Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-05-27
ARMY INTELLIGENCE.
OF f'IClAI,
HEADQUARTERS OF rue AaN,,

and while adopting heartily their COMMUNICATIONS Of the
ardor aud efficiency Of individuals, shall mention 10y
name ooy those who figure Prominently. or from posi-
ton, could not be included IL, those sub reports
The field sketch herewith, Indicates the positions Of the
Two armies The terra cue,ie, Of low level. tenni
mates at Plan del Rio, the site Of tho American camp.
tom which the mad ascends immediately IN long cir.
cult among lofty hill, whose commanding points had all
been fortified and garrlsoned by the enemy. Ills right
encnched, rested proclpee oyefhanpng mn iinpns
sable ravne that forms tho bed Of the stream; and his
enTenc monts extended continuously u the road. on
which was placed Formidable battery. On the other
side the lully aud difficult hoigh, oi Corro Gordo com
mandcd the approaches in all directions. The main body
Of the Mexican army encamped On level ground with
battery OF five pieces halt nlc IN rear Of that height
toward. Jalam.
Resolving if possible. 10 the enemy LEI, and at
tack in rear, while menacing engaging his front,
caused daily "Reminiscences 10 be- pushed. with the
view Of finding for force todoboueh the Jalaa
rpad and cut oil retreat.
| The reconnaissance begun by Lieut. Bcauegari. was
continued by Capt Lee engineer. and rad made along
difficult slopes and over chastnsont Of the enemy
view though reached by HIS fire when dseovoroduntl
arriving al The Mexican lines, further reconnaissance h
came impossible without an action. The desired point
Of debouchue, tie jalapa road, not therefore reach
ed though believed to Inc within casy distance and To
gain thai point, il now became necessary 10 carry the
height Of Ccrro Gorlo. The dispositions in my plan of
battle general orders No. II heretofore enclesed-wcrc
accordingly made.
Twiggs' DIVISION reinforced by Shields brigade Of
unlecrs thrown into position on the lah. and was,
of necessity. drawn into action IN taking up the ground Tor
its blvouac and The opposing height or our heavy battery
II will he that many OF our officers and men were
killed or wounded in this s'arp eombal--hnndsonely
commenced by company Of the 1lh Infantry under Bv'
Fns Lieut.. Gardner who is highly praised 10y all his
commanders for signal services Col Ilamry coming
up with the rifle regiment aud first artillery talso parts
Of his brigade) brushed away the enemy aud occupied
the hcghl-ou which. in the night was placed battery
of "a FOUNDER and two q pound hoMil2cra, under
the superintendent OF Capt Lee, engineers, aud Lieut.
llagncr. ordnance. These guns opcncd next morning,
and were served with effect by Capt Steploc aud 1t.
Brown Sd Artillery, Lieut. llpgner, Ordnance aud
Lieut. Seymour, LIST artillery.
| The same night. with extreme toll aud difficulty IN
der the SUPERINTENDENT Of 1t Tower, engineers. and
1t inldley. ordnance, an inch aoMitLef was put IN
position the and opposite to the enemys right
haticry A detachment Of imr companies, under Major
Bnrnham. New York volunteers performed this crcdi
table service which enabled Lieut. Ripley 2nd artillery.
charge Of the piece, 10 open timely fire IN that quar-
attack and our success speedy aud decisive Pil
low = brigade assnultng the right oi the entertainments,
although compelled To retire, had the effect have here
tofore stated Iwiggs's division, sormng tho strong
aud vital point Of Ceo Gordo. pierced the centre gained
command Of all The entertainments, and cut them oil from
support As our infantry (Col. Riley hrigade) pushed
against the man of the enemy, The guns ol Their own
fort were rapidly turned play TINT force (under the
immediate command Of General Santa Anna,) who He'd
in confusion. Shicdss brigade. bravey assanng the
left carried the earbaitery Give guns) the .lnnm
rond and aided materially in completing the rout Of the
enemy.
The part taken by the reminder Of our forces held
in 10 support and pursue has already been no
ticed.
The momonl the fate Of the day was decided, the
cavalry, and Ta,lor's and Nails field batteries Were
pushed ON towards Jalam IN advance Of the pursuing
columns OF infantry i wggs's division and tho brigade
4 IA al
Patterson was sent to take command Of them In the
hol pursuit many Mexeans captured or slain before
our men and horses were Exhausted by the heat aud dis
lance.
The rout proves to have been eompleiehe roreaing
army except small body OF cavalry, being dispersed
and utterly dsorganlzed The immediate consequences
have been possession Of his important city the nlan
donment Of the works aud artillery at La loya the next
formidable piss between Vera Cruz and the capital, and
the prompt occupation by Woril's division OF the for
ress of Pero,e (second only To San Juan dc Uoa with
its extensive armament Of sixty six guns and mbriars,
and It's large supplies Of maieri. 10 General Wonh's
report, annexed | refer FOR details.
have heretofore cndeavored TO do justice to the skill
and courage with which the attack on the height OF
Cerro Gurdo was directed and executed, naming the
regiments most distinguished. aud their commanders
under the lead Of Col Harvey Lieut.. Il. w. Smith
led the engineer company as part OF the stormng force
and is noticed with distinction.
The reports OF this assault make favorable mention Of
many in which can well concur. having Witnessed the
daring advance and perfect steadness ot the whole
Besides those already named Lieut. Vandorn, 9TH inian-
lry-all acting staff officers Magrnder, LIST ar.il
lcry and Lieut. Gardner, 7th infantry, 10 have
won especial praise.
Col Riley's brigade and 'ralcotts rocket and howii-
batterey, engaged ON and about the heights,
and bore an active part.
The brigade 81 CALAMITY led by General Shields, and,
after his fall by Colonel Baker, deserves high comnen
dation for It's fine behavior and Colones Fore
man and Burnett and Maj Harris, commanded the reg
iments; Lieut. Hammond Sd artillery and Lieut.. DAVIS
Illinois Volunteers constituted the brigade staff. These
operations hid from my view by intervening hills. were
not fully known when my first report hastily writ
ten.
Brigadier General Twggs, who was in the immediate
command of all the advanced forces, has earned high
credit by his Judgment spirit a energy.
The conduct of Coils Campbell, llaskc and Wynn
koop commanding the regiments Of Pillows brigade, is
reported in terms OF strong appreciation by MAJOR General
Patterson. recommend for commission, 1narterinas
ter Sergeant Henry, Of The 9TH infantry, (arcady known
to the army for inrepdiy former occasions,) who
hauled down the national standard the Mexican fort.
In expressing my Indebtedness for able assistance Ia
1t. Col II tchcock acting inspector general, to MAYORS
Smith and IurDbul the respective chiefs OF engineers
and typographical ongneorsto their assistants ieuis
Mason, Beauregard Stevens, Tower, u. w. Smith,
McC eIan engineers, and Lieutenanls Derby and Hard
castle, typographical engineers,o Captain Allen, chiei
qrarlerma sier and Lieut. Blair chief commissary -and
to Leutenants Iagner and Ladley, ordnance-al ac-
lively employed ! am impelled make special men
ton The services Of Capt. X. f.. Lee, engineers.-
This officer greatly distinguished at the siege OF Vera
Cruz, again indeiagable. during these operations
darngas aborous, and OF the utmost
value Nor was he less conspicuous planting bate