The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-17

men, The church. standing in the centre also afforded
protection, necessary Gen Smith now directed Gen
Cadwaaders force 10 be drawn up the outer edge OF
the village facing the enemys heavy force the left OF
the fort-formed the Sd infantry and rifles In column OF
company. left In front on the right flank, and placed
Lieut. Smiths sappers and miners, and Capt. Twins
company OF the lih infantry, in the church, and Maj
Dimcks regiment in the garden the road order 10
secure that avenue and his rear
Gen. Smith now determined to attack the large force
on the enemys right, with Col Riley on the left Gen
Cadwaiiader on the right of the former retired IN eee-
oni bui before the movement could be completed ngh'
approached, and the enemys line could not be seen
therefore the order countemanded, and CEN Siu-
walader resumed his position the edge OF ne village
Col Rlleys brigade was tefmed in long line INSIDE
parallel TO it, the rfes on his left and the Sd infantry
/ in the churchyard Thus they remained, exposed 70
severe ain all night, without fire or shetehe ocers'
from generals down. sharing the severity OF the weaier
but perhaps it only whetted their ap3eies Tor more
glorious and determined engagement IN the morning
But imagine the position OF TINS portion OF me
army numbering $500 at the outside, without artillery
or cavalry; while the enemy in front and ON the lett had
$4,000 troops-those in the fort said 10 be the best OF
| Mexico-with % pieces of artillery and among his
troops about 1000 cavalry II was evident that some de-
csve action had to be taken, that some great effort had
! to be made and Gen Smith and Col. Riley, seconded
as they then were Just the men competent TO the
task. An attack on the main work was determined
upon, and the movement TO take place at O'Clock of the
following morning. However, here another obstacle
presented tselfthe force OF Gen Smith not strong
enough attack the main work and hold the village at
| the time; and it was of the utmost importance he
should do for he drove the enemy from this man
|
village he could hold long enough to allow his troops
to get away, and IN all probability seriously embarrass
any further movements OF army until he was safely
fixed somewhere else 1t said that fortune favors the
braveand IN this instance II most truly did; for while
Gen. Smith was preparing for his attack, Gen Shields
reported his approach with his brigade of South Ca
| ro.lna and New York volunteers; and here
hlblhon OF magnanimlty on the part of hgh-mnded
soldier to brother officer When Gen Shields arrived,
he was the ranking officer, and could have assumed the
command but he was not the man TO pluck the bright
aurels about TO- be gathered by brother soldier carry
Ing one OF the strong works of the enemy accordingly
he moved subject to the command of Gen Smith, and his
brigade placed the village of Ensaldo as circum-
stances might require, either cut of the retreat Of the
troops from Contreros or to take the reserve of the
my in flank If it should change lis front and attempt to
| attack our force towards Contreros.
AT 3 O'Clock on the morning OF the 20th troops
commenced their movement towards the front of attack
The night dark, that the could not go of
reach of another for fear of losing their way This
caused the movement to be slow, that day break APP
preached before the head of Gen Cadwaaders brigade
commenced descending into the ravine at the village AS
soon as Col Riley got out of the deep ravne, and at
point where thought the of the work could be
approached, the head OF the column halted and closed,
at the same time drawing the loads out of the guns sup
posed to be wet. Col Riley then formed his brigade in
column by dvlsonsand thus the column stood formed
Col Reys brigade onthe advance, next Gen. Cadwala-
ders and Gen Smiths brgades together with the sappers
and miners under the command OF Major Dimick closed
up the rear-leaving Gen. Shields at the village. Col
Riley continued up the ravine bearing little his left
and as he raised the bank he stood fronting the
OF the enemy's work; but he protected from the
verify of its fire by the favorable position of the ground
As soon as Col Riley assembled the hill and came in full
view of the enemy, they Immediately opened a warm fire
upon him. Col Riley threw out his advanced dvis
ions as skirmishers and said forward" Now, boys give
them heclose In with them and let the bayonet do its
work--and his command rushed down the slope with
desperation and enthusiasm enough TO strike terror
the heart OF the bodest while the of his command
moved steadily forward in solid block, with the most
chanical precision The sappers and miners and the rifle
regiment which had been thrown across "a ravine inter-
venng between the they had passed up and under
W hrh (nlN me
from that position poured in fire which swept in front
Of Colonel Reys column, then ncining towards their
left joined in the attack the troops outside OF the left
flank OF the fort General Cadwallader followed the
route taken by Col. Riley, and, his troops
were formed, moved ON TO his support The first brigade,
which was bringing UP the rear, had been ordered to
follow the route; but while it its march by
the right flank up the ravne and nearly opposite the
FORT General Smith ordered the brigade to face 10 the left
and advance in line 10 attack the enemys force i'll flank
This executed in less lime than it takes
me to write it, They met the enemy outside of the FORT
just Colonel Reys brigade rushed into it, the enemy
was completely routed, and commenced precpitate
lreat their cavalry and infantry had been formed to
| ceive the charge but both were compelled 10 give
way 10 the bayonet; the route most complete and
the victory most decided but while Rieys brigade took
possession of the works, and planted their coors upon it,
the other force continued the pursuit down the road.
Shiedss brigade was placed to intercept them. They,
however, not aware of it until they received the
wedirected fire OF the South Carolina reghnen which
moved them down like grass before the scythe.
The enemy had been completely deceived in reference
to the position OF General Shedss brigade and the bal
of the force, by the sagacity of the General After
General Smith moved off to attack the work, General
Shields caused his to build fires over the ground oc
cuped by the troops during the night the
preparing their breakfast, which led the enemy believe
our troops still in force in the village This also
led him to believe going to carry into execution
the attack we medltang the night before. Accord
ingly the night before he placed batteries along his line,
and in the morning moved detachments forward to take
in flank the attack he supposed would make at day
lights and how great his surprise must have BEEN when
the first thing he in the morning Colonel Riley
moving down the SLOPE having already turned his strong
hold But all doubts dspelled by the capture
of his works, and the dispersion OF his army. They
energy of General Shields, whose command compelled
them to ny In every direction, taking to the broken
and craggy rocks, some to the ravines while others de-
pended upon their HEELS and made excellent time in
the fields One of the most sagacious move
mens made by Mexican officer was made at this place
After large portion OF the Mexican army had passed
through very narrow pass, and troops after them,
he formed squadron of lancers the pass laid down
their and surrendered thus eiecng the escape of
troops who nearest having take of the
prisoners and guard them back and before another force
could go in pursuit, they out of reach
In this fort there captured 90 pieces of artillery
mostly large sZe great number of pack-mules, large
quantity of ammunition and munitions of war; and up
wards of 500 prisoners among them several Off
GERS of high rank. The enemy left dead upon the field,
which we have buried upwards OF 700-but his loss
was certainly much heavier, the Mexcans still
burying their friends when | passed the battle
ground two days ago there many killed
dea-their unerring told with powerful effect The
trOops in the fort were commanded by Valencia those