Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-05-20
TWar Nfius.
From the Union CT Saturday night,
Gen. SCOTS DISPATCHES,
Headquarters Of the Army, Plan del Rio J
50 miles from Vera Cruz, April 18th, :

Sir--The plan Of attack, skeched in
general orders No. III, herewith, was
finely executed by this gallant army. be-
fore two O'Clock p. NJ. yesterday, We
are quite embarrassed with the results OF
the victory-prisoners of war, heavy ordI-
nance. field batteries, small arms and &C.
cou,rements. About 5000 men laid down
their arms, with the usual proportion of
field and company officers, besides five
generals, several of them Of great dis,inc-
lion-Pinson, Jarroro, La Vega, Ncriega,
and Obando, A sixth general, Vasquez,
was killed in defending the battery (tow-
er) in the rear of the whole Mexican ar
my, the capture of which gave US these
glorious results.
Our loss, though comparatively small
in numbers, has been serious. Brigadit
General Shields, commander of activity,
zeal and talent, is fear, if not dead NOR
tally wounded He is some five miles
from me at this moment. The field Of
operations covered many miles, broken by
mountains and deep chasms, and have
not report, as yet, from any division or
brigade.
Twigg's division, followed by Shields,
(now Col, Bakers brigade, is now at or
near Jalapa, and Worths division is en-
route thilher, all pursuing with Igood re.
suits, as learn, tina! part of the Mexican
army-perhaps six or seven thousand
men-who fled before our right had car
ried the tower and gained the road TO ia
lapa.
Pillows brigade alone is near me at
this depot of wounded, sick and prisoners,
and have only time to give from him the
names of LIST Lieutenant f. B, Nelson,
and I'd C. G.. Gill, both of the Cd Tennes-
see foo, (FIaskel's regiments) among the
killed, and in the brigade lO6, of all ranks,
killed or wounded. Among the latter,
the gallan, brigatier general himself has
smart wound in the arm, but not Gisabl-
ed, and Major r, Forqueson, Cd Tennes-
see; Captain II. f, Murry, Cd Lieutenant
G. Il. Sutherland, LIST Lieutenan: W. P.
Hale (adjutant) all of the same regiment.
severely, and LIST Lieutenant W. Year.
wood, MORALLY wounded. And | know,
from personal observation on the ground,
that Is, Lieut., Ewcll, oflhe rifles, if not
now dead, was MORALLY wounded IN enter
ing, sword in hand, the entertainments a.
round the captured tower.
Second Lieut.. Derby, Typographical en-
gineers, | also saw. at the same place Sc
verely wounded, and Captain Pat,en, Cd
United States infantry, lost his right hand.
Maj. Summer, Cd United States dragons,
was slightly wounded the day before, and
Captain johnson, typographical engineers
(uow lieutenant colonel Of infantry was
very severely wounded some days earlier
while accommodating.
must not omit to add that Capt. Ma
son and I'd Lieut.. Davis, both of the rifles
were among the vary severe y wounded in
stormipp the same tower estimate our
total loss, in killed and wounded, may be
about $50, and of the enemy $50. In the
pursuit towards Jalapa, rs miles hence)
| learn we have added much TO the enc
my's loss in prisoners, killed and wound
ed. In fact, | suppose his relreatng ar
my to be nearly dSorganized, and hence
my haste to follow, in an hour or two, 10
profit by events.
In this hurried and imperfect report
must not omit to say that Brigadier Cen
eral Twiggs, in passing the mountain
range beyond Cero Gordo, crowned with
the tower, detached from his division, as |
suggested the day before, strong force TO
carry that height, which commanded the
Jalapa road at the foot, at could not fail, if
carried, to cut off the whole or any part
the enemy's forces from are,rea, III any
direction.
A portion oflhe tst artillery, under the
often distinguished breyet Col, ChIIds;the
Sd infantry, under Capt Alexander; the
7thinfanlry, under Lieut.. Col. PIymp,on;
and the rifles, under Major Loring, un.
der the temporary command Of Col. lIar-
ney 9 Dragons; during the confinement
to his bed of Brig. Gen. P +. Smith, Coil
posed that detachment. The style Of ex-
ecution, which had the pleasure TO wit
ness, was brilliant and decisive. The brig.
ade assembled the long and difficult slope
Of Cerro Gordo, without shelter and I'M
der the tremendous fire OF artillery and
musketry, with the utmost steadiness,
reached the breastworks, drove the enemy
from them, planted the coors of the first
artillery, Sd and 7th inlantry-the enemy's
flag still flying after some minutes
sharp firing, finished the conquest with the
bayonct.
1t is most pleasing duty to say that
the highest praise is due to Harvey, Childs,
PIympton, Loring, Alexander, their gal
liant officers and men, for the brIllan, SER
vice, Independent Of the great results
which soon followed.
Worth's division Of regulars coming up
at this time, he detached Brevet Lieut..
Col. c. F. Smith with his light battalion,
to support The assault, but not in tine
The general reaching the tower few
minutes before me, and observing a white
flag displayed from the neasest portion of
the enemy towards the batteries below,
sent out Coils Harvey and Chic to hold
n parley. The surrender followed in an
hour or two.
Major General Patterson left a sick bed