Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-16
MAJOR LALLY's COMMAND.
From ran cHAnIrsros couRIrH.

and dangers encountered by the body of troops under
mand of Major LALLr, in their progress from Vera Cruz to
aapa, which latter place they reached the Goth of August
The letter is dated at Japa the 9Th September, and is
from the pen Of one who participated the hardhP and
tolls and dangers consequent this agung march The
| following the extracts
We lett Vera Cruz the 9th and arrived here, after
most harassing and atgung march, the 10th ulmo
shall endeavo to sketch some of the incidents of the
We obliged to resort TO novel and amusing expeden in
order TO get letters TO the United States The train safe
We have, however, left fourteen fifteen wagons be-
hind us as measure Of pecaution. The enemy did not
succeedin getting one by legitimate capture The city OF ia
aa, where our troops quareed regarded as one
OF the weathest and most important in Mexico i Is siua
ed among the mountains and within few miles OF Orizaba
Here may be found every thing could be anticipated from
soil that yields with spontaneous uxuance all the various
| productions OF tropical climate
" But you are anxious to know how got here 1t is
SAID that our troops have been exposed to more fatigue
and hardship in Mexico The guenleros, from paragraph
in New Orleans paper got idea that we had one and
half millions of dollars. With all efforts, could make
but four miles that night nearly third of the command
| had fallen to the
" Have you bvouacked Heavens | hope not.
Those were good beds, Lieutenant used TO sleep
on In the old North State, heard in the tone OF man
| not exactly comfortable
We bivouacked two days and stared-he heat intense,
the sand deep The men had carry weight of is or 20
pounds 40 rounds ball cartridge knapsacks filled with cloth
ing No wonder many fell behind had myself carry
stout fellows muske for him three hours fine
athletic man from Texas dropped the road sde and
few hours afterwards shot by the guerleros We reach
Santa Fe; the country becomes firm and rolling; broad
meadows covered with tau grass and the atmosphere refresh
ing and nvigorang; white cottages diversity the pros
pect and droves of large fat cattle at will through the
verdant pastures.
We halted at the village of ST. Juan for the night The
second day after arrival the Major permitted three of
officers and eighty visit of Santa Annals houses
got there in about three hours cutting way frequently
through the thick chapara with knives 1t furnished
sat revele next morning again in motion, going
upwards still upwards the land seemed ascend every
step. All at voey of muskey broke the monotony
We discovered the enemy posted on hill our left in
force. The command halted The order charge given.
scrambled the HILL eed myseover the rocks with the men,
but getting heenemy had gone Weconnued our
journey and arrived the Passo DOvas This pass
formed by turn in the road and twas until the advance
about emerge that actually understood danger
position. At this moment single shot fred and
Immediately after voey Of escopes that extended along
the whole advance and portion of the wagons Captain
Joness company Z, OF North Carolina 18th regiment,
the mouth of the pass the last of the advance We formed
in plaoons Some COMPOUNDED mules having been wounded
rushing down the HILL trains and ALL us but the
officers of the company set all to rights again. We
formed the edge of the bushes and fred low by company
We delivered two fires This produced very eloquent 81
lence In the time, while this going the rear
the enemys cavalry charged the head of the column Lieut.
Sears of the artillery routed them with couple of his grape
and canister applications aud portion of the infantry aud
voltgeurs under Captains Avord Cummns and Caldwell,
charged pursuit The latter were both severely wound
ed. The Mexcans left many killed; our loss was five in
killed and wounded.
From this time constantly exchanging sho@ some
times receiving whole voeys which killed and wounded few
men, but harassed the command exceedingly
'On the 18th August reached the National Bridge,
met the enemy, and first suffered loss and upon the
top of this bluff perched five hundred feet above the
BRIDGE stands the castle which commands the bridge and its
approaches Our little army, properly disposed, arrived at
the head of the dee passed along these winnings and
gained the bridge and its approaches. Every thing
lent passed halt way across, where embank
men which would render further progress rather
doubtful. We approached, and when within point blank
distance, voley escopes burst from behind the
moment the castle the left and heights the right
US severe calling fire. In vain the cavalry charged-he
embankmeht impossible. The artillery belched forth its
iron messengers of DEATH but the dread weapon could
touch the foe The falling fast the cannon was
left for very short time dsmanted the bridge An off
volunteered epass up the bridge and bring up and
with the aid of nine of company accomplished
in hour They remained the bridge unsheteed in
midst of the fire, where the gallant Lieut. Twiggs joined the
party but did not share their having been shot mme
datey AFTER dying with the in his hand and smile
upon his lips. His friend Sears another noble hearted gem
tleman and myself went down after his body and brought it
up, spite of the and fire of the enemy.
'From this piece fire opened upon the castle they
rered the fort entered by force and upon Off
Gel OF the 18th waving the sars-andpes from the point Of
his blade the shout that heaven made fellow feel
rather glorious. We victorious. do not know how
to do justice the GOODNESS and courage of the troops and the
pretty hot fire. Here wounded Capt. Clark Leuts.
Creanor, Wnder, and Adams, and Capt. Twiggs killed.
g We remained two nights the BRIDGE dressing the
wounded repairing losses &C., and pushed for Plan del
Rio, destroying the way fourteen wagons tighten
train and condense forces We found the enemy had de-
stroyed the bridge But quietly waded over dv-
ing the teams before
We learned at Plan del Rio that the enemy were Whiting
for us at Cerro Gordo plan OF battle arranged and
we sailed out with 500 picked men 10 thrash him.
We had sooner approached this seeming mpregnable
barrier than advance arrested by fire of escopets
The command opened the right and left of the road
The left ascended the steep hills and somed successfully
after fort line after line, and party after party. The charge
resiess the enemy fled leaving their dead behind them
We halted for the night and slept arms.
"In this gallant affair the Voigeurs bore important
part Every where the sharp click Of their weapons fol-
lowed by the groans of the enemy The three companies of
the 18th had been ordered to the right and equally
cessfu large body of the enemy the bushes pep
perng away upon the road We ordered to dsodge
them, Company in front. We ccpt steahily along the
road the enemy opened akng fire upon the files which
surrounding him the boys charged Heavens f you
had heard the shout They driven into the snare
they fled sought head them their knowledge Of the
ground and speed aided their escape They suffered severy
few trophies fell into my hands, Of which with
me- and may show you when peace made and all get
home again.
Three pieces Of artillery among the important
captures. These spiked
"Several amusing incidents occurred during the action
which will relate some other time. The North Carolina
boys behaved nobly.
"Two days after the action the train again in notion
was for while with the advance guard The day