The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-05-18

most brilliant and decisive. Inc urfgduS
assembled the long and difficult slope OF
Cerro Gordo. without shelter, and under
the tremendous fire Of artillery and a
kerry, with the utmost s.eadiness, reached
the breastworks, drove the enemy from
them, planted the colors oil the lst ariil-
lerv. I'd and 7th infantry-lhe eneIny's
flag still ayfng-and. after some minutes
Of sharp firing, finished the conquest with
the bayonet.
1t is a most pleasing duty to say that
the highest praise is due to Harvey,
Childs, Plvmton, Lorine, Alexander, their
gallant officers and men, for this brilliant
service, independent Of the great results
which soon followed.
Worth's division Of regulars coming up
at this time. he detached Brevet Lienten-
ant Colonel G. f. Smith. with his light
battalion, TO support the assault, but not
in time. The General, reaching the tow
er a few minutes before me, and obsery-
ing a white flag displayed from the near
est portion Of the enemy towards the bat
teries below, sent cut Colonels Harvey
and Childs to hold a parley. The sur
render followed in an hour or tive.
Major General Patterson left asick bed
to share in the dangers and faligues OF
the dav. and, after the surrender, went
forward to command the advanced forces
towards XaIapa.
Brigadier General Pillow and his brigade
twice assaulted with great daring the enc
my's line of batteries on our left, and,
though without success, they contributed
much TO distract and dismay their imme-
date opponents.
President Santa Anna. with Generals
Canalizo and Almonte, and some six or
eight thousand men. escaped towards
Xalapa Just before Cerro Gordo was car
ried, and before Twiggs's division reach
ed the national road above.
| have determined to parole the prison.
ers-oficers and men-as | have not
the means of feeding them here beyond
TO-DAY, and cannot afford TO detach a hea-
wy body of horse and foot, with wagons,
to accompany them TO Vera Cruz. Our
baggage train. though increasing is not
yet half large enough to give an assured
progress to this army. Besides, a great
err number of prisoners would, probably,
escape from the escort in the long and
deep sandy road, without subsistence
ten to one-that we shall find again, out
of the same body of men, i'll the ranks
opposed TO US. Not one of the Vera
Cruz prisoners is believed TO have been
in the lines of Cerro Gordo. Some six
of the officers, highest in rank, refuse to
give their paroles, except 10 90 TO Vera
Cruz, and thence, perhaps, to the United
States.
The small arms and their accoutre-
men;s being Of no value to oar army here
or at home, | have ordered them to be
destroyed; for we have not the means of
of transporting them. | am also some
what embarrassed with the-pieces Of
artillery-all bronze-which we have
captured. 1t would take a brigade, and
half the mules of this army, TO transport
them fifty miles. A field battery [ shall
take for service with the army; but the
heavy metal must be collected, and left
here for the present. VIZ have our own
siege-tram and the proper carriages with
us.
Being m1ch occupied with the prison.
ers, and all The details ofa forward move
mcnt, besides looking to the supplies
which are 10 fckow from Vera Cruz, ]
have time 10 add no more-intending TO
be at Xalapa early 10 morrow. We shall
not, probably, again meet with serious
opposition this side of Perote-certainly
not, unless delayed by the want of the
means Of transportation.
have the honor 10 remain, sir, with
high respect, your most obedient servant.
WINFIELD SCOTT.
7. S. | invite attention to the accompa-
nying letter 10 President Santa Anna, Ia
ken in his carriage yesterday; also TO his
proclamation, issued on hearing that we
had captured Vera Cruz, &C., in which
he says: elf the enemy advance enc step
the national independence viii be
buried in abyss of the past" We have
taken STEP w. S.
/ make a second postscript, to say that
there is some hope, am happy to learn,
that General Shields NAV survive his
wounds.
One of the principal motives for par
oling the prisoners ofwar is TO diminish
the resistance ofo!her garrisons in our
march. S. w.
Hon. WV. L. MARCY, Secretary Of
War.