Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-04-19
A Copy of the celebrated 'Leonidaso Letter.
Editors .Ne,c Orleans Deisai
GREAT BATTLE OF MEXICO (!

Commenced on the l9th, under the command
Major Gen. Pillow. having force of $500 mer
The enemy had 1900 men (of whom 5000 wer
cavalry and n pieces of artillery.
"General Pillows order for the attack was tina
Gen. Twiggs should advance with one brigade o
his division. and assault the cnemy's strong worl
in froIt. while the other should turn his left wing
and assail the work n, reverse He also placed a
the disposition of Gen. Twiggs, Capt. Magruder' 6
battery, aud Lieut. Ca!ender's howitzer battery
(both of which belonged TO the proper division o!
Gen. Pow.)
Shaving thus opened the battle, he then advanc-
ed Gen. Cadwaladers brigade support the brigade
OF Col. Riley, who had moved to turn the enemy's
left. and attack in reverse; and advanced General
Pierce's brigade to support Gen. Smith, who had
advanced TO assault the work in front.
"Ihe action had now become with the advanc-
ing forces) very scvere-and Gen. Pillow, seeing
five or six thousand men advancing from the city to
reinforce the enemy, whom he apprehended would
fall upon Gen. Cadwalader's rear, detached, from
Gen. Pierce's brigade, Col. Morgan's regiment,
(Which was yet within reach0 and ordered it to
the support of Gen. Cadwaader, who, seeing so
large force approaching his rear, threatening to
1verwhelm him, halted his forward movements.
confronted the enemy in strong position, and held
him completely at bay. The forces under General
Smith, Col. Riley and Gen. Pierce were holly en-
gagged with the enemy's strong battery and largo
force of infantry and cavalry, until il was quito
OdtltIy anu SallGnuCrS nOWIt-
ger battery were both very much cut to pieces and
disabled Late in the evening, Gen. Scott came
upon the field, and brought with him Cen Shields,
brigade of volunteers, who he advanced TO the sup
port Of the forces under Gen. Cadwaader:
but it was too late-they did not get into position
until in the night.
The next morning before daylight, the brigade
of Pierce advanced in execution of the original or
der OF battle; renewed the assault in 'front.' while
Riley's brigade, supported by Cadwaader, turned
his left, assaed the enemy's works in reverse. and
gallany carried 1t, capturing large force Of tho
enemy, q guns, (among them that lost at Buena
Visa,) and killing in the engagement between 600
and 500 of the enemy.
''Ilavng achieved this signal and brilliant vic.
tory, Gen. Pillow Immediately resolved to pursue
the re,reatng forces Of the enemy, and. while his
troops were flushed with victory, give battle toa
larger force y still at San Angelo, which he did,
and drove them before him. He then sent an Off
Ger of his staff back TO Gen Scott 10 say 10 him. if he
would cause Gen. Worth to cooperate with him,
he would sweep around the valley and assault the
strong works Of San Antonio in reverse, and carry
that place to open the direct route to the cap
ltal for the advance OF his siege train upon the O.
ther battery on that road. Gen. Scott replied that
Worth should cooperate with him. Gen. Pillow
moved rapidly around the valley AT the head of his
triumphant forces until he reached within one milo
Of San Antonio where he halted to give his troops
short time TO recover their breath and exhausted
sUehglh before engaging With the enemy at San
Antonio.
while waiting for this purpose, Gen. Scott o
vertook the army. At this moment it was dscov-
cred at the distance that the enemy (seeing their
main work had been carried, and that they were a
bout TO be attacked in the rear, had abandoned the
work at San Antonio, and fallen back on second
strong work at Santa Martha Gen Scott. who
now assumed command, Immediately directed Gen.
Twggs's division TO advance upon the left, and to
arrest and cut of all the retreating forces of tho
enemy, while he ordered Gen. Pillow to lead Cad
waaders brigade to advance and assault the enemy
upon the right and front.
"Twggs' division soon became desperately en-
gagged with the enemy IS left at Santa Martha. Pill
lows division, In the effort to get to the BATHS
ground, got entangled among some bitches, wide.
and waist deep in mud and water. ~ The Gen
eral dlsmounted from his horse, and plunoine
through, called upon his column TO follow him,
which they nobiy did. He advanced rapidly with
it, in front of the enemy's main work, and finding
il would be cut down by the terrible fire of grape
and canister which swept down the road, he tn IN
ed it into the field the right, to attack the main
battery on its left flank Here his forces and Gen.
Worihs were joined, and went forward and gal
antly carried this work go in conjunction. Du-
ring the advance upon this work, the General him
self was knocked to his knees by the concusson Of
cannon ball, which brushed his head. In the
course of the action he shot Mexican officer and
killed aim with his pistol.
The enemy's battery being taken, Pillows and
Worth's divisions pursued the enemy until they
came under the fire of the enemy's guns from tho
battery at the very gates of the city (4)
''During Tie battle in which the first work and
% pieces of artillery were taken, Santa Anna was
present all the time upon the field OF battle, com
handing % his forces in person.
'Our total loss was heavy amounting in killed
and wounded to about (6) S00-thc enemy's to
near 1000 In the two works the enemy's forces
amounted to at least 900 men. His positions
were remarkably strong and well fortified, and in
points of the bayonet.
"'The Generals well devised plans Of battle
his judcious disposition of his forccs-his coolness
and daring during the whole of this terrible battle
| % is the subject Of universal congratulations
moDg his friends, and general remark with all.
Very respectfully"
| LII Erascd--t. Snid 10 be -