Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-09-30
From Die Boston Post, Sept 81.
Account Of the Battles Of Contreras
and ChurubuscO, BY Gen. Pierce.

relative, and have taken the liberty to publish
some extracts from il. The responsibility Of the
publication must rest entirely with us, the au-
thor had no idea of its being seen by any one
save his relatives and immediate friends, and
hence the reason that it contains so minute his
tory of his personal movements -
Headquarters Isl Brigade, Sd Dir. y. s. A.
AIExsoQuE, Mexico, Aug. 27, lsi7
Since left Vera Cruz to this hour have
had no means of communicating with the States.
Although but a few months in the service, know
what is fatigue, anxiety and exposure. Contra
ny to my expectations, and contrary to my or
ders from the department at Washington, was
compelled, for the want of the requisite proyis-
ions for transportation, to remain for more than
three weeks at Vera Cruz, and more than four
in Terra Caliente, (the vomito region as it is
called) / left the dreaded city on the 10th Of
July, with $500 men Of all arms and train Of
wagons, which when closed up extended more
than two miles. On the 9Th of August | reach
cd Pucbla, without the loss of single wagon,
with my command in fine condition. My com
mand was attacked six times on the march, but
the enemys force in each instance was easily dis
perscd, with trihing loss on our side. The Ma
tional Bridge afforded the enemy great natural
advantages, to which they had added breastworks
on a high bluff which commanded the bridge per-
fectly acroSs the main bridge they had also
thrown barrieade. soon discovered that there
was no way in which bis position could be turn
ed, and that my artillery was ineffective from
the most commanding point where il could be
placed. ] determined, of course, to cross under
the plnnging fire Of the enemy's escopetas. Ny
order TO advance was admirably executed. At
the moment Lieutenant Colonel Bonham's bat
talon rushed forward with shout, the enemy
Gra l.-. =
my men were severely wounded Colonel Bon
hams horse was shot near me, and ball passed
through the rim of my hat, in very disagreeable
proximity to my face. Our men leaped the bar
ricadc, followed by Captain Duperus company
Of cavalry, and in less than ten minutes the en-
envy were in flight in every direction, and the
American flag waved upon the high bluff which
they had occupied. The Mexican force, rs they
said afterwards, consisted of 500 men. Had
they possessed courage, and skill in the use Of
arms, our loss must have been very great. You
can hardly conceive the strength OF the natural
defences of the road over which We passed. Ru-
mora came TO me almost every night that we
would be attacked by large forces the next day,
but they made no where any thing Ike brave
and stern resistance.
The official report of the great battle Of Mex
leo will probably reach you as soon as this letter.
and shall, therefore, not attempt 10 give the mi
mute details. Il was fierce and bloody beyond
any thing that has occurred in this war. The
battle differed in many respects from that Of Bu-
ena Vista There Gen. Taylor received the en-
envy in a strong position selected by himself
Our force on the 10th consisted of less than nine
thousand'men the Mexican force, within sup
porting distance and engaged, undoubtedly cx-
eeeded thirty thousand. We attacked him in po-
sition upon ground of his own selection, admira-
bly, fortified You win distinguish as far as num-
bers are concerned, between the battle Of the
morning am that of the afternoon, although
spoken Of in official reports as one engagement,
under the designation of ''the battle Of Mexico"
We took, during the dag, thirty-fi,c pieces Of
artillery, an immense quantity OF ammunition,
eight hundred mules and horses, and more than
two thousand prisoners-among them eight Gen
erals, and any number of Colonies.
The Mexican loss in killed and wounded mus,
have been immense. Our troops buried 800
Mexicans upon the field of battle commenced in
The morning at Contreras, and the loss in the af
.ternoon was much greater Our loss has been
heavy. With this small army we could not af-
ford TO purchase many such victories at such a
price; ono Of the regiments Of my brigade 1.-THE
18TH lost in killed and wounded one third of its
entire force. In killed and wounded we number
not less than 1000, and among them lament to
say, an unusual proportion OF valuable officers.
The New England regiment suffered severely,
and behaved throughout in the most gallant man
ncr. My horse, at full speed on the evening Of
the 10Th, when leading my brigade through a
perfect shower Of round shot aud shells, fell I'M
der me upon ledge of rocks, by which sus-
tanned severe injury by the shock and bruises,
but especially by severe sprain in the left knee,
which came under him. At first was not con-
scious of any severe injury, but soon became OK
ceedingly faint, when DIR Richie surgeon of the
18th, "a portion Of my command,) who was fol-
lowing the advancing columns closely, overlook
me, administered to me as well as he could I'M
der the circumstances In q few moments was
able to walk with difficulty, and pressed forward
to Capt McGruder's battery, where found the
horse of poor gallant Lieut.. johnson, who had
j ust received a mortal wound, Of which he died
that evening | was permitted to take him, (my
own having been totally disabed) was helped in
TO the saddle, and continued in It until II o'clock
that night 1t was exceedingly dark, the rain
poured in torrents, and being separated from my
servants and baggage, l was without tent or COW
cring: add to this that during the afternoon OF
the 18th we had gained no advantages over the
enemy, who remained firmly entrenchcd with
1000 men opposed to about 1000 on our side,
without the possibility Of bringing Our artillery
10 bear, and you will readily conceive that our
situation was not the most agreeable. The NOR
nIng OF the xUtn, was, however, as Dflllant as
the night Of the 18th was dark and gloomy
Soon after daylight the enemy's works were car
ried with the bayonet, and Of their 1000 men,
regular troops, under the command Of Gen. Va
elencia, probably 1000 cannot be found to-day.
AS We passed this field in pursuit of the iugtiyes,
the scene was awful the road and adjacent fields
every where strcwed with lnangled bodies Of the
dead and dying We continued the pursuit un-
I'll ! O'Clock, when our front came up with the
enemy strong works at Chuubusco and San
Antonio, where the great conflict Of the AFTER
noon commenced, At San Angel, dispositions
having been made 20 attack in reverse the vne-
mys works on the San Augustine road General
Scott ordered me TO march my brigade, in con
cert with that of the intrepid General Shields,
across the open country between Santa Katari-
ma and the above named road, in order TO cut
off the onemy's retreat We gained the posi-
ton sought, and although the enemy's line was
perfectly formed and extended as far as the eye
could reach in either direction, they were attack
ed vigorously and successfully. Arriving at o
ditch which it was impossible for my horse to
leap, disnounted and hurried forward without
thinking of my injury, at the head Of my brig