Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-18
FROM MEXICO.
Expedition against Tehuacan-Narrow
escape of Santa Anna Occupation OF
Orizaba.

The steamship New Orleans which ar
rived at New Orleans on the l2th inst.
brought news of the highest interest. Since
the battles of Mexico, scarcely any occur
renee equals in boldness and daring the
march of the secret expedition against Te-
huacan and 0rizaba. The Picayune Of the
| 9th publishes several letters describing the
march to Tehuacan, which we condense as
follows
The detachment, consisting of $50 men
and officers, under the command of General
Lane, left Mexico on the 18th ult. Maj.
Polk, Col. Hays and Capt. Crittenden ac-
companed it. Passing Chalco and Rio Fro
the band took a circuitous route to Puebla,
where it arrived on the 2lst.
There is no considerable Mexican force
now within fifty miles in any direction fron,
that city. The discontinue of the enemy
during the seige, and the energetic and sue
cessiul expedition of Col. Lane, while here,
scattered to the winds the remnant of the
Mexican army. Rea is the only man who
seems to hold with him any portion of the
army. Ii is stated thar he has his head
quarters at Matamoros, with force vari-
oasly estimated at from 500 TO 1000 men,
and has four pieces of artillery.
Leaving Puebla at dark the same day,
the company took the road to Vera Cruz as
far as Anazoque, where Gen. Lane took a
road entirely unknown to any one but him
self and the guide. IL was little better than
mule path over rocky hills, and after n
forty mile march, the troops arrived next
morning at the hacienda of Santa Clara
They were then informed that their object
was to take Santa Anna, who was then at
Tehuacan, distant forty miles, with $50
men. In order that the Mexican chieitain
might not obtain information of the pres
ence of our troops in this section of coun-
try, the General ordered every Mexican
in the hacienda, and every one found on the
road during the day to be arrested and kept
close until we left in the evening.
After leaving the hacienda at dark, they
came upon a party of mounted Mexicans,
with carriage, whose occupant bore a
passport from Gen. Smith to travel to ORR
zaba. He was permitted to pass, with his
attendants. The road becoming rough soon
after, the troops proceeded more slowly, and
consequently did not reach Tehuacan as
soon as they had expected. We copy the
description of their arrival from the Plea
yune's correspondent:
Within eight or ten miles Of Tehuacan,
the guide received information that Santa
Anna was, without doubt, at that place, and
had with him from one to two hundred men.
With renewed hope every man now spur
red his "iaded steed," and on we went quick
enough until within five miles of our goal,
where a halt of about half an hour was
made, and the plan of attack and capture
disclosed by the General 10 his officers. -
The party mounted; orders were given to
observe the strictest silence during the re-
mander of the march, The order was
obeyed, you may depend; for every man
had an intense anxiety to secure the prize
ahead.
At dawn we were within half mile Of
Tehnacan. The report of solitary gun
from the town, and the rapid passage of
lights to and fro in the buildings next 10 us,
gave hope that the bird was about to be ca
ged, and sustained the expectation of meet
ing an enemy. As the command came to
the entrance Of the town, the Dragons and
Rifles dashed to the right and left, and in
few minutes every outlet was stopped, and
the Rangers gallopcd ahead toward the
Plaza, with their six-shooters cooked, glane-
ing an eye on every side with the belief,
and think may say the hope, that the en-
envy was on the house-tops. Tie Rangers
got to the Plaza, and in moment squads
were galloping through every street, but no
enemy was to be found, and in few min
utes we had the modification 10 learn that
the great object Of our search had fled two
hours before we arrived, and had taken the
road to 0aaca, with an escort Of rs mount
ed men. The national flags hung out from
the residences of foreigners, and white flags
suspended from the houses Of the Mexicans
in every part of the town, told that our APP
proach was known in advance, and il was
with chagrin that we learned that the Mex
can, whose coach and escort was stopped
shortly after leaving the hacienda, sent By a
short route across the mountains one Of his
servants to communicate TO Santa Anna
that American troops were on the road, and,
as he believed, with the intention Of captur-
ing him. Had il not been for this tfeach-
cry on the part Of man travelling under an
American safeguard,' the surprise would
have been complete.
A part of Santa Anna's best military
wardrobe, with his wife's clothing fell into
the hands of the Americans. One of the
coats is said to be worth $500. The Ayun-
taniento and principal inhabitants of the
town expressed desire for the permanent
military occupation Of the place.
Leaving Tchuacan on the 23d, the troops,
after a rough march Of several miles, as
cendcd lofty mountain, and came down
ON the valley of Orizaba.
The Ayuniamiento, the principal clergy
man, and many Of the respectable inhabi-
tants met the command about three miles
from the city, and after, at their own re-
quest, being informed Of what the troops
would want, portion went ahead to pro-
Tide them, and the remainder, accompany
ng the General, on arriving at the gates
ave up the Keys Of the city TO him. On
we found a white flag displayed at
very house, and the whole population seem
II 10 have turned out 90 witness our entry
md showed degree Of confidence that was