The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-16

Contreras Ike destination was gwen to Nlsjor &C.
neral Qutmsn aui his rem siniLg brigade In San Au-
susnErspacns for the omsat, the garrison Of that
important depot with Haroey's brigade Of cavalry rs
horse could not the intervening rocks SO TO
A diversion Tor earlier hour (dsyEsht) had bsen
ranged the night before according to the suggestion
neer Captain Zee, who conveyed my orders TO our
troops remaining the ground opposite the enemy
centre-the pei FOR the diversion or real attack, as
circumstances might allow.
Guided by csptaio Lee proved the latter under the
command Of Colonel Ransom Of the eth, having with
him that regiment and companies OF three others
the Sd l2th, aud rifles
Shields. the senior officer at the hsmat, having ar.
rived In the night after Smith had arranged with Cad
waladsr and Riley the plan Of attack for the morning,
decately waive Interference but reserved to himself
the double task of holding the hamlet with his two
siments (south Carolina and New York vountsers)
aganst ten times his numbers on the side Of the city,
ncuiing the slopes to bis lott and case the camp in
his should be carried to facs about and of the
dyingencmy
Al 3 O'Clock. s.m, the great movement eommoaosd
ed successfully. by Cadwaai+rs and Smiths brigndpa
the latter temporarily under ths orders OF Major Dime
OF the let artillery the whols rec beirg commanded
by Saith the senio. IL the general ATTACK and whose
arrangements. skill and galtary always challenge the
highest admiration.
The march rendered t. dos by tho darkness rain
aud mui bu. about SUNRISE Riley, conducted By Lieut.
Tower eDgico r had r-aehod elevation behind the
enemy. where's he precipstej his columns ;-e,ogmsd
tho entertainments planted his several colors upon
them, and carried the work-al in seventeen minutes
Conducted by Lieut. Beaure:srd, engineer ana Lieut.
Brooks tf Twags' stsR-both OF whom lka Lieutenant
Tower Lad In the night twic reconuoitered the ground
h rari,rsmts ot p "a ,ha ,i.Sa tha
NV tss,msns 'o,geo.e ahd .ua nm anu nv the
appointed time, Coz Ransom with his temporary bil'
xsoe, y. ~ o"fs moi oh.y msue
1 Us. ~, " YER "nu 70 N sns ensmy pu'
and poured into the works and the fugitves
volleys from his destructive musketry
Ia the meantime Smiths own brgsds under the tenn.
porary command OF Mrjor D'mick, following the
ments OF Riley ana Csdwaiaaer discovered opposite to
and outside OF the works long line OF Mexican cavalry
drawn up rs support Dmick, having. at the heed Of
tn1 orgaue the company VI sapp|rs anu miners undsr
Lru. smn, epgiaesr, VINO Saa toaauc.su tns mnr;n
70 the enemy ana In charge, against hank routed
tn. cavalry
SHIELDS, roo by the wise disposition OF MS brigade aud
gallant activity contributed much to the geners re-
suits lie held masses OF cavalry and Infantry support
cd by artillery in check below him aud captured hun
dreds with one general endcza ofthose who fed from
above
doubt whether more brilliant or decisive victory
taxing INTO view ground artificial dafences batteries
aud the extreme disparity Of numbers without cavalry
or artillery On our slde.s to be found on record In
GLIDING all our corps directed against tie eutrenched
camp with Shields brigade at the hamlet We positively
dd NOT number over 1,ocO rank and hle and we knew
ey sight and since more certainly by m.uy captured
oochnehts ano ieStrs tnst the euspy hau actudy en-
S.ged on the spot 200 men, with at least coo more
novrrng within ssht aud striking dstan ee-both on
the "th anu 2Vtn All not K'liea or cnptnred now He'd
Win precipitation.
was ths g,eas viotory "a Contferas acheved one
Tau 20 .hs oap optneai ' So OF she enemy Killed sla
prN"uerr, inciuone' smoug 90 on'crrs generals; De-
sizes many coiors ana standards :. pieces OF BRASS ord
nAsoe MAJ. OF arse csnoie thonssnds OF small arms
ana accourements an immsnse quantity OF shot shells
powder ana cartridges 'oo pack mules, many horses
Sc 20 al Ia our hands
Is hiehy gratfyipg to md that by skilful arrange
msnI hua ., e1eout.oh our loss IN Killed ana
~ounoeu, ou not sAoeed on the spot sxty-anong the
,oImel she p."Ne oAp.nn onsess nanson OF the TN
,uano3Lno. mo,' as''ngaIshe9 ior galiantry thsn
~. M py' S III Ply. s.rus a. 4. 'onns,ohe.
aa..r ~ ~. h,hs.t nro,n;se 49, S.. youns
oe U ., A.. os.
