Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-08-04
THE CUEKILLAS.
From the st. Louis Republican.
PERoTE, MEXICO, June %.

PERoTE, MEXICO, June %, lS47.
Yesterday about noon the entire force that
was at Jalapa succeeded in reaching here in
safety, and without any loss whatever to the
train. The march was conducted under the
Immediate command of Brig. Gen. CadwaIader
who, although slow in his movements, is gen.
orally sure and safe. We were parts of four
days in making distance Of thirty-five miles,
owing to the unwieldness of the train and the
annoyance the guerilas gave us. They had
posted themselves along the heights of the La
Hoya is much longer than that o. the Cerro
GordO, though not SO formidable, in my judge
ment; and in the hands ofany thing lie war
like people, it would have been very difficult to
have got the train through without immense
loss.
On the goth, we encounter the guerillas, land
after six hours skirmIshing, in which we took
eighteen prisoners, and killed between seventy
and eighty of them, they were completely and
effectually routed. We threw out, liz the first
instance, large flanking parties, and then scaled
every height with our infantry and cavalry
Two caves were discovered by the first Artill
cry, in which were slowed large quantities of
Provisions, some ammunition, and few fire.
arms. Among the former were American
hams, sugar and hard bread. After occupying
the heights with our forces, so as effectually tu
command the pass its entire distance, the train
was passed through and halted at the village OF
Las Vigas, short distance this side of the La
Hoya. The evening previous to our attempt
ing to force our way through the pass
in the mountains, Col. Wynkoop, who is
IN command at this place and at the castle of
Perote, hearing of the number of the enemy
that had posted themselves at La Hoya with
view of cutting off the train, left ut o'clock
in the evening with the greater part of the LIST
Pennsylvania regiment and Capt. Walkers
company of mounted ritemen. They were en-
gagged with the guerillas on this side of the pass
from eleven o'clock that night up to the time
we got through the next morning and did most
excellent service. They drove the enemy tor
several miles back from the road, and burnt ev-
cry rancho in their route, leaving desolate the
whole country over which they passed. On
our reaching Las Viga, pretty and flourish
ing little town, it was found that the dwellings
were entirely deserted by the Mexicans, and
satisfactorily ascertained that they had identi-
fed themselves with the guerillas. With the
consent of the commanding general, the torch
was applied to the buildings and in a few mo-
ments the entire town was one universal scene
of conflagration. Every building in it, num-
bering between eighty and one hundred, was
destroyed by ire-the only one that was spared
being the neat little CatholicChurch that ador-
ned the town. Its solitary appearance among
the smoulderng ruins of the town, created SEN
sations better imagined than described: and the
example set in this instance, it is greatly to be
hoped, will have the effect of restraining the
enemy in future in their nurderous course of
warfare.
Our loss was, comparatively speaking, moth
ing. Capt. Guthrie, of Iowa, attached to the
18th Infantry, was badly wounded in the knee.
the ball having lodged between the two bones,
where it is impossible for the surgeons to reach
it, without his under going an operation that he
is unwilling to submit to. The opinion of the
surgeons is, that it will not require amputation
though he will, of course, have stiff leg, and
be rendered unfit for service. In Capt. Walk
ers company there was one private slightly
wounded in the leg, and they had eleven horses
killed. Capt. Walker himself was very slight
ly wounded himself in the hand, scarcely enough
TO call it wound. This was the sum and sub
stance of our loss.
On reaching here Gen. Cadwalader was met
by an express from Gen. Scott, desiring him
not to advance with the train.except in coniunc-
ton with Col. Smiths command, and the force
that was to forward from this post as a large
sand strong, with small Geld battery, under
command of Generals Bravo and Alvarez had
posted themselves between this and Puebla. |
more with view of securing a part of the train |
than in any expectation of doing much injury |
to our forces. We shall therefore have anoth- |
err brush with these gentlemen robbers before |
we reach the advance OF the army. But as the |
country is generally plain, we can have fair !
chance at them, and cut them up more effectu-
ally than was done at La Hoya. From here, |
we take six companies of the LIST PENNSYLVANIA |
Regiment, under Col. Black, in addition to our |
force that We left Jslapa with: and the train |
will be materially lessened In consequence of
he number of wagons we have here, that bro't |
forward the sick and some substance for this |
post. The sick alone, requiring nearly forty |
wagons. all of which are to remain here.
Col. Wynkoop, with four companies of the |
LIST Pennsylvania Regiment, Capt. Taylors bat
terry, and Capt. Walkers company of mounted
ritiemen, remain to garrison the castle Of Pc
rote and this town: which, when considering
it is the principle hospital and depot of subsis- /
lance between the advance of the army and We
"a Cruz, is certainly very small force. But
there is no other alternative, if Gen. Scott is
ever to get 20 Mexico, so slow are the reinforce
nert Is in reaching him. In addition to the I
force now going forward under Gen. Cadwala-
Ter, it is expected that about two thousand
more are now on their march from Vera Cruz
o Puebla. If they arrive within four or FIVE
laws after we do, they will be in time for the
zig battle that is to be fought this side of the
lily of Mexico.
Among the 10 prisoners taken by US on the