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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
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[ From the New Orleans Picayune of the Bth inst.]
BRILLIANT VICTORIES!
IMPORTANT FROM GEN. STOTTS ARMY.
Battles of Coutreras and Churubusco.
Total Defeat, of the Mexicans — Gen. Scott en
camped within two and a half miles of the City
of Mexico —Armistice between ike tiro Armies
Negotiations with Mr. Trist fora Peace Com
menced.
The U. S. steamship Mary Kingslaud, Capt.
John Davis, arrived at an early hour this morn
ing* By her we have received our letters from
Mr. Kendall from the 22d to the 28th of Au
gust, all dated from TacUbaya. A courier des
patched by him on the 20th with the first ac
count of the battle fought on that day was cut
off.
From a map and plan of the battle-fields be
fore us, we note that they are called the bat
tles of Coutrcris and ChUrUbusco—so called
from the field works of the enemy of those
names. The victories were decisive, but so
far as we can judge from a hasty perusual of a
portion of our letters, the proposition for an ar
mistice was made by Gon. Scott —probably at
the suggestion of the British embassy. The
report we have hitherto given, that the city of
Mexico was at our mercy,appears to have been
unfounded. Should peace not follow from the
negotiations now pending, another battle must
ensue, the enemy having a force of from fifteen
to twenty thousand men yet left. But the
road appears to be completely open to us, and
the city is only two and a half miles from our
encampment.
Our victories have been purchased at a vast
loss of valuable life, as will be seen by the fol
lowing list—we will give a fuller one to-mor
row. We see names of men at the loss of whom
wc weep; but all have their friends and we
make no distinction.
Officers Killed—Rcsrulars.
Major Mills, oth Infantry; Cant. Burke, Ist
Artillery; Capt. Hanson, 7th Infantry; Captain
Thornton, 2d Dragoons; Capt’.' Crapon, Ist Ar
tillery; Capt. Quarles, loth Infantry; Capt. An
derson, 2d Infantry; Lieut. Irons, Ist Artillery;
but attached to Gen. Cadwalader’s staff; Lieut.
Preston Johnson, Ist Artillery, but attached to
Magruder’g battery; Lieut. Easly, 2d Infantry;
Lfout. Goodman, loth Infantry; Lieut. Hoff
man, Ist Artillery.
Volunteers.—Lieut. Chandler, New York
Regiment; Col. P. M. Butler, and Lieuts. Da
vid Adams and W. K. Williams, of the South
Carolina Regiment.
Officers Wounded—Hcffulars.
Col. Clark, 6th Infantry, slightly; Col. Mor
gan, loth Infantry, severely; Map Wade, 3d
Artillery, severely; Map Bonneville, 6th In
fantry, slightly; Capt. Wessells, 2d Infantry,
severely; Capt. Phil. Kearney, Ist Dragoons,
left arm shot off; Capt. Mcßeynolds, 3d Dra
goons, severely; Capt, Craig, 3d Infantry, se
verely; Capt. Ross, 7.th Infantry, severely;
Capt. J. R. Smith, 2d Infantry, severely; Capt.
Chapman, oth Infantry, slightly; Capt. John
son, 9th Infantry, slightly: Capt. Holden, 12th
Infantry, slightly, Capt. Hathaway, Ist Artil
lery, slightly; Capt. Hoffman, 6th Infantry,
slightly; Lieut. Schuyler Hamilton, Ist Infan
try, but attached to Gen. Scott’s staff, severe
ly; Lieut. Halloway, Bth Infantry, but attach
ed to Smith’s Light Battalion, severely; Lieut.
Bacon, 6th Infantry, severely; Lieut. Callen
der, of the Ordnance,"but commanding how
itzer battery, severely; Lieut. Arnold, 2d Ar
tillery, severely; Lieut. Herman Thorn, 3d
'Dragoons, attached to Col. Garland’s staff,
slightly; Lieut. Hendrickson, 6th Infantry, se
verely; Lieut. Humber, 7th Infantry, severely;
Lieut. Boynton, Ist Artillery, but attached to
Taylor’s battery, slightly; Lieut. Lorimer Gra
ham, acting with Ist Dragoons, severely;Lieut
Van Buren, of the Rifles, slightly; Lieut. Ma
rtin, Ist Artillery, right arm shot off; Lieut.
Goodloe, loth Infantry, mortally; Lieut. Far
relly, sth Infantry, but attached to Smith’s
Light Battalion, severely; Lieut. Lugenbell,
adjutant sth Infantry, slightly; Lieut. Bee, 3d
Infantry, slightly; Lietrt, Lovell, 2d Infantry,
slightly; Lieut. Chandler, 3d Infantry, slight
ly; Lieut. Collins, 4th Artillery, slightly: Lieut
Tilden, 2d Infantry, severely;Lieut. Newman,
9th Infantry, severely; Lieut, Gardner, 2d In
fantry, severely; Lieut. Hayden, 2d Infantry,
slightly; Lieut. Sprague, adjutant 9th Infan
try, slightly; Lieut. Palmer, 9th Infantry, se
verely; Lieut. Buckner, 6th Infantry, slightly;
Lieut. Cram, Oth Infantry, slightly; Lieuten
ant Simpkins, 12th Infantry, slightly; Lieut.
