Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-31
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
GUERRILLA WAR in MEXICO.

other way. Such is the character OF the following
extracts from that correspondence, giving us a
clearer and more distinct idea of the harassing
nature of the war upon detachments and transporta-
ton trains of our army in Mexico than any thing
else that we have read
CORRESPONDENTS THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN.
hIAPA, (MExrCo) JuSE II, ls47.
This is he last letter shall write You from this place. and
pen this without knowing how when shall be able
give direction that will its reaching the
Gull On the morning of the 18th instant train Of
about three hundred segon principally loaded with ammu-
non succeeded in sachiDg this place They were four
teen days coming rom Vera Cruz distance of seventy
miles having been attacked by the guerlas twelve miles
from Vera Cruz, and skrmishng from that point the ha.
cienda Encero kept up during the whole way The prnci-
pal obec! attack the large of specie in the
tran-between three and four hundred thousand dollars
which had drawn together between fifteen hundred and
thousand guerlas They principally commanded by
three Priests Spanish Car) who had been banshed from
their country for their erocty their fanatcsm and BIZ
gotry. They gave great deal of trouble and succeeded
during the entire route, in killing and woundng between
forty and fifty of We lost also about thirty public
wagons number of horses and mules and great deal of
subsistence that thrown from the wagons with view of
tightening the loads Our loss property, ning it isand
especially when compared the loss of mems OF
greatly nagnied by the enemy, and the report is ndust
ousy circulated by them, throughout the entire country, that
they have captured half OF the train and killed halt OF the
The tain left Vera Cruz with of five hun
dred under Col Mcintosh An express was sent to
Vera Cruz, informing Col Wilson, IN command of that post
of the number of ruerria that annoying the escort
and of the danger that surrounded the General Can
wALADER with what he had there, Immediately lett
reinforce them, and reached them short distance the other
side OF the National Bridge So he took command
something like order and system restored where before
nothing bu. confusion and alarm prevailed and although
constantly attacked by the guerras from their ambush he
had but little trouble comparatively speaking or met with
but little loss after leaving the National Bridge At the
National Bridge the enemy made regular stand avaing
himself Of the fort and breastwoks upon the heights and
sides OF the hills that had been thrown up with view of in
tercepung Gen. Scott in his march upon Jaapa Here the
heaviest OF our loss in men occurred and here the most
stinao attack was made upon the train by the gueras To
the prudence and military skill and experience Of Gen. Cad
waladcr solely to be attributed the route of the enemy and
the preservation of the train, SPECIE mail, &c.
On the 9Th instant party OF citizens, with number of
discharged officers and the wounded of the 18th Illinois
regiment left here, taking with them five or six wagons
IN one OF which contained large and important mail
So the reached US of the number of gueras
and the obtnacy of their attack upon the upward train the
greatest socude felt for the company of between one
and two hundred who had left here for Vera Cruz They
bes: but poorly armed and without any organi
Zaton whatever In the event OF attack all here concluded
that the brave wounded noans and their attendants would
be abandoned and that the whole would have their threats
cut by the mercess and bood-thsty gueas At the Ma
uona Bridge they attacked and lost five of their num-
ber the greater portion preeng trusting the speed Of their
horses rather than the prowess Of their Most fortunate
for them that Gen. Cadwaader happened in their vi
entity the time with his command but for that not one
would have been left TO tell Of the fate of the The General
most kindly detached company of cavalry under Captain
Dupcrp 10 protect them from further attack and the whole
succeeded in reaching Vera Cruz in safety.
The above incidents will give you little idea
state OF the road between this and Vera Cruz and the
hazard in large body Of losing his life
attempting reach the Gen Scott is in far
precarous situation than Gen. TAYLOR was IN
al Buena Vista, and if he succeeds cutting his through
with the small number of he has to the city of Mexico
and holding his position the battles Of Buena Vista and Cerro
Gordo will sink INTO utter nsgnfcance compared with such
an achievement.
An express reached Colonel Chld from the Generan-
Chief night before last placing him his guard against
contemplated attack the part Of the enemy upon the train
between this and Peroe and Perote and Pueba Gen. Bravo
had been thrown upon the road by Santa Anna with
OF three thousand portion Of whom cavalry
from the city OF Mexico General Scott also that he
satisfied should have the evercst and most
obstinate battles this side Of the capital Of the Republic that
had yet been fought in Mexico and he waiting with the
socude to hear of the arrival Of troops
Vera Cruz and Of their being their march reinforce him.
To-day this post TO be evacuated and troops take up
their line Of march for the advance of the army Col Chds
with the garrison leaves this morning o'clock and in
the afternoon, very early tomorrow morning, Gen. Cad
waade leaves with his command. The aggregate Of the
strength OF the two commands will exceed TWENTY-FIVE
hundred men, and the number of pieces of artillery we shall
take along u SIX With this strength and nqariei expect
TO fight ourselves through let the number Of gueras be what
they may The strongest point of attack pass the Pc
roe mountains, about days march from here which is said
by those acquainted with the topography the country 10 be
equally formidable position for the enemy as was that of
Cco Gordo. The present object Of the gueras more to
the large amount Of money and the ammunition we
have along than capture destroy the force that Is protect
ing it. The "ope Of rercnrd" has induced large number
Join the guea who but for the never would have
risked their necks in skirmish. When reach Pc
roe will again write you, though will be without any as
that the letter will get off for weeks come. II il
bad enough 20 be hemmed in in an enemy's country
scarcely be able to leave the garrison Of post with safe
bat have your line of communication entirely cut off
and the Of communicating with your friends and your
country, by letter. successfully checked is nsupporabe
PrRorE, (MExIco) JUSE %, ls47
fcerd, about noon the entire force that Jaapa
succeeded reaching here in safety, and without any los
whatever the train The march conducted under ht
immediate command Of Bngader General Cadwaader who
although slow IN his movements, is generally and safe
We parts Of four days making distance Of thirty five
miles, owing the unweldness Of the train and the annoy
ance the gucrlas gave They had posted themselge,
along the heights Of the La Hoya for nearly two miles, ant
were about thousand strong. The pass of the La Hoya
much longer Than that Of the Cerro Gordo though not so for
idabe nv judgment and in the hands Of any thing like
warkc people, would have been very difficult have go
the train through without immense loss
On the 2QtA encountered the guerras and after som,
six hours sHiraishng which took eighteen prisoners
and killed between seventy and eighty Of them, they wer
completely and eectualy routed. We threw out in The frs
instance large thanking parties and then scaled every hegh