Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-19

| enemy, 1.-THE ground being favnrabie,) as cifcum-
stances might require. Cad@alacer's brigade
was held in reserve in position on the ridge,
between The ballrrins guns and Mclnlosh's brig
ade, and in easy support Of either. The cavai.
ry, under Maj. Summer, TO envelope our extreme
left, and be governed by circumsances-'o rePel
or attack, as the commanders judsmen, might
suggest. The troops TO be put in position under
caver Of the night; and Tie work 10 begin as soon
as the heavy metal could be properly directed
Col. Duncan was charged with The general dis
position Of the artillery. Accordingly, al o.
clock in the morning OF the S.h, The several Co.
lumns were put in motion, on as many different
routes; and when the grey OF The morning cna-
blcd them TO be seen, they were as accurately IL
position as il posted in midday for review. The
early dawn was the moment appointed Tor The al
tack, which was announced 10 our troops BY the
opening OF HugeI's guns on FL Moline del Rey,
upon which they continued 10 play actively until
this point OF the encmy's line became scnsi-
bly, shaken, when The assaulling party, coin
manded by Wright, and guided By lha, accom-
plishcd officer, Captain Mason of The engineers,
assisted by Lieut. Foster dashed gaanly forward
10 the assault. Unshakcn BY The CALLING fire ol
muskcry and canister that was showered upon
them, on they rushed, driving infantry and aril-
lrrymen at the point OF The bayone The ene-
my's field battery was taken, and his own guns
We're railed upon his Ieireaiins masses; before,
however, they could be discharged, perceivins
that he had been disposscssed Of This strong posi-
ton by comparatively handful of men, he made
a desperate effort 10 regain it. Accordingly his
re:iring forces rallied and formed with his object.
Aided by the infantry, which coveIc,t he house
tops, within reach Of which The bal'c!y had been
moved during the mighty The enemy's whole line
opened upon The assaullins party terrific fire
| o! musketry, which struck down etercn out oil The
fourteen officers that composed the command, and
noncommissoned officers and men in proportions;
Including lamongsi the officers, Bvt. Maj Wrieh',
the commander; Capt. Mason and Lieut. Foster,
engineers; all severely wounded. This severe
shock staggerei, for moment, that gaaI, band.
| The light battalion, held TO cover HuseI's bate.
ry, under Captain E. Kirby Smith, (Leui. Col.
Smith being sick,) and the right wing OF Cad
waader's brigade, were promptly ordered !or-
ward 10 support, which order was executed in
the most salan; style the enemy was again roul.
cd, and this point of his line carried, and fully
possessed by our troops. In The mean time Gar
lands [lstl brigade, ably sustained by Captain
Drums artillery, assaulted the cnemy's left, and,
alter an obstinate and very severe contest,
drove him from this apparently impTegna-
| BILE position, immediately under ;he guns OF the
castle OF Chapuiiepec D;um's section, and the
baterine guas under Capt; llnser advanced 10
! the enemy's position, and To- captured guns oil
the enemy were nov cp: FED IN his retrealiog ior-
ces on which lhcy continued 10 lire until beyond
| their reach While ;hs work was in progress o.
accomplishment b: or centre and righ, ourlIooIs
on The left were no: idle. DuncaI's battery open
ed on the right OF the encmys line, up 10 This lime
| engagc'; and the I'd brigade, un1ef Col. Mcln-
tosh, was now ordered 10 assault The extreme
| right of the cnemys line. The direction OF this
brigade soon caused il 10 mask Duncan's battery
the FIRE of which, Tor the moment, was discon-
| 80 "a. he tr;u H.. lie IN
assault OF Casa Mata, which, instead OF an urii-
nary field cntrenchmeni, as was supposed, prov
ed to be strong stone citadel surrounded with
Fashioned entertainments and impossible bitches
an old Spanish work, recently repaired anden-
larsed. When within easy musGet range, The enc
my opened most deadly fire upon our advancing
troops, which was kept up, without inlermission,
until our gallant men reached the very slope OF
the parapet of The work that surrounded the ciia-
del By this time, large proportion OF The COM
mand was either killed or wounded, amongst
when were the three senior officers present.
