Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-10-22

ton and hoist the star-spangIed banner on the
domes of this capital.
Gen. Herrera, ex-Presdent, has gone to
Queretaro, where Congress is to assemble
next month. Hetook with him 1000 men, and
Santa Anna fell back upon Puebla with 1000
horsemen. These two bodies of troops are the
remnants of the 10000 regular troops who de-
Tended the city no longer than two weeks ago.
Some PEOPLE hope that peace will be advo-
Gated by several members of the next Congress
at Queretaro, but, for my part, do not believe
it. The folly of these people is not yet at an
end When will they open their eyes to their
true interests? Never. This is my fear
All communications with the interior are
cut off.
Mr.. Kendall's Letters from the Army.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PICAYUNE.
TAcUBArA, Sept 8, 1S47.
Forenoon, 10 o'clock.-l have just returned
from another battle ield-one on which the
victory OF the American arms was complete,
and on which our troops 'eoHtended against an
enemy immensely superior in number and
strongly posted Gen. Worth commenced the
attack at early daylight, and in less than two
hours every point was carried, all the cannon
of the enemy were in our possession, an I'M
mense quantity OF ammunition captured, and
nearly 600 men, among them ffty-;hree Off
GERS, taken prisoners
For more than an hour the battle ragged with
a violence not surpassed since the Mexican
war commenced, and so great the odds oppo-
sed that for some time the result was doubt
full. The force of the enemy has been eStl-
timated at from 1000 TO $4,000, strongly
posted behind breastworks, and to attack them
our small force of scarcely 5000 was Obliged
to approach on an o2en plain and without the
least cover; but their daunttess courage car
ried them over every obstacle, and notwlth'
standing the Mexicans fought with a yalor
rare for them, they were finally routed from
one point or another until all were driven and
dispersed. The defeat was total!
But TO gain this victory our loss has been
uncommonly severe-it has been purchased
with the blood of some of the most gallant
spirits of the army The 5th infantry has
suffered the most. This regiment along with
the 9Th and 9Th, was engaged in the attack
upon strong work on the enemy's right, anC
was opposed to such superior numbers that i
was compelled to retire along with the others
The celebrated Col Martin Scott was killed
in this attack, along with Lieuts. Burwcll ant
Strong, while Col. Mcintosh and many othe
officers were badly wounded. The worse thar
savage miscreantS in the fort, after our mer
retired, set up a yell and came out and massa
creed such of our wounded as were unable t.
get off. In this way poor Burwel lost his life
Fully were they avenged, however; Tor with
in half an hour Duncan's battery, aided by TIT
fall of another of their works, drove the das
tardly wretches in full flight across the fields
No one knew or even surmised the strength
of the place; it was an old fort, constructed
long since, and was one OF the main detenee
of the line of works.
On the enery's left, and nearer ChapuIte
pee, our loss was also great, although not a
severe II was here that Col. VIM. NJ. Ora
ham, as brave spirit as ever lived, was Kill
ed Capts. Merrill and Ayres also fell in th
part of the field The wonder now is how a
nv one could come out safe under such ter
rible fire as the enemy poured from his entlr
line of works. Nothing but the daring ant
impetuosity of our men, who rushed onward
while their comrades were falling thick a
round them, gained the victOry-had they once
faltered all would have been lost.
The broken ground on the right OF the enc
my, cut up by deep ravines, saved many o
Santa Annals troops in their flight; yet as
was, our dragons killed. and captured man!
of the fugitives Large bodies If the Mexl
can cavalry approached The scene OF strife sew
eral times, but they were driven like sheep D.
Duncan's battery.
The Mexican loss has been even more sc
we're than our own. Gen. Balderas, Gen. LIE
on, and many other officers were numbered a
mong the dead, while the interior of thei
works, the tops OF the houses from which the
fought, and the ground over which they fe
are strewn with lifeless bodies. Such wa
! the panic that many Of our officers say that
| few fresh troops might have taken Chapultc
pee itself almost without struggle; but othe
than few shots fired at that point from som
q the captured cannon, no demonstration wa
made.
After the battle was over Gen Scott cam
out, accompanied by his staff, and also by MI
Trist The Mexicans at that time were throw
! ing shells at some of the wagons Gen. Wort
had sen. out to pick up the dead and woun
ded. They had placed a howitzer in posltlo
on Chaputepec at the close of the action, an
now, seeing no enemy within reach, the COW
ardly wretches opened upon the ambulance
and those who were gathering the bodies {
their wounded and Iifeless comrades On see
| ing this worse than savage outrage, one {
our officers, with a sarcastic expression. {
countenance, asked whether Mr.. Trlst had q
ny new peace propositions in his pockets
| Macintosh did not come out after the battle
gain more time for his friend Santa Anna, nc
worm out fresh intelligence Of the strengt
and movements of our army, III order that
might be of service to the Mexicans by con
m1nicating it.
The Mexican prisoners say that Santa Ar
ma himself was on the ground in the rear {
their works. but left at the commencement {
the route They admit that their entire fore
was Is 900; it is certain that including killed
wounded, prisoners and dispersed, their los
has been near 5000. Many of them wei
regulars, the 18th and 10th Infantry Regimen
suffering most The commander of the latte
Col Tenorio. is prisoner in our hands som
fourteen officers belonging to the former al
also prisoners, but the commander, Gen. Pere;
escaped.
The foundry in which several moulds *
casting cannon & other apparatus were founc
was entirely demolished, and after ascertain
ing this, Gen. Scott, not wishing TO hold tn
position, ordered all the forces to retire TIL
whole affaR, as a military movement, is 81
verey criticised by many Of our officers. The
contend that no result has been gained con
mensuratc with the immense loss we have SUI
tanned in the battle This is matter 4
not feel myself qualified to discuss, bnt
must be certain that the morale upon the Me,
leans. of defeat so disgFaceful and so disa
troas, must be important They have nov