Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-11-20
From the Puebla Flag of Freedom" Oct
Battle of HuaEnantEa.

Full particulars of this brilliant engagement,
aoith description of the position and more
ments of both armies, etc., etc.
We have conversed with several officers en-
gagged in the brilliant action at Huamantla, on
the 9th inst and have obtained from them such
information as enables us to give full and,
we think, accurate account of the battle, with
the previous movements and positions of the
two armies The extra which we issued on the
24th gave vivid and faithful account of the
gallant and resistless exploits of our cavalry,
but the report which we now publish not only
embraces those memorable events, but presents
more general picture of the field of battle
and the design of the contending forces.
The American force under Brig Gen. Lane,
composed Of Col. acknowledgement oflndiana
vols, Maj. LaIly's battalion of infantry, one
battalion under command of Capt. Simmons,
one battalion under command of Capt. Helm
klzeman, and four pieces of artillery under Its.
Pratt and Fields, left Jalapa on the lst Octo-
rived at Perote, at the request of the officers
and men at that post, of the LIST Penn. regt,
who were in garrison at that place-who in
anticipation of an action on the way, and anx-
iously DESTROYS toassist inrelieving their belea-
guered brethren in Puebla, begged to be tenn
porarily attached to his command-Gen. Lane
addeda battalion of4 companies oflst Pa. vols.
one company of convalescent of various corps,
and a park of artillery, e guns, Capt. Taylor,
Sd art. the whole under command of Col Wynn
/ koop lst Penn, at the same time appointing
Surgeon J. c. Reynolds. of Penn, the Medical
Director of the whole forces, and attached him
to the general staff
The army now numbering some 5000 men,
advanced towards Puebla, and on the evening
of the 9Th of October arrived at the Hacienda
San Antonio Tamaris, distant 80 miles from
that city. Information had been daily receiv-
ed that General Santa Anna was stationed at
the pass of Pinal Venta del Pinal with four
thousand men and several pieces of artillery to
oppose our progress. This pass was twelve
miles in advance of the hacienda. According
ly ON the morning of the 9th the whole army
prepared to march and attack the pass AT
this moment information was received that
Gen. Santa Anna was in the town of Huamant
la, distant 10 miles from the hacienda, Z from
the main road, and from the pass, or miles
nearer the pass than our encampment.
Gen. Lane, leavinga considerable portion of
his forces at the hacienda with the baggage
wagons and part of the artillery, determined
to advance upon Huamantla, taking with him
the Indiana and Ohio Regimentsand COL Wyn-
koop's Maj. Lally' and Capt. Simmons battal-
ions, and sending in advance the mounted men,
about 200, under command of Capt. Walker,
with instructions to act as circumstances might
require. Capt. Walker advanced rapidly to-
wards the town, and when within a short dis
lance ascertained that the enemy were there in
considerable force with several pieces of artil-
lery, and fearing lest any delay, in waiting for
the advance of the infantry, might enable the
enemy to escape with their cannon, CALAMITY
ordered charge with his handful of men, and
after brisk fight, succeeded in capturing four
pieces of artillery and driving off the enemy
Now, the state of the case, as subsequently
ascertained, appeared to be this: Gen. Santa
Anna having remained during the night of the
| 8th in the town of Humantla, some or miles
nearer the pass than the encampment of Gen.
Lane, had confidently left early in the morning
with 1000 men, for the pass, leaving behind
800 men and artillerists to follow with the
cannon. The unexpected advance Of Walker
was soon perceived by the advanced forces of
Gen. Santa Anna, who, being cavalry, and in
large numbers, Immediately started back to the
town at rapid pace, to save or recover their
artillery, without which, they could of course
make no stand at the pass of Pinal. Being we'll
mounted they were enabled to reach the town
sooner than the infantry under Gen. Lane,
who, however made most strenuous exertions
to reach it with or before them. This move
ment of the enemy was unknown to Captain
Walker, and supposing, after the capture of the
guns and the rout of 500 men with them, the
affair to be over, suffered his men to dispense
through the town, to cut the enemy IS retreat,
and capturea any more guns and ammunition that
might bediscovered Capt. Walker with some
fifty or sixty men, remainedin the plaza or cen
tire square of the town. At this time, to the
entire surprise of all, a sudden rush was made