Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-15
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE OF
#s CERRO GORDO.


s CERRO GoRDO.
The New Orleans papers received last evening
contain many additional particulars in relation to
Gen. ScoTT's last great victory at Cerro Gordo,
the most interesting Of which we transfer TO our
columns to-day, supposing that they will be more
acceptable to our readers at the present moment
than any other description of matter.
We copy, first, as being necessary to complete
the narrative of events connected with this great
achievement, the subjoined letters, which should
have preceded those Of Mr.. Kendall that were pub
lished in our last paper
PLAN DEE RIo Mxxrco, APRIL l6, 1917
General Twggss division Of the army reached this place
Sunday last and Gen. Patersons Monday evening Both
encampcd delightful valley the banks fhe
Parma del Ro River Of the Plain awaiting the arrival Of
Gen Worh's division and Gen. Quiman's brigade Of the
Alabama Georgia. and South Carolina volunteers General
Scott arrived last evening, and anticipate in few days
hard battle The Mexicans to the number Of from 900
$4,000 men, with Gen. Vega, if not Santa Anna himself
their head strongly fortified about three miles in
advance and appear be constantly engaged making
position, if possible, still stronger. They have several bat
ees planted and they do not make desperate stand when
attacked they must be greater set Of towards than have yet
supposed them. 1a .
Our present force here is not over 900 men, including
Septoes, Wallis and the howizer batteries The sapper
and miners busy engaged in cutting roads, and when
batteries erected shall give them paricular fits,
TO vulgar phrase. .ss<
We are miles from Vera Cruz and thirty three from
Jaapa Several volunteers have been wounded killed in
march from Vera Cruz, having Jagged too far behind the
main body II was assure you, hard work to the
while marching, and many poor fellow dropped upon the
road from complete exhaustion
a PLAN DEL RIO, APRIL l6-Eyening.
The Mexicans under Santa Anna, occupying chain
of works along road the OF which about mile
and quarter from Gen Scots headquarters in direct line
The road this side is cut up and bacaded and every posi-
BILE Of defence apd annoyance has been resoted
feyond the frat work there three four others,
petey commanding the gorge through which the road ia
apa runshese Notifications hills and rising de-
end another is thought that Santa Anna has 900
with himhe lowest estimate gives him is Q00-and
with these he has twenty -four pieces Of field artillery besides
fourteen heavy cannon in position Some Of the prison.
and deserters from the camp place higher
estimates, both as to the number Of men and guns,
To these different works road has been partially
through the rough ground and chaparra to the rights and
although the reconnaissance is ye imperfect, is still
thought that point the enemys farhest work be
reached. Gen Twiggs, with his divson is 10 march at
o'clock morning by the road and the fol-
lowing morning il thought the attack will the
works this side H Gen Twiggs succeeds In reaching the
Of Santa Anna-and he will every exertonI do not
what him. He is generally fox enough have
plenty Of holes Of which to escape however, and from
the great difficulty of reconnong his position fully he may
have Of escape here The general impression
now camp that this be the great battle Of the
and the immense natural strength Of Santa Annals works
would Justify the belief.
been BEFORE and bold in throwing out their pckes Not
party go their works without being fired upon and
yesterday soldier Of the 9TH infantry fell with less than
seven bullets in his body II is said that Amonte is with
Santa Anna all the principal generals of the country
Gen. Worth left Puente Nacional this Afternoon with bis di.
vision, and will be up during tonight He started little
after o'clock this morning, with near 1000 picked men,
determined to make forced march through but learning
the road that the attack upon the Mexican works not
anticipated, he returned Puente Ma
ciona after marching mile and half Capt Pemberton,
of his aids rode here last evening after dark and
returned with the information that the attack had been
postponed. t5
The wounds of Capt Johnston are doing we'll regretto
state that Gen. p F. Smith confined to his bedutterly
unable either TO ride walk He has violent inflammation
Of the right ankle and knee resembling erysipeas, which,
from negectng several days when he should have RENAME
in his cot, has finally compelled him to lay up. will write
again Tomorrow ",
I'M PLAN DEL Rio, APRtL US o'clock A. NJ
Gen. Worths division up during last night and this
morning. ready for any thing that up section Of the
siege tan comprising two twentyour Founders and eight
inch howzer will be along this forenoon subsistence train
is also close by and is very much Needed the army
ly out of provisions
Gen. Twiggss division will march by ocock The LIST
brigade composed Of the LIST artillery ID Dragons and Capt
Kearneys company Of the LIST and 18th infantry is under
mand of Col Harvey during the illness of Gen. Smith the
I'd brigade of the 9TH artillery and I'd and Sd infantry
under Col Riley, and to these must be added Taylos bat
terry and Talcos mountain howzer and rocket men, acting
under the immediate orders Of Gen Twiggs. The latter
as this is Just the country for their operations.
have written this of be able to send you
Of the operations thus far in any going
Vera Cruz. The road is much infested by small
parties Of the enemy that is deemed imprudent for single
man start let him he well mounted. If have
another chance write to-day shall improve il. 4,
1.-THE remainder Of this series Of letters published
Saturday, the above not having then been received.
In the New Orleans Delta of the I'd instant we find
the following general description Of the BATTLE found
ed on information furnished by Capt. HUeHRs. ofthe
Typographical Corps:
On the arrival Of the other division OF the army the
campment Of General Twiggs the 9Th Of April General
ScoTT, after taking reconnaissance Of the enemys works,
determined to them The position occupied by the
envy regarded by them impegnabie, and truly any
other than American soldiers must have appeared nsur
mountabe and impraccabe undertaking carry by storm
take it by strategy.
The road from Vera Cruz, il passes the Plan del Rio,
which is wide rocky bed of large stream, is
manded by series Of high cliffs rising above the other,
and extending several miles, and all well fortified The road
then debouches to the right and cuvng around the RIDGE
passes high cliff which is completely enaded by forts
and batteries This ridge is the Of the Terra
Tsmpiada-the upper mountainous country. The high
and rocky ravne Of the river protected the right flank Of the
position and series Of most abrupt and apparently impassa
BILE mountains and ridges covered their Left Between these
points, running distance Of three miles, succession
Of strongly fortified forts bsled every turn and seemed 10
defy all bravery and skill The erro ordo commanded the