Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-23


Of very interesting letter received in Wash
,ngion from an officer Of high rank, which, i'm
the absence of the official despatches, gives
he most graphic, and, we doub, rot, accurate
report Of the severe conflicts in Mexico on
the 10Th and 20th ult., which have done so
much credit to our arms, and may lead TO.
consequences the most importsnt in the at
,ainment Of peace. There appear to hsve
been four distinct engagements previous to
the armislce Of the 2Ist-frst,-nt CoNTRE-
RAs, by the divisions Of Pillow and Twiggs
ed by Gen. p. F. Smith, where the enemy
were found protected by an enuenched camp,
with twenty pieces Of artillery, some Of them
of the calbre of heavy siegc ordnance. This
work, it appears, after considerable fighting
on the 10Th, was carried on the 10Th in the
most gallant manner-Col. Riley leading in
the assault |; and here were retaken the pieces
of artillery which had been lost at Buena Vista,
an immense amount OF ammunition, and very
large body OF prisoners:
End. At SAN ANTONIO, a strongly fortified
post in the neighborhood Of San Augustin,
where the division under Gen. Worth turned
the work at both hanks, drove the enemy from
their entrenc chments. and followed them in hot
pursuit.
Sd. At SAN PABLo, another very strongly en-
trenched position, where the action lasted two
hours, and was contested with more spirit than
at any other point in the line-lhe place being
finally carried by assault and its whole arma-
ment, and great number of prisoners taken.-
GEN. ScoTT commanded this division 10 person.
and here we presume the main body of the re-
serve was concentrated
9TH. Al CnuRpDusco another fortified place
in advance Of San Pablo in the same line Of
defence The division under Gen. Worth, after
expeling the enemy from San Antonio, carried
this work also by assault, in spite Of its obsli-
nate resistance, made many prisoners, and kept
up close pursuit of the enemy almost to the
gates of the CITY,
In these four several engagements, the Me,i-
cans had at least thirty thousand men in The
field, under the cover of strongly entrenched po-
siiions, and at points from the nature of the
country, most difficult OF access, Nevertheless,
the American forces not exceeding 1900 men
in ALL though greatly laligued by their advance
over rpue hitherto unexplored by artillery.
at the south and west of Lake Ctalco. drove
them at every point took ri least 1900 prison.
erS, including seven principal Generals cap
tured forty pieces Of cannon, and opened an un-
obstructed road to their advance upon the city
IN =
all for this, We presume, 10 have been the
amount of the force under General Scott, and
not the 1000 men, of which some of our jour
nails speak, which must refer ehher to General
WorlhS division. or to the fuiee under Smith
and Twiggs, which may have amounted 10 that
number.
! II ahy one viii take The trouble 10 examine
he plat Of Mexico andilS envronS, which may
he found in the Journal Of Commerce and New
York Evening Post of he l6lh inst he will see
how completely Santa Anua availed himself Of
he three months delay, since the battle OF Cerro
Gordo to cover every acceSsibl" avenue to the
city by works extraordinary strength. These
he garr isoned with an army of o|er 10000 men.
made up not of new levies merely. but including
most Of he veteran regiments which had seen
service at Cerro Gordo at Monterey and Bucna
Vista. Not only the ordinary route 10 the capi-
ral by he great road from Vera Cruz over
which General Scot, advanced as far as Ayolla,
was thoroughly fortified. but The comparative
ly unex xplored, and by many deemed impracti-
cable passage through San Gregorio, Xochimi-
co and San Auguslin by which our army final
y defiled was equally well projected by the
works above enumerated. 50 gallaniy carried
by our troops. Al the date Of the battle of Ger.
ro Gordo not one of these works was in exist
ence, and the Mexican army for the time being
seemed completely diSorganized The coniu-
sion and panic throughout the country was
such, and their defeat so unexpected. that not
the slightest resistance could have been offered
! TO Gen Scott, had he been able to continue his
advance, or the means of maintaining himself
at the capital been at that time al his disposal.
But unfortunately for our country and the brave
men who have recently perisbed the very re-
verse Of this was the fact Owing to some
strange mismanagement in The War Depart
ment, and an entire disagreement as to the con-
structon of the volunteer ac, between Generals
Scott and Taylor on the one hand, and ;he Gov
ernment on the other. the forwarding of the
necessary troops TO replace those whose terms,
at this critical moment, had expired, was de
ayed at least three eemonths; and in this manner
not only the advance of General Scott on the
capital at that time prevented, but full oppor-
unily given the enemy to. recover from their
panic, and to make the formidable preparations
for defence, which have, at length. with so
much loss Of treasure and lie, been effectually
/ overcome.
H What influence the recen, victories may exert
in the procurement Of peace remains to be as
certained and must be matter Of doubt with ev-
cry one. in reference ,oa country SO disorgan-
lied as Mexico In ordinary cases such unin
terrupted success as has attended our arms from
the beginning Of the struggle, would have made
peace certain. But where no responsible Gov
| arnment exiSis and where n state of revolution