Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-04
su uttered much 10 tho course of the afternoon,


from the enemy's superior metal. a..
The battle, though. most stationary, continu'
ed to rage with gfea, violence until nighttall.--
Brew Brig. Gen. p F. Smiths and Brew Col.
Ri!ey's brigades (Twiggs division) supported
by Brig. Gems. Perce's and Cadwalader's brig.
AIDES pillows division) were more than hours
under heavy fire OF artillery and musketry,
along the almost impassable ravine III front
and TO The left of the eDtrenched camp. be
sides the 22 pieces Of artillery, the camp and
ravine were defended closely by masses OF in.
fan,ry, and these again supported by clouds oil
cavalry at hand and lowering in view. Conse'
qucntly no decided impression could be made
by daylight on the enemys most formidable
p sitioD, because independent OF the difficulty
Of the ravine, our infantry, unaccompanled by
cavalry and artillery. could not advance in COL
umn with on, being moved down by the grape
canister Of The batteries, nor advance IN line
wilhou, being ridden over by the enemy's nu'
merous cavalry. All our corps, however, in~
Guiding Magruder's and Callender's last bat,o.
ries, not only maintained the exposed positions
early gained. but all attempted charges upon
them respectively particularly on Riley, twice
closely engaged with cavalry in greatly supe.
rior numbers-weIe repused and punished.
From an commence, soon after arriving near
the scene, observed the church and hamlet OF
Contreras Cor Ansalda) on the road leading up
rom the capitol, through The entrenched camp,
to Magdalena, and seeing, a, the same time, the
stream of reintorcemenls advancing by the road
from the city, ordered Qhrough Major Gen.
Pillow Col. Morgan, with his reg imeDt, the
10Th, ull then held in reserve by Pillow, to
move forward, and occupy Conlreras, Tor An
salda )-heing persuaded, if occupied, II would
arrest tho enemy's relnlorcemens and ulti-
mately decide the battle. .. .
Riley was already On the enemy.s left, ia
advance of the hamlet. A few minutes later
Brig Gen. Shields, with his volunteer brigade
New York AND South Carolina regiments
Qui,man's division) coming up under my or.
ders, from San Augustin, directed Shields 10
follow and to sustain Morgan. These corps,
over the extreme difficulties Of ground--parti-
ally covered with low ioreSt-befnre descrb-
ed, reached Con,retas, and lound Cadwalader's
brigade in position, observing The formidable
movement from the capitol, and needing the
mely reinforcement.
1t was already dark, and the cold rain had
began to fall in torrents upon our unsheered
troops for the hamlet though strong deien>
sive position, can hold only the wounded men,
and, unfortunately, the new reg iments have lit.
lie or nothing to eat in their haversacks. Wet,
hungry, and without the possibility OF sleep, all
l
ard only wait for the hour OF darkness to gain
he positions whence 10 storm and carry the
eremy's works.
OF the seven Ulcers despatched since about
shutdown, from my position opposite TO the enc.
my's centre, and on this side OF the field Of
rocks and ava-lo communicate instructions to
tn hanlet-uot one had succeeded in getting
through those difficulties, increased by dark
ness. They have all returned. Bur the gal.
liant and interchangeable Capt. Lee, Of the engn.
GERS, who has been constantly with operating
forces, is just in from Shields, Smith, Cadwala.
der, &c. 10 report as above, and to ask that
powerful diversion be made against the centre
of the en,renched camp towards morning.
Brig. Ger. Twiggs, Cut off, as above, from
The part Of his division beyond the mprac,ica-
BILE ground, aud Capt. Leo, are gone, uuder my
orders, to collect the forces remaining on this
side, with which TO make that diversion abou.
five O'Clock in the morning.
AMI here will end this report, commenced
al its date, and, in another, continue the nara,
tive OF the great events which then impended.
have the honor to be, sill, with high respect
your mos. obedient servant.
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon. VIM, L. MARCY, Secretary of War.
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