The North-Carolina standard., 1847-09-22


edthe hacienda of La Noviavthe advance was again
fired Upon, but again the eneyss piekets driven
in, without loss. A turn of sfhe road beyond La
Noyia brought the pleasant viIlaget of San Angus.
tin in sight, aud after twoor three light skrnnishts
| in which the Mexicans had Two or three lancers
killed and wounded, our troops had quIet posses
sion of San Auguslin. Our only loss during the
day was one man, a:soldier Of Smiths light -batal
ion. who was wounded from a corn-fed near Xo
chimco. x
Al o'clock on the morning of the 18th General
Scott arrived at San Aagosiin, and al 10 O'Clock
Gen. Worth was in full march for the city Of Mexi
CO by The main road. Majors Smith and Turn
bull, Capt. Mason, and other engineer officers
Were sent in advance, supported by Capt. Blake's
squadron of dragoons to reconnotre, as it was
know 3hat the enemy were in force at or near San
AntoniO.# The party, when within thousand
| yards, was fred upon from battery, which was
masked BY treessAnd the first ball from l2-pound-
goons, besides severely wounding ; a guide, old Jopa-
than Fitzwalters. Col Garland's brigade was
now ordered TO occupy the hacienda of CaIrera,
within plain sight and range Of the enemy Date
Iies at San Antonio,r while Col. CaIke's brigade
and the battery under Col. Duncan took station
in the rear close by. The engineer officers were
at once sent out 10 reconnotre by Gen. w orth, 10
ascertain The practicabi!ity OF turning the strong
works ofIhe enemy, and IN the mean time General
Scott had despatched Capt. Lee, with supporting
party, composed of Capt. Kearney's squadron and
a body oflhe 1lth infantry under Col. Graham, 10
ascertain the practicability Of finding a road by
which the village of San Angel could be reached,
and thus turn the stronghold at San Antonio.
This latter party had sharp encounter with the
advance Of the enemy, the main body being found
posted at strong point not far from the factory OF
Contreras. In the skirmsh some six or eight
Mexicans were killed and many more taken
prisoners-on our side not man was touched.
The result Of the reconnaissance proved favora-
bic. IL was aseertained that road could be made
which would enable the army to reach San Angel,
1t, H.. 1f Co.
and perhaps others the enemy mighthave upon the
road between that and the city of Mexico The
Mexicans were plainly seen in force at a command
ing position near Contreras, and it was evident
that they had number of cannon in position; but
at council held at night, it was determined upon
10 attack them the following day.
In the meantime, while this reconnaissance was
in progress, Gen. Worth had esIabIished'hls head
quarters al the hacienda of Carrera while from the
windows countless numbers of the enemv could
be seen at work upon the batteries of San Antonio
Aboui noon they opened upon The batteries with
both round shot and she'll nearly every one Of
which took effect, but without doing other injury
than 10 the building. Late in the evening the bat
teTies again opened, bot with other result than
showing the position Of the guns For marvel
The batteries were silent during the night. Had
the fire kept uP. the hacienda might have been
torn 10 pieces and the entire command compelled
10 retire. Before going further il may be well 10
that the city Of Mexico lies about nine miles
nearly north FROM San Augustin; that San Anto-
Mo is about three miles in the same direction,
while the point occupied by Gen. Valencia, near
Contreras. for he had command that place, is at
least three miles in straight line, and in direc-
tion neatly west. II ten miles the way manv
of our troops had 10 march, for you cannot imagine
a more rough, uneven and jagged surface.
Al O'Clock on The morning of the 10Th the bat
teries again opened on Gen. Worth's position at
the hacienda near San Antonio, the balls crushing
through the walls, and filling the rooms with frae-
menls of plaster aud broken furniture. Shell also
burst in the air, over the building, and the pieces
dropped among the men stationed in the rear. So
hot the fire that The troops were obliged 10
gain shelter behind the building, bul still du not
give up the position. About o'clock the divis-
ions of Gems. Pillow and Twiggs were ordered to
advance in the direction of ConlTeras and BY one
in the afternoon were in plain sight Of the enemys
batteries, and within range Of his heavier guns.
The brigade OF Gen. P F. Smith was ordered 10
advance directly towards the enemy's works while !
that of Col. Riley moved towards small village |
10 the right, with orders to gain the main road and
hus be enabled 10 cut off any reinforcenents |
which might be sent TO Valencia from the CITY !
An ineessaut firing Of cannon wss opened upon |
he advance of Gen. Smith, and soon The Rifles ,
we're engaged in skIrmishiDg with the pckets Of
he enemy and driving Them in. The IL FOUNDER
battery OF Captain Magruder was pressed forward
with all speed as was also the rocket and mountain
lowftZeT battery, now commanded by Lieut. Cal
ender of the Ordinance Department. AS soon
Is they could gain position they opened upon the
nemy, but were so much exposed to fire from
heavier guns that they were soon silenced. Lieut.
ohnson Of the 1st ARTILLERY, but attached to Ma
Tnder's battery, was morlally wounded, while
Lieut.. Calender was severely wounded in bo:h
egs. Al O'clock the brigade of Gen. Cadwala-
Ter was ordered oul to support Col. Riley heavy
endorsements being seen On their way out from
he city, while Gen. Pierce's brigade was sent 10
ustain Gen. Smith. The firing from the batteries
the enemy continued incessant, while from a
ill just outside the range of their guns the spec
acle was most grand and imposing. Al o'ciok /
ienera Scott arrived, and seeing the immense [
trength OF the Mexicans, al once ordered Gen.
held's brigade from San Augustin-a part of b
ZEN. Quiumau's command-to the right to support b
tiley and Cadwalader, and prevent if possible a r
1ncIure OF the forces coming out of the city with
nose of Valencia. But few of the movements Of .
ur own troops could be seen from the hill where il
re were posted, owing to the dense chaparral | C
harp rocks and IavInes, but not motion Of the 4
nemY but was plainly visible. The order of bat "
OF Valencia was certainly mos, imposing-in-
lnlry were seen drawn up 10 support the bat Il
'rles, while long lines of The enemy's" cavalry q
ere stationed in the rear as if awaiting the shock n
battle. Two separate charges of the latter were S
stinctly seen repulsed BY Col. Riley, who had o
owed bis brigade al one time TO position parti- ii
ly in the rear Of the enemy's works. Col. Har-
~ was exceedingly anxious TO march his cavalry {
the scene of action, but it was deemed, utterly
npracticaole. The nature of the ground was ii
lch that the infantry even had great difficulty in e
ldlDg their way across the pedregak as the Mex- n
ms term it-ground covered with sharp, Jagged g
cks. 7's 1902 -" .-'r.yt d: q ~ 4
Until night had fairly closed in the fire from the Il
lemy's batteries did not siac ken-it had been 6
nt'nuous roar for nearly sxshours. Gen. Scott c
tired 10 San AugustIn about O'Clock, and in the n
ldst Of hard ram which had just commenced II
hing. Gems. Twiggs and Pillow came in about 2
O'Clock, wet and completely exhausted. II was 1