Peternell, loth Infantry, slightly; Lieut. Ben
net, 15th Infantry'.
Volunteers.— New York Regiment. —Col.
Burnet, severely; Capt. Fairchild, slightly;
Capt. Dyckman, severely; Lieut. Sweeney,
severely; Lieut. Jenniss, slightly; Lieut. Coop
er, severly; Lieut. McCabe, slightly; Lieut. Pot
ter, severly; Lieut. Griffin, slightly; Lieut.
Malhowsky, slightly.
South Carolina Regiment. —Lieut, Col. Dick
eon, severly; Capt. James D. Blanding, slight
ly; Adj. Cantcy, severely; Lieut. Sun: ter,
slightly; Capt. K. S. Moffatt, slightly; Lieut.
H. S. Billings, severely; Lieut. J. R. Clarke,
dangerously; Lieut. J. W. Steen, slightly;
Lieut. J. H. Davis, slightly; Capt. W. D. De-
Saussure, slightly; Lieut. Jos. Abney, slightly.
Our entire loss in killed and wounded is
short of eleven hundred; that of the enemy is
not well known. His loss in killed alone
is believed to be fully equal to our en
tire loss, and it is estimated that at least 3000
prisoners were taken. The number of his
wounded was not ascertained, but is supposed
to be very large. Gen. Scott himself received
a wound in the leg below the knee, but from
the manner in which Mr. Kendall speaks of
jt, wc are lead to hope the injury a slight one.
[Editorial Correspondence of the Picayune.]
Ta.cub.vyo, (near Mexico,) )
August 22, 1847. j
The celebrated Archbishop’s Palace of Ta
cubayo is now occupied by Gen. Scott; and a
portion of the army, after twice defeating the
enemy in two of toe hardest fought buttles of
the war, are quartered immediately around
him. I have already sent you off a hurried
sketch of the glourious events of the 20th, and
even the present letter must be but a hurried
synopsis of the battles, which have shed such
additional glory upon the American arms..
On the 14th inst. a reconnoissance made by
Col. Duncan having proved that a road for
artillery and •wagons could be cut from Chal
co to. San Augustine, Gen. Worth’s division
moved on the afternoon of the 15th in that
... ■ ■■ i— » an am
direction. Gen. Pillow followed the. next
morning; at the sanic hour Geh Quitman
broke up his encampment at Bdena Vista, a
small hacienda between 'Vientd. de Cordova
and Ayolia, and immediately fGen: Twiggs
was in motion from the latter place. By this
move a new line of operations was taken up
on the southern and northwestern side of the
city of Mexico, and the strong works of the
Penon and Mexicalsingo, upon which Santa
Anna had bestowed such immense care and
labor, were completely turned.
On the 15th of August, Gen. Worth march
ed as far as the hacienda of San Gregorio, be
yond which it was found that the enemy had
cut up and ditched the miserable trail along
which the artillery and wagons were obliged
to pass. He would have gone to Santa Cruz,
another hacienda a league farther on, had
not an order come up from Gen. Scott to halt.
It seemed that Gen. Twiggs had met a large
force of the enemy drawn up in front of him
near Chaleo, as if with the intention of dis
puting his advance, cutting him off from the
main body of the army, and perhaps bringing
on a general action. Gen. Twiggs promptly
ordered some of his heavier guns to be unlim
bered, and after a few discharges the enemy
was dispersed, with the loss of five or six kill
ed, but the demonstration made by the Mexi
cans, as I have before said, caused a halt of
Gen. Worth’s division before half a day’s march
was made.
At 6 o’clock on the morning of the 17th
Gen. Worth resumed his march, his route
running through corn fields and narrow and
rockly lanes,falong which a carriage had never
passed before. The filling up of the ditches
caused some little delay, but by 8 o’clock the
advance was in sight of Santa Cruz, and spires
and domes of the noted capital of Mexico
could be discerned in the distance. The ob
structions in the road, of which I have spoken,
and obviously of recent construction —evidence
that the enemy had but just got wind of our
approach and that Gen. Scott had completely
stolen a march upon Santa Anna.
Other than the ditches and rocks which had
been rolled down from the precipitous hill
side, no opposition was made to the advance
of Gen. Worth Until he had reached a point
in the road not far from Santa Cruz—but now
a scattering fire was opened upon the head of
his column by a force stationed at advantage
ous positions above the road to the left. The
enemy was quickly dispersed, however, by
Col. P. F. Smith’s light battalion and the 2d
Artillery, under Maj. Galtc. As the division
neared the hacienda of La Novia the advance
was again fired upon, but again the enemy’s
pickets were driven in, without loss. A turn
of the road beyond La Novia brought the
pleasant village of San Augustin insight, and
after two or three light skirmishes, in which
the Mexicans had two or three lancers killed
and wounded. Our troops had quiet possession
of San Augustin, wor only loss during the
day was one man, a soldier of Smith’s light
battalion, who was wounded from a corn-field
near Xochimilco.
