Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-25

of this victory Considering the disparity of numbers in
yor Of the enemy the steady vaor aud mness with which
our troops often IN small detachmen wiIsood and repeed
the repeated assaults OF superior forces and the many deeds
oil noble daring displayed amid the changing of this
penous conflict the battle of Buena Vista will well sustain
comparison with any of the brilliant achievements in this war,
which have given such widespread renown to our arms.
Our forces engaged in this battle did exceed five thou
sand four hundred men, and these were mainly volunteers,
while that OF the enemy not less than twenty thousand
his best troops under the immediate command of Gen. Santa
Anna victory so glorious and important in its
quences not achieved without serious loss Among
those who ended their of honor and glory the bate
field OF Buena VISTA the nation the loss Of Of
her bravest and nobest The killed. wounded and miss
ing were about hundred. The loss of the enemy,
from the best estimate that could be made than
double that number the field besides the thousands who
perlshed in his hurried and disastrous retreat.
In the confidence OF victory and for the purpose Of securing
the full fruits OF IT. considerable body Of the enemys cavalry
was sent into the of advanced positions and for
snort time interrupted our lines OF communication harassed
our trains, and killed number of escorts and eamsers but
the line was soon reopened and the usual facilities Of commu
ncation restored.
The expedition from the island of obo under the
mand of Major General Scott appeared off Vera Cruz and
elected landing in admirable order that city the 9th
OF March For the success of this difficult and hazard
Gus operaion the army is much indebted the valuable
sstance rendered by our squadron and its services
knowedged IN Just terms of commentator by the Command
ing General The city once invested, and arrange
ments exhibiting great skill, science, and judgment,
made for an attack Though continually under the fire of
heavy batteries from the castle and city, these arrangements
were completed the 3d. when the enemy Summoned
10 surrender On receiving refusal, bombardment
menced IN which naval forces honoraby and efficiently
participated and was continued with destructive effect until
The morning Of the 26th when received which
resulted IN the surrender to arms the 29h of March,
OF both the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of Juan dc
Uua, with their armaments, munitions, and gaisons,
slsng OF five thousand prisoners and many stands ar
four hundred pieces of ordnance and large quantity of
nance stores.
Distinguished credit alike due to the officers and men of
the army and navy FOR this signal triumph In the series Of
successful which have attended the of the war
the capture OF Vera Cruz accompanied by the re-
ducton OF the castle of San Juan de Uua NAV well be re-
garded of the greatest Importance Aside from lis
moral effect upon the enemy, its advantages in other respects
were OF the greatest magnitude fortress long renowned for
It's strength with the large quantity of munitions of war there
accumulated passed into possession and with was ac-
CURED the efectua of controlling the commercial
intercourse with the enemy and OF excluding foreign aid and
supplies along the Gulf OF Mexico and and preferable
base for military operations against the interior and the CAPITAL
OF the enemys country a. the time established
After some delay occasonedby unavoidable difficulties in pro-
curing sufficient meansf transportation, army commenced
IFS movement the sh of April in the direction of the CITY of
Mexico Perhaps no country ineposes many
mdabe obstacles of invading army Mexico;
and nowhere in that country did they present themselves in
appalling aspect than the which Law before o adj
vanclng column The difficult passes the Plan del Rio,
about fifty miles from Vera Cruz occupied by numer-
Gus Mexican force and the commanding heights of Cerro
do were strongly fortified To dsodge the enemy from these
POSITIONS and to storm his orcao held by superior force
required the best efforts of SKILL military science and daring
adventure and these high attributes wanting in this
time OF greatest need The Commanding General merits high
for the mastery arrangements of the attack on
Ceo Godo and less credit due TO the officers and men
by whom they were carried into complete effect Without
knowledge of the details Of The operations well presented in
the annexed reports of the Geneanche and those in COM
mand under him, the glory reflected by the battle
OF Cerro Gordo cannot be fully appreciated the
Instances OF conspicuous merit among the officers and men be
fully presented to the admiration and gratitude of the nation
To ALL in all grades the highest praise but an Inadequate
reward foi their noble conduct.
The field of these brilliant operations several miles in
extent and at different points all the variety of talents and
qualities which shed usre upon accomplished officers and dis
cpned soldiers called into equisiton The enemy
completely routed and pursued many miles from the prncpa
scene of action Our entire force in this of brilliant en-
gagemens did exceed eight thousand hundred men
that Of the enemy amounted to twelve thousand and his loss
was from ten TO twelve hundred in killed and wounded be-
sides three thousand prisoners including many general off
GERS together with large amount of ordnance, arms, and
munitions OF war Our entire number OF killed. wounded
and missing four hundred and hryone and the nation
has again to dpore the loss here in other fields of
Of the brightest and bravest Of our heroic army.
The important victory of Cerro Gordo cleared the way 10
he advance of army into the heart of the enemys coun-
y Jaapa at occupied by troops and in quick
succession, Peote with its strong castle and large armanen
and the populous and wealthy city of Puebla.
In the space of about thirty days after leaving Vera Cruz
victorious army had advanced through the most
lensey peoped and loyal departmental Mexico in the dec
ion Of its capital, nearly two hundred miles,
Before leaving Jaapa, about three thousand hundred
volunteers whose period Of service approached towards
nnaon, discharged by the Commanding General The
army thus reduced in strength, remained at Pueba until
early in August Having been reinforced with about five
thousand men, then commenced its upon the CITY
of Mexico The undertaking be achieved compared with
he employed of unexamped difficulty and
larng, and success required wonderful combine
ion of military science, consummate skill, and disciplined
valor less than the subugaton of the welchosen
place of refuge which the defeated generals routed
of the enemy had retired for sayhe ancient Of
he Aztec empire-aerwads the splendid metropolis of the
Spanish vceroyaty and the proud capital of Republic
of eight millions of peoples not unpracised in
furnished with the advantages of modern improvement in mil
ay science strong its protected position secured
The enemy fondy believed from successful assault by numer
ous sklfully constructed Notifications, and by army Of
more than thirty thousand defenders resolved on desperate
resistance.
Unappalcd by these formidable difficulties and dangers
gallant army of but little than thousand effective
men, with unaerng confidence entered this perous
enterprise and encountered the hosts of the enemy the
9th and goth of August Coneras and Churubusco. No
enduring record of the heroic deeds of these
memorable days be presented the gratitude of
try the admiration of the world, than is found in the
ports of the Generan-chief of forces and those in inn
mediate command under him. summary-and more than
summary would not find fit place in this communication
would utterly fail TO exhibit in their true light these brilliant
operations and the unsurpassed merit of those who directed
and executed them but fortunately for the memory OF those
who FELL and for the fame of those who survive this is most
ably done in the dispatches which accompany this report
Wherever the enemy met however superior in num-
bcrs he routed, his strong positions carried his orica