Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-21
OFFICIAL.
HKApovA.rrRs or rur An~r.

Gin forwarding the reports OF commanders which de.
can lines At Ceuo Gordo. shall present continuation
o. my FORMER report but outline affair; and while
aooPuhg nearby heir Communications OF the ardor and eff
cheney OF individuals. shall mention by only those
who hgurc prominently, from position could moi bo in
cladcd in those sub-repotts.
The field sketch herewith. indicates the position. Of the
two armies The herrs eaiisnfe OF low level. terminate
ct Pisa del Rio, the site Of American camp from which
the road aseends Immediately in long circuit among LOT
hills, whose commanding points had all been fortified
and gairsoned by the enemy. Ills right entronched
ed ON precpiec ovofhangng mpassabe rayine that
forms the bed OF the stream; and his entertainments cs
tended continuously TO the road, which placed for
mdaole battery On the other side. the lofty aud difficult
height OF Cctro Gordo commanded the In nj.
| directions. The main body Of the Mexican army was Gu
eampea on level ground. with battery Of i've pieces half
| mile IN tear OF that he ght towards Jaapa.
Resolving possible. To turn the left and attack
rear Nhiie menacing or engaging his front, caused
uav ieeohnossances to be pushed with the Of find
ing route Tor aorce TO desouch ON the Jaapa road and
cut oil retreat
The reconnaissance begun by Lieut. Beauregard. was
,""uou oy Sapt Lee, engineers, and a made along
dhcult slopes and chasmsout OF the enemy. view
'ough reached by his fire when discoyercd-until ar
Nins at the Mexican lines further became
impossible without an action. The desired point of de.
oonehue, the Jslsps road was not therefore reached
ough believed 10 be within easy distance and TO gain
a' point now became necessary TO carry the heiybt of
Cerro Gordo. The dispositions in INV pl.n os ha,,I.
general orders No III heretofore enclosed-werc accord
ingly made.
Twisgs' DIVISION reinforced by Shields brigade of W.
'uh'eers, was thrown into position on the 7tb and ,.
OF necessity drawn into action in taking up the ground @
oMoaae and the opposing height for heavy battery
~i be seen that many OF officers and men were
Killed or wounded in this sharp combat-hand. co.,
meneed by company OF the 9Th infantry under Byt F,r,
eu': @ardner, who highly praised by all his comman
US of sshai services COL Harvey coming I'm with IN,
hc regiment and first artillery (aso parts of his br;g,d
otusned away the enemy and occupied the heiyht-on
wnch IN the night, was placed battery Of one 81 popn
ana Two 2lpound howzeis under the
OF Capt Lee. engineers, and Lieut. Haener orJn,nc.
inese guns opened next morning. and were seryeJ win
nee' oy capt s'eptoe and It. Brown. Sd artillery Lieut.
hagner (ordnance) and Lieut. Seymour Ist ariIl.,v
The same night. with extreme toll and dif;culx nn5
he supefintendence OF It. Tower engineers and lien,
Ladey ordnance, an snch howitzer was pu in pos;,;o
tue Ser and opposite 10 the enemys right bateYv
detachment Of four companies, under Major Rnrnb.n
view ok volunteers, performed this creditable service
wneh enabled Lieut. Ripley. ID artillery in charge of IN.
piece 10 open timely iiro in that quarter.
Early ON the 18th the columns moved to In. ,.,.I ,
aek' and our success was speady and decisive PlIo,
ge' assuming The right OF the entertainments although
hpeneu 70 elre had the effect have stated
wgsss division, storming the strong and wits, non, Of
Zero Iordo. pierced tho CENTRE gained command 81 III
e ehuenehmens and cut them Off from support As our
infantry Colonel Riley's brgade pushed on ag,;ns, ,L
main body OF the enemy, the guns of their own ori
pdy turned to play on that force (under the immeda,
command OF General Santa Anna,) who fed in confusion
9hieiuss BRIGADE braycly assaung the left carried The
rear battery (hve guDs)on the Jalapa road and add
'ensly IN completing the rout of the enemy
Inc part taken by the remainder OF our forces hold in
reserve 10 support and pursue, has already been notice.
