The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-11-04
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TAcuRAyA, Sept. 8 1874

III keo0oIl1 LclyefS FROM tuV army
TAcuRAyA, Sept. 8 lS47.
Forenoon, 10 o'clock.-l have just re-
turned from another battle feld-one on
which the victory ofthc American arms was
complete, aud on which our troops conien-
ded against an enemy immensely superior
in numbers, and strongly posted, General
Worth commenced the attack Ut early cay
light, andin less than two hours every point
Vas carried, oil the cannon Of the enemy
were 10 our possession, an immense guam
tity Of ammunition captured, and nearly
1000 men, among them iilty.three officcre,
taken prisoners.
For more than an hour the battle ragcd
with violence not surpassed since the Mex
lean war commenced, md SO grent tho odds
opposed that for some time the result was
doubtful. The force Of the enemy has been
estimated at from IL, 900 to Ii, 900, strong
u posted behind stworks, aud to attack
them our small force Of scarcely three thou
sand was obliged to approach on nm open
plain, and without the least cover; but their
dauntiess courage carried them over cv-
cry obstacle, and understanding the
Mexicans fought with valor rare for them,
they were finally routed from ono point or
another until all were driven and dispersed.
The defeat was total.
But to gain this victory our own loss has
been uncommonly sovere--it has been pur-
chased with the blood Of some of the most
gallant spirits Of tho army. The 9th in
lantry has suffered the most. 1t, with the
9th and 9Th, was engaged in the attack upon
astrong work on the cncmy's right and was
opposed 10 such superior numbers that il
was compelled to retro along with the 9th.
ers. The celebrated Col. Martin Scott
was killed in this attack, along with Licuts.
Burwell and Strong, while Col. M'lntosh
and many other officers were bodily wound.
cd. The worse than savage miscrcants in
tho Tort, after our men retired, set up yell
and came out and massacred such Of our
wounded a. were unable TO get off, In this
way poor Burwcll lost his life. Fully were
they avenged, however, for within half m
hour Duncsn's battery, aided by fail Of M
other of their works, drove the dastardly
wretches in full fight across tho fields
No ono knew or even surmiscd the strength
Of the place; il was IN old fort, constructed
long since. and was one Of the mnin defen.
CO Of the line Of works.
On tho cncmy's left, and nenrcr Chapul.
tepsc, our loss was also great, although no,
90 severe. il was here that Col. VIM. NJ.
Graham, o brave . spirit a. ever lived,
was killed; Capt. Merrill and Ayrcs also
fell in this part Of the field. The wonder
now 10 how any ono could come out sufe
under such terrible Ere az tho enemy
poured from his entire limo Of works. Moth
ing but tho daring and ilnpetuosity of our
men who rushed onward while their con,-
Yades were falling thick around them, gain
edthe victory--had they once faltered oil
would hive been lost.
The broken ground on tho right Of tho
enemy, cut up with deep ravincs, saved
many Of Santa Annals troops in their
fight; yet a. it was our dragons killed and
captured many ofthc fneitivcs. Large DO.
dies ofthe Mexican cavalry approached the
scene ofstrife several times, but they were
driven like sheep by Duncan's battery.
Tho Mexican loss has beon even more
severe than our own. Gems. Baldcras, Lee
among the dead, while the interior Of their
works, the tops Of tho houses from which
they fought, and the ground over which
they fed, are strewn with lifeless bodies
Such was the panic that many Of our officers
say that few fresh troops might have Ia
ken Chspultepec itself almost without a
struggle, but other than q few shots fired
at that point from some ofthc captured can
non, no demonstration was made.
Afler tho battle was over, Gen. Scott
came out, accompanied by his staff, and al
% BY Mr.. Trist. Tho Mcxicaus 1t the
time were throwing shells at some Of the
wagons Gen. Worth had sent out to pick
up the dead and wounded. They had pla-
ced . howitzer in position on Chapultcpuc
Ut tho close ofthe action. and now, seeing
no enemy within reach, the cowardly
wretches opened upon the ambulances and
those who werc gathering the bodies Of
their wounded and lifclcss comrades. On
seeing this worse and savage outrage, one
of oer o(icers, with sarcastic expression
of countenancc asked whether Mr.. Trisi
bad any new propositions Of pence 10 bis
pockets. Macintosh did not come out af.
ter the battle to gain timo for his fried San
d Anna, nor worm out fresh intelligence
ofshe strength and movements Of our army,
10 order that he might be Of service to the
Mexicans by communicating It.
Tho Mexican. prisoners say that SANTA
Anna himself was on the ground in the
rear Of their works, but left At the CON-
mencement Of the rout. They admit that
their entire force WINS $4,000; il is certsin
Inst including killed, wounded, prisoners
nddispersed their loss has been near 900.
Many ofthem were regulars, the llth and