Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-09-29
V,
~RAVENNA, OHIO, WEINEssE1A DAY f,,aSEPT 29, 1847.

:..., --'S .--s = RAVE EMMA, VI
NJ Gruder and the howitzer battery TO open.
in order TO attract the attention OF the
enemy, while he made a movement to the
right, which he had determined on, in order
10 nv one Of the enemy s fianks. Leaving
three companies of the Sd Infantry toss sup
bort the battery. and about 20 men of Maj.
DinIick's command to reinforce the loss
sustained BY. the battery, Gen. Smith moved
off with. the sappers and miners, Lient.
Smith; Isl artillery, Maior Dimick:: md 3atII
artillery. Captain Alexander; and as many
Of the rife regiment as could be got togeth-
er--they having been detached during the
day, as skirmishers, and to cover the en-
gineers in their reconnaissance After pass
| ing over the broken and irregular surface
of land, and crossing the deep ravines, he
succeeded in reaching the village Of En-
saldo. Gen. Smith being. the ranking Off
Ger present, Gen. Cadwalader reported. to
him with four regiments Of Gen. Pillows
division. Col. .Riley's brigade had crossed
the ravine, and gone up towards Contreros.
after'a strong body of the enemy, which he
drove off: The enemy was now drawn up
in two lines above the village, on the right
Of the fort-the front Infantry, and the rear
cavalry. The village Of Ensaldo is pro,
tected on one side by deep ravine-on
the road between it and the stream is
house and garden, surrounded by high
and rather strong stone wall-the village is
intersected by narrow lanes, between high
dikes enclosing gardens full of fruit trees
and shrubbery, affording protection and
concealment for the men. The church,
standing in the centre, also afforded protect
ion, if necessary. Gen. Smith now direct
ed Gen. Cadwallader's force to be drawn
up on the outer edge of the village-facing
the enemy's heavy force on the left Of the
fort-formed the Sd infantry and rifles, in
column of company, left in front on the
J, right flank, and placed Lieut.. Smiths
sappers and miners, and Capt. 1rwin's
t company Of the 1lth infantry, in the church,
), and Maj. Dimick's regiment in the garden
t on the road, in order to secure that avenue
, and his rear. ... . .-.-..- ss
Gen. Smith now determined to attack
the large force Of the enemy's right, with
Col. Riley on the left. Gen. Cadwallader
on the right ofthe former, ,retired in echelon;
but before the movement could be complet-
ed, night approached, and the enemy's line
could not be seen. Therefore, the order
f was countermanded, and Gen. Cadwallader
resumed his position on the edge OF the vii
lage; Col. Riley's brigade was formed in
long line inside, parallel to it, the rifle;
J, on his left, and the I'd infantry in the church
q yard. Thus they remained, exposed to {
j, severe rain, all night, without fire or shell
e ter-the officers, from generals down, shar
l. ing the severity of the weather; but per
e haps it only whetted their appetites for I
g more glorious and determined engagement
n in the morning. But now imagine the po
e sition of this portion Of the army, number
g ing 8 $500 at the outside, without artillery
5 or cavalry; while the enemy on the from
|. and on the left had 9,000 troops-those ii
it the front said to be the best of Mexico
= with % pieces of artillery, and among hi
s troops 1000 cavalry. 1t was evident tina
q some decisive action had to be taken, tina
some great effort had to be made; and Gen
IS Smith and Col. Riley, seconded as the.
% then were, were just the men competent +
i, the task. An attack on the main work wa
!. determined upon, and the movement t
n take place at o'clock of the followin,
l. morning. However, here another obstacle
s presented itselc-the force of Gen. Smitl
IS was not strong enough to attack the mail
is work and hold the village at the same time
,e and it was of the utmost importance h
IS should do so, for, if he drove the enem
ID from this main work, and in his retreat h
n secured possession of the village, he coul
IN hold it long enough to allow his troops t
rs get away, and in all probability seriousl
Sc enlbarrass any further movements OF OF
an army until he was safely fixed somewhel
of else. 1t is said that fortune favors II
ey brave-and in this instance it most tru'
m did; for while Gen. Smith was preparln
ry for his attack, Gen. Shields reported b
to near approach with his brigade of Sout
1t. Carolina and New York volunteers; ar
here was an exhibition of magnanimity {
s's the part of a high minded soldier to brot
nd er officer. When Gen. Shields arrive
ol. he was. the ranking officer, and could ha,
, it assumed the command; but he was not II
he man to pluck the bright laurels about to
ort gathered by brother soldier in carryr
of one of the strong works Of the enemy; a
ed, cordinglv he moved subject to the commal
we of Gen. Smith, and his brigade was place
nd in the village Of Ensaldo, as circumstanc
at might require, either to cut off the retire
N. fthe troops from Contreros, or to ia
5th the reserve Of the enemy in flank, If
lp- should change its front and attemp to
ott tack or force towards Contreros.
ne, At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 2Ol
Of our troops commenced their movement
rk) wards the front Of attack. The night W
the SO dark, that the men could no go out
reach Of one another for fear of losing th'
so way. This caused the movement to be
BE, slow, that day-break approached before
, to head Of Gen. Cadwallader's brigade CO
as menced descending into the ravne ut
ion village. AS soon as Colonel Riley ,
;ott out Of + the deep ravine, and at a point wht
ere it was thought the rear of the work CO..
ore be approached, the head of the column h;
ON ed and closed, at the same time drawi
the loads out of their guns supposed to
cry wet. COL Riley then formed his brlgs
that in column by divisions--and thus the
rod ,+ood co.nood (so1 r ilnU7S hrl1ldG