RED .ntnre in the vprks he Can.sin n,ur AZ ,,,
under Major C,ardnsr q. ths two hrHs, ~ anunsy
mtsn from .pothsr aomnan. or en- a. p onmuS
tbnmoh vthopt the lon. oS hnnor n, ,bs aInra
NJ Bssna V,,taabout which cmns The vfhn. i,
hsd mourned for 20 many long months Com;ns nm, y
cheers Of the eaan. 4,h on the isyus event ard in
deed the whole army sympahzss In its lust pride and
rxultatIon ' r "
The battle bejny won before III. =,
Worth,s and ultima divsions yer. IN -gbt both .r
ordered back 10 their late postIons-Wnsh IN sttacS
San Antonio in front with bis WHOLE force "a .no 90
ia the re By Pillows and gigu aivision.
moving from Contreros through SAN Angel and Coyoa
cea BY carrying San Antonio We knew that we should
open auothera shorter and better road 10 the .antai
for our siege and other trains f'
Accordingly the NO advanced divsion. md sb,s,,.,
brigade marched from Contrerss under tbs imma,at.
orders Of Msjor General Pillow who was nov ioinsd
by the gsant Brigadier General Peros NJ hi, division
alIy throxp ont of activity ,af. nh. .yan ~
FORE severe hurt received from the fall q, bj, bor,s
Alter giving necessary orders tho field In the midst
Harney's brigade II cavalry ler, MT IAN Src's;n -,
join me personally folio we'd Pillows oommsnd "
Arriving AT Gov oacsn two miles Inv n &C. 20, f.
m. rear ~ s.p snronio I drst ta..h, TV' u 'ron
engineer with Captan Kesrney's troop. ist draaoos,
supported by the rifle regiment under Major Loris, N
nat trony mint and M - -
General Pillow With one Of nj, r;y.dss ~ ,2o
TO make the attack upop H. In conssrt ith tf.; -
Uor,h nm tbe onno.,,. III, WIN ''"''1 o'"
AZ The same tine NV .nnthsr -o,d % ,,,,, IT,.
stay.ns Of the ,noin..ys sunnortd ~ L,eI nv
Smith,s oomp,nv of ssn,sYs snd ,o;n.ra 20 -. ". "
corns was sent To racannotrs N, $780,, y. ' n ssu's
.bnrcb or convsrt 81 s,n Pal a.; ,.'Tpugy 'oruueu
rnbu caona mile Oft Tw,,ss i,h nv ns w ~ y" CIu
tsmiths lees tbs riass, and Far, T,o. " rs,
ry wrrs ordered 70 follow and IN .t}anh ,h ue s
tJys,cr smith senioy e,gins.r 70. - Va. convent
nth rwi, 70 the mode md ,,.as 20 concert
Other brjgad. (Riev;sI soSn ordsrsI M apa iwsga
min up '''"PPo''
Ns,t lbu. all In ten rui,ui.sl I nan, plaza, IT,, ,,
70 kesp tn saddle with his br,ade fp,ioy,. ;rj,
consucod Nv C,ut lee sngnssr ,,;"1 .o osis,onJ
~. r,-.bsr to our I.ff IN att ~ ~ ~ a ~.
rear Ia order 10 favor the movsmant ,non ~ sns anu
and cut of the rstreat towards ~ p ,Ie
Sns,v Shields senior briy, s,gr ~ r,sro ~, AuI,
YORK snd south Caropa yonpi.sIN fS,;t.', ~ tis
sion1 was ordered 10 follow Piercc c,os.u ~