The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-25

Hsadquarters LIST Brigade, Sd Div. q 8. Ar
nMsoovH, Mexico, August n, l8n.
Since LETT Vera Crux to this hour have had no
means Of communicating with the States. Although
but few months in tue service, | know what il
fatigue anxiety and exposure Contrary to my ex-
pe0tations, and CONTRARY to my orders from the do
partment at Washington. was compelled, for the
want OF the requisite provisions for tran
to remain for more than three weeks at Vera Crax
and moro than four In Terra Calsnta, (the vomito
region. as II Is called left tho dreaded city ON
the 10th Of July, with $500 men Of ali arms and
train Of wagons, which, when clossd up extended
moro than two miles On the ;th OF Angus.
reached Puebla, without the loss OF single wagon
with my command In fine condition. Ny command
was attacked SIX times on the march, bat the enc
my's force in each instance was easily dispersed.
with triAing loss on our side. The National Bridge
afforded the enemy groat natural advantages, 20
which they had added breastworks on high bluff,
which commanded the bridge perfectly across
the main bridge they had also thrown barri-
csde. ] soon discovered that there was no way
in which his position could be turned, and that
my Or illery was ineffective from the most ommand
ing point where it could be placed determined, Of
course to cross under he plugging FIRE Of the enc
my's escopetas My order TO advance was admirably
executed At the moment Lieut. Col. Donhsna's bat
talon rushed forward, with q sho1t, the en0ray
poured down heavy fire, by which several ofmy men
were severely wounded Col Bonhams horse Was
shot near me, and ball passed through the rim Of
my bat In very dssgreeahle pro simlty to my faoe
Our men leaped the bayricade, followed by Captain
Dpptru's company of cavalry, and in less than ten
minutes the enemy were in flight ia evory direction
and the American flag waved upon the high bluff
which they had occupied. Tho Mexican force, NJ
they said afterwards, consisted Of 500 mon Had
they possessed courage aud skill 10 the of arms
our loss must have been very great You can hard
~ conceive the strength Of tho natural defoaoes Of
the road over which VIC passed. Rumors came to
NE almost every night that we weulj DO attacked
by large forces the next day ; hut they mode no
where any thing like brave and stern resistance
hA GfGn Ia L.
viii. probably. reach you rs soon this letter, and
l shall, Therefore, not attempt to give the minute
details 1t was fierce and bloody hey ond anything
that has occurred in this war Toe battle differed
in many respects from that Of Bnena Vista There
General Tsylo received the enemy in q strong 20
sition, selected by himself Our force on the 20ih
consisted of less than 5000 men the Mexican force,
within supporting distance and engaged. uodoubt-
upon ground of his own selection, admirably forth
fed. You will distinguish, so far al numbers are
concerned, between the battle of the morning and
that OF the afternoon, although spoken of in official
of "tbe battle Of Mexico We took, during the
day, Thirty five pieoos of artillery, an Immense
quantity Of ammunition, 500 mules and horses and
moro than 600 prisoner among them eight gene
rails AID any number of colonies.
The Mexican loss in killed and wounded must
have been immense. Our troops buried fvo nun.
