Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-15

| The road was literally blocked M. and while
many pcrishcd by their own guns Il was almost
impossible to fire on the mass, from the danger
Of killing our own men. Some ned up the ra-
vine on the left. or on the right, and many Of
these were slain by turning their own guns on
them. Toward the city the Rifles and I'd IN
Gntry led of the pursuit. Seeing that large
crowd of the fupitiyes we're jammed up in pass
in the road, some of our men ran through the
cornfcld, and by thus heading them of and fir
ing down upon them, about 80 men took over
500 prisoners, nearly hundred Of them officers.
| Afer disarming the prisoners, as the pursuit had
ceased, we went back 10 the fort, where we
found our troops in full possession, and the rout
complete.
We found that the eacmy's position was much
stronger than we had supposed, and their artil-
lery much larger and more abundant Our own
loss was small, which may be accounted for by
their perfect surprise nj our charge, as to them
we appeared as Il rising out Of the earth, so uh-
perceived was our approach. Our loss was one
officer killed, Capt Hanson, of the 9TH Infantry,
and Lieut. Van Buren, of the Rifles, shot through
the ieg;-and about 80 men killed and wound
cd Their force consisted OF 5000 men under
NaleRria, with a reserve, which had not yet ar
rived, gader Santa Anna. Their loss as since
ascertained was IS follows killed and buried
since the hght, 750-wounded 1000 and 1900
prisoners, exclusive Of officers, including four
Generals, SalaS Mendoza, Garcia and Guada-
louPe, in addition to dozens Of Colonies, Majors,
Captains, &c We captured in all on the hill
20 pieces Of cannon, including five inch how.
itzers, two long 49, three long 10, and several OF
IL and 8 inches, and also the two identical 6
Founders captured by the Mexicans at Buena
Vista, taken from Capt. Washington's battery Of
the tth Artillery. The first officer who saw
them happened to be the officer of the 4th Sc
iectcd by Zen Scott to command the new bat
terry oil that regiment, Capt Drum. In addition
Ncre mken iinmcnsc quantities OF ammunition
ana muskets, IN TACT the way was strewed with
innskets, escopcts' lances and flags for miles
Large quantities OF horses and mules were also
captured, though large numbers were killed.
thus ended the glorious battle OF Contreras,
IN winch 1000 men, under Gen. L. +. Smith,
completely routed and destroyed an army OF
5000 men under Gen. Valencia, with Santa An
ma and force OF 10000 men within five miles.
ihelr army was SO completely routed that not
lou men reJoincd Santa Anna and participated
in the second battle. Most people would have
thought that pretty good DAYS work. Not 20.
We had only saved ourselves, not conquered
Mexico, and mems work was before MS vet.
At & A. NJ. we formed again, and General
I'wiggs having taken command, we started on
the road to Mexico We had hardly marched
a mile before we were sharply fred upon from
both sides of the road, and our right was deploy-
ed to drive the enemy in. We soon found that
we had caught up with the retreating party,
from the very brisk firing in 'front.' and we drove
them through the little town Of San Angelo,
where they had been hating in force About
half mile from this town we entered the SUI
burbs of another called San Katherine, when
large party in the church yard fired on the head
Of the column, and the balls came right among
us Our men kept rushing on their rear and
cutting them down, until a discharge Of grape
shot from a large piece in front drove them back
TO the column. In this short space of time Eve
men were killed. ten taken prisoners, and A small
color captured, which was carried the rest OF the
day.
Meanwhile Gen. Worth had made a demon
stration on San Antonio, where the enemy was
fortified in strong hacienda but they retired /
on his approach 20 Churubusco, where the works
were deemed impregnahle. They consisted of
a fortified hacienda, which was surrounded by |
high and thick wall on all sides Inside the wall |
was stone building, the roof OF which was fiat
and higher than the walls Above all this was 4
stone church. sui higher than the rest and hav
ing large stccplc- The wall was pierced with
loop holes and 80 arranged that there were two
tiers OF men hiring at the same time. They thus
had four different ranges Of men firing at once,
and four ranks were formed ON each range and
placed at such height that they could not only
overlook all the surrounding country, at the
same time they had plunging fire upon US
Outside the hacienda, and completely command
ing the avenues of approach, was a field work
extending around two sides OF the work and
protected by deep, wet ditch, and armed with
several large pieces. This hacienda is at the
commencement OF the causeway leading to the
western gate Of the city, and had to be passed
before getting on the road. About 800 yards in
rear of this work, another field work had been
built where a cross road meets the cAuseway, at
a point where it crosses river. thus forming
bridge head, or tefe de pont. This was also very
strong and armed with three very large pieces Of
cannon. The works were surrounded On every
side by large corn fields. which were filed with
the enemys skirrnshers, so that il was difficult
to make reconnaissance 1t was therefore de-
cided to make the attack Immediately, as they
were full of men and extended for nearly mile
on the road to the city, completely covering the
causeway. The attack commenced about T.
NJ. Gen. Twiggs' division attacked on the side
towards which they approached the fort, l. c.,
opposite the city. Gen. Worth's attacked the
bridge head which he took in about an hour and
half; while Generals Pillow and Quitman were
on the extreme left, between the causeway and
Twigg's division. The Rifles were on the left
and in rear Of the work, entrusted BY General