The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-13
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
BATTLES OF coSrRERAs AND cHURuBusco.

BATTLES OF CONTRERAs AND CHURUBUsCO.
Report Of Major General Scott.
tDupicae)
| No. 81. HEADQU ARrERs OF THE ARMY,
! SAN AUGusrIN, Acapulco ROAD,
! miles from Mexico, August 10, lsl7.
SIR: Leaving competent garrison IN Puebla, this
army advanced upon the capital as follows Twiggs'
division, preceded by Haneys brigade of cavalry the
9TH; Quitmans division OF volunteers, with small de-
tachnen OF y. 3 marines, the 18th, Wor,h's division,
the 9th, and Pillows DIVISION the loth-all in this
month"; On the sth, | overlook, and then continued
WITH the leading division The corps were at no time,
beyond five hours, or supporting distance, apart and
descending into the basin of the capital as miles from
Puebla) they became more closely Appropriated about the
head OF Lake Chaco with Lake Tescuco little in front
and to the right On the 18th and 18th we pushed recon
nosance upon the Penon, isolated mound eight miles
from MeXco) OF great height strongly fortified to the
top Chree tiers OF works. and flooded around the base by
the season of rains and sluices from the lakes This
mound, close TO the national road, commands the princ-
pal approach to the city from the east No doubt might
have been carried, but at great and dsproporonate
loss, and was anxious to spare the lives OF thus gallant
army for general battle which | knew we had TO win
before capturing the city, obtaining the great object OF
the campagn-a just and honorable peace:
Another reconnaissance directed (the 13th) upon
Meycalcngo to the lett OF the Penon, village at orti
hed bridge across the outlet canal leading from Lake
Jochimco to the capita-hve miles from the latter II
might have been easy maskng the Penon) to force the
passages but on the other side of the bridge should
have found ourselves, four miles from this road,
narrow causeway, anked to the right and left by water
or DOGGY grounds. Those difficulties, closely viewed
threw me back upon the project long entertained, OF
turning the strong eastern defences of the city, by passing
around south of Lakes Chaco and JochniIco, at the
foot of the hills and mountains so as to reach this point
and hence TO maneuvre, on hard ground, though much
broken, 10 the south and southwest of the capital which
has been or less under view, since the 10th
instant.
| Accordingly, by sudden nverson-Worth's DIVISION
with Harney's cavalry brigade leadng-we marched
the 10Th instant. Pillows and Qutman's divisions fol-
lowed closely, and then Twiggs division, which was
1
Penon and MeXcalclngo and to deceive the enemy as
long as practicable.
Twiggs, on the 10th, marching from Ayotla, towards
Chalco, (sx miles, met corps of than double his
Enthusiastically and inantry-under General Valencia.
Iwggs halted, depoyed into line, and by few rounds
from Captain layors field battery, dispersed the enemy,
killing or woundng many men and horses No other
moesation has been experienced except few random
shots from guerieros, on the heights and the march of
twenty miles, over route deemed lmpractcabe
by the enemy, Is now accomplished by all the corps
thanks to their ndomtabe zeal and physical prowess
Arriving here, the 18th, Worhs division and Hameys
cavalry were pushed forward league. to reconnotre
and to carry or TO mask San Antonio, the direct
road to the capital. This village was found strongly
defended by held;works, heavy guns, and numerous
garrison 1t could only be turned by infantry, to the
left over field OF volcanic rocks and lava for, to
our right the ground was too DOGGY; It was soon as,
Leuts Stevens and Tower that the point could only be
approached, by the 'front.' causeway flank
ed with wet bitches OF great Depth Worth ordered
not attack but to threaten and to mask the place
The first shot fired from San Antonio Che sth) killed
Captain s. Thornton, I'd dragons, gallant officer, who
was covering the operations with his company.
left OF San Augustin, first difficult mounds, and far
Their over the field of volcanic rocks and lava
which extends to the mountains some five miles, from
San Antonio towards Magdaena. This reconnaissance
was continued, to-day, by Captain Lee assisted BY Lieu
tenants Beauregard and Tower all of the engineers who
were joined, in the afternoon, by Major Smith OF the
same corps. QthGr divisions coming up, Pillows was
advanced 10 make practicable road for heavy artillery
and Twiggs thrown farther in front, to that ope
ration; for, by the partial reconnaissance OF yesterday
Capt Lee discovered large corps OF observation in that
direction, with detachment OF which his supports Of
cavalry and foot under Captain Kearney and Lieut. Col
Graham respectively, had successful skirmish
BY three o'clock this afternoon, the advanced divisions
came to point where the new road could only be
nued under the direct fire of % pieces of the enemys
artillery (mos Of them of large calbe) placed strong
enrenched camp to oppose operations and surround
ed by every advantage OF ground besides immense bodies
of cavalry and infantry hourly reinforced from the city,
over an excellent road beyond the volcanic field. and
consequently entirely beyond the reach of cavalry
and artillery.
Arriving the ground, an hour later. found that
Pillows and Twiggs divisions had advanced to disodge
the enemy, picking their way (a officers foo along
his 'front.' and extending themselves towards the road,
from the city and the enemys left Captain Magruders
field battery, of II and FOUNDERS and Lieut. Calenders
battery of mounted howzers and rockets had Also with
great difficulty been advanced within range of the
trenched camp These batteries, most gaantly served,
suffered much, in the course of the afternoon from the
enemy's superior metal
The battle though mostly stationary, continued to rage,
with great violence, until nighall Brevet Brig. Gen.
p. +. Smiths and Breve Col Rieys brgades (Twiggs'
divson) supported by Brig Generals Pieces and Cad
walader's brgades pillows divson) were more than
three hours under heavy fire of artillery and musketry
along the almost impossible ravne in front and to the
left Of the entrenched camp. Besides the % pieces of
hllcry, the camp and ravlne defended closely by
of infantry and these again supported by clouds
of cavalry at hand and towering in view Consequently
decided impression could be made by daylight the
enemys most formidable position, because independent
of the difficulty of the ravne, infantry, unaccom-
panied by cavalry and artillery, could not advance in
column without being moved down by the grape and
canister OF the batteries, nor advance in line without
being ridden over by the enemys numerous cavalry.
All our corps, however including Magruder's and Cal
lenders last batteries not only maintained the exposed
positions early gained but all attempted charges upon
them, respectivelypartculary Riley, twice closely
engaged with cavalry in greatly superior numbers-were
repulsed and punished
From an emnence, soon after arriving near the scene
observed the church and hamlet of Contreras Tor An
sada) the road leading up from the capital through
time, the stream of renforcements advancing by
that road, from the city, ordered Uhrough Major Gen
Pillow Col Morgan, with his regiment, the 18TH till
then held in reserve by Pillow to move forward, and
to occupy Contreras Tor Ansada being persuaded if
occupied, would arrest the enemys reinfocements and
ultimately decide the battle.
Riley was already on the enemy's left, in advance OF
the hamlet. few minutes later, Brig Gen Shields,
with his volunteer brigade New York and South Caro-,
lima regiments divsion) coming up under my
orders from San Augustn, directed Shields TO folio and
to sustain Morgan These corps over the extreme diff
fcues of ground-parally covered with low forest
before described reached Contreras, and found Cadwaa
ders brigade position, observing the formidable
ment from the capital and much needing the timely rein