The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-07

about dusk and sony about eight shots fred with
Anus Withdrew his supporting force to San ADgsl to
sleep The opposing forces. LEFT In tbs oeld liz rer
that 81. during the night ordered pquet OF two hun
dred horse retire which had BEEN posted In ravine
to urevsut precisely what afterwards occurred
(NorE This refers to the night movement OF the
Am-rc. Al troops. which was made along rsvins to the
rear Of vssnot camp Sy means ss . 81 which surprise
At the break of day, the following morning, Santa
Anna notified Valencia not to continue the action and
he sent the auxiliary brigade to the capital, he himself
returning to San Antonio leaving Valencia isolated
who could not then retreat he surrounded bvt
lsct their positions as they pleased Valencia,
therefore, continued In his position, and met the
minutes at most, as Of the ensmys columns at
tackled him Ia the and with mpunty took posses
n the bo the .psmy in the
This assault lasted seventeen minutes by the
rhs together with the conduct Of Santa Auna
Bed the enthusiasm Of troops and they dis
perssd and Valencia 1t said gone South with
Alvarez, whose cavalry appears unable to act.
owing TO the nature OF the ground although Is said
that the day previous the cavalry made charge upon
the eusmy As far rs have been able ascertain, 1t
appears that ths troops which attacked Valencia
not superior to his in plumbers bssdss that Valencia
had artillery, and the choice Of commanding position
consequently during the fight Of the afternoon OF the
18th, the advantages side and the enemy
We are assured lost over two thoussnd men, ana We
much less The American loss on the contrary Wa
very small, not even fifty men The results OF tnis
affair depended entirely upon the operations Of the
under Of the night the natural esresssnsss
are assured that of vasncias officers advised
him change his position The morning of the 10th
but Valencia to carry out his plans did
not listen to their advice giving the enemy time to
surprise him by an attack upon his rear.
Every agrees that the reciprocal conduct Of Santa
Anna Valencia only be explained by supposing
that each wanted to have the glory of q triumph and
also
Anna give the order after he heard CT the defeat Of
Valencia that ne should be snot wherever he could be
found give this news In time that you may advise
his friends
1.-THE action, Of which thsiabove is brief account
although partial one, and very costly to the enemy
owing to the number they lost, was stl decisive one,
shall explain,
Soon after Santa Anna returned to Churubusco, he
hssrd the Of the rout Of Valencia and he there
by lost the only point which could protect San Antopio
he ordered that place to be abandoned but without
how to direct this difncut operstionnet even Santa
Anna himself whose head mot inventive. Note-xhsn
was open, and thus San Antonio was turned by Its
had forgotten to tell you-apd II is necessary for you
TO know itthat Coapa the general Of
the Americans that Is to say, half league from San
quity, notwithstanding the FIRE Of our hsavy artillery
From Coapa, the enemy could easily perceive, without
glasses our at San Antonio and attack US In
WE'LL then, after Santa Anna heard the news of the
Tou. Of he ordered the troops at San antonio
the brigade which had left Angel In the morning for
Mexico, to return and defend the bridge NoteThere
was here regular fee de pont according to the best
principles of foraoaton The hrst part Of the order
executed at sau Antonio, Of the guns there
being spiked and abandoned. This movement was OBJ
served by the Americans, who had not up to this
ment moved out Of their position but when they OBJ
served troops retire. and confusion in camp
and understood our design, they ordered column to
pass by the way Of the edrega and cut of retreat
from Vaenciss camp passing bv San Angel with the
same object. Then, although many of our troops,
including our best battalons Of national guards wished
to engage in battle, there being much enthusiasm
amongst them, st the principal officers in charge Of
this retreat would not allow them to fire. urged their
thao k~s- ~l~<e
without firing, which circumstances we cannot under
stand they could have cut up troops the Hdago
In this forces arrived at Churubusco from
which place their had to receive the fire of
rsteang troops time take breath and lsngthsn the
distance that separated them from the enemy check
Ing the advance Of the latter It would be difficult to
this whole retreat Only few Of the TAX from
San Antonio were used at the bridge the greater part
arrived too late and while Of the retreatug
going to wards Mexico they by others
the city going out to their assistance Wagons
on going In opposite directions of which broke
down. ohstructing the road people foot and those
horseback were coming in collision and many generals
Whilst this going on, the aght commenced ar
Churubusco under the Immediate orders Santa Anna
troops but those Of the national guards Brsvos and In
dependence the enemy easily cut them pieces before
tho
fresh troops did not hnd ammunition in readiness
account Of which the regiment of the line retired to
Finally, my friend the bridge of Churubusco lost
almost without resistance and at great sacrifice The
troops arrived at the garita Of Mexico The passage
the garta was very narrow owing to the and
down in the road The bridge lost party of Anne
rcan cavalry, small in number, drove before them
thousand Of horsemen then drove before them the
retreatng infantry, and the confusion became general
Under these circumstances, the small garrison at the
gsrita fired rather upon our own men than upon the
enemy. This will give you idea of the disorder which
reigned Throughout this retreat However the enemys
cavalry still advanced up to the very dtohes aud one
officer horse and all jumped into our parapet another
was captured and made prisoner, while We saw two or
three of their cavalry fall.
Whilst troops were running into the city, dspers.
ing in all directions filed with terror and crying that
the enemy coming in Immediately after them the
enemy halted without the city, and everything is
obtained by the English Minister, rather capituls-
tion abandoning the city to the enemy whicn the
English Minister and our Minister of Foreign relations
had talk about one O'Clock last night
Congress has been ordered to meet but it must fail
great many of the members absent have only
recited what know from ocular witnesses separating
the credible from the incredible.
conclude from want Of time, and because both pen
and writer used up
Good bye my friend -and hope that God will not
permit you to wnsss many misfortunes your friend
L.V.
AFTER detailing the events as usual, down to the
midst OF the fight at Churubusco the writer goes to
The cavalry was ordered to make charge but these
towards refused to do itnevetheless the action
wing the edge Of the river that the river
only separated us from themthen infantry in front
dispersed, and at their example the Notifications In
front ION the road e. the tete de pont) were aban.
doned afterwards the right, a. g. Churubusco) when It
saw itself alone-spd then the retreat became dis
person the enemy following close upon the guard
even to the bitches Of the garta gate At twenty
yards from the gd'id, there was American officer
killed who about to kill Santa Anna with his sword
This IL the history Of the battles
The morale Of the army has been lost aud all enthu-
sasm extinguished nevertheless, the enemy has lost
IN md thore
was head to these, could still conquer.
The regiments Of Victoria and Hidsgo have dissolved
as not to fight
An armstice is. in discussion on the basis that the
capital shall not be attacked and that the Yankees will
take nothing without paying for itand they will en-
camp in the neghborhood. This armistce will serve to
collect the dead and arrange peace. The reflections
which these events give rise to natural that
omit them. We shall each other; for il peace
is made. am going where you are and no less II the