The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-09-18

w
most division THAT under WORTH 10
come up, he meantime looked INTO all
the possibilities of his adversary's posi-
ton, and found that way Though
narrow and rough) could be opened
the rocks and hills on The en-
emy's left, and that by this he might
send force into Santa Anna's rear,
and at once carry his positions and cut
off his retreat. Accordingly, Worth hav-
ing Joined him at midnight on the l6th,
Scott made on the 18th all his dlsposl-
tions for the morrow'S attack, and
issued that remarkable general order
in which he may be said TO have eX-
actlv described in advance the next
days battle, Already Twiggs's dlVi-
sion Including Smiths brigade and
supported by Shields's) had been pushed
forward by the new path. and selzed
the Telegraph hill in order TO batter
from it the .enemy's chief position, the
crest of Cerro Gordo. To mount our
batteries on the Telegraph and another
across the river on the enemy's right
for raking their lower range OF bate
ries ~ pieceS) heavy guns were that
night. with prodigious labor. dragged
and lifted up by hand. Well, at dawn
on the 18th, the movements begin
Twiggs advances upon the hill ol Cerfo
Gordo; Shields is thrown still further
forward. TO take possession Of the road
beyond the pass. in the enemy's rear;
Pillows division attacks the lower
range of batteries. rather with the
view of alarming than of taking them. !;
while Worth's division is held in re-
serve, with the dragons and light
artillery. On all sides the fight was
fierce and long; but at last nothing
could resist the American ardor: all
the enemy's positions are stormed and
carried: 5000 of the enemy. including
five generals, are cut off and surren-
der: the rest of their army Is either
killed or broken up and pursued; 45
fine pieces of bronze cannon: 5000
stand of arms. all their military stores,
7 standar rds. and Santa Annals military
chest fell into our power; and while
our total loss. in the Two days of fight
ing. was but 431. in killed and wounded
the adverse force was annihliated, an
indefinite number was destroyed, anc
the way to Mexico's capital left open
for really. in Scott's own words =" SHE
had no longer an army"
CAPTURE OF JALAPA. PERoTE, AND
PuEBLA.
The admirable battle of Cerro Gordt
| filed not only the American but tht
European world with astonishment, ant
gave bouudIess idea of not only thu
valor of onr troops but the military ge
Mus of their leader 1t might we'll d.
so. for the victory was scarcely as bril-
liant as it was decisive. Puebla fell a
once: the strongly fortified pass of L;
Hoya was abandoned; the powerful
castle of Perote. one of the bulwarks O
Mexico. surrendered, with all its can
non and stores; and the great town Q
Puebla. Of which the wild and fertil
valley was the destined grauary an
garden of temporary repose for ou
men. lay at our mercy. OF this las
point possession was taken on the 15i
of MAY. From ii. with scarcely an in
tervening place of resistance, was with
in reach the grand final scene OF Scott
operations--the great and beautifr
vale of Mexico. its lakes. fortresse
/, castles, entfenched camps, and cor
vents: those dangerous causeways. {
whose difficulties CorteZ got such
taste of old and, lastly, the splendi
old CITY itself. But Scott could not q
) once proceed TO the attack; his effeo
tive force. cut down BY battle, disease
| desertion, the dismissal of volunteeI
!: whose term of service wasrunning GU
, and the garrisons of necessity left be
hind, was now shrunk to less than fiv
/ thousand, 1t would have been mae
, mess not to wait for reinforcemeuts, 8
| il would have been folly TO carry fo
f ward to the desperate fights which h
knew lay before him either unwillin
: volunteers, or, without previoustran
!, ing, the fresh recruits that;were to com
tup. Besides, like Gen. Taylor, be ha
served his country zoo well. Him h
D had been sent to eclipse; but he ha
eclipsed him loo much, and turned upo
: himself the Presidential and party jea
ousy, which had little thought
making war that should give gloT
and popularity to its Generals, not
self, and raise them. not itself or j
t friends, to Two successive Presidencie
1 To guard against this, it had intende
$ TO place over Scott party Lieutenan
g General; and, failing in that, it ha
: now sent, in the person of a clerk o'
4 of the State Department, tMr. Trist.I ]
5 civil commissioner; empowered TO ste
: the operations of the army just whe
S he saw fit Under these strange an
dishealtening circumstances, Scott VIZ
3 compelled 10 pause during the mont
2 of June and July. He was even. witt
n out money to buy ordinary supplies f.
I his troops. Meantime several impo
/ tant measures occupied him and turne
: the delay TO good he issned yer
!. able proclamation 10 the Mexicans,
7 conciiiate them he made himself fa
L better acquainted win the difficultie
A and defences of the great vale; h
J; thoroughly disciplined the raw troop
I as fast as they arrived and, seein
= that he had not force enough without