The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-08-22


set out towards the city Of Mexico with force
of about two thousand five hundred men, con.
ssting Of one regiment OF Indiana and one of
Ohio volunteers, two battallions Of recruits, five
small companies Of volunteer horse, and two
pieces of artillery. This force was subsequent
ly augmented at Jalapa by a junction of Major
Lally's column Of one thousand men, and at
Perote its strength was further increased by a
company of mounted riAemen and two Of vol
unteer infantry, besides two pieces of artillery.
Several small guerilla parties appeared at Diff
E frent times on the route and attacked the ad-
vance and rear guards but were quickly repul-
sed and the column continued its advance un-
molested along the great road leading through
Puebla to the city Of Mexico.
"At this time Col. Chlds, of the regular ar
;, my, with garrison Of five hundred effective
troops and cne thousand eight hundred inva-
lids, was beseged in Puebla by large force OF
Mexicans commanded by Santa Anna in person.
This general, Notwithstanding his many defeats,
with spirit unbroken by misfortune, and an
energy that deserves our highest admiration
however much we may reprobate the cause in
which he was engaged, had collected the rem
nsnt Of his beaten army, determined, if possi-
BILE, to wrest Puebla from the grasp of the A
merican General Scott, and thus cut off his
Communications with the sea coast. The gall
liant Ohilds we'll understood that the maintain
ance Of his post was Of the utmost importance
to the success of the campaign. Every off ,er
and soldier under his command seemed also to
comprehend the immensely Of the stake; and
both officers and soldiers exhibited the lorliest
herolsm, and the most unyelding fortitude, in
meeting the dangers and enduring the fatigue
and prvations of a protracted siege. Aware
that strong column, under Gen. Lane, was
marching from Vera Cruz to their relief, the
great object to be gained by the garrison was
time. Santa Anna, also aware of Gen. Lanes
approach, redoubled his exertions tu carry the
place by storm, experimenting the operations
of the troops in person, directing the guns to
such parts of the defences as appeared most vul-
nerable, and watching with intense ankle ty the
effect Of every shot. Convinced at length by
the obstinate resistance of the besieged, and
:, the lessening distance between him and his ad
vancing and dreaded foe, that he must aban-
don his position and encounter the "Marion oil
the ar" in an open field, he silently and eau
tiously withdrew with the main body OF troops
and moved in the direction OF Huamantla, ,inten-
ding when Gen. Lane had passed that point, to
make attack upon his rear, while another strong
t force should assail him at the same time from
the direction OF Puehla. Gen. Lane being in
! formed Of Santa Annals movements, at once
, penetrated his designs With the 'promptness
Of decision displayed in all his military opera.
tions, he divided his force, leaving the Ohio vol
unteers and battalion of recruits, with two
!, field guns, to guard the wagon trains. With
: the remainder OF his column he marched, by a
l route diyerging from the main road, directly to.
wards Huamantla. ..r ..e#
"On the morning of the 9th of October, the
!. people Huamantla were startled and dismayed
| to behold the formidable and glittering array
spread out over the neghborinS hills. White
h flags were Immediately hung out in token o
| submission, and the place seemed to have sur
: rendered without blow from its panic -strick
s en- inhabitants. But suddenly the advance
: guard, under Capt. Walker, having entered tht
9 town, was assaicd on every side by yolleys 0
: mrsketry. He immediately ordered a charg
;, upon a body Of 500 lancerS, stationed with tw'
Q pieces OF artillery in the Plaza. A furious ant
n deadly combat ensued. Gen. Lane advancing
S at the head of his column encountered the hea
i Wy reiniorcements ordered up by Santa Anna
G who had now arrived with his whole force
Soon the roar Of battle was sounded through
]. every street, aud street and Plaza were redden
A ed with blood and covered with heaps of tn
J., slain. The Mexicans for a short time combat
e ted their assaiants with the energy and fury c
= despair. But the energy and we'll directed val
u or of the soldiers ofthe "Republic Of the North
! bore down all opposition. The Mexican rank
Il were broken and thrown into disorder; the or
u der to retreat was given; and the America
1T flag waved in triumph over the treacherous cit
l. OF Huamantla. m
le "This was the last field in which Santa Ann
N appeared in arms against the United States.-
ID This remarkable man, universally acknow
10 edged to be an able and active, was never sue
re cessful commander. Whether this want
p success is to be aseribed to the superior genel
10 alship Of the leaders and prowess of the trooI
T. opposed to him. or to his own instability of pun
l. pose in the very crisis Of BATTLE We will not sto
k to inquire. Having, during the progress Of tn
or warcollected several large armies, and led the,
Is to defeat, he had determined with that whc
remained to him to make last effort to r,
ct trieve his fortunes, and Huamantla was selet
he ted as the Waterloo, where his waning sts
should slime out in cloudess effulgence, or sin
j. to rise no more. If he did not encounter
:. Wellington on that field, he encountered on
ry who, with Welngton's courage and experienc,
he united many Of the higher qualities o milits
he ry commander. Perhaps he relied upon Genel
Is al Lanes want Of experience; but the courae
9. and conduct of the latter at Buena Vista shoul
no have admoniShed him of the hopelessness of
n contest in an open and equal field with such a
n officer, at the head of troops comparativel
ly fresh, in high spirits, with full confidence in II
o. skill and courage Of their leader, and burnir
to rival the heroic deeds ftheir countrymen
er Chapultepcc and Cerra Gorda. Although Sar
as ia Anna from this time withdrew from an at