The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-17

p 49, =, eith-r ms cavalry under Major Sumner. to
envelope our extreme left and be governed by circum
stances to repe attack the ommander = judy
msns might suggest The troops to be put in position
uuuef cover of night and the work begin
as the heavy metal could bc properly drscted Colonel
Duncan was charged with the disposition Of the
artliery Accordingly, a. three O'Clock Ia the mo rn-
on as many different rontea and when thu grey OF the
ratsv Il nsSH them to b. seen they we've as acsu
ea-iy dawn was the moment appointed for the attack
which was announced to troops by the opening Of
Hugers guas on FL Moline del Rsy, upon which they
continued to play actively until this point of the enc
mys line became sen,iby shaken when the asssulting
party commanded by Wright. and guided by that &C.
compshed officer, Captain Mason, Of the surineers
assisted by Lieutenant Foster dashed calamity for.
wsrd 20 tns assault un,heksn by the Calling fire of
muskety aud canister that showered upon them
they rushcd driviog infantry aud artillery men at the
point Of the bayonet The enemys Geld battery was
taken, and his own guns rasd upon his retreat
Ing mssses before, however they could be
percevng that he had been OF this strong
position by comparatively handful OF men, no made
desperate effort to regain It. his retiring
forossIaisd and formed with this object Aided by the
nf4ntrc, which covered the (wthn reach Of
which the battery bal bsen moved during the night
the enemys whole line opened upon the asssuting
y terrific fire Of musketry, which struck eleven
and non commissioned officers and In proportion
including amongst the officers, Bvt Maj Wright the
all severely wounded This severe shock staggered for
moment that gallant band The light battalion, held
20 cover Hugers battery. under Capt Kirby Smith,
lLieut Col Smith being siok) aud the right wing OF
Cadwaladers brigade promptly ordered forward to
support which order executed In the most gallant
stye the enemy again routed and this point OF his
line carried and fully possessed by our troops In the
meantms Garlaud's QsD brig ,de, ably sustained by
Capt Drums artillery assaulted the enemy left and
after an obstinate and contest drove him
from this apparently imprfgaab position,
under the guns Of the castle Of Cbapultepec Drums
vanced to the enemys position and the captured guns
OF the enemy were now opsned on his retreatiDg for
ces on which they continued to fire until beyond their
reach While this work was in progress Of accom-
plishment by cenItrs and right, our troops on
tho left were not Idle. Duncan's battery opened
on the right Of the enemy's line, up to this time
gagsd; and the ID brig ide, under Colonel Mcintosh
ordered to assault the extreme right Of tho
enemys line The direction Of this brig caused
1t to mask Duncans bstterythe re OF which, for the
moment dscoEt and the brig .de moved stea-
Oily on to the assault Of Casa Mats Which, ust I'D OF
ordinary field entrenchment supposed proved to
be strong stone citadel surrounded with Fashioned
trenchments and impossible ditchss--an old Spanish
work recently repaired and enlarged When within easy
musket range the enemy opened most deadly IRE
upon our advancing troops which kept up without
intermisson, until our gallant reached the very
slope OF the parapet OF the work that surrounded the CT
tade BY this time large proportion of tho command
was either killed or wounded, amongst whom were the
three senior officers Col Mcintosh re.
vet Lieut. Col Scott Of the 9th infantry and Major
Waite 9Th infantry the second killed and the FIRST
last desperately wounded STILL the fro from the cisa
mand was .momentarly thrown into disorder, and fell
back on the left Of Duucans battery where they rallied
vary and infantry force was discovered approaching
pdy upon left flank, to reinforce the snemys right
As soon IA Duncans battery masked, before
TONED supported by Andrews votigsurs, OF Cadwal
der brigade it moved promptly to the extreme lett Of
our line to check the threatened assault this point
range, when the whole battery opened most effective
fire which soon broke the fquadrons, aud drove them
back In disorder During TINS nrs upon tns enemy
and changed direction In admirable order, under most
appalling IRE from the Casa Mats This movement
abled his command to the ravine Immediately
the left OF Duncan'B battery where 1t remained doing
noble service until the close OF the action At the very
troops drew back from before the Casa Mats and ena-
oled the suns Of Dupcan battery to upon this
postion which after short and wen directed fire., the
enemy abandoned. The guns of The battery were now
turned upon his retreaug columns and continued to
play upon them until beyond reach
Hs driven from every point Of the isld, and
Ia possession In fuldlment OF the instructions
Of the Gsneral-in Chisf the Cssa Mata was blown up
well as the cannon mouds found in FL Moline del
Rsy, destroy ed. After which. my command under
the reiterated orders Of the Chief returned
to quarters at Tacubsys with three OF the snsmy
guns Che fourth having been spiked was rendered
servceabe as also large quantity OF small srms with
gun aud muskst ammunition and exceeding eight hun
drsd prisoners including atty two onassrs
BY the concurrent testimony Of prsones the enemy
force excesdsd fourteen thousand men, commanded BY
General Santa Anna In person. His total loss killed,
ncluding the I'd and ID In command, Generals Vslds
and Leon) wounded, and prisoners, amounts to
three thousand exclusive OF some two thousand who do
serted after the rout
My command, reinforced before stated only reached
three thousand hundred men OF all The contest
continued two hours and its severity painfully sttest.d
by heavy loss of officers, non.commissoned on
and privatee including In the frat two classes some
OF the brightest ornaments Of the service.
