Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-05-13
DAILY PIcAYuNE OFFICE,
Friday Evening, April 3O-5 O'Clock.

BY the steamship McKim, Capt. Pillsbury,
which left Vera Cruz Oh the both inst, we have
glorious news from the army under General Scott
Mr. Bugbee who was sent from the scene of action
by MIR. Kendall with dispatches for this Office left
the McKim 20 miles below the city, and came up
to the city, express, with the glorious tidings.
On the afternoon OF the Nth, the advance under
Gen. Twggs encountered the enemy, when a Sc
we're but indecisive conflict ensued. As the general
orders which we give below show that it was Gen.
SCOTS intention to give battle ouiy on the 18TH, it
may be that this engagement was brought on by
the MeXicanS.-The main battle occurred on the
18th, and resulted in the complete triumph of the
American arms.
Santa Anna made his escape after his army was
routed. Gen. La Vega is again among the prison
Besides him there were five generals taken,
and long list of coloRels and subordinate officers.
I'VE g We below list of such of the officers are
coming to this place. They were 10 leave Vera
Cruz about the 25th.
PLAN DEL RIO, April I'LL A.. NJ.
The division of Gen. Twiggs started two hours
since, and heavy cannonade has already COM
menced upon his line from the farhcst of the Mex
lean works. AT intervals too, the rafting of small
arms can be heard distinctly from the Dragon
camp where am writing this. In am goiug out
with Coils. Duncan and Bohlan and Capt. Pember-
ton to the seat OF action, and will return here at
night to report the progress of the fight. 1t was
open the fight to-day, at least to bring general
action, and it is therefore presumabe the MeXicans
have commenced upon him. | write in great
haste. c. WK
s, p. MI have Just returned from the scene
Of conflict, and bloody one it has been considering
the number engaged. A hill this side of the far
thest Mexican work, and on which there was no
one seen last evening, was found occupied by the
enemy light troops this morning, and to force it
once deemed indisnenSahle For thic r,,r
dose the Rifles under Major Sumner, besides de-
tachments OF artillery and infantry, ordered
TO charge up the rugged ascent. This they did i'm
In gallant style, driving the MeXicans, after re-
sistance which may be put down most Obstinate
Great numbers of the enemy Were killed, while on
our side the loss was also severe. Major Sumner
was shot in the head by musket ball-severely
but not MORALLY: Lieuts. Maury and Gibbs, of
the Rifles, were also wounded, but not severely as
was also Lieut.. Jarvis of the ID Infantry.
| could not learn that any Of our officers We're
killed The entire loss on our side i'll killed and
wounded, is estimated at about one hundred but
from the nature of the ground--broken, covered
with brush and thick chapparal and extremely un-
event. is impossible to tell with accuracy. Nor
can 1, at this tlme give the names Of the Off
GERS who Were Immediately engaged.
About 5 O'Clock the enemy made demonstration
from the fort the neighboring height to the one
our men had captured, az if with the intention of
hill, blowing most terrific charge on their trum-
pets firing few shots, and then retiring Their
appearance as they came down the slope, was Ger
taIDly imposing. The cannon on the height mean
while kept up continuous fire upon Gen. Twiggs
lines yet doing little execution other than cutting
down the trees and brush. As we returned to
camp, the fire still continued-the enemy had evil
IDENTIFY ascertained the position of the road which
had just been cut, with accuracy, but their balls
principally went over.
Gen. Shields, at 3 o'clock, was ordered out to
support Gen. Twiggs, with three regiments of Vol
unteers-two from Illinois under Coils Baker and
Barnett. They will have warm work tomorrow
IT the MexicanS stand up as they did today.
There has been not a little SkirTnishing TO day
between the forage and beef parties sent out in the
rear, and the rancheros. One Illinois man was Kill
led, and one of the same regiment and Tennes-
seean wounded. could not learn their names.
Tomorrow the grand attack, both upon the front
and rear OF the enemy, is to be made. General
Worth is to move at sunrise, and little peace will
The MeXicans have for one twenty hours at least
G.. w. X.
CAMP NEAR PLAN DEL RIo,2
April IS-1 O'Clock, p. NJ
The American arms have achieved another glo-
rious and most brilliant victory. Out-numbeTng
Gen. Scoti's force materially, and occupying posi-
lions which looked impregnable as Gibraltar, one
after another OF their works have been taken To-
day, five generals, colonies enough to command ten
such armies as ours, and other officers nnumerabe,
have been taken prisoners, together with 5000
men, and the rest OF their army driven and routed
with the loss of every thing, ammunition, cannon
baggage train, all. Nothing but the mpossibility
OF finding road for the dragons TO the Of the
enemy,s works saved any part of Santa Anna's
grand army, including his own illustrious person.
Among the prisoners is our old friend La Vega,
who fought with his accustomed gaantry The
L.. n r.
Manuel Uoriaga and Jose Obando. The names OF
the colonies have not been able to gather. No
thing saved Santa Anna but the want of dragons
the other side of their lines. As it is his tray
cling coach, together with all his papers vaIuabes
and even his eCoodeneg, have fallen into our hands
together with all the money Of his army. No one
anticipated, when they crosse from their hard bivou-
ack this morning, suck complete victory
The loss on both sides has been heavy-how
could it have been otherwise The rough and
rocky road, cut through rugged defies and dense
chappar7l by our troops, is lined with our
wounded. The Rifles, Col. HaskelPs Tennessee
volunteers the LIST Artillery, the 9TH Infantry, and
Capt. Williams company of Kentucky volunteers,
have perhaps suffered most. Gen. Shields was Sc
verely, and am fearful, MORALLY wounded, while
CALAMITY leading his brigade TO storm one of the en-
emy's arthest works. Gen. Pillow was also
wounded, although slightly, while storming forti-
fcaton on This side commanded by La Vega.
All the field officers Of Col Haskell's regiment
were wounded at the same time, save himself or
the Rifles, Capt. Mason has lost leg, Lieut.. T.
well has been badly wounded, Lieut. BIcT.ane.
slightly. ! have already mentioned the gallant
Maj. Sumner and other Officers wounded yesterday.
have specified some regiments above which sig !
nalized themselves it happened to be their fortune,
in the disposition Of the battle TO fall upon what ali
good soldiers may term pleasant pIaces-the mos; /
iifficult works TO storm--and bTavely and without