Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-10-12

troops made gallant resistance against the fearful
odds opposed to them but seeing thor leaders fall
and overpowered by vastly superior numbers, they
gave way~and began to fall back. Gen. Lane, at
this critical moment fastened forward with his hri
gadc, and opening destructive fire upon the MeXl-
cans, checked their advance and enabled the re-
treating regiments to form and return to the contest
This was Santa Annals last struggle on that holly
contested and bloody field. Night spread her man
tie over the scene of conflict. The weary Amerl-
cans sank to rcpose on CORY bed expecting re-
newal of the strife on the following day. Morning
came-but no enemy appeared. Silently during
the night, Santa Anna with his shattered leg'ons
had retired leaving the victorious Americans mas
tiers of the field.
of lS47 to the line of Gen. Scotts operations roach
ed Vera Cruz in the early part of September. On
the Goth of that month h" set out towards the Guy
of Mexico with fierce of about two thousand flve
hundred men, consisting of one regiment OF lndl-
ana and one of Ohio volunteers, two battallons OF
recruits, five small companies of volunteer horse,
and two pieces of artillery This force was subse-
qnently augmented at Jaapa by junction with
Maj. Lally'S column of one thousand men, anu at
Pc"ote its strength was further increased by COM
pany of mounted rifcmen and two of volunteer in
f,ntry. besides two pieces of artillery. Several
small guerilla parties appeared at different times on
the route and attacked the advance and rear guards,
Int were quickly repulscd; and the column con-
tinued it's advance nnmolcsted along the great road
leadin through Puebla to the city of Mexico.
At this time Col. Chds of the regular army, with
garrison of five hundred effective troops, and one
thousand eight hundred invalids, was besieged in
Pueba bv large force of MeXicans commanded by
Santa Anna in person. This general, notwithstand-
ing his many defeats, with spirit unbroken by mis-
fortune, and energy that deserves our highest ad
mration, however much we may rcprohate the cause
in which he was engaged, had collected the remnant
of his beaten army determined, if possible to wrest
Pueba from the grasp Of the American general,
Scott and thus cut off his communications with the
sea-coast The gallant Chds well understood that
the maintenance of his post was Of the utmost i'm
por:ancc to the success of the campaign. Every
officer and soldier under his command seemed also
to comprehend the immensely of the stake. and
both officers and soldiers exhibited the lofticst hero
ism. and the most unyclding fortitude, in meeting
the dangers and enduring the tisues and prvations
of protracted siege. Aware that strong column
under Gen Lane, was marching from Vera CRUZ to
their relief the great object to be gained 10y the gar
risOn was time. Santa Anna, also aware OF Gen
Lanes approach, redoubled his cXcrtion> to carry
the place by storm, experimenting the operations
of the corps IN person, directing the guns to such
parts of the defences as appeared most vulnerable
and watching with intense anxiety the effect of every
slct Convinced length by the obstinate resistance
of the beSeged and the lesscning distance between
him and his advancing and dreaded foe, that he
must abandon mis- position and encounter the Ma
rion of the war" in an open field, he silently and
cautiously withdrew, and with the main body of his
troops moved in the direction of lIuamantla intend
ing, when Gen. Lane had passed that point, to make
an attack upon his rear, while another strong force
should assail him at the same time from the drcc-
ton of Puebla. Gen. Lane being informed of Santa
Annals movements, at once penetrated his designs.
With the promptness of decision displayed in all his
military operations he divided his force leaving the
Ohio volunteers and battalion of recruits. with
two field guns, to guard the wagon trains. With
the remainder Of his column he marched, by route
divergng from the main roat directly towards HUI
amanta.
On the mornin. of the 9th of October the people
of Huamanla were startled and dismayed to behold
the formidable and gttering array spread out over
the neighboring hills. White flags were immediate
ly hung out in token of submission, and the place
seemed to have surrendered without blow from its
panic-stricken inhabitants But suddenly the adj
val cd guard, under Capt Walker. having entered
the town, was assailed every side by volleyS of
musketry. liz. imme lately ordered charge upon
body of 800 lancerS, stationed with two pieces of
artillery in the Plaza. \ furious and deadly COM
bat ensued. Gen. Lane advancing at the head of
his column encountered the heavy reinforcement
dered up by Santa Anna who had now arrived with
his whole force. Soon the roar of battle resounded
through every street and street and plaza red.
dencd with blood and covered with heaps of the
slain. The MeXicanS, for short time, combacd
their assaants with the energy and fury of despair
But the steady and wedrected valor of the soldier
of the "republic Of the north bore down all oppo-
sition. The Mexican ranks were broken and thrown
into disorder; the order to retreat given; and
the American flag waved in triumph over the trcach-
erous city of Huamantla
This was the last field on which Santa Anna ap-
pearesi in arms against the United States. This
marhabe man, universally acknowledged to lie an
able and active, was never successful commander.
Whether this want of success is to be aScribcd to
the superior generaShip of the leaders, and plowcss
of the troops opposed to him. to his instahil
lty OF purpose in the very crisis of battle when
vIgor and 'cison are most required we will not stop
to inquire. Having during the progress of the war,
collected several large armies and led them to defeat
he had determined with that which remained to
him, to make last effort to retrieve his fortunes
AMI Huamantla was selected as the Waterloo, where
his waning star should shine out in couclless eul.
gence, or sink to rise no more. If he did not en-.
counter Wellington on that field, he encountered
one who, with Wellington's courage, united many
of the higher qualities of military commander
Perhaps he relied upon Gen. Lanes want of expert
Buena Vista should have ailn,onished him of the
hopeessncss of contest in open and equal field
with such officer, at the head of troops compare
lively fresh in high spirits with full confidence ii
the skill and courage of their leader and burning
to rival the heroic deeds of their countrymcn al
Chaputepec and Cerro Gorio. Although SAINTS
Anna from this time withdrew from an active parti
cipation in the contest between the bellgcrent ma
tons, the bloody drama in which he had played Sc
conspicuous part was not yet closed. Much re
manned to be done to complete the conquest so aus
piciously begun on the banks of the Rio Grande
and prosecuted with such vigor by Scott in the val
ley of Mexico. Many bloody fields. were yet to b'
won; mary desperate bands of guerillas yet to b.
defeated and dispersed to render the subjugation o
the country complete.
Defeated at Huamantla, the remnant of the Mexi
can force fell back on Atlixo where, on the 18th
October, large body, with munitions and supplies
and two pieces of artillery, were collected, unde
the orders OF Gen. Rea. General Lane hearing O
the concentration of the enemys troops at that point
FASTENED with the small force at his disposal to at