Democratic banner., 1847-05-10

battle By General Sc0H-Slf hoHSa"d
Mesicans k1ken prisOncrS-Ftre hun
dyed americans killed and WOuMtict-
Gen. La TegG again a prisoner.
By the steamship McKim, Capt. Pills
bury, which left Vera Cruz on the Goth in
slant, we have glorious news from the ar
nv under Gen. Scott. Mr.. Bug5ee. who
was sent from tho sveue OF action by MIR.
Kendall, with dispatches for this office, left
the McKim twenty miles below the city,
and came up to the city, express, with the
glorious tidings.
On the afternoon of the 18th, the ad-
vance under Gen. Twiggs encountered the
enemy, when a severe but indecisive con-
hict ensued. As the general orders, which
we give below, show that it was General
Scott's.intentiont to give battle only on the
18th, it may be that this engagement was
brought on by the Mexicans. The main
battle occurred on the 18th, and resulted in
the complete triumph ofthe American arms.
Santa Anna made his escape after his ar
mylwas routed. Gen. La Vega is again a.
mong the prisoners. Besides him there
were five Generals taken, and a long list Of
Colonies and subordinate officers. We
give below a list of such Of the officers as
are coming to this place. They were to
leave Vera Cruz on the Gath inst.
80. PLAN DEL Rio, April I'LL A. NJ.
The division of Gen, Twiggs started two
hours since, and a heavy cannonadc has al
ready commenced upon his line from the
farthest of the Mexican works. At inter
walls, too, the rafting of small arms can be
heard distinctly from the dragon camp
where / am writing this. Lam going out,
with Coils. Duncan and BoAlan and Capt.
PembeEton, to the seat of action, and will
return here at night to report t,c progress
of the fSht. 1t was not intended. 1 be-
lieve, that Gen. Twiggs- should open the
fight to-day, at least to bring on a genera
action, and it is therefore presumable the
Mexicans have commenced upon him.
write in great haste. 6, W. X.
&, P. MI have Just returned from thu
scene of conflict, and a bloody one it hal
been considering the number engaged. A
hill this side of the fartherest Mexican
work, and on which there was no one seer
last evening, was found occupied by the
enemy7s light troops this morning, and t.
force it was at once deemed indispensable
For this purpose the Rifles under Majo'
Sumner, besides detachments Of a~rtiller,
and infantry, were ordered to charge VI
the rugged accent. This they did in gal
liant style, driving the MexicaDs, after a re
~sistance which may be put down as mos
obstinate. Great numbers of the enemy
were killed, while on our side the loss wa
also severe. Major Summer was shot il
the head by 4 mnSket ball-severely bu
not mortally, Lieuts. Maury and Gibbs, o
the Rifles, were also wounded, but not Sc
verely, as was also Lieut.. jarvis Of the q
Infantry. Icould not learn that any one o
our officers were killed. The entire los
on our side, in killed and wounded, is esti
mated at about one hundred; but from tn
nature of the grandchildren, covere'
brush and thick chaparal, and extremel
~..-on IL - i..,oee;LIe 20 ton with aCCu
racy. Nor can /, at this time, give eve
the names of tho officers who were imme
diately engaged.
About 3 o'clock, the"enemy made a de
monstration from the fort on the neigfbor
ing height to the one our men had capture
as if with the intention of retaking it; bu
1t all ended in marching down the bill
blowing a most terrific charge on thei
trumPets, firing a few shots, and then retir
ing. Their appearance, as they came dow
the slope, was certainly most imposing
The cannon on the height meanwhile ker
up a continuous fire upon Gen Twiggs' lines
yet doing little execution, other than cut
ting down the trees and brush. AS we re
turned to camp, the fire still continued--th
enemy had evidently ascertained the POS
ton Of the road, Which had just been cu
with accuracy, but their balls principal
went over.
j., Gen. Shields, at 3 o'clock, was ordere
out to support Gen. Twiggs, with tire
regiments of volunteers--two from Illinoi
under Coils. Baker and Barnett. They wi
have warm work Tomorrow. if the Mex
cans stand up as they did today.
r'To-,nortowa, the grand attack, both upo
the font and rear Of the enemy, is to b
male. Gen. Worth IS to move at sunrise