The moment the fate OF the day was decided ,h go,
n.y. and laylors and Wallis field batteries were nushed On
towards Jaapa IN advance OF the pursuing column. of in
division and the brigade of Shields NOV
under Col Baker)-and Major Gen Patterson yv,s ~, -,
take command OF them. In the hot pursuit many Me,i
cans were captured or slain before men and horses
were exhausted by the heat and distance
The rout proves TO have been complete-tbe ,s,.,,,
army ehcePta small body OF cavalry, being dispersed and
utterly disorganiIed The immediate consequences have
oeen our possession OF this important CITY, the
OF the works and artillery La Hoya the u.,t formdh
pass between Vera Cruz and the capital and ,h n,,
occupation by Woh's division OF the fortress of Peroe
(second only To San Juan de UOaj with is e.,ens;v.
mament Of sixty six guns and mortars and ia I,,g
plies OF material! To General Worlds report annoyed
refer for details. u
have heretofore endeavored TO do Justice IN tho ~
courage with which the attack on the height of Ger, c.
co was directed and executed naming the regiments most
snnsushed and their commanders under the lead of Col
Harney. Lieut. Il w Smith led the engineer comn,nv ,s
part OF the stomiug force and noticed with dis,inco
The reports of this assault make favorable mention f
many lnwhch can we'll concur having witnessed the dar
ing advance and perfect steadness the whole Besides
those already named, Lieut. Brooks Sd infantry Lieut Ma.
donald I'd Dragons Lieut. Vandorn. 9Th inany-all act,
ing stah oihcers-Cap Maguder LIST artillery and Liep,
gardner, h infantry seem have especial nrei.
Col Riley's brigade and Taco's rocket and boy;,za,
battery were engaged and about the heights and bore
active part WV
The brigade CALAMITY led by General Shields and NJ
ter hs fall by Colonel Baker deserves high commend.on
for It's fine behavior and Colonies Foreman and
burnett, and MsJsr Harris commanded the resiments
Lieut. Hammond Sd artillery, and Lieut. Davis Illinois
volunteers. constituted the brigade staff These opera,ons
ma from my vewby intervening hills were not fully known
when my first report hastily written.
Bngadler General Twiggs, who was in the immediate
command OF all the advanced forces has earned high credit
by his Judgment, spirit, and energy.
The conduct OF Colonies Campbell Hatk,u and wvn
keep commanding the regiments OF Pillows brigade il re-
ported IN terms OF strong appreciation by Major General Pat
lerson' recommend Tor commission, QuaTetmaster
sergeant Henry OF the 9Th infantry aready known to the
army Tor inepdiy on former occasons who hauled down
the national standard of the Mexican fort
In expressing Indebtedness for able assistance TO Ii
Col Hitchcock, acting inspector general TO Majors Smub
and lurnbu the respective chiefs of engineers and topo
graphical engneersto their Lieutsnants Mason
Bea1regard, Stevens, Tower, G. w Smith Mcclellan en-
gneers and Lieutenants Derby and Hardcaste tpopra
phica eneneers-io Captain Allen. chief quatermaser
and Lieut. Blair chief commisstry-nnd TO Leuenants
Hagner and Laidley, ordnsnce-all actively empoyed-I
am impeed TO make special mention OF the services of
Capt Lee engineers. This officer greatly Distinguish
ed at the siege OF Vera Cruz again dur
ing these operations roconnoi.sances daring as ab
nous, and OF the utmost value Nor he less conspcu
Gus IN planting batteries, and In conduct NC columns 10
their stations under tho heavy fire Of the enemy
My personal staff Leuts Scott Williams and Law and
MAJOR van BnTen. who volunteered for the occasion gave
me jealous ana efficient assistance.
Our whole force present. in and in reserve was
$500; the enemy estimated 10000 more About
5000 prisoners, 5000 stands OF arms and 43 pieces
OF artillery taken. BY the accompanying return
regret find loss severe than az fret
amounting in two days 80 officers aud 39s men-in ali
43l, OF whom 90 were killed The enemys loss is com
puted TO be from | 900 to l 200.
lam happy IN communicating strong hopes for the re-
covery OF the gallant Gen. Shields who is 90 much inn
proved as have been brought to this place.
have the honor % remain sir, with high respect your
most obedient servant WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon. VIZ L. MARCY, Secretary Of War.
Commissioned