he proud capital OF republic of eight millions Of peo
pie not unpractised in nor unfinished with the
advantages Of modern improvement In military science
strong in its protected position and secured the enemy
fondy believed from successful assault, by numerous
sklfuy constructed Notifications and by an army OF
more than thirty thousand defenders resolved on des-
perate resistance. 49, , -
Unappalled by these formidable difficulties and dangers
our gallant army of but little more than ten thousand ef-
fectve men, with unalterng confidence entered on this
most perous enterprise and encountered the hosts OF the
enemy on the 10Th and Goth of August at Contreas and
Churubusco No more enduring record of the heroic
deeds of these two memorable days can be presented
to the gratitude of country and the admiration OF the
world than found in the reports of the
of our forces and those in immediate command under