At 7 o’clock on the morning of the 18th,
Gen Scott arrived at San Augustin, and at 10
o’clock Gen. Worth was in full march for the
city of Mexico by the main road. Majors Smith
and Turnbull, Capt. Mason and other engineer
officers, were sent in advance, supported by
Capt. Blake’s squadron of dragoons, to recon
noitre, as it was known the enemy was in force
at or near Sun Antonio. The party, when
within a thousand yards, was fired upon from
a battery, which was masked by trees, and the
first ball from a 12-pounder instantly killed
Capt. Thornton, of the 2d DragOofls, besides
severely woUndiUg a guide, Jonathan Fitz
waltcrs. Col. Garland’s brigade was now or
dered to occupy the hacienda Os Carrera, within
plain sight and range of the enemy’s batteries
at San Antonio, while Col. Clarke’s brigade and
the battery under Col. Duncan took a station in
the rear close by. The engineer officers were at
once sent out so reconnoitre by Gen. Worth,
to asertoin the practicability of turning the
strong works of the enemy, and in the mean
time Gen. Scott had despatched Capt. Lee with
a supporting party, composed of Capt. Kearny’s
squadron and a body of the 11th Infantry un
der Col. Graham, to ascertain the practicability
of finding a road by which the village of San
Angel could be reached, and thus turn the
strong hold at San Antonio. This latter par
ty had a sharp encounter with the advance of the
enemy, the main body being found posted at a
strong point not far from the factory of Cou
treras. In the skirmish some six or eight Mexi
cans were killed and as many more taken pris
oners—on our side not a man was touched.
The result of the rcconnoissance proved favor
able. It was ascertained that a road could bo
made which would enable the army to reach
San Angel, and thus tttrn the strong batteries
at San Antonio, and perhaps others the enemy
might have upon the road between that and
the city of co. The Mexicans were piainby
seen in force at a commanding position near
Coutreras, and it was evident that they had a
number of cannon in position; but at a council
held at night, it was determined Upon to attack
them the following day.
In the mean time, while this reconnoissance
was in progress, Gen. Worth had established
his headquarters at the hacienda of Curera,
while from the windows countless numbers of
the enemy could be seen at work upon the
batteiies of San Antonio. About noon they
opened upon the hacienda with both round
shot and shell, nearly every one of which took
effect, but without doing other injury than to
the building. Late in the evening the batteries
again opened, but with no other result than
showing the position of the different guns.
For a marvel the batteries were silent during
the night. Had the fire been kept up, the
hacienda might have been torn in pieces and
the entire command compelled to retire. Be
fore going further, it may be well to state that
the city of Mexico lies about nine miles nearly
north of San Augustin, that San Antonio is
about three miles in the same direction, while
the point occupied by Gen. Valencia, near
Coutreras, for he had command at that place, is
at least three miles in a straight line and in a
direction nearly west. It was ten miles the way
many of our troops had to march, for you can
not imagine a more rough, uneven and jagged
i surface.
At 8 o’clock on the morning of the 19th, the
batteries again opened on Gen. Worth’s position
at the hacienda near San Antonio, the balls
crushing through the walls and filling the
rooms with fragments of plaster and broken
furniture. Shells also burst in the air over the
building and the pieces dropped among the
men stationed in the rear. So hot was the fire
that the troops were obliged to gain shelter
behind the building, but still did not give up
the position. About 9 o'clock the divisions of
Gen. Pillow and Twiggs were ordered to ad
vance in the direction of Coutreras, and by 1 in
the afternoon were in plain sight of the enemy’s
batteries, and within range of his heavier guns.
The brigade of Gen. P. F. Smith was ordered
to advance directly towards the enemy’s works,
while that of Col. Riley moved towards a smal
village to the right, -with orders to gain the
main road and thus be enabled to cut off any
reinforcements which might be sent to Valencia
from the city. An incessant firing of cannon
Avas opened upon the advance of Gen. Smith,
and soon the Rifles were eiigaged in skirmish
ing with the pickets of the enemy and driving
them in. The 12-pounder battery of Capt.
Magruder was pressed forward with all spreed,
as was also the rocket and mountain howitzer
battery, now commanded by Lieut. Callender
of the Ordnance Department. As soon as they
could gain a position they opened upon the
enemy, but were so much exposed to afire from
heavier guns that they were soon silenced. Lt.
Johnson, of the Ist Artillery, but attached to
Magruder’s battery, was mortally wounded,
while Lieut. Callender was severely wounded
in both legs. At 3 o’clock the brigade of Gen.’
Cudwaldder Was ordered oiit to support Col:
Riley, heavy reinforcements' being seen on their
way out from the city, while Gen. Pierce’s
brigade was setit to sustain Gen. 1 Smith.’ The
fi’ririg from the batteries of the enemy contin
ued incessant, while from a hill just otftside
the radge of their gun's, the spectacle vtas most
gr and and imposing. At about 4 o’clock Gen.
Scott arrived, eti’d seeln'g the immeris’c strength
of the Mexicans, at once ordered Geri. Shields’s
brigade fr om San Augustin—a part of Gen.
Quitman’s command —to the right, 1 to sriipport
Riley and Cadwalader, and prevent, it possible
a juncture of the forces coming out from the
city with those of Valencia. But few of the
movements of our owri troops cotfld be seen
from the hill where we were posted, owing to
the dense chaparal, sharp rocks and ravines,
but not a motion of the enemy but was plainly
visible. The order of battle of Valencia was
certainly most imposing—infantry Avere seen
drawn up to support the batteries, while long
lines of the enemy's cavalry were stationed in
the rear, as if awaiting the shock of batttle.
