Tri-weekly journal., 1847-09-18

udCh upon Ddu AulOHlO 10 Turn ana capture
that work and then to push on towards the cap
ital by the main road, while the main body of
the army under Generals Twiggs, Pillow, Smith
Pierce and Cadwalader, moved on towards San
Angel and Cohoycan. Scarcely had the adj
vance of e Twiggs got a half a mile beyond
the latter village, before a rafting fire Of mus
kerry announced that it was actively engaged
with the out-posts of the enemy, and the neavy
booming OF cannon now gave token that the
noted2d division had fallenuponanotner strong
work. But a few minutes more and tremen-
dous firing from the right, and Immediately in
the main road from San Augustine to the CAPT.
tai, made it evident that Gen. Worth's divis-
ion was actively engaged. He had completely
turned the strong works of San Antonio. but
while doing so the enemy had abandoned the
place with the loss of their heavy guns, and
had fallen back upon his second and stronger
line of works. 1t was now at the commence
ment of the battle, about l o'clock in the after
noon, and sure such a rafting of firearms has
seldom or never been heard on the continent of
America, accompanied with such booming of
artillery; and this was continued over two
hours and until the enemy was fully routed
from every point, and until those who were not
killed or taken prisoners were in full flight for
the city. Let me endeavor in words to give
the reader an idea of the position and works Of
the enemy. As you come along the road lead
ing from San Augustine to the capital, and i'm
mediately this side of the Puente del Rosana.
the Mexicans had thrown up a strong and ex-
ceedingly well-built battery, commanding the
road completely. On the right as you faced the
city, stretching for a long distance was a con-
tinuous ditch, behind the bank of which an i'm
mense number ofMexican infantry were posted.
On the left of the tetc dc pont, or work at the
bridge, and about three hundred yards distant,
was the church of Churubusco. or San Pablo,
strongly fortified with works for infantry, and
also having a well constructed battery contain
ing a number of guns of heavy calibre. This
work was a little advanced from the tetc de p0nt
and nearly in a line between it and the village
OF Cohoycan. Further. on the other side of
the work at the bridge, and about three hun
bred yards from the road, was a large building,
well adapted for the protection Of Infantry, and
in which the enemy had also posted an immense
body, The ground in the vicinity of all these
points was completely covered with corn, and
other fields, cut up 10 every direction by wide
and deep bitches, presented obstacles innumer
able to the advance of our troops. No recon
noissance of the position of the enemy had been
made, and consequently its strength could on
ly be ascertained by hard blows and knocks.
The divisions of Gems. Twiggs and Worth
were at once engaged, the former with the
church and stronghold of Churubusco, and the
latter with the batteries at the bridge; and in
the meantime Gen. Shields brigades-the New
York and South Carolina volunteers-together
with the 9th, 18th and 18th regiments Of in
fantry under Gen. Pierce, were h~urrying on
ward from Cohoysan to attack the hacienda. =
Soon they two were engaged, and now the bat
tie became general. The enemy had over
twenty pieces of cannon, all in admirable po-
sition, and served with more than ordinary
skill, while but few Of our guns could be
brought 10 bear. The battery of Capt. Frank
Taylor, it is true, opened a well directed fire
upon Churubusco, but so exposed was its stu
alton that il suffered most terribly, both in Of
ficers and men.
To describe the fierce conflict, even now that
two days have elapsed, or to give an account of
the part taken by the different regiments, Were
impossible. From the opening Of the strife
up TO the time the Mexicans were entirely
routed and in full flight for the city, was one
continuous roar of cannon and musketry ac-
companied by the loud shouts of the victors as
some new vantage ground was gained; and
high above the din rose a dense column Of
smoke, at times completely shrouding the COM
batants. The strengh of the enemy at this
battle is known to have been $4,000, at least,
many say 10000, all fresh troops and in a po-
sition of uncommon strength. Opposed TO
them were about 5000 Americans, faded and
broken down by marches and co-untermarches,
and by incessant toll before the stronghold of
Coutreras and San Antonio. At Churubusco,
the Mexicans themselves say Santa Anna COM
manded in person. but that he left early. The
noted battalions of Hidalgo and Victoria, and
of lndependicia-the PoDtus, or young men of
the capital, from whom so much was expected
nearly all fled without firing a gun.
In the different works (but mostly in the
church) taken by Gen. Twiggs near 1000 troops
were captured. Among them were Gen. Rim
con, who commanded in person, Gen. Anaya,
lately Presiden; SuStiiufo, and Gen. Arevallon,
as also Col. Gorosteza, formerly Minister at
Washington. Gen. Garay was captured near
San Antonio BY Gen. Worth, and several in
%luential officers, among them Col. Miramon,
By Gen. Shields at the hacienda; but the most
important capture of all was the entire Foreign
Battalion, mostly made up of deserters from
our own army, with their commander, the no.
torious Riley himself. They are all now un-
der close guard, and | trust will be strictly
dealt with.
The loss on our side has fallen most heavily
upon the South Carolina and New York volun-
teers, the 9th Infantry and Smiths light battal-
lion, attached to Worth's division, and the
batteries of Capts. Magruder and Taylor. The
South Carolina regiment was nearly cut to
pieces, losing 1877 out of 272 men, with which
1t went into action. The LIST Artillery has suf-