Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-20
duplicate. !
Hr.nor.pryas OF THE Army.

i
SIN; My report No 81, commenced IN the night OF the
10Th Instant closed the operations Of the army with that day
The morning Of the 2oh opened with one OF series OF
unsurpassed achievements all in view OF the capital and to
which shall give the general name--bahe Of Mereo.
In the night of the 9th, Brgader Generals Shields p F..
Smith, and Cadwalader and Colonel Riley, with their br-
gades, and tie 18th regiment under Colonel Morgan de-
tached from Bgader General Pierce found Themselves in
and about the important posionthe village hamlet or ha-
ceada Called inderenty Coneras, Ansada, San Gsroni-
half mile to the city than the enemys entrench-
ed camp, the road towards the factory OF Magaena
That camp had been, pecedy, formidable point
of attack the afternoon BEFORE and we had now to take it,
without the aid of cavalry artillery or to throw back
advanced corps upon the road from San Augusn to the city,
and thence force passage through San Antonio
Accordingly, to contingencies, Major GENERAL Worth
ordered leave, early in the morning OF the GOTH one
of his brgades mask San Antonio and TO march, with the
other six miles, ria San Augusn upon Contreras. like
destination was given to Major General Qutman and his
naming brigade in San Augustn-repacing, for the moment
the garrison of that important depot with Harneys brigade Of
cavalry horse could not the intervening rocks
&c. to reach the field of battle.
diversion for an earlier hour (aylgh) had been arang-
ed the night BEFORE according to the suggestion OF Bgadier
General Smith, received through the engineer, Captain Lee,
who conveyed orders troops remaining the ground
opposite the enemy cenethe point for the diversion
a real attack, circumstances might allow
Guided by Captain Lee, proved the latter, under the
command OF Colonel RANSOM OF the 9th having with him
that regiment and some companies oil three othershe sd,
/ 18th, and rifles.
Shields the senior officer at the hamlet having arrived in
the night Smith had arranged with Cadwaader and Ri
lev the plan of attack for the morning. decatey waived
reference reserved himself the double task Of holding
the hamlet with his regiments South Carolina and New
York volunees against ten times his numbers the side OF
the city, including the slopes his left and in the camp
in his should be carried to face about and cut OIL the
ing enemy
At3 o'clock A. M the great commenced on
the rear the eneys camp, Riley Leading followed
syey by Cadwaaders and Smiths brgades the latter tenn
porary under the orders Of Major Dimick, of the l are
ythe whole force Being commanded by Smith, the senior in
the general attack and whose arrangements, skill and gal
laniry always challenge the highest admiration
The march rendered tedious by the darkness and
mud bu, about sunrise, Riley, conducted by Lieut. Tower
engineer had reached elevation behind the enemy whence
he precipitated his columns; stormed the entertainments
planted his several coors upon them and cred the work
/ all in seventeen minutes.
Conducted by Lieut. Beauregard, engineer and Lieutenant
Brooks of Twggss sta-both of whom, like Lieut. Tower
had the night twice reconnoitred the groundCadwaa
der brought up the general assault two of his regiments
the vogeurs and the lth and at the appointed time, Col
Ransom with his temporary brigade, conducted by Captain
Lee engineer only made the movement TO divert and to
distract the enemy but after crossing the deep ravne in his
'front.' advanced and poured into the works and upon the
gtives many voleys from his destructive musketry.
In the time Smiths brigade, under the temporary
command Of Major Dmck, following the movements OF Riley
and Cadwaader discovered opposite to and outside OF the
works. long line of Mexican cavalry drawn up as sup
port Dmick having the head Of the brigade the
pany of appers and miners, under Lieut. Smith, engineer
who had conducted the march, ordered by Bgader Gen.
Smith form line faced to the enemy, and IN charge against
flank, routed the cavalry.
Shields too by the isedsposon Of his brigade and gal
liant activity, contributed much to the general results He
held of cavalry and infantry, supported by artillery, IN
check below him, and captured hundreds with General
(Mendoza) of those who fled from above
doubt whether brilliant decisive victory-takng
into ground artificial dcences, batteries and the extreme
disparity of numbers-without cavalry artillery our
side-is found record. Including all corps d.
rected against the enrenched camp, with Shes brigade
the hamlet positively did not number over 800 rank and
file and knew by sight, and since certainly by
captured documents and letters that the enemy had
uay engaged the spot 1000 men, with at least $4,000
lowering within sight and striking dstnnceboh
the 9th and GOTH ALL not killed captured, fled with
precipitation.
Thus was the great victory Of Contreras achieved
capital opened 700 Of the enemy killed sl3 pr-
soners, including among SO officers, Generals besides
many coos and standards % pieces Of brass onanceha
of large caber thousands of small and
immense quantity Of shot, Shells powder and cartridges
700 pack mules, many horses, &c.-all in our hands.
1t highly gratifying to find that, by skul arrangement
and rapidy of execution, loss, killed and wounded,
did exceed the spot 60among the former the brave
Captain Charles Hanson, of the 7h nfantry-no dis
nguished for galantry than for mo1esy morals, and pey
Lieut. j. p Johnston, ls artillery, serving with Magruders
battery, young officer Of the highest promise, killed the
evening before.
One of the pleasing incidents of the victory is the
capture the works. by Captain Drum 4h artillery, under
Major Gardner, Of the two brass sixpounder taken from
another company OF the regiment though without the
loss Of honor at the glorious battle of Buena Vistaabou
which guns the whole regiment had moned for long
months Coming up, Ii tie later, had the happiness to
Join in the proacted cheers Of the gallant 4h the Joyous
eyen and indeed the whole army sympahizes It's just
pride and cxuliation.
The battle being before the advancing brigades OF
Worh's and Qutman's divisions in sight, both
deed back their late posions-Woh attack San An
tonic in front with his whole force approached in
the rear by Pillows and Twggss divisions moving from Con-
reras through San Angel and Coyoacan BY carrying San
Antonio that should open another-a shorter
better road the capital for siege and other trains
Accordingly the advanced divisions and Shieds brig
ade marched from Conteras, under the immediate orders
Major Gen Pillow, who joined by the gallant Brig
Gen. Pierce Of his DIVISION personally thrown OF activity
late in The evening before by hurt received from
fall OF his horse.
After giving necessary orders the field in the midst Of
prisoners and trophies, and sending instructions Harney
brigade Of cavalry, left at San Augustin, join me, per-
sonally followed Pillows
Arriving Coyoacan, two mies by ROAD from the
San Antonio, first detached Capt Lee engineer, with
Capt Keaneys troop LIST Dragons supported by the rifle
regiment under Major Loring, to reconnotre that strong
point and next dispatched Major Gen. Pillow, with Of
his bngades (Cadwaladers, TO make the attack upon it. in
concert with Major Gen. Worth, on the opposite side.
At the same time, by another road TO the left Lieut.. Ste
vens Of the engineers supported by Lieut.. &. W. Smiths
company sappers and miners Of the corps sent
t. the strongly fortified church convent Of San
Pablo, IN The hamlet Of Churubusco, mile of Twiggs,
with Of his brgadcs (Smths less the rifles and Capt
Iayos field battery ordered TO follow and to attack the
convent MAJOR Smith, senior engineer, dispatched to
concert w'h Twiggs the mode and means OF attack, and
iwggss other brigade ordered