Newspaper Page Text
Htjr *■“" ■' J *~ _*J-* J.:v/'Tr?.^T.~X'~rra
, TUB CONSTITUTIONALIST.
JAM E S G A KUNER, JR.
TSBIHS,
Daily, per annurrf..... j. i ..... I ..$8 'OO
Tri-Weekly, per annum 6 ( D 0
ts paid in advance 1:..... I 00
Weekly, per annum .3 00
Jf paid in advance 2 50
To Clubs, remitting $lO in advance, TINE
COPIES arc sent. This will put our Weekly pa
per in the reach of new subscribers at
TWO DOLLARS A YE Alt.
who will pay up arrearages, and
send four new subscribers, with the money, can get
the paper at 52 00.
new subscriptions must be paid in s.d
--▼ ance.
(PJ’Postage must be paid on all communications
and letter* of business.
[Prom the iV. O. Commercial Tim**. Sept. 9.]
MEXICO.
HOLL AND INTERESTING DETAILS
OF THE
NEWS BY THE MARY KINGS LAND.
It appear* from the letter of our correspondent
that the proposition for an Armistice was made
i by General Scott, through the intervention of
•the British Minister. The following is the cor
.• rcspondence onthe subject, between General
Scott and S. nor Alccrta, Minister of War and
Marine, which wc‘translate from El Arco Iris
of the let instant:
Last News from the Capital.
MEXICO, August 22, 1847.
As the nation is anxiously awaiting to hear of
the result of the now existing war, particularly
.os "the American troops are stationed in the
-neighborhood of the Capital, the Government
believed to be a duty incumbent on them, to
adopt a system of publicity, in order that the
whole Republic may be informed of the events
that are happening.
In consequence, we hasten to print-the official
notice given by the Chief ©f the enemy’s army
te the supreme Government, soliciting an arm
istice; and the reply that has been made.
The nation may be assured that the Supreme
Government has at heart, and ever will have,
its high and important duties which it will nev
er lose sight of; and as the entire country is in
terested in this serious affair, it is desirous,
that the people should be informed of all that
occurs, since theirs is the negotiation now pen
ding.
MINISTER OF WAR AND MARINE.
Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. <f America.
COYOACAN, August 21, IS 17.
To kis Excellency the President of the Mex i
can Republic and General in Chief of its Armies;
“Too much blood has been spilt already in the
war that exists, and which could not have been
expected between the two groat Republics of
our Continent. It is time that the quarrel
which separates them should be settled in an
amicable and honorable manner; and as your
Excellency is aware, that there exists in the
army under ray command, an Envoy appointed
* by the Government of the United States, and
that he is invested with full powers, I agree to
r sign an armistice of short duration and on
equitable terms, in order that the two Repub
lics may commence negotiations.
I shall wait with impatience until the day
following the date of the present note, for an
answer: but in the meanwhile I shall take pos
session of those places outside of the Capital
which I shall require for the shelter and com
fort of ray troops.
I have the honor to he, with the highest con
sideration and profoundest respect, your Ex
cellency’s most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
This is a copy of his translation,
Manuel M. d« Sandoval. '
Mexico, Augustjll, 1817.
' MINISTRY OF WAR AND MARINE.
Place of Operations.
To his Excellency General Winfield Scott,
Commander-in-Chics of the Army of the U. S.
of America:
Sir: The undersigned, Minister of War and
Marine of the Government of the U. S. of Mexi
co, has received orders from his Excellency,
the President and General-in-Chief, to reply
to the letter of your Excellency, in which you
propose an armistice, for the purpose of stop
ping any further efusion of blood between the
two great Republics of this Continent, and
giving a hearing to the proposal which may be
made by the Envoy of his Excellency, tha
President of the U. S. of America, actually
present at the Head Quarters of your Army.
It is indeed lament able, that for want of pay
ing due attention to the rights of the Mexican
Republic, so much blood should, inevitably,
have been spilt between two of the first Re
publics of this Continent, and it is with much
reason that your Excellency qualifies this war
as an unnatural one; not only on account of Its
motives, but likewise, if we consider the pre
cedents of the two nations, which are so per
fectly linked in interest and intercourse. The
proposal of an armistice which will terminate
this scandal, has been admitted with pleasure
by his Excellency, the President and General
in-Chief, since it will facilitate the hearing of
the proposals for terminating decorously this
war, to be made by the Envoy of the President
of the U. S. of America.
Inconsequence, his Excellency, the Presi
dent and General-in-Chief, orders mo to an
nounce to your Excellent 5% that he admits ol
the proposal of an armistice j and for that pur
pose has appointed the General of Brigade,
Don Ignacio Mora y Villamil and Don Benito
Quijano who will present themselves at the
hour and place appointed by you.
His Excellency, the President and General
in-Chief, likewise orders me to inform you this;
he admits of the American array’s taken posses
sion of comfortable and furnished quart us;hop
ing, however, that these will be out of the range
of the Mexican fortifications.
I have the honor to be, with the highest con
sideration and respect, your Excellency's most
obedient servant, t ALCERTA.
This is a copy, M anuel Maria de Sandoval.
Mexico, August 21, 1847.
| Correspondent of the. Times.\
YERA CRUZ, August 31st, 1847.
