Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-13

being ready Gen. Cadwaader undertook to remain and bring
them up in time Major Dimmck, with my brigade follow
ed the first regiments of Cadwaader and the latter fol-
lowed Dmmick with his two other regiments Owing the
extreme difficulty Of the path, it took three hours before
Reys brigade got into position in Of the enemy works.
Ii had been time before we arrived there
As the enemy had great deal Of cavalry about their position
Riley ordered attack in two columns and deploy
when the Of the ground would permit him. Cadwaa-
des brigade had been intended TO make face towards Santa
Anna, if be moved TO the assistance OF Valencia and Dim
mick assist in either the or the other attack cum
stances might require. But Santa Anna had during the
night withdrawn to San Angel have since learned
from his official reports that when got be broad day,
could only Santa Annas cavalry at the position which
he hsd occupied and his infantry great distance Off
ing TO that position He SO far oil that evident
we bad nothing to fear from any he could make.
Just Rleys column formed for attack cavalry
seen moving out from vaencas position up towards the
ans. AS they might in that way attack Riley his right
flank and as il longer necessary to pay any attention
to Santa Annas force, directed that Cadwaladers brigade
should also form in two columns-one to on Rey's
right flank and rear, and the other his left flank. This
order was communicated to the senior officer who marched
with the two first regiments OF Cadwaader and Just at this
moment Csdwaader up with the other two and imme
daey the attack commenced Seeing that there
cesy for eservng any troops to meet the force under Santa
Anna pimck ordered to face to the left and advance
line the ravne against Vaencias entertainments
AT the same me forgot TO mention that the engineer com
pany and rifles thrown upon Reys left and 'front.' under
the brow Of the hill to clear his front Of the enemys skr
mishers The whole of the enemys works and position
carried at sweep. good many Of the fgitives were in
eceped by the position held by Shields on the road After
directing the artillery, pack mules, &c. be secured direct
ed the column to be formed and advance in pursuit OF the
enemy sent an order 10 the that Major Gardeners
gimen of artillery should take charge OF the captured artillery
and ammunition, and that of the other regiments think
COL Tousdae but certainly the regiment to which Capt
Breedove belongs should take charge Of matters while
Shielss brigade directed to take charge of the prisoners
moved on, however, towards San Angel before these dspo
afiar
changed by other officers who then up. As the rifle
Sd infantry regiment moved out of the village Gen. Twggs
came up he directed the pursuit to be continued making
occasional short hats until the other regiments could get into
position In column. We continued in this way until,
said BEFORE Gen. Pillow the head of the column at
San Angel and assumed the command.
In making the plans, movements and attacks witness
has narrated, witness influenced any Of them by
any known plan of Major Gen. Pillow, did any officer cite
alude in conversation the time, in any manner, any
plan OF known view Of the said Pillow
A. Nothing Of the kind
O. Did the witness chance the hour at which the
victory at Conreras rendered complete
A. looked my watch the time ii either 20 min
utes after 6, 20 minutes before 7oclock 20 minutes
after the hour, 20 minutes before the oher-I do not
exactly know which.
O. About what time in the night did the brigade Of Gen.
Shields reach the hamlet and of what importance did witness
consider the presence of said brigade the 10Th Of August
A. About 10 o'clock, when Lieut.. Hammond reported.
The presence Of that brigade of great importance, in my
morning in the face Of Santa Annas force, considered Of
the highest importance leave strong force in the village
that the key Of the whole movement could spare
sufficient force before Gen. Shields arrived to occupy pro-
pehy For instance Santa Anna should have moved into
the village when moved out he would have put in
position than had put Valencia; and any rate
his and that Of Valencia the city, and
would have become master of the main road which held
Questions by the Defence Does the witness know whose
division the howzers and Maguders battery belong and BY
whose orders they thrown forward
A. They belonged, believe TO Gen. Pillows division; and
do not know by whose orders they thrown forward from
the They moving forward under Gen. Twggss
orders at the time referred TO of Of the carriages sticking
tat in the wall do not know from whom he received his
orders
c. Previously the arrival of Gen. Scott on the field on
the 18th of August who the senior officer then the
field aud responsible for the disposition of the forces
A. The senior officer that the field General
Pillow The only order got that day from General
Twggs, TO 10 support Magruders battery. Whoever
made the dispositions responsible for hem do not
speak Of the principle but Of the facts The presumption
that the the senior officer directs the dispositions and espon
sibe for them
O. When you arrived the villages Of Ensado and Ge-
ronmo, on the 18th August did you find Col Riley and
Gen. Cadwaader possession OF those villages and had the
former already repuIsea large cavalry force and the latter
checked large Mexican force under Santa Anna
A. found Gen. Cadwalader in possession of the village
could not find COL Riley appears he had gone through
it, and had moved further up towards Vaencas position.
repused large body Of the enemys cavalry and killed Gen
Frontea at the upper end of the village, towards Valencia
and finding the enemy too strong, was he reported to
his way back to the pedrega not knowing there were
other troops conceive that taking possession Of the
village important II did not nterpose any
obstacle the road open yet though did not prevent
his joining Valencia, had such influence upon Santa Anna
to prevent his throwing himself into Vaencias camp lest
army should be nterposed between him and the capital
Holding the village ought have influenced Santa Anna
to prevent him from throwing himself outside Of the viii
lage, in respect the capital found Gen. Cadwaader al
ready in position, the right flank of the village, fronting
what Santa Annals then 'front.'
O. Had the force under Santa Anna been brought to
stand before you got to the village
A. Yes, sir formed perpendcuary the road before
reached il, and then moved around parallel TO il after got
there.
O. Suppose Santa Anna, with his forces bad tsken pos
session OF this village before occupied by our troops
could you have taken possession Of it. considering the diff
culdes Of the ground and other obstacles
A. IL was impossible to say what you could do could
not have been done without avery great loss II 1t bad been
well defended il could not have been done.
O. you regard the possession Of the village key to
the operations OF the 10th, will the witness say whether he
does not regard its possession the 10Th enurng the
ress of the operations on the morning Of the 10th
A. The whole operation the Goth based upon the
possession Of the village. The whole plan Of attack on the
Goth formed after the possession Of the village
ID, and founded upon that, but the proper attack in
opinion, Santa Anna ntsnded the evening
before that is the proper attack for being in the situation
in. The attack on Valencia determined upon
alternative because the night offered he means
II reaching his position with certainty and the darkness had
ntedt st tail I'M he first