Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-20

embark u.s. and strong enough detach largely
for that purpose AT this uncture Gen Shess aid arrived
reported that the General near the other side OF
the ravne. with the South Carolina and New York voun
teers These two regiments directed TO bold Enceda
the village and cut off the of the troops from Con-
treras, 1.-THE camp, take his large in flank, if
changed front the right to attack towards Coneras the
camp At precisely o'clock in the morning Of the goth,
the troops commenced their march II had raned all night
and the had lain in the mud, without fire. and suffering
from cold II rained now and dark that object SIX
feet of could not be The ordered to keep
within touch OF each other, that the could not go
asay Lieut. Tower OF the engineers, with Lieut. Brooks,
acting assistant adutant general of the ID DIVISION acting
in my staf had, during the night again recommended the
pass, to assure the pacticaby of the march, Lieut. Tower
accompanied the head of the column, lead il. and Lieut.
Brooks and Lieut. Beauegard, engineers, with at
the head of Gen. Cadwaaders brigade. Col Reys brigade
led Gen. Cadwaaders TO follow and Major Dmick,
with my own BRIGADE at the bead Of which Lieut. IT,
W. Smiths engineer company, closed the The path
narrow full of rocks and mud, and difficult the
march that daybeak before the head OF Cadwaaders
brigade got out Of the village where the path descends the
ravne and as the march by flank, the command was
stretched out thrice its length Haypp ta'lnwea ~ =
the work. the head halted and the closed many
loads that were wet were drawn, and Riley formed
lumns by division.
He thus advanced further up the ravne turning his Left
and rising over the bank, stood fronting the OF the work,
but still sheltered from its fire by slight ACTIVITY before him
Having reformed his ranks he assembled the top Of the hill
and IN full view of the enemy who Immediately opened
a
Throwing out his two first divisions skmshe he rushed
down the slope TO the work. The engineer company and
rifles had been thrown intervening rave under the
brow of the SLOPE and from that position swept in front of
his column and them ncnng towards their left joined in
the attack the troops outside of the left flank of tho fo
In the time Gen. Cadwalader followed the taken
by Riley and forming his columns the troops up,
moved on TO his Riley support The st brigade had been
ordered to follow the but, while w still march
ing in that direction by its right flank up the ravne and
nearly opposite the work. seeing large body of the
its left flank, ordered Major Dimck to face the brigade
the lett and advancing in line, attack this force flank
This done in the finest style, and the ls artillery and 81
infantry mounting the bank of the ravne, rushing down the
next and up its opposite bank met the enemy outside Of the
work just Reys brigade poured into it, and the whole
giving way Cavalry formed in line for the CHARGE yielding
to the bayonets Of foot the complete while Ri
leys brigade cleared the work and planted their coors it,
nIs pieces winch s nS Mhon loss 81 81
nono by company of that very regiment Buena VISTA
Leaving force to collect and guard the captured ordnance,
the pursuit continued down the road.
This, it will be recoected passed not thalf mile
off the garden and house occupied by part of General
Shes brigade placed there intercept the Of the
enemy. This skul and gallant officer, when marched,
had spread his the line had occupied and direct
ed them make fires towards daylight though preparing
their breakfast The enemy in front had, during the night
placed batteries along their line, and in the morning moved
detachments forward to take flank the attack he
meditang the night before, which he preparing to
meesupposing, from the indications he foun that
still In force in the village. When, after daylight, he
column moving Contreras, THE entrenched CAMP and
already prepared turn it, he must have supposed had
been strongly reinforced for his TO and fro ind
Gated great pepexiy His doubts resolved how
ever by the loss of Cont-eras the camp, and he
diately commenced hasy retreat along the top of the hill
nclInng towards the San Angel road Shess force $500
900 men) having, under his sklfu direction thus dis
posed of enemy he turned the other, who il their
flight found themselves intercepted the garden and under
the fire OF the South Carolina regiment broke away
the opposite fields and taking shelter in the bitches and ra
vines escaped, many of hem to the rocks Two squadrons
of cavalry, either by chance wise design, in
part of the road between the wall and dixie laid down their
and hoked the way that the pursuit interrupted
for upwards Of twenty minutes which suced 1--WE having
cavalry for the safety many Of the fugves large body
escaped upwards towards the mountains. did pursue
| them, being entirely out of our direction.
Accounts from Mexican officers intercepted since the bat
tie inform us that there thousand in and about
Conrera 1.-THE entrenched camp commanded by General
Valencia and upwards of twelve thousand in front Of Ence
da, Cor the hamlet of Conteas, in commanded by
General Santa Anna. We killed hundred, and took
fifteen hundred prisoners them several generals We
captured twenty two pieces of brass ordnance VIZ
ish l6pounders, four inch howzers, two 55nch howi
SIX 6pounder, and six smaller pieces, with large
amount of shells and other ammunition We also took
hundred pack mules, and many horses, and immense
number OF small arms which destroyed After directing
the prisoners and property be collected directed the pur
suit TO be continued and forming the column when Gen.
Twggs arrived He Immediately ordered the most vigorous
pursuit. and moved forward As we approached San An
GEL the rifles again thrown forward skrmshes and
entered the the heels Of the cnemys ancer captu
ring an ammunition wagon. Here Gen. Pillow assumed com
mand, and Coyoacan the Commander chief up.
The brigade forward with the of the division
towards Churubusco the rifles detached to the right
reconnaissance. Lieut.. Stevens, of the engineers
covered by Lieut. Smiths engineer company went forward
reconnoe the church Of Churubusco and reported
gun battery the road which could be turned by le
The LIST artillery directed be detached for that purpose
and marched in that direction. heavy fire opening there,
ordered up with the Sd infantry and shortly after Tay
lors battery placed in position, fronting the buildings
about the church, the 81 infantry supporting it. At this time
the tremendous fire from the neghbohood of the church
showed clearly, only that there strong force
toned there but that there also considerable work
than first supposed but being all surrounded by very
high corn form could be discovered II afterwards
proved that the place regularly fortified. The church
buildings formed large square the lower front toward
chiefly wall scaffolded for Infantry. Behind it roe
higher building also covered with infantry behind the
church, and the high seepe its right flank also filed With
men, In front Of the first CURTAIN connecting two
salient angles which thanked it. and continued back
the sidewalks of the church II garsoned by about two
thousand men, and mounted pieces. What sup
posed TO be the one-gun battery, the right salient angle
which enfaded the road from Coyoacan that when the
Isl artillery attempted IT, they found themselves in
front OF this curtain and exposed TO all the muskety OF the
walls beyond They, however, stood their ground with great
loss getting such the ground afforded, and firing
the embrasurcs when opportunity offered. 1t was
ported that the other brigade (Rley) ordered und to
the right ofhe work. and Gen Pillows division TO its ef
therefore ordered the 81 infantry TO be ready the
fire OF these corps began tell advance under the covero