New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-28
Mexican Official Account of the Battle of CcrrO
GordO.

From the New Orleans Commercial Times, 10Th.
The annexed official account of the late fight
was dispatched to the Central Government in the
City of Mexico, by General Jarero, after he became
an inmate of the Castle OF San Juan de Ulua. 1t is
an interesting document, which will be read, no
doubt, with avidity, by all classes OF our telowci
tizens:
SAN JUAN DE- ULUA cd April 1s47
Most Excellent Sir Made prisoner of war, together
with Brig Gen. Romuus de la Vega, who Is with me Ia
this fortress where have been placed by the unor
tunate events of the morning of the 18th inst Cerro
GOrdo; and separated from Brig Gen. Luis Pinzon,
conceive II TO be my duty TO report 10 your Exceency
the of that day the bitter results of which
have placed me in the power OF the United states oil the
North.
GeneraLin Chief of the Army directed Cerro Gordo to
be fortified the left of the national road, or carriage
way, from Jaapa This road crosses the brow OF the
mountain, and along IL placed our infantry, to-
gether with the headquarters believing that cavalry
were stationed the Corral Fasa, and the Encerro.
The broad mountain called the Telegraph is the high
est of the emnences OF that chain, on the Vera Cruz
side Beyond the Cerro the right OF the present road
and at the point Of intersection OF the old road the Gen
eraliu Chief ordered battery % be placed which
would overlook the wagon road the deepest ana mar
rowest place In the glen The old river road was com
nanded effectively by the lights which were designated
by the names of the advanced lines of the right, Left
and center The first and last named had the river in
front along which the enemy was stationed the sec
ond commanded upon its left the national road, at the
poin; mentioned before the deepest in the glen In
such manner to enable us 10 defend the passages
from the old river road The command OF these lines
was assigned by the Genersin-Chef as follows The
right to General Luis Pnzon the left, from the bat
terry the national road to General homulus &c Ia
Vega; and the center 10 me.
We were In our positions on the 18th, when about
noon we raw the enemy advancing In column by me
left Of vanguard pushing directly forward Tor Inc
nights near the Telegraph The battery OF inc SWAN
ced line of the left opened lite fire of round shot upon
them from our largest pieces and with the best effect
Soon after the enemy discovered from the salient
angle upon which another battery OF the same advanced
line had been placed which also opened its ire, togeth
or with the battery of the centre both acting with such
effect that the enemy driven from his position 10
lass than half an hour The enemy compelled to aoSn
don that point by the injury received from our ire
commenced a movement by the right upon the lele'
graph hight where he was also received with the great
hrmness by our troops, and retired In great disorder
with Considerable loss.
The following day. unfortunate for the Republic) the
18th April the enemy presented himself to renew the
attack upon the Telegraph. and opened FIRE upon all
our fortified positions. The hight after severe and
bloody combat taken by main force, at the moment
when my advanced line Of the center was attacked by
another column at the point directly under the comm and
of Post Captain (nava) Don Buensventura AranJo The
batslions of Zacapusstls and Hatanque the artillery
and pckets of Msiamoros and Lberad, covered them
selves with glory andeectvely sustained the right wing
of the left line putting 70 Digit the enemys column IN
the shorsps OF FIVE six minutes which formed again
on our right among surrounding thickets and ridges
The hight of the Telegraph being taken, the enc my
became of guard on the left and to re-
orders
General In Chief sent my Ad Gtsn Lieut. ID. Francisco
Ruiz with orders 10 him or the Senior General-
(fTOrdiqQ Santa AaRG had rEa-ps suppose )-ou. he
returned with the Information that he found no one
therein our Camp and Headquarters-snd that dag
Of truce flying at shed, which was subsequently
confirmed by my own observation
Under these circumstances ms Pnzon, Vega, NOrie
On Osando and myself held consultation, and consd-
erng that our position having been changed by tie cap
ture of the Telegraph hight that our rearggard was
hemmed in by the enemy ia front ana rear aud ihstour
supply of water, which had before been scsnuy iar'
pshed in barrels was now entirely cut ot-ihst the
generalinchief had previously wthdrswn the battalion
of grenaders which had covered rear guard In me
woods the enemy were thus masters oil our isIe-and
although some OF us by our knowledge Of the hollows
ana ridges might have saved ourselves we preferred 10
be prisoners to the farther sacrifice OF the lives oil our
troops.
In giving myself up TO the generals Of the enemy
gave them understand that opprobrum 10 our non
or country belonged to the act and although
they were the coDquerers. could never in any form
psiate the which they had made against my co1n
try. ,,c IL,
Vega whose service in and out OF the hepuoc nave oe
fore this reflected so much honor upon tee MEXICAN
name Col Jose Maria Pavon, Post Captain Pedro kuiI
Major lose Maria Msis Captains Y. Arsuees Greogora
del CAejo Jose NJ Msnez Jose Maria Moreno siiNeTlo
Velez A NJ Gallegos Adjutsnt Camscho, (Lieatenan'
Of the Navy FREQ Fernandez subLieusenants d ANA
bic j. r. Csvarrubus and Jose Lssioriras al oil "horl
brought 10 this psce, and "a prisoners Oh war wiz
be eonduetei TO such place IN the uni'ed s INC
present government of the United states may direct
beg your Exceency lay this narrative before ms
Exeelency the President Of the Republic ana 10 remark
him and TO the Nsnon whom We should al serve 70
the last that this result is instance of the caprice Oh
fortune the instant that three lines OF the
vanguard schievcd a victory driving ssssisnts
before us We found ourselves under the imperous ne
essty OF surrendering ourselves 10 those who on the
birht of the Telegraph the National Road and in our
hsi made themselves masters OF me nea
Ia rurhars there were more than twelve thousand Anne
ricsn. against less than two thousand Mexcans who
were surrounded by their advanced lines
49, ,hs ha,or Se JOSE MARIA JARERO. /
To His Excellency, the Minister OF War
Santa Annals Account of the Battle.
Hsadouarters OF the Commanderin-Chief /