Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-10-28

are strewn with hfeIess bodies. Such was
the panic iha, many Of our officers say that
few fresh troops might have takea Chapul-
tepec itself almost without struggle; but 9th
er than few sho.s fired al that point from
some Of the captured cannon, no demonstTa-
ton was made.
/ Alter the battle was over Gen. scott came
out. accompanied by his staff, and also by Mr.
Trist. The Mexicans al the time were throw
ing shells at some of the wagons Gen. Worth
had sent out TO pick up the dead and wound
ed They bad placed howltzer IN position
on Chapultepec at the close OF The action, and
now. seeing no enemy within reach the cow
ardly wretches opened upon the ambulances
and those who were gathering the bodies oil
their wounded and llfeless comrades. On see
ing this worse than savage outrage, one OF
our officers, with sarcastic expression oil
countenance, asked whether Mr.. Trist had any
new peace propositions in his pockets. Mack
intosh did not come out after the battle TO gain
more time for his friend Santa Anna, nor
worm out fresh intelligence Of the strength
and movements OF our army, IN order that he
might be of service TO the Mexlcans by com
municaIing IT.
The Mexican prisoners say that Santa An
ma himself was on the ground in the rear OF
their works, but left at the commencement OF
the route. They admit that their entire force
was IL, 600; II is certain that including killed.
wounded, prisoners and dispersed, their loss
has been near 5000 Many Of them were
regulars, the 18th and 18th Infantry Regl-
ments suffering most. The commander Of
the latter, Col. Tenorlo, is prisoner IN our
hands; some fourteen officers belonging to the
former are also prisoners, but the comman-
der, Gen. Perez, escaped.
The foundry, in which several moalds for
casting cannon and other apparatus were
found, was entirely demolished, and after as
ceriaining this, Gen. Scot, not wishing TO hold
the position, ordered all the forces to retire.
The whole affair, as a military movement, is
severely criticised by many OF our officers.
They contend that no result has been gained
commensurate with the immense loss we have
sustained in the battle. This is matter do
not feel myself qualified to discuss, but it must
be certain that the morale upon the Mexicans,
of defeat so dsgracetul and so disastrous
must be important. They have now, Git is 5
O'Clock in the afternoon returned to their po-
sitions and il Santa Anna was on the ground
as is stated, and can find no one 10 lay the
blame upon, he may twist the whole affair
into a victory-oh paper. IL will not be the
first time he has done this thing.
Since commenced this letter have been
out endeavoring to obtain full list Of the
killed and wounded officers, but so far have
been unable Knowing the deep anxiety felt
in the United States by the families of all, this
shall be my first care. The entire loss in Gen.
Worth's division, out Of some 500 or 1000
that went into action, will not fall much short
of 600. The Dragons and Gen. Cadwala-
der's brigade did not suffer so severely in COM
parison-What the next movement is to be
no one knows, but it is thought the city will
be attacked Immediately.
Yours, Sc. G. w. K.