Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-02-23

mating with Gen. Marcus J. Wright's
life of Gen. Scott, that, at the crisis of
the fight at Cherubusco. these two bat
talions met "and fought each other
with great desperation" This is high
Iy dramatic, but not true. They were
both actively engaged in the opera
tions from Puebla to Cherubusco, 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 the val
ley of Mexico and the beginning of his
advance upon the city, was at the bat
tie of Contreras, or Padierna. Here
Gen Valencia made a brave stand,
aAd in the first days fighting held his
ground. 1t was in this fight that the
San Patricio battalion, made up of the
American soldiers who had deserted,
first showed it's mettle. Having charge
of the Mexican batteries, the Ameri-
cans hit and dismounted Gen. Ma
gruder's guns one after the other, as
fast as they could be brought up, till
all but one were out of action. The
rifiemen were in the van of the attack
but were driven back with heavy loss,
chiefly by the fire of the Mexican bat
. teries in charge of their deserving
comrades. 1t was truly a bloody score
which was charged up to these men
that day, and one for which they soon
after paid dearly. Gen. Valencia was
surprised, outflanked, and routed the
next morning. and the tide of battle
then rolled up the highway toward
the City of Mexico and paused at the
convent of Cherubusco.
The little town of Cherubusco lies
on the west side of the highway lead
ing south from the City of Mexico, on
an elevated spot near a stream of the
same name. Here was situated the
stone convent of San Pablo, especially
adapted to defensive Notifications, and
which had been prepared for resist
ance to the Americans 1t was held
by the Mexican Gen. Rincon with
about 1,400 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-p ont, with battery of
five guns. Santa Ana took up his po-
sitioa across the highway. on the north
bank of the river, behind the tete-de-
T0ut and under the shelter of it's 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 TIapa
battalion and the First Light infantry
they were stationed in the tete-de
roat. the most exposed position on
the field.
These arrangements were scarcely
completed before the Americans came
up and began the attack. 1t was Gen
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 ct Cherubusco, but he
would not have been the obstinate ole
Eghter he was had he done so Twiggs
division having been ordered to carry
the works at the convent, he SEN
Rney's brigade to attack it on the left
and Smiths straight up the road to
ward the tete-de-pont Arriving near
IL opposite the convent. they founs
te brigade of Gen. Franklin Pierc.
awaiting them. and were consolidates
with that organization under the com
Eaacd of Smith. and Pierce was sen
elsewhere
4 heavy fire was Immediately open
&c On Smiths division from the FOR