The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-13

Brigaier General Twlggs cut off as above from the
part OF his division beyond The mpractcabe ground and
Captain Lee. are gone, under my ORDERS to collect the
forces remaining this side, with which 10 make tina
diversion about O'clock in the morning
And here Will end this report commenced at its date
and in another, continue the narrative of the great events
which then impended
have the honor to be- sir with high respect yonr most
0O Hon. VIM Nancy Secretary OWE Of Var ''oi
(Duplcate)
No. 32i HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Tacubaya, at the Gates of Mexico,
August %, 1877.
SIR: My report, No. 81, commenced in the night OF
the 18th instant closed the operations OF the army with
that day
The morning of the Goth opened with one of series of
unsurpassed achievements, all in view of the capital and
to whch shall give the general name-batHe Of Mereo.
n the benz night Of the l9lh Brgadtr Generals Shields
their brgades and the 18th regiment, under Colonel Nor
gan, detached from Bfigader General Perce-found
themselves IN aud about the important postonhc
village, hamlet or hacienda, called, indferenty, Con
treras, Ansada San Geronimo-ha mile nearer to the
city than the enemys enenched camp the road
towards the factory of Magdalena
That camp had been Unexpectedly our formidable
point OF attack the afternoon before, and had to
lake IT, without the aid of cavalry artillery, to throw
hack our advanced corps upon the road from San Angus
IN to the city, and thence force passage through San
Antonio.
: Accordingly TO meet contingencies, Major General
Worth was ordered to leave, early in the morning
tonic, and TO march, with the other, six miles, San
Augustm upon Contreras. like destination given
to MAJOR General Quitman and his remaining brigade in
San Augustin-replaclng, for the moment the garrison
OF that important depot with Harneys brigade of cavalry,
as horse could not pass the intervening rocks, &c
to reach the field of battle.
diversion for an earlier hour (dayghD had been
arranged the night before according TO the suggestion of
Brgadler General Smith, received through the engineer,
captain Lee who conveyed my orders to our troops
naming the ground opposite to the enemys centre
the point IOT lNe diversion real attack cTCum
stances might allow.
Guided by Captain Lee, it proved the latter under the
command OF Colonel Ransom of the 9th, having with
him that regiment and companies of three others
the 3D. 10th, and rifles.
Shields, the senior officer at the hamlet having ar
rived in the night after Smith had arranged with Cad
walaier and Riley the plan of attack for the morning,
delcateIy waived interference; but reserved to himself
the double task OF holding the hamlet with his two reg
nents (South Carolina and New York voluneers) against
ten tunes his numbers the side OF the city, including
the slopes TO his left, and, the camp his rear
should be carried to face about and cut off the flying
enemy
AT o'clock, a. m, the great movement commenced
the rear OF the enemy's camp Riley leading followed
SUCCESSFULLY by Cadwaladers and Smiths brgades, the
latter temporarily under the orders of Major Dimck OF
the LIST arlery-the whole force being commanded by
Smith, the senior in the general attack and whose
engagements, skill, and gallany always challenge the
highest admiration.
The march rendered tedious by the darkness ran
and mud; but about sunrise, Riley, conducted by Lieut.
Tower, engineer, had reached elevation behind the
the entertainments, planted his several coors upon them
and carried the work-all in seventeen minutes
Broos Ct IVES su saSeS IL And Lieut.
Tower, had in the night twice reconnored the ground
.Cadwalader brought up to the general assault two of
his regiments--the vougeurs and the 18th and at the
appointed time Colonel Ransom, with his temporary
brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, engineer not only
made the movement to divert and to distract the enemy
but after crossing the deep ravne in his 'front.' advanced
and poured into the works and upon the fugves many
volleys IRON his destructive muskery.
In The meantime Smiths own brigade, under the tenn
porary command Of Major Dimick following the move
mens Of Riley and Cadwaaler discovered, opposite to-
and outside of the works. long line OF Mexican cavalry
drawn up as support Dimick having at the head OF
Lieut. Smith, engineer, who had conducted the march,
ordered BY Brigader Gen. Smith to form line faced
TO the enemy and IN charge against flank routed the
cavalry.
Shields, too, by the wise disposition of his brigade and
gallant activity, contributed much to the general results
He held masses of cavalry and infantry supported by
one general (Mendoza) of those who fled from above
doubt whether more brilliant or decisive victory
taking INTO view ground, artificial defences, batteries
and the extreme disparity of numbers-without cavalry
or artillery sdeis to be found on record Incu-
ding all corps directed against the entenched camp
with Shields brigade at the hamlet we positively did moi
number over 500 rank and file; and knew, by sight
and since, more certainly by many captured documents
and letters, that the enemy had actually engaged the
spot 1000 men, with at least $4,000 more lowering with
In sight, and striking dsance-both on the 10Th and
Goth All, not killed captured, fled with precpi-
tation
Thus the great victory of Contreras achieved one
road to the capital opened 700 of the enemy killed. STA
prisoners, including among So officers generals be-
sides many coos and standards % pieces of brass ord
nancehalf of large calibre thousands of small arms
and accoutremens immense quantity OF shot, Shells
powder, aud cartridges; 100 pack mules, many horses,
&c &c.-all in our hands
1t highly gratifying to find that by skillful arrange
mcnt and rapdlty OF execution, loss, in killed and
wounded, did not exceed, on the spot GO-among the
former the brave Captain Charles Hanson of the 18th in
fanlry-no more distinguished for gallanry than for
modesty, morals, and pety Lieut.. J. p tombstone 1st
artillery, serving with Magruders battery, young Off
Ger of the highest promise, killed the evening before
One OF the most pleasing incidents of the victory is the
under Major Gardner, of the two brass sx-pounders
taken from another company of the same regiment,
though without the loss of honor, at the glorious battle
OF buena Nlsta-about which guns the whole regiment
had mourned for so many long months Coming up,
little later, had the happiness to join in the protracted
cheers OF the gallant 18th the joyous event; and, indeed
the whole army sympahzes in its just pride and exua
ton.
The battle being won before the advancing brgades of
WORMS and Quman's divisions in sight, both were
ordered back to their late to attack San
Antonio, IN front, with his whole force, APP
preached IN the rear by Pillows and Twiggs divisions
moving IRON Contreras through San Angel and Coyoa-
can BY carrying San Antonio, knew that we should
open anothera shorter and better road TO the capital
for our siege and other trains
Accordingly the two advanced divisions and Shields
brigade marched from Contreras, under the immediate
orders oil MAJOR General Pillow, who was now joined
by the gallant Brgaer General Pierce OF his DIVISION
personally thrown out Of activity, late the evening be-
fore by severe hurt received from the fall of his horse
After giving necessary orders the Held, IN the midst
81 prisoners and trophies, and sending instructions to
harneys brigade OF cavalry LETT at San Augustin, to