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

ing thir way, (ali officers on foot, along
his front, and extending themselves toward
the road from The city and the enemy's
left. Capt. Magruder's battery ofl2 and
Founders, and Lieutenant Calender
battery of mounted howitzers and rockets.
had also, with great difficulty. been advanc-
ed within range of the entrenched camp
These batteries most gallantly served, sui.
fered much in the course of the afternoon,
from the enemy's superior metal.
The bottle, though mostly stationary,
continued to rage with great violence, un-
til nightfall. Brevet. Brig. Gen. P. F.
Smiths and Breyet Col. Riley's brigades
(Twigg's division) supported by Brig Gem
erals Pierce's and Cadwalader's brigades
PILLOWS diyision) were more than three
hours under d heavy fire of aftiliery and
musketry, along the almost impassable ra-
vine in front and to the left Of the entrench-
ed camp. Besides thel22 pieces Of arlille-
ry, the camp and rayine were defended
closely by masses Of infantry and those a.
gain supported by clouds of cavalry at hand
and lowering in view. Consequently no
decided impression could be made by dav
light, on the enemy's most formidable posi-
tion, because, independent of the difficulty
Of the ravine, our infantry unaccompanied
by cavalry or artillery, could not advance
in column without being moved down by
the grape and canister ofthe batteries, nor
advanced in line without being ridden over
by the enemy's numerous cavalry. All
our crops, however, including Mogruder's
and Callender's last batteries, not only
maintained the exposed positions early gain
ed, but all attempted charges upon them,
respectively-particulurly on Riley, twice
closely engaged with cavalry in greatly su
perior numbers-were repulsed and pun.
ished. .a -
From an eminence, soon after arriving
near the scene, observed the church and
hamlet Of Contreras (or Ansalda) on the
road leading up from the capital, through
the entrenched camp to Magdalena, and
seeing, at the same time, the stream Of re.
Inducements advancing by the road, from
, the city, ordered (.hrough Major Gen.
Pillow Col. Morgan, with his regiment,
the 18th, till then held in reserve by Pill.
low, to move forward, and to occupy Con
treras Ansalda-being persuaded, if oc'
cupied, it would arrest the enemy's rein
, forcements and ultimately decide the battle
Riley was already on the enemy's lef,
in advance of the hamlet. A few minute
later, Brig. Gen. Shields, with his volun
teer brigade, New York and South Caro-
, lima regiments--Quitman's divisiorI CON,
. ing up under my orders from San Augustin
directed Shields to follow and sustain
, Morgan These corps, over the extrem
difficulty of ground--partially covered witt
low forest--before described, reaches
Contreras, and found Cadwallader's brig
ade, in position observing the formidable
movement from the capital and much need
: ing the timely reinforcement.
It was already dark, and the cold rair
had begun to fall in torrents upon our un
sheltered troops: for the hamlet, though I
! strong defensive position, can hold only tn
:, wounded men, and, unfortunately, the nev
! regiments have little or nothing to eat il
their haversacks. Wet, hungry, and with
out the possibility ofsleep, all our .gallan
> > corps, learn, are full of confidence, an
: only wait for the last hour Of darkness t
; gain the positions whence to storm an
carry the enemy,s works.
= Ofthe seven officers despatched, sine
!, = about sundown, from my position, opposil
= to the enemy's centre, and on this side
y the field Of rocks and laya-to communi
!; cate instructions to the hamlet-not on
. has succeeded in getting through those di
: iculties, increased by darkness. The
l. have all returned. But the gallant and in
: defatigable Capt. Lee, Of the engineers
q who has been constantly with the opera
= ting forces, is just in from Shields, Smith
u TO roporf ahova an
= !. to ask that powerful diversion be made
= gainst the centre of the entrenched cam
= towards morning. s-.
+ Brigadier General Twiggs, cut off, I
. above, from the part ofhis division beyon
the impracticable ground, and Capt. LIE
,, are gone, under my orders, to collect th
ID forces remaining on this side, with swhie
r. to make that diversion about 5 O'Clock,
the morning. -a7t ssa .a g
D. And here will end this report, con
st menced at its date, and in another, continl
r, the narra.iyeof the great events 'whie
Q then impended. sn att: .....sas2
B have the honor to be, sir, will. r
g. speet, your most obedient servant, S q
o. =: 7r.7 rae WINFIELD SCOTT.
IS Hon. VIM. L. Marcy, sec'y Of War.
S,l He-s - .Ffss= 's't 7srsfE Erf g
Or No. 80. (Duplicate.) .t=
as HEADouARTERs OF THE ARMY,
le Tacubaya, at the Gates Of Mexico.
I'd ,ias August %, ls47.
Or SIR: My report, No. 81, commenced
u the night of the 10Th instant, closed the o
a erations of the army with that day.
n, The morning of the Goth opened wi
of one of series ofunsurpassed achievement
ad all in view of the capital, and to which
ad shall give the general name-Battle
Merico. 5E 'a@ sr5 81. -.
ce In the night ofthe 10Th, Brigadier Ge
W eral Shields, P. F. Smith and Cadwalade
H. and Col. Riley, with their brigades, oil
il. the 18th Regiment, under Col. Morgan,
cd tached from Brigadier General Pierce
ur found themselves in and about the impo
ID. ant position--the village, hamlet or ha
es enda, called, ijngsdlilfsrently, ijngsll Contrerass A
ed salda, San pipeo-half a mile nearer
,e- the city than the enemy's entrenched can
ly on the same road, towards the factory
ry Magdalenu. le7g7 eTs{3..S sess
4 1