The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-05-25
THE sToRMING OFCERRo GORDO.

Mr.. Kendall, in one of his letters, gives the
following account of the storming Of Cerro
Gordo.-But for the illness of Gen. Smith,
the assault would have been led by that gal
liant officer. In his stead Colonel Harvey has
reaped the laurels Of this glorious achieve
ment, and long may he wear them. The mis-
chance OF one chivalrous spirit made way for
the valor of another, who approved himself,
upon this as upon other occasions. capable OF
the most daring feats Of gallantry.
The storming and capture Of the strong
works on Cerro Gordo, by the brigade under
Col. Harvey. may be looked upon as one of
the most brilliant achievements of the Mexi-
can war-the fate of the battle turned upon
II, and here the enemy had placed an over
whelmins force of his best troops. The hill
was steep, and naturally difficult Of ascent 4;
but independent of this the ground was COW
cred with loose, craggy rocks, an underground
of tangled c%happaral, besides manv small
trees. the tops Of which were cut off some
four or five feet from the ground, aud turned
down the hill TO impede the progress Of the
storners. To climb the height al all, even
without arms Of any kind, would be an under
taking that few would care about e~ssaying :;
what then must it have been TO men encum-
bered with muskeis and cartridge boxes, and
Obliged TO dispute every step Of the precipit-
Gus and rugged ascent Murdeious show
ers Of grape and canister greeted our men al
the onset, and as they toiled unfalterinr thro'
a tempest Of iron hail, a heavy fire Of mus
kerry opened upon them. Not a man quail
ed-with loud shouts they sill pressed up
ward and onward.
At every step our ranks were ihinned; but
forward went The survivors. When within
good musket range, but not until then, was
the fire of fhe enemy returned, and then com
menced the dreadful carnage of the strife.
he Mexicans held 10 their guns with more
man Their usual bravery. but nothing could
resist tile iIerce onset OF the IN Over
the breasiwUrks with which the Mexicaus had
surrounded The crest of the hill they charged,
and shouting, attacked the enemy in his very
Stronghold. The latter now fled panic-sir;ck-
en- but still they were pursued and 1t was
not until The affrighied f~ugiIives had reached
a point without the extreme range of their
own cannon, which had been turned upon
them at the onset, that they ceased III their
Hight. The national colors of our country
now supplanted the banner of The enemy. the
Inherent reglmental flags were also planted
on the crest, and shouts louder than ever from
the victorS rosa upon the air, struck terror in
TO- the very hearts Of tie enemy in the works
sui untaken, for they knew that their strong
posIions had been turned and that they were
al Iae mercy OF the men they had scoffed al
in the morning.
never was victory more complete. although
purchased with the blood of some OF our best
Ewell, of the rifles, was among
!he hrst within the .enemy's breastworks, and
II was here that he received his death wound.
ne interior OF the work was covered with
me dead OF the enemy, among them General
easqnez' Col. Palacio, and many.of their Of
ncers' while the hill side down which they
hea was strewn as well. Near 300 men were
'e'' deadi while tie wounded would swell the
hummer to at least 5OO-some even nut !,
down as high as 700. ~