The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-05

been decided at last The Secretary of the Navy appointed
commission examine the rival claims of the balance
and sectional docks These gentlemen, consisting OF expe
enced and scientific persons have made their report, APP
proving unanimously OF the balance dock the navy yards
at Philadelphia, Pensacola, and Portsmouth, New Hamp-
shire This establishes the soundness of the conclusions
which some of the scientific gentlemen OF this city had
arrived thorough examination of the subject As the
commissioners have out strongly in favor of the bal
dock the Secretary of the Navy WILL doubt
der their report conclusive, and accordingly order dock
of the kind to be built at our nnvyynrd -Pha Ledger.
The National Integencer of Monday publishes the
following interesting sketch of incidents which fell
under the eye of young lieutenant of the mounted
rifles at the battle of Cerro Gordo:
81 proceed TO tell you of the part played in the battle
! of Cero Gordo. God deliver me from being in such
another fight! In my last letter from Vera Cruz stated
that had been left behind my division ed of General
Twggs's sick, but that was about reon Jaapa
Who can calculate the future The from the
army that Santa Anna, with army of
sand men, strongly entrenched in mountain pass
tween and Jaapa Ceo Gordo the of princi-
pal height and of his postona perfect Mexican
Gibraltar, mountain height OF eight hundred feet
-surnounted by eight pieces of cannon eighteen and
sixpounder) which completely commanded the neigh
boring ground and approaches and furthermore strength
ened by Two breastworks of sone WOOD and brush which
completely gr about the summit upon which stood small
town. from which waved proudly the flag of Mexico BY
fastening on and travelling by night well day,
rived just as the ball opened The peak of Ofizaba the
distance looking down upon the battle like huge pre-
|
up in columns to the amount of six thousand sum.
nit with colors displayed, wild and martial music sound
ing, and Santa Anna, upon milk seed and
rounded by brilliant staff riding along the lines
| aging his men, presented sight imposing and
beautiful 1t was destined shortly be grand and terrific
On the right Of our position cd division ofegulas whom
the whole honor of this great and glorious victory due
second height, commanded almost entirely by that of
Cero Goro, and occupied by large force of Mexicans
1t was necessary that this height should be aken prepare
tory to the grand assault This work gaanty executed
by the rifles LIST artillery and company of the 7h
iantry Many OF our men, carried away by natural inn
petnosy, and many others misunderstanding orders after
having driven the enemy from the first hill advanced ven
to the base of Cerro Gordo That night when we rested
upon the first hill, under comparative of its crest
snrroundedby dead and wounded Mexicans many brave
comrade missed who expating the sin Of having
been brave to rashness
81 was too late 10 join my regiment the first day. but
attached myself 10 company of the 18th infantry which
held exposed situation and had the felicity
being fred at all day without the pleasure of returning
That night rejoined my company, under Capt Mason
and morning the ball reopened with great 6ca the
enemy having Weakened during the night only by
pleasant messengers in the shape OF balls. In the
morning we Che rtes) obliged for mortal hours
to stand artillery fire OF ball, grape, and canister, under
very imperfect shelter, before the command forward
storm the height given 1t here that poor Mason
fine fellow lived, (and who, by-he-by is doing
we lost his leg. Lieut.. Davis killed in the very spot
where had been lying few minutes before and after
wards, when obey the order forward, soldier
discovered about feet above me, the side of the hill
who had been killed dead by grape sot that had pass
ed through his stomach that he had apparently moved
from his recumben POSTURE and had died suddenly that
those around ignorant Of the fact of his having been
struck The rifles ordered to take up position in
ravine and hold in check body OF Mexicans advan
cling reinforce Cerro Godo and the other three regiments
of the brigade the height myself heard only the
order forward consequently ahead with the main col
umn, and fortunate enough be among the first
the breastworks of the enemy, whom revenged myself
upon By turning upon him 6-pounder one OF his
gun
and iron coin.
"The storming of Cerro Gordo a magnificent specta
cle well OF the most brilliant, ifno brilliant
feat accomplished by American arms The mountain
steep, and the exhausted by previous efforts
that became cool deliberate thing There rush
gallant soldiers advanced calmly and slowly, amidst
leaden hurricanes which increasingly swept them
batteries in the played upon them but there
pause hesation-on they went. Their minds
made up conquer die. On they Went, gradually
vergng the summit, which blazed forth like volcano
till finally deadly fire opened upon the foe his breast
work became ALSO and almost simultaneously the diff
ircn regiments engaged in the storm entered and their
standards triumphanty waved in place of Ia banera dc
Mexico What glorious feeling of elaon took possession
of my soul at that moment cannot describe it. OF the
wounded, dead, and dying, will not speak. have
Death obed in all his CHASTITY and feel that am be-
coming Indifferent the suferngs of my fellows my pro-
esson demands it, The dry grass upon the hill took fire
one time, and many dead and wounded burnt
up, rather roasted Our regiment suffered terribly the
proportion Of killed and wounded among the officers
than of threeeight officers being killed and
wounded where fourteen unframed among the men
the proportion OF FIVE Pretty hot work such
Us do about being engaged in again in hurry.
At time, assure YOU such the noise of balls pass
ing my head, that unconscious of any other
sound though regiments the time rolling forth their
fire. What magnificent and terrible played in
those mountains, which acted like huge sounding
board, and prolonged and rolled away the distance the
noise of battle
81 have only pretended give you OF that
portion of the battle in which engaged. We how
ever the day.
81 go with DIVISION il moves, Pue-
ba Mexico, and other sights If these Mexcans
did not shoot hard Mexico would be delg htfu
country TO be in. What /, who weeks ago
sleeping upon the hard rock without shelter, doing
Why, uxuriang in real bed with clean sheets and pill
lows with frnged cases At present board with very
pleasant family with whom am the very best of
Lately, when had slight return OF fever, they almost
killed me with kindness and attention. From my window
I regard n perfect wilderness of beautywooIs mountains,
meadows, and flowers; numbers OF singing birds of beau
tal plnmage delight the and sight Ozaa Ozala,
exclaimed with admiration. You shoald family
party night jolly Spaniard plays the harp for usthe
girls (hrce of thsm) Don Santiago, (another boador
and Don Diego, Chat is say mysef) We dance every
thing-Pokas Spanish Dances Mexican waZes and the
old padre, Franciscan monk with shaven crown, looks
and says Young people enjoy yourselves when
you DID, confess your SINS How pleasant this One
of the girls (Solidad by name) sings WE'LL and is
writing off for n Spanish song for c."
| Navy YARp.--The work at the navy-yard Brook
lyn is in rapid progress The Nasyth pile driver
is AT work 1t Wednesday pile 40 feet long in
minute On Thursday its average work seven piles