Two separate charges of the latter were dis
tinctly seen repulsed by Col. Riley, who had
moved his brigade at one time to a position
partially in the rear of the enemy’s work. Col.
Harney was exceedingly anxious to march his
cavalry to the scene of action, but it was deem
ed utterly impracticable. The nature of the
ground was such that the infantry even had
great difficulty jn finding the way across the
pcdregal, as the Mexicans terra it—ground
covered with sharp, jagged rocks.
Until night had fairly closed in, the fire from
the enemy's batteries did not slacken—it had
been a continuous roar for nearly six hours.
Gen. Scott retired to San Augustin about 3
o’clock, and in the midst of a hard rain which
had just commenced falling. Gens. Twiggs
and Pillow came in about 11 o’clock, wet and
completely exhausted. It was impossible to
use horses on the rough and exceedingly brok
en ground on which - they had been operating
for nearly tw r elve hours. Not anticipating the
immense strength of the works of the enemy,
■ or the almost insurmountable difficulties of
reaching them, it had been at first thought that
the batteries would be taken at a dash, and
that the troops would be all comfortably quar
tered in San Angel for the night; instead of
this, a large portion of them were compelled
to bivouac without blankets in the midst of a
, pitiless fain, and on ground where they could
not even stretch themselves out. Add to this
the prospects of the morrow were far from flat
tering—were enough to dismay any but the
stoutest hearts—that the enemy would doubt
less reinforce and strengthen Ids works dur
ing the night, having every superiorly in
. knowledge of the ground—add again to this
that the men were weakened by long exertions,
want of food, and chilled by the continuous
night rain, and it is not saying too much to
I assert that the bivouac of the 19 th August was
j gloomy in the extreme.
. j Early on the morning rtf tlid 20th, General
I Worth was ordered to move with a part of his
• j division Garland’s brigade towards the
! scene of action at Contreras, to aid in the at
tack upon Valencia, for to force this position
. was deemed indispensable. A few discharges
of cannon were heard about 7 o’clock, and a
! heavy rattling of musketry, arid , srtnie even
. said that in the distance they had seen large
masses of Mexicans in full flight towards the
; city; yet few dreamed that the batteries, at
Contreras had beeii stormed arid carried. Yet
so it was. Geri. Scott himself, accompanied
t by Gen. Worth, started for the scene of action,
i when they were met by Capt. Mason with the
joyful intelligence that Valencia had horn com-
Ictely routed after a short but terrible struggle.
The-attack upon his works was planned by
Gon. Smith, and resulted iri the capture of L 5
. pieces of artillery, Some 1,500 .prisoners—
among theiri Ooris. Blanco 1 , Garcia, ‘Meiv'oza
! and the notorious Salas; all the ammunition
i ! and camp equipage, while the road along'
j which those who esc ripe fled was strewed with
■ muskets. No less than 700 of the enemy,
L : among thrim many officers, were left dead on
the field—fhe niintbet of wounded was un
doubtedly far greater, f have no time now to
. enlarge or comment upon this well planned
L and brilliant achievement, but reserving a
more full description for some other time,
must pass on to other exciting events.- ; Ihc
. j works at Contreras completely iri the power of
the American* rirmy, Gen. Scott at once order
. I ed Gen. Worth to fall back upon San Antonio,
I to turn and capture that work and then to
| push on towards the capital by the main road,
while the main body of the army Under Gens.
Twiggs, Pillow, Sinith, Pierce and Cadwala
i der, moved on towards San Angel and Cohoy
l can. Scarcely had the advance of General
. T wiggs got half a mile beyond the latter vil-
L lage, before a rattling fire of musketry an
nounced to us that it was actively engaged with
the oritposts of the enemy, anc( the heavy
booming of cannon now gave token that the
noted 2ct division had fallen upon another
strong work. But a few minutes more and
a tremendous firing from the right, and imme
diately in the main road from San Augustin
to the capital made it evident that Gcn« Worth’s
division was actively engaged. He had com
pletely turned the strong works of San Anto
nio, bttt while doirig so the enemy had aban
doned the place with the loss of their heavj*
guns, and had fallen back upon his second
and stronger line of works. It was now at
the commencement of the battle, about one
, o’clock in the afternoon, and stire such a rat
tling of firearms has seldom or never been
heard on the continent of America, accompa
nied with such booming of artillery; and this
was continued over two hours and Until the
enemy was fully routed from every point, and
, until those who were not killed or taken pris
oners were in full flight for the city. Let me
endeavor in words to give the reader an idea
of the position and works of the enemy. As
you come along the road leading from San Au
’ gustin to the capital, and immediately this
side the Puente del Rosana, the Mexicans had
thrown up a strong and exceedingly well-built
battery, commanding the road completely.—
On the right, as you faced the city, stretching
for a long distance was a continuous ditch,
behind the bank of which an immense num
ber of Mexican infantry were posted. On the
left of the tete de pont , or work at the bridge,
and about three hundred yards distant, was
the church of Churubusco, or San Pablo,
strongly fortified with works for infantry and
also having a well constructed battery contain
ing a number of guns of heavy calibre.—
This work was a little advanced from the tete
de pont, and nearly in a line between it and the
village Cohoycan. Further on, on the other
side of the work at the bridge, and about three
hundred yards from the road, was a large
building, well adapted for the protection of in
fantry, and in which the enemy had also post
ed an immense body. The ground in the vi
cinity of all these points was completely cov
ered with corn, and other fields, cut up in
every direction by wide and deep ditches, pre
sented obstacles innumerable to the advance
of our troops. No recoimoisance of the posi
tion of the enemy had been made, and con
sequently its strength could only be ascertain
ed by hard blows and knocks.
