The Arkansas banner., 1847-10-18
Cel. pickinsen,r Report.
HEApouARrERs s. ( RKsp. VoLs. }
 San Agustih. Aug 23d. lSIT. {

| of has quarters, by which, II was reported, maay
 Mexiesas were fetreaing from the held of Coatre. ras to the city efMeSieo. Owing othe thick patch es of magney and rugged ravine, he could not reach, his position until several hundred of the enemy had passed. As the regiment emerged from the rayine into field, extending to the rcad (which field was Aanked oar right by a slone wall, extending to the road and enclosing an orchard,) we discovered large masses Of the enemy in the road before as {; and, al'hoagh they perceived us at the ssme time, they were unable to escape beyond eur reach until every gun ia the battalion had been brought to bear upon them; most. however. had broken into an open heid opposite, which only the more exposed them to our lire. Through this eld in full musket range of our position mingled groups of their cavalry and ItutaaiTy continued to pass. shortly, however, we perceived large forming in line of battle, an- der cover of the stone wall, already menioaed--and that large body was advancing from the orchard, on our right flank and rear. Col Butler immediate 1 " changed front to the right by flank movement
 and brought the enemy in both their positions. as they advanced from cover, under his fire: this they returned for short time, and then Fetreated. Col Batier pereeivng that ethers Of the enemy were passing through the 6eld, in our front, ieh few files to guard our rear-Gormed again on the road. l and liaintained a steady fire upon the enemy, who continued to pass foS about 20 minutes large bodies I of Mexieans then came forward. and surrendered themselves to Col Batler who, seeing other bodies still coming remained upon the Toad with three com panies while the sest of the regiment in pursuance of an order from the General retired beyond the vine, to oppose a very large body of cavalry; appear ing in our lear. Of the enemy, one hundred and twenty-seyen l27) were killed aad wounded. and two hundred and seventeen (2l7l taken prisoners. Among :he latter were the following officers of rank, to- wit general officer, siaff officers, colonels lieat-coloneis, conmandants, cap tains, and lieutenants Our own loss in the ac- tion from the random fire of the enemy, was one sergeant severely wounded and private slightly skaf.. bss [ NNNa aIsfs guard over the prisoners who placed in a church, and the regiment. after, took up it's line of march ca the road to Mexico. About noon the regiment Sas ordered to make deiouT to the left, and strike upon the same road short distance heyoId the enemy's works at Churubusco, to cut ot their retreat t was reported that the works had been carried by troops On arriving on the field aiter the subsequent action, found that the New York regiment, m consequence of num- bers of hofsemen and small corps of the howtzer battery having intruded themselves hetwixt were some three hundred yards in advance Of us and the 9th infantry attached for the time being, to our bridge nearly the same distance in rear at the proper point proceeded to form the line of battle
 and as soon as the two right flank companies were | in line, we were ordered 10 advance-fespaseh in reaching the road to cut of retreat being considered of more importance than regular advance. Before, however, one half of the companies were in line found the New iork Regiment retilng under cover Of the hacienda to right, and soon line was unmasked by this regiment, we found ourselves exposed to a heavy fire from the road, which apper
 ed io be densely flied with Mexican troops as also the hacienda to the left cf the field we occupied, and immediately on the road. As we had attempt ed for the stated, very imperfect order in line of battle obaIned; and as that appeared now indispensable, We were ordered 10 march by the right flank, as we reached the left flank of the | New York Regiment As the hacienda did not pos sess sufficient breadth to protect the Hanks in forta-
 ing line of battle in it's rear the battalion order
 ed to iarn by companies, and to march in column 10 the line in advance of the hacenda and little to its left upon which the general in person had placed himseiE there they weIe ordered to deploy apoA ;he color company. The companies of the leit wing formed in regular order, but some comp ot the i right wing thrown into confused masses by the obrusiou of miscellaneous troops, belonging 10 different Of the service; thus was mostly re- meded. and he advance was ordered. The iiEe continued 10 advance under heavy hfe, some thirty paces in rear of the general about 50 yards when | they were halted The general had cautioned the not to open their 6re untll be gave the orders; but directly they halted, the general took his posit
 ion in line Of batie and at thisme the squad of mix
 ed troops upon extreme right, already mention cd, commenced firing ai.d the battalion supposing the orier given, opened it's kIe It was understood by the hekI officers to have been the generals iaten- tion to have made battalion the base of forma-
 ton of the others attached 10 his brigade, and that as soon as the whole were in line they were 10 ad- within either easy musket range Of the road, or to charge he should deem best. As the firing had already commenced and did not interfere with the formation of he other battalion, 1t was permit l ted to continue. As soon. however. one or two companies oi the New York Regiment appeared
 marching up the right the order given to charge, and the battalioa gallaDtly Ied forward by Maj
 Gladden. then ln command of the regiment The | colonel had been killed directly after our fire had been opened, and the lieutenant colonel severely 1 wounded few minutes before the charge. Our line of battle numbered, at the commencement, } field officers. , stall officers. captains 24 euten- ants ? sergeants 273 rank and fife; affer the battle the number who were unwounded. for duty was field officer (malor), captains Is lleuteHants, I1 sergeauts l60 rank and tle. The total of our loss in the engagement n killed and wounded, vas I36 The major Informed me that upon reaching the pos ition o The enemy, he found that they had abandon
 ed 1t and were in full retreat for the city sevefa
 companies in pursuit and the others formed as
 a reserve h the road The whole were shortly or. dered to advance by the general, bat n consequence of the large number of killed and wounded reported to hLI, the battalion vas soon ordered back io the
 hacienda. now converted into hospital. The three
 companies sent in pursuit were overtaken by piece
 Of artillery which they supported nearly to the sub
 urbs of the city, until they were recalled.
 Capt. Marshall. who TeloiHed The regiment wItt
 his command al this place reports 10 me- that sooE
 afier inc battalion had lett the church where Inc prisoners were placed under bis charge, finding hm
 self destitute of provisions sent detachment o i.
 company to forage for fruit and green corn, his de
 ;achment surprised party Of Mexican soldiers eR
 gagged in the same pursuit They killed one and cap
 tnred 43 whom they brought back and delivered tt
 their captain. 1his makes the total number takeI
 at that place 260, which, with the i27 killed ans
 wounded, makes the total of 3o7
 should be unjust to the officers of the regimen
 and to my own feelings, were to close this repor
 without aeknow lodging the gallant manner in ~hiel
 all the grades of officers performed their duty. ana
 sustained the honor of their dag until the engage . ment of the evening, our regiment had been in nc
 very dangerous position, and the troops in that re ' gard were raw and inexperienced; upon that occa sion each officer had 10 lead his command and the
 Bamber in killed and wounded show ho~ faithfully
 they met the necessity. OaI noble and aRloItunat' commander had his horse shot under him, at th' } head of hs command i the rst Of the engagement short time after, he received wound in the leg