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

offered the greatest advantages for the attack He lay
entrenched on rising ground, behind deep rsvine,
about midway between to which the ground gently
descended from both directions His front was defend
cd by four sinch howtzerr and three long
one ls-pounder and some of smaller calibre His right
was almost equally strong and after crossing the ra-
natural glacs and taken In by body Of rancho
ros and lancers The heads Of the different divisions
ing their batteries behind slowly their
way among the volcanic rocks to the ravine, which
out Of gunshot Of Valencias batteries They
the firm San Angel road between Valencia and relief
but Santa Anna coming out to his support with seven
thousand infantry aud cavalry drew In battle array
the hills OF Contreras to our right. Col Reys br
gade that had been moved to the right earlier in tn,
day to cooperate with front attack and had passed
beyond the San Angel road, falling back upon the
village which had take possession Of General Smith
at once determined to drive away the force threatening
right By the time his dispositions made, the
sun had set; and night drawing on, 1t was feared we
should not have light enough for work The attack
therefore suspended till morning The troops b.
vouscked around the village without food without
shelter and without fire. IL afterwards determined
cias enrenchments the dispersion of Santa Annas
force affected but little our principal object
At 3 A. NJ, Col Rleys brigade was put in motion,
Shields holding the village During the night the 9th
and 18th regiments, with a company Of rifles and some
detachments that had been thrown out the previous
day moved to the ravne In front Of the enemy
position, AMI after driving In their pcquets in the gray
of the morning. filed off to the right and took sheltered
on ready 70 cooperate
taokng force In rear This force moving around the
base Of the hill which the battery was placed covered
from their view fire, began about sunrise TO show
themselves over Its crest Col Reys brigade, sweeping
around their and right, moved down with great
impetuosity while General Smith attacked their left
from the rear In the meantime Colonel Ransom,
pushing the ravine the in front opened his
fire upon their front and left. The enemy finding him
self thus attacked. and apprehendng the main attack
from the direction in which We approached the pre-
vous day, opened his heavy battery his front But
Riley's brigade, carrying everything before them,
som upon that of Shields. They broke at all points,
abandoning their artillery, pack train, ammunition Sc
We took 800 prsoners-4 generals sal.s Mendoza
Dlanco and Garcia colonies; commanders OF bril-
gades and squadrons and other officers In proportion
Among the twenty two pieces u artillery taken were
the two belonging to Washington battery taken Mt
Busna Vista They retaken by the 4th artillery
the regiment to which they originally belonged We
buried 600 of their dead found on the field Our loss
did not exceed 60 After allowing the troops little
time for refreshments they put in march down the
San Angel road to take In the positions Of san
Antonio and Churubusco. The enemy, finding himself
turned immediately commenced to evacuate his lines at
San Antonio; but moved upon him rapidly that he
had to abandon his guns Gen Worths division thas .
heels TO drive his into the defences OF Churu-
busco In the meantime General Twiggs had taken his
position in the front the battery surrounding the
convent, while Gen Worth seized upon that defending
the bridge, and blocking the main road to Mexico The
battle opened ferceiy on that side Gems shields and
Pierces brgades sent to attack In Advance
ing towards the city Of Mexico until they had passed
the stream In rear Of Churubusco they crossed corn
from Churubusco to the capital This causeway was de-
Tended by large body Of infantry and cavalry the latter
bsr Of infantry was said to be- and Of cavalry 1000
Gen Shields forming his line obiquely to that Of the
enemy resting either flank upon some buildings on his
right and lcs and gaining as much to their right flank
possible brought his promptly into action. Gene
raj PIERCE following quickly took position to his left
and the howitzsr battery opened on his right Inc
leans made stout resistance and the reserve under
Major Sumner composed Of the rifle regiment and squa-
dron Of Dragons brought to their support BY the
give way Worth and Twiggs had forced their 'front.' and
they being driven upon the capital AZ soon as the
way was clear for the Dragons they swept over the
causeway, charging up to the very gates Many hne
saddle was emptlcd by the discharge from their last bat
terry Captain Kearny whose troop leading, lost his
LOTT arm and the rest of his officers were wounded Our
men had done their work well aud faithfully. Their
haustion required rest Tho recall sounded and
these have goodly number. fear they will reach
nearly 1000 Many gallant officers ut rest Colonel
Butler Of the South Carolina regiment, bringing his
regiment into action, had his horse shot under him
continuing the charge foot he wounded In the
leg and finally shot through the head or the regulars,
tlery; Hanson, Lieut. Irons Easily, Hoffman, and John
ston About forty wounded more or less severely
All the engineers are safe. We cannot be sufficiently
thankful nor repay the nterest prayers Of friends
in our behalf The greeting Of General Scott by the
troops after the action seeing the Of all his
plans was loud and vociferous 1t must have shaken
the d" Halls of the Montezumasn Their enthusiasm
seemed to cheer the Mexican officers in their captivity
The army has implicit confidence In him, aud apprehend
nothing whore he commands lie sees everything, and
calculates the cost Of every measure and they know
and feel that their lives and labor will be uselessy
expended During the day took 2700 prisoners,
eight generals pieces of artillery and am
munition enough for whole campaign. Their defenoes
were completely turned and their plans upset. We
could have entered Mexico that evening the next
morning at our pleasure complete was the disorgan
cation OF their army OF $4,000 men We learn that
men were opposed to ue at all points the 20h
On the 2lst as the army In motion towards the city
General Scott was met by proposition for u cessation
OF hostties Tor the purpose OF taking OF the killed
and wounded. This he refused; but In the evening
agreed to an armsce to enable commissioners TO meet
MT Trst, and to treat for peace This armstice has
been officially ratified IL Is difficult to oresee the re-
suit though can very we'll that II Is for Santa An
mas advantage to make peace. SO far can trust him
The Lieutenant johnson killed, the nephew OF
Lieut. Col Johnston, OF the veltgeurs was standing
by him when his leg carried of above the knee ~
cannon ball lie was gallant little fellow, ana as mer-