Gentlemen —The British Courier is in and
brings letters to the 29th instant, with intelli
gence that at last, negotiations for peace have
been commenced, and are carried forward in
e irncst, the Commissioners-having met for that
purpose, in a village hear the city of Mexico,
called San Juanico.
Bjut let us commence at the beginning or
rather at the point where I left off in* my last
letter.
On the 20th instant, General Scott turned’
the enemy’s Hank and advanced by the left to
the village of Tlalpan (or as it is called, San
Augustin, de las Cuevas A about ten or twelve
miles South of the city of Mexico. Valencia,
with about nine thousand troops taking a
position at a village half way between the city
and the American army.
During the night, Valencia amused himself
by firing a good deal of artillery, but without
any serious inconvenience to the Americans,
who again turned his position and attacked him
with the bayonet alone. In twenty-five minutes
Valencia’s force was scattered to the winds
with a great loss of infantry, and twenty-two
pieces of artillery* The cavalry suffered but
little, from the fact of having taken to their
heels as soon as the first gun was fired.
Valencia was more than half drunk, and had
spent the early part of the night in alternate
freaks of good and had humor; in one minute
cursing, and in the next promoting his officers,
and dispensing commissions on every hand.
Santa Anna seemed to be fearful of some ac
cident, and at one tipie sent an aid to caution i
him against the probable intentions of General
Scott, but old Valencia told, the messenger to
“go to (“va al carrajof )he could “take
care of his own division without Santa Anna’s J
assistance,” &c. Whenever any one of his of
ficers would brrng him a report of the movements I
of the Americans, he would drive them from
him with curses of “cowardice,” aud the worst
epithets in the vocabulary of Spanish black
guardism. To this fact is to be attributed, in
a great measure, the quick destruction of his
force, as he was utterly unprepared when the
attack was made.
After having thus disposed of Valencia’s
divison, Scott lost no time in turning upon
Santa Anna, who was close in the neighborhood;
but had been unable to reach the ground in
time to save or to assist Valencia. Here
the Americans were enabled to use their artil
lery to some advantage, and it was well they
could do so, for Santa Anna’s force was im
mense. The battle now raged, with great car
nage, for two hours, when it terminated in the
complete route of the Mexican army, the re
mains of which,in the utmost confusion, sought
refuge in the city.
General Scott dl l not see proper to advance,
and consequently took up his position at Ta
cubaya, but had he pushed forward, lam as
sured that he could have taken possession of
the city without meeting the slightest resis
tance. He was probably guided by the poli
cy of not driving the Mexicans to despair, for
* he could hardly be ignorant of the fact.
The loss on the Mexican side is'variously es
; timated at numbers between one and four
thousand killed, and six to ten thousand
I wounded and taken prisoners. Amongst our
1 prisoners taken is the company of foreigners
which deserted some time ago, under Captain
Riley'. General -Scott immediately ordered a
court martial to be convened for their trail,
I and it is probable that most of the company
will be shot.
Generals Salas, Anaya, and Rincon, arc
among our prisoners.
Our loss is as variously estimated as that
of the Mexicans. 'Some say it is one hundred
only, while others make it over a thousand,
killed. One officer, of whom I know nothing,
writes to a friend here, that he himself saw
a thousand corpses buried. I think some of
the thousand must have been Mexicans. —
Amongst our killed. I am sorry’ to say’ arc
eighteen officers, amongst whom are Colonel
Burnet, of Ntrw York, Colonel Butler, Captain
■ Thornton, (Vdrose captured, y r ou remember,
! commenced the war,) and Captain Johnson.
1 General Scott is said to have acted with great
magnanimity towards the flying enemy, and
gave especial orders to deal as lightly' as pos
; sible with the NationalGuard,a corps composed
of the most respectably citizens, and he proba
bly thought it a pity to injure so handsome and
so harmless a body'of men.
During the day aud night of the 21st, the
streets of the city' are represented as present-
I ! ing the most pitiable scenes that the imagina
tion could picture: crowded with wagon
loads of the wounded and dying, and resound
-1 ing with the cries of women and children. —
God forgive those who have been the cause of
this suffering: I feel that I never shall.
Santa Anna had hardly reached the city
1 when he despatched a flag of truce to Gen.
’ , Scott, with proposals for a temporary suspen
sion of hostilities,and the appointment of Com-
I missioners to agree upon terms of an armistice,
during which negotiations for peace might be
j opened. To this Gen. Scott assented, and
| sent out Generals Quitman, Persifor F. Smith,
! and Pierce, as his Commissioners, who were
met by Generals Mora y Villamil, and Benito
Quijana, on the part of Santa Anna.
| These gentlemen finished their labors on
; the night of the 23d, aud produced an agree
-1 ment of sixteen articles, herewith enclosed,
arranging an armistice, on terms fully as fa
vorable as the Mexicans had any right to ex
’ | pect. I have no time How to offer any' com
* ments on the document, but I must say there
| are one or two articles that I wish had been
omitted or erased.
In accordance with the object of the armis
’ tice, Santa Anna appointed four Commissioners
to meet the American Commissioners and pro
-1 j ceeded to negotiate. The persons appointed
are Generals Herrera, (the old President) and
' Mora y Villamil, and two lawyers, Senores
* C'outo, and Atristain. Os these, Herrera is
5 well known, and his name requires no remarks.
’ Mora y Villamil is a creature of Santa Anna’s.
