The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-13

wound 10 disable nm from commanding his pieces,
which consequently devoved upon Lieut. Reno of the
ordnance corps who for the remainder OF the battle con-
Quoted the service of his battery with equal glany and
| judgment
canno in justice omit to notice the valuable services
OF Capt Lee, Of the engineer corps, whose distinguished
merit and galantry deserve the highest praise and who,
IN the execution OF his duties, ably assisted by his
assistants previously mentioned. They were important
aids in the combination of elements brought bear with
success, no less triumphant than glorious arms,
upon the most powerful collection of artillery Supported
by force OF four to one of orces) successfully
assaulted In any battle upon this continent.
Having myself crossed the plain, and reached this
bloody theatre as the last OF the conflict was closing
as soon as suitable dispositions made 70 secure The
fruits OF the victory, resolved upon pursuing the
discounted enemy, in which | found that Brig; Gems.
Twlggs and Smith had already anticipated me 3y having
commenced the movement Al the same time, apprized
the Genera-in chief of my advance, and requested his
authority to proceed with all the forces stlll under my
strong works at San Antonio in rear and requested
the co operation of Gen. Worth's division, by assault
on that work in front; which the General n-chef read
y granted and directed accordingly -hayng, as learn
upon being advised of the victory, previously given the
order had moved rapidly forward in execution of this
purpose until reached the town Coyoacan where the
command halted await the arrival of the General
in-chief who was informed was close at hand Upon
his arrival the important fact was ascertaned that the
enemys forces at San Antonio having perceived that the
great battery had been lost and the total defeat and
of their forces at Conteras, by which their
opened to assault had abandoned the work at San Anto
MO- and fallen back upon their strong entertainments
rear at Churubusco.
Upon the receipt of this information the General in
chief immediately ordered Brig. Gen. Twiggs division
| to move forward and attack the work on the enemys
right, and directed me to move with Cadwaladers brig
ade and assault the tete du pont its left Moving rap
idly in execution of this order, had great difficulty in
passing the command over some marshy fields and wide
and deep bitches, filed with mud and water was COM
PEELED to dsmount in order to these obstacles which
were CALAMITY overcome by the troops, when the whole
force gained the main causeway at which place met Gen.
Worth, with the advance of his division, moving upon
the same work 1t was then proposed that our united
divisions should move TO the assault OF the strong tete
du pont, which, with its heavy artillery, enfladed the
causeway. This being determined upon, the troops of
the two divisions moved rapidly to attack the work
its left flank and, notwithstanding the deadly fire of
grape and rounasho from the work, which swept the
roadway with furious violence and onDard these gal
liant and noble troops moved with mpeuous valor, and
terrible and long the bloody conflict But the result
could not be doubted At length the loud and enthusiast
tic cheer of the Anglo Saxon soldier told that ali
well and the American coors waved in triumph over the
| bloody scene.
The larger portion of Gen. Worth's veteran division
engaged in this fierce conflict together with the 18th
and 18th regiments of infantry constituting part of my
DIVISION under the commands, respectively OF Lieut. Col
Graham and Col Trousdale. To the 18th infantry be-
longs the honor of capturing flag this fort and Ia
king large number of prisoners in the fort, among
whom was the body of deserters.
The voltgeur regiment, then under command of Lieut.
Col tombstone, had been led on by my adjuant general
Capt Hooker, to the assault OF the strong orticaon
| the enemys right with which Gen Twiggs' division
holly engaged but finding the artillery of the
my, well his small arms, bore directly on this add
vance, which was entirely uncovered, the regiment was
placed in OF church, where it remained until it re-
ceived order from myself in person to to the
assault in conjunction with the lively play of Duncan's
battery This fine regiment was rapidly executing this
order, now under Col Andrews, and led by Gen Cad
wallade when that work surrendered, and was taken
possession of by Twiggs division.
Gen. WORTH Ito whose great galantry during the ac-
ton affords pleasure to bear witness with his d.
vision, and myself with the 18th and 18th regiments of
my command pressed rapidly in pursuit OF the flying
enemy until we had arrived with commands nearly
under the fire of the guns OF the enemy, planted in the
order from the General chef to call off troops from
further pursuit During this movement met with Coils.
Ransoms and Morgans regiments, 18th infantry under
Capt Wood, and the howzer battery under Lieut. Reno,
parts of my DIVISION forming General Pierces brigade
which had been moved by order of the chief,
under command OF Gen Pierce, against large body of the
had been, in conjunction with Shields brigade engaged
in fierce open field fight with large force.
Brgader General Pierce, though still suffering severely
from his injury OF the preceding day. had nevertheless
been Duty and in command of his brigade during the
day, and until few moments before, when he had faint
ed from pain and exhaustion, and been carried from the
field In this last engagement the gallant Col Morgan
was wounded severely, when the command of the 18th
regiment devoIyed on Lieut. Col. Howard.
During this long continued battle, which lasted nearly
two days, every part Of the army in the field participated
in the engagement The consequence that all share
justly in the honor and glory Of the brilliant victory
cannot distinguish between the conduct of the comman-
ders of regiments in division: they all acted dlsn
guished part, as did their field and company officers
though the circumstances OF battle caused Ransom's
Morgans, Graham's and Trousdaes regiments, and the
18th infantry, under command of Lieut. Col Bonham
the 10th, and of Capt Wood the 10th, to be most
lively engaged My division composed entirely of
recruits, whom the exigenCies of the had not al
lowed time to become well disciplined but they emudted
in deeds of valo and consistency the veterans of the old
divisions and am proud to testify to the Generain-
chief my high appreciation of their good conduct
| cannot withhold the expression of my sense of the
deep obligations under for the and honor
due to my command; to my two gallant Brigadier Gener
ais, whose prompude, skill, and daring equal to
every emergency and who, in the absence of discipline
in their commands, met and overcame every obstacles
and led their brigades to honor and distinction
will be pardoned trust, by the Generalin chief Tor
travelling beyond the legitimate bounds of report to
notice becomngly the patriotic conduct of the pous
chaplain of Colonel Clarkes brigade Whilst the battle
ragged furously, my column had great difficulty in
ing deep ditch without damaging their ammunition
soldiers their work. actively set the example OF filling
the excavations, to enable the troops press
ward the assault My medical staff particularly Sur
geon Jordon though inirm and aged and Surgeon Sade
distinguished themselves by their great activity and
gy keeping with the column throughout the action
and attending to the wounded and dying on the spot
where they fell, as did also the entire medical staff Of
my division.
During the arduous duties of my command on the 10TH
my personal staff being all engaged on duty was COM
PEELED to make of the services of of friends
from civil life: among these, | indebted to Mr.. Ken
dali for his assistance in promptly bearing and delivering
orders; also to Paymaser Burns express my indebted
ness for his valuable services to Captain Haa, chief
of the quartermaser's department of my divisions
especially under obligations for his assistance, well
to Lieutenant Davis, of the 1ih regiment acting ord
4 nance object
My personal staF-Captain Hooker, my adjutant gen.
,l, IT