Breyet Col. Mcintosh, Breyei Lieutenant Colonel
Scott oi the 5'h infantry, and MAJOR Waite
Sh infantry; the second killed, and the first
and last desperately wounded. Sill, The hne
| from the citadel was unabaed. In This cr.
sis of the attack, the command was, monen-
tarily, thrown into disorder, and fell back on the
left of Duncan's battery, where they rallied. As
the "a DIl0duc UlU'eu W tEe dSSdul, sCl Id &c
cavalry and infantry force was discovered ap-
preaching rapidly upon our cl Hank 10 reinforce
The enemy's right AS soon as Dnncans battery
was masked, as before mentioned, supported b.
Andrews voltigeurs, of Cadwalladers brigade,
moved promptly 10 The extreme left of our line,
10 check the threatened assault on this point. The
enemy's cavalry came, rapidly, within canister
range, when the whole battery opened most cf-
| feclive fire, which soon broke The squadrous, and
| drove them back in disorder. During This fire up
On the ebemy's cavalry, Major Summers COM
lnand moved 10 the front, and changed direction
| in admirable order, under most appalling fire
from the Casa Ma,a. This movement enabled
his command 10 cross the Iayine Immediately on
the LETT Of Duncan's battery, where il remained,
doing noble service, until The close of The action.
| At the very moment The cavalry were driven be.
youd reach, our own troops drew back from be-
fore the Casa Mata, and enabled the guns OF Dun
cans battery 10 reopen upon this position; which,
after short and well directed fire, the enemy
abandoned. The guns OF the battery were now
turned upon his retrea,iug columns, and cont.
nued TO play upon them until beyond reach
He was now driven from every point OF the
field, and his strong lines, which had certainly
been defended we'll were in our possession. In
ful6lment OF the instructions OF The Gcaera-in-
chief, The Casa Mata was blown up, and such of
the captured ammunition as was useless 10 us,
as we'll as. The cannon mouds found in FL Moii-
no del Rey, were destroyed After which. my
command, under The reiterated orders OF the Gen.
cral.in-chie, returned TO quarters al TacubaYa,
with three Ct the encmy's four guns, (the fourth,
| having been spiked was rendered uaserviceable)
as also large quantity of small arn1s. with gun
and musket ammunition, and exceeding eight,
hundred prisoners, including ffy-two commits
stoned officers.
By The concurrent testimony OF prisoners, The
enemys force exceeded fourteen Thousand men,
commanded by Gen. Santa Anna in person.
His total loss, killed, (ncludng The q and Sd
in command, Gems. Faldarez and Leon.l wound
ed, and prisoners, amounts 10 three thousand,
exclusive OF some two thousand who deserted af-
Ter the rout.
My command, reinforced as bslore stated, only
reached three thousand one hundred men OF all
| arms The contest continued two hours and its
severity is painfully altesed Dy our heavy loss
/ of officers, non commissioned officers aud pri-
Yates including in The first TWO classes some OF
the brightest ornaments of The service.
II will be seen that subordinate commanders
speak in the warmesl terms OF the conduct OF
their officers and men, 10 which beg leave 10
add my cordial testimony There can be no
higher exhibition of courage, consiancy, and de-
yolion 10 duty and 10 country.
These operations, occurring under The otssr-
WALTON oil the ralin-che. gives assuran nee
tina, justice will be done TO The noble officers and
soldiers whose valor achieved this glorious bn.
dear.bought victory. Commenting the gallant
dead, the wounded, and the few unscaihed, 10 The
respectful memory OF their coun.rymen, and The
rewards due TO valor and conduct, present the
names OF those especially noticed by subordinate
commanders, uniting in all they have said, aud
extending the same testimony 10 those not named.
C1ra.ry-The conduct OF Capt. Hardee and
Lieut. and Adjulant Cakes is noticed with high
and deserved commentator.
LiSat6aticry-Lieuls, Hunt, Hays, and Clarke.
Drums bahe7y-Lienis. Benjamin and Porter,
4th artillery.
acknowledgements Hagner and Stone.
| Light battalion Captain Reeve. 9Th Infantry;
Lieulenants Pecs, 81 artillery, and Dent, 9th in
faniry.
ID acknowledgements and Adjuanl Amber
son. and Lieulenan; Scdgwick.
Sd artille,y-Capan <. Anderson; and Lieu
tenants Lendrum, Andrews and Shields.