’ a man of but little talent, and will be guided
,by the others to a great extent. Couto is a
Judge, I believe, in the Supreme Court of Ju
-1 dicaturc, but nothing is known of him here.—
’ Atristain, is also a lawyer, and a man of talent.
He is a strong friend to English interests,
1 i and in favor of peace as sincarcly as Herrera.
The terms of the propositions borne by Mr.
? 1 Trist are yet a secret. It is to be hoped that
they' are such as Herrera can conscientiously
’ | accept, and that thinking Mexicans will re-
L ' 1 ceive.
But there is yet much trouble in the pros-
B ! pect. lam afraid that some of the States will
‘ | secede, and new Governments swarm around
1 us, hostile to a settlement of our difficulties
* 1 on any reasonable grounds.
Already there are tw*o pronunciamentos
promulgated, one by Valencia at Toluco, whore
; he fled the day' of his defeat. Another by
£ ■ Paredes, who had gathered a few hundreds
of the discontented around him at Atlisco, and
i a third by Francisco Rebaud, commandant of
’ the port of Mazatlan, who had declared him
e self independent of the whole Republic. His
object, however, is only that of a robber, and
1 a small force will dispossess him, I fancy, in
. the course of a few months, or probably' as soon
as he has acquired a few hundred thousand
. dollars, he will abdicate. This Richard is well
3 known in New Orleans, where he resided for
some time a few years ago, during which he
fought two duels with Sentmanat.
t I forgot to say any thing of the respective
' forces of the two armies at the battles of the
21st, and I will now add that I have the high
est authority for placing our troops—that day
jin the field —at seven thousand men, Santa
| Anna and Valencia had not a man less than
' thirty thousand. General Worth, in a letter
I to a friend here, say's thirty two thousand, and
I believe him to be correct, if not below the
> mark.
1 The steamer Maty King stand is ordered to
b be held in readiness to take General Scott’s
, despatches, which may arrive to-night or not
within the next three days. The propeller
* ship Masschusetts will start to-morrow morn
: ing, and by her I shall send this unless the
Generals express should get in during the night
5- Very respectfully yours, Indicator.
YERA CRUZ, September 1,1847.
! Ge?Ulemcn. —In my hurried letter of yes-ter
, day, I omitted a number of the details, and
l some of a rather important character, and also
gave a series of dates which I am now con
vinced are wrong by twenty-four hours, the
f 20th receiving the 19th; and 21st, the 20th,
; &e.-
, The battle certainly commenced, as we first
1 heard, on the 19th. General Smith attacked
i an advanced body of some six or seven thou*
s sand Mexicans, on the morning of the 20th; at’
» . day*break> and defeated it with a, loss of but
; f«laymen on, his side, tuning three thousand
prisoners, twenty pieces of artillery, and kill- |
ing some six or seven hundred.
Generals .Pillow and Twiggs at the same
time advanced upon the road to San Angel
and Cqyucan, sp as to reach the rear of the;
Mexican position, in the neighborhood of
which General Worth soon arrived by another
route. General Shields, in the meantime, at
tacked and routed a body stationed at a ha
cienda near Tacubaya. . . ...
The Mexicans, driven, of rather leaving
without much driving, the positions which
; they had occupied,, concentrated their forces
at a place called, I believed’ Chavahus'co,where
they had three strong fortifications ejected.—
From these they were successively dislodged,
and the troops in the plain completely route 1
after an fiction, as I have stated, of two hours.
Santa,Anna retreated through the city of
I Mexico to Guadaloupe, under the natural im
pression that Gen. Scott would immediately
take possession of the city, and desirous to put
his valuable person in a safe place.’
Gen. Worth encamped that night within
! five miles of the city, but the next day tiled
otfto Tacubaya, where h<? was joined by the j
; main body of the army under General Scott.
The Armistice creates great dissatisfaction
in our army, particularly as it is misunder
| stood to have been the voluntary proposition
of General Scott. The facts seem to be these:
Santa Anna saw the necessity of procuring a
■ suspension of hostilities, but dared make no
proposition. The British Minister c.onscquent
j ly took upon himself the office of inducing
I Gen. Scott to write the desired proposal,
j which, with some apparent reluctance, and
much insolence, the Minister Alcorta received
i and answered, agreeing to send two commis-
I sioners to conclude the armistice, who were
I forthwith appointed.
The letters of General Scott and Alcorta I
send you iu Spanish, as I have not time to
translate them.
To increase the ill feeling with which the
| armistice was regarded, some of our wagon’s
! which were sent into the city on the 28th,
in accordance with agreement, for provisions,
were attacked, and driven back without goods;
and upon returning the next day, with orders
from the Mexican authorities to free them
from molestation, the mob attacked them in
the streets, and killed five or six of the team
sters and escort.
We learn that Major Lally is in Jalapa,
where he has been joined by Capt. Walker,
whose depredations are said to have been of e
character that would have done honor to Ja
rauta.
I have heard nothing of Besancon or Hen
derson’s detachments.
Very respectfully, yours,
Inuxcador.
VERA CRUZ. Sept. 1, 1847.
Gentlemen —Since writing you this day at
12 o’clock, I have learned that it is the inten
tion of the Mexicans to fall back to Gualda
hona, and there continue this war on a guer
rilla plan, headed by Gen. Paredes. It is re
ported that Gen. Santa Anna has been pro-
I nounced a traitor by Valencia and Paredes. We
have nothing to do but take the whole coun
! °
i try from them. •
The U. S. ship American this morning fired
; a salute of twenty-one guns in honor of the
| victory.
