374 Extract From Scott's Official Report. the enemy had actually engaged on the spot 7,000, with at least 12,000 more hovering within sight and striking distance, both on the 19th and the 20th. "All not killed or captured now fled with precipitation. Thus was the great victory of Contreras achieved; our road to the capital opened; 700 of the enemy killed; 813 prisoners, including eighty-eight officers, four generals, besides various colors and standards, twenty-two pieces of brass ordnance, half of large calibre, thousands of small arms and accoutrements, an immense quantity of shot and shell, powder and cartridges, 700 pack mules, and many horses-all in our hands." Having given orders for the prisoners and public property to be collected, General Smith ordered the pursuit of the enemy, and was forming the various columns when General Twiggs arrived, and reiterating the instructions already given for a vigorous pursuit, all save a small guard moved forward. A brief reference will be made to a few of the details of this remarkable battle. Riley having reached the designated position in rear of the enemy's right, closed ranks, faced by the left flank preparatory to the advance, believing the ravines known to be in front, could be more readily passed in that formation. A moment before the advance was to begin, he received an order from General Smith to form his brigade in two columns of attack; the one on the right commanded by Major Gardner, Fourth Artillery, was composed of his regiment and three divisions of the Second Infantry, that on the left commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Plympton, was composed of two divisions of the Second Infantry and the whole of the Seventh Infantry. The column formed was "double column, at half distance," the Fourth Artillery at the head of the right and the Second Infantry at the head of the left col umn. The two columns moved forward under Colonel Riley, and continued to advance until met by the enemy's infantry under General Mendoza, thrown forward to oppose; the columns were halted and deployed into line, under fire from the enemy's infantry and discharges of grape from his battery. As soon as the deployment was completed the advance was resumed, continued in face of this infantry and artillery fire, and drove Courage of the Enlisted Men. 375 the enemy back into and out of his works. The regiments of Riley's brigade entered the batteries nearly simultaneously; Captain Casey, who commanded the leading division of the left column, Second Infantry, and who was among the first to enter them, captured two pieces of artillery, and pushing forward with Captain Wessells and Lieutenant Lyon in pursuit, a number of white flags were raised, and 200 men surrendered. Captain Drum, Fourth Artillery, was the first of his regiment to enter the batteries and place his hand upon two guns, which proved to be the two lost at Buena Vista. The color bearers of the Fourth Artillery and Second Infantry, Sergeants Goodwin and Daily, were both killed within less than one hundred yards of the enemy's works, each bearing his colors to the front with the courage of true soldiers. Lieutenant Benjamin, Fourth Artillery, seized the colors of his regiment, and bore them forward into the batteries under a heavy fire. Captain Wessells of the Second Infantry took the colors of his regiment from the hands of the dead sergeant, and although wounded, pushed to the front into the hostile batteries and planted them upon the crest of the works. The Seventh Infantry, on the left of the line, after deployment, moved with the other two regiments* exposed alike to artillery and infantry fire; its colors, borne bravely by Sergeant Bradley, were planted upon the works before those, as claimed, of the Second Infantry and Fourth Artillery; the three regiments rushed together into the works, capturing the cannon, pursuing the enemy on the road beyond, and delivering a terrible and destructive fire on his rear. Captain Paul, Lieutenants Gantt, and E. K. Smith, all of the Seventh Infantry, with their companies, pursued the enemy some distance and captured a number of prisoners. The loss in Riley's brigade in the assault was eighty-three killed and wounded; among the former was Captain Hanson, Seventh Infantry, whose death was lamented by all who knew * Second Lieut. W. H. Tyler, who was detached from his company when the regiment took its place in line to move into position preparatory to the attack, gallantly brought his detachment in action with the Third Infantry. him; the regimental, brigade, and division commanders referred to him in their reports in the most befitting and complimentary terms, and of him the general-in-chief says: "He was not more distinguished for gallantry than for modesty, morals, and piety." Of the