Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-11-24

sympathizes in its just pride and exultation.
The battle being won before tho ad- |
brigades Of w or.h's and Quit.
man'a divisions were in sight, bo:h were
ordered back to their late positions-W orth,
to attack San Antonio, in front, with his
whole forco, as soon as approchedsin the
rear, by Pillows and Twiggsa divisions
moving from Contreras, through San
Angel and Coyoacan. Bycarrying San
Antonio, we knew that we should open
another-a shorter and better road to the
capital, for our siege and other trains.
Accordingly, the two advanced divisions
and Shields, brigade marched from Con,
treras, under the immediate orders of
Major General Pillow, who was now joined
by the gallant Brigadier General Pierce of
his division, personally thrown out ofactiv-
ity, late the evening before, by a severe
hurt received from the fall of his horse.
After giving necessary orders on the
feld, in the midst of prisoners and trophies,
and sending instructions to Harney's brigade
Of cavalry, left at San Augustin, to join
me, personally followed Pillows move
ment.
Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by a
cross road, from the rear Of San Antonio,
first detached Capt. Lee, engineer, with
Capt. Kearney's troops, lst dragons, sup
ported by tbs rifle regiment, under Mayor
Lor;ng, to reconnoitre that strong point,
and next despatched Major General Pillow,
with one Of his hrigades (Cadwailaders to
make the attack upon it, in concert with
Major Gen. Worth, on the opposite side.
AZ the same time, by another road to the
left, Lieut.. Stevens, Of the engineers, sup
ported by Lieut.. G. w. Smiths company
Of sappers and miners, of tho same crops,
was sent to reconnotre the strongly iorllneo
church or convent of San Pablo, IN the
hamlet of Churubusco -one mile OH -
Twiggs, with one Of the brigades smith 8
less the riaes1 and Captain Toy ylor's held
battery, were ordered to follow and attack
the convent. Major Smith, senior engine.
or, was despatched to concert with iwiggs
other brigade lRiley'sl soon ordered up
to support him.
Next Tbut all in ten minutes] sent
Pierce Just able to keep the saddle1 with
his bridgade, IPillow's divisionl conducted
by Capt. Lee, engineer, by third road,
o. little farther to our left, to attack the
enemy s right and rear, in order to favor
she movement upon the convent and cut OF
the retreat towards the capital. And final
ly, Shields, senior brigadier to Pierce,
with the New York and South Carolina
volunteers, Quitman's division, was order
ed to follow Pierce, closely, and to take
the command of our left wing All these
movements were made with the utmost
alacrity by our .gallant troops and comman
ders.
Finding myself at Coyoacan, from which
90 many roads conveniently branched
without escort or reserve, had to advance
fer safety, close upon Twiggs rear. The
battle BOW ragged from tho right to the left
Of our whole line.
Learning, on the return Of Captain Lee
that Shields, in the rear of Churubusco
was hard pressed, and in danger of being
outdanked, If not overwhelmed, by greatly
superior numbers, Immediately SER, unde!
Major Sumner, ID dragons, the rifles
ITwigg's reserye1 and Capt. Sibley's
troop, 81 dragoons, then at hand, to sup
port our left guided by the same engineer.
About an hour earlier, Worth had, by
skilfnl and daring movements upon the front
and right, turned and forced San Antonio
its garrison, no doubt, much shaken by
our decisive victory at Contreras.
His second brigade [Col Clarke's] con
Quoted by Capt. Mason, engineer, assisted
by Lieut. H7rdcastle, typographical engine
or, turned the right, and by wide sweep
catno out upon the high road to the capital
At this point the heavy garrison [3,00t
rnenl in retreat, was, by Clarke, cut in tn
centre: one portion, the rear driven upol
Dolores, off to the right; and the other up
on Churubusco, in the direct line of on
operations. The first brigade Col. Gar
land's1 same division, consisting of the 2
artillery, under Major Cult, the Sd artillery
under Lieut.. Col. Bolton, and the 4th in
fantry, commanded by Major F. Lee, witt
Lieut.. Col. Duncan's field battery, tenn
porarilyl followed in pursuit through tn
town, taking one general prisoner, tn
abandoned guns five pieces much ammu
nition, and other public property.
The forcing Of San Antonio was tn
secosd brilliant event Of the day.
Worth's division being soon reunited il
hot pursuit, he was joined by Mnjor Gen
cral Pillow, who, marching from Coyoacar
and discovering that San Antonio ha
been carried, Immediately turned to tn
lett. According to my Instructions, an
though much impeded by bitches an
swamps, hastenesaal &. 70 the attack of chur'
Ths hamlet s. es s:51tytt ssc:a51ttered houses, bearin
this name, presented, besides the fortifie
convent 4 strong field work (tete de pom
with regular bastions and curtains, at tn
head Ola bridge over which the road passe
from San Antonio 10 the capital.
The whole remaining forces Of Mexic
-snme q 1000 men-cavairy. artillery
and i1fantry, collected from every quartz
--Were now in, on the fanks or with
supporting distance Of those works, an
seemed. resolved to make last an
despefate stand; for if beaten here, the fe,
bier defences at the gates Of the city
miles of-couh not, as was well known
both7parties, delay the victories an hou
The capital Of an ancient empire, now or
great republic. or on early peace, the a
.sailnnts were resolved to win. Not an
mefican- we were less than third
Che enemy's numbers-had a doubt as