Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-10-19

Tue DeSL Mexican cavalry. On our lett we
were separated from our own forces by an al
most impossible wilderness and it was now
twilight. Even Smith looked round for help.
Suddenly thousands uiuas came across the
hillside, like the yell of prairie wolves in the
dead OF night and the squadrons on our right
formed for charging. Smiths himself againi--
'Eace to the REAR" "Wait till YOU see their
red caps and then give it to them'' Furiously
they came on few yards, then changed their
minds and disguised at our cool reception, re-,
tired to their couches. Onthe edge of the road
between us and Valencia, Mexican hamlet
spread out with its mud huts, large orchards,
deep cut roads and a strong church, and thro'
the centre of this hamlet ran path porallel to
the main road, but concealed from it: itisnear-
ly mile long. In this road Smiths and Ri
ley's brigade spent the night. Shields, who
came up in the night, lay in the orchard, while
Cadwallader was the nearest the enemys works.
AS we were within range of their batteries,
which coulde nfilade the road in which we lay,
we built stone breastwork at either end to
conceal ourselves from their view and grape
There we were, completely surrounded by the
enemy, cut off from our communications, ig-
norant of the ground, without artillery weary,
dlspirited and detected, we were dishearten-
ed set. WithSanta Annals and Salas's prom
Use OF 'no quarter, force of four to one agsinst
us, and one half defeated already, no succor
from Pueba and no news from Gen. Scott, all
seemed dark Suddenly the words came whisp-
cred along, ''aCe storm at midnight" Now we
areourselves again! But what horrible night.
There we lay-too tired to eat, too wet to
sleep, in the middle of that muddy road, of
ficers and men side by side, with heavy rain
pouring down upon us, the officers without
blankets or overcoats (they had lost them in
coming across and the men worn out with ia
tigue. About midnight the rain was so heavy
that the streams in the road flooded us, and
there we stood crowded together, drenched and
bennmed, waiting till daylight. At half past
three the welcome word ''fall i'm was passed
down and we commenced our march.
The enemy's works were on a hill side, be-
hind which rose other and slightly higher hills
separated by deep ravines and gullies and in
tersected by streams The whole face of the
country was of stiff clay which rendered it al
most impossible to advance. We formed our
line about quarter of mile from the enemy's
works, Riley's brigade on our right. AT about
a we started, winding through thick orchard
which effectually concealed us, even had it not
been dark, debouching into deep ravine which q.
ran within about 500 yards of the work and
which carried us directly in rear and out of
sight OF their batteries. At dawn of day we
reached our place after incredible exertions,
and got ready for our charge. The men threw
off their wet blankets and looked to their pie
ces, while the officers got ready for a rush. and
the first smile that lit up our faces for twelve
hourse BODIED but little good for the Mexicans.
On the right and opposite the right OF their
work was Rileys brigade of the I'd and LIST in
fantry and 9TH artillery, next the Rifles, then
the LIST artillery and 3D. infantry. In the rear
on our left was Cadwallader's brigade, as a sup
port, with Shields brigade in rear as reserve,
the whole division under command of General
Smith in the absence of General Twi6s-.- They.
had smooth place to rush down on the enc
my's work, with the brow of the hill to keep
under until the word was given.
At last just at daylight Gen. Smith slowly
walking up asked if all was ready. A look
answered him. "Mcn, forloard" And we
did forward Springing up at once Rileys
brigade opened, when the crack OF hundred
rifles startled the Mexcans from their aston
ishment and they opened their fire. Useless
fire, for we were so close that they overshotus,
and before they could turn their pieces on us,
we were on them. Then such cheers arose as
you never heard. The men rushed forward
like demons, yelling and firing the while. The
carnage was frightful, and though they fired
sharply it was ofno use. The earthen parapet
was clared in an instant, and the blows oil the
stocks could be plainly heard mingled with the
yells and groans around. Just before the charge
was made, large body of lancers came winding
up the road, looking most splendidly in their
brilliant uniforms. They never got to the
work, but turned and fled. In an instant all
was one mass of confusion, each trying to be
foremost in the flight The road was lit
orally blocked up, and while many perishedb by
their own guns, it was almost impossible to fire
on the mass, from the danger of killing our own
men. Some fled up the ravine on the left, or
on the right, and many Of these were slain by
turning their own guns on them. Toward the
city the Rifles and the I'd Infantry led of the
pursuit. Seeing that large crowd OF the tug
itives were jammed up in pass in the road,
some Of our men ran through cornfeld, and
by thus heading them OF and firing down Up
on them about 80 men took over 500 prisoners
nearly hundred of them officers. After dis
arming the prisoners, as the pursuit had ceased,
we went back to the fort, where wefound our
troops in full possession and the route COM
plete.
We found that the enemy's position was
much stronger than we supposed, and their ar
tillery much larger and more abundant. Our
own loss was small, which may be accounted
for by their perfect surprise at our charge as to
them we appeared as if rising out of the earth,
SO unperceived was our approach. Our loss
was one officer killed, Captain Hanson Of the
9TH Infantry and Lieut.. Van Buren, of the Ri
fles, shot through the Leg and about fifty men
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