Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-06

their return from the field and reported 10 him and were
present when received my orders and Gen. Twggs accom-
panied back TO the bill Of Zacatepec where the wagons
Gen. Scott told my report both of them and that Gen
Smith was TO make the attack stated
O. In regard to the same charge and specification, fourth
head, what do you know
A. After Vaencas camp had been taken by the troops
under Gen. Smith, and Gen. Smith had gone in pursuit of
the enemy leaving Col Riley to guard the camp and after
the pursuit had swept beyond the village of San Geronimo
the road TO San Angel Gen. Pillow approaching the
camp from San Augustin he followed movement of our
troops down the road San Geronimo On the 10th he had
command of his division, from which the working parties
drawn and did him after the battle opened as
advanced with the rifle regiment, until met him at Gen.
SCOTS quarters at San Augustin that night do know
what orders he received in the time On the morning
of the 20h overlook Gen. Pillow about the time he entered
Coyoacan did not him after that until the convent and
ete du pon had been taken was sent by Gen. Scott
conduct Gen. Pierces brigade to the Of the ee du pon
it under Gen. Shiedss orders, though part of Gen. Pill
lows DIVISION
@. About what time had elapsed from the time Of the
taking Of vaencas camp until the arrival of Gen. Pillow
that camp
A. Judging from the that transpired, Q have no
other judging now, nearly anhour, should say
between half an hour and an hour.
G. OF same charge, same specification, under sixth head
what do you know
A. On the morning Of the 10th Cen Scott gave me orders
to organize the working parties for this road and to call upon
Gen. Pillow for the men, &cthe road by which the army
was move turn this position (meaning to Contreras
He told Gen. Twiggs division would be thrown forward
to the working parties do not know what orders he
gave after the battle opened, any Others until he gave
those received before stated the night Of the 10TH
met Gen. Scott and Staff coming from San Augusn on their
way to the battlefield heard him direct Gen. Worth
turn to San Antonio with Of his brigades which he
bringing up and make preparations to attack San Antonio in
'front.' he discovered the approach Of our troops from
the He gave many orders during the day, such
econnoe the Of San Antonio and report the strength
of the enemys position. heard him give orders General
PIERCE with his brigade, to to the Of Churubusco
and make the attack in that quarter and subsequently, he
dered me to conduct battalion Of remen and dra
goons, the support Of Gen. Shields Gen. Shields told
Gen. Pierce, in my hearing he had order from Gen. Scott
to take command in that quarter He overlook the road
O. OF the charge, fourth specification, what does
witness know Of the reconnong and also of the confer
ence at the Piedad
A. know that the morning Of the 7h September, Gen
Scott informed that the armsoe would probably be em
mated by IL O'clock and he wished be prepared myself
to reconnoe the approaches to the capital and the
cessay orders Major Smith, senior Engineer That after
the engineers out in several direcons myself
econnored the approaches to the Pedad and San Antonio
gates and after the battle of Mono del Rey the 9Th, he
sent me to continue the had commenced the
evening before The pushed every
by the repeated orders of General Scott On the 9th
companed him in person to connoe the approaches the
Gno Perddo, San Antonio and Pedad Gen. Scott repeat
ed his reconnaissance of that front the morning of the h
present al the conference held by Gen. Scott Pedad
which he mentions that morning Gen. Pillow there
Heard Gen. Scott state great detail the advantages and dis
advantages attack points Chapuepec and
announced his ntenon before leaving the room OF ordering
naack either by the direction the other He invi
ed the opinions suggestions of officers present. (chey
general and staff officers and stated that the bias Of his mind
leaned towards Chapulepee and in anticipation Of that attack
he had directed Captains Huge and Drum select sites for
batteries against Chapulepec Sofar recoect there
but little said except in general conversation asking inoma
ton point another but what said by General
Pillow left upon the impression that he inclined to the
attack by the San Antonio gate. was in favor Of
ing by that front myself and expressed to Gen. Scott
his invitation. During the whole time the reports of each
engineer officer, he returned made direct general
headquarters, and subjects Of constant discussion
Gen. Pillow said that he thought that Gen. Scott would find
the information upon which that specification grounded
erroneous that be would confess portion of it. if Gen.
Scott would permit him, but not therein stated.
Gen. Scott replied, he truly hoped 50, indeed he would
rather not receive admissions the side of the defence On
the side Of the prosecutor they could operate njuousy
| on the other side they might.
G. Was the immediate place Of attack, upon
the morning Of The 2oh, Valencas camp, the result Of
reconnaissance made late the preceding evening and
not the general plan the result Of the previous
A. After returned from reconnaissance in the direction
OF Conreras, the morning Of the lsth reported the result
to Gen. Scott and accompanied him Cuapan, the head
quarters of Gen WORTH in front Of San Antonio He there
received such information had been gathered by the eng
and other officers who had reconnotred San Antonio.
At the time OF my return to San Augusn after dk, well
as ecoec all the officers had not in. Lieut. Stewart
who had been the right still absent Gen. Worth,
accompanied BY Capt Mason and perhaps other officers
to Gen. SCOTS headquarters San Augusn, and the whole
subject OF the reconnaissance Of the day reviewed by Gen.
Scott That night before going bed Gen. Scott informed
me he intended advance by the direction Of Contres.
This determination he repeated next morning, and which
have already stated He told Gen. Pillows division had
been ordered In that direction, from which the working par
ties to be drawn and that Gen. Twggss division had
been pushed advance and asked about what time thought
the road would be completed far the Reconnaissance bad
been made the day BEFORE that TO the bill Of Zacaepe and
TO understand that he should be upon the field by that
time. Gen. Smiths determination, far / know, was
based upon the report Of Col Riley and the officers Of his b
gade, Lieut. Tower engineer and othersLeut Tower and
Col. Riley joined Gen. Smith after sundown-and Il was
based upon the information received at that time, and the inn
poance Of breaking up valencss camp, open
communications with the San Angel road. In
ton with he took the determination and the responsibility
Of The movement upon himself
Question By Defence. Was the plan Of attack commun
Gated TO you the evening Of the 9h and executed the
morning Of the 10th make attack diversion In 'front.'
whilst the troops which had already gained his
the same time TO sssail the enemy in reverse
A. Yes. The troops under Gen. Smith TO take
position in Of valencias camp and the troops in front to
be in readiness 10 make attack in 'front.' Gen.
Smiths troops discovered II understood by me
that hs attack 10 be made Of all hazards whether the
attack was made In front or not
q Is the witness that orders given BY General
Pillow, on the leth previous to the arrival of Gen. Scott
upon the hed In relation the disposition Of the forces
der his command, with view TO carrying the enenched
camp at Contrerss and II So what those orders
A. am not acquainted with the orders given by General
Pillow After under fire Of the enemys batteries
informed Gen. Twggs that should have suspend making
the road until Gen. Valencia driven from his position.