Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-11
50 hhApSOAhrhks OF Tux AMY,
Plan del Rio. SO mllcs frnm VEN Crnr

a.
HEApouARrERs THE AMY,
fan del kio % miles from Vera Cruz,
April 10. lsi7.
SIR: The plan of attack, sketched in General Orders
No. ILL., published in last evenings "Jnion herewith
timely executed by this gallant army before two O'Clock
p M Yesterday We are quite embarrassed with the re-
suits OF Ncioy-prisoncrs OF wer, heavy ordnance field
batteries, small arms, aud accoutremens About 900
men land down their with proportion OF field
and company officers, besides i've generals several of them
OF great distinction Pinscn, Jaucro La Vega Norcga
ana Obando. sixth general vasquez was Killed in de-
tending the battery (tnwer IN the OF the whole Mex-
can army the capture oi which those glorious
suits
Our loss. though comparatively small, in numbers. ha.
been serious Bigadcr Gen Shields. commander OF &c.
uNiiy, ZEAL and talent, is fear, IT dead, MORALLY
wounded He - some five miles from me at the moment,
Tie field OF operations covered many miles broken by
mountains and deep chasms, aud have a report as
YET from any division brigade. Twisg's division fol.
lowed BY Shields (now Col Bikcr) brigade are now al,
Nsapa and Woih's division u M oue thitb, M
pursuing, with good results learn that part of the
Mexican army-perhips, six seven thousand men, who
fled before gnt had carried the tower aud gained the
Nalapa road. Pillows brigade alone near me nj this de-
pot Of wounded, sick, and prisoners and have time only
TO give from him the names OF LIST Lieut. b Nelson and
ID g Gill, both of the ID Tennessee foot uIaskol re-
gmenD among the killed, and in the brigade lO6 of all
ranks kicd or wounded. Among the latter the gallant
brigode general himself has smart wound in the arm
but disabled. and Msior Farqueson I'd Tennessee
Captain II Murry 81 Lieut. G T Sutherland Is, Lieu,
Hale (aduianO all OF the same regiment severely
and lst Lieuenent w Yearwood, MORALLY wounded
Aud know, from personal observation The ground that
LIST Lieutenant E"eU, OF the rifles 1t dead was
MORALLY wounded IN entering, sword IN hand. the en-
uenchments around the captured tower Second Lieut.
Derby, Typographical engineers also saw at the Same
place, several wounded and Captain Patien pa Inited
States infantry, lost his right hand Major Sumner n
States dragons, slightly wounded the day before aud
Capt johnson, typographical engineers NOV lieutenant
colonel Of infantry very severely wounded some DAYS
earlier while Teconnoitting must omit add that
Captain Mason and 2d Lieut. DAVIS, both OF the rifles were
among the very severely wounded sorming the same
tower. estimated total loss in killed and wounded
IN be al Ut of the l.
suit towards Iaapa IS miles hcnccl learn we have added
much to the enemy's loss IN prisoners killed and wounded
In isc suppose his relocating army To be nearly disor
gained aud hence my haste 10 follow, hour or two
t. profit by events.
In this hurried and imperfect report must not oni, Il,
that Brgad'cr Gen Twiggs, in passing the mountain
range be Ond Ce5Fu GOrdo crowned with the lower d.
,ichcd from his division, suggos ed the day before
strong force To carry that height which commanded the
Nnlapa road at the foot and could not fail If carried t
cut III the whole, or part OF the enemys forces from
retreat IN any direction. portion the Is, artillery
under the acknowledgement Brcvct Col Chld- the 81
infantry, under captain Alexander the 9TH infantry under
Lieut. Col Pymion, and the rifles under Major oring all
under the temporary command OF Col Harvey % dragons
during the confinement 10 ms bed OF Bcvct Breadcr Gen
smith, composed that detachment. The syie of exc
cuunn, which had the pleasure witness was most brill
liant and decisive. The brigade ascended the long and
iieut slope OF Cero Gordo without shelter. and under
the Tremendous hie OF artillery and musketry with the Ut
most steadnes reached the breast works drove the enc
from them, plan ed the colors the Let artillery 81 and
'tn nianitla cnemys flag sll hying-and after some
minutes OF sharp firing finished the conquest with the bay
1t pleasing duty TO say that the highest praise
due to H.ney Ch,ds, Plym'on L0rng Alexander their
gallant oceFs and men, Tor this brilliant service ndepen-
dent OF the great results which followed
"orh's division OF regulars coming up at this time he
detached Brevet Lieut. Col Smith with his ybt hate,
lion, To support the assault, but time The General
reaching the tower few minutes before me- and obsery-
ing white lag displayed Tom the portion OF the
enemy towards the batteries below sent out Coils HarDev
and Chas to hold Parley. The surrender followed in
an hour or two.
Moor General Patterson left sick bed to share in the
dangers and iatgus OF the day; and after the surrender
vent forward 10 command the advanced forces towards
Xllspa.
Bugadior General Pillow and his brigade twice assault
ed with great daring the enonys line OF batteries on our
lett and though without they contributed much TO
distract and dismay their immediate opponents.
President Santa Anna, with Generals Canalizo and AL
monte, snd six ighi thousand men escaped To-
wards Napa just before Cero Gordo was carried and he.
fore T~iyg's division reached the national road above.
have determined parole the observation-disclosures and
men-as have not the OF feeding them here be-
yond to-day and cannot afford detach heavy body of
horse and foot, with wagons, accompany them TO Vera
Cruz Our baggage train, though increasing, not yet
hall large enough give progress TO this army
Besides, greater number Of prisoners would probably e
cape from the IN the long and deep sandy road
without subssenceten TO Ono-that shall find again
Of the body OF men, the ranks opposed TO us
Not one of the Vera Cruz prisoners believed 1, have
been the lines Of Ccrro Gordo. Seine six Of the officers
highest 10 rank, refuse 10 give their paroles except to 20
10 Vera Cruz and then perhaps TO the United States.
The small end their accoutemeu being of M VAL
army here home, have ordered them TO be
desIoyedi for have the Of Transporting them
am, als1 somewhat embarrassed with the pieces of
aFuiefy-all bronze-which have captured Ii would
take brigade, and half the mules Of this army TO r,na
port them fifty miles. field battery shall take for ser
vice with the armyi but the heavy must be collected
and left mere for the present. We have our own seiye
train aud the proper carriages with Us.
Being much occupied with the prisoners and all the de-
OF aOfward movement besides looking u the supplies
winch are follow from Vera Cruz have time to add no
mOre-iniendng TO be al Xlapl early tomorrow We
shall not probably, again with serious opposition this
side Of Peroie-cerany not, unless delayed by the want
Of the means OF transportation.
have the honor TO sr, with high respect your
most obcdont servant. WINFIELD SCOTr
+. 5. Invite attention the accompanying letter 10
President SANTA Anna, taken IN hiB carriage Yesterday;
also 10 biz proclamation, issued hearing that we had
captured Vera Cruz &C. in which he says "lf the enc
nay advance step more, the national indepe ndcnco will
be buried IN the abyss OF the past" We have taken that
step. W. s
make second postscript to say that there some hope
am happy 10 learn, that Cen Shields moy survive his
wounds.
One Of the principal motives for parolnR the prisoners
Of war Is. TO diminish the Of other garrison IN
march. W <
Hon. wv. l.. M.Ecy, Secretary Of War
RANGE OF THERMOMETER
D n Il on L. ft.,.