dred Mtxcans upon the field Of battle commenced
In the morning at Contrcras, and the loss In the
heavy. With this small army we could not afford
TO purchase many such victories at such pric, Oae
OF the regiments of my brigade (the hrteenth) lost
in killed and wounded ono third Of its entire force
In killed and wounded we number not less than
one thousand, and among theta, lament TO say. an
unusual proportion Of valuable officers. The Now
England regiment suffered severely, and behaved
throughout in the most gallant msnner. My horse
at full speed, or the evening of the i9th, when
leading my brigade through a perfect shower Of
round shot ard shells fell under me upon ledge Of
rocks, by which sustained severe injury by the
shock ard bruises, but especially by sprain
in ny left knee, which came under him. At drst [
was not conscious Of any serious injury. but soon
became excet dinghy faint, when Or Richie, sur
getn OF the 18th, IN portion Of my commard), who
wss following the aoyanciog columns CLOSELY, over
took me- and administered 10 me as we'll as he could
under tho circumstances In afsw moments l was
able 10 walk With difficulty AID pressed forward to
Captain Macgrud.rs battery, where / found the
horse of poor gallant Lieutenant johnson, who had
just received mortal wound, OF which he sied that
evening was permitted to take hin, Guy owa
having been totsiy oisabled), was helped into The
eyddle, and continued in IL until eleven o'clock
that night II was exceedingly dark, the rain
poured IL torrents, and being separated from my
ssIvsats ard baggage. WAS without tont or cover
ing; add to this that during tho afternoon of tho
l3tn we bad gained no aiyentsgas over tho enemy,
wfo remained trm!y entrencted. With scyoa thou.
sand men opposed to about four thousand on our
tios, without the possibility Of bringing srtil
lery 10 bear, and you Will readily conceive that our
situation WIS not tho most agreeable Tho morn
arg OF the 10th WAS, however, a5 briilisnt az the
light Of the 18th was dark aud gloomy. soou
after aylight the enemys works were carried with
toe bay on.t, ard of their seven thoasauG men,
regular troops. under the command of General
Valencia, probably four thousand cannot be found
to-by AS we passed this field Ia pursuit OF the
fueinves, tho scene was awfui-tbe road and adj d.
cent folds everywhere strewed With N g'ed bodies
Of the dead and dying We continued tho pursuit
until one o'clock, when our front came mp With tho
enemys strong works at ChurabusoO ard San
Antonio, where the great conflict Of the afternoon
Commenced. At San Angel, dispositions having
been made to attack in reverse the enemy's works
on the San Augustine road, General Scott ordered
me TO march my brigade. in concert with that OF
the intrepid General Shields across tho open c0un
try between Santa Cat;;,ina and the above named
road, in order 10 cut oil the enemys retreat. We
gained the position sought, and although the
enemy's line WAS perfectly formed, and extended ~
far the eye could roach In either direction, they
were attacked vigorously and successfully. Ar
rivirg at ditch which It was inposSbs for my
horse to leap, dismoun ed and hurried for var l
without thinking of my injury, at tho head OF my
brigade, for two hundred or three hundred yards,
when turning suddenly upon my knee, the cartilage
OF which had been seriously injured, tainted and
fell upon the bank in the direct range and within
perfect reach OF ths enemy's are That escaped
seems to me row proyident,al. The rout and over
throw OF the whole Mexican force soon became com.
plete, and we could easily have taken the city but
General Scott was met with proposition for an
armissice, (after demanding the surrender Of the
cty,) wish Wow to open negotiations for peace
In my judgment, the army, full Of ardor and con-
fdencs. was humanely and wisely restrained Major
General Qahmsn, General Persifsr f. smith, and
myself, were appointed commissioners to meet the
Mexican commissioner to acttle the terms Of the
armistce. | had not taken of my spurs or slept
Gp hour, for two nights, in consequence of my en-.
gagemepts, and the pain Of my knee. l obeyed
the summons, was helped into my saddle, and rode
two miles and half, to Taoubaya, where the com
mission assembled, at the house Of Mr. M'Intosh
the British Consul. General. Our conference com
menced late in the afternoon, and ut four O'Clock
the next morning the articles were siguod
That was thoroughly exhausted, you viii readily
imagine, slept an hour or two that morning at
General Worths quarters and my sprained knee,
which was by far my most serious injury, hss been
daily improving, and to. day ride without much
inconvenience. | hare lost several dear friends,
although Cur acquaintance bad been Of short dura-
ton. | visited the hospital yesterday. and saw
oikoers and men with shots 10 all parts of their
persons Although ell who were no. really dying
seemed cheerful, and many who had les, limbs were
in high spirts, still sickeued at the sight My
vcrernl hpalth has tAeu havn taau eiih ar