IL will Do that subordinate commanders speak 10
the warmes terms OF the coniuct Of their officers and
men, to which beg leave to add my cordial testimony
There be higher exhibition OF courage, oonstancy
and devotion TO duty aad to country.
These operations occurring under the observation OF
done to the noble Officers and soldiers, whose valor
achieved this glorious but dear-bought victory. Com
mepding the gallant dead the wounded, and the few un
scathed to the respectful memory OF thor
and the reward due to yslor aud conduct present the
names of those especially noticed by subordinate DOM
msnders uniting 10 az they nave ssa' ana extending
Csuairy-Ths conduct Of Capt Hsrdes and Lieut. ,
and Adtant oakes noticed with high and deserved
Light Bsitsry-Lieuts. Hunt, Hays, and Clarke.
Drum's .frtilte'y-Lieuts Benjamin and Porter 4th
artillery.
snes-Lisuts IIagner and Stone.
Light Ba.tahon-Capt. Reeve, sth infantry; Leuts
Peck, 81 artillery. and Dent, 9Th infantry
ID .drtiHe,y-Leut. and Anjutsnt Anderson, and
I'd .drifisry-Cspt r. Anderson; and Lieuts Len.
drum, Andrews and Shields:
An Infantry--Brevet Major Buchanan; Lieut.. and
Adjutaut Prince, Lieuts Gore, Smith JUDAH Lincoln
Mcdonnell and Jones.
Adjutaut Lugenbeel Leuts. Rossel, J. r Smith, c. g.
Hsmilton, and Fowler.
ca Iafaat,y Capt. Hoffman; Lieut.: r johnson and
Armistead, Wetmore, Buckner, and Adjutant Ernst
6'h Tnfantry-Brevet Major Wright; Capts Scriven,
L. Smith Gates; and Lieuts Selden, Merchant Nor
ris Pickett, and particularly Adjutant Longstrect
.4ssauuimg Column -Brevet Msjor Wright, sth in
fantry (commanding) wounded Capt. J. l. Mason,
gnssrs; (woundsdO M f. Merrill. 9th infantry, (kied0
Capt A Cady, 9Th infantry, (wouudedD Capt w. H.
I. Walker. 9Th infantry, (woundedD Capt. v. Bonn
ford 9Th infantry; LIST Lieut.. NJ L. shsckeford I'd ar
tiery, twounded) LIST Lieut. D. Daniels I'd artillery
l.oundedD lat Lieut.. q. o Hsller, 4th nfantryi LIST
Lieut. d. Clarke, 9Th infantry, (xounded I'd Lieut..
J Fairy, I'd artillery. (kisd) Ind Lieut.. J. g. 3.
Smelling, sch infantry, (wounded;) I'd Lieut. NJ Mslo-
No inf A LENT hn EOater eurineeYa
wounded
1t becomes my grateful duty TO notice the respective
commanders each Of whom was distinguished for
duct and gaantry.
Major sumner, I'd dragons, mansged his command
with skill and courage was always la the right place.
at the right time msnacng repeing superior forces
of his own cannot give, nor does that excellent
officer need, higher praise.
Lieut. Col Moore, Sd dragons, coming on the field
during the action, while giving n hns example In his
person, dcatey for to exercise his right to
command.
Lieut.. Col. Duncan having been charged with the
general disposition Of the artillery executed that ser
vice with his usual talent and then commanded and al,