The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-10-15
Mems from tl)r Armp.
THE MARCH AND THE
BATTLES BEFORE MEXICO,

plete and comprehensive narrative that
has as yer been published of the march
and the achievement ofthe American ar
my under General Scot. fiam the day of
Ills leaving Pncbla. until il became mas
ter ofihe City Of Mexico, The account
IS clear and admirable, and direct fiom
headquarters;
SAN ANaELo, Mexico Aug. 81. 1917.
Vel left Puebla on the morning of the
TIL, and entered npou,a beautiful rolling
country Of great fertility, supplying with
its garaens the inhabitants of PuebIa with
food. and surrounded by lofty noun.
.taius. some of which were covered with
snow. Our road was gradually ascend
ing and so good that on looking back
fromihe head ofihe column, our train
couldbe seen for miles in rear, dotting
with its snow white lups the maguey COW
cred plain. Onour left was Popncalatepl
and lscaiaielt, the snow on-the;r not dis
taut tops rendering the air quite chill.
Gen. Scott didn't leave with us but cume
on the next day with Capt Kearney's
dragons.
The second days march was like the
firsl, gradually ascending passing through
defles, narrow passes aud over deep
chasms, where a more determined enemy
mighthave seriously annoyed usby mere
ly making use ofthe obstacles nature eve.
ry where presented. Thick wood of the
finest forest trees were abundant, and
the rugged nature of the country would
readily carry one back toihe Northern
parts Of New England or the passes of
the NOTCH Here and there beautiful
little lakes were i|nterspersed in The deep
v%alies, and the clearuess and GOODNESS Of
their waters were almost incredible.
The third day we were 10 ~encounter
the much vaunted pass Of Rio FRO"
and also the passage of the mountain
which was 10 lead Us To the Ell Dorado of
oar hopes, tho great plain Of Mexico.
OuGmarch was to be long and difficult,
and three O'Clock saw us under way with
heart and hopesfull ofiho prospect before
us. The much dreaded pass is reached
and passed. The mountains which skirt
the road ON tho left, here close upon it
for about umiIe, overhongiug and emilia
ding it completely aud affording with
their crests most excellent coverings for
an enemy's marksmem The newly cut
trees and long range Of breast works
thrown up on the crest, showed us that
preparations had been made, while nu.
merous parapets with embrasures in tho
logs taught US what might have been done.
But no men were there, the muskets
aud cannon were gone. Valencia with,
5000 Mexicans wasfull a days march a.
head, making for Mexico with a speed
which betrayed home sickness. Rio
Frio was found to DO a little stream pour.
ing down from the Snow mountain, oficy
GOODNESS and crystal purity. After q
slight pause for refreshment, VIC com
mcnccd our ascent Of the ridge which
separates the plains ofPuebla from Mex.
leo, the former Of which il had hitherto
skirted.-For several long miles wo toll
cd up the HID, only recompensed for our
labor 10y what we hoped to attain at last.
When all were pretty nearly worn out, a
sudden turn IN the road brought to our
view q sight which none Gun ever forget,
The whole vast piatn of Mexico was
before us.-The GOODNESS ofthe air, which
was most sensibly felt at this great height,
orr fatigue and danger we're forgotten
aud our eyes were the only sense that
thought Of enjoyment. Mexico, with its
lofty steeples and its cheq1ered domes,
" -.
iIs bright realily aud It's ancient mugnif.
cence, was before us while around on ev.
cry side lis thousand lakes seemed like
silver stars on "A velvet mantle.
We eucamped that night at the base OF
the mountain, with the enemy scouts on
every sidenfus. The nextday we roach.
cd Ayolla, only fifteen miles from Mexi.
co by tho National Road, which we had
hitherto been following, Here we Eal.
tod uutil Generals Quitman, Pillow and
Worth, with their divisions should come
up. We were separated fran tho city
by tho marshes which surrounded Luke
Tozcuco, and by the Lake itself. The
road is causeway running through the
marsh and is commanded by a steep and
lofty hill calledEl Pinnol. This bill com.
pletely cn6lades and commands the Ma.
tional Road, aud had been fortified and
repaired with the greatest caro- by Santa
ANN. One side was inaccessible by ma.
turo. the rest had been made so by art.
Batteries in all mounting so guns Of dif.
fcreut calibres, had been placed on its
sides, and a deep ditch, "a feet wide aud
10 deep, filled with water, bad been cut
connecting the parts already surrounded
10y marshes. On this side Santa Anna
had $4,000 mca against our forco ola lii.
lie over 1000 %olltoIo.
On The 22d. we made n reconnaissance
Of the work, which was pronounced i'm.
yyacDcaHc as the lives Of 5000 men
would be lost before tho ditch could b.
crossed. We continued our search and
found anniher road which went around
on the loft, but when within iyo miles d
the city, were halted by csmisg sudJenl,
upon Eve strong batteries on the hill
which commanded this road. III a plac,
callel interchangeable soon counter
marched aud then saw our danger. Will
one regiment and three companies d
cavalry, IN all about 400 men, we saw
thai III Piunol lay directly between y,
md our camp, distant full fifteen miles
Every eye. was fixed on the hill with OK.