The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-19
INTERESTING DETAILS "A
FROM THE
w A r q u A RTER.
Further Accounts of the Last Achievements.
DC. &c. &c.
THE BATTLE OF coNrRERAs.


PIE iom end of the country to the other but those
who were not here to witness and participate In the de
surmountable obstaclesthe prvations ana hardships
endured-neyer can properly appreciate the brilaney
OF ns victory the gsantry and good conduct aud the
scientific attachments of our noble little army. Our
comparative loss of those engaged exceeds that of any
one out Of six. TO attempt to enumerate in 3 proper
manner the individual Instances Of herosmof deter
mined aud deliberate courageof the
intrepidty with which great and powerful obstacles
were surmounted be but commencing endless
task trust when the details Of these brilliant aft airs
are given by their respective commanders that
try viii testify its admiration and respect by sub
stanal rev nd reward that will live in memory and
history, when the In these stirring scenes shall
have mouldered in the dust. >.
About the 9Th Of Aug 1T determined that should
not attack FL Penon when the enemy had made every
preparation to receive and where no doubt would
have been compelled to sacrifice many more lives than
we have already done. Accordingly, the Engineers
we took up our march around Lake Chnloo. At this
movement the enemy were seriously nonpussed they
were not aware themselves Of practicable route
could take that would eectuay their position
and in order to delay movement sent out Gen Ava
rez the great champion of the South with his Pntos,
IA tribe Of Indians spotted by nature) together with
portion OF the regular army amounting in all to about
mand Of Gen Twggs but it turned out to be feeble
attempt Gen Twiggs had scarcely formed his line Of
battle and opened his artillery under the command of
Capt Taylor before they fled with great precipitation
few well directed shots from this battery made for
chile Impression upon their columns and they retreated
leaving portion OF their killed and wounded to take
care OF themselves The whole affair did not detain
Gen. Twgys than hour and he was again on his
route by which moving, and endsavored To- OBJ,
str9ct the road but the sappers and miners aided by
the head of Gen Worths column soon cleared the road
at d9rent places and by tho nth the head of General
Worths column arrived Mt San Augustin-the enemy's
srmishrs firing from every hill top and point which
favored them the route and their cavalry presenting
themselves in force several times during the day. but
never daring to attack
road in the direction of San Atomic from which place
the enemy fred upon squadron Of dragons, killing
Capt. Thornton and woundDg the guide Jonathan Ftx-
water advanced to protect the engineers in recognos
sanoe OF tho Qualifications of San Antonio Capt Thorn
ton had been very unwell for some time and out
IN command II his squadron against the advice Of bis
physician and his ssuor officers but his energy and
gaaatryswoud not allow him to remain inactive when
there was the least possibility of meeting the foe As
soon the dragoous withdrawn Colonel Duncan's
battery and the sappers anu miners moyed down the
road and TOOK position that would enable them to
operate In any direction, in of emergency. Col
smith light battalion thrown out the left front
to watch the movements Of the enemy and to hold him
In check in case OF his advancing his flank Immediate
ly after Col Garland's brigade made diversion to the
right and took position in line resting his right at the
right OF the road As thismo vement was com.
pleted, the ID brigade, under Col Clarke moved down
the road until the hoad Of his column rested the left
wing of Col Garland One section of the mountain
howzers was brought forward and thus they remained
until saadswn when the brigade Of cavalry withdrew,
TWO O'Clock heavy rain. came on, which completely
drenched tho troops and they also exposed during
the night to slow drizzing rain without or ban-
kets Gen Worth with part Of the lst brigade occu-
pied the hacienda of San Juan de Dio during the night
and the enemy amused themselves by firing few ran
m shot at It about SHUTDOWN from San Antonio, but
without any other effect than riddle the mousse COM
pieely with balls and to besprnkle the officers with
the mortar aud dust of the old hacienda During the
day Major Graham sent out from San Augustin
(Gen sostts hesdquarter towards Contrerss to pro-
tect the engineers In reconnaissance Of the
that direction where during the forenoon he engaged
force of the enemys cavalry and infantry, which
drove bsokwith loss of eight killed. two wounded and
I'VE prisoners Grahams command sustaining no
Loss.
n
Antonio GA the hacienda of San Juan de Dios pposng
part Of our forces still there About 10 O'Clock
she ssppsrs and miners under Lieut., Smith, and the
section VI mountain hovtzsre, under Lieut. Calender
returned to San Augustin and joined Gen Po y's d.
