The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-11-27
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES
Battlesof Contreras and ChurubuSco
REPORT OF MAI. GEN. SCOTT.
W fPst No. 81.
~ HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,)
~ .ess San Augustn, Acapulco Road,
Nine miles from Mexico Aug. 10. lS47. \

Nine miles from Mesico. Aug 10. 1917.
Sra leaving comnetent garrison in Puebla.
th;s army adv need upon the capital. n, follows
Tw;gg.' ,i;vis;ons n,ec edcd 10 Harocvs broade Of
csvaisv, the IN. ouitman's d;vsion o volunteers.
with small detachment ofIJ. s. marines. The slb:
Worth's division. the 9th: and Pillows division,
the I0,b- ali in his mon,b On the sib I over.
ssnc, .na ,hsn continued with the ,ead;ny d;vis.
ian !. The corps were. At no time. beydnd five
sbours. or supporting distance. apart: and on des
cendinp into the basin oftbe cantal f75 mIt from
Pueblalthey became more closely approximated
about ,ba head nj I.ara Cbalco win J.ake Tescu-
CO. little In front and 10 thesriebt. On The 12tb
.nd IAN ra nnshsJ ye,onnoissgncrs unon the Pe.
noo an ;solataI mound "a miles from Mexicol of
Great hrbt strongly fortified 70 The ton f3 tiers of
Eo,Ls AZ snd flooded sround rbe base nv ne season
az ra;ns and -sluices from The lakes. This mound
c,.. ~ tha ra,;onoI road commando tho rr;nc;n,i
snnroach to the citv from the east No doubt il
micht have been earned. hut at great and dis.
nronortionate Inss and was anxious ,o snare The
iives n th,s gallant army far peneral hattie which
Itnew ue had to win before capturino the c;tv
mr. attaining the great object of he CAMPAIGN "a
ss;rst .nd honorahIc nnaca
- Another Reconnaissance was directed (the 18Th,
unoo MexicaIcinoo. 70 the left of tbe penon. a
VILLAGE At fortified bridpe across the outlet mr. ca
nal ieadino from I.ake Jocb,milco TO the canitaI
Eve m;Ias FINN the latter Ttmipht have been easv
sfm,sL;nr the penon1 to iorce the passage bur on
s r.. o,hss, s;ae ~ ,he brise wa should have found
ou,s.lye. mile. from This road on narrnw ca,se.
vav f.nk.d 4, The risbt and Ief, bv water mr.
bocuv Grounds Those 5ficuIties closely viewsd
thrsy 1,s h.cL unon ~ nro;ec, Iong enierts;nsJ
of turning The styonp eastern defences Of the civ
nv nassing around south of axes Chalco and H.
cb;m;Icn A. tho foot oftbe hills and monniains so
A. N reach this ro;n, and hence 70 manmuvre on
hard ground tbongh much broken. 10 The south
and sou,hwest of he cani,al which has been more
~ I.,s rndar our vew since the 10Th inst.
o. Accord;nr,v nv a sudden Inversion. Wortb,s
d;v;s;on viii H,ynev,s cavalry briuade. Ie,dino
we marchea On the I5tb inst, Pillows and Quit
mon,. d;v;s,on fn,owed closely and ,ben rw;g
division which was left ,ill The nexr dav at ATot.
Ia. in order 10 threaten the Penon and MexicaIcn.
% and IN deceive the enemy az limo as nracti
coh,e
%, -Twieps. on the 18th. marching from Ayotla. TO-
wards C6alco Is;x miie.S met a corps of more
s,han donhIo h;s nunhar n.,aIrn and ;nfantrv ns
der GeneraI Valencia Twigos hailed denlnved
into line and by a few rounds from Cant TavIor,s
6eh battery. disncrsed the enemy. killing Or
wound,no manv men and horses No other mn.
,cst,t;on has bcen experienced exccnt few ran.
dom shots from oueriIleros. on The heights. and
the march of 81 miles over a route deemed i'm
practicable bv the enemy. Is now accomplished bv
ali the cornstbanks TO their indomitabIe zeal and
physical prowess.
arrivino there The 18th. Wortb's dvision and
tp,rnsv,s Cavalry were nmshed Gorward League
TO reconnoitre and to carry or TO mask San Anto.
r;o On ,be d;rect ro,d IN the canitaI This vii
i,ge was found stronolv defended bv field. ,yorks
heavy guns. and numerous garrison. II could
nnv he turned bv infantry N The left over n f;aId
of Volcanic rocks and lava: for, to the right tbe
ground was too Doggy. 1t was soon asceTtained.
bv the daring engineers, Capt. Mason and Lieuts'
onnroacbed by the front. over narrow cayse. |
wav A,ntsa riib wet ditches of great denth,
.Wor,b was ordered not 10 attack bnt to threaten
and d, mask the place.
tn GrSt sho, i;red from San Anton;o f,he 1sh> |
Killed Cant. s. Tborntop. 2d dragons a Gallant
officer who was covering the operations with his |
e7mnanv
The same dav. a reconnaissance was commenced
N The left nj San Auoustin. first over difficult
rronnds and farther on over the same field Of
vo,can;n rocLs and lava which extends IN ,ba |
,nnuntains some FIVE miles from San Antonin to. |
wards MaadaIena. This reconnaissance was con-
tinued TO-DAY. nv Can't. Lee, assisted by Lieuts.
Reaurepard and Tower. all of the engineers, who
we're ioined. in the afternoon, by MAJOR smith of
rho same corns, Other divisions coming up. Pill.
io,v's was advanced to make practical road for
heavy artillery, and Twiggs' thrown farther in
front IN cover that operation: for. by the partial
raconro;ss,nca of Yesterday. Cant, Lee discovered
large cnrno of observatian in that direction. with
5etachment of which his supports ofcavaIrv and
foot under Cantain Kearnev and Lieut., Col. Ora.
ham resnectyely. had successful skirmish.
Rv three o'clock. this afternoon. the advanced
divisions came to print where the new road
cord on,v he continued under the direct fire of
% peces of the enemy's artillery (most of them of
IaIge calibrel placed in a strong ehtrenched camp
10 opnose our operations. and surrounded by eve
ry advantage of ground, besides immense bodies
n cavalry and Infantry. hourly reinforced from
tbe ctv over an excellent road beyond the volcanic
f;eId and consequently entirely beyond the reach
of our cavalry and artillery.
Arriving on the gruund, an hour later, found
that pillows and Twiggs' divisions had advanced
TO disodge the enemy, picking their way (al off.
GERS on foot) along his front, and extending them
selves towards the road, from the city and the en-
emys left. Capt Magruders field battery, OF I2
and nounders. and Lieut. Calendars battery of
L.J :,t,