The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-16

uliery or cavalry and II was evident We could only
maintain our position which Of the utmost impor-
tsnce to the Commanding General by the most prompt
and energetic action therefore directed attack ON
ylAwur lthfe ntrsnched Amp] by turn
ing their before day and Capt Lesof engineers
offered to return to 0-n Scott Il most difficult
nform hin of our position and that would march out
by oclocka that any div ron tn he could make
In favor that side might be prepared accor-
dinghy The ofhcsrs commanding brigades inform
ed OF the plan and order OF attack directed
their commands formed and the heads resting the
path by which We were to march out by az A. NJ was
at loss how to secure rear for IL the enemy took
possession of the village, he would only secure the
retrsat Of his force at Contreras hs entrenchments
but would greatly embsrrass u.s. aud was not strong
enough to detaeh largely for that purpose At this
uucture Gen. Shiedss aid arrived and reported that
the general was the other side Of the ravine,
with the South Carolina and New York volunteers
These two regiments directed to hold Encelda the
vsgs and cut of the retreat of the troops from Gov
he camp or take his large reserve in flank If
front to the right to attack us towards Ccnrs
ras (the camp) At precisely O'Clock in the morning
OF the 2o.h the troops commenced their march, 1t had
rsned all night and the had lain In he mud with
out hre and suffering from cold 1t rained and
so dark that an object six feet of could not be
The men were ordered to keep within touch Of each
other, so that the rear could not go asray. Lieut.
Tower, OF the engineers with Lieut. Brooks, acting
sistant adutant general of the I'd DIVISION acting
in my stan, had, during the night again reconnotred
the pass to assure the practicabty Of the march
lead II, and Lieut. Brooks and Lieut. Besuregsrd engi
neers went with me ut the head of Gen Cadwslsders
brigade Col Riiey,s brigade led Gen Csdwslsder's
at the head Of which was Lieut.. @ W Smith engineer
company closed the The path narrow full of
rocks and mud and difficult the that 1t was
day break before the head Of Cadwaaders brigade got
out of the village where the path to the rsvne
and as the march was by flank, the command was
stretched out thrice its length Having followed np the
ravine to point where it seemed possible get the
rear of the work the head was halted, and the
closed up; many loads that were drawn, and
Riley formed two columns by divisions.
He thus advanced farther up the ravine, turning to
of the work. but still sheltered from its fire by slight
activity before him Having reformed his ranks h.
assembled the top Of the hill and was in full view Of the
enemy, who immediately opened warm fire, not only
from the work. but on his right fink Throwing out
his two first divisions skrmsher-, he rushed down
the slope to the work The engineer company and RI
fes had been thrown intervening ravne under
the brow Of the slope and from that position swept
front Of his column and then inclining towards their
left Joined In the attack the troops of the
left flank Of the fort In the meantime Gen. Cadwal-
ader followed the route taken by Riley, and forming
his columns as the troops up moved his Ri-
lsy'sl support The LIST brigade had been ordered
follow the route; but while 1t was still marching
In that direction by its right flank up the raviue and
nearly opposite the work seeing large body of tho
enemy on its left flank ordered Major Dmick to face
the brigade to the left and, advancing in lne attack
this force in flank This done In the finest style
and the LIST artillery and 80 infantry mounting the bank
of the ravne rushing down the next and its opposite
bank met the enemy outside of the work just Reys
brigade poured into it, and the whole giving way ca
vary formed In line for the charge yielding to the bay
onets of cur foot, the rout was complete while Rleys
brigade cleared the work. and planted their coors it
The two first pieces captured which fell into the hands
Of the 4th artillery proved to be the pieces lost but
without loss OF honor) by company of that very regi
ment at Bueua Vista Leaving force to collect and
guard the captured ordnance the pursuit was continued
This it will BIO recolected passed not more than half
a mile of the garden and house occupied by part of
General Shiedss brigade placed there to intercept
retreat Of the enemy. This skifu and gallant officer
when we marched had spread his over the line we
had occupied and directed them to make fires towards
daylight, as though preparing their breakfast. The
enemy in front had during the night placed batteries
forward to take in flank the attack he saw we were me-
dtating the night before which he was preparing to
meet-supposing from the indications he found, TINT
we were still in force in the village When after day
light, he saw a. column moving on Contreras, 1.-THE en-
trenchea camp] and already prepared to turn 1t, he
must have supposed we had been strongly reinforced
for his movements to and fro indicated great prpexty
His doubts were soon resolved however, by the loss Of
hasty retreat along the top Of the HILL incning
wards the San Angel road shieldss force $500 600
men) having under his skul direction thus disposed
Of enemy, he turned to the other who in their
flight found themselves Intercepted at the garden
under the fire Of the South Carolina regiment,
in the bitches and ravine escaped many of them to
the rocks Two squadrons Of cavalry either by chance
a IN Of Tms roaa
the way that the pursuit was interrupted for upwards
oftwenty minutes; which suflced 1--WE having oaval
ry) for the safety Of many of the fugtives. large
body escaped upwards towards the mountains did not
pursure them, being entirely out of our direction.
