Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-24
To VIZ. II. FREScH, A. Acrg Adj Gen.
JaLAra. MesIeo. Anil 81. lsI1-

JALAFA, Mexico, April 81, lS47.
SIR On the evening OF the 10th ins'. owing 10 the i'll
ness OF Brevet Brig General Smith, placed in COM
mand OF The LIST brigade Of the I'd DIVISION and II is now
my grateful duty 10 report the operations Of that brigade
IN the actions Of the 18th and 18th Instant Our encamp
at Plan del Rio enabled the engineer officers to mako
frequent and close observations on the enemys positon
and 1t was ascertained that he had fortified himself on
range Of hills for two miles IN a mountain pass and that
the Jas, OF his works the Cerro C;ordo which
from It's position and Offences considered almost i'm
pregnabe On the morning of the 18th the I'd division
under the command Of Brig General TwRgs was duec-
ted TO turn the enemy by the right flank order
ed by that officer to seize and maintain oil the heights in
the ncghb0rhOod OF the Cefro Godo which, from their
proximity aud position, might be Of advantage IN an at
tack on that fortress. Shortly after the column turned oH
70 the night from the main road, Brove lst Lieutenant
Gardner 9Th infantry, directed with his company lo
move to the Of hill tho left and To watch tho
enemy's movements. While m tho execution OF this or
der, Lieut. Gardner bee engaged with the enemy but
he CALAMITY maintained his position against fearful odds
until he was sueeored by the rsmsn under Ms Sumner
ana the artillery under Col Childs who drove the enemy
after severe conflict from their first POSITION and eonin
ued the pursuit until they made second stand on q hill
near the Cerro Gordo within range Of their grape and
mister, and from which troops suffered
the bill siormed and carried and al,erwads mantain
cd, although the enemy made three successive charges To
regain H. portion OF the troops under Col Chds, led
by her zeal and mpetuosy, rushed down the hill tho
ascent Of the Ceuo Gordo but attack was inicn-
dcd ~ hat time they recalled and oined Gen Twiggs
Inc niles and Ih infantry slept the hill and that point
were brought IN the night FOUNDER and two - howii
nonado the enemy's ofufcsuon on the Cerro Gofdo-
Early IN the morning reinforced By four companies
artillery, under Lieut. Col Chds, and six companies 81 in
ianuy under Capt Alexander. and immediately gsve d.
rections TO the different commanders prepare their
troops FOR sormng Cerro Gordo The rifles were direct
ed TO 20 the left IN the and engage the en-
emy and instructed Moor Lofng that, dis
covered that he bad commenced the attack, would move
forward the stoming force which was about organise
The Ih infantry formed the right, the "a infantry
on the eit, and the artillery formed in of the IN
any with orders 70 support H. Observing that large force
moving from the left the main road towards The
Cerro Gofd1, deemed prudent sdvanco a. once add
Immediately ordered the charge be sounded without
waiting Tor the ire Of the remen The enemy poured 80
on my line most CALLING ERE Of grape eannistcf snd
kety from different positions around the hi but my troops
advanced inuepidy and steadily psfsde day.
cannot speak ardenty u their snmation zeal snd
courage under such trying Circumstance and without which
they never would have surmounted the natural and arh
cal obstacles which opposed their progress Around he
hill about 90 yards from the foot there bFcastwok 90
stone, which filed with MeHcan troops, Who offered
obstnae resistance, continuing 10 hrs unhl the troops
reached The brcaswofk, snd where ior few moe.fs.
bayoneB crossed. Beyond this, sad immediately
around the fort, there vas smother work, from vhieh
our advance was sgaIn obsdnstsly opposed bot The
troops Immediately surmounted H. carried The fof pollsd
down the MeEesn Tag and planted colors sid tss
proud IoicnRs u troops Agfeesbly 20 insiueons.
the rifles moved The left where iheY becsms engaeed
with succoring fsrce bot which they held N ehsck, aOt
wdss,sndng gallng ere from The enemy sassaeh.