The North-Carolina standard., 1847-10-20


ltery ofthe 4th Artillery =. go '''s'.'7 'I "a. -
I Thus ended the glorious Batiie Of Conreras, il
which 1000 men, -nnder-Gen F. Smith com
plse routed and deslso ped pnarmy Of 5000 met
under Geh, Valencia. &iihS;fhta Annaa fore!
of 10000 men within five, miles,. Their army
was so completely routed that mot $500 men re
Jeiped Santa Anna and participated in the, seeont
battle. Most people would have thought that
1prrtty days work, Not So We had only saved
yourselves, mot conquered Mexico, and men $ work
i was before us vet. "a 49, So ft;s.9'e'i - =
1, -. Ats AIM! we formed again, and Gen. Twiggs
/ having taken command, we started on the road 10
Mexico. We had hardly marched mile before
we were sharply fred upon from both sides of the
road, and our right was depioyed TO drive the
enemy in. roe'>E 'aa"7 a"t thci ~. .es'A
We soon found out that we bad caught up with
the retrcatins party from the very brisk firing in
front, and we drove them through the little town
Of San Angelo, where ihey had been hal,ing in
force. About a half a mile fuom this town. we
entered the surburbs of another called SIN Kath-
erina, when large party in thechdreh yard fred
ION the head of the Column, and the hnIIs} came
right among us. Our men kept rushing on their
rear and cutting them down. until a discharge of
grape shot from a large piece in front drove them
back 10 the column In this short space OF time
| live men were killed, ten taken prisoners, and a
,snall color captured, which was carried the rest
of the day. ..,. ....,
Meanwhile Gen. Worth had made demon
straion on San Antonio, where the enemy was
fortified ina strong hacienda but they retifed on
his approach to ,Churu6uscn. where the works
were deemed impregnable. They consisted OF a
fortified hacienda, which was surrounded by a
high and thick wall on all sides Inside he wall
was stone building, the roof of which was fiat
and higher than the walls; above alfthis was
stone church, still hg her than the rest and hnp-
ing large steePlc The, wall was PIERCED with
! loop holes and so arranged that there were two
tiers ct men firing at the same time They thus
had four different ranges of men firing at once
and four ranks were formed on each range and
placed at such height that they could not only
overlook all The surrounding country, but al the
same time they had plunging fire upon US.
Outside the hacienca, and completely commanding
the avenues of approach, was field work extend
ing around two sides of the work and protected by
deep, wet ditch, and armed with seven large
pieces. This hacienda, is at the commencement
oil the causeway leading TO the wester gate ofthe
city, and had to be passed before getting on the
road. About 300 yards in rear of this work,
another field work had been built where cross
road meets the causeway at point where il crosses
"a river, thus forming bridge head tcte de pont
The first officer who saw them, happened 10 be
the officer ofNhe 4th selected by Con- Scott TO
command the new battery of the regiment Capt
Drum In addition were taken immense duanti-
tics of ammunition and muskcts, in fact the way
was strewed with muskets, escopcts, lances and
flags for miles. Large quantities of horses and
mules were also captured though large numba-s
were killed. -....-. -.'sI ...-,......
. This was also very strong and armed with three
very large pieces Of cannon. The works were
surrounded on every side by large> corn fields,
which were filled with the encmys skirmiahers,
so that it was difficult 10 make the attack immedi-
ately, as they were full OF men and extended for
IL - H. -
covering the causeway. The attack commenced
about p. M. Gen. Twiggs' division attacked
on the side towards which they, approached the
fort. j. e. opposite the city; Gen. Worlh's attacked
the bridge head which he took in about an hour
and half; while Generals Pillow and Quman
were on the extreme left, between the causeway
and Twiggs division.
The Rifles were on The left and in rear of the
work, entrusted by Gen. Scott with the task of
charging the work in case Gen. Pierce gave way
The firing was most 1tremendons-in fact one
contlnned roll while the combat lasted The enc
my, from their elevated position, could readily see
our men, who were unable to get clear view
from their position Three Of the pieces were
manned by "7he Deserters," body of about 1OO
who had deserted from the ranks of our army
during the war; They were enrolled in two
companies, commanded by deserter and were
better uniformed and disciplined than the rest of
the army. These men fought most desperately
and are said not only to have Shot down several
Of our officers whom they knew, bnt but 10 have
pulled down the white flag of surrender, no less
than three times. - . .t..-.... ...----. i. .zs
The battle ragged most furously for aboutthree
hours, when both sides having lost great many
the enemy began to give way. As soon as they
commenced retrenting, Keafney's squadron pass.
edthrough the tete de point, and charging through
the retreating column, pursued them TO the very
gate of the city. As they got within about 500
yards of theegate they were opened upon with
grape and canister, and several officers wounded.
Amongst the number was Capt Kearney. lst
Ora goons, who lost his left, arm abovelhe elbow.
Lieut. Graham, Of New York, received severe
flesh wound in his left arm, Capt. McReynofds,
ditto: Our loss 10 this second buhle Was large
We lost in killed seven officers 'Capts. yCapron,
Burke, 1st. Artillery Lieuts. Irons, Johnson,
Hoffman, Capt. Andersnn Lieut.. Easely, I'd In
fantry, Capt Hanson, 7lh Inf Lieut.. Irons died
on the 9th. Col. Butler of S. Carolina and about
80 Officers wounded d-exclusive iof lhe volunteers.
The ofieal returns give our loss in killed and
wounded at 1850, besides officers t.s,, n t,..
The Mexican loss is 500 killed in the second
battle 1000 wounded and LOO prisoners, exclu-
sivejof officers Three more generals were taken,
amon9 Q them Gen. aRincch, and Anaya, the pro-
visionaI President also I6ipieces of cannon; and
an immense amount of ammunition, and stores.
Santa Anna, in his report, states his loss lR killed,
wounded and missing at 1900 He has only
18 ogO left out Of go 600, which he gives as his
force on the: Goth IN both actions. 81 i;,S 5i2-'
Thus ended the battle Of OhgFdbdseo,9 one of
the most furious and deadly for its length eofany
of the war. For reasons which he deemed, con-
ia moi The citu that nj iuht