Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-09-15

| the rear close by. The engineer officers
were at once sent out TO toIeconnoilre by
Gen. Worth, 10 ascertain; the pfaclic ability
I5oflurnihs the strong works ofahei enemy,
and in the mean time Gen. Scot had des-,
patched Capt Lee with a supparling
party, composed Of Captain Kearney's
squadron and a body Of the lin Infantry
under Col. Graham, 10 ascertain the prsc-
lcabiliiy Of finding a road by which the
village Of San Angel could be esfeached, aud
thus turn The strong hold al San Anlonio.
This latter party sbad;a sharp encounter
with The advance Of the enemy, the main
body being found posted at astrong point
not far from the factory of Congress, In
the skirnish some six or eighf Nlexicans
were killed. and as many more taken pri-
soners-on our side nola manswas touched.
The result Of The Reconnaissance proved
favorable. 1t was ascerlainods That a.road
could he made which would &enable the
army 10 reach San Angel, and thus turn
the strong batteries at San Antonio, aud
perhaps the others the enemy might have
upon the road between that and sthe city
Of Mexico. The Mexicans were plainly
seen in force at commanding position
near Contreras, audit was seYident that
they had a number of canno1lin position;
but at a council held at night lii was de-
termiued upon TO attack them the follow
lug day. +
IN the mean time while hissreconnois-
sauce was in progress, Gen.gJW Worth had
established his headquarters atthe3hacien-
da of Curera, while from the windows
countless numbers OF thegenemy could
be seen al work upoL the batteries of San
Antonio. About noon they opened upon
The hacienda with both round shot and
shell, nearly, every one ofswbich took
effect, but without doing otherinjury than
TO the building. Late in The evening he
batteries again opened, bur'wiftl1os other
result than showing the postionfof The diff
ferenl guns. Fol amarvel the batteries
were silent during the night Had the
fire been kept up, the haciendas might
have been torn iu pieces ands4he enlire
command to retire. Before going further,
it may be we'll to slalerhaistlie city Of
Mexico lies about niue milessnortlof San
Augusliu, that San Anloniois abb1t three
miles in The same direction, while Fs.hc point
occupied by Gen. Valencia, near Coutre-
ras, for he had command at that place, is
atleasl three miles in a straight line and
in a direction nearly West.Ittwas ten
miles the way many of our troops had to
march, for you cannot imagine3 aesmore
rough uneven and jagged surface.
Al nfn fbo H,h
the batteries again opened OH Cen Worlh's
position at the hacienda nearsSan4 4tn,onio,
the balls crushing through lheE va lls and
filling the rooms with fragmentssol plaster
and broken furniiure. Shells alsD burst
in Ihe air over the building and th D pieces
dropped among the men stationettin the
rear. So hot was the FIRE thatlhe atroopsi
were obliged 10 gain shelterSbehind The
building, but slill:did,nots give cup posi-.
lion. About 6 o'clock sthe divisions Of
Gems. Pillow and Twiggs were orSered.to
advance in tie direc!ion.of Gou1e efks, and
by inthe afternoon were nsplsifi sight
ofthe enemy's batteries, and i;biifirange
ofbis heavier guns. The.brfsadSof Gem
.P.'F. Smith wassosdcred 80 Vance di-
reclly towards The enemy, ,xnfks while
Ihasel Col. ki!sxssae
village totheishtswith riders Soss ssaiinslhe
main road and thus enabl letl 10 cut off
any relnlorcements which migh be sent To-
Valencia from the city. incessanl
firing of cannon was opened uponsthe adj,
vance Of Gen. Smith, aud soonSthe Rifles
were engaged in skirmishes Yithlahe pic
kels oflhe enemy and driyingsths,u in.
The .pounderb battery Of Capt. Magruder
was pressed forward with all speed, as
was also oihe rocket and mounfainhoYitzer
battery, now commanded by Lieut.. Cal.
Lender, of Orduonce Department. AS
soon as they could gain a position they
opened upon the enemy, but were so ex-
posed TO fire from heavier gunsihal they
were soon silenced. 1t. Johnson, Of the
lst Aalillery, but attached TO Magruder's
battery, was mortally wounded, while
Lieut.. Calender was severely wounded
in both legs. At3 o'clock Tho brigade of
of Gen. Codwalader was ordered out 10
support Col. Riley, heavy reinforcenents
being seen on their way outfromsthe ;city,
while Gen. Pierce's brigade was sent 10
sustain Gen. Smith. The firing from the
batteries Of the enemy continued incessant,
while from hill just outside the range Of
their guns, the spectacle was mos! grand
and imposing. AT about o'clock Geu.
Scott arrived, and seeing thesimmense
strength of The Mexicans. at once ordered
Gen. Shields brigade from San Augustin
"a part of Gen. Quitman's command-to
The ri ght, 10 support Riley and Cadwalader,
and prevent if possible, junc,ure Of the
forces comming out from the city with
those of Valencia. BUT few ofthemove
menls of our own troops could be seen from
the hill when we were posted,S owing 10
lbe dense chappdrral, sharp rocks and
rayines. 5ut not motion of the enemy
bu, was plainly visible. The order Of bat
lie Of Valencia was certainly most imposing
infantry were seen drawn up to support
the batteries, while long lines sof the en-
emy's cavalry were stationed rin the rear,
as If awaiting the shock of battle. Two
separate charges Of the latter wero distinct
ly seen repulsed by Col. Riley, who had
moved bis brigade at one time loa position