Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-05-18
FURTHER DETAILS
OF THE RATTLE OF
CEfeaeO SGORDO.

uIs'' from which we extract copiously -
RereiHe.
The positions occupied by the enemy
were as strong as nature, combined with
arr could make them, and could you bat
see them whilst reading these lines, you
would wonder at their surrender. The
Zero Gordo, the most prominent of the
deiences, commands the Jalapa road for
two. or three miles, and a heavy battery
here in the hands. of skilful men, would
keepaa army in check for many day, if
not entirely prevent its passage. The i'm.
poItaHee of this point was soon made ape
parent to all, and last night, about ID. O..
clock, a piece ofcannon was hauled upon
a neighboring eminence, which, after
sending sundry shot upon. the enemy, was
found of little avail and in the morning
the Cerro Gordo was st9rmed and carried.
NOT however, before the commander.in.
chief Of the Mexicans had secured himself
a safe retreat, by falling back, with his
Sody-guaid, several miles upon the JaIapa
road. ~ sei f.,-- go.
la the mean time the. other defences
we've being stormed by our troops, Three
forts. situated nearer to our camp, and
upon three Rights adjacent to each other
each commanding the ethers--were the
objects. of attack; and the carrying ofthem
was the task ofthe volunteers. The cen.
ire one oEthese forts runs further in than
the others, and this being the object of
storm, the advance Of the stormers had to
undergo the fire of the right and left, and
the centre-the latter of which pIudently
withheld its fire until our men had advan-
ced within forty yards Of the guns, and
then the dogs Of war were let loose with
such fury, that our men were driven from
their position, with, great slaughter-the
I'd Tennesseans, who were in advance,
having large number in killed and
wounded. Before the volunteers had time
to renew the. attack, the enemy had sur
rendered-driVen, as they had been, from
their favorable position on CeTro Gordo.
Taking all things iato consideration,
this has been great fight, and great
victory, one calculated to shine brilliantly
in the chapters of those achieved ia Mexico
by our arms. u. crew sfs.. ----. :f.l-...t.-
The Mexican forces on the height of
Cerro Gordo were the Sd and 4th light
infantry, thel3d and5lh regiments of the
line, and six pieces of artillery, with the
requisite number of cavalry Col. Oban,
do, chief of artillery, was killed, and Gen.
Vasques, General of Division. Many of
our officers were of opinion that this Gen
eral was no other than Gov. Morales.
Our force consisted of the ID, Sd and
7th infantry and mounted rifemen, and
StePtoe's battery. Capt. Mason, of the
rifles, was Severely 6 wounded, having lost
his left legs Lieut.. Ewell, of the 18th in
fantry, was severely wounded. Capt.
Patten, ofthe 3D.. left hand shot off.
On the 18th Lieut. Jarvis, of the I'd
infantry, wounded in ascending the first
hill. go. .aegggt =sibp d giau5r, h-..e e..
On the top ofthe Cafro G6rdo the scene
was truly horrible. From the JaIapa road
dead bodies of the enemy could be seen
on every spot where the eye WAS directed,
until the literally cover edthe ascent to
the height. There is about haitian acre
otleFel groundon the top of the mountain,
and here was collected together the
wounded of both armies, and the dead of
our own. Side by side were lying the
disabled American and the Mexican. and
our surgeons were busy amputating and
dressing the wounds ofeach--lotting them
in turns, unless the acute pain of some
sufferer further along caused hi n TO cry
out, when he would be immediately at
! tended to. 81 eva .ss.gst5s,re
The pioneer parties of our men were
picking up the wounded and bringing the m
in from every part of the ascent 10 the
height. From the side towards the river.
where the storming party of Gen. Twiggs's
division made the charge, most OF. our me n
suffered. and many of the enemy. also. for
they made desperate stand; but when
they gave way, and started in confusion
| down the hill, was the time they most
suffered, many Of them receiving the balls
OF our men in their backs. 5a
! The charge on Cerro Gerdo was one
Of those cool, yet deternliaed ones 90
Characteristic of the American soldier
From the time that our troops left the hill
nearest that prominent height the fire was
incessant, and they had to fight their way
foot by foot, till they gained the summit.
from which place the enemy gave wa,
after very shoEtiresistance. fea
3: Our yieteryiis complete. Those iofthe
enemy who escaped were driven in all
directions by their pursuers, and many o
them cut down on the road. e;aIs,a
Gen. Fwiggs, who followed them aiiel
taking Cerro Gordo, approached. within
tire miles of Jalapa, and fndiHgsno force
Of tieenemy encanped fotthe night. He
is ia the town before this time. .afa ),
Capt. Merrill, of the ID Dragons, re,
turned from Twiggs's camp last highland
isofupinion that nothing but small body
guard is.u'ith Santa Anna. hasi Tee.. 80