Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-09-30
Thrilling Description of the Battle
Field!
[BY AZ ErE wITNEss.l

August "a. lo4I
1.-THE army left Puebla the Sth of this month,
and, after few days march, reached Ayotla, iIime
dia:ely on the margin of the valley of Mexico Be-
tween this place and the city, about four miles distant,
we knew there strongly fortified position, called
St. Pinon; il is a small isolated mountain, surround
ed by water on one side Of one of the principal cause
ways leading TO the city. After spending a day or
two IN accommodating this place, and which 1t would
have caused great loss of life to have taken, 1t was
asceraned that there was practicable road south of
Lake Chalco. The General determined to take this
route and put the army In notion leaving our dlvl-
sion TO watch the enemy in rear. The march was
dreadful one being the rainy season. The road was
IN many places, where il passes at the foot OF the
mountains, and the margin Of the lake or narrow
causeway, nearly covered with water and excessive
ly muddy; at others it was rocky spaces of the
mountains, and in places entirely obstrncted by huge
rocks polled down by the enemy but nothing seemed
to damp the ardor of the army-all obstacles
lshed before them. In two three days, when the
whole army was in motion, they could be seen from
the front stretched out distance of seven or
eight miles. On the 18th, the General reached
small town called San Augustin, about twelve miles
south of the city, the leading division having arrived
there the day before. General Worth had placed his
pickets in advance for the arrival of the General he
ordered the whole division advance and take pos
session of a hacienda within striking distance of
strongly fortified place called San Antonio, and also
still in advance the party supported b. squad
ron of cavalry and a battalion of infantry. In pas
sing 10 the front, found that troop which bad been
placed picket had gone forward and as | came
up with it, il made in the road which brought
it IN full view of the enelnys battery which opened
upon them. The first fire killed Captain Thornton,
mangling his body In the most horrId manner. The
ball. l6-pOunder, afterwards struck the road and lit
orally covered with mud and fragments of stone.
one of which made a slight bruise my right thigh.
/ guide was knocked from his horse within i've feet
of me, with a shocking wound in his head by piece
of stone. 1t is thought he will recover, but with the
loss Of an eve. The reconnaissance was continued
right and left with hopes of storming the bate
ry that afternoon; but night and the ram came
and it given up. Very early the next morning,
| discovered rUm the top of the house in which we
were quartered in San Augustin, large body of The
enemy some 1900 or 10 900 our left, about three
miles distant The General had ordered reconnois-
sances III that direction towards San Angel where
reported to him. He Immediately ordered two divi-
sions forward under Pillow and Twggs. and followed
soon after himself The enemy were. found in an
trenched camp, at place called Contreros, with
twenty pieces of artillery, some of them very heavy
pieces. The attack commenced at noon. and the fire
continued necessarily until dark, when it ceased on
both Sides our troops maintaining tielr ground and
occupying village near by.
During the afternoon watched the different
/
ty. and could plainly of Our columns resist a
charge of large body of cavalry, and the enemy fall
ing from their saddles and taking 10 their heels, or
rather to their horses heels. During the whole of
the fight, could the right body of at least
ten thousand infantry: and cavalry III reserve towards
the city but they had not the courage TO advance, al
though Santa Anna himself was said TO be there The
| attack ordered to be renewed at O'Clock next
morning. and the General returned to San Augustin.
He left at an early hour, taking with him General
| Worth's and one half of his division a reinforce
ment but en- route he was met by officer, who re-
ported that the batteries had been carried By the
troops in gallant style. Colonel Riley leading the
assault As he approached the scene of action, it
seemed most incredible how our men got over the
ground the attack. Il over immense masses of
lava thrown up in the toughest, sharpest, possible
shapes, and covered with dense brushwood. Streams
had 10 be crossed and deep avlnes and most OF them
having passed the night in petng rain without
shelter, it appears almost Incredible that they should
be able TO drive double their numbers from battery
of % heavy guns. The scene of the arrival Of the
General must exciting The cheering of the
troops left to protect the property taken, and their de-
light seeing him, was very gratifying. Many of
the guns taken have been added TO siege train.
! The amonnt of ammunition taken exceeded by three
times the whole which we brought from Vera Cruz,
that well provided. But the greatest cause
of exultation was the recapiure of two of own
General Taylor. When saw the U. s. on them, /
felt like dismounting and embracing them. What is
remarkable about their recapure. it was made by the
4th artillery, to which regiment they formerly belong
cd They with other small captured pieces, were i'm
medaiely fitted up as light battery, and the cap
tain (Dunn) who took them, In command of 1t. The
General. when he received the intelligence Of this
victory sent General Worth back to make demon
stration on San Antonio, whilst he with the portion
of the army which was pressing the enemy, should
get In its will not stop To describe the
ON the battle field On leaving il, the road was liter
ally srewed with dead Mexcans, arms, broken car
riages, &c. In passing bridge, looked over, and
saw the bodies of at least twenty, piled the
other and the bank Of the river was strewed with
them and it was some distance before we got out Of
sight Going on, came to church. in which
were confined 7OU prisoners. The General halted a
few minutes, and addressed the officers very kindly
Amongst them were fodt Generals. He then hurried
out to joiu the pursuing enemy We CAME up with
them at San Angel where they had halted. As the
General passed along the line; it continued
shout: After few minutes we passed on to a viii
age called Coyoacan where we Heard firing on our
right about two miles off, in the direction of San An
tonic. The General Immediately sent me, with Capt
Kearneys troop, to ascertain the state of affairs We
galloped and on approaching the place found
that Worth had turned the place by both TANKS and
driven the enemy from il; and was in hot pursuit Of
them | returned to the General quickly | had
gone, and as galloped along heard brisk firing
IN front. When | reached him found that he was
fercey engaged with the enemy at another strongly
| entrenched poson-San Pablo: This action lasted
more than two hours, and the firing more general
and more continuous than any had yet heard The
enemys grape and canister flew like hail. and the fire
of our infantry was one continued volley. Captain
gayors battery obliged to retire, being most sad
ly crippled-os two officers, great many men, and
left the field with only two horses to gum but the
| enemy, although behind entertainments, with heavy