Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-23

guished officer Of the STAFF, eloquently de-
scribing the late battles near the Capital Of
Mexico. We cannot find room FOR the whole
Of his description lie says;-
The march was a. dreadful one, being the
rainy season. The road was in many p aces,
where It passes al The foot OF the mountains
and on the margin OF the lake or narrow cause
way, nearly covered with water, and excessive
" muddy, al others IL was over rocky spaces Of
the mountains. and in places entirely obstruc'
ed by huge rocks rolled down by the enemy {;
bu' nothing seemed to dampen the aTdor OF the
arny-all obstacks vanished beiore them. In
two or three days, when the whole army was in
motion, they could be seen from the front
stretched out over 7 or miles.
"On the lSlh the General reached small
town called san Augustine, about twelve miles
south OF the city, the leading dyiSion having
arrived there The day beiuie Gen. Worth had
4 placed his picket IN advance for the arrival ol
n The General he ordered the whole division TO
\ advance aud take possession OF hacienda with.
in striking distance of a strongly fortified place
called San Antonio, ind also that reconnoiier-
ing parties should be pressed forward sill in
advance; the party was supported by squad
ron oi cavalry and battalion Of infantry. In
passing To the front found that a troop which
had been placed as picket had gone forward {;
aud as came up with Il, il made turn in the
road which brought il in full view OF the enc.
my's battery which opened upon them
Il The first fire killed Capt. Thornton. mang.
ling bis. body in the most horrd manner. The
ball. a l6'poundcr, alierward struck the road
and literally covered me with mud and frag.
mens of stone, one ol which made a slight
bruiSe on my right thigh. guide was knock.
cd from his horse within five feet Of me, with a
shocking wound in the head BY piece Of stone.
II Is thought he will recover, but with The loss
y OF an eye. The reconnaissance was continued
4 right and left with some hope of storming The
battery that afternoon, but night and rain came
on aud ii wan given up. Very early the next
morning dist overed, from The top Of the house
in which we were quariered in san Augustine
( a lnrge body of the enemy some IL, 600 or l5,.
900 on our left. about three miles distant. The
| General had ordered rcconnoisances in that d
! recllon toward San Angel, where reported
/ to him.
&" lie Immediately ordered Two divisions for
| ward under Pillow aud Twiggs, and followed
soon after himself The enemy were found in
an entrenched camp, al a Place called Conire-
/ las, with twenty pieces Of artillery, some OF
! them very heavy siege pieces. The attack
commenced al noon, and the firing continued
necessarily until dark, when il ceased on both
| sides, our troops maintaining their ground ant
| occupying vii age near by. During the at
| lcrnoon we watched The different movements o
! our troops with the most fearful anxiety anC
! could plainly one of our columns resist a
! charge Of large body of cavalry, aud the enc
my falling from their saddles and taking tc
/ their heels, or rather 10 their horses heels.
n During the whole OF the fight, we could sec
! on The right body of az least ten thousand in
| ianliv and cavalry IN reserve, towards the city
I but they had not the courage to advance, al
though Santa Anna himself was said to be
there. The attack was ordered 10 be renewed
| at three O'Clock next morning and the Genera
! returned To San Augustine. lie left at an ear
| ~ hour, taking with him General WORMS and
one-hall Of his division as a reinforcement; but
| en- route he was met by an officer who reported
! that the batteries had been carried by our
! troops in most gallant style, Colonel Riley
! leading the assault. As he approached the
/ scene Ofacion il seemed most incredible how
4 our men got over the ground TO the attack II
| was over immense masses Of lava thrown up
| IN the rougheSt, sharpeSl possible shapes, ant
! covered with dense bruShwood, Streams had
/ 10 be crossed and deep rUvines ard most Of
them having passed The night in pelting rain
II without shelter, II appears almost Incredible
that they should be able to drive double their
number from battery Of 23 guns.
n The scene on The arrival of the General was
exciting. The cheering of the troops left Ia
protect the property taken. aud their delight on
seeing him, were very gratifying. Many Of the
The amount of ammunition taken exceeded
by three times, he whole which we brough
| IRON Vera Cruz, so that we are well provided
! But the greatest cause of exultation was the ie
| capture OF Two of our own guns, brought from
! Buena Vista the last battle Of Gen Taylor. -
! When saw the U. ) on them, felt like dis
/ mourning and embracing them. " hat is re
maj kable about their recapture, II was made by
The 4th artillery, TO which regiment they form
erly belonged. They, together with other smal
captured pieces were Immediately fitted up
a hight battery, and the captain (Dunn) VIII,
took them, LII command Of it.
u The General, when he received the intelli
gence OF this victory, sent Gen. Worth back I,
make demonstration upon san Antonio, whil
he with the poition Of the army which wa
lpres>ng the enemy, should get in It's rear
will not stop 10 describe the scene on The Gel,
of bale. On leaving it, the road was i,erall
Sirewed with dead MeAican's arms, broken car
riageS, sc, In raSSing bridge, Hooked owe
and saw The bodies Of at least twenty, piled o
: the other, and The bank OF the stream was slrew
{, cd with them, and 1t was some distance befo.
, we got out OF sight. Going on, We came to
.. church. in which were confined 700 prisoners
= The General halted few minutes, and addres.
, ed The officers very kindly. Among them wer
four Generals. lie then hurried on TO Join IN
Ilpursning army. We came up with them a
san Angel, where they had halted. Aslhe Ger
eral passed along the line it was one coLlinu
GUS shout. After few minutes, we passed o
to village called Coyoacan, when we hear
firing on our right, about two miles of, in tn
direction of San antonio. The General immt
, datey sent me, with Captain Kcarny's trooI
. to ascertain the stale OF affairs. We galloppe
on and Oh approaching the place, found th'
; Worth had turned the place by both fanks al,
. driven the enemy from ii, and was in hot par
, suit Of them.
returned to the General as quickly as
had gone, and a. galloped along | heard
brlS, firing in front. When / reached him
: found that he was ferceiy engaged with the en-
= emy at another strongly entrcnched position
San Pablo. This action lasted more than W
. hours, and the firing was more general an
more continuous than any had heard yet
, The enemy's grape and canister flew like hal
and The fire OF Onr infantry was one continue
/. volIey. Captain Tayor's battery was obige
/ 10 retire, being most sadly crippled lost Two u
iccr>, a great many men, and left the field wit
only two horses To gun but The enemy, n
thongh behind enirenchmenlS, with heavy gun
could not stand the impeluosily and valor of OF
Z troops The pac" was carried 10y assault, an
j he whole armament aud a great number
I lpri-onerS were taken. IN the meantime, Wort
I having ho'y pursued The enemy came up vii