Battle of Contreras.

(South Carolina and New York volunteers,) against ten times his numbers on the side of the city, including the slopes to his left, and, in case the camp in his rear should be carried, to face about and cut off the flying

enemy.

At three o'clock, a. M., the great movement commenced on the rear of the enemy's camp, Riley leading, followed successively by Cadwalader's and Smith's brigades, the latter temporarily under the orders of Major Dimick of the 1st artillery—the whole force being commanded by Smith, the senior in the general attack, and whose arrangements, skill, and gallantry, always challenge the highest admiration.

The march was rendered tedious by the darkness, rain, and mud; but about sunrise, Riley, conducted by Lieutenant Tower, engineer, had reached an elevation behind the enemy, whence he precipitated his columns ;stormed the intrenchments, planted his several colours upon them, and carried the work-all in seventeen minutes.

Conducted by Lieutenant Beauregard, engineer, and Lieutenant Brooks, of Twiggs's staff, both of whom, like Lieutenant Tower, had, in the night, twice reconnoitered the ground-Cadwalader brought up to the general assault, two of his regiments-the voltigeurs and the 11th, and at the appointed time, Colonel Ransom, with his temporar y brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, engineer, not only made the movement to divert and to distract the enemy; but, after crossing the deep ravine in his front, advanced, and poured into the works and upon the fugitives, many volleys from his destructive musketry.

In the mean time Smith's own brigade, under the

Battle of Contreras.

teinporary command of Major Dimick, following the movements of Riley and Cadwalader, discovered, opposite to, and outside of the works, a long line of Mexican cavalry, drawn up as a support. Dimick, having at the head of the brigade the company of sappers and miners, under Lieutenant Smith, engineer, who had conducted the march, was ordered by Brigadier-General Smith, to form line faced to the enemy, and in a charge against a flank, routed the cavalry.

Shields, too, by the wise disposition of his brigade and gallant activity, contributed much to the general résults. He held masses of cavalry and infantry, supported by artillery, in check below him, and captured hundreds, with one general, (Mendoza,) of those who fled from above.

I doubt whether a more brilliant or decisive victory—

taking into view, ground, artificial defenses, batteries, and the extreme disparity of numbers-without cavalry or artillery on our side-is to be found on record. Including all our corps directed against the intrenched camp, with Shields's brigade at the hamlet, we positively did not number over four thousand five hundred rank and file; and we know, by sight and since, more certainly by many captured documents and letters, that the had actually engaged on the spot seven thousand with at least twelve thousand more hovering with

enemy

men,

in sight, and striking distance-both on the 16th and 20th. All, not killed or captured, now fled with pre

cipitation.

Thus was the great victory of Contreras achieved; one road to the capital opened; seven hundred of the enemy killed; eight hundred and forty-three prisoners,

Results of the battle.

including, among eighty-eight officers, four generals; besides many colours and standards; twenty-two pieces of brass ordnance-half of large calibre; thousands of small arms and accoutrements; an immense quantity of shot, shells, powder, and cartridges; seven hundred pack mules, many horses, &c., all in our hands.

It is highly gratifying to find that, by skilful arrangement, and rapidity of execution, our loss in killed and wounded, did not exceed, on the spot, sixty-among the former the brave Captain Charles Hanson, of the 7th infantry-not more distinguished for gallantry, than for modesty, morals, and piety. Lieutenant J. P. Johnstone, 1st artillery, serving with Magruder's battery-a young officer of the highest promise, was killed the evening before.

One of the most pleasing incidents of the victory is the recapture, in the works, by Captain Drum, 4th artillery, under Major Gardner, of the two brass six pounders, taken from another company of the same regiment, though without the loss of honour, at the glorious battle of Buena Vista—about which guns the whole regiment had mourned for so many long months! Coming up, a little later, I had the happiness to join in the protracted cheers of the gallant 4th on the joyous event, and, indeed, the whole army sympathizes in its just pride and exultation.

The battle being won before the advancing brigades of Worth's and Quitman's divisions were in sight, both were ordered back to their late positions-Worth, to attack San Antonio, in front, with his whole force, as soon as approached in the rear, by Pillow's and Twiggs's divisions-moving from Contreras, through San Angel

Battle of Churu! usco.

and Coyoacan. By carrying San Antonio we knew that we should open another—a shorter and better road to the capital; for our siege and other trains.

Accordingly, the two advanced divisions and Shields's brigade marched from Contreras, under the immediate orders of Major-General Pillow, who was now joined by the gallant Brigadier-General Pierce of his division, personally thrown out of activity, late the evening before, by a severe hurt received from the fall of his horse.

After giving necessary orders on the field, in the midst of prisoners and trophies, and sending instructions to Harney's brigade of cavalry, left at San Augustin, to join me, I personally followed Pillow's movement.

Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by a cross road, from the rear of San Antonio, I first detached Captain Lee, engineer, with Captain Kearney's troop, 1st dragoons, supported by the rifle regiment, under Major Loring, to reconnoiter that strong point, and next despatched Major-General Pillow, with one of his brigades (Cadwalader's) to make the attack upon it, in concert with MajorGeneral Worth, on the opposite side.

At the same time, by another road to the left, Lieutenant Stevens, of the engineers, supported by Lieutenant G. W. Smith's company of sappers and miners, of the same corps, was sent to reconnoiter the strongly fortified church or convent of San Pablo, in the hamlet of Churubusco one mile off. Twiggs with one of the brigades, and Captain Taylor's field battery, were ordered to follow and attack the convent. Major Smith, senior, engineer, was despatched to concert with Twiggs the mode and means of attack, and Twiggs's other brigade, I soon ordered up to support him.