Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-11-26
From he Pusbia Flag Of Freedom, 0ci. 2l
The Battle Of Huamantla,

At
The American forces under Brigadicr Gen.
Lane, now numbering some 800 men, advanced
towards Puebla, and on the evening Of the 9Th
of October arrived at the hacienda San Tuna
ris, distant 80 miles from that city. Information
had been daily received that General Santa An.
ma was stationed at the pass Of Pinal (Venta del
Pinal) with four thousand men and several pic
ces of artillery, to oppose our progress. This
pass was twelve miles in advance Of the hacien-
dA Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th,
the whole army prepared 10 march and attack
the pass. AT this moment information was re-
ceiyed that Gen. Santa Anna was in the town of
Huamantla, distant 10 miles from the hacienda,
from the main road, and 8 from the pass, or 4
miles nearer the pass than our en~campment.
Gen. Lane, leaving a considerable portion Of
his forces at the hacienda with the baggage
wagons and a part of the artillery, determined
to advance upon Huamantla, taking with him
the Indiana and Ohio regiments, and CT Wynn
koop's, Major Lally's, and Capt. Simmons bat
~talions, and sending in advance the mounted
men, about 200, under command Of Capt. Walk.
or, with instructions to act as circumstance
might require. Capt Walker advanced rapidly
towards the town, and when within a short dis
lance ascertained that the enemy we're there in
considerable force with several pieces of artil-
lery, and fearing lest any delay, in waiting for
the advance of the infantry, might enable the
NAthA1 W CtCuIC VII NuClI CMnnOn, WMlINnIIN Or
dered a charge with his handful of men, and af-.
ter a brisk fight succeeded in capturing four
pieces Of artillery and driving off the enemy.
Now the state OF the case, as subsequently, as
certained, appeared to be this General Santa
Anna having remained during the night of the
Sthin the town of Huamantla, some four or Eve
miles nearer the pass than the encampment of
General Lane, had confidently left early in the
morning, with 1000 men, for the pas, leaving
hQhin1 h0O ma md art.Io~.... a. ruz. IL
the cannon. The unexpected advance of Walk
or was soon perceived by the advanced forces of
General Santa Anna, which, being cavalry and
IN large numbers, Immediately started back to
the town at a rapid pace, TO save or recover their
artillery, without which they could of course
make no stand at the pass of Pinal. Being well
mounted, they were enabled to reach the town
sooner than the infantry under General Lane,
who, however, made strenuous exertions, 10
reach 1t with or before them. This movement
OF the enemy was unknown 10 Captain Walker,
and supposing after the capture of the guns and
rout OF the 500 men with them, the affair TO be
over, suffered his men TO dispense through the
town, TO cut off the enemy's retreat, and capture
any more guns and ammunition that might be
discovered. Captain Walker, with some fifty or
sixty men, remained in the plaza, or centre
square OF the town. AT this time, to the entire
surprise of all, a sudden rush was made into the
Sg;,h lancas - asaa ~
Canta;n Wakes sodr raII;dJ H. e. A"I
took ! nos;t;on in from, &c = ch1roh "nd d.s s.u
mined to fight until the last. He had maintain
cd this position some fifteen or twenty minutes,
when he fell %mortally wounded. Captain Lewis
rallied the few rema;n;na MOI All az s In "
Of one cannon cont,roj erora H. .a .e :u
tanned the nos;,;on ur,;I no arr;.o, as ny En.
nv. who soon term;natad no ,vhoia onaaan.an.
General lane. nerce;v;ng ,ha r.ttsre aT -.
enemy's cavalry. properlv f5resav hat who.var
reached the town 6rlt wo,ld Re- ~. -.
taoe. rave the order far = ran;d aJv.n"a ~ !,
was with great emulat;on tba, Coroan,s ind;ana
repiment.and Colonel WynIoon's bats.l;on s,r,n'
gled to gain the town. They arrived about tie
same time, Colonel German taking position on
one side of the city and Colonel Wynkoop on
the other. After a few rounds between them
and the enemy, the latter withdrew and left the
town in the hands of the Americans.
In the course of the action between the Amer
lean mounted men and the enemy, two of the
four pieces of cannon were recovered by the en-
envy, but the small band resolutely retained, de-
Tended and saved the two others. and a laroe
amount of ammunition was also captured. saw
about thirty wagon loads. Santa Anna being
thus deprived of part of his means of warfare,
made no stand subsequently, atthe Pass Of Pinal.
The loss on our side was Is killed and IL
wounded, all with the exception Of 8, Of Captain
Walkers company. The loss of the enemy was
one hundred and fifty.
We will here mention one incident, which
shows how insensible the gallant Walker was to
danger, however impending. When, in the
course Of the second engagement between Walk
er's band and the overwhelming body Of %lAncers,
Surgeon Reynolds, who had become separated
from him by the breadth of the plaza, or open
square of 100 yards, seizing the most favorable
moment dashed through the space occupied by
the enemy, and jumping from his horse, with an
escopeta, which he had taken from a Mexican,
latter turned 70 hun and said' that's right doc