Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-10-30
on the morning of'he stt and then retire. The
buildings, which, the Mcxicans call Casa Mn,a.

Hs""o'eu on tue west SIDE OF Chapultepec. and
within six pound range of the guns Of the fort.
On the west eide Of the buildings, and The breast.
works around them, is a, large open plain. grad.
ualy descending to the position occupied by the
M"xlcaps-aa deep. ravine incIipes round this
plain, or open space. until it srrves, within a.
bout two hundred yards of the building upon
which rested the enemy's right fank---two "a
FOUNDERS, belonging to Capt unger's seige
tram were placed in position to batter down the
brenstworks and buildings, fihey were found to
be occupied by heavy force--but they did not
tirc but very few shots, before Gen. Worth
advanced his infantry down the plain, and at.
tackled The rncmy's works in the front and cen.
tre.' The Mexicans opened upon them most
'nurderons fire from the point attacked, and both
their fanks. which mhwed down our troops like
grass before the scytbe. Many of the best off
GERS OF the division were cut down, and the hca.
Wy loss in the ranks caused the advance to wa.
yer FOR a moment, until the supporting force
came up, which also sustained severe lose
column OF laBcers numbering 1000 20 5000
ceiving the effect OF this deadly fire on our in.
fantry. came charging down. in the hope Of be.
ing able TO take Advantage If circumstances,
and put our troops to rout-but they were soon
checked in their onward career. Col. Duncan
brought two pieces Of his battery 20 bear upon
them, and Capt. Drum, with the two recaptu.
REQ Baena Vista pieces, also opened his ire u.
p'n them--whiie at the same moment, Ma:
Sumner. with two equadrons Of dragons, and
Capt. Rats company Of mounted rifles, which,
un:il then, had been held ia reserve. passed
down under the fire from the enemy's works,
and charged the head of their column, which
they could mot stand for moment. end COM
mcnced a confused and PERCEPTIONS retreat. Al.
ter that, they rallied twice, and attempted to
return, but al each time our little handful of
dragons made them leave wi,hou: exchanging
cards. While the cavalry and the infantry,
rallyiug, succeeded in carrying the buildings
and breastworks which the enemy held, aud
compelled them to retreat-capturiEg pieces
Of artillery, a large quantity Of ammunition.
small arms, &c, and about GOO prisoners As
soon as they were driven from the buildings.
Capt Drum and Col. Duncan advanced their
| light batteries, and Lieut. Stone brought foe.
ward one Of the "a pounders, the whole OF which
opened q most destructive fire upon them, 90
they re,reated across Q low plain to the rear of
the position they at frs, occupied Our loss
was very heavy. and regret to say, tha, some
Of the very oest officers OF our army tell killed
and wounded, while the Mexican lose was very
slight, until they commenced their retreat -
While the cavalry were psssing in fron, of the
enemy, in order to charge the column Of Ian.
GERS, they were no: under the fire more than
ten seconds. and during that time they susi,i.
ned loss Of officers wounded. 80 privntes xii.
led and wounded. and a loss of los horses.
There were but two officers that did not have
their horses shot under them-but there 10 one
thing very remarkable, that the horses from
which the riders had been shot. wheeled and
moved with the same regularity as though they
had been mounted, until they came TO halt from
the charge, ~hen they all kept on in body ia
""'S''"" VI tsc ShS"'g' Hf. ..ttrf. ' .f.| %
We were deceived in reference to the char
acter of the buildings. as there wss no foundry
Or even semblsncc Of one and after blowing
up some Of the buildings, and bringing OF ou
killed md wounded, we evacuated the place
as the occupation Of II would give us no advan
,ase. Our loss was 500 killed, wounded ant
missing.
The result Of this engagement taught us ON,
lesson, which was, that the Mexicans use the
arms well, and fight well, when ,hey are in po
stl"n; and although the superiority of our arms
and the yalor Of the troops will eventually tri
umph, yet still we must cali into raquisition al
our military science and skill, or we purchase
our victories al too dear q price. A list of III,
Killed aud wounded, you win snd in the gene
raj recapitulation which | send you. Many
tear will be shed on lis perusai, and many
and firm veterans which fell 10 the assault
. Col. Riley was now advanced from San An
gel (h's former camp TO FL Pedad, in order I,
make diversion. end bold the entrance to tn
, e;edsd aud San AnsoNio road. Gen. Pillow
division moved up 70 within supporting distance
. and thus rested our army until the llth, wi,hou
: any shise Of moment oeesisiAg. The Engnee
coqt - bus'ly emp'dy1 sigh, and day i
, ,beiFs@ sisance, ascertsiH ~ examnin
The POSITIONS Of the enemy, and - different er
: frances 10 the city. The Engineers, through
lot sll our operations. have performed a mos
(. dspeerous and aborous duty. They have pr'
+. we'd themselves Of sterling worth-of sassterl