Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-11-24
WHOLE NUMBER .130.

back our advanced corps bpoh Hlo iodu
from San Augustin to the city, and thence
force passage through San Antonio.
Accordingly, to meet contingencies, Ma
or General w orth was ordered to leas q,
early in the morning Of the 20th, one Of
his brigades to mask San Antonio, and to-
march with the other 6 miles, via San Au-
gustine, upon Contreras. A like destina-
ton. was given to Major General Quitman
and bis remaining brigade in San Angus
tin-replacing,f1 ,f1 r theimoment,the garrison
of that important depot with Harney's
brigade of cavalry, as horae could not pass
over the intervening rocks, &c, TO reach
the field Of battle. .....- : 8.
A diversion, for an earlier hour (day.
] Light had been arranged the night before,
aecasding+t to the suggestion of Brigadier
General Smith, received through the en-
gineer, Capt. Lee, who conveyed my or
ders to our troops remaining on the ground
opposite to the enemy's centre--the point
for diversion of a real attack, as circum.
stances might allow.
Guided by Captain Lee, it proved the
latter, under the command Of Colonel Ran
som, of the 9th, having with him that regi-
ment and some companies of three others
--the Sd, 18th, and rifles.
Shields, the senior officer at the hamlet,
having arrived in the night, after Smith had
arranged with Cadwalader and Riley the
plan OF attack for the morning, delicately
wax ed interference; but reserved to him
self the double task of holding the hamlet
with his two regiments (South Carolina
ard New York volun,eers) against ten
times his numbers on the side Of the city;
including the slopes to his left, and, in case
the camp in his rear should be carried, to
face about and cut off the flying enemy.
At 3 o'clock, A. M. the great movement
commenced on the rear of the enemy's
camp, Riley leading, followed successfully
lby Cadwalader's and Smiths Brigades, the
latter temporarily under the orders of Ma
ior Dimick Of the 1st artillery-the whole
force being commanded by Smith, the Sc
nior in the general attack, and whose ar-
rangements, skill, gallantry always chal-
lenge the highest admiration.
/ he march was rendered tedious by the
darkness, rain, and mud; but about sunrise,
Riley, conducted by Lieut.. Tower, engi.
neer, had reached an elevation behind the
}. enemy, whence he precipitated his col.
|. umns;-stormed the entertainments, plant;
3 ed his several colors upon them; and car
!. ried the work-nll in seventeen minutes.
!. Conducted by Lieut.. Beauregard, engi
, neer, and Lieut.. Brooks, Of Twiggs staff
!. both of whom, like Lieut.. Tower, had, i
n the night, twice reconnoitered the grount
% &c Cadwalader brought up 70 the genera
h assault, two Of his regiments-the yoItf
d geurs and the 1lth, and at the appointed
: time, Colonel Ransom, with his temporary
brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, engi-
|. neer, not only made the movement to di
vert and distract the enemy; but t,after cross
n ing the deep ravine in his front, advanced,
!. and poured into the works and upon the
a fugitives, many volleys from his destructive
g musketry.
v In the meantime, Smiths own brigade
n under the temporary command OF Malol
!. Dimick, following the movements OF RILEY
II and Cadwalader, discovered, opposite TO
d and outside Of the works, long line o
ol Mexican cavalry, drawn up as support
d Dimick, having at the head Of the brigad'
the company OF sappers and miners, unde
"a Lieut.. Smith, engineer, who had conducte'
o the march was ordered by Brigadier Gen
,fl eral Smith, to form line faced to the enemy
i. and in q charge against flank, routed the
le cavalry. ....1 Il.
f. Shields, too, by the wise disposition o
v his brigade and gallant activity, consribu
!. ted much to the general results. He helt
5. masses of cavalry and infantry, suPportet
a by artillery, in check below him, and cap
b. tured hundreds, with one general, tMendo
d za) of those who fled from above.
:. doubt whether more brilliant or de
D cisive victory--taking into view, grount
: artificial deiences, batteries, and the ex
rs treme disparity of numbers cav
d airy or artillery on our side,--is to b
az found on record. Including all our corp
"a directed against the entrenched camp, wit
,h Shields brigade at the hamlet, we pos
in lively did not number over 4,5O0 rank an
file; and we knew, by sight and since
n. more certainly by many captured docu
ne ments and letters, that the enemy had act
rh ally engaged on the spot 1000 men, wit
at least i2,0O0 more lowering within sigh
q. and striking distance--both on the 19t
- and goth. All not killed or captured no
fled with precipitation. -.
Thus was the great victory Of Contrer,
achieved; one road to the capital opened
100 of the enemy killed; s43 prisoners, il
cluding among 80 officers, 4 general
D0SlU6S many COiOES uuu osoiSu0Auot -
pieces of brass .ordnance-half of lare
in calibre; thousands of small arms and a
u. coutrements; an immense quantity of sho
shells, powder and cartridges; 700 Pae
tb mules, many horses, &C.; all in our hand'
Is. 1t is highly gratifying to find that .
, skilful arrangement, and rapidity OF exec,
Of ton. our loss in killed and wounded, d
= not exceed, on the spot, 0o-among q
n former, the brave Capt. Charles Hanso
or. of the 7th infantry--not more distinguish
nd ed for gallantry, than for modesty, mora
3e- and piely. Lieut.. J. P. Johnson, ist arti
.Elery, serving with Magruder's battery
rt. young officer ofthe highest promise, ",
ci. killed the evening before. ,4 ~.
m. One ofthe most pleasing incidents Of 4
to- victory. is the works by Capt, Drum, Z
ap, artillery, under Major Gardner, Of the y
Of brass six FOUNDERS, taken from nnoth
company Of the same regiment, thou
,,,r without the loss Of honor at the glorio