New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-11
Dispatch from General Scott.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE
OF CERRO GORDO.
From theUnion Of Saturday
HEADQUARTERS OF THE AMY,
- M Pc IN rnilaa f-nrn Lara Cr,,r

Sir: The plan Of attack, sketched in General
Orders Nos1ll, herewith. finely executed BY this
gallant army before two o'clock P NJ. yesterday. We
quite embarrassed with the results Of vctorypris
oners Of war heavy ordnance, field batteries small
arms, and accouIements.
Abou, 1900 men laid down their with the usual
proportion Of field and company officers, beside I'VE
generals several Of them Of great distinction Pinson
Jsrrero La Vega Noriegs and O5ando. sixth general
Vasquez killed In defending the battery toTer in
the rear Of the whole Mexican army the capture OF
which gave those glorious results.
Our loss, though comparatively small 10 numbers
has been serious. Brigsdier General Shields com
msnder Of activity zeal and talent is fear II not dead
MORALLY wounded He 10 some i've miles from me Al
the moment The field OF operations covered many
miles broken BY mountains and deep ehasms and have
not a report as yet, from any division or brigade
Twiggs's division, followed By Shieldss nov Col.
Bakers) brigade now At or near Xalspa and Worth
division is in route thither all pursuing, with good re-
sults learn that part of the Mexican army-perhaps
six or seven thousand men, who fed before right
had carried the tower. and gained the Xalapa road.
Pillows brigade alone. is near me at this depot OF
wounded, sick and prisoners and have time only 70
give from him the names Of First Lieut.. F. B. Nelson
and Second C. G. Hill, both Of the % Tennessee foot
(Haskells regmenD among the killed, and ia the br
gade LOG, of all ranks. killed or wounded
Among the latter the gallant Brgadier General him
self has smart wound in the arm but not disabled and
Major r. Fsrqueson % Tennessee; Captain II. F. Mur
ray ID Lieut. G.. T. Sutherland, lst Lieut.. w. P. Hale
Adjutsnt all Of the regiment severely, and Isl
Lieut. w. Nesrwood. MORALLY wounded. And know
from personal observation on the ground that lst Lieut.
Ewell, of the rifles, If not dead, was MORALLY
wounded 10 entering sword in hand. the entrenchmenti
around the captured tower.
Second Lieut. Derby, typographical engineers | also
saw. at the place severely wounded and Captain
Paen I'd United states Infantry, lost his right hand
Major Sumner Cd United States Dragons, was slightly
wounded the day before and Capt Johnston Topographic
cal engineers NOW Lieut. Colonel OF Infantry very
severely wounded days earlier while reconnoiter
ing. must not omit TO add that Capt Mason and ID
Lieut. Davis, both Of the rides, among the very
severely wounded in storming the same tower.
estimate our total loss. in killed and wounded, may
be about $50 and that Of the enemy $50 In the pursuit.
toward Xalspa (25 miles hence learn we have added
much 10 the enemys loss in prisoners, killed, snC
wounded. In fact suppose his retresting army TO be
nearly dsorgsnzed and hence my haste to follow, IN az
hour or two, 70 profit By events.
In this hurried and imperfect Report must not orn
10 say that Brgadier General Twggs, In passing the
mountain. range beyond CerrO GOrd0, crowned with the
tower detached from his division, | suggested thu
day before, strong force to carry that hight which
commanded the Xalapa road at the foot and could no
fail If carried to cut oh the whole OF any part OF the
enemy's forces. from a retreat in any direction.
portion OF the lst artillery under the oten-distn
ruished Brevet Colonel Childs the 80 infantry under
Captain Alexander, the 9TH infantry. under Lieut-Col
Pymton and the rifles, under Major Lorng, all undel
the temporary command Of Colonel Harvey. ID dra
goons during the confinement 10 bis bed OF BreyetBrg
General p. f. Smith, composed that detachment. The
style of execution which had the pleasure to witness
was most brilliant and decisive.
The brigade assembled the long and difficult slope o
Cerro Gordo without shelter and under the tremend
Gus fire OF artillery and muskery with the utmost stead
mess reached the breastworks drove the enemy iron
them planted the coors of the Let Artillery % and al
Infantry-the enemy's flag still hying-and, after some
minutes sharp firing finished the conquest with the bayo
net.
tits most pleasing duty say that the highest praise
Is due 10 Harvey Childs Plymton. Loring, Alexander
their gallant officers and men, for this brilliant service
independent OF the great results which soon followed
Worihs division of regulars coming up AZ this ntne
he detached Brevet Lieutenant Colonel c. +. Smith
with his light battalion TO support the assault but not II
time The General reaching the tower lew rninute
before me- and observing white flag displayed from h'
nearest portion OF he enemy toward the batteries beo"
sent out Colonies Harvey and Chids 70 hold parley-
The surrender followed in an hour or two.
Major General Patterson left sick bed TO share II
the dangers aud fagues OF the day and alter me sur
render went forward TO command the advanced force
toward Xaapa.
Brig CEN Pillow and his brigade twice assaulted viii
great daring the enemys line OF batteries our left
and though without success they contributed much "
distract and dismay their immediate opponents.
President Santa Anna with Generals CanaizO and al
monte and some six or eight thousand men, escaped 10
ward Xaapa just before Cerro Gordo was carried an'
before Twiggss division reached the National hOh,
above.
have determined to parole the prisoners-oihcer
and men-as have not the means of feeding them here
beyond to-day and cannot sord 10 detach heavy BODY
of horse and foot with wagons, 10 accompany them =
not yet half large enough to give an assured
this army. ,, -,
Reside. greater number Of prisoners would, prooa
bly, escape from the escort 10 the long ana ueeP sanu
rosd vviibont subsistence-ten 20 One-thst we shal
find again out of the same body OF men IN ihe rank
opposed 10 us Not one of the Vera Cruz prisoners
believed to have been In the lines oil Cerro Horuo-
Some six Of the officers highest IN rank refuse 70 gN'
their paroles except 10 go 10 Vera Cruz ana tnenoe
perhaps 10 the United states.
The small arms and their Announcements being oil nc
value to our army here AT home have ordered then
to be dest Dyed for we have not the means oil trans
porting them. am. also, somewhat embarrassed viii
the - pieces of artery-a brouze-which we have
captured !, would take brigade, and half the mules
of our army. 10 transport them nifty miles.
field battery shall take Tor service With the army
but the heavy metal be collected, and left here
for the present We have our own siege-rsn and the
proper carriages with us.
Being much occupied with the prisoners, and all the
details of forward movement beside looking TO me
supplies which 20 follow from Vera Cruz, have TIME
10 add no more-ntending 10 be al Asapa early 10 NOR
row. We shall not probably, again meet with seriou'
opposition this side of Peroe-eertsinly not unless oe
layed by the want of the means OF transportation.
have the honor to remsin, sir. with hlgn respect
your most Obedent seryt, WINFIELD SCOi4'
p s invite attention 10 the accompanying letter 10
President Santa Anna taken in his carriage yesterday
also TO his issued hearing tnst we ha'
captured Vera Cruz, sc. in which he says II the enc
NV advance one step more the National independence
will be buried in the abyss Of the past we nave tsAen
that step.
maize Second postscript to say that there is some
hope. am happy 10 learn, tnat ueh' SHe'U' '"'' ~
One Of the principal motives for psrolng the prison
ers of war it, to diminish the resissnees OF otner gar
risons in our march. W .
Hon. WIN. l.. MARCY, Secretary oi war.
KrARNEY AND SrocKroN-We notice a letter
from John K Thompson. Esq. of Princeton, y J. pub