The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-31
Court OF Inquiry.

Court OF Inquiry.
The following proceedings of a court OF inquiry are OF
interest they to elucdate some OF the points IN
the battle of Cerro Gordo:
GENERAL ORDERs,} Headquarters OF THE ARMY,
No 249. Puebla, August g. lS47
l. Proceedings of court of inquiry convened at this
place by the following ORDER
| GENERAL ORDERs,} HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
No 237. July %, lsi7
Some discrepancies, doubt accidental, existing be-
Ceno Gordo and Col Riley, of those commanders,
concevng that neglect injury has thereby resulted to
part OF his brigade as well as to himself that officer has
demanded court OF inquiry to investigate the whole sub
ee SO far as respects any alleged neglect or injury to him
dered and will ascertain the facts and report an opinion
Dfe,abrs.-Maor Gen. G. ]. Pillow, u 5. A.. Brig Gen.
George Cadwallader, u s. A. Col n s. Clark 6th Infy.
recorder of court which will assemble at O'Clock
morrow morning, in the building called the palace in this
city, and will sit without Thou regard 10 s hours
| [Signedl H. l.. SCOTT, A. A. A. Ct.
@ The court, after investigation and mature delbera-
ration, make the following report
The court of inquiry, after patient and aborious
nation of the orders reports documentary and other tes-
Of facts, regard the of Colonel Riley and
his brigade on the 18th OF April last in the battle of Ceo
In the dispositions by Brgadier General Twiggs of the
forces composing the I'd division of regulars in that battle
ward assaulted in 'front.' and carried. the point of the
bayonet the main works OF the enemy Telegraph hill,
hauled down the Mexican flag from the tower and ran up
Colonel Riley, then commanding the I'd infantry and lh
artillery, ordered with his command the
right oil the Telegraph HILL to intercept the Jaapa road in
the of the Cerro Gordo pass and off the enemys
and had commenced the movement when the
mys krnishers from the spur OF the mountain, extending
o hot fire. at General IVES peeteJ of hn
I'd infantry to disiodge them The enemy appearing in
considerable force, this detachment followed by two
Others and afterwards by the entire regiment and portion
of the ith artillery under Maj Gardner.
became holly engaged with a large force of the enemy,
which it immediately drove from It's position and pursued
exposed the fire OF portion Col Harney's command
compelled to take shelter under the crest of the
tain, upon which stood the main work.
The enemy having been ,hus driven from Telegraph hill
by the gallant advance Of the two Observation-Disclosures in
advance of Reys command was ordered against battery
Of five guns seen on c the aapa road in The rear Of the
possession OF the enemy guns on the hill now turned two
OF them upon the rereating enemy and this battery.
About the same time portion of Gen. Shiedss brigade
of volunteers made their appearance in front of this battery
three Of which kept brisk fire against the troops
other were directed against Gen. Shieds's command,
terry, whilst portion thanking enemy's posi-
ton to cut of his rerea until the advance OF the two
enemy abandoned their pieces-Reys advance taking
possession OF the three guns on the right and Shieds's
The is of opinion that these of Colonel
Riey brigade had an important influence in the achieve
active participation in them and that his conduct and that
OF his command should be suitably noticed in the official
report OF his superiors.
g. The General-in-chief approves of the proceedings
and opinion OF the cour of inquiry in the foregoing mat
tiers.
In the reports of battles and other operations in face
the enemy, omissions and mistakes have been common,
and in fact with the best Intentions unavoidable The
General chief is happy to in the evidence, OF
judicial record, the fine part borne by Colonel Riley and
portions of his brgade-a that could reach the enemy
in the battle Of CeIro Godo even beyond the credit given
them IN the official report OF the General-in-chief
Perhaps if time should permit, some other corrections,
in favor of Lieut. Ripley of the I'd artillery, and Lieut.
Foster of the engineers bringing out, prominently, their
he ma fol
from general headquarters While the subject, ii is
due also to that in the part assigned the
casion, to Brgadier now Majo] General Pillow, and his
volunteer brigade, the batteries attacked by them were
found much more formidable than that leader the Gen
eral- in chief had supposed
A. The court Of inquiry of which Major General Pillow
is president is dissolved
By command of Major General Scott:
II. L. SCOTT, A. A. A. q.