Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-20


The forcing of San Antonio the second brilliant event
Of the day.
Wohs division being reunited in hot pursuit, he
joined by Major General Pillow, who, marching from Coyoa-
and discovering that San Antonio had been carried imme
datey turned TO the e according my instructions and,
though much mpeded by bitches and swamps fastened to
the attack Of Churubusco.
The hamlet houses bearing this name present
ed besides the fortified convent strong feldwork Gte de
p0 with regular basons and curtains the head bridge
which the road passes from San Antonio the capital
The whole remaining forces of Mexco-some 1000
men, cavalry, artillery and infantry collected from every quar-
terwere in, the TANKS within supporting distance
of those works. and seemed resolved make last and des
peatc stand for if beaten here the eebe deences the
gates OF the cty-four miles oif-could not as well
known to both parties delay the vctors hour The CAPT.
tai Of an ancient empire, of republic, early
peace, the assaants resolved 10 win Not Amer-
can-and less than third of the enemy number
had doubt as to the result.
The fortified church convent, holly pressed by Twggs
had already held out about hour, when Worth and Pill
low-the latter having with him only Cadwaladers Brigade
began 10 manGuve closely upon the tee de 0n with the
convent at half gun-sho to their el Gaands brigade,
(Worths dvson) to which had been added the light bat
talon under Lieutenant Colonel Smith, continued advance
in 'front.' and under the fire of long line of infantry off
the left of the bridge and Clarke of the division direct
ed his brigade along the road close by its SIDE Two Of
Pillows and Cadwaladers regiments, the 18th and 4th,
supported and participated in this direct the other
1.-THE Toigeurs) left in Most of these corps
particularly Clarke's brgadeadvancng perpendculary
made suffer much by the fire of the tfte de pint, and
they would have suffered greatly by flank attacks from
h convent but for the pressure of Twggs the other side
that work.
This wecombined and daring movement length reached
the principal point of attack, and the formidable e de po
assaulted and carried by the bayonet It's deep wet
ditch first CALAMITY crossed by the Sh and 9th nianty
commanded, respectively by Major Waite and Lieutenant
Colonel Scott followed closely by the eth infantry same
brigade which had been much exposed in the road, the
Nth regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Graham, and the
18th, commanded by Colonel Trousda both of Cadwaaders
brigade, Pillows division About the time the enemy
in front Of Garland after hot conflict of an hour and half
gave way in retreat towards the capital.
The immediate results of this third signal triumph of the
day fehpieces, 1872 prisoners much ammunition,
and two colors, taken in the tGte de pont.
Lieut. j. Irons, lst artillery, aid decamP to Brgadier
General Cadwalader young officer Of great merit and con-
sPcuous in battle several previous OCCASIONS received In
front of the work, mortal wound. (Since dead
As the attack upon the convent favored phy
cay and morally the assault upon the tGte de po
procaly doubt the fall Of the latter contributed to the
capture of the former The works only $50
yards apart and possession OF the fee
de pon captured 4pounder turned and red-rst by
Captain Larkn Smith and nsxt by Lieut. Smelling, both OF
the 9Th infanry-several times upon the In the
same brief interval Lieut. Colonel Duncan (also of Worths
divson) calamity brought two of his guns BEAR at short
from the San Antonio road upon the principal face Of
the work and the Of the church, which, in the obs
nate contest had been often refed with of the best
sharp shooters of the enemy.
Finally, twenty minutes after the te de pont had been
canedby Worth and Pillow, and at the end of desperate
con0ict OF hours cnurcn
ctadeo the strong line Of defence along the vuet of Chu
rubus-yielded to Twggss division, and threw out all
sides, signals of surrender The white flags however,
exhibited until the moment when the Sd infantry, under
Captain Alexander, had cleared the way by fire and bayone
and had entered the work Captain j. M. Smith and Lieut.
o. L. Shepherd both of that regiment with their companies
had thegory of leading the assault The former received the
surrender and Capt Alexander instantly hung out from
balcony the colos of the gallant 3d. Major Dmlck with
part Of the LIST artillery serving infantry entered nearly
abreast with the leading troops
Captain Tayors field battery, attached Twggss div-
on opened its effective FIRE, at early moment, upon the
outwos OF the and the tower OF its church Expos
ed TO the seveest fire of the enemy the captain his officers
and men, universal admiration but length much dis
abe in and horses the battery by superior ORDERS
withdrawn from the action thirty minutes before the surrender
Of the convent.
Those corps excepting Taylors battery, belonged the
bngate of Bgudier General Smith, who closely directed the
whole attack in 'front.' with his habua GOODNESS and ability
while Rleys brgadethe I'd and 9TH infantry, under Capt
4. Norris and Lieut. Col Plympton, respectivey-vigo-
rousy engaged the right of the work and part of its At
the moment, the rifles, belonging Smiths, dached
IN support Of Brig. Gen Shields left; and
the lth artillery, acting infantry, under Major Grdner,
belonging to Reys Brigade bad been left in charge Of the
CAMP trophies, &c. at Contreras Twiggs's division, at
Chuubusco, had thus been deprived of the services of
ITS most gallant and effective regiments.
Tie immediate results of this victory were, the CAPTURE Of
seven field pieces ammunition color, three gene
rails and l,26l prisoners, including other officers.
Captains e. A. Capron and NJ ]. Burke, and Lrut. s.
and Lieut. Thomas Easley, both Of the ID inantv-fve
officers Of great merit-fel calamity before this work
The capture Of rhe enemys citadel the joura great
achievement OF in the day.
II mas been stated that hours and half before,
Piece, followed closely by the volunteer bgade-bah
der the command of Brig Gen. Shedshad been attached
to our left to turn the enemys works. prevent the escape
of tie gason and oppose the extension Of the eemys
numerous corps, from the rear upon and around left
Considering the inferior numbers of the brigaI the
Objects Of the difficult accomplish Hence
the enforcement (the rifles, &c) forwari little later
In winding march Of a mile around TO the right this tenn
PorOy division found itself the edge Of open
dow, the road from San Antonio the capital and in
the presence Of 900 Of the enemys infantry uIen
rear IF Churubusco that road Establishing the light
s,png building, Shields extended his left, parallel the
road to ouank the enemy towards the capital Bot the
enemy extending his right supported by 5000 cavalry,
rapidly (being favored by better ground) the dec
ton Shields concentrated the division about haue and
determined to attack in front. The battle long, hot and
vard but ultimately crowned the zeal and gallant
y troops ably directed by their distinguished COM
manler Brig. Gen. Shields The 9th, 18th, and 18th re-
gimen,s, under COL Ransom Capt Wood and Gil. Nor
gan, respectively, Of Pierccs brigade (Piows don,)
and the New York and South Carolina volunteers under
Co.'s Burnett and Butler, respectively, Of Shedss bi
gale (Qutmans division together with the mountain how
zer battery, under Lieut. Reno of the ordnance corps
all shared in the glory of this aconour fh victory ia the
sane day.
Bgader General Pierce, from the hurt Of the evening
oreundef pain and exhausion-fan,ed in the action Sc
vera other changes command occurred this field Thus
Colonel Morgan being severely wounded the command the
9Th infantry lieui Col Howard: Rirpett