Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-10-28
Mr.. Kendalrs Letters from the Army.
Editorial Correspondence Of the Pieayuns.

Editorial Correspondence Of the Pieayuns.
TAcuBAYA, Sept. 8, ls47.
Forenoon, l0o'clock.--I have Just returned
from another battle feld-one Oh which the
victory Of the American arms was complete,
and on which our troops contended against
an enemy immensely superior in number and
strongly posted. Gen. Worth commenced the
attack at early daylight, and in less than two
hours every point was carried, al the cannon
of the enemy were in our possession, an i'm
mense quantity Of ammunition captured, and
nearly 1000 men, among them fifty three Of
icers, taken prisoners.
For more than an hour the battle ragged with
violence not surpassed since the Mexican
war commenced, and SO great the odds op-
posed, that for some time the result was doubt
full The force of the enemy has been estma-
ted at from 10000 to $4,000. strongly posted
behind breastworkS, and TO attack them our
small force of scarcely 5000 was obliged to
approach on an open plain and without the
least cover; but their dauntless courage car
rled them over every obstacle, and nutwltA-
standing the Mexcans fought with valoi
rare for them, they We're finally routed IRON
one point or another until all were driven and
dispersed. The defeat was total.
But to gain this victory our own loss has
been uncommonly severe--it has been pur
chased with the blood Of some of the most gal
liant spirits of the army. The 9th Infantry
has suffered the most. This regiment along
with the 9th and 9Th, was engaged in the at
tack upon a strong work on the enemy right,
and was opposed TO such superior number.
that il was compelled TO retire along with The
others. The celebrated Col Martin Scott wa:
killed in this attack, along with Lleuts. Bur
we'll and Strong, while Col. Mcintosh ant
many other officers were badly wounded
The worse than savage miscreants in the fort
after our men retired, set up yell aud came
out and maSsacred such of our wounded as
were unable to get oil. In this way poo
Burwell lost his life. Fully were they a
venged, however, for within half an hou
Duncan's battery, aided by the fall Of anothe
of their works, drove the bastard wretches il
foil flight across the fields. No one knew o
even surmsed the strength of the place;
was an old fort, constructed long since, an,
was one Of the main deiences Of the line o
works.
On the enemy left, and nearer Chapulte
pee, our loss was also great, although not a
severe. II was here tina, Col. VIM. NJ. Ora
ham, as brave spirit as ever lived was kill
ed Capts. Merrill and AyIes also fell in thi
part or the field. The wonder now is how
any one could come out safe under such
terrible fire as the enemy poured from his en-
Tire line Of works. Nothing but the DARN!
and lmpeuosity Of our men, who rushed on
ward while their comrades were falling thcl
around them, gained the victory-had thel
once faliered all would have been lost
The broken ground on the right OF the enc
my, cut up by deep ravlnes. saved many 0
Santa Annals troops in their flight; yet as
was our Dragons killed and captured many
Of the fugitIves. Large bodies Of the Meyi
can cavalry approached the scene Of strife sew
eral times, but they we've driven like sheep b,
Duncan's battery.
The Mexican loss has been even more Sc
we're than our own. Gen. Balderas, Gen lie
on, and many other officers are numbers
among the dead, while the interior Of thei
works, the tops OF the houses from which the
fought, aud the ground over which they fie