Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-15
rnK GREAT BArTIE OF oaRno aon-

American Lass in Killed ssd Woooded--lm m.
mense Loss OF Mexicaos--Their pursuit to
Jslspa --Geecral Twiggs Encamps within
Three Miles Of Jalepa- Letter from our owe
Correspondent---Th Pennsy ylvanisns. ,irerY
Wee enther from the letter Of the i.edecrs
aud Picavune Of the lst inst oil tho particulars
yet received Of the battle OF Cerro Gordo. IN
which General Scott totally defeated Sa"ta
Anna, uod captured nearly halt OF h's srWy
the correspondent Of the PicsyUne, writing on
the 10Th, two Gays before the general battle,
gives the following account Of the MEXICAN de.
fences:
The Mexicans, under Santa Anna, sre occu.
pying chain Of works along the road, the near.
est Of which is about mile and quarter from
Gen. Scott's headquarters in direct line. The
road this side is cut up and barricadcd, and eve.
~ possible means OF defence aud apnoyonce has
been reeorted to- ..... s.-
Beyond the first work there are three or fonr
Others, completely commanding the gorge
through which the road to Jaiapa runs--these
Qualifications are oa hills. snd rising ss to de.
fend one another. II is thought that Santa An
n, has 2O,0O0 men with Aim--the lowest esti.
mate gives him l5,OO0--and with these he has
"a pieces of field artillery, besides some Ia hea,
w cannon in position. Some VI the prisoners
and deserters from the enemy's camp even
place higher estimates, both as 10 the number Of
men and guns.
To turn these different works road has been
partially cot through the rough ground and chap.
parcl TO the right; and, although the rrconnoi
sance is as yet imperfect, il is still thought that
point near the enemy's farthest work can b.
reached. II Gen. Twiggs succeeds in reaching
the rear Of Santa Anna, and he will use every
exertion, do not see what is to save hi0
Santa Anna left the capital with force ct
near ten thousand troops, intending to mite
with La Vega; and with strong rcinforcemen,s
Of the National Guard, and the rabble (jarocha.
da) OF Puebla and other towns on the route, TO
take position q, strong pass, called Cerro Cor
do and there give our army battle. A stronger
position could not have been selected. The
road leads through precipitous ridge, whence
the name "Cerro Gordo," or wide ridge. Be.
fore and around this ridge. on the road TO Vera
Cruz, are steep hills. which the enemy had
strongly fortified with sbout heavy guns, and
force which. at the lowest estimate, must have
been at least $4,000
Three forts, comma nding the road for miles,
had first to be carried before the Cerro could be
attacked! The hills were covered and the bat.
teries strongly supported by large orce Of
Santa Annals best infantry. On the other side
Of the pass Santa Anna himself was stationed
with 5000 cavalry-a position assumed either
to cut off the retreat Of his men, or to facilitate
his own. The battle opened with On attack u.
pom all advanced post. strongly fortified, of the
enemy. This was handsomely done by the
vanguard of Gen. Twiggs, under the command
of Mejor Sumner-Gen Smith Being unfo,tu
nately i'll. The new and splendid regimen, OF
mounted riemen took the lead, and, under a
heavy shower OF grape and musketry, drove the
enemy from their position. Our loss in ,his af
fair was heavy. Major Sumner was wounded
!" '"e "'oo' anu several o'"e' o'i'ce'S were oao'
" "o""ueo' "hTh our troops "so occop'ea
th's pos''on' 'he enemy mace 'e'h' OF s"ock
ing them, but after great parade retired tc
''e'' s''""s oe'e"'eF ~ bsaso,at aa 81 q
H''e' '"'s' '"e e"c"y heP' up =" '"oess""
hre on our ''nes' out without eHcct, ne mex
'"y l'''"') '"e '""'e "hs oPc"eo y" ea'"e"
a"u oy succession =" o''''ah' ena'ges' u"de'