Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-11-22
UDnpIlca,o)
. 81 headquarters Of he .irmy.
1acuba,s, at the Gates Of Mexico.
August 2S. 1917,
No B.


Tncubaya AT the Gples Of McNeo
August 2S, 1917, }
Sin-My report, No II commenced on the night Of
the lgh Instant CLOSED the operations OF the army with
tina, day.
The morning of the ooh opened with one Of series
Of unsurpassed achievements all in view OF the CAPITAL
and 10 which shall give the general name-B"ttie 9
.)Icriro
Ia the night Of the lo,h. Brgadci Generals Shields,
= +. Smith aud Cadw aud Col. Riley. with
their brgades ana the 10Th regiment, under oil Nor
gan detached from l,rigadier General Picrce-f,und
themselves in aud about. the important p'sl'mn-'he
village. hamlet hacenda, called, ndilrcnily. Con
ircras. Ansalda, San Grronimo-haf Mule nearer 10
the city than the cncmys cnlrenchcd camp, on the sae
road towards the factory Of Mnpdaena.
That camp had bron unexpectedly, our formidable
point Of attack the afternoon before. aud had now 10
take H. without the aid Of cayay artillery, or Ia
throw back our advanced cnps upon the road fom San
Aognsn 10 the city, aud thence force passage through
san Antonio
Accordingly. 10 NEE, contingencies. Major General
Worth red to leave early IN tho morning ot the
10Th OF his bripadrs 10 mask san Anonlo, and In
march, with the other SIN mles VIA san Angusn. upon
Cunuras. A like destination was given 10 MAJOR Gen
Quilman aud his remaining brigade IN san Augnst'h-
replacing for the moment. the earrlsonn that Important
depot, with larne, brigade o cavalry ~ horse could
mol pass over the intervening rocks, &c. to reach the field
ot battle,
A diversion Cor an earlier hour (la,lgh) had been
arranged the night bciore according 10 the snggesoh oil
Brgadlcr General Smith received through the fn2l
necr, Captain Lee who conveyed my orders 10 our
troops remaining on the ground opp the enemy
erne-hc pulnl ior the diversion real attack. as
circumstances might allow.
Guided by Captain l.ce, il proved the latter, under
the command Of Col Ransom of the 0h, having will
him that regiment aud some companies u three others
the 3D.. l2lh and rlils
Shields the senior officer M the hamlet having arrived
in the night after Smith had arranged with Cadwaadel
aud Riley the plan Of attack ir the morning. d,lcaicl}
waived interference hui reserved 10 himself the d"ubl,
task Of holding the hamlet with hts two regiments south
Carolina aud New York vounerrs,) against ten time
his numbers the side OF the city, Including the Slopes
To his lett, and, the camp his rear should he
carried, to face about aud Gu, on the flying enemy.
Al , o'clock. A. NJ, the great movement commenced
on the Of the enemy's cap, Riley Ieading follow
ed successvey by Cadwilader's and Smiths bngad's
the latter temporarily under the order, ul Maj. Dincl
oi the si artIlery-the whole force being commanded
by Smih the senior the general attack aud whose
engagements, skill and galanlry always challenge ia,
highest admiration.
The march was rcnd. red tedious by he darkness nir
and mud; but about sunrise, Riley, conducted by Lieut.
Tower. engineer, had reached an elevation behind the
enemy whence he pfeclpltaed hscolnmns, sion'd The
enrenchmenis planted his several cols upon them and
carried the wok-all IN seventeen minutes
Conducted 10y Lieut.. Branrgatd, Engineer. and
Lieut.. Brooks u 'rwggs s,alr-boh Of whom, like
Lieut. Tower. had III HE night. twice econnoircd thu
! goupd-Cadw alader brought mp 10 tho general assault
Two u his rrglmeniste Nolligrurs aud the llih ant
at the appointed time. Colonel Ransom, with his tempo
rary brigade. conducted by Captain Lee, Engineer,
only made the d, ett and To distract the en-
envy, but after crossing HE deep ravlne IN hi, loni ad
vahced and poured INTO The works and upon HE hgvc
many voleys from his destructive muskeiry.
! In the meantime Smiths brigade. under TIN
temporary command Of MaJlr D,mlch following tn
movements Vi Riley aud tadwalader, discovered up 70
site Ia, and outside of the works, long line of Mexlcai
cavalry, drawn up rs support. DImck, having AT III,
head ol the brigade The company OF sappors and miners
under Lieut.. Smith, Engineer, who had conducted thu
march, ordered by brgadler General Smith 10 form
line faced 10 the enemy. aud 10 charge against faux
routed the cavalry
Shields, too, by the wise disposition Of his brigade ano
gallant activity contributed much Ia the general Tt suits
lie held of cavalry aud infantry, supported by
liIlcry IN check below him. aud captured hundreds
with General (Nlenjoza,) of those who fled iron
above.
| | doubt whether more brilliant or decisive victory
taking INTO view ground, artificial deences batteries, aud
The extreme disparity OF numbeTs-whout cavalry o
artillery on our slde-s 10 be found On record. lncu-
ding all corps directed against the entrcncled camp
with Shields brigade at the hamlet We positively did
not number over 800 rank aud file; and knew by
sight, and since more certainly by many captured docu
nens and letters that The enemy had actually engaged
the spot 200 men, with al least II 900 hov,
ing within sight, and striking dstance-boh on the | OH
and 10Th. All, moi killed or captured, now fled with
pIecl pitatoD.
Thus was The great victory of Contrcras achieved
one road 10 the capital opened 700 Of the enemy killed
Sl3 prisoners including, among IS Ulcers, 4grneras
besides many cous and standards % pieces Of brass ord
nance-lnlt Of large callbt; thousands OF small arms
and accoulTenents; ImIeuse quantity OF shot, shells
powder and cartridges; go pack mules, many horses
&C., &c.-all In our hands
II is highly gratifying 10 find That, by skilin arrange.
ment anu npdiy vi Execution, loss, killed and
wounded, did dot exceed. ON The spot, 6O--among the
former the brave Capt. Charles Hanson of the I'm n-
fanry-n1t more distinguished for gaIlaniry than for
modesiy, morals and p'ey Lieut. }. p. Johnston list
artillery, serving with Nagruders battery young off
Of The highest promise. hiled the evening be-
re.
One of the most pleasing incidents Of The victory is the
recapnre, in the works. by Captain Drum, 4th aril.ry
under AaJr Gardner, Of the Two brass poundes Ia
Ken from another company OF the same regiment though
without the oss OF honor, at the glorious tile of Buena
Eslaabpul which guns the whole regiment had lnou rl
ed for So many long nnohs Coming up, a little later,
had the happiness To join IN tho protected cheers Of
the gallant 4fh on the J'yoa. event and, inIeed the
whsle army syma'ii;- III isJast dc and cxul'a.cll