Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-11-25
HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

a series of unsurpassing achievements all in view
Of the capital and to which | shall give the gem
eral name Battle Of Merico
In the night of the 10Th, Brig. Gems. Shields, p.
+. Smith, and Cadwaader and Col Riley, with
their brigades and the 18th regiment, under Col.
Morgan, detached from BrigaderiG Pierce
found themselves in, and about, the important
postion-the village, hamlet or hacienda, called,
indlfferently, Conteras, Ansada, San Geronimo
half mile nearer to the city than the enemy's
entrenched camp, on the same road, towards the
factory of Magdaena. That camp had been,
unexpectedly, our formidable point OF attack the
afternoon before, and we have now TO take it,
wlthou; the aid OF calvary or artillery or to throw
oack our advanced corps upon the road from San
Augustn to the city, and thence force passage
through San Antonio.
,Accordingly,to meet contingencies, Major Gen.
Worth was ordered TO leave, early in the morn
| ing OF the goth, one Of his bripades 10 mask San
Antonio, and to march, with the other, six miles,
via San Augustn, upon Contreras A like des-
tnation.was given to Major General Quitman and
his remaining brigade in San gustin-repac-
ing, for the moment the garrison Of that i'm
portsnt depot with Harney's brigade of calvary
as horse could not pass over the intervening rocks
&C., to reach the field of battle
diversion for an earlier hour daylight had
been arranged the night before, according to the
suggestion OF Brigadier General Smith, receiv-
ed through the engineer, Captain Lee who con-
veyed my orders to our troops remaining on the
ground opposite 10 the enemy's centre-the point
tor the diversion or real attack, as circumstan-
ces might allow. Guided by Captain Lee, it
proved the LATTER under the command of Colonel
Ransom of the 9th, having with him that regi-
ment and sore companies Of three others-the
3D., 18th, and rifles. Shields, the senior officer
at the hamlet, having arrived in the night, after
Smith had arranged with Cadwaader and Riley
the plan Of attack for the morning, delicately
waived interference but reserved 10 himself
the double task of holding the hamlet with his
two regiments (South Carolina and New York
vountcers) against ten times his numbers, on the
side of the city, including the slopes to his left,
and in case the camp in his rear should be car
ried, to lace about and cut off the flying en-
envy
At3 o'clock, a. m the great movement CON-
mencod on the rear of the enemy's camp, Riley
leading followed successfully by Cadwallader's
and Smiths brigades, the latter temporarily I'M
der the orders of Maj Dmick fhe LIST artillery
the whole force being commanded by Smith,
the senior in the general attack, and whose ar.
rangments skill, and gallantry, always challenge
the highest admiration. The march was render
ed tedious by the darkness, rain and mud but
about sunrise, Riley, conducted by Lieut.. Tower,
engineer, had reached an elevation behind the en-
enemy, whence he Lreciptaed his columns -
stormed the entertainments, planted his several
COlOlS upOH llltll, anu CdTTleu lHc WOTk-all IN
seventeen minutes.
Conducted by Lieut.. Beauregad engineer,
and Lieut.. Brooks, of rwiggs' staff-both of
whom, like Lieut. Tower, had, in The night, twice
reconnoltered the ground-Cadwallader brought
up to the general assault, two of his regiments
the votigeurs and the l1tb; and at the APP
pointed time, Col. Ransom, with his temporary
brigade, conducted by Capt. Lee, engineer, not
only made the movement 10 divert and TO distract
hnf Mi fbn
his front, advanced, and poured into the works
and upon the fuglves many yoleys from his
destructive musketry. In the meantime S .nith's
own brigade, under the temporary command of
Maj Dlmlck, following the movements of Riley
and Cadwalader, discovered opposite to, and out
side OF the works, long line of Mexican caval-
ry drawn up as a support. Dimick, having at
the head OF the brigade the company of sappers
and miners, under Lieut.. Smith, engineer, who
had conducted the march, was ordered by Brig
zen. smith TO form the line faced to the enemy
and IN charge against flank, routed the calva-
ry. Shields, too, by the wise disposition of his
brigade and gallant activity, contributing much
to the general results. He held masses of cav
airy and infantry, supported by artillery, in check
below him, and captured hundreds, with one gen.
eral MendoZal OF those who fled from above.
doubt whether more brilliant or decisive
vlctory-taking into view ground, artificial de-
fences, batteries, and the extreme disparity Of
numbers, without cavalry or artillery on our side
is 10 be found on record. Including all our
corps directed against the entrencheG camp, with
! Shields brigade at the hamlet, we positively did
f not number over 4500 rank and he; and we
knew by sight, and since, moro certainly, by cap
tuted documents and letters, that the enemy had
actually engaged on the spot 1000 men, with at
least $4,000 more towering withinin sight and
striking dlstance-both on the 18th and Goth.
I All, not killed or captured, fled with precipta-
Ik,,-, tI, -
achieved; one roac TO the capital opened 700
OF the enemy killed; Si3 prisoners, including,
among 50 officers, generals, besides many col
u ors and standards, % pieces OF brass ordnance
3 halt OF large calbre; thousands Of small arms
u and accoutIemenls; an immense quantity of shot,
. shells, powder and cartridges, 700 pack mules,
4 many horses, &C., all IN our hands. 1t is highly
u gratifying, 10 find that, by skiliu management,
: aud rapidly of execution our loss in killed and
wounded, did not exceed, on the spot, co.
u The battle being won before the advancing
brigades Of WORMS and Quitmans divisions
y were In sight, both were ordered back 10 their
late positlon-Wor th to attack San Antonio, in
; front, with his whole force, soon as approach
Il ed IN the rear by Pillows and Twiggs divisions
moving from Contreras through San Angel and
Coyoacan. BY carrying San Antonio, we knew
!, that we should open anolher-a shorter and bet
!, ter roac TO the capital, for our siege and Other
N-~
and Shields brigade marched from Conireras
,, under the Immediate orders of nSJror uenera
fl!low, who was now joined by the gallant jig
adler General Pierce of his division, personal y
thrown out of activity, late the evening before
by a severe hurt received from the fall of bis
hJrse.
+ Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by cross
road, from the rear of San Antonio, | first de-
tached Captain Lee Engineer, with Capt Kear.
ney'S troop, LIST Dragons, supported by the rife
regiment, under Major Lorlng, to reconnoitre
that strong point; and next despatched Major
General Pillow, with one of his brigades (Cad-
wallaters's) TO make the attack upon it, in con-
cert with Major General Worth, on the opposite
lslde. Al the same ume by another road to the
eit, Lieut. Stevens OF the engineers, supported
by Lieut. q. w. Smiths company Of sappers and
3 miners OF the same corps, was sent to reconnoi-
ire the strongly fortified church or convent of
San Pablo, in the hamlet OF Churubusco-one
mile oil Twiggs, with one of his brgades
Smiths-less the lfes) and Capt Taylor's field
, battery, were ordered to follow and attack the
convent. Major Smith, senior engineer, was des-
patched to concert with Twiggs the means of at
J IL.