Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-16

u
mating with Gen. Marcus !. Wrieht's
life OF Gen Scott that. at the crisis of
the fight at Cherubusco. these two bat.
taliops met and fought each other
with great desperation" This is high
ly dramatic, but not true. They were
both actively engaged in the opera
lions from Puchla Co Chcrubusco. but
not directly pitted against each other.
but surely the situation was sufficient
ly dramatic without that crowning
touch
The first collision between the two
armies. after SCOTS arrival in thc val
ley of Mexico and Che beginning OF his
advance upon The city was NJ the bat
tie OF Contrcras. or Faiierna. Here
Gen. Valencia made brave stand
and in the first days crhting held his
ground. IL was in this frht that the
san Patricio battalion. made up of the
American soldiers who had deserted.
first showed its mettle Having charge
Of the MeXican batteries. the Amcri-
cans hit aud dismountcd Gen. Ma
gruder's guns one after the other. as
fast as they could Dee brought uD. Tin
all but one were out of action The
ritiemcn We're in the van of the attack
but were driven back with heavy loss.
chiefly 10y the Gre ot the Mexican bat
teries IN charge OF their DESERVING
comrades. Do was truly bloody score
which was charged up 20 these men
that day. and one for which they soon
after paid dearly. Gen. Valencia was
surprised. outhanked. and routed the
next morning. aud The tide OF battle
then rolled up the highway toward
the City of Mexico and paused al me
convent of Cherubusco.
The little town Of Cherubusco lies
on the west side of the highwav lead
ing south from the City OF Mexico. Oh
an elevated spot near stream oil The
same name. Here was situated the
stone convent of san Pablo especially
adapted 10 defensive Notifications. and
which had been prepared for resist
ance TO the Americans. IL was held
by the Mexican Cen. Riacon with
about / 400 men and seven guns I'm
der him was Gen. Anaya. who had
been acting president OF Mexico. A
short distance northeast Of the CON
vent. on the south bank of the river
was the tete-de-pOnt. with a battery of
i've guTs. Santa Ana took up his DO
sition across the highway. on the north
bank OF the river. behind the tete-de-
pont and under the shelter of its guns
and those of the convent BY this time
either necessity or experience led him
TO repose full confidence in the Amer
lean deserters, and in selecting men
for the post of honor his choice fell
upon them. Together with the Tlapa
battalion and the First Light infantry
they were stationed in the tete.de-
pont, the most exposed position on
the field
These arrangements were scarcely
completed before the Americans came
up and began the attack IL was Cen
SCOTS policy TO assault and take
every stronghold in his path-some-
thing modern general would scarcely
do. He could easily have avoided the
engagement AT Cherubusco. but he
would not have been the obstinate old
fighter he was had he done so. Twiges'
division having been ordered To carry
the works at the convent. he sent
Riiey's brigade TO attack IL on the left
and Smiths straight up the road To-
ward the tete-de-pont. Arriving near
iy opposite the convent, they found
the brigade of Gen. Franklin Pierce
awaiting them, and were consolidated
with that organization under the COM
mand OF Smith. and Pierce was sent
elsewhere.
A heavy fire was Immediately open-
ed on Smiths division from the fort
ana convent. and the riaemen suffered
severely. The ammunition soon be-
gan 10 ran In tire convent, and Cen.
hincon asked Santa nm - a supply.
ava Tor -e-enfcrcements. but was told
inat all f@i bee: g.ssl that could