Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-02-15

mating with Gen. Marcus ]. Wright's
life of Gen. Scott, that, at the crisis of
the fight at Cherubusco, these two bat
talions met land fought each other
with great desperation" This is high
ly 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 Scott's 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,
and 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
riflemen 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 deserting
comrades. 1t was truly = 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 tiGe 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 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-pont, with battery OF
| five guns. Santa Ana took up his po
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 mer
for the post of honor his choice fel
upon them. Together with the Tlapt
battalion and the First Light infantry
they were stationed in the tete-de
pont, the most exposed position OF
the field.
These arrangements were scarcel.
completed before the Americans cam'
up and began the attack. 1t was Gen
Scott's policy to assault and taxi
every stronghold in his path-some
thing a modern general would scarcel,
do He could easily have avoided tn
engagement at Oherubusco, but h
would not have been the obstinate oil
fighter he was had he done So Twiggs
division having been ordered to carr
the works at the convent, he sen
, Rileys brigade to attack 1t on the lef
and Smiths straight up the road tt
ward the tete-de-pont. Arriving neal
!. ly opposite the convent, they foun
! the brigade of Gen. Franklin Pierc
awaiting them. and were consolidate
with that organization under the con
mand of Smith. and Pierce was ser
elsewhere. 8I
II, A heavy fire was Immediately opel
ed on Smiths division from the To-