Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-25
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
No. 30. HEADo'Rs OF THE Army,
Tacubaya, al the Gates of Mexico,

AacuDaya, al the Gates OF Mexico,
- ... August 20, ls47.
SIR: My report, No. 81, commenced in
the night of the 10Th instant, and closed the
operations of the army with tina, day.
The morning Of the 2O,h opened with
one Of series Of unsurpassed achieve.
ments. all In view Of the capital, and to
which l shall give the general name--Bat.
tie of Merico.
In the night of the 10th, Brigadier Gen.
eral Shields, p. F. Smith and Cadwalader.
and Colonel Riley, with their brigades, and
the 18th regiment, under Colonel Morgan.
detached from Brigadier General Pierce
found themselves in and about the impor.
tant position-the village, hamlet or haci
enda, called, indfferen,ly, Contreras Ansal.
do, San Gerenano-half mile nearer 10
the city than the enemy's entrenched camp,
on the same road, towards the factory
Magdalena.
That camp had been, Unexpectedly, our
formidable point of attack the afternoon
before, and we had now to take it, with.
out the aid of cavalry or artillery, or TO
throw back our advanced corps upon the
road from San Augustine 10 the city, and
thence force passage through San Anto.
MO.
Accordingly, TO meet contingencies,
Major General Worth was ordered to leave.
early in the morning of the goth, one of
his brigades to mask San Antonio, and to
march, with the other, six miles, via San
Augus,in, upon Con'reras. A like desti.
nation was given to Major General Quit.
man and his remaing brigade in San Au.
gust,n-replacing, for the moment, the
garrison of that importan, depot with Har.
ney's brigade of cavalry. as horse could
not pass over the intervening rocks, &c
TO reach the field of battle.
Al O'Clock, A. NJ, the great movement
commenced on the rear Of the enemv's
camp, Riley leading. followed successfully
by CadwaIader's and Smiths brigades, the
latter temporarily under The orders Of Ma.
jor Dimick, of the lst ar,,llery-,he whole
force being commanded by General Smith
the senior in general attack. and whose ar
engagements, skill and gallan,ry always
challenge The highest admiration.
The march was rendered tedious by the
darkness, rain and mud; but about sunrise
Riley, conducted by Lieut.. Tower, engi
neer, had reached an elevation behind tn,
enemy. whence precip,ated his columns
stormed the Entertainments, planted hi
several colors upon it. and carried TIT
work-all in seventeen minutes.
doubt whether more brilliant or dcci
sive MISUNDERSTANDING into view ground, ar
tificial defences, batteries. and the exlrem
disparity of numbers-wi,hout cavalry o
artillery on our side-is to be found on re
cord. Including all our corps directed
against the entrenched core with Shield.
brigade at the hamlet. we positively d
not number over 4,5O0 rank and file; an
we knew, by sight, and since more certain
ly, by many captured documents and lei
tiers, that the enemy had actually engage
on the spot 1000 men, with at least 1900
more lowering within sight. and sirikin
disiance--both on the 10Th and goth. Al
not killed or captured, now flew with pre-
ciptation.
Thus was the great victory of Contrera
achieved; the road TO the capital opened
700 of the enemy killed; sl3 prisoners, If
Guiding, among So officers, generals, be
sides many colors and standards; 50 piece
Of ordnance--half Of large calibre: lhol
sands of small arms and accoutremenis; a
immense quantity of shot, shots. shell
powder and cartridges, 700 pack mule
many horses, &C., &c.-all in our hands.
One of the most pleasing incidents c
the victory is the re.capiure. in the work
by Capt. Drum, 9TH artillery. under Maj
Gardner, Of the two brass six pounde
taken from another company of the san
regiment, though without the loss Of hor
or, at the glorious battle of Buena Vista
about which guns the whole regiment ha
mourned for so many long months! Con
ing up little after. had the happiness
Join in the protracied cheering Of the ga
LIANT 4'h on The joyous event, and, indee
the whole army sympalhlses in its just prIt
and exullation.
The battle being won before the adva
cling brigades of Worlds and Quilman's c
visions were in sight, both were order'
back to their late pos'ions--Worth to
tack San Antonio. in front, with his who
force, as soon as approached in the rear
Pillows and Twiggs' divsions--movl'
from Conlreras through San Angel al
Coyoacan. By carrying San Antonio, ,
knew we should open anolher-a short
and better road to The capital, for our sic
and other trains.
Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by
cross road. from the rear of San Anton
/ first detached Captain Lee, engineer, wi
Captain kearney's troops. LIST dragooI
supported by he rifle regiment. under M
jor Loring, TO reconnoitre that strong poi
and next despatched Major General Plllc
with one of his brigades, (Cadwalader
10 make the attack upon il. in concert W