Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-10-19
THE MARCH AND THE BATTLES
BEFORE MEXICO-


lished of the march and achievements Of the
American army under Gen1. Scott, from the
day Of its leaving Puebla, until it became mas
ter of the City of Mexico. The account is
clear and admirable, and direct from head
quarters:
SAN ANGELO. Mexico, Aug 81, 1917.
We left Puebla ON the morning of the 9TH,
and entered upon beautiful rolling country
OF great fertility, supplying with its gardens
the inhabitants of Puebla with food, and sur
rounded by lofty mountains, some of which
were covered with snow. Our road was grad
ually ascending and so good that on looking
back from the head of the column, our train
could be seen for miles in rear, dotting with
Its snow white tops the maguey covered plain.
On our left was Popocatapetl and Iscatafetl,
the snow on their not distant tops rendering
the air quite chill. Gen. Scott did not leave
with us but came on the next day with Capt.
Kearney's dragons.
The second days march was like the first,
gradually ascending, passing through defiles,
narrow passes and over deep chasms, where
a more determined enemy might have serious
/ ly annoyed us by merely making use Of the OBJ
stacles nature everywhere presented. Thick
wood of the finest forest trees were abundant,
and the rugged nature of the country would
readily carry one back to the Northern parts
of New England or the passes of the Notch.
Here and there beautiful little lakes were in
tersperced in the deep vallies, and the clear
ness and GOODNESS of their waters were almost
/ incredible.
The third day we were to encounter the
much Wanted pass of ''Rio Frio," and also the
passage of the mountain which was to lead us
\ Z n ha IF h. IL.
OF Mexico. Our march was to be long and diff
ficult, and three o'clock saw us under way with
heart and hopes full of the prospect before us.
The much dreaded pass is reached and passed.
The mountains which skirt the road on the left,
here close upon 1t for about mile, overhanging
and enfiladlng it completely and afforling with
their crests most excellent coverings for an
enemy's marksmen. The newly cut trees and
long range of breast works thrown up on the
crest, showed us that preparations had been
made, while numerous parapets with embras-
ures in the logs taught us what might have
/ been done. But no men were there-the mus
kets and cannon were gone. Valencia, with
5000 Mexicans, was full days march ahead,
making for Mexico with speed which be-
trayed home sickness. Rio Frio was found to
be little stream pouring down from the Snow
mountain, of icy GOODNESS and crystal purity.
GULL
menced our ascent of the ridge which separa-
ties the plains of Puebla and Mexico, the for
mer of which it had hithertoskirted. For sew
eral long miles we toiled up the hill, only re-
compensed for our labor by what we hoped to
attain at last. When all were pretty nearly
worn out, sudden turn in the road brought to
our view sight which none can ever forget.
The whole vast plain of Mexico was before
us. The GOODNESS of the air, which was most
sensibly felt at this great height, our fatigue
and danger were forgotten and our eyes were
the only sense that thought of enjoyment
Mexico, with its lofty steeples and its cheq-
uered domes, its bright reality and its ancient
magnliicence, was before us: while around on
every side its thousand lakes seemed like silver
stars on velvet mantle.
We encamped that night at the base Of the
mountain, with the enemy's scout on every
side of US. The next day we reached Ayotla,
only fifteen miles from Mexico by the Nation
al Road, which we had hitherto been follow
ing. Here we halted until Generals Quitman,
Pillow and Worth, with their divisions, should
come up. We were separated from the city by
the marshes which surrounded Lake Tezcuco,
and by the Lake itself The road is a cause
way running through the marsh and is com
manded by a steep and lofty hill called FL Pin
mol. This hill completely enfilades and COM
mands the National Road and had been forti-
fed and repaired with the greatest care by San
ia Anna. One side wasinaccessible by nature,
the rest had been made so By art. Batteries in
all mounting 90 guns of different calibres, had
been placed Oh its sides, and deep ditch, "a
feet wide and 10 deep, filled with water, had
been cut connecting the parts already surroun-
ded by marshes. On this side Santa Anna had
$4,000 men against our force of little over
5000 all told.
On the 22d, we made reconnaissance of the
: work, which was pronounced impracticabIe,
as the lives Of 5000 men would be lost before
the ditch could be crossed. We continued our
search and found another road which went
5 around on the left, but when within five miles
f, of the city, were halted by coming suddenly
upon five strong batteries on the hill which
commanded this road, at place called Mexi-
calcingo. We soon cOuntermarched and then
saw our danger. With one regimentand three
i companies of cavalry, in all about 400 men
we saw that Ell Pinnol lay directly between u.
n and our camp, distant full fifteen miles. Ev
a cry eye was fixed on the hill with expectation
of an approaching column, which should drive
S US back into Mexican prison, while we step
n ped off with the speed and endurance of 40l
Capt. Barclays! At about midnight we arriv
n ed safely at camp, and Gen. Scott did us tn
: honor of calling it 'Ethe boldest reconnaissance
r. of the war" Gen. Worth was encampet
), about five miles, of. that in a straight line
, across the Lake Chalco, at a place of sam
a papoo hi,t about ,,oilac hv ba rOad T'h