The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-19

fromeneras down sharing the severity Of the weather.
but perhaps IT only whetted their appetites Tor
But imagine the position Of this portion of the
my numbering $500 at the outside without artillery
5000 troopsthose in the fort said to be the best of
Msxicowth % pieces artillery and among his troops
sS to Va ina. some
madeand Gen. Smith and Col Riley seconded as they
then we're were just the men competent to the task
An attack on the main work determined upon. and
the movement to take place at three o'clock the follow
ing morning However here another obstacle presented
itsethe force Gen Smith was not strong enough TO
attack the main work and hold the village the same
time and 1t was of the utmost Importance he should So
for If he drove the enemy from this main work. and in
his retreat he secured possession of the village he could
hold long enough to allow his troops get away and
in aprobabiity seriously embarrass any further
else 1t Is said that fortune favors the bravs-and in
this instance 1t most truly did-for while Gen Smith
near approach with his brigade of South Carolina and
New York volunteers-snd here exhibition of
on ar.d hs
ranking officer, and could have assumed the command;
but he was MT the man to pluck the bright anres about
the strong works OF the accordingly he moved
subject to the command Of Gen Smith and his brigade
was placed In the village Of Ensado as circumstance
might require either to cut of the retreat OF the troops
from Co.treras or to take the reserve Of the enemy in
flank should change It's front and attempt to attack
our force towards Contreras.
At o'clock on the morning Of the goth, our troops
commenced their movement towards the front of attack
the night dark that the could not 90 of
resch OF one another for fear Of losing their way This
caused the movement to be slow that daybreak ap-
preached before the head Of Gen. Cadwsaders brigade
commenced descending into the rsvine at the village
As soon Col Riley got out OF the deep ravne and at
point where 1t thought the Of the work could
be approached, the head Of the column halted and
cosedat the Same time drawing the loads out Of the
guns supposed to DO wet Colonel Riley then formed his
brigade In column by divisions, and thus the column
stood formed Col Rileys brigade the advance
Gen Cadwalader's and Gen Smiths brgades, together
with the ssppers and miners, under the command Of
Major Dmick closed up the rear-eaving Gen Shields
at the village Colonel Riley continued up the ravine
bearing little to his left and az he raised over the
bank he stood fronting the Of the enemys
but he protected from the severity Of its by the
favorable position Of the ground As Col Riley
assembled the hill and came in full view Of the enemy
they immediately opened a warm Are upon him. Col.
Riley threw out his two advanced divisions as skrmish
close In with them and let the bayonet do its work''
and bis command rushed down the slope with n despe-
heart Of the boldest-whe the rear of his command
moved steadily forward in solid blockwth the most me.
cn.n,oai precision me ssppsrs and miners and the
intervening between the they had passed up ana
under the brow Of the slope which Colonel Riley came
In front Of Col Riey's column then incnipg towards
their sftjoned In the attack the troops outside
the route taken by Col Riley and as soon as his troops
were formed moved to his support The first brigade
wnich was bringing up tho rear had been ordered to
the right flank up the ravne and nearly opposite the
Fort Gen Smith ordered the brigade face to the left
This movement executed in less time than it takes
to write tthey met the enemy outside of the Fort
Just as Colonel Aeys brigade rushed into 1.-THE enc
my WAS completely routed.and commenced precipitate
retreattheir cavalry and infantry had been formed
receive the charge but both compelled give way
victory most decided, but while Rieys brigade took
of the works and their upon IT,
the other force continued the pursuit down the road
The retreating force had to pass near where General
Shields brigade was placed to intercept them They
we'll directed FIRE of the South Carolina regiment which
moved them down like grass before the scythe.
The enemy had been completely deceived In reference
OF the force by the sagacity Of the General After
Smith moved off to attack the work. Shields caused
troops during the night as the men were preparing
their breakfast which led the enemy to believe
troops were still in forco In the village, this also led him
70 believe we were going to carry into execution the at
tack we were meditstiug the night BEFORE accordingly
the night before he placed batteries along his ne and
In the morning moved detachments forward take In
flank the attack he supposed would make daylight
and how great his must have when the rst
thing he saw In the morning was Col Riley moving down
the slope, having already turned his holdbut all
doubts dispelsd by the capture Of his works
and the dispersion Of his armythey we're met at eyery
point by the sklful management and energy Of Gen.
Shields whose command compelled them to y in every
directionsome taking to the broken and craggy
some to tho ravines-whe others depended upon tbor
heels and made most excellent time in race across the
fields One Of the most sagscous movements made by
Mexican efncer was made At this place After large
portion Of the Mexican army had passed through very
narrow pass aud our troops after them he formed 4
squadron o. ancs,s in the pass laid down their arms
had already passed through-those of troops who
were nearest having to take of prisoners
and guard them back before another force could 20
In pursuit they were out Of reach.
In TINS Tort there were captured % pieces Of artillery
mostly large size great number Of pack mules, large
quantity Of ammunition and munitions Of war; and up
wards OF 800 prsoners, among them several off,
GERS Of high rank The enemy left dead upon the heId
which we have buried upwards of 700but his loss was
certainly much heayier-as the Mexcans were still
buryng their friends when passed over the battle-
when the Rifles engaged on the 18th than we had anv
idea-their unerring aim told with powerful effect The
troops in the fort were commanded by Valencia those
Among the highest achievements Of the morning en-
gagement was the re-capture Of the two Buena Vista
six-pounders belonging to Capt Washington's battery
by one of the light companies Of the same regiment
They now stand before the door Of Gen Twiggs and
hope when he shall meet his old friend Gen. Taylor he
VIII have present these beautiful trophies to claim the
congratulations All the small arms taken were mme-
tectthe ordnance, ammunition and prsoners-the CO.
lumn formed for the purpose Of pursuing the enemy
Gen Twggs arrived and ordered speedy aud most vi
gorous pursuit OF the enemy, which was immediately
Twiggs division, and the by Gen Pillows division
the rifles aud sappers and miners in advance as Skin
mishers There now ensued sort Of a running fight
all the way to San Angel-the enemy endeavoriHg to
make stand at every point on the road-but the I'M
erring fire Of the rifle made every place too hot for
them and they we're compelled to take refuge in Churu
At San Angel Gen Pillow arrived and took the com
mand, when the whole column moved down to Cuican,
when Gen Scott came up and Immediately took the
command Of the whole
THE BATTLE OF CHURUBUsCo.
AS soon as the enemy forces perceived that Contre-
ras was carried and that we would be able TO turn hi,
position and attack him in he evacuated the for
uncaton and fell back Churubusco with his artillery
whole force This was also reinforced by troops
rom Contreras and some from the city they apparently
determined to make their final stand al this point
Inc work and position exceedingly strong and
completely masked by high growth of corn. and an
oronard which very much precluded officers getting
proper view OF the position the strength OF the
work which proved to be regular forcatIon and ad
6ssn erected in the incredibly short time Of ss
DC onurch buildings formed a large square-the lower
'front.' At the north end, chiefly wall scaGolded for
ipsntry-behind It was higher building also covered
win inantry-and In the Of this the church ssf
ws also covered with infantry and high steeple on its
rnt nank was ned with infantry In front OF the frat
wall was curtain connecting two salient angles which
nanked It, and were continued back to the side vail ~
the church, garrisoned heavily with infantrr ara ,ant