The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-20
OFFICIAL.
Continuation Of the Dispatches phch hare been ree5gea
at the War Office, accompanying Gen. Scof s'a' fe''s
upon the battle of Cerro Gordo


at the War ODce, accompanying Gea oeo'f s'as' 'e'''
upon the battle Of Cerro Gordo
ID Division Army OF INVASION,
Jalapa, April 2oth, ieaI
c. Axo..h, a., ;ns,,uciions from Colonel Harvey,
commanding the list brigade, I'd DIVISION OF tnc ARMY VI
INVASION, have the honor TO submit me ,;ns ~
mort ~ the onerations of the LIST regiment Oh aIier uh-
er nv enmmaad on the nth and 18th OF April, at Cerro
Gordo ,..-. - "A fo p,.n. da
p in pursuance of orders from the headquarters OF The
army In taking up position, the enemy appeared IN
aae force on the hills in front of the mountain Of Cerro
iordo The LIST brigade, under the command OF Colonel
Harvey consisting Of the rife regiment the LIST artillery
and the It'll infantry, ordered to drive back the enc
my The two frst-named regiments, being nearest me
Mexicans from hill to hill, and finally to Their stronghold
and supposed impregnabe position, the heights OF zero
Gordo passing the crest OF the hill immediately II
front Of CerrO G0do, the LIST artillery became separated
from the left OF the rifles; and supposns tha as ne ac
ton had commenced il would only terminate win the
capture Of the height before u.s. and hearing Sa 90
fire upon my left the LIST artillery rushed down the side Oh
the hill and commenced the ascent OF Zero uouo uhder
Havn~ reached within $50 yards Of the batteries of the
enemy found that no other troops had advanced
the hill and but portion OF my own regiment, consist
ing of part of three companies, and amounting only to
his company, and Lieutenant Johnston, with part of
Lieutenant Haskinss company having been ordered by
Major Sumner TO remain where they then were, IN rear
of The crest OF the hill, in front OF Cerro Gordo
Captain Magruder, in attempting afterwards TO join
me. with nine 81 his men, passed galanty through a
shower Of bullets from the enemys muskery and Major
Sumner, in coming TO my support, was wounded
Having maintained my position until the recall was
several times sounded and seeing that the final attack
not to be made. fell back with only men enough to
carry down the Misunderstanding had killed and 30
wounded. Before leaving my position was joined oy
Captain Nauman. who, from severe lndlsposlton' mad
not been able to keep up with ms company
cannot close the notice OF the operations OF the reg
ment on this day without calling the attention OF the
commander Of the brigade the gallant conduct Of Capt
may he em the
deadly fire of the enemy and encouraged them to deeds
of vafor. Among those who particularly distinguished
%Brsn, q company as F; Corporal Lasbrand Of eompa
ny B and Corporas Harvey, Williams, and Private
Brackln, of company H.
rifles, with twelve having become separated
from his regiment Joined the lst artillery and was par
tculary active and gaant-having shot one of the enc
my with his pistol close was our proximity.
On the 18TH the LIST artillery composed portion OF the
storming party that gorously carried the height OF
Cero Gofdo. defended BY thousands OF Mexcans and
can do no less than the officers who participated
this bloody conflict all OF whom deserve the notice q the
generaln:chief. They follows: Captains Maui
MiEd Cannon and Hoa6 eu'' H''k
Ihave again the pleasure speak in high terms of Ser
gean Holden of company F, Prvaes Ferguson and Fos
ter Cf company B. and Corporal Harvey and Private
beg particularly to notice the untring attention OF AS
sistat Surgeon Steiner to the wounded OF the regiment
professional services in constant requsiton for more
Than forty eight hours
have the honor, likewise, to transmit Mexican
standard captured by the regiment.
The loss OF the lst artillery, on this day, was killed,
and II wounded making total of 10 killed and 40
woundedamounng to ne-thIrd OF the men actually en-
gagged. All which is respectfully submitted.
THOMAS CHILDS,
Col y. s army, commanding LIST artillery
Lieut. EARL VAN Dorm, Act Asst AdJ General, Jalapa,
Mexico
HEADQUARTERS RE OF MOUNTED RIrLEMEN,
Jaapa, April 20, lo47.
COLONEL: have the honor report that the regiment
of mounted nhemen, under the command OF Major Sum
the nth instant, directed in advance OF the
take position with view of turning sOrmpg the enc
my's position the main height OF the " Cerro Gordo
The first squadron OF renen halted about 400 yards
OF the point OF attack partly under from the enc
mys batteries While awaiting orders, i was fired upon
by the enemys battery in front and their skirmshers on
its LETT flank mhs squadron was $ ,Ss asPosea
my attacked upon the summit and farther slope oil
the hill by the regiment Of rfemen and company OF IN
antry The enemy was driven from this position under
cover of their own batteries In this attack Major Sum
ner, commanding the regiment OF mounted riemen, was
severely wounded and carried to the rear, leaving myself
ployed on the left skrmishers, advanced and con-
inaed the attack and assisted in driving the enemy into
their works. At this time the mountain howzer battery
having been placed in position upon the height from
which the enemy driven, the regiment was directed
to sustain the battery in place, and also to prevent the
enemy from turning left flank-a large force being
seen advancing down the Jalapa road from the main
height towards the two others-and here remained
through the day and during the night, assisting with
Others in sustaining the heavy batteries that plant
ed AT the dawn Of day the brigade ordered to pre-
pare for battle AT early hour and before the attack
upon the main work. large succorng force was seen
advancing the Jalapa road the rifles ordered to
pass 10 the left attract the attention OF the enemy, and
keep them in check until the stermHg Of the heights
menced in which the regiment to Join the left
flank. During this diversion. was exposed to Calling
and destructive fire OF round grape canister, and mus
kerry, upon its front and both TANKS from the enemies
three main entertainments and batteries which it SUI
fered great loss In this movement large force of the
enemy held in check, which, from their position
would have been able to have turned the assaultng
column. The general assault having been ordered a
portion OF the regiment joining in i, the works having
Iy extended to the left could possibly reach the heights
this being effected the regiment, with others, placed
in position on the heights In very short time the
my surrendered The regiment of mounted riAemen fol-
lowed in company with others, the retreating army to
within 10 miles of Jalapa-
The distinguished gallanty OF the officers and men of
the regiment Of mounted rifles was 80 universal that the
task Of discriminating is one of extreme difficulty.
Foremost in the assaultng column. and first in the
"A' who desperate personal conflict with the last OF
the retreatng foe fell MORALLY wounded on the ~aene of
his impershabe glory.
The regiment has also to depIore the death OF I'd
Lieut.. Thomas Davis Of company "H," who was killed
galIantly advancing to the attack
Capt Mason, of company "F," had his leg carried of
by round shot whilst leading his company into action
and Lieut. d. H. Maury had his shattered in the
flict of the preceding morning.
4. a \ = II,