wounded were Captain Ross, Seventh Infantry, severely; Lieutenant Collins, Fourth Artillery; Captain Wessells, Second Infantry; Lieutenants Lovell and Tilden, of the same regiment, slightly. Two companies of the Eleventh Infantry (of Cadwalader's brigade), under Major Hunter, were thrown to the right of the attacking column to oppose a cavalry force under General Blanco, and the remainder of that regiment was ordered to follow and support Riley's brigade. The adjutant of the regiment, Lieut. D. S. Lee, was wounded in the charge. The Voltigeur regiment, ordered to follow Riley's brigade and support his attack, after crossing the ravine intervening between his troops and the enemy's, was directed to move so as to come up on the right of Riley's brigade, join in the attack, and prevent the enemy's escape on that side; and in reaching that position it was subjected to artillery fire, but by the time it had gained it the enemy had been driven from their works, and the Eleventh and Fifteenth of this brigade, being in rear, made every exertion to get up, but were too late to participate in the main battle. The First brigade (Smith's) followed Cadwalader's; its march took it obliquely past the enemy's left and some 800 yards from it, being but partially screened; as it was now daylight, its approach was discovered, and as the brigade filed past, a large cavalry force drew up on the left of their line. As the Third Infantry arrived opposite this point, the leading brigade became engaged, the cavalry changed position, and the Third Infantry and First Artillery were ordered to face to the right and attack the enemy's left flank. The order was obeyed with spirit and the whole battle was successful, the enemy being thoroughly routed. The New York and South Carolina regiments, under Shields, remained at San Geronimo, and at daylight a hostile force opened fire upon the village from a battery in Valencia's camp, which the Mexican commander supposed to be still occupied by the force seen in it at nightfall of the General Mendoza a Prisoner. 377 19th. A like fire was directed across the pedrigal, the enemy being unconscious, apparently, of his rear being reached and of the attack about to be made from that direction. This last mentioned fire was upon the troops ordered to display upon the pedrigal to attract the enemy's attention. and divert it from the concentration and formation then going on in his rear. Valencia's artillery fire continued in the direction of San Geronimo and across the pedrigal until Riley had formed, and, rising up from the ravine, advanced upon his rear and opened fire, moving forward rapidly at the same time. The enemy was soon routed and driven from his position, with the loss of every gun, camp equipage, and all public supplies, leaving many dead and over 1,000 prisoners. General Shields threw the Palmetto regiment over a deep ravine, down to and across the main highway leading to the Mexican capital, and the New York regiment further to the left; the former poured in upon the confused masses as they hurried down the road, a rapid and well directed fire, and the New York regiment became engaged, also firing with effect. Many prisoners were captured at this point; among them Gen. D. Nicholas Mendoza. In the meantime a large cavalry force moved along the road from the city as if to attack, and dispositions were made to meet it, but it faced about and retired. CHAPTER XVII. ENGAGED BATTLE OF CHURUBUSCO. CONVENT OF SAN PABLO. Leaving details to guard prisoners and captured property, pursuit of the panic-stricken enemy was ordered, Smith's brigade leading, with the Mounted Rifles and Engineer Company at its head. Near a large building between the battlefield and San Angel, the Rifles and Mexicans exchanged a few shots, and as the head of Smith's brigade approached, the former were thrown forward and entered it upon the heels of the retreating lancers, with but little firing, the town being quickly abandoned. Major-General Pillow reached the head of the column as the troops approached San Angel, and assumed command. At Coyoacan General Scott joined, having previously or dered his columns to halt there, and as he rode along, passing the different regiments and brigades, was cheered enthusiastically by the soldiers. Churubusco was over a mile in front of Coyoacan (map XII), two miles southeast was San Antonio, the former on the road from San Angel, the latter on that from San Augustin, each leading by Churubusco to the city, and a good wagon road connected Coyoacan and San Antonio. Immediately upon arrival at Coyoacan General Scott despatched Captain Lee, with Capt. Phil Kearny's company of First Dragoons, supported by one company of the Mounted Rifles under Lieut. Alfred Gibbs, mounted on horses captured from Valencia, to |