Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-16
(Duplica,e)
No 81 HEADQUARTERS CT THE ARMY,
Tacubaya, a, The Ga'es OF Mexco'

Gu. NV roar, No. 81 commenced in the
night oil The l9h instant, closed lie o. sta''on' "
the army with that day.
The morning Of the ooh opened VIII uls ~
series of unsurpassed achievements an ~ s'em
Of The Capital, and 10 which shan give o'e &c
nera! name-5attie Of licrieo.
In the nigh, OF the 18Th, Bri9ad,er Geherais
Shields p. F.. Smith, and Cadwaiader, ana oo.'
Riley, with their brigades, ard he io'n IeS
under Col Morgan, detached from brls"a'e. w
ncIa! Pierce-iound themselves III, anu "oo",,
The important posi,ion-the vll'ase, ha"iie. -
haeicrda called, ndtIerenliy, Conlfefas, hhsa,-
Ga, San GeronimC-hall mile nearer 70 INC ~
than The enemys entrenched camp, Oh Inc sa'"e
road, towards line factory Of Masdaiesna. r,;
That camp had tccn. Unexpectedly, our iormi-
dable poin, Of attack the afternoon before, ana We
had now 10 take il. without the aid OF cavalry OF
artillery. or TO throw back our advanced corps
unon The road from San Au9usiin 10 the cry anu
thence force passage through San An!onio.
Accordingly, 10 meet contingencies, MAJOR Ge-
neral Worth was ordered 10 leave, early IN Inc
morning OF the 20ih, one Of his brsades 10 mask
San Antonio, and 10 march, with the other, SIX
miles, via San Augus,in, upon Con,reras. a ike
destination was given 10 MaJoT zen. oui'man
and his remaining brigade in Saa Aueustih-ie-
placing for the moment ire garrison OF 'ha' I'M
noran, depot with Harney's brigade OF cavalry
as horse cen'i not pass over Inc intervening
rocks, &c, to reach The field OF oallle.
A diversion for an earlier hour (dayllsht) naa
been arranged The nigh, before, according TO The
suggestion OF Brigadier General Smith, received
through The Engineer Captain Lee, who convey
ed my orders 10 our troops remaining On me
ground oppusi'e the enemy's cenlre-the poinl iof
The diversion or a real attack, as circumstances
might allow.
Guided by CAPTAIN Lee, il proved the latter,
under The command of Colonel Ransom on inc
9Th, having with him that regiment and some
companies Of three olhers-lhe 81, l2'h anu IL
fes.
Shields, the senior officer al The bamle', hav.
ing arrived in The night after Smith had arranged
with Cadwalader and Riley The plan vi Attack ior
The morning, drlica,ely waived interference; but
reserved to himself The double task Of holding The
hamlet with mis- Two regiments (Soulh Carolina
and New Yoli volunteers) against ten Tines his
numbers on The side OF the city, Including The
slopes 10 his left and in case The camp in his rear
should be carried, 10 face abou! and cut of The
flying enemy.
At3 o'clock, A. NJ, the great movement COM
mecced on The rear of The enemy's camp, Riley
| leading, followed successfully by Cadwalader's
and Smiths brisades, The later temporarily un-
der the orders OF Major Dimick OF the LIST artlls'
| ry-lhe whole force being commanded by Smith
HE senior in the general auack, and whose ar
ranscmenIs, skill and galianry always challenge
| The highest admiration.
| The march wa. rendered tedious by the darkness
rain and mud; but about sunrise, Riley, conduct
ed by Lieut.. Tower, engineer, had reached an
elevation behind the cnemy, whence ne precipila
| Ted his columns, sormed The enirenchmrnis
planted his several colois upon 'he, anu cairieG
IN
| Conducted b. Lieut.. BcautsaId, Engineer
and Lieut.. Brooks Ut Twiess' stati-bolh o
whom like Lieut.. Tower, had, in The night, twice
| rccuunoi,red The gruuns!-Cadwa.aGe brought W
to The general assault Two I'll his fes lmenls-lht
Vol;ig. urs ard The ll,ii; and a, Tie appointed
| .ime. Colonel Rams N, with his Temporary brig
/ AIDE conducted by Captain Lee, Engineer no
| on'r made ii. movement 10 diver! ana 10 dis:Iac
the enemy, but, after crossing lie deep Iavlne i!
his 'front.' advanced and poured into the work
and upon the tugitives many yolleys from his de
| siructiye inasketTy.
