The North-Carolina standard., 1847-10-20
IG n, N. c., WEDNESDAY,, OCTOIsER 40, s47.

cia. Here I'VE found CadwarIader and his brio
ade already formed, and disc oyerd RiIey's brigade
SkTnlshIng in, rear of the enemY's works. Va
iencla was ignorant of our approach h. anc,w,e wer
as yet safe: front of as Was Valencia siFopel,
entrenched on hillside and surrounded by
regular heid work concealed from US BY an orch
ard in our rear Mendoza with column of 66O(
was in the road but thinking us 10 be friends
On our right was a large range of hills Whose
continued CREST was parallel to the road, and ir
which were formed in line of battle 5000 Of tn,
best Mexican cavalry. On our left we were sep
nrated from our own forcesb9 an Ihlost i'm passa
ble wilderness, and IL twas now twilight Even
Smith looked round for help. ~, 3d. -v2e,,s, 9 .s.,
Suddcnlya thousand Uiyas came across the hill
side, like the yells of prairie wolves in the dead
OF nfght, and the squadfons on our right formed
for charging Smiths himself againll "Face
TO the rear" "Wait till you see their red crps
and then give, il to thrm l'' Furoasly they came
on few yards, then changed their minds and dis
gusted at our cool reception, retired TO their
eooches. Onthe edge Of the road between US and
Valencia, Mexican hamlet spread out with its
mud huts, large orchards deep cut roads,, and a
strong church, and through the Centre of this
hamlet ran path parallel to the main road, but
concealed from it il is nearly mile long. In
this road Smiths and Rilet's brigade spen, the
night. Shields, who came bp in the night, Law
in The orchard, while Cadwallader was nearest
the enemy's works. AS we were within range of
the batteries, which could enfIade the road in
which we lay, we built stone breastwork at eth
er end TO conceal ourselves from their view and
grape. There we were, completely surrounded
by the enemy, cut off from our communications,
Ignorant of the ground, without artillery, weary,
d1spired, and detected we were dishea rtened set
With Santa Anna and Salas' promise of no
quarter. force of forr to one against us, and one
half defeated already, no succor from Puebla, and
no news from Gen. Scott, all seemed dark Sud
denly the words came whispered along, zoe storm
at midnight" Now we are uIseIves again |
But what horrible night There we Iav-too
tired 10 eat too wet 10 Sleep in the middle of that
muddy road, officers and men side by SIDE with
heavy rain pouring down upon US, The officers
without blankets or oVercoats, (hey had LOST them
in coming across,) and the men worn out with ia
tigue. About midnight the rain was so heavy
that the streams in the road flooded u.s. and there
we stood crowded together, drenchcd and benumb
ed, waiting till daylight. At half past three the
welcome word ''faU tn " was passed down, and
wc commenced our march The enemy,s works
were on hill side, behind which rose other and
slightly higher hills separated by deep ravines
and gulies and intersected by streams. The
VIII ole face of the country was of stiff clay, which
rendered it almost impossible TO advance. We
formed our line about quarter of a mile from The
encmy's works, Riley's brigade on our right $50
At about 4 we started, windcd through q thick
orchard which effectually concealed us, even had
ii not been dark, dcbouching, il 10 a deep ravine
which ran within about 500 yards of The work
and which carried US directly in rear and out of
81 ight Of their batteries AT wn of day we reach.
ed our place after Incredible exerions and got
ready for our charge. The men threw off their
wet blankets and looked to their pieces while the
officers got ready for rush and the first smile
hat lit upon our faces fortwelve hours, boded hut
little good for the Mcxicans. On the right and
opposite the right of their work was Rilcy's brig
lde of the 2d and lst infantry and 4th artillery,
next the Rifles then the LIST artillery and Sd infan-
ry. In rear of our left was >Cad~'allader's brig
lde. as reserve, the whole division under com
nand of Gen Smith in the absence Of General
Twiggs.. They had smooth place 10 rush down
On The enemy's work, with the brow of the hill to
keep Under until the word was given.
At last Just at daylight, General Smith slowly
walking up, asked if all was ready. A look an
swcred him. I" Men tors0ard." And we did
forward Springing up at once Riley's brigade
opened, when the crack of hundred rifles started
he Mexicans from their astonishnent and they
opened their fire. Useless fire, for we were so
lose that they overshot US, and before they could
urn their pieces on US, we were on them. Then
such cheers arose as you never heard, The men
rushed forward like demons, yelling, and firing
he while. The carnage was frig gftfu, and
hough they fired sharply it was of no use. The
sarthern parapet was cleared in an instant and the
blows of fhe stocks could be plainly heard min
pled with the wells and groans around. Just be-
fore the charge was nude, a large body Of lancers
came winding up the road looking most splendid
lv in their brilliant uniforms They never got to
he work, but turned and fed. In an. instant all
was one mass Of confusion: zach trying to be fore
most the flight The road was literally block
ed up, and while many perishcd by their own
guns it was almost imPossibeio fire onthe mass,
from the danger of killing our own men.Y Some
fed up The ravine on the left, ,or the right, and
many Of these were Slain by turning their own
guns on them. Toward the city the Rifles and
5d Infantry led off the pursuit. 81 Seeing that
larqe crowd ofthe fugitives were jamned up in n
mass in the road, some of our men ran through
the cornfieh, and by thus heading them, about 80
mon took over 500 prisoners, uearfy'a hundred OF
them officers H .@> -..9'. -! "oE' -.',
. After dsarming the prisoners as the pursuit had
ceased, we went back to the fort where we found
our troops in full possession, and the route complete
We found that the cnemy's position was much
stronger than we had supposed, and their artillery
much iaHger and more abundant. Our own loss
was small, which may. be accounted dor by their
perfect surprise at our charge, rs to them we ap.
neared as if rising out of the earth, unperceived
was our apptoach Our loss was one officer kill
ed lClrdr Hanson of the 7th Infantry, and Lieut..
Vaa Buren of f,the Rifles, shot through the legs
and about so; men killed and wounded. 2, Their
force consisted Of 5000 men under Valencia, with
a reserve, which had not yet arrived, under Santa
Anna. Their loss as since ascertaIned was as
follows ;-4kiHed and hurried since the fight $50
wounded 1000, and 1900 prisoners, exclusive OF
officers. including four Generals salas, Mendoza,
-, ~ q of