Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-20

Colonel Riley all the praise beto is entitled for their
cordial and invaluable support to me all occasions and in
every emergency Their names, already conspicuous in the
present campaign have been rendered douby during the
two recent battles.
My effective force the morning of the Goth Of
fce and $50 non commissioned officers and prvates and
of that number killed and wounded 81 officers and 245
men killed, wounded and missing
For minute Information will refer you to the accom-
panying reports of brigade and regimenta commanders
list of the killed, wounded and missing have the honor 10
present with this report.
have the honor be, very respectfully, your obedent
servant, d. L. TWIGGS,
Brig Gen. U.S.A, CONG ID Div. Regulars.
Capt. H. L. ScorT, A.A.A.G.
Headquarters of the Army in the field.
HEADQUARTERS lsT BRIG On DIvIs. OF REGULARs,
San Angel (near Merco,) August 49, ls47.
SIR On the 9Th instant my brigade, with the rest oil the
dvison marched from San Augustn to the division OF
General Pillow opening the road from San Augustin to that
which through this place the city, order to turn the
position of San Antonio. Advancing about and half
me met by the fire Of the Mexican batteries oPpo
site to us the San Angel road Between us was about
half mile Of a rocks impossible for single footman,
then slope down towards ravine the opposite
which the road and the enemys works. height call
ed Coneras The front faced us and the left flank swept
the road below it, turn forward the road bringing the work
directly In the polongaon OF the lower part oil the road
The work had upwards Of twenty large guns full OF
fanty and large cavalry aud infantry behind
it and its TANKS. Magruders battery ordered forward
q
ledge of rocks My brigade ordered to follow and sup
port it. and the advance of the party making the road
We went forward under very heavy fire. and took position
the left Of Magruders battery. We found Lieut.. Caen
ders howtzer battery at this point When we took this d.
recton Rieys brigade sent to the right. Magrudes
battery and the howzer battery disabled, and
examining the ground evident that advancing
by the only path that crossed the broken bed OF lava and
which the enemy prepared to receive having cleared
away all the bushes that INSTRUCTED their The guns
could further and the infantry would its march down
SLOPE be exposed terrible fire, without knowing whether
the crossing of the ravne below possible Being isolated
from the division, determined to try Of the enemys
tanks and that right being preferable would cut
off his retreat determined in that direction, taking
Lieut. q. w. Smiths engineer company, the LIST artillery,
under Major Dimick and Sd infantry, under Capt Aexan
der, and many OF the mounted emen could be collect
ed nearhe regiment having been detached skmshers at
the first by General Twiggs, and ordered by him to diff
ferent parties Of recommending officers. Captain Magruder
directed open his fire passed his occupy
the enemy and mask movement the right This he did
most efecuay though suffering from great loss especially
Of officers. To replace this loss, Lieut. Haskns and twenty
detached from Major Dmcks regiment, and three
companies of the 3d infantry left to support him. With
great difficulty succeeded in crossing rock for
me and descended towards the village Of Enceda whose
church visible among the As emerged from the
rocks immense numbers Of troops. cavalry and nfan-
try approaching from Mexico and forming on the slope on
the opposite side OF the village We crossed small streams
the bottom Of deep and difficult guleys and found of
troops the village they proving be four regiments
command
Cadwalader, who Immediately reported 10 me- The village
lay entirely the other side the road, and small
stream between them at the bottom of mvine. On the
road and between and the stream garden and house
surrounded by high and toeraby strong wall The
village inerseced by lanes lying between high
dkes enclosing gardens full OF and shubbey the lanes
aodng and the trees conceamen for the In the
centre stood an old stone church. drew Cen Cadwsaders
force up in the edge Of the village, facing the enemy
placed the Sd infantry and rifles in column by company left
front, the right flank occupied the church with Lieut.
Smiths engineer company and Capt Twins company Of the
lth regiment placed Major Dmcks regiment in the garden
the road, that avenue and
The enemy formed opposite to us in two lines
the infantry in front and cavalry in the reaabou ten thou
sand strong. II was after sunset when Col Rley's bril-
gade arrived had crossed and gone up towards Conrera
entrenched camp, and driven of strong parties Of the
N.Y. now ordered attack the enemys right, intend
ing to attack in two columns--Col Rleys left and
General Cadwaaders the right Of the fomerretred in
echeon but before the troops could be disengaged from the
hickets, he officers being without horses already
dark tina, the enemys line could be SEEM and the order
for attack countermanded Gen Cadwaader took posi-
ton again IN the outer edge of the village Reys brigade
parallel TO il in long line inside the rifles, under Major
Borng, his right and the 30 infantry in the churchya
The troops without shelter fire. and II raned all night
At this time Lieut. Tower reported that he bad been the
avne towards the Of the enemys works at Contreas,
and thought practicable for infantry, though very difficult
We had front and left flank eighteen thousand
Mexicans with between twenty-five and thirty guns-among
the troops six thousand cavalry We most,
three thousand three bundled strong, and without artillery
cavalry and evident could only maintain posi-
ton, which Of tho utmost importance to the Command
ing General, by the prompt and energetic action
therefore directed attack the works at Contreras THE
encnched camp by turning their rear before day and
Capt Lee, OF the engineers offered TO return to Gen. Scott
Ga most difficult task) aud inform him of position, aud
that would march by o'clock a. NJ that any diver
sion that he could make in favor from that side might I've
prepared accordingly The officers commanding brgades
informed Of the plan and order Of attack, and directed
have their commands formed and the heads resting the
path by which TO march out by q A. NJ. at
loss how to for If the enemy took posses
sion of the village lac would only the retreat Of his
force at Cdntrcra This entertainments, but would greatly