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Thy Casa Mata blown up.

infantry force was discovered approaching rapidly upon our left flank, to reinforce the enemy's right. As soon as Duncan's battery was masked, as before mentioned, supported by Andrews's voltigeurs, of Cadwalader's brigade, it moved promptly to the extreme left of our line, to check the threatened assault on this point. The enemy's cavalry came rapidly within canister range, when the whole battery opened a most effective fire, which soon broke the squadrons, and drove them back in disorder. During this fire upon the enemy's cavalry, Major Sumner's command moved to the front, and changed direction in admirable order, under a most appalling fire from the Casa Mata. This movement enabled his command to cross the ravine immediately on the left of Duncan's battery, where it remained, doing noble service until the close of the action. At the very moment the cavalry were driven beyond reach, our own troops drew back from before the Casa Mata, and enabled the guns of Duncan's battery to reopen upon this position; which, after a short and well-directed fire, the enemy abandoned. The guns of the battery were now turned upon his retreating columns, and continued to play upon them until beyond reach.

He was now driven from every point of the field, and his strong lines, which had certainly been defended well, were in our possession. In fulfilment of the instructions of the commander-in-chief, the Casa Mata was blown up, and such of the captured ammunition as was useless to us, as well as the cannon moulds found in El Molino del Rey, were destroyed. After which my command, under the reiterated orders of the general-in-chief, returned to quarters at Tacubaya, with three of the enemy's

Mexican loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners.

four guns, (the fourth, having been spiked, was rendered unserviceable ;) as also a large quantity of small arms, with gun and musket ammunition, and exceeding eight hundred prisoners, including fifty-two commissioned officers.

By concurrent testimony of prisoners the enemy's force exceeded fourteen thousand men commanded by General Santa Anna in person. His total loss killed, (including the second and third in command, Generals Valdarez and Leon,) wounded and prisoners, amounts to three thousand, exclusive of some two thousand who deserted after the rout.

My command, reinforced as before stated, only reached three thousand one hundred men of all arms. The contest continued two hours, and its severity is painfully attested by our heavy loss of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, including in the first two classes some of the brightest ornaments in the service.

It will be seen that subordinate commanders speak in the warmest terms of the conduct of their officers and men, to which I beg leave to add my cordial testimony. There can be no higher exhibition of courage, constancy, and devotion to duty and to country.

These operations occurring under the observation of the general-in-chief, gives assurance that justice will be done to the noble officers and soldiers whose valour achieved this glorious but dear-bought victory. Commending the gallant dead, the wounded, and the few unscathed to the respectful memory of their countrymen, and the rewards due to valour and conduct, I present the names of those especially noticed by the subordinate

His achievements at Monterey.

commanders, uniting in all they have said, and extending the same testimony to those not named."

The history of the terrible conflict at Chapultepec, where none but the invincible were fit to fight, we have already given in the words of General Scott. The general's whole account is a tribute to the skill and bravery of General Worth.

We cannot better close this sketch of General Worth's achievements, than by the following extract from the eloquent work of Samuel C. Reid, Esq., "Scouting` Expeditions with McCulloch's Texas Rangers." Speaking of General Worth and his position at Monterey, after the cavalry fight on the 21st, by which the gorge of the Saltillo road was taken, he says, "the position General Worth then occupied might have been considered as critical as it was dangerous. Separated from the main body of the army-his communication cut off, and no possible route less than eight miles to regain it with but scanty supplies of provision for only four dayssurrounded by gorges and passes of the mountains from whose summits belched forth the destructive shot, shell, and grape; he was liable at any moment to be attacked by an overwhelming force in the direction of Saltillo, which had been reported to be daily expected, and which would have placed his command in the very jaws of the enemy. For although holding the passes and gorges of the Saltillo road, yet a superior force from the advance would certainly have forced him back to, and have turned upon him, the very passes which he then held. It was feared, too, from his impetuous nature that he would rush his command into unnecessary danger by some rash and desperate attempt. But it was not so.

His achievements at Monterey.

He was collected, calm, and cool, and bore himself with that proud, resolute and commanding mien, giving his orders with promptness and decision which inspired men and officer alike with confidence. He never appeared better than on that day; and all felt that with WORTH they were sure of victory."

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GENERAL JOHN E. WOOL.

OHN E. WOOL was born in Orange county, New York, and resided at the commencement of the war of 1812 at Troy, New York, where he assisted in organizing a volunteer corps. He was, soon after, appointed to a captaincy in the 13th infantry. At the battle of Queenstown he bore a conspicuous part. The destruction of the American officers by the terrible fire of the enemy, caused the duty of charging their battery to devolve upon Captain Wool, and it could not have been committed to better hands. Rallied by General Brock, the defeated British advanced to retake the battery, but Captain Wool tearing down with his own hands a white flag raised by one of his men, charged them a second

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