The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-09-23

quiet possession Of San A1suslin. Our
only loss during this day was one nan.
soldier OF Smiths light battalion, Who
was wounded from corn field near X
chimi,e.
AZ o'clock on the morning o the 18th.
Gen. Scott arrived al san huIuslin, md
al 10 O'Clock General Worth vas n 6!ll
march for tho c,ty Of Mexico by the main
road. Majors Smlh and TuruluIl. Cap.
tam Mason, and Other engineer officers,
we're sen, in advance, supported by Capt.
Blake's squadron Of dragons to rcconroi.
ire, as It was known that tie enemy wciu
in force Of or or near San Antonio. The
party, when within thousand yards, Wa
/ fred upon from a battery, which s8g
masked BY trees, and the FRS, bell from
l2Pounder instantly killed Capt Thornion,
Of the I'd DragooeDs, besides scyoftly
wounding a guide, Jonathan fl,zwaltets.
Col. Garland's brigade vas now ordered
10 occupy the hacienda Of C9uera, within
i PLAIN sight and range of he cnemys taf-
teries al San Antonio, While Col. Duncan
took station in The rear close BE-. The
engineer officers were at once sen, cut 10
recouaoitre by Gen. ouh, to ascertain
the prHclicabiliiy Of turning the strong
works Of the enemy. and N the mcln tine
Gen Scott had despatched Capt Lee,
with q supporting party, composed Of Capt.
/ I<earney's squadron aud a body Of the lIf,l
Infantry under Colonel Graham, 10 nscef-
tam tie praclicabE'y of finding a told
by which San Angel could be feeehed,
ard tins turn the stronghold at san Aato-
MO. This latter party had a sharp en-.
countre with the advance Of the enemy,
the main body being found posted at a
strong point not far from the factory Of
Couleiaa. In the satrmish some six or
eight Me7lcans were killed and as many
more taken prIsoHeTs--Cn our side cot a
man was touched. The result Of The re.
connoisance proved favorable. II was as.
certaired that a road could be made which
would enable The army 10 reach San
Augel, and bus turn tho strong batteries
Of Sun Au'en.a, pnl perhaps others the
euemy might ave upon the road between
tia! aud tie cry Of 'leS;co. The hexi-
cans were plainly seen 10 force at q CON.
handing posIiounear Cogeros, and il was
evident that they he'd number Of caanon
in position; but at council held nj night,
i, vas determined upon to attack them tbs
following day.
In the meantime, while this rocounois-
sauce was IN progress, Gen, Worth had
established his headquarters G the hacien.
ia Of Carrcra, While from the windows
countless Numbers Of the enemy cou'd be
seen a. work upon the batteries Of San
Antonio. About noon they opened upon
the hacienda with round SHOT and she'll.
nearly every enc Of which took effect, tut
without doing any other injury lhan 10 the
building. Late ia the evening" The Laa0.
rios again opened, la; sikh 10 other result
Tran showing The position Of the guns.
Fora marvel the batteries were silsnt during
thenlght. Had the &c been kept Up, the ha.
cIenda might have been torn IN pieces and
the entire command compelled to retire.
Before goin, further, Il may be well &c
state theI the city of Mexico lies about
nine miles nearly north Of San Augustln;
that San Antonio is about three miles in
the same direction, while the polat occu-
pied by Gen. ' alencla, near CouteFas, for
ha had command at that place, Is It least
three miles ia q straight line, and IN dIrecs
ton nearly west. Il was ten miles the way
many OF our troops had to march, for you
cacnol imagine more rough, uneven end
ngged surface.
+ At o'clock on the morning Of the 10th
the batteries gain opened on Gen. Worh's
position nj the hacienda near San Antonio
the balls crushing through the wells and
fHug the rooms with fragments Of plaster
and broken furniture. Shells also burst in
the air over the building aud the poces
dropped among the men stationed IN The
rear. So hot was the fire that the troops
were obliged to gam sheler behind the
building, but still did not give up the posi-
ton. About 8 o'clock the division Of Gems.
Pillow and Twiggs were ordered to advance
in the direction Of Coulreras and BY IN
the afternoon we're 10 plain sight o.! the
enemy's batteries, and within range Of his
heavier guns. The brigade Of Gen. P.
F. Smith was ordered to advance directly
towards the enemy's works, while that OF
Col. Riley moved towards a small village
to the right, with orders to gain the main
road and thus be enabled TO cot oil any re.
Inducements which might be sent to Va.
lencia from the city. An incessOnt firing
of cannon was opened upon the advance OF
Gen. Smith, and soon the Rifles we're GU
gagged in skirmishes with the pcketa OF the
enemy and driving ,hemin. The - poun-
der battery Of Capt. Magruder was press
ed forward with all speed, as was also tho
rocket and mountain ho~lrzer battery now
commanded by Lieut.. Calender, Of the
Ordnance Department As soon as they
could gam position they opened upon the
enemy but were so exposed TO q FIRE from
heavier guns that they were soon seneed.
Lit. johnson, of the lst Artillery, but at.
tached to Magruder's battery, was MORALLY
wounded, while Lieut., Calender was st.
yeteIy wounded IN both legs. At O.
clock the brigade Of Gen. Cadwalader was
ordered out to support Col. Riley, heavy
reinforcements being seen on their way out
, from the city, while Gen. Pierces brigade