The divisions of Gens. Twiggs and Worth
were at once engaged, the former with the
church ami stronghold of Churubusco, and
the latter with the batteries at the bridge; and
in the meantime Gen. Shields’s brigade—the
New York and South Carolina volunteers —
—hmbwi
together with the 9th, 12th and 15th Regi
ments of Infantry under Gen. Pierce, were
hurrying onward from Cohoysan to attack the
hacienda. Soori they, too, were engaged, and
now the battle became general. The enemy
had over twenty pieces of cannon, all in admi
rable position, ami served with more than or
dinary skill, while but few of our guns could
be brought to bear; The battery of Capt.
Frank TayloY.it is true, opened a well-direct
ed fire upon’ Chrirribusco, but so exposed was
its situation that it suffered most terribly, both
in officers and men.
To describe the fierce conflict, even now that
i two days have elapsed, or to give an account of
the part taken .by the different regiments, were
: impossible. From the opening of strife up
1 to the time the Mexicans were entirely routed
and ill full flight for the city, was one con
tinuous roar of cannon and mriskefry, accbm
panieef by the loud shouts of the victors as
some hew vantage ground was gained; and
high above the din rose a .dense column of
smoke, at times completely shrouding the com
batants. The strength of {he enemy at this
battle is known to have been 15,000 at least,
; many say 20,000, all fresh troops and in a po
sition of uncommon strength. Opposed to
them were about 6000 Americans, jaded and
broken down by marches and countermarches,
and by incessant toil before the strongholds of
i Contreras and San Antonio. At Churubusco,
■ the Mexicans themselves 1 riaV, Santa Anna
• commanded iri person, but that he left early.
The noted battalions of Hidalgo and Victoria,
! and of Independicia—the Polkas, or young
men of the capital, from whom so much was
• expected—nearly all fled without firing a gun.
In the different works (but mostly in the
church) taken by General Twiggs, near 2000
troops were captured. Among them were Gen.
Rincon, who commanded in person, Gen. An
aya, lately President Sustituto, and Gen. Are
vallon, ns also Col. Gorosteza, formerly Minis
ter at Washington. Gen. Garay was captured
1 near San Antonio by Gen. Worth, and several
influential officers, among them Col. Miraraou,
by Gen. Shields at the hacienda; but the most
important capture of all was the entire For
eign Battalion, mostlj' made up from the de
serters of our own army, with their command
er, the notorious Riley himself. They are all
■ under close guard, and I trust, will be strictly
dealt with.
The loss on our side has fallen most heavily
I upon the South Carolina and New York volvn
’ j teers, the 6th Infantry and Smith’s light battal
i ion, attached to Worth’s division, and the bat
> j terics of Capts. Magruder and Taylor. The
South Carolina regiment was nearly cut to
pieces, losing 137 out of 272 men, Avith Avhich
it Avent into action. The Ist Artillery has suf
■ i ered seA r erely in officers.
The Mexican accounts acknowledge the loss,
in killed, Avoundod and prisoners, of no less
than thirteen generals (among them three ex
i Presidents) and forty-five pieces of cannon. —
One of our officers says that avc ha\'e captured
more ammunition than Gen. Scott has used
1 since he has been in the country.
Yours, &c. G. AV. K.
The Armistice.
The undersigned appointed respectively, the
three first by Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, com
mander-in-chief of the armies of the United
States, and the lavo last by his Excellency D.
Antonio Lopez dc Santa Anna, President of
the Mexican Republic and commanpcr-in-chief
1 of its armies, met with full powers, Avhich Avere
duly verified iri the village of Tacubaya on
the 22d day rtf August, 1847, to enter into
an armistice for the purpose of giving the
Mexican Goverrtriieiit an opportunity of re
ceiving proposition for peace from the com
missioner appointed by the President of the
i United States, and now witV the American
! army when the follcrvving articles Were agreed
j upon: __ ~ .
Art. 1. Hostilities shall iristariily arid abso
lutely cease between the armies of the United
| States Os America and the United Mexican
States within thirty leagues of the capital of
the latter State, to allow time to the commis
sioner appointed by the United States and the
commissioner to be appointed by the Mcxicrin
Republic to negotiate.
2. This armistice shall continue so lorig as
| the commissioners of the two Governments
may be engaged on negotiations, or Until the
commander of either of the said armies shall
give the formal notice to the other of the ces-
Sit loti of the armistice, and forty-eight hours
after such notice.
3. lu the mean time neither army shall,
Avithin thirty leagues of the city of Mexico,
commence any iicav fortification or military
Avork of offence or defence, or any thing to en
large or strengthen any existing Avork or for
tification of that character Within the said
limits.
4. Neither army shall be reinforced within
the same. Any reinforcements in trortps or mu
riitions of war othet than subsistence nOAv ap
proaching either army, shall be stopped at the
distance of twenty-eight leagues from the city
of Mexico.
