Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-14

Santa Anna, no unskilful foe, and rested Secure
But Scott soon undeceiyed him. Waiting for his
rearmost division Chat under WORTH to come m,
he meantime looked into all the possibilities Of bis
adversary's position, and found that way Though
narrow and rough) could be opened through the
rocks and hills ON the enemys left, and shat by
this he might send force into Santa Anna,y rear
and at once carry his positions and cut off his re-
treat. Accordingly, Worth having Joined hina at
midnight ON the 10th, Scott made ON the 18th all
his dispositions for the morrows attack and issued
that remarkable general order in which he may be
sand to have exactly described in advance the next
day > battle Already Twiggss division (including
smith brigade and supported by Shields's) had
been pushed forward by the new path, and seized
the Telegraph hill, in order to batter from it the
enemys chief position, the crest Of Cerro Gordo
10 mount our batteries on the Telegraph and an
otner across the river the enemys right for rak-
ing their lower range of batteries 17 pieces) heavy
guns We're that night, with prodigous labor, drag
ged and lifted up by hand. Well, at dawn on the
10Th, the movements begin Twiqgs advances upon
the hill of Cero Gordo; Shields is thrown still
further forward, to take possession Of the road be-
yond the pass, In the enemy's rear; Pillows dyi-
SION attacks the lower range Of batteries, rather
with the view OF alarming than of taking them:
while Worth's division is held in reserve, with the
dragons and light artillery. On all sides the fight
was fierce and long but at last nothing could re-
SYST the American ardor: all the enemy's positions
are storined and carried 5000 of the enemy, in
elnding five generals cut off and surrender the
rest OF their army is either killed or broken up and
pursued; Az fine pieces of bronze cannon. 5000
stand of arms all their military stores. standards
and Santa Annals military chest fell into our power
and while our total loss, in the two days Of fight
ing, was but 43l, in killed and wounded. the adj
verse force was. annihilated, an indefinite number
was destroyed, and the way to Mexicos capital left
open; for really, in Scots own words, :" She had
no longer an army"
CAPTURE OF JALAPA, PERoTE, AND PUEBLA.
The admirable battle of Cerro Gordo filed not
only the American but the European world with
establishment, and gave boundess idea of not only
the valor OF our troops but the military genius Of
their leader 1t might well do SO, for the victory
was scarcely as brilliant as it was decisive Puebla
fell at once; the strongly fortified pass of La Hoya
was abandoned; the powerful castle of Perote,
one of the bulwarks of Mexico, surrendered, with
all It's cannon and stores; and the great town
of Puebla Of which the wild and fertile valley was
the destined granary and garden of temporary re-
pose for our men, lay at our mercy. Of this last
point possession was taken on the 18th of Nav
From 1t, with scarcely an intervening place of re-
sstance, was within reach the grand final scene
of SCOTS operations-the great and beautiful vale
of Mexico, its lakes fortresses castles entrenched
camps, and converts; those dangerous causeways
OF whose difficulties Corez got such taste of old
and, lastly the splendid old city itself. But Scott
could not at once proceed to the attack his effec-
tive force, cut down by battle disease desertion
the dismissal of volunteers whose term of service
was running out, and the garrsons of necessity left
behind, was now shrunk to less than FIVE thousand
LIZ would have been madness not to wait for rein
forcements, as it would have been folly to carry
forward to the desperate fights which he knew Law
before him either unwilling volunteers, or, without
previous training the fresh recruits that were to
come up. Besides, like Gen Taylor, he had served
his country too well. Him he had been sent to
eclipse but he had eclipsed him too much, and
turned upon himself the Presidential and party ieal-
ousy, which had little thought Of making war that
should give glory and popularity to its Generals,
not itself, and raise them, not itself or its friends.
to two successive Presidencies. To guard against
this, it had intended to place over Scott party
Lleutenant-General and, falling in that it had now
sent, IN the person of clerk out of the State De-
partment, (Mr. Trist,) civil commissioner, empow
cred ostop the operations of the army Just when
ne saw fit. Under these strange and disheartening
circumstances, Scott compelled to pause during
the month of June and July. He was even without
money to buy ordinary supplies for his troops.
Meantime several important measures occupied him
soihNu siiO oSiay W goOu ne issued u very
able proclamation to the Mexicans, to concate
them he made himself far better acquainted with
the difficulties and defences Of the great vale he
thoroughly disciplined the raw troops as fast as they
arrived; and, seeing that he had not force enough
without it, he boldly abandoned his line of commit
lications with Vera Cruz, brought forward all his
yarrisons, and turned his army, as he said, into
selfsustaining machine" On the eth August he
ent forward his first division for the Mexican vale.
The others followed on the 9Th, 9th, and 10th.
From that day to the 18th they all entered the
,lain.
TURNS LAKE CHALCo: VICTORY AFTER VICTORY:
TAKES THE GREAT CITY
The direct approach to the capital by the nation
j road offered the greatest difficulties, natural and
rti6cia, Of any. Quitting it, therefore, outside the
ange of these more formidable defences. which
would have cost the lives Of too many Of his brave
nd beloved soldiers, he retraced his steps from Ell
'enon, (near to which he advanced repassed Ayot-
a, and from Buenavista made his way, through
many difficulties, around Lakes Chalco and Xocho-
nilco, to San Augustin on the more assailable but
till very strong southern side of the city This
Unexpected manGuvre and march began on the 18th
nd was accomplished by the 18th Of August 1t
voided the main preparations Of the enemy; struck
his weakest point brought our army within nine
instead of fifteen miles of the city, and gave us a
etter field of action. Here, at once, Scott began,
nth total force Of less than II, 900 men, to let
bose, in series of admirably calculated battles and
naneuvres the whole art Of war, in assaiing and