Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-27

Gallon from Gen. Santa Anna requiring me Il
.urreudef al discretion, stating that III lhe even
If nv doing so we should be well treated; tha
he had surrounded me with more lhan 2uool
mem that resistance was out Of The quesl'ch-
and. if attempted il, nv command would re pu
to roul and must he destroyed. In reply, s'a'el
could not comply with his demand, ana NC was
al liberty 10 commence operations "nenese' ~
was inclined 10 do So. Soon aler 'his, ''e ae'
lion was commenced with his sRifm'spe's =" ou'
efi which vas promptly met BY ours ana con
linuct, without 'nlermission on Tue size VI 'pe
mountain until dark.
In the morning al sunrise he renewed Inc con
test with an overwhelming iorce-wilh artiiiely
infantry and dragoons-whch lasted win very
s,isbi in.ermissions nnr'l dark. A portion 0. inc
time the contest was much The seVerest nave
ever witnessed, particularly, towards The latter
PART of the day, when he (Sania Anna) orousn'
IN his reserve and in spite OF every eiinTi On ouf
mart after the greatest exrrlions have ever VIII
messed on both sides, dfcYe US BY ALI immense sll.
periorily oil numbers Tor some distance. lie had
al least FIVE 10 orc d, that point against us. ror-
runatcly, al the most critical mon.eni, Two pieces
OF artillery which had ordered up support mat
nart of our line met our exhausted men retreat.
ing. when they were BROUGHT into battery, and
opened on The enemy, then within fiiy yards ~
no. pursuit. with canister and grape, which brousn
him to halt and soon compelled him 10 tall BACK
In this tremendous contes, we lost three pieces q
artillery, nearly all The men and horses having
been killed or crippled, which pul It out oil our
power 10 bring Them of; nor did deem II as''-
sable 20 attempt TO regain them.
The enemy made his principal efforts against
our tanks. He was handsomely repnlsed in
every attempt on our right, but succeeded carly
la, IN ipin lur consequence oil
the giving way of one of the volunteer regiments
which could aot 10 rallied with but few eScep-
lions The greater portion retiring about mile 10
a large rancho or farm house, where our WA
CONS and portion OF our stores were lcit These
were soon alter attacked by the enemy's cavai-
~. who were lepused with some loss.
For several hours the fate OF the LAY was eS-
.remely doubtful, SO much 20 that ! was urged
BY some Of the must experienced offlcers 10 lail
back ard take up new position ms knew
il would never 90 10 auempt with VOLUNTEERS, ana
a, once declined IT, The scene now mad become
one Of the deepest interest. Between the several
deep ravines there wee portions OF level Land
from one 10 four hundred yards IN extent which
became alternately points ot attack ana de'ehce'
alter onr left was turned, - both Sides
These extended along and near the base oi
the mountain Tor about two miles, ana he
struggle for them may he very appropriately
compared IL came OF chess. Night put stop
10 The contest, and, strange TO say, bon armies
occupied ne same positions they did in the morn
mo before the battle commenced. Uat artillery
did more than wonders We lay on our arms Ill
uipht. as we had doue the Two previous ones, with
out fires. there being Ia, wood 10 be had, and the
mercury below ne freezing point, ready and ex-
pectine 10 renew the contest the next morning; but
we found al daylight The enen.y had ietieated
during The night, leaving mis- killed and many o.
MS wounded for US 10 bury and tahe care Oh
carving of every thin. else, and taking u2 po-
si,ion al this place We did moi think il adri a.
bic to pursue not knowing whether lie would ir-
new The attack, continue his retreat, ar wished 10
draw us from our strong position; but concnted
ourselves with watching his movements closely.
