Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-09-25

FROM H ARMY.
Tery interesting Letter from a distinguished Off,
Ger to his Correspondent in Washington.

Why ANbhAAA ~ AOtss
We are now located in one wing of the Archbishop's pa
lace. Chapultepec, with its magnificent grove, is before us,
and we overlook the great city, surrounded by its lakes, and
embosomed in its mountains. never realized the beauty of
the valley Of Mexico until reached this spot. To see it now,
lighted by the soft, bright moon, with every village, spre,
hut, and mountain reflected in its silver lakes, you would
think it even surpassed the description we read Of 1T. There
are also some stupendous works of art around us. But can
tell you nothing, for | have not yet been in the city, though
! have knocked at its gates. In the absence, then, OF some
thing more interesting, l shall have to tell you Of the opera
tons fthe army.
On the 7h instant Gen. Twiggs's division left Puebla. 1t
was followed on the 9Th by Gen. Qutman's, on the 9th by
Gen. Worth's, and on the 10th by Gen. Pillows. Gen.
Scott left on the 9th, and overlook Gen. Twggs that night at
San Martin. Our march over the mountains was undisturb-
ed, except by rumors Of guerrillas and resistance. Both dis
appeared as we approached, and we left their abandoned works
as we found them. On the 18th Gen. Twiggs encamped at
AyotIa, is miles from Mexico, on the direct road. The other
divisions, on each succeeding day, came up in order, and took
positions in the Worth occupying Chalco.
The reconnaissance of the 18th and 18th satisfied us of the
strength of the enemy's defences in our front. Their princi-
pal defence was at Ell Penon, commanding the causeway be.
tween the lakes Of Tezcuco and Chalco. The hill Of Ell
Penon is about 800 feet high, having three plateaus of differ
emit elevations. 1t stands in the waters OF Lake Tezcuco. Its
base is surrounded by a dry trench, and its sides arranged with
breastworks from Its base to its crest. 1t was armed with
thirty pieces Of cannon, and defended by 1000 men, under
Santa Anna in person. The causeway passed directly by its
base-the waters Of the lake washing each side Of the cause
way for two miles in front, and the whole distance seven
miles to the city. There was a battery on the causeway about
four hundred yards in advance Of the Penon, another by its
side, q third about a mile in front of the entrance to the city,
and a fourth at the entrance. About two miles in front of the
Penon a road branched off 10 the left, and crossed the outlet
= G r H. ocb;ro; ~ the yiIIaua IF Mayicalcfnuo civ niles
from the main road. This village, surrounded by a marsh,
was enveloped in batteries, and only approached over a paved
causeway a mile in length. Beyond, the causeway continued
through the marsh for two miles further, and opened upon
terra frma at the village Of Chuubusco, which was also forti
fed, and which we shall see more of presently. The recon-
noissance Of the l4th satisfied us that the route south of Lake
Chalco was practicable for our wagons, or could be made so.
That day Gen. Pillows. division closed upon the village of
Chalco, and the next morning (15th) Gen. Worth led off
south of the lake. The divisions took up the line of march
in succession, General Twiggs bringing up the rear, and we
turned our backs upon the notifications Of the Pehon and
Mexicalcingo. General Valencia, with 5000 men, made an
attempt to annoy our rear as it turned Lake Chalco but
General Twiggs having his train in front, and his division
well in hand, wheeled into line to the left, and, with one dis
charge Of Taylor's battery, tumbled over some men and horses,
and sent the rest flying over the hills like the wild ducks from
the lakes. He then broke again into column, and resumed
his march. The rancheros and guerrileros lowering about our
front gave us little trouble and the working parties filled up
the trenches, and rolled away the 70 :ks that had been placed
there to retard us, without stopping our march. On the 18th
Gen. Worth encamped at San Augusin, on the Acapulco
road, and moved down on the 18th two and a half miles, in
front Of San Antonio, to make room for the other division to
close upon him.
The 18th was devoted to reconnoissances. San Antonio
was situated similarly to Mexicacingo. Batteries command
ed the causeway in front, and swept over the marshes to the
left as far as the lake. The pedregaL or volcanic rocks, rem
dered the right impossible for every thing but infantry, and
difficult for them. One and a half mile in the rear were stu
ssted the defenccs Of Churubusco, commanding the approach
over the pedrega, and by the way of Mexicalcingo. A route
was discovered west from San Augustin over the spurs Of the
mountain to the San Angel road, by which these positions
could be turned. General Twiggs's division coming up on
the morning Of the 10th, was thrown forward on this route,
to cover the working parties formed from Pillows division.
By | p. M. we had surmounted the hills, and approached
the two divisions of the army, with their field batteries, &c.,
within cannon range of Valencia's entertainments, situated on
the San Angel road, and commanding the only approach
through the pedregdL or volcanic rocks. The working parties
were returned to their regiments, the tools repacked, and pre-
parations made to dislodge the enemy, before continuing the
road further. On approaching his front within canister range,
and driving in his advanced parties, posted behind breakworks
across the road, with Magruder's and the howitzer batteries,
it was found that the ground on his left offered the greatest
advantages for the attack. He lay entrenched on rising
ground, behind a deep favine, about midway between US, to
which the ground gently descended from both directions. His
front was defended by four s-inch howitzers, and three long
l6-pounders, one ls-pounder, and some of smaller caiber.
His right was almost equally strong and, after crossing the
ravine, approached over smooth ground in the form Of a natu-
raj glacis, and taken in reverse by a body of rancheros and
lancers. The heads of tho different divisions were accordingly
changed to the right and, each leaving their horses and bat
teries behind. slowly wendell their wav among the volcanic
rocks to the ravine, which they passed in front of the small
village Of San Raymond, out Of gunshot of Valencia's bate
ries. They were now on the firm San Angel road, between
Valencia and relief; but Santa Anna coming out to his sup
port with seven thousand infantry and cavalry, drew up in
battle array on the hills of Contreros, to our right. Colonel
Riley's brigade, that had been moved to the right earlier in the
day to cooperate with a front attack, and had passed beyond
the San Angel road, now falling back upon the village which
We had taken possession Of, General Smith at once determined
to drive away the force threatening our right. BY the time
his dispositions were made the sun had set and night draw
ing on, it was feared we should not have light enough for our
work. The attack was therefore suspended till morning.
The troops bivouacked around the village, without food,
without shelter, and without fire. II was afterwards deter
mined to return to the original intention of assaulting Valen-
cia's entertainments, as the dispersion of Santa Annas force
affected but little our principal object. At3 A. M. Colonel
Rilcy's brigade was put in motion, followed by Gen. Smiths
and Gen. CadwaIader's Gen. Shields holding the village.
During the night, the 9th and 18th regiments, with a COM
pany Of rifles and some dctachments that had been thrown out
the preyious dav moved To the ravine in front NJ the