The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-05-14

of killed and wounded. Before the vol.
un,eers had time TO renew the attack, the
enemy had surrendered driven, as they
had been. from their iavoriie posltisn on
Cerro Gordo,
Taking all things into consideration,
this has been great fight, and great
victory, one calculated to shine brilliantly |
in the chapter Of those achieved in Mex- |
co by our arms.
The Mexican forces on ''!e heigh, of
Cerro Gordo were the Sd and ilh light |
infantry, the Al and 5ih regiments Of The
line, and 6 pieces Of artillery. with The
reluisil number Of cavalry. Col Oban,
10, chief Of artillery, was killed, and Gen,
Vasques, general of Division. Many of
our officers were OF opinion tia, tins gen.
eral was no other than Gov. Morales.
Our force consisted Of the I'd, 81 and
7th infantry and mounted rlemen. and
S,eploe's battery. Capt. Mason, of the
rifles, was severely wounded. having lost
his lefI leg. Lieut.. Ewell, of the 7lh in
fmtry, was severely wounded. Captain
Pauen, Of The 81, left hand shot of.
Ga the 18th, Lieut.. Jarvis. of the %
infantry, was wounded in ascending the
irsl hill.
On the top of the Cerro Gordo, the
scene was truly horrible. From the ia.
lapa road, dead bodies of the enemy could
be seen on every spot where the eye was
directed, until they literally covered the
ascent to the height. There is about
half an acre Of ground on the top Of the
mountain, and here was collected togelh-
er the wounded of both armies, and the
dead of our own. Side by side were ~
! ing the disabled American and the Mex.
can, and our surgeons were busy amPu-
tating and dressing the wounds OF each
| loItng them in turns, unless the acute
pain of some sufferer further along caused
him TO cry out. when he would be imme.
dla,ely attended 10.
The pioneer parties Of our men were
picking up the wounded and bringing
them in from every par, of the ascent TO
the height. From the side towards the
river, where the storming party of Gen.
rwIgg's division made the charge, most
of our men suffered, and many Of the en-
envy, also, for they made a desperate
stand; but when they gave way, and
I started in confusion down the hill, was
time they most suffered, many Of them
receiving the balls of our men in their
backs.
The charge on Cerro Gordo was one
OF those cool yet determined ones so
characteristic of the American soldier
From the time tina, our troops left the
/. hill nesres, that pro nlneni height, the fire
was incessant. and they had TO fight their
way loot by foot, ill they gained the sum-
nit, from which place the enemy gave
way after a very short resistance.
Our victory Is complete. Those OF
the enemy who escaped were driven in
all directions by their pursuers. and ma.
ny of them Gu. down on the road.
Gen. Twiggs, who followed them af
A.. ter taking Cerro Uordo, approached with
4 in three miles Of Jalapa, and finding nc
force of the enemy, encamped for the
night. He is in the town before hi:
time.
Capt. Merrill, of The I'd Dragons, re
turned from Twigg's camp last night, ant
IS of opinion that nothing but a small DO
dy-guard is with Santa Anna.
Santa Anna's private carriage was cap
tu,ed, aud amongst his effects was found
the sum Of $4,000, which is now in tht
hands OF tie quarlermaster, and an ad
, di'ionaI leg of cork for his Exce!Iency''
use in case OF emergency.
noticed one officer shot through tn,
head on Corro Gordo, who was a con
f spcuous mali at Vera Cruz.
Gen. La Vega, who is again in ou
clutches, looked as dashing and fine al
ever. lie did not seem the least discon
certed, bu, rode in from the battlefield
by the side of Gen. Scott, laughing ant
talking as though he was once more or
/, his way to New Ohears.
Gen. Shields was MORALLY wounded
/ and hear this morning tina. he is dead
. lie behaved mos, CALAMITY, and his mis-
/; hap is deeply deplored.
Gen. Pillow was wounded in the arm
hu, slightly.
Major, Of the I'd Dragons, was sho
in the head, but is considered out Of dan.
ger.
I he force Of the Mexicans at the low.
est, is set down at $4,000. The officers
Of The Mexican army are being paroled
whilst ] write this, and with their sol
dlers are being sent about their business
Our commander being of opinion that
he can whip them easier than he can
feed item. The generals will be sent to
New Orleans; among them YOU will
have the second appearance Of La Vega,
he having refused again to be paroled.
The second in command TO Santa An
ma is man as black as the ace of spades
with name something like Slinton.
All Santa Annals plate was taken, and
his dinner, cooked for yesterday, eaten
by our own officers.
am sorry 10 saw that Gems. Patter