Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-11-24
General scott's Oficial Dispatches.
No.I3l. (OupLicate.
HEAD-oUARTERs OF THE ARMY.
SAN sAuGusTIN ACAPULCO ROAD,

No.8., duplicate. -. -
~ HEAD.ouARTERs OF THE ARMY.
sss San sAueUsTIN ACAPULCO ROAD,
9 miisssfrcm Mexico, August 10, 1e47.
SIRs: Eeaving a competent garrison in
Puebla, this army advanced upon the capi-
tai as follows: Twiggs' division, preceded
by Harney's brigade Of cavalry, the 7th;
small detachment of U. s. marines, the 9Th;
Worth's division the 9th, and Pillow 5
division the IOth-dll in this month. On
the 9Th, overlook, and then continued
with the leading division. hecrops were,
at mo time, beyond five hours, or support
ing distance, apart; and on descending into
b Isiii 6f ire piiaI saissess sfronaa
Pdebiaj they became more closely approx
mated about the head Of Lake Chalco,
with Lake Tescuco little in front and to
the right On the 18th and 18th, we push
led reconnoisances upon the Penon, an
isolated mound (eight miles from Mexico)
Iof great height, strongly fortified to the top,
(three tiers Of works. and flooded around
the basesby the season of rains and sluices
from the lakes This mound, close to the
national road, and commands the principal
lapproach to the city from the east. No
doubt it might have been carried, but at
great and disproportionate loss, and l was
anxious to spare the lives of this gallant
army for general battle which knew we
had to win before capturing the city, or
obtaining the object of the campaign-a just
and honorable peace.
Another reconnaissance was directed,
(l3th) upon Mexicalzingo, to the left OF the
Penon, village at a fortified bridge across
the outlet or canal, leading from Lake
Jochimilco to the capital-fve miles from
the latter. 1t might have been easy
(making the Penon) to force the passage;
but on the other side of the bridge we should
have found ourselves four miles from this
road, on narrow causeway, fanked to the
right and left by water or boggy grounds.
Those difficulties, closely viewed, threw
me back upon the project, long entertained,
of turning the strong eastern defences OF
the city, by passing around south OF Lake
/ Chalco and Jochimilco, at the foot of the
hills and mountains, so as to reach this
point, and hence to manRuvre on hard
ground, though much broken, to the south
;, and southwest of the capital, which has
; been more or less under our view, since
the 10th inst.
I Accordingly, by a sudden inversion
i w orth's division, with Harney's cavalry
brigade leading-we marched on the l5tt
Inst. Pillows and Quitman's divisions
,4ffollowed closely, and then Twiggs' division
which was left till the next day at Ayotla
in order to threaten the Penon and Mexi
calzingo, and to deceive the enemy rs long
as practicable.
| Twiggs, on the 18th, marching from
!, Ayotla, towards Chalco (6 miles) met {
crops Of more than double his number
I cavalry and infantry-under Gen. Valen
cia. Twiggs halted, deployed into line
and by round from Capt. Taylor's fielt
battery, dispersed the enemy, killing ant
wounding many men and horses. NJ
other molestation has been experiences
except few random shots from guerilleros
on the height; and the march of RI miles
over route deemed impracticable by tn
, enemy, is now accomplished by all tn
crops-thanks to their indomitable zeal an
physical prowess.
y. Arriving here, the 18th, Worth's division
and Harney's cavalry were pushed forwar
, league and to carry or to mask Sal
: Antonio, on the direct road to the capital
This village was found strongly defende
2 by field works, heavy guns and numel
Gus garrison. 1t could only be turned by in
fantry, to the left, over a field of volcani
: rocks and lava; for to our right, the groun
0 was too boggy. 1t was soon ascertalne
d by the daring engineers, Capt. Mason an
# I,ieutenants Stevens and Tower, that tn
It point could only be approached by the from
Il over narrow causewav, fianked with we
a bitches of great depth. Worth was orde
,, ed not to attack, but to threaten and
l. mask the place.
: The first shot fired from San Antonio
'ssfTthe sth1 killed Capt. S. Thornton, 2
q dragons, q gallant officer, who was cove
. ing the operations with his company.
D The same day Reconnaissance was con
! menced to the left Of San Augustin, tir
ID over difficult mounds, and farther on owe
9. the same field of volcanic rocks and Law
: which extends to the mountains, some
!. miles from San Antonio towards Magdal'
Z. ma. This Reconnaissance was continued t
sr day by Capt Lee, assisted by Lieutenan
m Beauregard and Tower,all of the engineer
lg who were lOtL6u ia tie dltoIuoou, Wy NAoJs
it Smith, of the same corps. Other division
ed coming up, Pillows was advanced to mai
H. practical road for heavy artillery, an
ne Twiggs' thrown farther in front, to cow
ne that operation; for. by the partial reconno
;e sasce of yesterday, Capt. Lee discovered
to large corps of observation in that directio
with a detachment Of which his supports
Il cavalry and foot under Capt. Kearney al
ce Lieut.. Col. Graham, respectively, hi
successful skirmish. -I..z. =, - -
as .Bv3 o'clock this afternoon, the advan'
he divisions came to point where the ne
er road could only be continued under the {
!. rect fire Of % pieces of the enemy's ar:
:al lery (most of them Of large crlibre, } plac
To- in strong entrenched camp to oppose o
10 operations, and surrounded by every q
IS, vantage Of ground, besides immense bodi
st, of cavalry and infantry, hourly reinforc
ed from the city, over an excellent road b
.l' vond the volcanic field, and consequent
The entirely beyond the reach of our cayal