5. Neither array, nor any detachmerit from
it,- shall advance beyond the line it at present
occupies.
6. Neither army, nor ririy detachrne'rit or in
dividual of either, shall pass the neutral lim
its established by the last article, except under
flag of truce bearirtg the Correspondence be
tAveen the two armies, or on the business au
thorized by the next article; and individuals
of either army who may chance to straggle
within the neutral limits shall, by the opposite
party, be kindly warned off, or sent back to
their own armies under flags of truce.
7. The American army shall not, by vio
lence, obstruct the passage, from the open
country into the city of Mexico, of the ordi
nary supplies of food necessary to the con
sumption of its inhabitants or the Mexican ar
my Avithin the city; nor shall the Mexican au
thorities, civil or military, do any act to ob
struct the passage of supplies from the city or
the country needed by the American army.
8. All American prisoners of war remaining
in the hands of the Mexican army, and not
heretofore exchanged, shall immediately, or as
soon as practicable, be restored to the Ameri
can army, against a like number, having regard
to rank, of Mexican prisoners captured by the
American army.
9. All American citizens who were estab
lished in the city of Mexico prior to the Avar,
and who have been expelled from that city,
shall be allowed to return to their respective
business or families therein, without delay or
molestation.
10. The better to enable the belligerent ar
mies to execute these articles and to favor the
great object of peace, it is further agreed be
tAveen the parties, that any courier with des
patches that either army shall desire to send
along the line from the city of Mexico or its !
vicinity, to and from Vera Cruz, shall receive
a safe conduct from the commander of the op
posing army.
11. The administration of justice between
Mexicans according to the general and State
constitutions and Laws, by the local authori
ties of the toAvns and places occupied by the
American forces, shall not be obstructed in any
manner.
12. Persons and property shall be respected
in the toAvns and places occupied by the A
merican forces. No person shall be molested
in the exercise of his profession; nor shall the
services of any one be required without his
consent. In all cases Avhere services are vol
untarily rendered, a j ust price shall be paid,
and trade remain unmolested.
13. Those wounded prisoners who may de
sire to remove to some more convenient place
! for the purpose of being cured of their wounds,
shall be allowed to do so without molestation,
they still remaining prisoners.
14. Those Mexican medical officers who may
wish to attend the wounded, shall have the
privilege of doing so if their services be re
quired.
15. For the more perfect execution of this
agreement, tAvo commissioners shall be ap
pointed, one by each party, who in case of dis
agreement shall appoint a third.
j 16. This convention shall haA r e no force or
j effect unless approved by their Excellencies,
the commanders respectively of the tAvo ar
mies, Avithin twenty-four hours, reckoning
j from the 6th hour of the 23d dav of August,
I 1847. *
A. QUITMAN, Maj. Gen. U. S. A.
PERSIFOR F. SMITH, Bvt. Brig. Gen.
FRANKLIN PIERCE, Brig. Gen. U. S. A.
IGNACIO DE MORA Y VILLAMIL.
BENITO QUIJANO.
A trite of the original;
G. W. LAY, U. S. A.,
Military Secretary to the Gen.-in-Chief.
[Uro,7i the Avmj Orleans Delta of the Bth inst.']
LATE AND IMPORTANT FROM
MEXICO.
Arrival of the Mary Kings!and,
CorffHHa {{jn of Gen. Scott’s Victory —- Total De
feat and Root of the Mexicans:
The steamship Mary Kingsland arrived at an
early hour this morning from Vera Cruz,bring
ing the particulars of the glorious victory of
Gen. Scott before the capital of Mexico —a con
densed .Statement of Which Will bo found be
lOAAV „ . ;
On the 17th, the head of Gon. Worth's col
umn arrived at San Augustin, the enemy
shoAving himself in great numbers, b\it diking
the attack on the ISththe column moved in
the direction of Sari Antonio. Capt. Thorn
ton, of the Dragoons, in protecting the En
gineers in their reconnoisancc of. the’ fortifica
tions of San Antorrior, Wris killed on the 18th.
About 2 o'clock a heavy rain came on Avhich
completely drenched the troops and stayed
for the day the action of both armies. During
the night of the 18th, Gen. Worth’s division,
with a part of the Ist Brigade, occupied the
hacienda of San Juan de Dios.
On the 19th. Gen. Twiggs came up Avith the
advancc,Oen. Smith’s light brigade advancing
on the left, and Col. Riley’s to the right, sup
ported by Capt. McGruder’s battery and
Lieut. Cadwallader’s howitzers, which belong
ed to the division of Gen. Pillow. The ene
my opened his heavy batteries from Contre
res, and the advancing troops of Gon. Smith’s
brigade engaged the enemy’s infantry. These
two brigades for more than one hour sustain
ed the fire of 22 pieces of artillery, mostly of
heavy calibre. They were finally compelled
to retire, after sustaining a scA'ere loss in kill
ed and Avounded. Gen. PilloAv had ordered
Gen. Pierce’s brigade to the support of Col.
Riley. At this stage of the proceedings,
Avhile the battle Avas raging, the enemy ap
peared on the left of the fort of Contrcres. and
in rear of the village of Ensaldo, with a force
of 12,000 men, under the immediate command
of Santa Anna.
