Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
FROM rmr- y. o. TINES, NOV. IL.
BATTLE OF HUAMANTLA.


to use the language of the friend to whose kind at
tentiOns arc indebted for it, ''fesh from the bat
Slc ield":
On the evening of October the Sth, the train halt
ed at hacienda two and 4 half leagues from Nopa
Iuca the General sent out spy tothe town of HUI
amantla that night, having received information
that General Santa Anna had gone thither during
the day before. The next morning he returned and
reported that the Cavalry of the enemy had left the
town, leaving behind six pieces of artillery Or
doris were Immediately issued for the Cavalry un-
der Capt Walker, Col. Gorman's Regiment,
Major I.aly's Battalion, Colonel Wnkoops Regi
mcnt. Capt. Taylor's Battery, and Capt. Hei,zle-
mans Battalion, to be in readiness TO march for the
town, leaving the train with about 100 men and
two pieces of artillery, under the command of Col
Brough.
At | 1 O'Clock the whole moved off in fine style.
The cavalry ordered to keep some distance in
the advance. We had gone about two miles,
when Capt Walker determined to push ON at
gallop and surprise the enemy for miles the cava-
~ moved at 4 very rapid pace, until we reached
The outskirts of the town, when Capt. Walker gave
orders to form fours and close up he then entered
very narrow lane, both sides of which were lined
with thick .blagney, narrow in many places that
the sets OF fours had to be broken, and the column
moved by twos On we went at trot, until the lane
opened into the main street leading to the Plaza
when, in column of fours, the order was given TO
dra,o sabres and charge Then rose n wild veil,
and such charge! the flashing of the sabres the
laundering of the horses feet the paved streets
were enough 10 strike into the hearts of the
enemy. Two of their cannon were pointed up the
street, another pointed down street, and the
fuse was burning in it. The terrified artlllerymen
moved merely to the sides of the houses at whom
our men made their thrusts and right and left cuts
killing many in this manner; the cavalry rushed
over their cannon, the Lancers chow many we did
M kpo,y huf SuDnncpl fhnrn tbroo
hundred fled our men, separating into small par
tics, pursued them beyond the town, the outskirts
of which good many were killed Captain Walk
or went beyond the town for the purpose OF ovcrta
king the artillery which had left the place. Cap
tain LOWS went in another direction for the same
purpose. Capt B6sancon ordered to follow
the road to see if the artillery could be overaken
In the meantime, the most of our men having gone
in pursuit, Captain Loyal, with few men, assist
cd by Adj. Claiborne, secured some fifty or sixty
prisoners at their quarters, together with their
arms, SC. Lieut.. Claiborne then proceeded to Sc
and bring up to the plaza the cannon 6 pieccs)
we had captured. Capt. Walker returned about
this time, and going to tho plaza was collecting our
men. Lit Anderson, of the Ga. Vols. pursued and
captured Major lturbdc and Col La Vega, Ca bro
ther of the Generals, } and Lieutenant: these he
delivered to Capt. Walker. Lieut. Claiborne, as
sisted by Corporal Hcsock, and private Myers, and
one two others, limbcred up the 6-pounder and
brought it to the plaza Leaving it limbercd up,
and the mules standing in it, and returning to get
the four FOUNDER, the Lieutenant was in the act of
bringing up when he was forced to leave it by the
appearance of all Santa Annals cavalry $500
strong. Corporal Tilghman, of company c. Ri
files, brought up 4 small howtzer. Private Due
senbery, of company G, took Lieutenant of ariil-
lory prisoner and turned him over to Surgeon Rey-
nolds. BY this time good many of our men had
returned, and in the plaza in scattered groups
when the Lancers charged them suddenly and un-
cxpectedy. Our men received them with great
bravery, and kept the plaza, with the exception of
n few under Capt Walker, who retired by street
leading West from tho plaza they joined by
Lieut.. Claiborne and his party, who were approach
ing the square. Capt. Walker led them from the
plaza-the enemy close on them at charge no
returned the next street to his left, while the enc
N.Y. seeing the 4-pounder, rushed to it TO retake it.
Fortunately for the few men with Capt. Walker
they saw this piece for at the very next corner a
still larger force met him he wheeled, and dashing
swiftly past the rear of those who had cut him off
from the plaza again entered 1t. Here the men
dsmounted and occupied the Convent yard, togeth-
or with large house on the corner OF the square.
Capt Lewis and Lieut. Waters, with some ten
or twelve men, charged twice upon the enemy,
who gave way, and were pursuing them when
they discovered they were being surrounded by
vast number Of the lancers They CALAMITY forced
their way TO the plaza. Capt. Besancon barely re-
turned in time TO save himself
ITlVdlG I1uOcHen anu cOII'Oidi vi w.
c., Rifles. being entirely surrounded, drove rghin-
to their midst, and fell covered with wounds.
Capt. Walker gave his orders promptly TO form
the men to receive the enemy, who now made their
appearance our right, iii front, and on our left
They had also run up the 4pounder 10 open on us.
Lieut.. Claiborne, assisted by Corporal TiIghman,
unlimbered the 6-pounder and pointed it at the
Iumn our left Having port fire he prepared
to fire it with a pistol The enemy came nearer
IL
they halted. AT this moment the Lieutenant fred
the pistol, but the fuse of the cannon would not
catch, and being left alone in the plaza, he retired
to ahe corner house, and posted some rillcmen to
keep the piece from Te-capture. AT this juncure
Captain Walker, while examining the approach of
the enemy, and looking at the A FOUNDER on our
right, was shot from behind from house that dis
played white flag. He sunk down Immediately,
ana was borne into the yard, the men bursting into
Gears as the cry spread among them, Captain
Walkers killed." Capt. Walker directed that
we should "never surrender" and died in about
thirty minutes. Capt. Lewis made detail ofsix
men, who went out and brought the 6pounder and
placed it at the gate. The enemy menaced us a
long time and fred the FOUNDER six or eight times
loaded with grape, one Of which discharges shater
ed the leg Of Frederick Haborg, Capt. WIS inter
preter, and private of company G.. Seeing the
determination of men, they hesltated, fatered
and fell back. Capt. Lewis formed the after
Walker fell, and by his energy and address assisted
materially to suppress disorder.
Lieut.. Lilly distinguished himself by his daring.
Surgeon Lamar in the first charge by the side
Of Walker, was in the Plaza when the charge was
made. and was saved by the devoted act OF Capt
Walkers slave, David, who caught at the lance
aimed at him and received it himself. He died in
few minutes. He was honest and faithful, and
n favorte of his noble master. Gin death they
were not divided"
The Infantry came up as the enemy were reti
ring. Col. Gorman's being the only portion OF the