The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-08
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Sc C R E 7 AIRY OF W AR
War DEPARTMENT. Decembsr1

WAR DEPARTMENT, December I, IS48.
SIR The account Of our military operations con
famed Ia the last annual report from this departing
left our troops late in October 1S47 in possession OF
the capital Of Mexico and many other places
| in that country. The main achieveme nts Of our
armies for that year then to your
alteration but others Of subsequent date, highly
creditsbe to those engaged in them though Of less
| important character, deserve notice and common
dalton.
On the evening Of the 22d Of November, General
Lane moved from Puebla with a nd Of only
one hundred and sixty n upon Matam:ras dist ant
about nifty four miles, In twelve hours. The place
mme diately attacked and the enemy con ,;stin0
OF from four hundred to six hundred men, put to
fight, with loss Of from sixty to eighty In killed nd
wounded; aquantity of ordnance and munitions was
captured, and twenty-one American prisoners libe
rated. On its way back to Pueblo the dctac MT mt
was attacked by Mexican force of about Ave hu n
dred men under General Rsa After short naics,
the enemy were routed ard dispersed, su,taining a
further loss Of about City in killed and wou o ded
In January, an expedition composed of four compa-
mics OF Texan rangers two of the Sd dra-
goona and one Of the mounted rifle regiment all
under the command OF General Lane-were sent out
from the city Of Mexico to scour the country and
drive the guerias from the roads, Having ascertain
ed that Santa Anna with a few regular troops and
Considerable irregular force, at Tshuacan the de-
tachment moved rapidly and took possession of that
place. SO sudden was its approach, that Santa Anna
had barely time to himself by pYecpitate fight
The expedition pres,ed on to Orizaba and Cordova,
tity Of public property and releasing number Of Anne
rican prisoners. After remaining short time, and
restoring to the owners private property there
ted which bad been seized by guerilla bands
ed to the main column Of our army In the city Of Mex
co on the 9th Of February On the 18th of the rame
month, General Lane led another detachment con.
sistng Of two hun dred and fifty Texan rangers ana
one hundred and thirty dragons OF the 81 Mt
against the gueras, who were inf-sting the country
lying north and noiheast Of the city Of Mexico On
the Goth, he encountered body OF tn enemy at Sc
qualteplan; and after conflict the town was
taken, the hostile forces dispersed with loss of one
hundred and fifty killed and than atty prise ners
The command OF General Lane, on these occasions,
displayed much enterprise, spirit, and gaantry. His
interesting reports with the docume ns nying
them, ere hereto appended. =
nder the judicious management Of Colonel Mason,
the commanding officer of troops in the Califor-
pins the upper province has been kept In tranquility
hut efforts were made by the TO recover posses
zion OF Lower California In November 1s47 the pest
OF La Paz with garrison Of one hundred and twelve
men, under the and Of Lieut.. Col Burton OF the
New York Volunteers. was repeatedly attacked by
combined force of exicans Csfornians and Indians,
Of from three &c five hun bred men, The successive at
tacks repused with consderaile loss the part
Of the saailants.
The gallant defence OF San Jose and the capture OF
NszatIan. are achievements crsditabs to our arms.
They performed by the naval forces, aud will,
doubtless be presented to your particular notice by
the Secretary of the Navy The details of these affairs
contained In the accompanying reports from the
CONNIE ing officer In California.
Tcwods the close Of the last year the people Of Chi
busnua exhibited determined spirit of hostility, and
treated with severity American sixsns found smoug
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