The 15th infantry, under Col. Morgan, av.ts
then ordered by Gen. Pilloav to the support
of Smith’s and Riley's Brigades. About this
time Gen. Scott came upon the ground, bring
ing with himGen.Shields’brigade of volunteers.
Avhich AA’as immediately ordered to the support
of the force under Gen. CadAvalader. Gen. ;
Twiggs, as night approached, finding it impos- j
sible, from the nature of the ground, to reach
his command, fell back to the position occu
pied by Gen. Scott, and passed the night ex
posed to the inclemency of the weather. Mc-
Gruder’s and the hoAvitzcr battery being disa- |
bled, and our left advancing on a road previ
ously prepared by the enemy, thereby exposing
our infantry to a distinctive fire as they ap
proached. McGruder’s and the howitzer bat- !
terics Averi? ordered by Gen. Smith to open, to |
attract the attention of the enemy, while he j
made a rrtoAmment to the right, to try one of
the efiemy’s flanks. After passing OA-er the
broken arid irregular surface of ground, and
crossing the deep ravines, he succeeded in
reaching the village of Eilsaldo. Gen. Smith
being tile ranking officer,Gen. Cadwalader re
ported . to' ? hirit with four regiments of Gen.
division. Col. llileyS brigade had
crossed the ravine, and passed trtlvards Con
freres, sifter a strong body.rtf the enemy, Avhich
he ciro\ ; e off.* The eiiemy Avas moat drawn no
into liile, above the village# dii the right of the
fori. This wds d sfrorig positiori of tile eiiemy.
Geri. Smith now ordered Gen. CadAfaladcr’s
force to be draAvri up on the outer edge of the
village facing the enemy’s heavy force on the
left of the fort. After making the pfdpcr dis
position of his forces, Gen. Smith flow deter
mined to attack the enemy’s right, Avith Coh
Riley on the left. Gen. Cadwalader, oil the
right of the former, returned in echelon # but
before the movement could be completed night
approached—the enemy’s line could not be
seen—therefore the order was countermanded,
Gen. Cadwalader resuming his position on the
outer side of the village. Col. Riley’s Brigade
was formed in a long lane inside and parallel
to the village, the Rifles on his left, and the 3d
Infantry on the churchyard. “But now,” says
our correspondent, “imagine the position of
this portion of our army, numbering 3500, at
the outside, Avithout artillery' or cavalry,- while
the enemy in front and on the left had 18,000
(those in the fort said to be the best in Mexi
co,) with 22 pieces of artillery, and among his
trrops about 7000 cavalry. It was evident that
some decisive action had to be taken; that some
great effort had to be made; and Gen. Smith
and Col. Riley, seconded as they were, were
just the men competent to the task, and an at
tack on the main work was determined upon,
and the movement to take place at 3 o’clock of I
the folioAving morning.”
The force of General Smith was not strong
enough to carry the enemy’s works, and at the
same time to hold possession of the village:
but fortune favors the brave; for while he was
preparing for the attack, Gen. Shields report
ed his near approach with the South Carolina !
and New York Volunteers. Gen. Shields,
though outranking Gen. Smith, had too much
magnanimity to assume the command, or to
pluck the bright laurels about to be gathered
by a brother soldier in carrying one of the en
emy’s strongholds, and accordingly he moved
-subject to the command of Gen. Smith. Gen.
Shields’ brigade was then placed in the village
of Ensaldo, to cut off the enemy's retreat from
Contreres, or to take the reserve of the enemy j
in flank, if he should change his front.
At 3 o’clock on the morning of the 20th, the
movement commenced, Avhich was so slow
that daybreak appeared before the head of
CadAvalader’s brigade commenced ascending
the ravine at the rillage. As soon as Colonel ) '
Riley ascended the hill and came in full view
of the enemy, they opened a severe fire on
Riley's forces. ’
Our correspondent then continues —“Col.
Riley threAV out his lavo advance divisions as
skirmishers and said, ‘Now boys give them
liell —close in Avith them, and let the bayonet
do its work,’ and his command rushed down
the slope with a yell and enthusiasm enough j
to strike error to the heart of the boldest, I
Avhile the rest of his command moved steadily
forward as if they Avere all made of one piece. I
The Sappers and Miners and Rifle regiment,
Avhich had been thrown across a ravine inter- i
vening betAveen the one they passed up, and
under the brow of the slope Avhich Col. Riley |
came down, from that position poured in a fire j
which swept in front of Col. Riley's column, !
then inclining towards their left joined in the j
attack of the troops outside of the left flank of
the fort. Gen. Oadwalader followed the route
taken by Col. Riley and as soon as his troops
were forwarded moved on to his support. The
first brigade, which was bringing up the rear,
had been ordered to follow' the same route, but
while it was on its march by the right flank
up the ravine and nearly opposite the fort, Gen.'
Smith ordered the brigade to face to the left
and adr ance in line to attack the enemy’s force?
in flank—this movement was executed in less
time than it takes me to wTite It—they met tl «
enemy outside of the fort just as Col. Rilev's
brigade rushed into it—the enemy was com
pie tel rerouted and commenced a precipitate
retreat —their cavalry and infantry had been
formed to receive the charge but were compell
ed to give way to the bayonet—the rout wa»
most complete, and the victory most decided:
but while Riley’s brigade took possession of
the work, and planted their colors upon it, the
other force continued the pursuit down the
road. The retreating force had to pass near
where Gen Shields’ brigade was placed to in
tercept them. They, however, were not aware
ot it until they received the well-directed fire
ot the South Carolina regiment, which mowed
them down like grass before the scvthc.’
