The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-23
THE OFFICIAL DISPATCHES
OF THE
B A T T l. 6 S
HUAMANTLA AND ATLIXC0
AND THE
SIEGE OF PUEBLA.
THF REPORT OF COLONEL oHLps.

SlEG Il OF PU Il b l. A.
THF REPORT OF COLONEL cHILps
HEADeuARrrRs MILITARY DErARrMENr OF PuEBLA,2
Pueblo, Oct. l3. ls17
sR-l have the honor to report, that after twenty
eight days close Investment, the enemy yesterday
raised the siege, and left for Atixo.
will avail myself of this opportunity to submit to the
chief brief Of the operations Of the
troops at this point from the period Of sssning
nd to the termination Of the siege and the mr.
On entering upon duties as civil and military COVER
nor found myself In command Of Captain Fords com
psny of cavalry, 46 strong; Captain Hendricks anu
Mers companies Of artillery, numbering 100; together
with companies of the LIST Psnrrylvsnis volunteers
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Black his total elective
strength being and hospitals lsd with 1900 sick
With this command San Jose, the grand depot in the
held against the combined efforts of the military and
poPrlscss;, .,.,o ....t.a ,or III. ho,r,t,,, ann
PEELED to them within the protection Of San
Jose, the first demonstration OF hostility This
not Tong In exhibiting itself when put myself With
suoh means as had At my disposal IN the best possible
state for defence combining my efforts to the squares i'm
msdatsy around San Jose; and from these points the
enemy during the entire SIEGE not able to force in
(but for single moment) q sentinel.
No open acts Of hostility other than the numbering
Of struggling soldiers occurred until the nighoof the
18th Of September when hre opened from some Of
the streets On the night Of the l4th 1t recommended
and from every street. With violence that knew OF no
The enemy with their numerous cavalry, succeeded
ia cutting off, Ut every kind Of supply and vainy
attempted to change the current
that we might become . more easy prey. The night,
however before the cattle and sheep disappeared from
this vicinity two we'll directed parties obtained 80 Of
the former and 400 of the latter
The points to be defended for the
of San Joas which the afety Of the other posts do
pended demanded the untirng vigilance Of every officer
and man
The enemy augmented in numbers daily, and daily
the firing increased and finally on the 22d Of Sep
tember, General Santa Anna arrived with large rein
foroements from Mexico much to the delight Of the
besiegers which occasion general ringing of bells
times before-by discharge shells and round shot
from Loreto into the heart Of the city.
my surrender A copy Of his demand together with
the reply, are herewith enclosed, marked A.
here beg to pay passing tribute to my gallant troops
moment would be lost BY the General, who was to
attack at all points with his 5000 troops rode to
mand, the force with which It backed and reply
Their response convinced me that all was tafs that
marc ana must be srs n sSs
The point of attack was San Jose, commanded by
Lieut. Col Black, with Capt Fords company Of cavalry,
companies Of bis own regiment. and one hospital the
guard Of which was in command Of Capt Rowe, Of the
The duty required Of this commend, as have before
observed in consequence Of the various points to be de-
Tended demanded an untrng effort on the part Of every
officer and soldier shower Of bullets constantly
poured from the Streets the balconies tho house tops
and churches, upon their devoted heads
Never troops endure more fatigue, by watching,
night night for than thirty consecutive nights
exhibit more patience spirit and gsllautry Not
40 he
another anxious and ready to take his place Officers
and soldiers We'd with each Other be honossd martyrs
in their countrys This is the general character
OF the troops ! had the honor to command and was
confident the crown Of victory would perch upon hei
Their bold and deermin deprived them Of what
they anxiously desired.
On the a0th ult Gen Santa Anra had established his
battery bearing upon saa Jose and opened With much
spirit Having anticpstsd<hs movement had thrown
up traverse on the plaza, and withdrawn 12pounder
from LoretO, by which means was enabled to answer
his shot Towards night bis battery ceased and the
next morning withdrawn together with from 1000
to 1000 Of the besegng force to meet the reinforce
msnts then daily expected at Pinsl.