You will perceive that my former iuforma
! tion was correct.
Yoiirs, in haste; b. r. s.
[ Fro?)i the st.]
SANTA ANNA’S IVIANiFB STO,
Os the Battles of August 19 ani 20.
The following account of the battles of Cou
! treras and Chhrubiisco, although erroneous in
many particulars, shows in a stronger light
| than even the accounts of our own correspon
i dent, the splen'hd and decided nature of the
| late victories of Gen. Bcott. From the tenor
| of this, the {hrtiost and most spbdu -I doc'u
j meat which has been written during this war,
by the self-complacent and boastful Mexican,
it will be scim that Santa Anna still keeps up
his old habit of shuffling t ic responsibility oil
from his own upon the shoulders of art inferior
offi *er. Gen. Valencia is the Scanc-goat of the
battle of Chiirubirsca; as Minoii was of the
battle of Buena V ista;
; Os the President rid interim of the It ■■ public , and
j General-in-Chief of the Arm;/, lathe Nation.
In such solemn and Critical moments a;
, ; these, it is the duty of him who presides over
: the destinies of the Nation tri give publicity
' to passing events; and it is with greater plea
sure that I perform this duty, inasmuch as
frankness has ever been the character of ray
administration. The unfortunate events of
the 19th and 20th, arc only too well known;
and it only remains for me to present a review
i of them in order that they may not be distort -
, | ed, either by the spirit of detraction find malice,
or by that error which arises from an insuffi
cient analysis of affairs of the gravest and most
serious nature.
The Nation is aware of the great, the ert
i traordinary efforts which I have made within
the last three months for the defence of the
Capital that was about to full defenceless into
; the hands of the enemy. I have formed, arm
ed and equipped an army of more than 20,-
000 men; I have collected an immense amount
! of material for this army; have fortified vari
: ous points in order to keep at a distance from
Mexico the ravages of war; have created re
sources in the midst of the insulation to which
j the Government has been reduced, and no la
j bor, no fatigue have I spared in order that my
, i country might present itself with dignity aivl
firmness in the struggle to which it had been
. ! unjustly provoked.
In war, a mere accident, apparently the most
■ I insignificant trifle, may frustrate the best form
led combinations. A glance at the defences
which I established around the city is enough
I to discover the plan which I had proposed to
! myself. The forces which I had advanced by
One flank were supported on the other, were
suitably arranged in echelons, and had a con
venient and well known ground left open for
retreat. A certain General (Valencia) who
was in command of a strong division, consist
ing of 5000 men and 24 pieces of artillery,
whose headquarters were in the village of San
Angel, I ordered on the 18th, at 11 o’clock in
the morning, to fall back to the village of Coy
oncan, intending by this to concentrate the
forces in order to meet the movements already
! exhibited by the enemy, and to develope
promptly my plan of operations. But this
General, forgetting that there cannot be two
commanders-in-chiefs in the field of battle—
forgetting that the execution of a plan will
not admit of observations that render it nuga
tory, permitted himself to object to the orders
which he had received; and as obedience and
discipline so essential in military matters had
thus been banished from between us, it be
came necessary, for the evading of greater
evils which may be readily foreseen, to tolerate
what to consent to would appear an absurdity,
and thus, in spite of myself, I was forced to
let him go on, charging him with all the re
sponsibility of the result. As might have
been expected, this result was fatal. He mov
ed forward rnotu propria for more than a league
to choose a position whence he could go out to
meet the enemy, without informing me in the
least, either of the movement or of his designs, j
His refusal to comply with my directions was i
the first notice that I had of has temerity; and
immediately the explosion of cannon pointed
out his position, and at the same time gave me
to understand that he had engaged with the
enemy.. Although oppressed with the pre
sentiment of what was about to take place, I im- 1
mediately put myself at the head of a brilliant
brigade of 4000 men and 5 pieces of artillery.
I arrived at the moment when a considerable
force of the enemy had gained the rear of the
| unfortunate General’s position; and scarcely j
could I check their operations because it was
already near night.
But I noted with the most profound grief
that his position was an isolated one, that there
was a large barranca between us, that the
enemy occupied an intermediate wood, that
thelorce of my immediate command could not
advanee by the route left open without com
promising themselves iu the same manner as
the other had done, arid in short, it was only
with a battery that arrived late upon the field
that any thing could.be accomplished. The
fire having ceased, our brigade took up its
quarters in the adjoining village of San Angel,
for the rain fell in such torrents that to have
kept troops opt in the field would harve been as
| much as to insure their defeat. , -
i Before this, however, I directed my aid-de- 1
camp, Col. Ramiro, to go round the head of
the terrible barranca that lay in front, and by
i way of the skirt .of a distant hill, guided by 1
i the deputy, IX Jo’so Maria del Rio, who was
! well acquainted with the ground,, to hasten at
I the top of his speed to the camp of the said Gen
| eral rind , give him the most positive orders to
spike his artillery, which it was no longer pos
sible to save, and tp hill back that very night
upon San Angel with his infantry and cavalry,
by the only road that was left him. This ray
aid-de-camp did, communicating my orders
between 10 and 11 o’clock at; night;' .but in
stead of yielding implicit obedience, the said
General would hardly allow ray Aid.to speak,
interrupting him with his wants, which were
6000 men and munitions; and finally ho sent
him away with two official reports, signed and
i sealed, in one of whic h he states, that on the I
previous evening he had beaten the enemy—
! putting him to a shameful flight, and that, in
j consequence, ho had granted promotion to
! generals, chiefs and officers.
