Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-05-28

on Cerro Gordo, BY the brigade under Col. Har-
ney, may be looked upon as one Of the most bril-.
liant achievements Of the Mexican war-the fate
Of the battle turned upon il, and here the enemy
had placed an overwhelming force Of his best
troops. The hill was steep aud naturally diff.
cult Of assenti but independent Of this the ground
was covered with loose, eraggy rocks, an under.
growth Of tangled chappora beside many small
trees, the tops OF which were cut Oft some four
or five feet from the ground. and turned down
the hill TO impede the progress Of the siormers.-
To climb the height al all, even without arms of
any kind, would be an undertaking that few
would care about essaying; what then must il
have been TO men encountered with muskeis and
Icartridge-boxes. and obliged TO dispute every
step of the precipiIous and rugged ascent Muir
derods showers OF grape and canister greeted
our men at The onset, and as they tolled unlalter
ing through tempest of iron hail, a heavy fire
Of musketry opened upon them. Not man
quaed-wlh loud shouts they still passed up
ward and onward. Al every step our ranks
were thinned; but forward went the survivors,
When within good musket range, but not until
then, was the fire of the enemy returned, and
then commenced the dreadful carnage of the
strife. The Mexicans held to their guns with
more than their usual bravery, but nothing could
resist the fierce onset Of the stormers. Over
the breastworks with which the Mexicans had
surrounded the crest of the hill they charged,
and shouting attacked the enemy in his very
stronghold. The latter now fed, panic-stricken,
but still they were pursued, and it was not until
the aiirghted fugtives had reached point with
out the extreme range of their own cannon,
which had been turned upon them in the onset,
that they ceased in their flight. The national
colors our country now supplanted the banner
of the enemy; the different regimental flags we're
also planted on the crest. and shouts louder than
ever from the victors rose upon the air, struck
terror into the very hearts of the enemy in the
works still untaken, for they knew that their
strong positions had been turned, and that they
were at the mercy of the men they had scotled
at in the morning. Never was victory more
complete, although purchased with the blood of
some of our best men. Lieut.. Ewell, Of the Ri
files, was among the first within the enemy's
breastworkS, and it was here that he received his
death wound. The interior Of the work was
covered with the dead oGho enemy, among them
Gen. Vasquez, Col. Palacio, and many Of their
officers, while the hillside down which they
fled was strewn as well. Near 200 men were
left dead, while the wounded would swell the
number TO at least 500-some even put it down
as high as 700.
The regiment composing Col. Harney's COM
mand, and which successfully stormed the noted
Cerro Gordo, were the lst Artillery under COL.
Chids, and Sd Infantry under Capt. E. B. Alex
ander, the 7h lnlanlry under Col. PIympton,
and portion of the Rifles under Maj. Loring.
Many cases ofindvdual bravery, performed by
subaItern officers, have been mentioned; but as
cannot particularly notice such as have heard
of without perhaps doing injustice to others equal
ly meritorous, | shall lorbear wiring until
have more fall information. had almost for.
gotten TO state that four companies OF the I'd In
tanlry, under Col. Riley. took an active part in
the assault.