Finding. on the 10Th, he hal renewed has re'feal,
early il, the morning ot the 9Th The army was
pu, in motion for this place, where we arrived
abou; 8 o'clock, p. M-,hsir rear guard, con-
sis,ins OF cavalry, leaving as our advance got IN
sight. | Ill once determined on harassins ms
rear; but on examining The state OF lie men ard
horses, f1u.d that five days and nights march
ius, nce>san, watching, and sSlce- aonrs' hard
6shing. had so exhausted The fast anu broken
Jown he later. i, was next 10 impossible 10 &C
r,nplish any thing without resi-. We remained
1uist hare until the I'd inst, when | pushed a
command on the San Luis road 10 large plan.
,a,ion called Incarnacion, where ne found be-
w.cn .wo and three hundred wounded in the most
,grctchcd condition, besides those they carrie.
witt them and lett here and On The ned. Here
we took about len prisoners, The main par Of
their army having proceeded on in the direction 81
San Luis in very dlsorganizet condition.
On the pa the enemy threw in our rear,
,bronoh the passes OF line mountains, l,UUO ca
yal-y. and early in he morning OF the next cay,
The 23I, made demonstrations against Sailiho
and Throughout the uav. They succeeded Al one
time in cutting of Inc communication between
the city anu ba.iie ground, and making severh
prisoners, bu. were driven away by The officer
commanding in the city, with two pieces "
artillery covered by about sixty men
They, however while in possession oil the ROAD
prevented good many from rnnn'eg IN 10 inc
city, TO which place about 20O oil our men nad
succeeded in getting previously to The cavalry
occupyinr the rcad-lney, Inc runa ways, report
ing ,ha, our army was beaten and in ia!! retreat
The loss on both sides was very great, as YOU
NAV suppose-enough so on ouis 10 co:cr the
whole country with mourning, TOR among Inc M
hest and puresl III The land have tallen. We
had 24O killed and 500 wounded. Inc enemy
has suffered in still greater numbers, oul as 'le
lead and wounded are scattered all over INC
country. il is difficult 10 ascertain their nnmhei
The prisoners who have fallen into our hands
between 200 and 3U0-enongh To exchange iol
all who have been taken from u.s. as weil a.
some medical officers left behind 10 lake care
The wounded say their killed and wounded IS no
less than 500, and they car perhaps more.
hone The qrec... potion Of The good people
The country will I've satisfied with Mat We ha8'
done ON this occasion. | laer myself that on
nj
men. completely organized and led ~ their Che
Magistrate, &c ierca with less than 500 regular
and about 1000 volunteers, vi meet heir aFHfH
val. | had not a single company OF regular IN
fan;ry the whole was taken from me
was lruly sralited to observe that the Che
MAGISTRATE OF YOUR Stale had conferred Oh yo'
The rank OF Brisa1:e- General in The militia, an
had honed The President OF the Unilsd STATE
would have called You into service as sues WI
The new regiments, and hope he may YET 40 =
az need hardly repeat the pleasure II would CIV
me- 10 be associated with you in carrying on TN
war The read 10 the city of Mexico from her
ia now open, and we onlc want lew lhousan
OF good regulars. in atdii'n 10 The volunteers,
enable Us 10 reach that place. what efiect on
late battle will hay" Oh Santa Anna dis ID
| Mexican Congress, time must cetcfE;lnc' out
sincerely hone il will lead 10 peace one INN
is certain their principal army has become az
moralizsd, and i! will be very difficult Tor them
+, raise and equip another.
| regretted 10 hear your crop Of sugar was
short one, but sincerely hope, as The failure OF III
crop was general. hal lhc high prices obialne
will fully make up for quantity.
| | much fear have spun out this long, and
| YOU unineresling epislle, beyond your pallenc
even 10 wade Through it; but have The consol'
! lion 10 know rou are moi compelled TO read u
whole or any parl .. i. | will conclude By T.
sirins,you 10 present me mos, respectfully to you
excellent lady, as we'll a. &c my friend Col n
choas, aud accept my sincere wishes for Inc cor
tinued health and prosperity OF you and your
through loag life.
With respect and esteem; vonr friend,
| Il TAYLOR.
Gen. E. C. W. BUTLER, Louisiana.