The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-13

Mexican batteries opposite the San Angel road
Between us about half mile OF lava rocks almost
mpassabe for single iootman then slope down towards
raylne on the opposite bank of which the road and
he enemy's works, on height called Congeqs The
forwards in the road Bringing the work directly the
)roongaton OF the lower part OF the road The work had
large OF cavalry and infantry behind on
TANKS. Magruders battery was ordered forward to
position in ron OF the enemy and partially covered by
ledge of rocks My brigade was ordered TO follow and sup
port it, and cover the advance of the party making the
road We went forward under very heavy fire. and took
position the left of Magruder's battery. We found
Lieut. Calenders howiizer battery at this point When
took this direction, Riley's brigade was to the
right Maqruders battery and the Rowtzer battery were
disabled, and examining the ground, evident
broken bed of lava and which the enemy prepared
receive having cleared away all the bushes that OBJ
infantry would its march down the SLOPE be exposed
terrible fire, without knowing whether the crossing OF the
on determined try OF the enemys TANKS and that
right being preferable, would cut oil his retreat
Smiths engineer company, the LIST artillery under Major
Dnnick and ID infantry under Captain Alexander and AS
many of the mounted remen could be collected near
the regiment having been detached skirmshers at the
first by General Twiggs and ordered by him to cover dit:
erent parties OF recommending officers. Captain Magm-
der was directed open his fire passed his rear to
occupy the enemy, and mask our movement to the right
This he did most eiecualy though suffering from great
loss, especially OF oiicers 10 replace ms loss Lieut.
Haskins and twenty men We're detached from Maj Dimcks
egment and three companies of the 3D. infantry left
to support him. With great difficulty we succeeded in
crossing the rock for near mie and descended towards
village oil Encella, whose chufcn visible among
the As emerged from the rocks, immense
numbers Troops, cavalry and infantry, approaching from
village. We crossed two small streams at bottom OF
deep and difficult guleys, and found OF our troops
General s Pow s dSson and IL under Command Of General
Cadwalader, who Immediately reported TO me- The vii
small between them the bottom of a ravne
On the road, and between it and the stream was garden
wall The village hterseced by narrow lanes lying be.
tween high dlkes enclosing gardens full OF trees and shrub
for the men. In the centre stood old stone church
drew Cen Cadwaladers force up in the outer edge othe
,a n' by e on al hs sgy roles
cupied the church with Lieut. Smiths engineer company
pmek sesmep Oh the Garden oa hs road to sea
cure that avenue and our rear.
the infantry in 'front.' and cavalry in the rearabou
thousand strong twas now after sunset when Col Ri
Contreras [entrenched camp and driven Off strong parties
of the enemy. Inow ordered an attack on the enemy
oa M and Gsn on he
retired in echeon but before the troops could be Olsen
aread e so a a @ eo no
seen, and the order for attack countermanded Gen
ook aga in the sase Of the
the rifles under MAJOR Lorng his right and the Sd na
e t and ali 1Us hs eu %
reported that he had been the ravine towards the
of the enemys works at ContIeras and thought pracca
front, and left flank eighteen thousand Mex.
cans, with between twenty-five and thirty guns--among
the troops, six thousand cavalry. We were,
at most, three thousand three hundred strong, and
without artillery or cavalry and it was evident we
could only maintain our position. which was Of the utmost
to the Commanding General, by the
prompt and energetic action. therefore directed
on the works at Contreras, 1.-THE enenched campl by
turning their before day and Capt Lee OF the eg
neers, offered Cen Scott "a dicu l task
by o'clock M, so that any diversion thu, he could
make in favor from that side might be preparedac
Of the plan and aaot directed
their commands formed, and the heads resting path
by which we were to march out by u m lwami
sion of the village, he would not only the reireas
his force Contreras This enenchment.,l but would
greatly embarrass and strong enough to de-
tach largely for that purpose At this uncture Gen Shields
aid arrived. and reported that the General near
New York volunteers These two regiments direca
hold Encelda, 1.-THE vage,l and off the of the
troops from Conteras 1.-THE camp,l take his large
in flank if changed front the right attack towards
Conreras, 1.-THE campl At precisely O'Clock in the
had raned all night, and the had lain in the mud
was so dark that object off could not be
The ordered to keep within touch Of each other
that the could go asray. Lieut. Tower, Of the
engineers, with Lieut. Brooks acting assistant aduan
general of the I'd DIVISION acting in my staff had d
ring the night again reconnoed the pass the
of the march Lieut. Tower accompanied
the head Of the column lead it, and Lieut. Brooks and
Gen Cadwaladers brigade Col R,ley's brigade led Gen
Cadwalader's was to follow and Major Dmick, with ny
engineer company, closed the The path mar
full of rocks and mud and so difficult was the mach
that daybreak before the head of Cadwaaders brig
ade got of the village, where the path descend to the
ravne; and as the march was by flank, the command
was stretched thrice its length Having followed up
the ravne point where it seemed possible get at the
Of the work. the head was halted and the rear closed ps
formed two columns by divisions. n
He thus advanced further up the ravne turning to bis
left and rising the bank stood fronting the Of
work. but still sheltered from its fire by slight acclv
before him. Having reformed his ranks he assembled iA
top OF the HILL and in full view of the enemy who in
medatey opened warm fire. not only from the work ba
he rushed down the slope the work. The
engineer company and rifles had been thrown
ravne, under the brow of the slope, and from
position swept front of his column
cling towards their left joined in attack on the troops
outside of the left flank OF the fort In the meantime Gen
followed the taken by Riley and form b
Rleysl support Tho LIST brigade had been ordered II
follow the route but, while was still marching Il
that direction by It's right flank up the ravine, and nearly
opposite the work. seeing large body of the enemy I'll
left flank ordered Major Dmick face the brigade hH
eft and advancing i'm line, attack this force in flank Thu
done in the finest style. and the LIST artillery and ID Dill
antry mounting the bank of the ravine, rushing down m
next and up its opposite bank, the enemy outside
The work just Riley's brigade poured it, and r
whole giving way Cavalry formed in line for the chargH
yielding 10 the bayones OF our foot the compeeW
,oors on it. The Two first pieces captu ed which fell INF
The hands of the 4 artillery, proved be the pieces los
(but without loss OF honor) by company of that reg
nent at Buena Vista. Leaving force collect and guar
The captured ordnance the pursuit was continued down
the road
This, II will be recollec passed more than hafa
oil the garden and house occupied by part of Gene
Shiedss brigade placed there intercept the retreat
enemy This skilfnl and gallant officer when marcb9
had spread his the line we had occupied, al
directed them TO make fires towards daylight thou1y
preparing their breakfast The enemy in front had, dun
the night placed batteries along their line and in the mo
attachments HaDk