On the following morning I again appeared
j in the same field, reinforced by a brigade, which
j I had ordered from the Capital, with the de-
I sign of forcing the Pass at every hazard; but
I when I was commencing my operations the
enemy made their attack. It lasted ten min
i utes; and I witnessed, in the midst of despair,
; the defeat of those soldiers deserving of a bet
ter fate, who were unfortunately commanded
by a General who had cut himself off from as
i sistance.
The consequence of this defeat were to me
terrible: the enemy, by a rapid movement,
could now arrive at the Capital before it could
possibly be succored: he could, by a flank
movement, cut off my detachments: he could,
from the result of his victory, bring the whole
mass of his forces to bear upon a part of mine ;
and, in fine, from the insubordination and
want of skill of a single general, he turned to
his own account all the advantages of my po
sition.
The strong advance work of San Antonio
could not be defended because our line had
been cut; and I directed that the garrison
should withdraw while I was covering the fort
and tete de pant of Churubusco. The enemy
advanced, and, cutting off a part of the troops
that were in retreat, presented himself in front
of our most advanced entrenchments. Here
I again put myself at the head of our soldiers,
and my efforts cost the enemy the loss of no
little blood. Our losses, although lamentable,
were the natural consequences of a sudden re
treat, occasioned by the surprise, and embar
rassed by the trains which were passing along
the narrow causeway, flanked throughout its
whole extent. The defence was from line to
line. Until arriving at the third line where I,
in person, checked the enemy, and thus sav
ed the Capital, which had been so unexpect
edly expose Ito danger. While I was oc
cupying myself dii the 22d, with the re
organization of the forces and the manning of
the batteries again, pcrsoil illy at the head of
a column which could defeii I the Capital to
the last extreme, I received a communication
! from the general-in-chief of the enemy, pro
j posing tome an armistice that might give time
i to take into consideration the propositions
• wh’ch the Commissioner on the part of the
j Government of the' United States of America
may make with the view of terminating the
| contest between the two nations. I consent
ed; and after consulting with nay cabinet, I
1 have resolved that the said propositions shall
! be taken into consideration.
I The suspension of hostilities must always be
i regarded as a good, because war is always an
evil, and especially so when great combinations
I have been frustrated. To free the Capital from
i its horrors, or at least to delay them, was an
i exigency which it was not lawful for me to
evade, and still more so when it presented it
; self as a means for the arriving at an honora
, bleneace.
I When two nation’s are at war they enjoy the
reciprocal right of making propositions, and
; this supposes the obligation to entertain these
1 propositions. A perpetual war is an absurdi
: ty, for it is a calamity; and the instinct of self
preservation, still stronger and more powerful
| in nations than in individuals, counsels that
no means should be left untried that may con
| duce to an advantageous agreement. For the
adoption of this course, the Constitution has
given me the competent authority.
Consecrated to these noble and privileged
interests,it is incumbent upon me to maintain,
at every peril, the prestige and respect of the
supreme authority which I exercise, and at
this time especially, when, if persecuted by
factions and assailed in the freedom of deliber
ating, it might fall into a nullity in the pres
; ence of the enemies of the nation. I will be
still more explicit : subversion and sedition
shall be exemplarily punished.
I preserve a respectable body of troops, and
the nation will aid me in the maintenance of
its decorum and the vindication of its glory.
I consider myself as free as if I had j ust gain
ed a signal victory; and there is no fear that
the negotiations of the enemy may impose upon
me unless I am surprised by their troops and
artillery. We shall compose our differences
if our honor has been first saved; and we will
even fight again if the sword should be inter- 1
posed between our justice and the acknowledg
ment of the rights of the nation.
[Signed] Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
Mexico, Aug. 23,1847.
The Killed, Wounded and IVSissing*.
The following mournful list shows at what "j
immense sacrifice the late glorious victories of
Gen. Scott have been achieved. No less than
1017 of orir brave soldiers were killed or
wounded on these Moody fields. Among them
are some of our best officers, who in their I
eagerness to gain laurels and incite their men
to deeds of prowess, have exposed their per
sons to constant peril and injury. It is how
ever a source of some alleviation to the public
grief, to observe that the proportion of killed
to the wounded is smaller in these late severe
engagements than in our previous battles.—
We observe, however, that many of the wound- |
ed are severely so, and the number of deaths
of those wounded, from the nature of the arms
mostly used by the Mexicans,(heavy artillery,)
must be very great.
In another column we give some particular
notices of the principal officers among the kill
ed and wounded.
First Division.
[We have not room for tire Ust of all the
killed and wounded, arid must be content to
publish the commissioned officers-only. The
list of killed and wounded in the South Caro
lina Regiment, are given in full.— Ed. Con.]
! Return of the Killed, Wounded and Missing; in the
i First Ihvision, commanded by Maj. Gen. Worth.
