The New York herald., 1848-01-15
Last Action I'm the Army

Inc tentn toast was drank standing.
Last Action In the Army.
From the Washington Union. Jan l3
We are indebted to the War Department for the fol-
lowing despatch, just received -
HEApqCARTFns DEPARTMENT PUEDLA,
PuEBLA, Dec l, lS47
SIR Having been crsdibly informed that the enemy
in force at MelaEiora with artillery and that
military depot there established at which large
quantity of munitions Of and other public property
had been collected and also that several American SOL
diers confined there in close prison. moved from
the 22d instant with piecc Of artillery and twenty
five men, under the command Of Lieut.. Field of the
Sd artillery, and hundred and thirty dva
sistpg Of COL Hays Texas mounted rfismen, and of
the Louisiana dragoons, under Capt Lewis Although
O'Clock until s. we arrived at Metamorss at ocOck on
the morning of the 23d-accomplishing march of fifty
guard Of the enemy as we approached the town thew
charged and driven in upon the main body when
the whole sa along the o streets % % forest lying in
Of their flight and the various by which
they retired render 1t difficult to form satisfactory
innate Of their numbers which is variousy computed at
from four to six hundred
In this short and ssnguinary action from sixty to
the loss part, Of q single man. Among the killed
Col Piedras, commanding at Metamoras, two cap
tains of artillery and other officers of various grades
American soldiers were set free and restor
ed to the service, armed with muskets and mounted
upon horses taken from the enemy Three pieces of
artillery small one long six, and long twelve.
pounder-a Of bronze, and in good firing condition;
twelve tons shot of all cabres twelve boxes xed
balls seven bses slow and quick matches five hundred
muskets fye hundred sabrss, one hundred horses,
perty fell into hands, and, with the exception of
the artillery, the fxed ammunition, the muskets and
sabres all destroyed In consequence of inability
to procure additional of transportation. The
remainder Of the day employed in refreshing the
troops and In destroying military stores in which last
three artillery privates German, Foss and Fried
manwere considerably injured; but, it Is hoped, net
disabled by an accidental explosion.
In this engagement Col Hays displayed great cooness
and bravery did also Captains Lewis and Roberts of
Louisiana volunteers and the eutenants of the Texas
corps behaved most calamity Lieut.. Ridgey, Of the
Whppis q the 9th infantry Ivoiunteer ad5 behaved
ever before with distinguished gaantry rendering
nent They with the foremost in the charge and
in pursuit Of the enemy and not until all public proper
ty was captured did they think OF rest Lieut. McDo
nald of the Sd artillery acting assistant quartsrmaster
was with me in the charge and behaved most calamity
Douglas and Blake also in the charge-the former
my aid de- camp-and both behaved calamity 1t af-
fords much pleasure to bear testimony to the good
conduct both of ofcers and Never could they b.
| have better than on this occasion.
| Early on the morning of the oath, moved toward
Pusbla Captain Robertss company of Texas mounted
rihemen, numbering between twenty-five and thirty
men, composed the advanced guard. The remainder
ry The Louisiana dragons, under Capt Lewis, con-
stituted the guard While moving with difficulty
through long pass called the Pass Of Ga
axrs some vs miles from Metanoras the train became
considerably extended. Retarded by the distractions
containing captured property drawn by Mexican mules
and driven by Mexicans, had fallen far in the aud
were slowly progressing under my immediate superin-
tendence when it reported that ths enemy had ap
peared ia front Col Hays Immediately ordered to
pair head Of the column to engage the enemy
ssrvaton running in under an the pursuit. q two hun
dred Mexican lancsrs He promptly repused them.
tenants Ridseiy, wbppis, Waters Mcdonald, Blake
and :H Mi p:h.as. in
and pursued the enemy across an extended plain,
aud up long prsciptous ascent towards the tsns
fnorp pvuhf tnavh hadUn adj ha @
hill the enemy halted aud attempted to rally Th.y
wheeled to sfont but falling rapidly before the con-
tinued charge, they again broke and aed tbs
nit OF the mountain, closely followed by Colonel Hays
with his small force Here the reinforced by
q OF five hundred lancers, under the command
of General Rea The mounted rifemen not being armed
with ssbres, and their revovers and rifles having sll
their original position This order cooIly obeyed
aud the men retired in good order, under ths full
charge Of four ve hundred ancers. Having return
ed to their position, the enemy Immediately re-
pulsed and the post maintained until the arrival Of the
under Captain Lewis whom had ordered to the ont,
mediatey on perceying the strength Of the enemy
IL s due to these excellent officers to remark that they
moved forward to the engagement with that prompti
tude and eacrity for which they have been dstip
gnished Tue artillery was immediately unimbered,
when the enemy retired to the mountains and receiving
few rounds OF grape aud canister, they disappeared
For several hours they continued to hover about our
march, ia scattered deachnents too remote for the
saut OF already sded borses And though the rife
dismounted and attempted to reach them on foot
and the artillery several times unmbsred and
brought to bear upon them it impossible to bring
them to another engagement Our loss in this affair
two killed and two slightly wounded
The loss of Lieutenant Rdgely nay acting assistant
sdjutant general who was mortay wounded while
galIsny charging with his ooprade, by the side Of
ton with which report the brilliant conduct OF this
small party at ths pass Of Galaxra Privste William
Walpas, Of the rangers, also fell bravey fighting
among the foremost In the charge. Lieutenant
Waters, and one other; were slightly Wounded
cerained but could not have been less than fifty killed
and wounded. or the killed, two captains, one
artillery During the engas ement the Mexican drivers
after cutting the mules from the teams made their es
tured property except the large pieces Of artillery and
the sabres most Of which distributed to the mount
ed men, and the remainder destroyed Never did any
onacer act with more salsntry than did Col Hays in
this affair Of the 2th When he found necessary to
retire for the purpose Of reloading his having
sabres--he halted in their rear, and the ad
vanced deliberately shot two of them dead and covered
his retreat until the arrival of reinforcsments Lieu
never surpassed Lieutenant WhippIe, my present
ad-de camp and acting assistant adjutant general,
was distinguished for bis coolness and bravery. He
among the first In the charge, and, excepting
Colonel Hayswas the last to quit the field Captain
Roberts charged brsvely at the he'd Of his company
his horse shot under him and he exhibited great
presence Of mind making his escape Lieut. Waters
action advancing with the rs an retiring only with
the last Lieut. Blake and Mr.. Phelps also at the
head Of the charge and divide with their comrades the
Brewer and Newton, Of the medical staff, merit my
thanks for their prompttude and efficiency in attend
Ing to their professional duties Private Ganton OF the
Texan Rangers attracted general notice his
ordinary activity and daring throughout the actions
both OF the 23d and a4th Sergeant Myers commanded
portion Of the Louisiana dragoons and conducted
them with ability through both actions. Too much
praise cannot be bestowed upon Captain Lewis for the
energy and ability with which he the srduous
duties dsvoviDg upon him as commandant of the rear
guard
At about 10 O'Clock of the morning Of the 25th
rived at Atixco After four hours repose, moved
to Puebla where arrived without further molesa-
ton at o'clock in the sfternoop-having been absent
sixty hours
have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully your
obedent servant, JOSEPH LANE,
Brigadier General U. s. a.
To JoNK,, Adjutaat General U. A.