Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-05-17
HfApauARrEns OF THE AMY. J
Plan del Rio 50 milos from Vera Graa,
Anil 10 lSl7

ran del Rio ~ aiiles ifom ERA rita,
April 10. 1917
SirThe plan of attack. sLetched in General Orders,
No. Ill. published IN last evenings union.) herewith.
was finely executed by this gallant army, before Two
O'Clock. p m, Yesterday. We are quite embarrassed
with the results oi neutrality-suspicious. OF wall heavy ord
nance field ha,teries small arms and aeeonremenls.
About 1000 men laid down their arIns, with the usual
proportion Of field and company officers. besides five
generals, several o iela Of great dlsuctk,n finson
Jarrero. La Vegas Norega and ohsndo. sixth gener
al, Nssquez was Killed in defending the batter, (,ower)
IN the rear of the whole Mexican army, the capture Of
which gave US those glorious results.
Our loss, though comparatively small in numbers
has been serious Brig. Gen. Shields commander Of
activity and zeal and talent is fear not dead,
tally wounded. He is some five miles from at The
moment. The field Of operations covered many miles,
bnpken BY mountains and deep chasins, and have
areport, Ms yet from any division OF brigade. Twggs
division. followed by Shields (now Cul, Bakcr's) brig
ade now at or near, Aalapa, and Notths division
in routeicr. all pursuing, with good results, ms learn.
thai point oi the Mexican auny-perhas siA or seven
Thousand men. WIN fled heioe right had carried the
tower and aaioed the Aalapa road. Pillows brigade
lone Is near al this depot Of wounded, sick and prs
oners. and have time on, 10 give rom him the names
:" st Lieut. + b Nelson, and I'd {. 4. GIL, both Of
the I'd Tennessee foot (liaskes regmenD among the
killed. and in The brigade lt6. Of all ranks, Killed or
wounded Among the latter The gallant Brig General him
sell has smart wound IN thu arm but mol disaa ed and
Maj. X, farquesan. I'd Tenn, Captain II. r. Murray,
I'd Lieut.. G. I. Sutherland. lst Lieut.. w. T. Hale
(adJutanl all o the regiment, severely, and Isl
Lieut. w. Nearwood, MORALLY Wounded And know.
from personal observation the ground that LIST Lieut.
Ewel OF the Rn mol dead, was morally w"un-
DID in entering, sword in hand, the entertainments u
around The captured tower Second Lieut. Derby topo-
graphical engineers. also saw. at The sane place. severe
" wounded and Capt. Paen, ID United States lntanl
~, lns his right hand. Maj Sumner, I'd United States
Dragons was slightly wounded the day before. aud Cap
tain Johnston, Typographical engineers (now Lieut. Col
one OF Infantry was very severely wounded some days
earlier while reconnolirng, must not omit TO add
that Capt Mason and ID Lieut., Davis both ofthe Rifles.
among the very severely wounded in slormng the
estimate total loss, in killed and
died. may be about $50, and that Of the enemy 800 In
the pursuit towards Nalapa (35 miles hence learn VIC
have added much 10 the enemys loss in prisoner, killed
and wounded In fact suppose his rereatng army 10
be nearly dsorganized AMI hence my haste TO follow, in
an hour OF two. ~ prof, by events.
In this hurried and imperfect report must not omit 10
say that Brigader General Twiggs in passing The
tain range beyond Cerro Gordo, crowned with the tow
er. detached iran his division, AS suggested the day
efore. strong turce 10 carry that height, which
manded The Aaspa rad the loot, and could fail,
q o, o,.y Ittt ur me erefnv
force from a retreat IN any direction portion OF the
LIST artillery, under the often distinguished Brevct Col.
Ghilds the Sd infantry under Captain Alexander. the
9TH infantry under Lieut. Col Plymton. the Rifles.
under Majar Loring all under the temporary command
Of Colonel Harvey, II dagoons DUNG the confinement
10 his bed of l3resei Bsader General r +. Smith,
posed that detachment. The stye Of execution, which
bad the pleasure 10 witness, most brilliant and de
clsve The brigade assembled the long and difficult
slope Of Cerro Gor1o, without shelter, and under The
Tremendous fire Of artillery and mushey with the utmost
steadncss reached the broastworhs, drove II q enemy
from them planted thu colos Of the Isl artillery Sd aud
7ih infantry the enem,'s flag still flying and after
minutes Of sharp firing finished the conquest with
the bsyonei
II is most pleasing duty say that the highest praise
is due Harvey, Chllds, Plymiou Lorng. Alexander.
and their gallant ccs and men. for this brilliant, service.
ndepe deni Of the great results which soou followed
Worlhs division Of regulars coming up at this time,
he detached Beyel Lieut.. Col {. +. Smith. with his
light battalion. 10 support The assault, but mol in time
The General reaching the tower few minutes before
me, and observing white flag displayed fro the
portion Of The enemy towards the batteries below
out Colones Harvey aud Guilds 10 hold parley-
The surrender followed in an hour Two.
Maj Gen. Patterson eii sick bed 10 share in the
dangers and langus Of the day. and after the surrender
forward command the advanced forces towards
Aiapa.
Brig. Ger Pillow aud his brigade twice assaulted with
great daring the enemy line Of batteries leil; aud
though without they contributed much To distract
and dismay their immediate opponents.
President Santa Anna. with Gems. Canalizo and Al
monte, and slX eight thousand men, escaped 10
wards Xaapa just before Cerro Gordp carried. and
before Twiggs division reached the national road
bove
have determined 10 parole the prisoners officers and
men-as have moi the means Of feeding them here, |
beyond to-day and cannot alrd TO detaeh heavy body
OF horse and foot, with wagons, 10 accompany them To
Vera Cruz. Our baggage train though increasing, is
not yet half large enough give an assured progress 10
this army Besdes greater number e prisoners would
probably escape from the escort in the long and dee
sandy road, without snsisence-ien 10 one that We
shall find again. out Of the body Of men, In the
ranks opposed to MS. Mi of the Vera Cruz prisoners
is believed have been in the lines of Cerro Gordo
Some six of the officers highest in rank, refused 10 give
their paroles, except 90 Vera Cruz and thence, per
haps 10 the United States,
The small arms and their accou,remenls, being Of no
value army here al home, have ordered them
be destroyed; for have the Of transport
ng them. | am also. someyh bat embarrassed with the
- pieces of ar'ilery--all bronze-whch hayaI
captured. 1t would take brigade, and half the mules
Of this army, transport them fifty milns. field bat
terry shall take for service with the army; but the hca
w metal must be collected and left here for the present
We have own soge train and the proper Carriages
with us.
Being much occupied with the prisoners, and all the
details Of forward movement. besides looking the
supplies which are 10 follow from Vera Cruz, have time
to add no more-in,ending TO be at Xaapa early
We shall not, probably, again meet with serious
oppos ion this side Of Porote-eeralnly not, unless de
lay ed by the want of the means of transportation
have the honor TO remain, sir, with high respect your
most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
PS invite attention the accompanying letter to
President Santa Anna taken in his carriage yesterdays
also to his proclamation issued hearing that had
captured Vera Cruz SC, in which he says: eff the en-