The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-12

mountain howtzers mounted upon carriages construct
ed especially for field prairie service and drawn by
horses each These were commanded by Lieuts. f.. +.
Chouteau and II. d. Evans and manned by some TWEEN
ty conduct in this action cannot be too much
commended.
Capt Weghtman charged at full gallop upon the enc
my's left, preceded by Capt Reid and his company
horse and after crossing ravine some hundred and
fifty wards from the enemy he the guns with
in fifty yards of the entrenchment and opened de.
structve fire Of canister into his ranks, which
warmly returned, but without effect Capt. Weight
man again advanced upon the Entertainments, passing
through 1t in the face Of the enemy and within few
feet Of the ditches and In the midst of fires from
three directions again opened his fire to the right and
left with such effect, that with the formidable
charge of the cavalry and dismounted of your
regiment and Lieut.. Col Mitchell's escort the enc
my driven from the brcastworks our right
in great confusion At this time, under heavy
fire from the battery Of four FOUNDERS under Lieus
Dorm, Krbben and Labeaume, upon the enemys right,
supported by Major Gpin on the left and the wagon
train by two companies Of infantry under Cap
tains f.. f. Glasgow and Skman in the Major Gil
pin charged upon the enemys centre and forced him from
his entrenchments under heavy fire of artillery and
small arms At the same time the fire Of bat
terry opened upon the enemy extreme right from
which continued IRE had been kept up upon line
and tho wagon train. Two Of the enemy 8 guns were
dismounted their right that battery senc-
ed and the enemy disodged from the redoubt the
the purpose Of outaanking our left and attacking the
merchant train under Capt Glasgow again opened up
shot which cleared the left our line The
enemy vacating his entertainments and deserving his
gum, holly the mountains beyond
Cerro Frioes and down Arroyo Seco la Sacramento by
both wings Of the army under Lieut. Colonel Mitchell
Lieut.. Colonel Jackson and Major Gpin, and by Capt
Weghtman with the section Of howitzcrs During this
pursuit my officers repeatedly opened their fires upon
the retreang enemy with great effect. To this
flight of the enemys forces from the entrenched camp
the heaviest Of his had been taken from the
trcnchments to the Cerro Sacramento and heavy fire
opened upon our pursuing forces and the wagons follow
to anticipate your order to that effect by at
plying the nearest Of the enemy's entrenchments.
1875 yards distant and notwithstanding the elevated
position ofthe Mexican battery, giving him plunging
fire into my cntrcnchment which not defladed and
the greater range Of his long nine FOUNDERS the
Of guns dsmouned Of his largest pieces and the
fire was kept with such briskness and precision Of
aim that the battery was silenced and the enemy
prec pitatey retrcating. The fire then
tinued upon the Rancho Sacramento and the enemy's
ammunition and wagon train retrcang upon the road to
Chihuahua. BY their fire the house and several wag-
rendered untenabe and useless. BY this time
Lieut. Col Mitchell had scaled the hill followed by the
section Of howitzers under Capt Weghtman, and the
last position Of the Mexican forces taken possession
OF by troops; thus leaving the American forces
masters of the field Having senced the fire from Ger
Sacramento battery was removed into the plain
at the rancho where gained the road and were in
pursuit Of the enemy when received your order to re-
turn and encamp within the enemys entertainments for
the night From the time Of first opening my fire upon
the Mexican cavalry to the cessation of the firing upon
the rancho and battery OF about three
hours and during the whole time Of the action take
the utmost pleasure in stating that ecer and
Of my did his duty with cheerfulness GOODNESS
and precision which Is sufficiently shown by the admir-
able effect produced by their FIRE the great Of
their aim their expedition and ingenuity In supplying
deficiencies in the field during tho action, and the
prompt management Of their piccesrendered still
remarkable from the fact that had, during the fight
less than wothrds the number Of cannoners generally
required for the service Of light artillery and but
of the twelve artillery carriages belonging to my battery
harnessed with horses the remaining eight carriages
being harnessed to mules Of the country During the
day my sta Of the grca test serviceAdjuant Leo
ID. Walker having been sent with the howitzers, and
the commissioned officers remaining with to
assist in the service Of the battery In this action
the troops under your command have captured
nine FOUNDER mounted cheek trail carriage one
FOUNDER sixpounder, and four FOUNDER
guns, all mounted on new stock-trail carriages.
These pieces manufactured In Chihuahua, ex-
cept the six FOUNDER, which Ia old Spanish piece.
Three of the ourpounders made ut the mint in
Chihuahua. Seven Of the ten pieces were spiked
but have been unspiked since their capture four of
these rendered unscrvceable in the action; one
entirely dsmounted seized by my Adjutant whilst
in the act Of being dragged from the field by the
ing enemy There also taken two pieces artl-
lcry mounting three wall pieces Of one and half inch
calibre each and these formidable weapons upon
charging force With these twelve pieces of artillery
taken due proportion Of ammunition i'm ts
harness. mules and they may be rendered servcabc
by being properly repaired and Manned for which pur-
pose would ask for further reinforcement Of my
mand 1t is with feelings Of gratitude TO the Ruler Of all
man Of my command has been hurt, nor any animals,
with the exception Of horse killed Lieut. Dorm
chief OF the first cction Of sixpound guns and Of
mule belonging To the United States shot under OF
the cannonners neither has gun other carriage Of
my battery been touched except In instance when
nincpound ball struck the tire Of wheel without pro-
ducing injury This IL fact worthy Of notice that so
little damage done TO n command greatly exposed TO
the encmys fire. and Of itself made point Of attack by
the enemy, may 30 judge by the showers OF cannon
and other shot constantly poured into a long as the
enemy continued to occupy his position might osl