Accounts from Mexican officers, intercepted since the
battle, inform that there thousand in and
about Contreras 1.-The entrenched camp] commanded by
General Valencia and upwards of twelve thousand in
serve, commanded by General Santa Anna We killed
seven hundred, and took fifteen hundred prisoners
among them several generals We captured ~ pieces
brass ordnance viz: Spanish JIG. FOUNDERS, s-inch
howl zers, 5H.inch hOwitzersB 6pouuders, and 8
smaller pieces with large amount of shells and other
ammunition. We also took 700 pack mules and many
horses and an immense number Of small arms, which
destroyed After directing the prisoners and pro-
pery to be collected directed the pursuit to be CONT
nued, and was forming the column, when Gen. Twiggs
arrived. He immediately ordered the most vigorous
pursuit, and moved forwards. As approach d
san Angel the rifles again thrown forward Skin
mshers and entered the town at the heels the
mys ancers, capturing an ammunition wagon Here
General Pillow assumed command, and at Coy oacan the
COMMANDMENT chefcame up The LIST brigade
for ward with the rest of the division towards Churu
ousco the rifles detached to the right to
Reconnaissance Lieutenant Stevens, OF the engineers
covered by Lieut. Smiths engineer company went for
ward to reconDotre the church Of Churubsco and re-
ported onegun battery the road, which could
be turned by its left he LIST artillery directed
detached for that purpose and marched in that d.
rection. heavy FIRE opening there, ordered up
with the Sd infantry and shortly after Tavors battery
was placed In position, fronting the buildings about
the church. the 3D. Infantry supporting 1t At this
time the tremendous fire from the neghborhood of the
church showed clearly not only that there rong
force stationed there but that there also
siderable work than at first supposed but being all
surrounded by very hish its form could be dis
covered 1t afterwards proved that the place was
square, the lower front towards US chiefly wall
scaolded for infantry Behind it higher build
ing also covered with infantry; behind 1t the church,
and the high steeple on its right flank also filed with
men. In front of the first a curtain connecting
two salient angles which anked it, and continued
back to the side walls of the church 1t garrisons
bv about two thousand men, and mounted pieces,
What was supposed to be the gun battery, the
right salient angle which enfadsd the road from Coyo
acan; that when the LIST artillery attempted
it, they found themselves in front Of this curtain and
exposed to all the musketry Of the walls beyond They
however, stood their ground with great loss getting
such the ground afforded, and firing at the
brasures when opportunity offered reported
the right of the work. and General Pillows division to
it's left therefore ordered the Sd infantry to be ready
the fire Of these began to tell to advance
under the Of huts the right bastion.
and after slencng the fire Of Its musketry, to assault
It, In the meantime Tayors battery had continued its
uninterrupted by the severes shower Of grape cans
ter, musketry, round shot and she'll within short
ket range that was ever witnessed The conduct Of
tain Taylor, Lieut. French, and the who remained
uuhurt, the admiration of all who witnessed it
| The pieces were served ms though drill, while two
Of the officers Leuts Martin and Boynton, and twenty
wounded, and fifteen horses crippled laid around
and testified to the danger of their position Hearing
the fire from the other corps and finding of