The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-23
Interesting War Intelligence.

ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLES OF CoNTRERAs AND CHU-
RUBUSCO, BY GEN. PIERCE.
From the Boston Post, Sept all
We have been favored with the perusal of a private
letter, written by this gallant officer to relative and
have taken the liberty to publish some extracts from Il
The responsibility Of the publication must entirely
with as the author had idea Of its being seen by
any one his relatives and immediate friends and
hence the that it contains minute history of
his personal movements
HEADQUARTERS lsT BRIGADE, 3D. Div. IT, SAL
MExsoQUE. MEXICO. August ~, Is47.
Since ] left Vera Cru, to this hour have had no
of communicating with the States Although but
few months in the service, | know what is fatigue
anxiety, and exposure. Contrary my expectations
In gton. was compelled for the Of the requisite
provisions for transportation to remain than
three weeks at Vera Cruz and than In Terra
dreaded city the 10th of July with $500 men of all
arms and train Of wagons, which when closed up ex-
reached Pueba, without the loss of single wagon with
my command in fine condition. My command was at
tackled sx times on the msroh but the enemys force in
our side The National Bridge afforded the enemy
great natural advantages to which they had added
breastworks on high bluff which commanded the
bridge perfectly the main bridge they had also
thrown bsrricade. on discovered that there was
way in which his position could be turned and that
my artillery ineffective from the most commanding
point where 1t could be placed determined of course
to cross under the plupgng fire Of enemy
My order to advance was admirably executed At the
moment Lieutenant Colonel Bonham's battalion rushed
forward with shout the enemy poured down q heavy
Colonel Bonham's horse was shot me- and a ball
passed through the rim Of hat In very
proximity to my face. Our men leaped the bsrrcade,
followed by Captain Duperus company Of cavalry and
In less than ten minutes the enemy In flight In
every direction and the American flag waved upon the
high bluff which they had occupied. The Mexican
force they said afterwards consisted of 500 men Had
they possesspd courage and skill in the arms our
loss must have been very great You can hardly
oeive the strength OF the natural dences Of the
over which passed. Rumors to almost every
night that would be attacked by large forces the next
day. but they made no where any thing like brave and
stern resistance.
The official reports of the great battle Of Mexico will
probably reach you as soon rs this letter and SHALL
therefore, not attempt to give the minute details IL
fierce and bloody beyond any thing that has occurred in
this The battle differed in many respsc from that
OF Buena Vista There Gen Taylsr the enemy
In strong position selected by himself Our force on the
2oth Of less than nine thousand men, the
iean force within supporting distance and engaged,
doubtedy exceeded thirty thousand We attacked him
In position upon ground Of his selection admirably
fortified You will distinguish, far as numbers are
Of the afternoon although spoken of In official reports as
engagement under the designation of the battle of
Mexico" We took during the day thirty five pieces Of
artillery, an Immense quantity of ammunition, eight
hundred mules and horses and than two
prisoners-among Them eight generals and any number
Of colonies.
The Mexican loss in killed and wounded must bavs
been immense Our troops buried Mexcaus upon tho
neld o. battle in the morning at Contreros
ana the loss In the afternoon was much greater Our
loss has been heavy With this small army we coud NOT
afford to purchase many such victories such price
killed and wounded one third Of its entire force In
killed and wounded we number not less than 1000 and
among them lament to unusual proportion of
valuable officers The New England regiment suffered
severely, and behaved throughout in the most gallant
manner My horse, Mt full speed the evening Of the
10TH when leading my brigade through perfect shower
Of round shot and shells fell under upon ledge of
rockB by which sustained injury by the shock
and bruises but especially by sprain the left
knee, which came under him At arst was not CON.
scous Of any serious injury but became exceeding
faint when DR. Rtchic surgeon OF the l2th (portion
vho-
umns closely. overlook administered to well as
he could under the circumstances. In few moments
snd Snrs
Of poor gallant Lieut. Johnson who had Just received
mortal wound, Of which he died that evening. was
permitted to take him (my having been totally dis
abled helped into the saddle and continued In it
until IL o'clock that night IL was exceeedipQly dark
my servants and aggags was without tent or cover
ing, add to this that during the afternoon of the 18TH
We had gained no advantages over the enemy who re-
NAMED firmly entrenched with 1000 men opposed to
about 1000 ride without the possibility OF bring
ing our artillery to bear and you will readily conceive
mat our situation was not the most agreeable. The
morning Of the 20th was however a. brilliant A the
night Of the 10th dark gloomy Soon after dav-
light the snemys works wers carried with the bayoret
and Of their 1000 men, regular troops under the COM
mand Of Gen Valencia, probably 1000 be found
to-day As passed this field In pursuit of the fugi.
lives the awful the road and adjacent Aelds
svery where strewed with manged bodies the dead
and dying We continued the pursuit until O'Clock
when front came up with the enemy's strong works
Churubusoo and San Antonio where the great con-
fct Of the afternoon commenced At San Angel dspo-
sitions having been made to attack In reverse the
enemy's works on the Ban Augustine road General
Scott ordered me TO march my brigade, in concert
with that Of the intrepid General Saields, across
the open country between Santa Katarins aud the
above named road, in order to cut off the enemy's
retreat We gained the position sought and although
the enemys line perfectly formed and extended
far AZ the eye could reach In either direction they
attacked vigorously and successfully Arriving at a
ditch which II impossible for my horse to leap,
and hurried forward without thinking of
my injury at the head Of my brigade, for 400 400
yards when turning suddenly upon my knee, the
tlage Of which had been seriously injured tainted and
fell upon the bank In the direct range and within perfect
reach Of the enemy's IRE That escaped to me
now provideutial The lout and overthrow of the
whole Mexican force soon became complete, and
could easily have taken the city but Gen. Scott was