Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-09-22
IOWA CITY, WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER %, 1S47.
From the N. 0. Picayune, August 31st.
LITTER from VERA CRUZ
ADVACNE OF GEN. SCOTT TO AYOTLA

From the N. 0. Picayune, August 31st.
LITTER from VERA CRUZ
| ADVACNE OF GEN. SCOTT TO AYOTLA.
Safety Of Myor Lally's Train-R epuls
Of the .Americons at National Bridge.
The schooner Mississippi arrived from
from Vera Cruz on Sunday, having sailee
from thence on the evening Of the 2ls
inst.
The most important news by this arri
val concerns the movements of Gen. Scott
There had been various rumors on the
subject in Vera Cruz, many of which our
correspondent knew to be unfounded, bu,
he writes US on the afternoon of the 2lst
inst, on what he considers 'the best au.
thority," that the vanguard Of Gen. SCOTS
army was at Ayotla on Friday, the 18th
inst, and up to that date had not fired a
gun. This news reached Vera Cruz by
a gentleman who left Ayotla on the 18th,
coming down by way Of Orizaba. Ayot-
la is but Fl miles from the city Of Mexi-
co, being 20 miles beyond the pass Of Rio
Frio.
The expedition which left Vera Cruz
about the 18th inst, to reinforce Major
Lally's command was composed of Capt.
Wells company of the 9Th Infantry, Capt
Aaile's company Of the 18th Infantry, and
Capt. Fairchild's company Of Louisiana
Rangers, all under command of Captain
Wells. They returned to Vera Cruz on
the 18th, after having proceeded as far as
the National Bridge, where they expected
to overiake Major Lally's command. -
Maj. Lally, however, had gone on, and by
subsequent advices at Vera Cruz it i.
known that he had carried up his train
in safety beyond Jalapa.
The command of Capt. Wells were COM
PEELED to fight their way to the Bridge,
and they made the altemp. to pass it, but
found on the heights occupied by the
g.errtllas, who opened heavy fire upon
them, killing nearly all the mules and
forcing the whole party to retire. The
loss OF men in this affair has been five or
six killed and two or three wounded.
About eight miles this side of the Bridge
Capt. Wells on his advance, detached
twelve dragons, accompanied by Dr..
Cooper, with directions to go forward eau
tiously, and, If they found i, prudent, TO
report to Major LalIy; but if they encoun-
tered any obstacles, to return and report
the fact at once. Nothing has since been
heard of this party, and it is supposed the
whole have fallen into the hands of the
Mexicans. ....
Capt. Wells had five successive engage
meals with the enemy before the final af:
fair at the Bridge. In this the Mexicans
had one piece of artillery engaged, from
which they fired grape, and were thus
able to make good their stand against the
command Of Capt. Wells.
Maj Lally on going up with the train,
is said to have had sharp skirmish with
the guerrillas at Cerro Gordo, and to
have expected another brush with them
at La Hoya. No accounts of these affairs
have been received, but our latest letters
say that there is doubt of the safety of the
train. No news had been heard at Vera
Cruz Of Cap. Besancon's com 2any for a
fortnight. 1t was out on a scout when
news reached there that Maj. Lally re-
CURED reintorcements, and it is by many
supposed that the company fell in with the
train, and crossing the National Badge,
continued up with it. Others again think,
differently, and suppose the whole compa-
ny has been cut off by the Mexicans.
Such is the tenor of our latest letters.
In regard to Gen. SCOTS march, there
were rumor> at Vera Cruz that he had met
the enemy and repulsed them after sharp
engagement, in which he lost 800 men--
This the Mexicans regarded as victory
90 their part, as their loss was insignih-
cant. Notwithstanding these details, our
correspondent writes that there is no truth
in them whatever. He also considers the
announcement of the San Of Anahuac that
Gen. Scott arrived at AyotIa on the Ilth
as statement hazarded upon mere r,mor
He has confidence in the veracity of the
man who arrived on Dist, and declares
the vanguard of Scots army to have been
in Ayotla on the 18th, having met no re-
sis;ance SO far. Both the Vera Cruz pa
pers and our correspondent believed that
Gen. Scott was in possession of Mexico
by the Goth inst, but they had no informa-
ton 10 this effect.
Al