Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-12-01
BATTLE OF HUAMANTLA.


coasts. -
BATTLE OF HUAMANTLA.
The following is Santa Annals account Of
this gallant affair Of our troops. We take
it from that excellent paper, the Genius Of
Liberty:
The .4rmy Of the East- General in Chief.
Most Excellent Sir:
On the 9Th Of the present month, wrote
to Your Excellency from Nopalncan, asking
you TO communicate to His Exceflency, the
Integral President, that which proposed
doing upon the American convey; provided,
that Sr. General Of Brigade, Don ls1doro
Bcyes, should arrive in time to reinforce me.
But the latter not having come up in sea-
son, and the convoy Of the enemy having
advanced to within three leagues of Nopal-
ucan proceeded to the latter town on the
Sth instant, with one thousand horsemen
and six field pieces for the purpose Of watch
ing his movements. in order that / might
act accordingly. The enemy having biv-
ouacked the night Of the Sth between Nc
paucan and Guapastla, and being ready to
continue his march on the succeeding morn.
ing to Acajete, determined to attack his
rear guard at the Pinal. and charge him re-
solutely when he least expected it, and with
this design commenced marching, on tho
morning Of the 7th. But whilst lying con-
cealed in the town Of Pablo, immediate to
the Pinal, observing his movements saw
from the watch tower that the enemy's train,
instead of prosecuting its march, was stand
ing towards the place in which had left all
my artillery, camp equipage and stores.-
Quickly divining the intention of the foe, I
countermarched with all the celebrity could
10 meet him.
But before l could come up with him, his
vanguard had already possessed itself Of
the place, and its principal buildings. and
although | attacked him, my columns en-
tering the town itself. yet it was not posi-
BILE for me to dislodge him from his position
with the dragons, and found myself OF
liged to retire to an adjoining hacienda 10
| take up my quarters for the night. In the
enga cement, the enemy lost HE command
er of cavalry, one officer, and many of h;s
troops. My losses were seven men in kill
ed and wounded, several dispersed, two pic
ces Of artillery, and two Of my aids, D. joe
Maria Vega, and d. Augustin 1turbide,
who were taken prisoners whilst carrying
my orders.
In this days attack / killed 100 of the
enemy and took "a prisoners, by which I
revenged in c measure the outrages and
calamities which he had inflicted upon the
pacific and defenceless inhabitants. AL
though the enemy nearly surprised the town.
yet DIG he only succeed in capturing two
pieces of artillery, of small callbre, and the
four remaining ones were fortunately saved,
and are now in my power. This totally I'm
expected attack was made upon the town
at the nstigation, as have learned. of an
infamous Mexican criminal, Miguel Her
nandcz by name, but your Excel.ency can
see what its execution cost the enemy, not
mentioning ssthe delainment Of Two extra
days on the road.
On the llth he took up his line of march
for Acsjste, where he bvouacked. and ov
ertook him at the Pinal, but / did not sue.
coed in obtaining any decisive advantage
over him, owing to the extreme caution he
used in marching, being no doubt consider
ably atfrighted by what he had experienced
tho preceding day. According to my spies
he yesterday reached Amazoc. and to-day
he should enter Pueba with 5000 men and
six pieces Of artillery, which he took from
Perote.
The day before yesterday, in this point,
the division of Gen. Reyes became incor-
porated with my command, but so fatigued
are the troops that it is absolutely necessa-
ry to allow them some time to rest them
, selves, and in consequence I was unable to
operate upon the hostile convoy.
His Excellcncy. the Sr. General D. Juan
Alvarez, with all the forces that were be-
aieging the enemy in Puebu, those rein
forcements included which sent him, has
fallen back upon Atlxco as it is known.
So soon as the troops at present under my
> command and all those which comprise the
army ofthe East, shall be in state fit for
marching; that is, as soon as they shall b
provided with some pecuniary resources, Of
which they are entirely destitute. shull ga
forth to seeh the enemy, and harass him in
every way possibly can, thus accomplish.
, ing my duties and gratifying my desires.
again offer to your Excellency the as
surahces Of my esteem and consideration.
p God and LIBERTY
Headquarters, Huamantla, Oct ID, 1917
ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA
: To His Excellency,
: The MINISTER OF WAR and MARINE.