Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-05-20

INClDENTS OF THE BATTLE OF (ERhO t0R
po.-1he New Orleans Delta has gathered
various incidents connected with the Battle Of
Cerro Gordo. Speaking Of the wounded, i,
saws
There was great contrast, which illustrates
the superior forlItude of the American charac-
ter and constitution. between the bearing and
conduct of the Mexican wounded and our
own. The Mexicans seemed 10 be utterly
pros;rated by the slightest wounds. and evineeI
their despair and weakness by loud lamenta-
tons, by crossing their breasts and weepn.
like children. The Americans, ON the other
hand, bore their sufferngs wnh manly iori,
tude, aud with scarcely any demonstrations of
pain or Jorrow; they submitted to the most
painful surgical operations without complain
ing +; and, indeed, appeared TO leel pride IN the
consciousness OF having given proof Of their
devotion 10 the honor and flag oil the Repub;
lie. Capt. Hughes relates that as he was APP
proaclng our Hospital, he met three prvaes
the Mounted Rlfiemen, who had just had their
right arms amputaied. aud Were quietly walk
ing along whistnS aud chai;ering as if no;h
ing had happened. Capt. Mason, a gallant
Nirgnlan. the son Of the lamented Gen. Ma
son who fell in duel some years ago. had his
leg carried off by cannon ball. Shortly alter
undergoing ampua,ion this brave othcef re
ceived his friends with great cheerfulneSs. and
INDUCED in many lively jest over his his
hap.
MAJos SCmNER.-Maior Sumner, who led
the Rifles IN the attack OF the i1lh on the enc
my's advanced position, made very narrow
escape. IN the charge, he was struck on the
head by musket bail. The bullet was ial
tened 10 the thinness of a dime, and retained
on lis surface part OF the Majors hair, aud
yet, strange TO say, except the severance ot an
artery, sustained no serious injury. The ar
iery was taken up, and al the last accounts
the Major was dong well. This excellent Of
hcer accounted Que OF the best iactirians and
disciplmarIans III the aImy--nIay certainly ie-
hcitaie himself en- the strength OF his cranio-
logical delsnces. He will never find any dit
hculty in geuirg liberal Tohcy in any Of our
he insurance otnces.
CAPTAIN JoHSsos.--This valuable officer,
lately appointed Lieut.. Colonel OF one Of the
new ten regiments, was badly wounded in a
Reconnaissance made by order OF Gen. Twiggs,
two or three days before The battle. He recel-
we'd Two musket balls, one through the thigh,
cutting the lemoral artery, and another through
the shoulder Ii robust constitution and
graz tpuuiduIN VIII, ~ 40 Utlltbfu,
over his severe wounds, and he is now pro
bounced by his surgeons 10 be oul Of danger.
MEXICAN PRlsoNE rs Seventeen Mexican
officers were brought TO Vera Cruz under a
strong escort. The Mexlcans on the road
had not heard Of the battle or OF It's results, and
when they saw the escort approaching, they
ran out Of their houses TO see what II meant
As soon as the well known faces OF their own
officers, under an American guard. came
within view, they seemed 10 be struck dumb
with astonishmept and alarm. Gradually
these feelings gave way 10 sorrow, and their
lamentations over the mlsiortunes and disgrace
Of their country were loud and affecting
Az INcIpESr AT lNc,RSAcioS--A voun-
teer in the Illinois regiment, under General
Taylor, describes his visit 10 incarnation after
the retreat of Santa Anna He says:
ION the LIST and I'd instant, | accompanied
an expedition under the command OF Coils.
Beknap and Bissell, 10 Incarnation, where
We found wretched spectacle-Seyeral han,
bred Mexicans wounded, attended by guant,
lean, hunger stricken soldiers and women
On the road we saw many dead and many al
the point Of death from hunger, thirst, and cold.
There is no water between Aqua Nueva and
Incarnation, and the horrors OF Santa Annals
retreat over this arid desert oil forty miles must
have been indescr.bably terrific. We picked
up man, and woman with child at her
breast, OF whom the first had not tasted food
or water in seven DAYS. lie died few miles
this side OF incarnaclon. f .tf
I'VE took another into the town or rancho.
There we found many suffering for want OF
food. We relieved their wants like good Sa-
maritans The Mexican wounded officers, OF
whom many are superior mens seemed to De
deeply affected by our kindness. was much
interested in Lieut.. Francisco Conteras, fiji
teen years old. IRON the city of Mexico. lie
was severly wounded, and bore his pans with
a s,oic's ioriude and smile OF most touch
ing sweetness. His features weie ciasslcaily
beautiful, and his head such as Spurzheini
would have contemplated win rapture. Ma
nv of Us leii ham TO his destiny wlh paag OIL
regret thai such vision oil beauty aud herossln
should be so transi;ory 10 our senses. The
conduct Of our men ana officers to the eDemy's
wounded and TO prisoners. both on the field OF
battle and after The conflict, was such as TO
make me proud ofny countrymc1"