On the I'd instant svaled myself Of some reduction
Of the easmys numbers to make sorte against certain
barbados and buildings whose fire had become very
annoying One Of the expeditions ~ oonhded to Capt
Small, Of the LIST Pennsylvsnix volunteers. Passing
gained post ion opposite the barricsde and drove the
enemy with great loss they leaving seventeen dead
the ground The barrcads consisting Of 100 bales Of
cotton, consumed In this affair Capt. Small and
his command behaved with great gallanJry, and Tor
twenty Iour hours were unceasing In their abOrs In
accomplishing the object; when sent Lieut. Laidey
OF the ordnance corps to blow up prominent build.
ing, which done by that excellent officer in good
styles when the entire party was Withdrawn, with few
wounded
At the same time Lieut. Morgan, of the lith regiment.
with de aohmsnt Of Marines and Lieut. Merrihed, OF
the 10th regiment with detachment Of rifles, attempted
to gain possession Of certain buildings from which
were receiving most CALLING fire. Lieut. Merriied en-
tered the building Lieut. Morgan was not 50 tunste
to fall back with the loss Of man killed On the 9th
instnt Capt Heron detached with his company to
AXE possession Of building from which the enemy had
been enuadug the plaza. This he did IN avery hand
and to my entire satisfaction, with only
few iIen wounded.
Other minor acts of xalantry and good conduct were
exhibited by officers and men mt scn Jose and from
GUADALUPE two successful sorso made upon
the enemy when engaged in their daily attacks on San
From Lieut. Gel Black the immediate commander Of
dial support Col Black nore than thirty days
untring In his efforts and Zeal for the safety Of that point
Officers and at their posts night and day with
much IN praise Of tho gallant colonel his officers and
men, before and during be siege.
Lieut. Laidey, OF the ordnance cerps Commanded the
l2pouuder the mountain howtxer four rocket bat
teres ut the and there stationed himself night
after night; and as often "a these batteries were
1t with effect Capt. Ford, the cavsry
although opportunity occurred In consequence the
limited number Of his troops to engage the enemy
particularly successful in managing the l2pouudsr In
Of the general attacks and showed himself good
officer and skilful artilleritt.
Msjor Gwynn, commanding Loreto, although not at
tackled vgilxnt and his command Of great as
ssance to Several dstachn ents from bis post oc-
cupied exposed points and received heavy fires from the
especially dets chments under Lieu Carroll
and Moore who for fortyeght hours stood their guard
and were of essential service to me
cannot speak too highly Of Capt Kendrick and his
management OF his batteries His shells and shot fell
beautifully upon houses and churches where the enemy
)u great numbers. HE bnot LOON euect,
the firing ceased. The limited number Of these
missiles compelled us to them with great cauon.
am much, very much, indebted to Capt Kendrick for
his vigilance and exertops before and turing the siege
will take this occasion TO mention Sergeant DWELL Of
company b, I'd artillery as most skifu srtillerst.
never shot thrown with more accuracy than from
his gun.
take great pleasure In speaking Of Capt Morehesd,
commanding Guadalupe. The place and defsnces
in most dilapidated condition. Capt Morehead, with
his command, succeeded in placing himself In perfect
state OF defence by great and constant labor The
several times felt him. but finding him always the
alert made serious attack By sorties upon the
N.Y. when attacking San Jose he Of essential service
to u.s. and killed many Of them. consider him an sx
cellent and gallant officer. Lieutenant Edwards I'd ar
tsry, in charge Of the mountain howitser, threw his
shells with great accuracy, and commanded successful
sortie.
To Capt. Rowe, Of tho 9th infantry who commanded
the guard Of Of the hospitals "a constant point
tack, both day aud mighty greatly indebted for his
fore the enemy.
To Surgeon Mills chief of the medical department and