Recapitulation. —Killed, Commissioned Offi
cers, none; Non-Commissioned do. 5; Musi
cians and Privates, 32. Wounded, Commis
sioned Officers, 13; Non-Commissioned do. 41;
j Privates, &c., 235. Missing, Privates, 10.—
1 Aggregate, 333.
Second Division-—*Gen. Twiggs.
Retw nos the Killed, Wounded and Missing of the Ist
Brigade,%i Division, in the actions of the 1 9th and
20/.', Aug., 1817, at Contreras and Ckuruhusco.
Killed —Cant. E. A. Capron, co. B, Ist art.;
Capt. N. J. Burke, co. D, Ist art.; 2d Lieut. S.
Hoffman, co. F, Ist art.
Wounded —Capt. J. S. Hathaway, co. 11, Ist
art. slightly; Capt. L. S. Craig, co. A, 3d inf.,
severely; Capt. D. T. Chandler, co. I, 3d inf.;
Ist Lieut, and Adj. Don Carlos Buell, staff, 3d
inf., severely? Ist Lieut. M. E. Van Buren, co.
K, M. Rifles, slightly.
Recapitulation. — Killed —Rifles, 4; Ist Artil
lery, 10; 3d Infantry, 5—19. Wounded —Ri-
-1 lies, 10; Ist Ar., 16; 3d Inf*, 28—54. Missing
—Rifles, 3,' Ist Art., 1; 3d Inf., B—l 2. Total,
| 85.
Second Brigade,
4ni Artillery. — Wounded —2d Lieut. Col
lins, co. C, severely.
2d Infantry.-* ■Killed —Capt. Jas. W. An
derson, co. II; 2d Lieut. Thos. Easly, co. K.
Wounded —Capt. Jos. R, Smith, co. B, se
verely—twice; Capt. A. W. Wessels, co. G,
slightly; Ist Lieut. J. Hayden, A. I). C., slight
ly; Ist Lieut. B. P. Tildcn, co. G, slightly—
twice; Ist Lieut. C. S. Lovell, co. E, slightly
—twied
7th Infantry — Killed —Capt. Charles Han
son, co. E. Wounded —Capt. K. 31. Ross, co.
D, severely; Ist Lieut. C. 11. Humber, co. B.
Total in Second wound
el, 126; missing, 4. Engineer Company—
| Wounded 4; missing 4. Total, 158.
! Company K, 1.5/ Art. — 1 Light Battery 2d Division
Severely Wounded-r- Ist. Lieut. J. G. Martin,
2d Lieut. Edward C. Boy ton.
Total—Hilled, 2; wounded 23. 15 horses
killed or totally disabled; 3 severely and 5
slightly wounded.
Third Divinon—Gen* Pillow
Return of killed , wounded and missing in the ac
tions of the 19 fh and 20-7 t August, 1847, near
the City of Mexico, of the ls£ Brigade , 3d Di
vision, commanded by Brig. Gen. Pierce.
9th Regiment Infantry, Col. T. B. Ran
son — Wounded Severely —Lt. W. N. Newman,
I Lt. A. F. Palmer, Lt. Cranum.
12th Infantry, Lt. Col. M. L. Bonha^. —
I Wounded Slightly —Capt. N. B. lloMcri, 2d Lt
| Jno. C. Limpkins.
15tii Infantry, Col. G. W. Morgan. —
Killed —Lt. John D. Goodman. Wounded
i Mortally—Capt. Augustus Quarels, Lt. Win.
11. 11. Goodloe. Wounded Severe!} —Col. G.
W. Morgan. .Wounded Slightly—Lts. Chas.
Peterneil, J. R. Benncll.
Recapitulation. Commissioned Officers :
Killed 1; wounded, 11; missing I. Non-com
missioned Officers and Privates : Killed, 11;
wounded, 124; missing, 10.—Total, 158.
Second Brigade.
Rocket and Howitzer Battery, Lt. F.
D. Callender. —Wounded Ist Lt. F. D.
Callender.
| South Carolina Regiment, Col. P. M.
Butler. — Field and Staff. —Killed Col. P. M.
Butler. Wounded Severely—Lt. Col. Dick
inson. Wounded Slightly—Capt. James D.
Blanding, Ad’t. Jis.. Cantey.
Company A. —Killed—Captain C. Wilder.
Wounded MortaTy—Thomas Black. Wound
ed Severely—2d Ls. S. Sumter, Corp’l. W.
T. Norton, Privates B. Caughmah, J. M. Smith.
Wounded Slightly—C. H. Moody, E. Hunt,
Jas. Dunn.
Comping B. —Killed—Private W. R. Davis.
Wounded Severely—Corp’l. E. C. Postell,
Privates Thos. Charles, D. McHenry, Jas.
Young, Jas. Fan sett. Wounded Slightly—
Serg’t. G. W. Curtis, Corp’l. A. J. Hood, Pri
vates T. Cahill, J. Connor, T. E. Dallas, T. O.
Estes, J. M. Hood, T. Robbins, S. Terrell.
Company C. —Killed Private ITitton, —
Wounded Severely—2d. Lt. R. S. Billings,
Serg’ts. Gay, George Waters; Corp Ts. Gaston,
Horton; Privates Bradley, Hunter, Meggs.
