The daily union., 1852-10-27

hat the document has SO long lam unrememberei and
unappealed 10.
HEADQUARTERS 1sT BRIGADE, Sd Div. u. 8. A.,
Mexsoque, Mexico. August 81, ls47.
Since left Vera Cruz to this hour have had no
means OF communicating with the States Although bul
few months IN The service, kaoy hat is fatigue
iety, and exposure. Contrary 10 my expectations, ard
contrary TO my orders from the department al Washing
ton, was compelled, for the want OF The requisite pro
visions Tor transportation TO remain for three
weeks at Vera Cruz, and Than four in Terra Calf
enta 1.-The vomito region, as it is called left the
dreaded city The 10th of July with 250O OF all
arms and tram OF wagons, which when closed UP ex.
tended more than two miles. On the 9th OF August I
reached Pueba, without the loss Of single wagon with
my command in hne condition. My command was al
tackled six times on the march, but The enenys force in
each instance easily dispersed with trng loss on
our side The National Bridge afforded the enemy great
natural advantages, 10 which they had added breast
works on high bluf which commanded the bridge per-
fecty; The main bridge they had also thrown
barrIcade. soon discovered that there no way 10
which his position could be turned. and that my artillery
Ineffective from the most commanding point where ii
could be placed determined. OF course 10 cross under
the plungng fre OF The eRemys escopetas My order
advance was admirably executed. AT the moment L,
Col Bonhams battalion rushed forward with shout the
enemy poured down heavy fire by which several of my
men were severely wounded. Col Bonnam's horse was
shot near me- and bail passed through The rim of my
hat 70 very dlsag geeable proximity 10 my face Our
men leaped the barrcade, followed By Captain Duperns
company OF cavalry, and in less than minutes the
enemy were in fight in every direction, and the Amer
can flag waved upon The high bluff which they had oc
copied. The Mexican force. as they said afterwards,
consisted OF 500 men Had they possessed courage and
skill in the use OF arms loss must have been very
great You can hardly conceive the su myth of the
natural defences OF the road which passed Ru
mors came TO me almost every night that we woud be
attacked by large forces the day. but they made no
where anything like brave and stern resistance The
oicla reports Of The great battle OF Mex CO will prob
ably reach you this letter. and shall there
fore not attempt 10 give the minute details II was fierce
and bloody beyond anything that has occurred in this
Baena Vista There General Taylor received the enc
my IN strong position selected by himself Our force
on the 2olh consisted of less than nine thousand men
The Mexican force, within supporting di-.qce and en-.
gagged, undoubtedly exceeded ily thousa. We al
tackled him in position upon grou his own selection
admirably fortified You will distu uish so far as num-
oeIs are concerned, between the battle of the morning
and that OF the afternoon, although spoken of in official
reports as one engagement under the design of e
battle OF Mexico" We took during the tay thiry. five
pieces OF artillery, an immense quantity OF ammunition
eight hundred mules and horses, and more than two
thousand prisoners among them eight generals and any
number OF colonels.
The Mexican loss in killed and wounded must have
been immense Our troops buried SO Mexicaps upon
the held OF battle, commenced in the morning at Con-
teras, and the loss IN the afternoon much greater
Oar loss has been heavy. With this small army we
could no! afford TO purchase many such victories at
sach price; one OF the regiments OF my brigade (the
18Th los, IN killed and wounded one-hlrd OF It's entire
force. In killed and wounded we number not le as thar
1000, and among them lament say an unusual pro.
portion OF valuable officers The New England resi.
nent suffered severely and behaved thous houl in the
most gallant manner. My horse, at iu speed on the
evening OF the lstn, when leading ms brigade through
perfect shower oil round shot and shells fell under me
upon ledge OF rocks, by which sustained severe
injury by the shock and bruises, hut especially by Sc
gee spIain IN my left knee, which under him. AT
hrst was not conscious OF any serious injury but soon
became exceedingly aInt, when Dr. Richie surgeon OF
the 18th, Ia portion OF my command,D who was follow
ing The advancing columns closely overlook me- and ad-
10 me well as he could under the circum-
sances. In few moments | was able 10 walk with
heulty, and pressed forward to Captain McGruders
battery, where found the horse OF poor gallant Lieut.
Johnson, who had just received a mortal wound OF
which he died that evening | was permitted 10 take
bum lmy own having been totally dsabled,l was helped
into The saddle, and continued in until Ii O'Clock that
nsht IL was exceedingly dark the rain poured in tor.
70 ITS. and being sci at.d from my servants and beg
gage, was without eut or covering add TO this that
iunng The afternoon OF the l9a we had gained no ad-
ysniases over the enemy who remained firmly en-
renched, with 1000 men opposed TO about 900 on our
side, without the possibility Of bringing our artillery 10
bear and you vii readily coactve that our situation
vas not the mOst agreeable. The morning OF TIE 91,h
was, no geyer brilliant as the naht OF the 1on wa
lark and gloomy. So0n after daylight the enenys works
were carried with the bayonel and of their 900 men,
regular troops, under the command OF Gen Valencia
probably 1000 cannot be found to-day As we passed
his held ia pursuit OF the fugves, the scene was aw
Iu the road and ad accent fields everywhere srew wed with
nansled bodies Of the dead and dying. We continued
The pursuit untl o'clock, when our from, came ~
with the enemys strong works at Cburubusco and San
Antonio, where the great conf ol the afternoon com
nenced Al odn Angel dispositions having been made
10 attack IN reverse the enemys works on the San Au.
justine road, General Scott ordered me 10 march nv br.
Sade, IN concert with that OF the intrepid General
Shields across the open country between Santa Caia.
Tlna and the sbove-named road in order to cut OF
he enemy's retreat We gained the position sought
and although the enemys line perfectly formed and
extended as far as The eye could reach in either drec
lion, they were attacked vigorously and successfully
Arriving at dch which II impossible for my horse
% leap dlsnounted aud hurried forward whou think.
ng Of my injury at The head OF my brigade, Tor 200
BOO yards, when turning suddenly upon my knee the
cartilage OF which had been seriously injured tainted
and Tell upon the bank ia The direct ranxe and within
o me provldential The rout and overthrow of the
whole Mexican force soon became complete, and we
could easily have taken the city but Gen. Scott was met
siih proposition Tor an atmslice alter demanding The
surrender Of the cityl with view 10 open negotiations
or peace.
10 my Judgment the army-full Of srdor and conf.