Ihe route and dispersion were now com
plete. In the fort, were captured 22 pieces of
artillery, an immense amount of munitions
of war, and upwards of 1500 prisoners, among
whom were several officers of high rank. The
enemy left dead upon the field upwards of 700,
which was buried; but his loss, says our cor
respondent. Wi» much larger, as the Mexican#
Avcre still burying theirdead two days after bat
tle. Tire troops in> tile fort were commanded
by Valencia, and those' outside by Santa Anna,
j The two 6-pounders of Washington’s battery
i taken on the field of K-acm Vista by the Mexi
cans, were recaptured in this fort.
The enemy were pursued to- Angel, he
endeavored to make a stand at every point—
they were finally compelled* to’ take refuge in
Chumbasco. At Sap Angel, Gen. Pilknv as
sumed the command, and when the troops ar
rived at Calican, shortly after, Gen. Scott as
sumed the command of the whole. The posi-*
tion now occupied by th'c’crieiny (Chu'mbasco)
i was a very strong one, ants it being the last
stand the enemy could make in defence of the
; capital, he fought Avith desperation for more
than tAvo hours, before the works were carried;
Our loss at this point waif oVef 1000'
men. Seven pieces of artillery and two stand
of colors Avere captured; Gen. Rincon, Avith
fOt officers, aWd tip wards of 1100 Uon-com
missioned officers and privates, surrendered as
prisoners of Avar. The Mexican loss in this
engagement is si\fd to be 5000 in killed amt
1 wounded, and out of a force at 3Q,00'0 men.
I there Avere but 6000 men left, the balance
being killed, wounded, prisoners or totally
j dispersed.
21 ugn 0 1 a, (Georgia.
TUESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 14
FOR GOVERNOR
HON. G. W. TOWNS.
j OF TA 1.80 r.
The Recent American Victories.
We fill several columns of our paper with
accounts of the recent brilliant operation* of
our array near the city of Mexico. Two splcn-.
did victories were achieved, Avhicli will vie in
i lustre Avith the most brilliant of that unbroken
! series of triumphs which have crowned the
American arms during the whole progress of
| the war. Considering the immense odds
against which our troop* oontoudochlhe rough
ness of the ground on Avhich theA- had to ad
i n
i vancc, in the face of a finely appointed force,
strongly entrenched with, a great quantity of
artillery judiciously planted and skillfully
served, it is astonishing that their valor anti
impetuosity should have been able to triumph
over such appalling obstacle*. But the cheer
! less bivouac of the night before, exposed %ts
torrents of chilling rain seemed not to have’
weakened their energies or damped their ar
dor. Ravines were passed, rough and jacked
rocks Avere clambered over, and fortresses
stormed in the most gallant style, in defiance
of the sweeping fire of artillery and musketry
and the American flag Avas planted upon thb
enemy’s ramparts, within sight of the famous
City of Mexico. The New Orleans Delta , from
wlilch we take a condensed statement, gives
an interesting detail of operations not found
irt Che Picayune, This conveys a distinct idea
of the greatness of the obstacles contended
against, the disparity of the forces and the bril
liancy of the triumph. The exploits of the brig
ades of Gen. Smith and Col. Riley will vie with
the most brilliant of the Avar. Wc had hoped
to be enabled to announce the presence of our
victorious troops, avithin the city of Mexico.
The possession of the. Capital would have been
a sure guarantee to us of peace —a peace con
quered. But it does seem that the Mexicans
should by this time be convinced that it is in
the power of our arms to take their city and
dictate our own terms. They may yet be
warned in time, though at the eleventh hour,
and accede to the propositions of peace that
Mr. Trist is prepared to offer them. If they
do not do so promptly, we hope that there
will be no unnecessary delay in taking the
city, declaring the country conquered and
subject to the American arms, and
ing a government de facto under the protec
tion of the United States. Under such a gov
ernment, a peace party might grow* up strong
enough and stable enough to make a treaty
and to maintain it. There is apparently no
such party in Mexico now, and we have, wc
confess, not very strong confidence in the per
manence of any peace which may now be made
with the political factions at present ruling in
Mexico.
Our Fallen Heroes.
With the paeans of victory which will
resound throughout our land for the late
achievements near Mexico, must mingle the
voices of lamentation. Many gallant spirits
have gone to join the martyred heroes whose
blood has stained the fields of Palo Alto, Re
saca, Monterey, Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo.
“They have fonght their last fight, they have won
their last battle, . ts
No sound shall awake them to glory again.’
But their names are hoav Avritteu in unfad
ing colours upon one of the' brightest pages of
their country’s history✓ Their memories wiu
be sacredly cherished by every patriot heart,
and the rising youth of our republic Avill be
taught to speak their praises and emulate their
deeds. Even the eyes of affection now daroAvn
ed in tears at the untimely bereavement, will
hereafter grow brighter, and beam with pride
at reading the glowing narrative of the me
morablo 20th of August, 1847. The heart