The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-10-15

was our approach. Our loss
was one officer killed. Capt. Hanson of
the 9TH Infantry, aud Lieut.. Van Buren,
Of the Rifles. shot through the log; aud
about fifty men killed and wounded
Their force consisted of 5000 men under
Valencia with a reserve, which had not
yet arrived. under Santa Anna. Their
loss, as since a~scertained, was as follows:
killed and buried since the fight, $50;
wounded 1000, and 1900 prisoners, ex.
of officers, including four gener.
als-Salas. Mendoza. Garcia and Gauda-
loupe,-in addition t q the dozens of Col
onels, Majors, Captains, &c. We cap
tured in all on the hill % pieces of can
non, including fse 6.inch howitzers, two
long Is, three long 16, and several Of ~
and S inches, and also The two identical
6 Founders captured by the Mexicans
at Buena Vista, taken from Captain
Washington's battery of the 4th Artillery.
The first officer who saw them happen
ed to be the officer of the 4th selected by
Gen. Scott to command the new battery
of that regiment, Captain Drum. In adj
dition were taken immense quantities of
ammunition and muskets-infa fact the road
was strewed with muskets. escopets, Ian
ces and flags for miles. Large quanti-
lies of horses and mules we're also cap
tured, though large numbers were killed.
Thus ended the tattle of Conterferas,
in which 1000 men under General p. F.
Smith: completely routed and destroyed
an army of 5000 men, under Gen. Va
%lencia, with Santa Anna and a force of
10000 men within Eve miles. Their ar
my was so completely routed that not
1900 men rejoined Santa Anna aud par
ticipated in the second battle. Most peo-
pie would have thought that a pretty
good days work. Not SO. We had on
ly saved ourselves, not conquered Mex
leo, and mems work before us yet.
At A. NJ, we formed again, and Gen.
Twiggs having taken command, we star.
ted ON the road TO Mexico. We had
hardly marched a mile before we were
sharply fred upon from both sides Of the
road, and outright was deployed to keep
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 halt.
ing in force. About half a mile from this
town we entered the suburbs of another
called San Katherine, when a large par
ty in the church yard fired on the head Of
the column, and the balls came right a
mong us. Our men were kept rushing
on their rear and cutting them down, un,
til a discharge of grape shot from a large
piece in front drove them back to the col.
umn. In this short space of time five
men were killed, ten taken prisoners, and
a small color captured, which was car
ried the rest of the day.
Meanwhile Gen, Worth had made d
demonstration on San Antonio, where the
enemy was fortified in a strong hacienda;
but they retired on his approach to Chu.
rubusco, where the works were deemed
impregnable. They consisted of a for
tilted hacienda, which was surrounded
by a high aud thick wall on all sides. In.
side the wall was a stone building, the
roof of which was flat aud higher than
the walls. Above all this was a stone
church, still higher than the rest, and hay
ing a large steeple. The wall was2pier-
ced with loop holes and so arranged that
there we've two tiers of men firing at the
same time. They thus had four different
ranges of men firing at once, and foul
ranks were formed on each range ane
placed at such a height that they coult
not only overlook all the surrounding
country. but at the same time they had
plunging fire upon us. Outside the ha
cienda, and completely commanding the
avenues of approach, was a field worl
extending around two sides of the WORK
and protected by a deep wet ditch, ant
armed with sever large pieces. This
hacienda is at the commencement Of the
causeway leading to the western gate o.
the city, and had to be 'passed, before get.
ting on the road. About three hundred
yards in the rear Iof this work, another
field work had been built where a eros,
meets the cause way, at a point where il
crosses n river, thus forming a bridge
head, or lete dc pant. This was also very
strong and armed with three very large
pieces Of cannon. The works were sur,
rounded on every side by large cornfelds
which we're filled with the enemy's Skin.
mishers, so hat il was difficult to make a
reconnaissance. 1t was therefore deci.
ded to make the attack Immediately, as
they were full Of men and extended 70,
nearly a mile en- the road to the city, com
pletcly covering the causeway,
The attack commenced about | P. Nj
Gen. Twigg's division attacked on the
side towards which they approached the
fort, i. .. opposite the city. Gen. Worth:
attacked the bridge head, which he took
in about an hour and a half while Gen
Pillow and Quitman were onthe extreme
left, between tho causway and Twigg',
division. The,rifes were on the left ano
in the rear of the work, entrusted by
Gen. Scott with the task Of charging the
work in case Gen. Pierce gave way
The firing was tremendously fact one
continued roll while the combat lasted.-
The enemy from their elevated position
could readily see our men, who were un
able to get a clear view from their posi-
ton. Three of The pieces were manned