The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-13

my opened upon them with his long guns which We're
afterwards found TO be sixteen and eghnch howitzers
The ground was the worst possible for artillery, covered
with rocks large and small pncky pear, and cactus, IN
tersected by bitches filed with water and lined with
maeuey plant itself impeviabe to cavalry, and with
patches OF corn which concealed the enemys skmisheIs
while il mpeded our own passage The artillery ad.
vanced but slowly under most Tremendous hre, when
greatly injured before II could be got IN range, ana ue
thickness of the underground caused the skrmlshers
thrown forward to lose their relative position as wen as
the column About the battery got in position ua ger
most murderous fire OF grape, canister and roalu ~
Here the superiority OF the enemys pieces rendered. our
fire nugaiory We could get but three pieces IN pales
while they had ttceRty -seUen, all OF them ihee te e
calibre OF ours For two hours troops stood the
storm OF iron and lead they hailed upon mem " I'm
AT every discharge they lay fiat down 10 vplu ,s 80 b,
and then sprung up 10 the guns AT the end OF una.
time TWO Of he guns were dsmounied and we badly
hurt thirteen OF the horses were killed and disabled, anu
fifteen of the cannoneers killed and wounded Inc req
ment was then recalled The ancers had been repelied
in three successive charges The Sd infantry ana Isl ar
terv had also engaged and successfully repeled the
enemys skirmisheTs without loss OF either officers or
men The greatest loss had been at the batteries On-
GERS looked gloomy for the first days gh but the brl-
gade was formed and General Smith IN person took CON-
mand All felt revived and followed him with YELL as,
creeping low avoid the grape (Which was coming very
ast) made circuit OF the batteries and pass
ing off to the right were soon lost 10 view IN the cnap
Passing over the path that we scrambled through, be-
hold at almost o'clock in the evenings nred hungry
and sorrowfu emerging from the chappara and crossing
the road between il and Valencia Here we found Cad
waader and his brigade already formed and discovered
Reys brigade skirmshng in of the enemy's works
valcnoa ignorant OF approach, and we were
safe In front OF Valencia strongly enrenched
onia hill side, and surrounded by regular field work.
concealed from by orchard in our Mendoza,
with column of 6,000 IN the road but thinking us
to be friends On right was large range of hills
whose continued crest was parallel to the road, and in
which were formed in line of battle 5000 of the best
Mexican cavalry. On our left we were separated from
our own forces by an almost impossible Wilderness and
il was now twilight Even Smith looked round for help.
|
the yells OF prairie wolves the dead OF night and the
-quadTons on our right formed for charging Smith is
their red caps, and then give to them " Furously they
few yards, then changed their minds and, dis
gusted at cool reception retired 10 their couches
On the edge of the road, between us and Valencia,
Mexican hamlet spread out, with its mud huts large
chads deep cut roads and strong church; and through
road but concealed from it; it is nearly mile long In
this road Smiths and Rleys brigades spent the night
Shields who came up in the night, lay in the orchard.
while Cadwaader was nearest the enemys works. AS
we within range of their batteries which could
flade the road in which lay built stone breast
work at either end, to from their view
and grape. There we were completely surrounded BY
the enemy, cut off from communications, ignorant of
the ground without artillery weary, dsprited and de-
and Salas's promise of mo quarter force of four to
one against u.s. and half defeated already, succor
from Puebla, and no from Gen. Scott-all seemed
dark. Suddenly the words whispered along 1re
storm at midnight" Now we are ourselves again But
what horrible night There lay, too tired TO eat
and side by side, with heavy rain pouring down
upon the officers without blankets oyercoats hey
had lost them in coming across and the men worn Out
with fatigue About midnight the rain was heavy
that the streams in the road flooded and there we
stood crowded together, denched and benumbed wait
ing till daylight
> At half-past three the welcome word stall in" was
passed down, and we commenced our march The enc
mys works hill side, behind which ohe
and slightly higher hills, separated by deep avines ant
d sues, and ntersected by streams The whole face
The country was OF stiff clay, which rendered it amos
l. quarter of mile from the enemys works, Rileys br
e gade right. AT about four started, winding
through thick orchard which cfectually concealed
had not been dark debouching into deep ravnt
u which within about five hundred yards Of the work
q and which carried directly in and out of sight
ID their batteries AT dawn of day reached our place af
ter incredible exerons, and got ready for charge
The threw off their wet blankets and looked to he
J, pieces while the officers got ready for rush, and thu
u first smile that Int up our faces for twelve hours BODIED bu
he little good for the Mexicans On the right and opposite
n the right OF their work Reys brigade of the ed
infantry and 4th artillery next the rifles then the Is
e, artillery and Sd infantry In Of left Cad
ID waaders brigade, support with Shiedss brigade in
rear areserye-the whole division under command Of
n Gen Smith, in the absence of Gen Twiggs They haC
t smooth place to rush down the enemys work. with
d the brow OF the hill to keep under until the word
|, given
ID AT last, Just at daylight, Gen Smith slowly walking up
g. asked if all ready look answered him. ''Der
/ toracard'" And we did forward" Sprnging up a
red rifles startled the Mexcans from their a asonshment
and they opened their fire Useless fire for were
close that they overso us, and before they could turf
III their pieces on us we them Then such cheers
re you heard The rushed forward like
demons, yelling and firing the while The carnage was
y rghtfu' and though they fired sharply it was of nc
he use. The earthen parape cleared an instant
and the blows of the stocks could be plainly heard min
( gled with the yes and groans around Just before the
charge was made large body of lancers winding
lie up the road looking most spendidy in their brilliant uni
forms They never got TO the work, but turned and fled
n In an instant all of confusion each trying
to be foremost in the flight The road was literally block
al ed up and, while many persisted by their own guns
y was almost impossible TO fire the from the dan
d ger OF killing our own Some fled up the
the left or on the right and many of these slain By
lie turning their own guns them Towards the city the
e rifles and I'd infantry led off the pursuit Seeing that
I'd large crowd of the ugves were damned up in pass in
he the road, some OF through the cornfed and
Is by thus heading them off and firing down upon them
N about thirty men took 500 prisoners nearly hun
st dred of them officers After disaming the prisoners AS
the pursuit had ceased back to the fort where
found our troops in full possession and the rout com
IS pete
ID We found that the enemy's position was much stronger
than we had supposed and their artillery much larger and
l. more abundant Our loss small which NAV be
accounted for by their perfect surprise charge
to them we appeared as if rising out of the EARTH so I'M
l. killed. Capt Hanson, Of the 18th infantry) and Lieut. Van
u Buren, OF the rifles, shot through the leg and about fifty
s. killed and wounded Their force consisted of 5000
l. men, under Valencia with reserve which had not vet
arrived under Santa Anna Their loss since ascer-
tanned, follows: Killed, and buried since the fight
e $50; wounded 000 and 800 prisoners exclusive of
officers, including four generals-Salas Mendoza Gar
II cla and Guadaupein addition to dozens of coonels
majors, captains &c We captured in all on the hill %