vision which vas then taking its msrch in tho drec
ton of CoetreTas. Gen. Pillow continued his march,
opening the road a. he went, until he reached high
point rom whence had the enemy and his fortifea-
tions in full view Between and O'Clock the division
Of Gan. Twiggs cam. up with the advance and moved
forward-tien. Smiths brigade advancing to the left
anu Col Rileys to the right Gan Pillow placed at the
disposal OF Gen. Twggs Capt McGruder's battery and
Lisut Cadwasders howitzers-both of which belonged
to tho proper division Of Gen. Pillow.
With great difficulty the two batteries moved forward
having To travel half mile over broken and confused
mass oflsvs apparently impossible even for footmen
and the advancing troops Of General smiths Irigsde
hoty engaged the enemy's infantry, which he had
tnrown ou across deep ravine and creek in front Of
bE ortincaions lie appeared determined to maintain
his position in front Of his Notifications using his art
ley for time against the brgades Of our army as
try came In but he not able stsnd the severity
OF th' conflict, and was compelled to retire with heavy
loss lie then concentrated HIS FIRE upon the howxers
ard Captain McCrudy's battery These two batteries
sustained for moro than hour the Are Of tventytwo
p ices OF @rtery mostly of srge calibre when they
wore or dersd by Gen Smith to retire from unequal
we have to lament the death OF Lieut. johnson; Lieut.
allen Var was also severely wounded
Gen Pillow bad ordered General Perce's brigade to
the 81 fpport Of Gen. Smith, and Gen Cadwaaders to
the npport Of Col Riley At this state efthe battle
the left the at Contreras and in rear Of
tne vintage of Epsaldo, where Col Riley had arrived
with force Of $4,000 men (Which afterwards learned
was tnder the command Of Santa Anna himself appa-
rent ~ threatening the safety OF Col Riley and Gen
CAD wnlader General Pillow ordered the 18th infantry
nnoNr COL Morgan Co the support Of Gen. Cadwaader
Gen Scott upon the ground about this time bring
ing with NJ Gen Shields brigade OF volunteers south
port OF the forces under Gen CadwalIader.
Gen. Tv ggs finding his conn and 30 separated and
tnao VIZ utterly impossible, from the nature Of the
Bouno r. him to reach the point he intended occu-
py as n! ght approached fell back with portion OF his
men to eae place where Gen scotwas passing the night
expoed TO severe rain, without shelter or anything
nclt msncy OF the weather.
M ,Gruders aud the howitzer battery being disabled
and It being evident that our left advancing on
rout prepared for by the enemy-he having cleared
AVA eli the brush and other obstacles that obsruoted
his view thereby exposing infantry destructive
IRE ms they approached and 1t being doubtful whether
the could cross the ravine after they reached it, Gen
m lth directed Capt McGruder the battery
TO open la order 10 attract the attention of the enemy
" nile he mud. movement to the right, which he had
on in order to try one of the enemys Hanks
the battery, aud aboug0 men of Major Dimcks COM
msnd to reiniorce the loss sustained by the battery
Zen smith moved on with the sappers and miners 1t
smith LIST artillery, Maj Dimick, and Sd artillery, Capt
Aexander-and as many Of the rife regiment Is could
De got tother they having been detached during the
day az skrmishers and to the engineers In their
reconnaissance Alter passing over the broken and
sosiacs Of land and crossing the deep ra' ines
ne in reaching the village Of Enssldo Gen
Smith being the ranking officer present Gen Cadwala-
ger reporie TO him with four regiments OF Cen Pillows
DIVISION. ooi Riley brigade had crossed tho ravine
n Of
tpe enemy, when he drove of. The enemy was now
up IN lines above the village on the right Of
tne ort-cIe 'front.' Infantry and the rear cavalry The
vnage OF hnsaido IL protected one side by deep
tavns-on ihs road between 1t and the stream is
strong stone wallthe village sintsrsected bv narrow
lanes between high dykes, enclosing gardens full Of
iru,s trees ana srubbery aordng protection and con-
oeament ior .the men. The church, standing in the
centre also afforded protection if necessary Gen
smith now directed Gen. Cadwallader's force to be
orawh up ON the outer edge Of tho village facing the
enernys heayy force the LEFT of the Gort 6a.a a.