Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1848-05-27

we remained for 4 months awaiting rein.
EUrcemeDta. The city of Mexico was only
80 miles distant, and after every necessa.
ry preparation We marched from Puabla on
the nth Of August with 10000 men. The
Mexicans had fortified The str6ngholds III the
Deighborhood Of ihe capital, and with an
army of $4,000 men defed oue approach.
Having arrived al q Pass called the
Penon Grands within 0 miles Of tho city,
a yecOnnoisSdnce was made by our On.
%gineers, who reported that not feweI than
50 pieces Of artillery were planted Mt this
point TO oppose our progress, and that our
little army might be wholly sacrificed IT
we should advance on this position. A
circuitous todte was accordingly taken,
and when We came n the owl Of San Au.
pusttH. We learned that wo were within .
mIes Of tbs enemy who held q fortified
post and bad transported tbiiher q large
portion Of flteir artillery from The Penon.
| The Mexican forces at this point had
5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry under the
command Of General E~alencto, and we
commenced the attack about one o'clock
on the 10Th Of August. Tho engagement
continued the whole evening and during
the night our division although drenched
with rain drove IN n body Of Mexicana 10
the works and prevented The approach Of
q strong reinforcement from the city. At
day break we attacked them at a point
where they could not have expected visit,
aud In LEGS than an hour tho whole Of their
infantry force was completely routed. The
cavalry stood within 500 yards, and wit.
messed the defeat of their brother soldiers,
hut the towards rendered no assistance.
Those who escaped death or captured re
IL cd to Ehnrubusco, where Santa Anna
commanded In person, with 70, 1000 men.
Tho attack on Churubusco commenced
at IL o'clock, end an engagement Of thu
bloodicst kind vas kept up till A O'clock,
about which time we were completely vic.
]torioug. For one hour at least IL was a
doubtful affair, and in fact news had roach.
ed the city that the yankees were defeated,
and preparations had commenced for n
general Illumination. AT four o'clock how
ever, they were 10 their sorrow nndeteiyed
by the appearance Of their own army in
fulia retreat. We lost in this battle 1900
men, killed and wounded, and tho Mexi.
cans about 1000, besides 5000 prisoners.
Amongst the latter were so desefters from
our army, who formed a company In the
Mexican service, commanded by an Irish.
man named O'Reilly, who had q flag with
the picture Of Saint Patrick, and The com.
pany war known as the San Patricio or
Saint Patriek's company. They fought
with great bravery aud three times did
they haul down the white flag Of sgrren
der, when the Mexicans hoisted II in the
fort. They were every man tried by Court.
martial and hanged. OReilly escaped
the same punishment, In consequence Of
having deserted before the war commenc.
cd, but he was severely hogged-brande d
on the cheek with the letter d. for deser.
ter. and will be kept at hard I4bour till
the termination Of the war. omitted to
mention thai l32 men Of our Regiment
fell at Churubusco, and 90 out Of ~ were
Of my company. Although many we're
falling close beside me | escaped uohurt,
al hough q ball struck the musket in my
hand.
An armistice was then concluded, but
broken by the Mexicans as sosn as they
thought they were ready to fight. On the
18th of September we stormed the fortress
Of Chapultepec, and next we took posses
sion Of the city Of Mexico and hcisted the
stars and stripes on the Halle Of the Non.
feznmas. On that great occasion ! got on
the spree and went thorough the city shoot.
ing Gredsers, al which we had considera.
BILE practice, for the remnant Of the Mexi-
can army, with Lddrones and LeperOs kept
firing at US from the corGcrs of streets and
the tops Of the houses. ] captured a keg
of Whiskey and took it to the men of my
company who lay under arms IN the Main
Plaza and were NOT allowed to icavs their
post. II was a welcome guest 70 them.
Having been requested TO go to the Office
Of Governor General Quitman / went 10
hhis office in the evening, mnskef in hand
a Generals coat in 10Y bundle, and myself
three sheets 10 the wind. On being re
qucsted to account for my absence from
my regiment, ! was able to stagger and
stammer that | had been shooting Greasers,
which caused all present to laugh heartily,
-
and | wal told to 60 and lie down. | Oh.
aimed a Through for three months which
has since been renewed, and Iexpect short
ly to receive a Commission
The ladies here are beautiful-both
Mexican and Casiilian; with dark eyes and
hair, and olive complexion, though some
are as white as snow. have great times
amongst them, and | would give all | am
worth, to have you here along with me.
You cannot have any idea Of the spleDdour
Of the place, now can | describe II 70 You.
You would hardly know we now, / have
improved 30 much in health and appear.
ance, with a large pair Of whiskers and
trf mendous mHstachoios. | have been in
six q eat battles, and escaped being killed
or wounded in any Of them, although the
balls, grape and canister shut were hy.
ing about my ears like hail. | shot a
Mexican lancer al Confreras, who fired
at me when & looping past within four OF
five yards. You know | am a pretty good
shot, and he could not escape al that dis.
lance.
Give my lore to my dearest father,
God be with you all
Your most af1ectionate brother.
EEM ii