The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-11-27

ry is the recapture, in the works, by Capt. Drum
4th artillery, under Major Gardner. Of the bras
six Founders, taken from another company Of th,
same regiment, though without the loss ofhdnor
at the glorious battle of Buena Vista. about whicl
guns the whole regiment had mourned fors SO rnany
long months! Coming up, little later, Ihat
the happiness to join in the protracted cheers o
the gallant 4th, on the joyous event; and, indeed
the whole army sympathlzes in its just pride ane
exultation.
d The battle being won before the advancing bri
gades of Worths and Quitman's divisions were II
sight, both were ordered back to their late positions
Worth, TO attack San Aptonio in front, with hi,
whole force, as soon as approached in the rear BY
Pillows and Twiggs' divisions; moving from Con
treras, through San Angel and Coyoacan. B,
carrying San Antonio, we knew that we should
open another, shorter and better road to the cap
tai, for our siege aud other trains.
Accordingly, the two advanced divisions and
Shields brigade marched from Contreras, under
the immediate orders OF Major Gen. Pillow, wld
was now joined by the gallant Brig. Gen. Pierce
of his division, personally thrown out OF activity
late the evening before, by severe hurt received
from the fall of his horse.
Alter giving necessary orders on the field, in
the midst of prisoners and trophies, and sending
instructions to Harne7's brigade Of cavalry, left al
San Augustin, to join me, personally followed
Pillows movement
Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by cross
road, from the rear of San Antonio, first de-
tached Capt Lee, engineer, with Capt Kearney's
troop, LIST dragons, supported by the rifle regi.
ment under Major Loring, to reconnoilre that
strong point; and next despatched Major Gen
Pillow, with one Of his brigades, (Cadwalader's) s.
to make the attack upon it, in concert with Major
Gen. Worth, on the opposite side.
AT the same time, by another road TO the left,
Lieut.. Stevens, of the engineers, supported by
Lieut. G. w. Smiths company of sappers and
miners OF the same corps, was sent To reconnoitre
the strong fortified church or convent of San Pab-
10, in the hamlet of Churubusco, one mile of.
Twggs, with one of his brgades (Smith's--less
the rifies) and Capt. Taylur's field battery, were
ordered to follow and attack the convent Major
Smith, senior engineer, was despatched to con-
cert with Twiggs the mode and means of attack,
and Twiggs' other brigade (Riley's) l soon order
ed up to support him.
Next (but all in ten minutes) sent Pierce Cus,
able to keep the saddle) with his brigade (Pillow
division) conducted by Capt Lee, engineer, by a
third road, little farther TO our left, to attack
the enemy's right and rear, in order 10 favor the
movement upon the convent, and cut off the re.
treat towards the capital And, finally, Shields,
senior brigader to Pierce, with the N. York and
South Carolina volunteers, (Quitman's division)
was ordered TO follow Pierce, closely, and to take
the command of our left wing. All these move.
ments were made with the utmost alacrity by our
gallant troops and commanders
Finding myself at Coyoacan, from which SO
many roads conveniently branched without es-
cort or reserve, had to advance for safety, close
upon Twggs' rear. The battle nDw ragged from
The right ia the left OF our whole line.
Learning on the return Of Capt. Lee, that Shields,
IN the rear OF Churubusco, was hard pressed, and
n danger OF being outtlanked, if not overwhem-
I'd, by greatly superior numbers, Immediately
ent, under Maj Sumner, I'd Dragons, the rifles
Twiggs reserve) and Capt. Sbey's troop, I'd dra.
rooms, then at hand, TO support our left, guided by
he same engineer.
About half all hour earlier. Worth had, by skill
ul and daring mo Vements upon the front and right
uTned and forced San Antonio--its garrison no
loubt, much shaken by our decisive victory at
tontreras.
His second brigade (Col Clark's) conducted by
capt. Mason, engineer, assisted by Lieut.. Hardcas-
lie, Typographical engineer, turned the right, and
y wide sweep came out upon the high road to
he capital At this point the heavy garrison
3 5000 men) IN retreat was, by Clarke cut in the
entire, one portion, the rear. driven upon Dolores
III to the right; and the other upon Churubusco,
the direct line OF our operations. The first
rigade (Col. Garland's) same division, consisting
f the "a artillery, under Maj, Gait, the Sd arte-
y, under Lieut.. Col. Belton, and the 4th infantry
Commanded by Major +. Lee, with Lieut. Colo.
el Duncan's field battery Temporarily followed
pursuit through town. taking one genera al prison.
r, the abandoned guns, Give pieces, much am
mutton, and other public property.
The fdrcing of San Antonio was the second bril-
liant event of the day.
Worths division being soon reunited in hot pur-
uit, he was ordered by Major General Pillow who,
marching from Coyoacan and discovering that San
Antonio had been carried, Immediately turned to
he left, according to my instructions, and, though
much impeded by bitches and swamps, fastened
20 the attack of Churubusco.
The hamlet of scattered houses, bearing this
name, presented, besides the fortified convent, a
strong field-work (tete de pont) with regular bas-
lions and curtains, at the head of bridge over
which the road passes from San Antonio to the
capitol.
Tne whole remaining forces of Mexico--some
$4,000 men-cavalry, artillery, and infantry, COL
ected from every quarter-were now in, Oh the
Hanks or within supporting distance of, those
works, and seemed resolved tp make a last and
desperate stand; for if beaten here the ieebler de-
ences at the gates pf the city-four miles ofI--
could not, as was well known TO both parties, delay
he victors an hour. The capitol of an ancient en-
2ire, now of great republic; or an early peace,
The assailans were resolved to win. Not an Amer
we were less than third Of the enemy
---had any doubt as to the result
The fortified church or convent, hotly pressed
BY Twiggs, had already held out about an hour,
when Worth and Pillow---.the latter having with
aim only Cadwalader's brigade.---bc ia manGu-
vre closely upon the tee de pOnt, with the convent
At half gunshot, TO their left. Garlands brigade,
Worth's divison,) to which had been added the
light battalion under Lieut.. Col. Smith, continued
% advance in front, and under the tire of long
inc Of infantry, off on the left of the brigade; and
Clarke, of the same division, directed his brigade
llong the road or close by its side. Two Of Pill
ow's aud Cadwaladers regiments, the 1lth and
I4th, supported and participated in this direct
movement: the other (the voltigeurs) was left in
eserves Most of these curps.---and particularly
Clarke brigade-.-advancing perpendicularly,w
made to suffer much by the fire Of the tete de pont
md they would have suffered greatly more by flank
attacks from the convent, but for the pressure of
rwiggs OH the other side of that work. .
The well-combined and daring movements at
ength reached the principal point of attack, and