The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-17
THE UNION.

| The work and position exceedingly strong and
completely masked bya high growth OF corn, and an
orchard which very much precuded officers getting
proper view of the position and the strength of the
work which proved to be regular iortihcaton, and
had been erected the incredibly short time of IS hours
The church buildings formed large square-the lower
'front.' at the north end, chiefly wall, scaoded for
iniantry-behnd il was higher building, also covered
with infantry-and IN OF this the church itself was
also covered with infantry, and high seeple It's
right flank was filled with infantry in front OF the first
wall was curtain connecting two salient angles which
fanked IT, and were continued back TO the side walls OF
the church, garrsoned heavily with infantry and mount
ing pieces of artillery. THIS the point at which
Gen Smiths brigade opened the action, and, soon fol-
lowed, little further TO the left by Col Rieys brigade
these two composing the Cero Gordo DIVISION General
Twggs. Capt Taylor's battery OF light artillery also
took position near this work. on the right Of Gen SMITH
brigade; II soon drew upon IT heavy fire from the fort,
which he sustained for hour and half losing 90 OF
has company, among whom Lieuts Martin, Boyn-
ton, and Sims and sergeants he also lost during this
une 10 horses. The conduct OF Capt. Taylor and his
company throughout such as TO excite the admiration
of all who witnessed it, well his superior officers.
At the opposite side Of the work, the breastwork
liar front, excepting the buildings of the church The
work on the road was also strengthened by bridge
creek, behind which was body of infantry, and the
work itself mounting or guns. General Pillow, with
part OF his DIVISION sent round by Gen Scott
sault this part of the work but as he with his COM
mand, emerged from the mud and mre of the corn-elds,
haVlng waded, OF them, waist deep into the road
he met Gen. Worth coming up from San Antonio
with his division; they had hearty welcome, and
OF them proposed that their commands should go hand in
hand IN carrying the work, which readily agreed TO-
AT the same time that the other commands were de-
spatched Gen. Scott ordered Gen. Shields 10 attack the
enenys extreme left, where he was heavily enrenched
at the same time reinforcing his command with the 9th,
part OF the 18th and 18th infantry, under Gen. Pierce
This movement was executed soon the nature Of
the ground would admt-the whole command having to
pass through fields of high growth, intercepted by
bitches running through them in every direction.
The action now became general, and the severity of the
conflict never was equaled within the recollection of our
thu than
our number besides his advantage of artillery and posi-
on added to this, he smu ated by the fact that it
was the last effort of resistance he could make before
we could enter the capital his troops knew that they
were fighting for the last remnant of the republic, and
they stood their ground with much rmness and
luton as any troops could stand, before the army at
present have here. The roar OF The musketry SO
great that II almost impossible for the soldiers to
hear the orders of their officers There point at
which the action did not rage with severity for more
at thus point was nearly 1000 NEIL
After the contest had lasted about two hours our troops
had got into such position as to be able to close with
them at the point OF The bayonet which decided the affair
IN our tavor-General Pillow and General Worth car
ryng the work the road, by officer OF General Pill
lows division taking down one flag and one OF General
Worths taking down the other, and the sth infantry
planting their coors instead General Twggs's division
carrying the work it attacked at the church, Captain NJ
smith, of the Sd infantry received the surrender of the
work. with pieces of artillery and two stand of col
ors; Gen Rincon together with 0i officers and upwards
o. lloo commissioned officers and Pr'yates surren
more to himself, and he fully sustained that high reputa
ton hitherto acquired on the field of battle When the
contest ragged highest, and his falling around him
every direction, he preserved that temperament Of
mind for which he is SO characterstc-hs counenance
wearing that bland and afable appearance throughout
the whole engagement His volunteers stood and moved
under the fire with the regularity of veteran troops
South Carolina has sustained heavy loss Col Butler
was wounded twice before he received the fatal shot
Two color-bearers were successvely shot down. when
Lieut. Colonel Dickinson took the cooIs and was bearing
the Palmetto proudly amid the storm, when he also
ceived a severe wound About the same time that the
three divisions at the forts enabled to close, Gen
Shields succeeded in driving from their position the large
force with which he was conlendng.
The dragons were now brought forward, and drove
the enemy TO the gates OF the capital thus closing for the
present. the most brilliant victory achieved by arms
during the and which will vie with any achieve
ment of our arms III times past.
For more fully detailed particulars, must refer you
TO the reports of the several commands find that if
attempt to record the entire details of the achieve
menls of the goth, would not be able 10 conclude it in
time enough to be OF any interest to your readers.
Louisiana had two brilliant representatives., who par
tcpaed largely throughout the whole affair, viz Gen
2. f. Smiths Of the LIST brigade, ID division and Lieut.
Beauregard, of the cngneers-both of which gentlemen
sgnaliy distinguished themselves both BY their superior
military knowledge and their personal courage. The
engineer corps throughout has borne large share OF The
labors and exposure of the battle.
From intercepted letters which we have in possess
son written the evening OF the battle we learn the
them also learn, that out of 10000 they had
but between 5000 and 900 left and they in confusion
without leaders-he balance killed. wounded prisoners
or totally dispersed.
send you list of killed and wounded, as near as
they be got at present
also send you the mustcr.oll OF company of volun
teers who organized themselves for the occasion, under
Capt McKinstry They composed OF men who
not attached to any particular command, but mostly
belonging to some of the departments They had five
wounded but have not been able to get their names
On several occasions they rendered highly important
vice. and exhibited the metal all Americans possess.
We also had many persons who bore conspicuous
a. 10Th Il
to any particular commissioning them | noticed con-
spicuously Maj Bryant and Lieut. Dickinson formerly OF
the Alabama regiment OF volunteers
After the troops had arrived at this place. all the for
mer Texan prisoners who present, assembled Just
below the National Palace, fine paved road made
by the labor of their hands, while they remained in this
country On the side of the road stood beautiful mon
ument with the following inscription: Erected TO the
memory of General Santa Anna, in consideration of his
having constructed this road by the labor OF the prisoners
of Texas" 1t not long after the assemblage of the
crowd until down came the monument and not satisfied
with tearing it down, they broke the stone into small
pieces, and scattered them to the four winds
herewith send you copy OF the amislcc agreed
upon.
On the evening of the 2oth white flag came out from
the city, and the morning of the 2s learned that
agreed to- and commissioners appointed, who arranged
and agreed to the terms.
The Killed, Wounded, and Missing.
The following mournfu lis shows at what immense
sacrifice the late victories of Gen. Scott have been
achieved No less than 1917 of brave soldiers were
killed wounded these bloody fields. Among them
OF best officers who, their eagerness to
gain laurels and incite their deeds of prowess
h,xra