Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-09-29
the ravages Of Wnr: have created resources
in the midst of the insulation to which Inc

-ssSssEsaz. Essuaszzzs
the ravages Of wnr: have created resources 1
in the midst of the insulation to which the |
Government was reduced, and no labor, no !
fatigue have spared in order that my coun-
try might present itself with dignity and
lirmness in the struggle to which it had
been so unjustly provoked.
In war, nero accident, apparently the
most insignificant triAe, may Illustrate the
best formed combinations. A glance at The
defences which established around the CT
| ty is enough to discover the plan which
had proposed to myself. The forces which
| had advanced by one flank were supported
on the other, were suitably arranged in es-
chelons, and had u convenient and we'll
known ground open for retreat. A certain
General Valencia who was in communal
CT a strong division, consisting of 5000 men
and % pieces of artillery, whose headquar
tiers were in the village of San Angel, or
dered on the 18th, at IL o'clock in the NOR
ming, to fall back to the village of Coyoa
can, intending by this to concentrate the
forces, in order to meet the movements al
ready exhibited by the enemy, and to de-
velope promptly my plan of operations.
But this General, forgetting tnat there can
not be two commanders. chief in the field
of batt!e-forgetting that the execution o.
! plan will not admit of observations that
render nugatory, permitted himself to OBJ
]ect to the orders which he had received;
and as oil obedience and discipline so esseti-
tlal in military matters had thus been bnn-
lshed from between us, il became necessary,
for ,he evadng of greater evils which may
be readily toreseen, to tolerate what to con-
sent to would appear an absurdity, and thus.
in spite Of myself, was forced to let him
go on charging him with all the responsible
lily Of the result was fatal He moved for
ward motu propio for more than u league to
choose a position whence he could 60 out to
meet the enemy, without informing me in
the least, either of the movement or of his
designs. His refusal to comply with my
; directions was the first notice that find Of
his temerity; and Immediately the explosion
of cannon pointed out his position, and ut
the same time gave me TO understand that
he had engaged with the enemy. Altho'
: oppressed with the presentiment Of what
f was about to take place, Immediately put
myself at the head Of brilliant brigade OF
= 1000 men and five pieces of artillery. ar
5 rived at the moment when considerable
force of the enemy had gained the rear of
the unfortunate Generals positions; and
scarcely could | check their operations be-
: cause it was already near nj ght
But noted with the most profound grief
: that his position was an isolated one, that
r there was a large barranca between US, thu,
3 the enemy occupied an intermediate wood
t that the force of my immediate command
: could not advance by the only route left ope'
r without compromising themselves in the
:, same manner as the other had done, it was
only by battery which arrived late upon
the field that anything could be accomplish
ed. The fire having ceased, our br! guide
z took up It's quarters III the adjoining village
d OF San Angel: for the rain fell in such tor
= rents that to have kept troops ont in the
field would have been as much as to insure
: their defeat.
: Before this, however, directed my aid
x de-camp, Col. Ramiro, to 60 round / he heae
s OF the terrible barranca that lay in our front
o and by way Of the skirt Of distant hill
}, guided by the deputy. ID. Jose Maria de
e Rio, who was we'll acquainted with tn
ground, to hasten at the top of his speed t.
l. the camp of the said General, and give hin
If the most positive orders to spike his artille
It ry, which it was no longer possible to save
g and to fall back that very night upon Sa
If Angel with his infantry and cavalry, by tn
J. cid .de-camp did. communicating my order
st between-lo and | O'Clock ut night; but in
stead Of yielding implicit obedience, til
J. said General would hardly allow my Aid t
20 speak, interrupting him with his want.
% which were 5000 men and munitions; an,
finally be sent him away with two otfici,
reports, signed and sealed, in one of whic
he states, that on the previous evening b
1t had beaten the enemy--putting him to 9
|, shameful flight, and that, in consequence
he had granted promotion to generals CHIEF
l. and officers.
It On the following morning again az
l. peafed in the same field. reinforced by
Il brigade which had ordered from the cap
Is tai, with the desi gn of forcing the Pass q
< every haz ard but when l was commoncn
n my operations the enemy made their attack
1t 1t lasted ten minutes; and.l witnessed il
the midst Of despair the defeat of those sol
i dlers deserving Of n better fate, who wer
lie unfortunately commanded by general VIII
r, had cut himself off from assistance.
e The consequences of this defeat were t,
s me terrible; the enemy, by rapid move
II nent' could now arrive at the capital befor
Of 1t could be possibly succored; he could, b
re a flank movement, cut off nv detachments
J. he could. from the result of his victory
j. bring the whole mass of his forces to bea
IS upon part of mine; and, in fine, from tn
h INSTRUMENTATION and want of skill Of sin
It gle general, lie turned to his own account al
n the advantages Of my position.
Of The strong advance work Of San Antoni
could not be defended because our line ha
1t been cut; and directed that the garrison
IS should withdraw while l was covering tn
ir fort and tete de pont of Churubusco. TIL
lie enemy advanced, and cutting off q part G
y the troops that were in retreat, presentc,
'e himself in front of our most advanced in
Y. trenchments. Here l agein put myself a
l. the head of our soldiers, and my efforts cos
the enemy the loss of no little blood Gu
losses. though lamcntable, were the natura
consequence OF sudden retreat, occasion
= ed by surprise, and embarrassed by tn
r. trains which were passing along the marrow
u causeway. hanksd throughout its whole ex
r tent. The defence was from line to line
q until arriving at third line, where !, in per
nE> -