In The meantime Smiths own brigade unde
the temporary command OF Major Dimick, fol
lowing the movements OF Riley and CadwaladeI
discovered opposite 10, and outside Of The works
long line ot Mexican cavalry, drawn up as
support. Dimick, having al The head of III
brigade The company oi sappeIs and miners, IN
der Lieut.. Smith, Engineer, who had conduclc
the march, was ordered BY Brigadier Genera
Smith 10 form line faced 10 The enemy, and in
charge, against flank, routed The cavalry.
Shields TOO, by the wise disposition Of his brig
adc and gallant activity, contributed much 10 III
general results He held masses OF cavalry ant
infantry, supported by artillery, in check below
him, and captured hundreds, with one Genera
| (nendoza) Of those who fed from auove.
dcub, whether more brilliant or decisive
| victory-iaking into view ground, artificial de
| fences, batteries, and The extreme disparity O
numbers-1ilhout cavalry or artillery On Gu
side-is 10 be found on record. Including all GU
corps directed against The cn,renchrd camp. will
| Shields brigade al The hamlet, we positively dc
nu nnmbsr over $500 rank and hle and we
| knew by sight, and since more Certainly, By
man? captured documents and letters, thai TIT
enemy had actually engaged on the spo, 1000
men. with at least 900 more towering within
sight and striking disiance-boh on The 10Th ant
ooh. All, not killed or captured, row fed will
precipitation.
Thus was The great victory Of CoaAc,G
| achieved one road 10 the capital opened; 100 o
the enemy killed; SIS prisoners, including, anon:
So officers, 4 generals; besides many co!oIs ant
| standards; - pieces OF brass ordnance hall .
large calibre; thousands OF small arms and &C
courcmcn,s; an lmme nse quantity OF shot, shells
| horses, sc &c-all in our hands.
Ii is highly gratifying 10 find that, by skiliu
| Arrangement and rapidly oi execution, our loss
in killed and wounded, did not exceed, on the sro
| 60-among The former Tie brave Capi. Charlie
| Hanson, Of the 7th intantty-not more distin
euished Tor sallanlfy than Tor modcsiy, morals
and piely. Lieut.. J. P. Johnstone, Is, artillery
serving with Magruders battery, young office
| OF The highest promise, was killed the evening De
| lore.
One OF the mos, pleasing incidents of The vic
| tory is abe recapture, in The works, by Capta
Drum, 4,h artillery, under Major Gardner, 9
| The TWO brass SIX FOUNDERS, taken from anohe
company oi the same regiment, though wilhuu
the loss OF honor, al the glorious battle OF Buen
| Visla-a about which guns the whole regiment ba
mouIned for So many long months! Coming up
a little later, | had The happiness 10 join 10 10
| pro,raced cheers oil The ealaa. Alb TN The Ioyou
even; and, indeed, The whole army sympaihize
in its Just pride and eIuiiaioD.
| The battle being won before the advancin;
! brigades OF Worih's and Quitman's division
were in sight, both were ordered back 10 their la
positions Worth, 10 attack San Anonio, il
'front.' with his whole force, as soon as approach
ed in the rear by Pillows and Twigss' division
moving from Con,reras, through San Ange
| and Coyoacau. By carrying San Antonio, w
4 Knew lIldl We OpSH dboAuSii
better road 10 lhs capital, Tor cur sese and othe
trains.
Accordingly, he two advanced divisions ant
Shields bfig.av magthtd rom Conlreras, nnde
| the immediate 'rccr, Il Maj. Gen. Pillow, wht
was now Joined by ihe gallant Briedier Genera
Pierce OF MS div>ioa. personally thrown out o
activity. by severe hurt received from the tai
of his horse.
After giving necessary orders on the field, ii
the midst OF prisoners and trophies, and sendIn:
instructions TO Harney's brigade OF cavalry, lei
a! San AususiD, 10 join me, personally follow
ed Pillows movement.
Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by eros
road, from The rear Of San Antonio, first de
lached Captain Lee engineer, with Capt Kcar
ney's troop, Isl dragons, supported By The Tiff
regiment, under Major Loring, TO reconnoilr'
tina, strong point; ana next despatched Maj. Gen
Pillow, with oDe OF his brigades (CadwaIader's
to make the avack upon ii, in concert with Maj
Gen. Worth, on The opposite side.
A. the same time, by another road 10 the left
Lieut.. Stevens, OF The engineers, supported by