The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-09
SANTA Annals WOODEN LEG.

Captured-Found by One of Uncle
SAINTS Troopers in the Carriage from
Which Santa Anna Had Just Fled
After His Crushing Defeat by Scott
at Cerro Gordo,
How long have ] been in the United
States military service? Upward OF
half century, participating in several
wars. But the proudest day in all my
army life was the 14th of September
1S47. Why? Because, you see, that
was when I received my first promotion
as a nom commissioned officer in the
regulars. 1t was In the City of Mexico,
which Major-General Winfield Scott
had just entered, at the head of our
victorious army; the climax of a re-
markable five months campaign, be-
ginning with the capture of Vera Cruz
and followed by the brilliant victories
at Cerro Gordo, Jalapa, Perote, Puebla,
Contreras, Valenca, Cherubusco, Moll-
no del Rey, Chapultepec and Mexico.
All accomplished, too. despite the enc
my's great advantages of being on his
own ground and of vastly superior
numbers
The speaker was a veteran of over
seventy years, Lieutenant-Colone Ed
ward Collins of Milton, Mass, u. S. A,
on the retired list, whom the writer re-
Gently interviewed. A typical soldier
of the old school is Colonel Collins; tall,
straight, erect, and of decidedly militia
ry carriage with face bronzed by his
many campaigns, yet a good face, ex-
pressive of kind heart, allied to an
will. IN q h1a
Colonel Collins gave me an interest
ing detailed account of the siege of
Vera Cruz; the landing on the beach of
the American forces in seventy heavy
surf boats, containing nearly four
thousand regulars; the erection of bat
teries, amid the constant discharge of
hostile bombs and balls; the long and
terrific bombardment of the city; the
plucky defence by General Morales,
who, through the clamor of the af-
righted, dscordant populace, was de-
posed, and his successor General Lam
dero, capitulated the city, the strong
fortress of San Juan de Ulloa, and the
garrison.
Then, after fortnight's rest, the
army reinforced by four thousand men,
chiefly from General Taylor's COM
mand, Scott moved toward the interior,
and fought the opening and famous
battle, Cerro Gordo.
THE Cerro Is a strong pass said the
colonel, situated among lofty rocks
and entirely controlling the road to-
ward the interior. Here General Santa
Anna had stationed himself with eleven
thousand men. The Mexican general
had fortified it so carefully that it was
deemed impregnable except in front.
Further along the road was another hill
similarly fortified, and defended by
General La Vega with three thousand
men. Besides these principal works,
batteries were placed at different points
on the road, so as to sweep directly
across it. In front of these stations
was the Rio de la Plan, small stream
between deep, rugged banks. The road
itself was broken up by gorges, hills
and ravines.
Such was the position which, al
though defended by eleven thousand
men, Scott was about to storm with
eight thousand. Do you wonder that
we felt little nervous at the outlook?"
Colonel Collins described the various
features of the battle, which account
may be epitomized by stating that
Scott wisely opened by an attack in the
enemy's rear, the troops, after eight
hours work the night before, having
lifted the cannon up the steep rocks
and otherwise prepared for the day
break assault made by General Twiggs,
while Pillow, with his volunteers, en-
gagged the enemy in front and charged
the redoubt on that side, under a most
CALLING fire. All of which proved sue
cessful General La Vega, four other
generals, three thousand troops, forty,
three pieces of brass artillery, and an
immense amount of small arms and
military stores were captured; the bulk
of that seemingly invincible army
routed, and Generals Santa Anna, Can
alizo, and others escaping through
narrow pass to Pueblo. The total loss of
the Americans was about two hundred
and fifty; that of the Mexicans, exclu-
sive of prisoners and deserters, about
hundred more.
1T was at Cerro Gordo," continued
the old soldier, that / had my first and
only glimpse of the doughty warrior,
Sam Houston, who licked, at San ia
cinto, Santa Anna, the Mexican presi-
dent and commander of the army A
quickly dissolving view, but embodying
a scene destined to wide and lasting
fame.
I'VE had driven the enemy, and We're
double-quicking down the slope of Tel
egraph Hill (Cerro Telegrapho) in hot
pursuit, when l saw, little way in
front of us, a man cut loose a team of
six mules from a heavy covered car
riage, from which the occupant was
taken and hustled on to one of the an
imals; then the driver mounted anoth-
er of the mules and, applying the whip
to them all, galloped away with the
passenger whom / naturally supposed
was a parsonage of distinction. AS we
soon learned, this was none other than
old Santa Anna himself, who had felt
so sure of driving, if not destroying,
our force, that he had ventured too
near the front, and narrowly escaped
capture.
LAS our line passed the deserted car
riage | saw it was an elegant one.
But We did not stop to examine it.
Some of the troops behind us did stop