The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-15

| At eight o'clock on the morning Of tho 10Th, the
batteries again opened on General Worh's position
at the hacienda near San Anonio, the balls crushing
through the wal and filing the rooms with frag-
ments of p'aster and broken furniture. Shells also
burst in the air the building, an the pieces fell
among the men stationed in the rear. So hot was
the fire that the troops were obliged to gain shetr
behind the building, but still did no. 6 SO up the po-
ston. About o'clock tho divisions OF Generals
! Pillow and rwiggs were ordered TO march Ia the
direction Of Cootreras, rnl by in the afternoon
were in plain sight Of the enc lys batteries, and
within range Of the heavier guns.
Tho Brigade Of General p. +. Smith was ordered
to advance directly towards tho enemys works,
while that Of Col. Riley moved towards small vii
ago to the right, with uIlrrs to gain the main road,
and thus be enabled 10 cut ell any remit Icomenls
which might 10 sent to Valencia from h. ciy. An
Dcc:sant firing of cannon vas opened upon he I'd.
vance Of Central Smith, aud soon the rilts were
engaged in diminishing with the plckets VI thp cue
NY and driving them in.
The IL poundsr battery Of Capt Masruher was
pressed forward with all speed, was also the
rocket and mountain howilzer battery now com
ininded by Lieut. Calender, Of the Ordinances De-
partment. AZ SION us they could gain a position
they opened upon the enemy, hut Neln 10 mn III
exposed to fire from heavier guns that they were
silenctd L.. johnson OF the at artillery, but
attached to Magruder's battery, wac MORALLY wuuh-
ded, while Lieut. Calender severely wounded
in both legs ". ..
AT o'clock the Brigade Of Gen Cudwalater
ordered out 10 support Col Riley, heavy reinforce.
nenls being seen on their way out from the city,
while General Perce's brigade was sent to sustain
Con. Smith. The firing rom the batteries of the
enemy continued inccssant, while from hull just
outside Of the range Of their guns, the spectacle was
most grand and imposing.
At all Ut O'Clock General Scott arrived, and
seeing the immense strength of tao. Mrxlcans, ut
once ordered Gen Shields brigade from S,n Angus
tina part of Gen Quitmai's comman Ito tho
right to support Riley and Calwal der. ard prevent
II possible juncure Of the forces con iGs out from
the city with those Of Valencia. But lew OF the
movements Of our troops could be seen fro the hi |
where we were posted, owing to the deuse chaparr
sharp rocks AID ravnes, but not motion OF the
enemy but was plainly vi'ihIe. ..... 80.
The order of battle OF Valencia was certainly most
Imposins-infnntry were seen drawn up 10 support
the batteries while long lines of the enenys cavalry
were sta oned in The rear, if awaiting the shock
of battle Two separate charges of the latter were
distinctly seen repllsed by Col Riley, who Ind
moved his Brigade at one time to position partially
1.-THE rear ofihe enemy sswoIks. Co Harvey was OK
ccedngy anxious TO march his cavalry to the scene
If acton, but it was deemed utterly moraccabe.-
The nature of the ground was such that tho infantry
even had grea, difficulty in finding The way
the ped,egal, as the Mrxicans term t--ground COW
cred with sharp, jagged rocks.
Until night had fairly CLOSED in the fire from the
enomy's batteries did not slackcn--it had been
continuous roar for nearly Fix hours. Gen Scott
retired 10 SIN Ausu,tin abont o'clock, and in the
midst of hard rain which had just commenced fall
ing. Generals Twigss aid Pillow came in about
I n'rlork W. and i,ly VI. f,,J
impossible TO use horses on the rough and exceeds
ly broken ground On which they had been operating
| for nearly IL hours. 49, .,..&s
| Not anticipating the immense strength Of tho
works of the enemy, or the almost insurnpun!ah Q
d ili:utos Of reaching them, it had been at first
thought that the bait cries would be taken at DASH
and that the troops would be all c,mlotab y quar-
tered in San Angel for the nigh instead OF this a
large portion OF them we've compelled 10 biyouac
without blankets in the midst Of pitiiess rain, and
on ground where they could not even stretch them
selves out Add 10 this, the prospects Of the morrow
we're far ir1m llitering were enough TO dsnay any
but the stoutest heats-that the enemy would doubt
less reinforce and strengthen his works Outing the
night, having every superiority in knowledge CT tht
groun9--add again 10 this that the men weak
encd by ,ong cxertions want of food, and oh He'd by
the continuous rain, and il is not saying TOO much
10 that the bivouac Of tho 10Th of August was
gloomy in the extreme,
Early on the morning Of the Goth, Gen Worth
was ordered to move with part Of his DIVISION
| Garlend's brig adc--towards the scene of action
Conireras, to aid in the attack upon Valencia for ic
free this position was deemed indispensable. A few
discharges of cannon were heard about o'clock
and heavy. rafting of musketry, and some ever
said that in the distance they hid large
o Mex:cans in full flight towards the city, yet few
dreamed that the batteries at Coutreras bad beer