Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-04-20
OFFICIAL REPORT OF BROADER
GENERAL LANE.
CRY or Mexico, Feb. 10, 1913.

II CITY OF NlEAtCO, cCU' ~, AO1O.
! Sir: have the honor TO submit, for the con-
sideration of the major general commandlng-ln
chief, the following report of the operations OF
the mounted troops specially assigned 10 my
command on the 18th of January last.
i On the morning of that day, l left this city
with four companies of the mounted Texas
Rangers, under Col Hays two companies OF
the Sd dragons, and one company oil mounted
rifles, under Major Polk-in all, about three
l hundred and fifty men-to scour the country
and drive the guerriIlas from the roads
On the afternoon of the 18th. some five miles
distant from the Rio Frio, | met the train OF
General Marshall; and being informed by hlm
that body of the enemy had threatened MS
rear guard, and was then actually passing
through the mountains towards his night, l
Immediately led my command (wlth the ex-
ception of two companies of Texas Rangers,
detached to guard the wagons) in the direction
indicated; but, after search OF several hours,
found no trace of hostile forces.
Il About noon on the Goth, / entered Puebla,
and remained there until the evening OF the
following day. After dark, on the 2lst, in
chilling rain, proceeded with my command
in the direction of Vera Cruz, and arriving at
the village of Amasoque, turned off towards the
left, in order to deceive the inhabitants.
About noon halted at two large haciendas,
ordered the men and horses to be concealed. l
held the Mexicans residents of the haciendas,
f and those passing along the road. prisoners I'M
til dark on the 22d, at which time again took
up the line of march in the direction of the
town of Tehuacan.-
} The march was continued over miserable
: rocky, and narrow road for some forty miles, or
more, when the column arrived in the vicinity
Y of Tehuacan. lhad previously received au-
IL, s.bf
r telligent guide, who has shown his devotion
. to our cause on many occasions, that General
i Santa Anna was in Tehuacan with force of
: one hundred regular, and an indefinite force of
5 guerrias. As | continued the march, my
guide obtained further information, even to
: the position of sentinels posted within the
. town. About four O'Clock, preceding day
\ break, arrived at the confines of the town,
!, when, instantly, lights flashed TO and fro in
t several houses, and solitary gun was fred up
e on the advancing column. o9
: In obedience TO my previous orders, Major
: Polk Immediately surrounded the town with
e his command; while Col. Hays, with his, fol-
( lowed me ata charge, directly to the plaza.
Traces were everywhere visible of recent occu-
: patton by troops, but the whole force had de-
d parted. The house in which General Santa
S Anna himself had quartered, containing his
r furniture wardrobe and some provisions, ap-
peared to have been deserted abruptly. All of
n his military clothing was captured together
V with the clothing of his lady, consisting ofone
: hundred and twenty-five valuable pieces :;
d which latter | caused to be packed in trunks,
e and delivered to the lcade of the town, taking
n his " Titten receipt for the same.
/, On the morning of the Oath, again took up
e the line of march towards Orizaba, and arri-
t we'd the same evening at the village of Acalcin-
: go. situated at the base of the intervening
0 mountains. Here i received communication
e from the ayuntamiento of Orizaba, informing
a me that deputatlon of the pal author
a tiles, priests and citizens, would meet me on
e the subject of arranging terms for the capitu-
e ation of the city. | replied that | would per-
l. sonally inform the deputation what terms
would be granted. About noon, on the 18th
r at distance of three miles from the city,
e was met by the deputation, and informed the
1t alcalde that private and church property should
e be respected; that no violence would be allow
Il ed; but that | would investigate the robberies
d lately committed in the neighborhood BY guer-
e rillas, upon the merchant trains; whereupon
e the city was surrounded.
t, Immediately after entering Orzaba, / ap-
i pointed Col. Hays commander of the forces
and Major Polk civil and military governor.
y On the 26th received letter of submission
i from the ayuntamiento of Cordova, city dis
n tant from Orizaba fifteen or twenty miles; and
l. on the 2Sth started for that place with three
l. companies of Texas rangers, under Col. Hays,
J. and Lieut. Martins company of dragons.
tt After taking formal possession of the place,
IS released six American prisoners captured at
lie various places, whom | brought with my COM
,e mand from Puebla
d During the march to Corodova, several arm
a ed Mexicans were observed to cross the road a
S, short distance in advance of the column. Pur-
y suit was Immediately given; but from the fleet,
n ness of their horses and the ruggedness of the
ground, they effected their escape, with the ex-
, cep;ion of one, whom Lieut. Col. Dumont, OF
g the 18th Indiana volunteers, had the good for
i, tune TO overtake and kill. In this connexion
is to take pleasure IN mentioning Lieut.. Runnels,
n of the Texas rangers, who was most jealous in
is the pursuit, and evidently wounded the lea
= der of the party.
: On the lst inst, / returned to Puebla after
ID an absence of three weeks.
ID Along the whole route from Puebla to Tehu-
Y acan Cordova and from Cordoya to PuebIa-a
V route hitherto untrodden by American forces
e and heretofore VIGOROUSLY hos;ile-no resist
e ance was offered 10 body Of only $50 mount
}. ed supply of ammunition. Every town sent
; out its deputies TO assure US of peaceable re-
y ception and every necessary for the command
+ was promptly furnished.
e On the morning of the 9th inst. l sent for
n ward portion OF my command, Texans and
dragons, under command of Major Truett, as
guard to the wagons from Puebla TO that
e city. rt- s.F
,. When about to enter the town Of San Juan
% de Teotihuican, about nine leagues from this
- city, report was made that the enemy, under
l. Col. Manuel Falcon was before US. ordered
r Maj. Polk, with one company of rifles under
n Lit Claiborne, and one company of dragons
: under Lit Adde, to make pursuit, while Col:
. Hays, with the Texans, should seize the
j town. o. 49,
al My orders were executed with alacrity and
n effect. Seventeen of the enemy are known to
" have been killed-two of them by the hand of
T. Mai. Polk. 1t. Claiborne displayed his usual
I ntrepidity, being amongst the foremost in not
d pursuit, and ever ready to assault the foe Lit
&c Colbert, Of the Texas Rangers, also signally ex
hbited much GOODNESS. courage, and good con-
/ duct Indeed, every officer and man who was
/ permitted TO engage showed the utmost devo-
v lion and bravery, and rendered efficient service
o One lieutenant and two privates Were taken
,e prisoners. The remainder of the enemy s forces