Str itton, Sid well, Yillipigue. Wounded
Slightly—Capt. R. S. Moffatt, Privates Bal
-1 ml, Wooten, Humphreys,
Comping I). —Killed —2d Lt. David Adams,
Private Thos. F. Tillman. Wounded severe
ly—2d Lieut. Joseph Abney, Corp’l. AY. B.
Brooks, Privates Jas. Joss, J. Whittaker. J.
j. Addison, F. Posey, R. J. Key, W. F. Un
thank. Wounded Slightly—Privates J. Lark,
E. Link ins, R. Sloman,
Company F.— Wounded Severely—Serg’ts.
J. D. Walker, J. N. Hicks; Corp’l. J. McCol
lum, Privates Carson, Hartman, Murken, Va
lentino, Gilbert, Mackey, Pratt, Weatherby,
Vanney, Wagner. Wounded Slightly—CorpT.
J. F. Quinn, Privates Miott, Wright.
Company G. —Wounded Severely—lst Lt.
j J. 11. Clark, Ser’t. Row, CorpT. MeCrcight,
Privates M. Harper, T. 11. Reynolds, J. Mc-
Niel, J. Cain, W. B. MeCreight, M. B. Travis,
M. B. Stanley, R. J. Barber, R. J. Gladney,
S. Alexander, Wm. Nelson. Wounded Slight
ly—2d Lts. J. W. Steen, J. R. Davis, CorpT.
Myers, Privates S. F. Bone, S. Camak, S. New
man, W. J. Sanders, W. M. Goodlct, J. Rorn
edy.
Company IT. Killed Privates Timothy
Kelly, Shedrick Wiggins. Wounded Severe
ly—Privates J. Kennedy, Wm. Mooney, R. H.
Corlv, W. S. Johnson, AY. F. Purse; W. Dco
lin, T. Price, E. Price, J. B. Cantwell, R.
Waddell, J. F. Watts, AY. Barkclow.—
AVounded Slightly —Capt. AY. D. Desaussure,
Serg’ts. 11. Beard, J. L. Percival, J. M. Miller,
T. Beggs; Privates M. Brown, H. J. Caugh
man, J. Campbell, J. T. Lupe, E. G. Ran
dolph, J. D. Standford, D. Pollock.
Company K. —Killed —2d Lt. W. R, AVil
liams, Private John Slattery. AA r ounded
Mortally—Privates Bernard Gregan, J. Baugh
j man. Wounded Slightly—CorpT. AY. B*
Eaves.
Company L. —Killed —Serg’t. Jas. Denson.
AVounded Severely—CorpT. J. A. Speers,
Privates AY. Shephard, C. Wood, M. B. O-
Ncale, G. H. Abney, M. Clopton. AVounded
Slightlv—Privates B. 11. Maitis, J. AYarner.
Total, 137.
Fourth Division—Gen. Quitman;
Report of the killed and wounded in the Ist Regi
ment V. S. Volunteers of New York.
Col. AVard B. Burnett, severely wounded.
Co. E. —Killed —Lt. E. Chandler.
Co* G —AA’ounded—lst Lt. Chas. H. Lmis,
slightly.
1 Co. H. —AA’ounded —2d Lt. Jacob Griffin,
jun., slightly.
Co. /.—Wounded —Capt. Morton Fairchild,
slightly; 2d Lt. James D. Porter, severely.
Co. K. —AVounded —Capt. G. Dickman, se
verely; Ist Lt. Jas. S. McCabe, slightly; 2d
Lt. Malowhousky, do.
Killed —Commissioned offices, 1; non-com
missioned, 4; privates 11. AVounded —com-
missioned officers, 9; non-commissioned 9; pri
' vates, 68. Missing —1 private. Total, 103..
Dragoons attached to the Head Quarters of Gen.
Scott.
Capt. Thornton, co. F. 2d Dragoons, killed;
Lieut. Graham, wounded.
Col. Pierce TtL Butler.
The death of this gallant South Carolinian,
the representative on the bloody field of Chur
ubasco, of as noble a race of horoes as. any
country has produced, will create a profound
and extended sorrow in this country.* He has
been for a long time a conspicious and promi
hent citizen of South Carolina, and was noted
for his great resolution and indomitable cour
age. He possessed military qualities of the
highest order, and gave promise of great suc
cess -and distinction in a career which, alas! ter
~ —^^sseamrizzanszzsEsya. 'i£zrsrs*
urinated at its very commencement. Col.
Butler had been very ill for several days previ
ous to the battle, but when he heard that the
1 almetto flag was going into the fight; unac
companied by him to whose special charge it
had been committed, he broke loose from his
physicians, abandoned his sick couch, and
weak, ghastly, and almost fainting, mounted
his charger, and placed himself at the head of
his regiment. AVith such an example, men far
less ardent and gallant than the South Caro
linian would have been prompted to deeds of
superhuman daring. But there was no such
incitement necessary to impel the sons of tho
‘’Harry Hotspur of the Union,” as Prentiss
once styled the gallant Palmetto State, to the
most brilliant and conspicuous display of mili
tary qualities. Their services are fully noted
in another part of our paper. Col, Butler,
through twice badly wounded and weighed
down by faintness and loss of blood, maintain
ed his position until a third wound caused his
death.
Lieut. Col. Dickinson, who was the first officer
wounded at A'era Cruz, also signalized his valor
on this occasion, and was again badly wound
ed.
