Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-12-15

the rluSe, opposite tue enemy rlgnt, 10
look to our left hanb to sustain the assault
ing column if necessary, or to dscomtt the
enemy, (the ground being favorable,) as cir
cunlstances might require. Cadwalader's
brigade was held in reserve, in position
on the ridge, between the battering guns
and Mclntosh's brigade, and in easy sup
port of either. The cavalry, under Major
Sumner, to envelope our extreme left, and
be governed by crcumstances-to repel or
attack, us the commanders judgment mi ght
, suggest. The troops to be put in position
under cover of the night; and the work to be-
gin rs soon as the heavy metal could be
properly directed. Col, Duncan was char
ged with the general disposition of the ar
tillery Accordingly, at 3 o'clock in the
morning Of the 9Th, the several columns
were pu. in motion, on as many different
routes; and when the gray Of the morning
enabled them to be seen, they were as &C
curately in position as if posted in midday
for review. The early dawn was the mo-
ment appointed for the attack, which was
announced to our troops by the opening of
Huger's guns on Eel Molno del Rey. upon
which they continued to play actively until
this point of the enemy's line became sem
s;bly shaken, when the assaulting party,
commanded by wright, and guided b, that
ACCOMPLISHED officer, Capt. Mason of the
engineers, assisted by Lieut.. Foster, dashed
gnlIantly forward to the assault. mistaken
by the CALLING fire Of musketry and canister
that was showered upon them, on they rush
ed, driving infantry and artillery men at
the point Of the bayonet. The enemy s
field battery was taken. and his own guns
were tral.ed upon his retreating masses; be-
fore, however, they could be discharged,
porceiving that he had been dispossessed of
this strong position by comparatively a
handful of men, he made desperate effort
to regain it. Accordingly, his re,reating
forces rallied and formed with this object.
Aided by the infantry, which covered the
housetops (within reach Of which the bate
ny had been moved during the night the
enemy'B whole line opened upon the assault
ing party a terrific fire of musketry, which
struck down cieuen out of the fourteen Off
GERS that composed the command, and nom
commissioned officers and men in proportion;
including amongst the officers, Bvt. Major
Wright, the commander; Capt. Mason and
Lieut.. Foster, engineers, all severely woun-
dcd. This severe shock staggered, for a
moment, thut gallant band. The light bat
| l1i!oH, Hc!u " CoVtl 11uScl uaIteIy uauet
Capt. e. Kirby Smith. (Lieut. Col. Smith
being sick } and the right wing Of Cadwal-
adcrs brigade, were promptly ordered for
ward to support, which order was executed
in til. most gallant style; the enemy was
again routed, and this point Of his line car
red, and fully possessed by our troops. In
the mean time Garland's (lst) brigade,
ably Sustained by Capt. Drums artillery,
assaiIed the enemy's left. and after an OBJ
stinate and very severe contest, drove him
from this apparently impregnnbie position,
| immediately under the guns Of the castle of
| Chapultepec. Drums section, and the bat
terlng guns under Capt. Huger, advanced to
the enelby's position, and the captured guns
of the enemy were now opened on his re-
treating forces, on which they continued I'M
til beyound their reach. While this work
was in progress Of accomplishment by our
centre and right, our troops on the left were
not idle, Duncan's battery opened on the
right OF the enemy's line, up 10 the time en-
gagged; and the I'd brigade, under Col Nc
intoHh, was uow ordered to assault the eX-
trcme right OF the enemy's line, The d.
rectlon OF this brigade soon caused It TO
mask duncan 3 battery--the lire OF which.
| tor the moment, was discontinued; and the
brigade moved steadily on to the assault OF
Casa Muta, which. instead Of an ordinary
held entrenchment, as was supposed, proved
to be strong stone citadel, surrounded
with Fashioned entertainments and impassa-
bic ditches-an old Spanish work. recently
| repaired and enlarged. When within easy
musl.et range, the enemy opened most
dreadful FIRE upon our advancing troops,
,~l kah N han INT
until our galiont men reached the very
slope Of Tie parapet Of the work that sur
rounded the citadel. BY this time; large
proportion Of the command was either kill
ed or wounded, amongst whom were the
| three senior officers present.-brevet Col.
McIntoeh, Bvt. Lieut.. Col Scott, of the 9th
infantry, and Major Waits. sth infantry;
the second killed. and the first and last des-
perately wounded. Still, the fire from the
citadel was undated. In this crisis Of the
attack, the command wna,' momentarily.
thrown into disorder and fell back on the
left of Duncan's battery, where they rallied.
As the Cd brigade moved to the assault,
very large cavalry and infantry force was
discovered approaching rapidly upon our
left flank to reinforce the enemy's right
As soon as Duncan's battery was masked,
us before mentioned, supported by andre VS.
voltigeurs, Of Cadwallader's brigade, it mo-
we'd promptly to the extreme left Of our line,
TO check the threatened assault on this
point. The enemy's cavalry came rapidly,
within canister range, when the whole bat
terry opened most effective fire, which soon
broke the squadrons, and drove them back
in disorder. During this fire upon the enc
my g cavalry, Maj. Summers command mo-
we'd to the front. and changed direction in
admirable order, under most appalling fire
from the Casa Mata. This movement en-
ab'ed his command to cross the ravne i'm
mediately on the left of Duncan's battery,
where it remained. doing noble service, un,
til the close of the action. At the very mo.
ment the cavalry were driven beyond reach.
our own troops drew back from before the
Casa Mata, and enabled the guns of Dun
cans battery to reopen upon this position;
which, after short and well directed fire,
the enemy abandoned. The guns of the
battery were now turned upon his retreat
ing columns, and continued to play upon
them until beyond reach.
He was now driven from every point of
the field, and his strong lines, which had
-. III ,~n