Democratic banner., 1847-09-20
said, caused a halt nf Grn. Worth's diris
ion before half a days march was mmle.


said, caused a halt "f Grn. Worth's ditis.
ion before half a days march was made. II
At6-o'clock on the morning of the 18th,
Gen. Worth resumed his march, his route
running through cornfelds and narrow and
rocky lanes, along which carriages had
never passed before. The filling up of the
bitches caused some little delay, but by 8
O'Clock the advance was IN sight of Santa
Cruz, and tie spires and doncs ofthe noted
capital Of Mexico could be discerned in the
distance. The instructions in the road, of
which! have spoken, were obviously OF re-
cent observation-disclosures that the enc
my had just got wind of our approach, and
that Gen. Scott had completely stolen a
march on Santa Anna.
Other than the bitches and rocks which
had been rolled down from the p%recipitous
hillside, no opposition was made to tic ad-
vance of Gen. Worth until he had reached
a point in Che road not far from Santa Cruz
but now a scattering fire was opened up
on the head Of his column by a force sta
toned at advantageous positions above the
iroad tn the left. The enemy was quickly
dispersed, however, by Col. Smiths light
battalion and the I'd Artillery, urdcr Maj.
Gait. Asthc division nearcd the hacienda
iof La the advance was again fired up
on, but again the cncmy's pickets were
driven in, without loss. Aturn Of the road
Ihe5 ond La Ncvia brought the pleasant vii
Ilagc of San Augustin in sight, and after
two or three light skirmishcs, in which the
Mcxicans had two or three ~lanccrs killed
and wounded, onr troops had quiet posses
sion of San Augustin. Oar only loss dur
ing the day was one man a soldier Of Smiths
Hight battalion, who was wounded from a
Icorn-ficld near Xochimilco.
At O'Clock on tic morning of the 18th
Gen. Scott arrived at San Augustin, and at
10 O'Clock General Worth was in full march
for the city of Mexico by the main road
Majors Smith and Turnbul!, Captain Ma
lson and other Engineer officers, were sent
in advance, supported by Capt. Blake's
squadron of dragons, to r%econnoitrc, as it
was known the enemy was in force at or
near San Antonio. The party, when with
in a thousand yards, was fired upon from n
battery, which was masked by trees, and
the first ball from a l2-pounder instantly
killed Capt. Thornton, of the Cd Dragons,
besides severely wonnding a guide, Jona-
than Fitzwaltcrs. Col. Garland's brigade
was now orlcrcdto occupy the hacienda Of
Carrcra, within plain sight and range of
the cncmy'S batteries at San Antonio, while
Col Clarke's brigade and the battery under
Col. Duncan took a station in the rear close
Ibv.
The engineer officers were 1T once sent cut
Ia rccnnnoitrc by Gen. Worth, TO ascertain the
practicahiiity oiturning the strong works Of the
enemy, and in the mean time Gen. Scott had
despatched Capt. Lee will, u supporting party,
composed Of Capt. kcarncy's squadron and Il
body tie llth Infantry uuGcr Col. Graham, TO
a~scertain Tic practicability of finding a road BY
which the Village Of San Angel could be reach
led, ana thus turntEc strong hold al San Antonio.
This latter party lad a Sharp encounter with
The advance oitic enemy, Tie main body being
IouEd posted a: q strong point not far from the
factory of CourtrGras. In the skirmish, some
six or eight Mcxicans were killed and as many
more taken prisonerS-On our side not a man
was touched. The result oil the reconnaissance
proved favorable. 1t was ascertAincd that a
road could he made which would enable the,
army 10 reach San Angel, and this turn the.
strong batteries at San Antonio, and perhaps
others the cncIEy might have upon the read be-.
tween that and the city of Mexico. The McAi-
cans were plainly seen in force at . commanding
position near CourtreraS, ana it was evident that
they had u number Of cannon in possession; but
at q council held at night il was determined up
on TO attack them the following day.
In the mean time, while this reconnaissance
was in progress. Gen. Worth hal established
his headquarters at the hacienda of Curcra.-
while from the windows countless numbers of
the enemy could he seen al work upon the bat
|teries of San Antonio. About noon they opened
upon the hacienda with both rcund shout and
shell nearly every one of which took effect, but
without doing other injury ti;ant TO the buildings.
ILatcin the evening the batteries again opened,
bat without any otlcr result than showing the
position Of the different guns. For Il marvel
Tire batteries were silent during the night
HAL the fire been kept up, the hacienda might
have been torn in pieces and the entire command
compelled TO retire. BEFORE going further, il
NAV he well 10 statcthat the city Of Mexico lies
about nine miles nearly North Of san AuGustin,
THAT San Antonio is about three miles in the
same direction, while The point occupied Ivy Gen.
Valencia, near Coutrerae, for he had command
at that place, is at least three miles in u straight
line and in a direction nearly west. 1t was ten
miles the way many OF our troops had 10 march,