Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-30
INTERESTING FROM MEXICO.

We copy from the New Orleans Courier the sub
joined extract of private letter, which the Courier
states TO be from high source of military infor-
nation" and says that" every word of it may be
implicitly relied upon" Besides recapitulatng the
victories obtained by Gen. ScoTT on his way from
Pueba to the city of Mexico, il gives the amount
of force with which he commenced his march, and
the number of lives lost on both sides during the
insurrection which followed the entrance of our
army into the capital:
CIrr OF MEXICO SEprEMBER 10, 1s47.
MY DEAN FRIEND At last we in possession of the
capital Of Mexico, and snugy quartered in the faamed
| !" Halls of Montezuma,"
Believing that it will interest you understand the pnci
pal of army since it left Puebla, as
versant with them all, will relate hem and you will find
among the most interesting operations of that have
occurred during the nineteenth century.
When Gen. Scorr had completed his arrangements and
concentrated his forces at Pueba in the early part Of Au-
gust and when he the sudden disappearance of the spec
of peace which had been held him and Mr. Trist he
determined his whole available force upon
the capital by which demonstration he hoped compel the
Mexicans to accept our offer Of peace.
Accordingly, advance division (Twggss 900 regu-
ars took up the line OF march in the morning Of the 9Th of
August the divisions of Quitnan, WORTH and Pillow
$500 regulars $500 vountees) following in the above
der and at intervals of twenty-four hours
We expected little resistance until reached the
valley of Mexico, did meet any, We encountered
strong natural Notifications at and in the Of Rio Fo
But the enemy seemed hold himself in reserve for the
ermned resistance army with after passing that
gon midway between Pueba and this city, and after we had
| entered the valley Of Mexico.
The reconnaissance of engineers and information de-
rived from other induced Gen. Scott make his first
demonstration upon the Pnon caleda very strong
by nature and douby by the science of the Mexcans who
left nothing undone make the position mpegnabe
further satisfied Gen. Scott and induced him
believe that the Pon could be turned by the flank which
accordingly done, and retired from Ayoa passed
through Chalco and, after innumerabe difficulties reached
San uuu stin tan frnm The tho
gust.
Worths division was thrown forward league San Anto
MO right, and Gen. Pillow, with Cadwaaders and
Shiedss brigades, and Twiggss division our left.
Worths division much annoyed by the enemy's guns
at San Antonio trying turn that position, while
brisk cannonade carried by the troops under Gen
Pillow against the enemy's batteries at Conreos In the
morning OF the goth August eys brigade of regulars
ported by Cawaades bgade assaulted the strong works
while the rifles stood ready flank, and at signal rush
made, the works carried, twenty-five guns some egh
eenpounders and Bens guns taken at Buena Va cap
ured and also eleven hundred prisoners sixty wagon loads
Of ammunition, three hundred pack mules and eighteen thou
sand dollars in money besides killing than hun
dred and all this done in minutes by the
watch, with loss part of only forty killed
and wounded
Leaving prize Shiedss brigade pursued the enemy to
Talpan followed by all the troops under Pillow when Gen
Scott ordered Twiggs by road Pillow by another and
Worth by third TO advance upon the enemy, then in large
force and strong position 900 men) Chuubusco and
the fefe du p0nt near by.
Worth drove the enemy from San Augustine who fled to
the te du pont At these places obstinate
made for hours and more, when the enemy fled the
city, followed by the dragons and light troops very
gates leaving upwards Of three hundred dead and thou
sand prisoners besides dozen guns and large quantities of
fixed ammunition. Our loss about thousand and
forty killed and wounded Here captured about sixty of
our deserters, fifty of whom hanged last week.
In these three fights lost many of the best and nobes
officers in the service.
General Scott wisely recalled the troops az by entering
the city, (Which could most readily have been done the
hores would have been dispersed and all chances of peace
dispelled forever.
On the 2lst General Mora, chief engineer Of Mexico
came out and, meeting Gen. Scott at Coucan, made propo
sitions for truce The advance of the army moved Mis-
quake and acubaya, and the Gath truce signed,
and Mr. Trist the four Mexican Commissioners when
negotiations commenced.
During the first four days of the there many
papabe violations OF it, in sonng Transfers numbering
men, receiving renforcemcnt, aborng their FORTS &c.
that, finally, the 9th September, Gen. Scott demanded
explanation apology and redress reop ming of hos
tes. Santa Anna having sent undignifed and mper
nent TO Gen. Scott the 7h Gen. Worth, with
1900 regulars assaulted the mill Of San Salvador, defended
by the Mexican army, $4,000 men, commanded by Santa
Anna person. drove the whole of them from the field blow
ing up the foundry at the MILL taking guns good supply
Of ammunition, seven hundred prisoners and killing and
wounding thousand five hundred Mexcans. loss
was above seven hundred killed and wounded.
BY the morning of the f2th September engineers had
made thorough reconnaissance of every position and while
rwggss division making strong demonstration at the
San Antonio gate, Gen. Scott had maGd his plans take
the strong castle of Chapuepec by assault
The 18th occupied in bombardng this castle, and in
the morning Of the 18th five hundred picked men, supported
by Quitman right, Pillow in the centre, and Worth
left, carried Chapuepec the point of the bayonet At
this place killed three four hundred, and took
above three hundred prisoners and immense quantity Of
ammunition. Mexican killed in the act of setting fire
TO three mines, with the intention Of blowing up the castle
and killing every soul in it, Gen Smiths brigade joined
Quitmans division in this fight Riley brigade order
ed up from the San Antonio gates.
Having secured prizes, Quitman division and Smiths
brigade (Reys subsequently one took the acubaya road
while Pillows and Worths divisions took the San Cosme
road and pursued the enemy the gates OF the city, which
after fighting carried At these places our loss
very great, but is not yet ascrned Wohs dvi-
sion dug their way half mile through stone walls, took to
the house tops and carried every thing before them Santa
Anna, knowing that morning would drive him out,
evacuated the city with all his army and the 18th we took
possession of the palace.
On the morning of the l4h September General Scott and
staff entered the city, and after reviewing the troops
escorted to the palace.
As the troops about TO 70 their quarters, large
body of eperos commenced firing men from the house
tops, and general street fight ensued which was Kept up
for days and nights when the priests and authorities,
finding the leperos worsted called Cen Scott who stop
ped the further euson Of blood by recalling the troops and
every thing now as quiet if hostties existed We
killed nearly thousand cpcos, and lost in killed and
wounded about one hundred men,
History cannot point brilliant actions TO
successful campaign Every effort Of has been
crowned with success every officer and soldier has render
ed himself worthy of his counys everlasting gratitude