Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-21

ana pardon me if the advanced hour and the
ignorance in which l still remain concerning
all the details prevent me from sending Won \
| null report. Tomorrow l will fulfill this
DUTY, and am always your devoted servant,
who awaits your orders.
Liberty, independence, or death!
Tezuitlan, Dec. 10, 1862. A. RIVERA.
The following is the complete report pub
lished by NJ. Aureliano Rivera, concerning
the affair of Cruz Blanca =
Gas promised day before yesterday eve
ming to give you a detailed account of the ac-
ton which took place the same day between
the brigade which | command and the inyad-
ing enemy, have now the pleasure of fulfill
ing that promise. AT nine o'clock A. NJ. on
the 18th, evacuated the village Perote.
taking direction of the Molinos and of Sierra
de Aqua, with the intention of attacking the
enemy on his rear guard if circumstances
should favor me.
had received before positive information
that the traitors, to the number of 1900 men,
were covering the rear guard of this army,
ana Immediately l fixed my attention on them
at the moment when the invading enemy had
the advantage Of an immense numerical SUI
perlorlty. l arrived at Sierra de Bgua, whence
took the direction of Cerro de Leon, in or.
der to come out near Cruz Blanca, at a point
where l could break his line.
Enveloped by thick fog, which disguised
the distance to such degree that objects at
nfteen or twenty PAGES could not be distin-
gulshed, was induced to advance with an es
cort of RiferoS in order to assure myself with
my own eyes when the enemy would pass the
point indicated. The sound of artillery an
nounced to me that the traitors were advance
ing upon my position, and SUI Idenly a fierce
combat began between my Rffegos and a
small detachment of the traitor cavalry whom
sought to draw forth upon an advantageous
spot, in order to put into execution my other
plans.
In consequence of this l sent word to citi-
zen Edward Manuel Puesada that he should
uraw out upon an advantageous spot the corps
OF hrs command in order to resist successfully
the attack of the enemy. l afterwards saw a
large body of French cavalry detaching itself
evidently with the intention of making a
charge, and sent Immediately to meet it the
aeSqaa7do of TlaXcala, under the order of cit
zen Col. D0roteo Leon, who had the glory of
resisting in an admirable manner sudden at
tack, by driving the French cavalry back in
the greatest disorder.
At tins moment, seeing myself equally sup
ported the TeSqudadO of Huamantla, under
the command Of citizen Col. Antonio Rodri-
guez, l was able to make a charge, which
drove back the enemy into the midst of the
infantry and artillery The latter | was I'M
able to get INTO my possession, owing to the
fact that two battalions or more were aiming
to turn my right flank, ut the same time that
another battalion, deployed as 'sharpshooters,
were combining in an attack on the left flank,
thus placing me within three fires. | imme-
dlately ordered the citizen commandment UgaIde
to proceed to the right flank, at place where
he could observe and communicate to me any
movement of said battalion.
Favored as we were by the lay of the land
this action lasted three hours and half, at
the expiration of which time prudence adj
monlshed me to order countermarch. The
enemy, encouraged by this move wished to
make new and heavy charge, but could not
succeed IN his offset, beGa9ss, at III the die
precaution which had taken, the squadrons
Quesada and Esploradores were formed, I'M
der command of citizen Licut.-Col. Geronimo
FragosO, and the enemy stopped as soon as he
perceived them. | at once retreated to this
locality lesHrely, and the brigade marching
in perfect order, the rear guard being covered
by the corps Quesada ct Fragoso, with the
sharpshooters belonging to them
place which will not allow myself to pass
unmentoned. Citizen Col Rodriguez en-
countered the traitor, Col. Macario Silva;
each recognized the other, and the latter in
vted Col. Rodriguez to single combat Rod
riguez accepted the challenge, and few mo-
ments later he had killed the traitor. | in
close with this report the epaulettes worn by
Col Silva.
1t is impossible for me to state the losses of
the enemy, but | can assure you, upon my
word of honor, that they were considerable.
We captured eleven Arabian and five MeXi-
can horses, besides pack horses, a large num-
Der of arms, and five prisoners, (traitors,)
who were Immediately put to death. For my
part have to deplore the loss of the citizen
commanding the squadron-Rafael Ledezma,
of the force of Rodriguez; also that of citizen
Lieut. Loreto Velasco, of the corps of Frago-
sa, besides nineteen soldiers Of different corps,
more than a dozen wounded, and thirteen
prisoners.
Citizen General, words fail to describe the
heroic conduct of the citizen chiefs, officers,
and soldiers who compose the brigade which
am proud to command. In the heat of the
combat, only the noble cries of "Independ-
ence forever! liberty forever! death to the
traitors! death to France!' were uttered.
Receive the expressions of my distinguished
regard and it will give me great satisfaction
if you will congratulate in my name the cltl-
zen president upon the action which took place
on the 18th of the present month on the plains
of Cerro de Leon and Cruz Blanca between
party of national troops and the invading en-
envy"