The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-24
SANTA ANNA'SWOODEN LEG
JUST now THAT historic TRoPHT
WAS CAPTURED.

the Carriage from which Sants Auua
Had Jsst FLED After His Crashing
Defeat by scott at Cerro Gerdo.
fNom the Boston Eventno Transcript
"How long have been In the United States
military sorvicep Upward Of half = century.
participating in several wars. But tho proudest
day ia all my army life was tho 14th Of Sep
TENDER. ls47. why7 Because. you see. that
was when received my fret promotion as .
non com m issioned officer In the regulars. It
Was in the City OF Mexico, which Major. Gen.
Winfield Scott had Just entered. at the bead
Of our victorious army; the climax OF q remark
able Ave months campaign. beginning with tho
capture OF Vera Cruz and followed by the brill
liant victories at Cerro Gordo, Jalapa, Perotc.
Puebla. Contreras. yalenca, Cherubusco. Moli-
no del Rey, Chapultepec, and Mexico. All ac-
complished. too. despite tho enemy's great adj
vantages OF being on his own ground and Of
vastly superior numbers"
Tho speaker was q veteran Of over seventy
years, Lieut. Col. Edward Collins Of Milton.
Mass. U. 8. A.. on the retired list. whom the
writer recently interviewed. A typical soldier
OF the old school 10 Col. Collins; tall. straight
erect and Of decidedly military carriage; with
face bronzed by his many campaigns, yet .
good face. expressive of q kind heart. allied to
an iron will; In manners frank, agreeable.
account OF the siege Of Vera Cruz: the landing
on the beach OF the American forces In seventy
ss.yy ss, SSs Of s%a
DISCHARGE OF hostile bombs and balls; the long
and terrific bombardment Of the city; the plucky
clamor Of the anriRhted. discordant populace.
was deposed: and hi. successor, Gen Landero.
Juan dc Uiloa. and the garrison ''''''' " '""
Then, aftor a fortniRht's rest. the army REIN
forced by 1000 men. chiefly from Con. 1aylor's
and fought the opening and famous battle.
Cerro Gordo
The Cerro 10 q strong pass" said the Colonel.
situated among lofty rocks and entirely con-
trolling the road toward the Interior. Here Gen.
santa Anna had stationed himself with IL 900
men. The Mexican General had fortified II so
carefully that II was deemed impregnable ex-
cept in front. Further along the road was an
Gen. La Vega with 5000 men. Besides these
principal works, batteries were placed at differ
seross H. In 'front.' OF thes, ,s,eep asG aby
rugged banks; The road Itself was broken t up
by gorges, hills. and ravines.
Such was the position which. although de-
Tended by II, 900 men. Scott wa. about TO storm
Win soo9, DO y2n wonder that we felt little
Col. 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. tho troops. after eight
hours work the night before. having lifted the
pared for the dsvbreak assault made by Gen.
TwiRgs, while Pillow. with his volunteers. en-.
gagged the enemy in front and charged the re-
doubt on that s,do. under most CALLING IRE.
All Of which proved successful. Gen. La
Vega. four other generals 5000 troops:
an Immense amount OF small arms and
military stores we're captured; the bulk OF that
ssscm,nT,y invine,sie army routed and Gems.
through marrow pass to Pueblo. The total
los. Of the Americans WAS about two hundred
prisoners and dcserters about a hundred more.
WAS at Cerro Gordo." continued the old
the doughty warrior. Sam Houston. y who ilssed.
at San Jacinto. santa Anna. the Mexican Presi.
dent and commander Of the army. A quickly
TO Wide and lasting fame.
We had driven the enemy; aud were double
Telegraphol in hot pursuit. when saw. a little
way In front o. Us. man cut loose n team of six
mules from heavy covered carriage. from
which the occupant was taken and hustled on
to one Of the animals: then tho driver mounted
another OF the mnies aud, Applying tho whip to
whom naturally supposed was a parsonage OF
distinction. Aswc soon learned. this was none
felt go sure Of driving. II not DESTROYING. our
force. that he had ventured too near the front,
"a" our line g passed fH sSs deserted carriage
saw IL was an elegant one. But we did not stop
To examine It. Some OF the troops behind us did
siderable amount Of gold coin and Santa mas
wooden lee-the substitute for the limb he had
lost In one of his early battles. That wooden
It's capture. and under such isnoble circum.
stances, was noised throughout tho land and
created deal OF humorous comment
=" But In all OF my experiences In that memoir
able cam pagn the most appalling one WAS that
at Moline del Rey, n strongly fortified station
In front OF ChaDultepec-the latter defended by
10000 Mexicans-~ hen, at a critical moment. a
burle charge was sounded and 1000 Mexican
laneers. taxing advantage OF our temporary
confusion. came ewooping down upon us ia
SNOWY, uniforms. Elstening helmets, and with
cleaning pennants.
we stood firm, though we expected extermi-
nation. But Col. Duncan promptly opened two
Pieces OF artillery upon them, followed immedI-
ately after by Col. Drum; while Major summer.
with two sQuadrons OF dragons and Capt Rutr's
company OF mounted rifles, passing rapidly down
under FIRE from tho enemy's works, charged the
head OF their column. The mighty force there
upon BROUGHT their horses from a run TO a trot-
to a lk-to halt-then turned tail aud igno-
miniously nedi
Had they been Uncle Sans cavalry. they
would have done Just the opposite would have
started at a walk, broken into q trot and cii-
NAKED with run.
a few days after. with flying colors drums
abeat and in all tho panoply OF glorious war We
marched proudly into the CITY Of Mexico. not
as jewellers In the halls of tho Montezutn as'
but a. hated Americana target for missiles
thrown from housetops By the moro violent Of
ha