" .i
Ihe Cerro Gordo Division. —The heroes of
Cerro Gordo, led by their noble old General,’
the white-haired veteran, Twiggs, won freshl
laurels in both the battles of Contreras and
Churubusco. The never-failing judgment o:
this experienced and tried officer contributed
largely to orir success on these occasions. The
division which he commanded is one of the
bravest which ever went into battle, and victory*
has never failed to perch on its bairn r.
Capt Soth B, Thornton.
This iritreped dragoon officer, who was the
first to begin this war, was, alas! the first to
sacrifice his life in the late march of our army
from Puebla. The circumstances of his death
will be found fully detailed in the letters of our
correspondents. Like Col. Butler, ho left a bed
of sickness, to meet the foe, upon whom he
warmly desired to avenge the treachery by
which ho had been betrayed in tho commence -
ment of this war. Iltf was killed by a cannon
ball, iu a reconoissance, several days before the
battle.
AVc knew Seth Thornton well. lie wa# a
companion and schoolmate of our early days,
and a braver and more warm-h rarted soul never
animated a human frame. He was born in
Caroline county, Virginia, and at his death, was
about thirty-three years of age. Young as he
was. Iris life had been a checkered and eventful
one. AYe doubt whether there is any man now
living who has passed safely through so many
and such imminent perils and trials as have
marked the life of Capt. Thornton.
Some years ago he was a passenger, when
quite a youth, on the ill-fated Pulaski, and
when that steamer took fire, he was nearly the
last to leave her. AYhcn others thought only
of saving their own lives, he thought only of
saving the lives of the fair women and children
on board. AYhcn all the passengers had been
sent off in boats and on spars, Capt. Thornton,
having first securely tied his body to a hen
coop, threw himself into the sea. AY hi Ist in
the water, he picked up several men, whom hri
also succeeded in fastening to the coop, and
thus they floated for many a long and weary
hour, exposed to a burning sun, arid without
a particle of food. One by one his companions
dropped off, and perished in the sea. Thornton
only remained; and at last, famished and re
duced to a state of raving insanity, he was
picked up by some boats and taken ashore.—*
For along time his life was in.great danger
from delirum and fever consequent upon his
intense sufferings and exposure. But here
covered, and the next time we hear of him is
in the Florida war, where he passed through
many extraordinary perils, and distinguished
himself as a most gallant and active officer. In
the boginn : i?g of this wgr, Capt. Thornton was
selected by Gen. Tayloi fira very delicate and
difficult duty, the full nature ari l results of
which arc familiar to our readers. Loss sum
mer, being ryaevc l from duty, he came home
on a short visit, but as soon as he reached,
Washington, earnestly entreated AVarD *part
ment to allow him to take, th * Arid of active
operations. His wish was gran to I, and he hur
ried b ick to the scene of war, and eagerly*,
sought an opportunity of distinguishing him
self.
Capt. Thornton, though ever in tlm front or
danger, and reckless of all perils an I obstacles,
was by no means physically a vigorous or*
muscular man. On the contrary, he was of.
small and delicate structure, and of weakly,
constitution. But his bold and maul}* spirit
made him always ready to dare every danger,
and assume the most trying and perilous po
sitions which could he pointed out to him.
But alas! poor Scuth, he is gone —cutoff, not
as his brave heart panted for, in the glorious
conflict of arms, at the head of his bold Dra
goons—lris bloody sabre flaming in tho sun
beams, and the frighteried foe flying before his
avenging arm —birt in a mere , recqnrioissance,
by an accidental cannon shot, and when no’
enemy was in sight, his brave spirit wag loos
ened from its mortal tenement; and thus he fell,
noth his face to the foe. Peace to his manes—
immortality to his memory.
Peace! — Peace! I —AVc are informed that our
contemporaries of La Patrla have late news from
the City* of Mexico, to the effect that articles of
peace had been signed by Mr. Trist and the Mexi
can Commissioners. —A. O. Delta , 9 th inti.
Gen. Scott was slight}' wounded at Chu
rubusco. AYe arc happy to hear that the gal
lant old General was so little troubled by his
wound that he would not even acknowledge it
until the battle was decided. — lb.
21 n 9 us ta, Georgia.
WEDNESDAY WIDENING, SEPT. IS
FOR GOVERNOR
HON. G. W. TOWNS.
OF T VLKOr.
|Tcj~AVc received no p apers from New York
by last evening’s mail.
editorials and several communi
cations are excluded to make room for the in
teresting particulars which we copy, of the*
late battles and their results.
R- L. Gamble returned to out
city last evening, in good health, and took
lodgings at the Mansion House.
Col. Towns and the State Road.
A correspondent of the Atlanta Misreilanyt
signing himself “L” gives currency to the fol
lowing barefaced and unblushing falsehoods
The. portion of his communication contain
ing it is as follows
“Col.. Towns is very- profuse in making pro
mises in. relation to the State Road. A gentle
man has just informed mis that the Col.'has pledg
ed himself ter a few men in this part of the State if
elected to oppose the extension of the road and to
veto any and all bills passed for that purpose. I
think this should be inquired into. If such is the
fact , it will strike a death blow to the Road.-
This is-a; sheer fabrication. It is made out of
whole cloth. As soon as our eye lighted uppn
it,we knew that it was Arise. From our personal
knowledge of Col. Towns’ views on the subject*