LATE VICTORIES IN MEXICO.

It was straight line and in a direction nearly west. ten miles the way many of our troops had to march, for you cannot imagine a more rough, uneven, and jagged surface.

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 eight o'clock, and in At eight o'clock on the morning of the 19th the the midst of a hard rain, which had just commenced batteries again opened on Gen. Worth's position at falling. Generals Twiggs and Pillow came in about the hacienda near San Antonio, the balls crushing 11 o'clock, wet and completely exhausted. It was through the walls and filling the rooms with frag-impossible to use horses on the rough and exceedments 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. hot was the fire that the troops were obliged to gain shelter behind the building, but still did not give up the position. About nine o'clock the divisions of Generals Pillow and Twiggs were ordered to advance in the direction of Coutreras, and by one in the afternoon were in plain sight of the enemy's batteries, and within range of the heavier guns.

So

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 small 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 was opened upon the advance of Gen. Smith, and soon the rifles were engaged in skirmishing with the pickets of the enemy and driving them in.

The 12-pounder battery of Capt. Magruder was pressed forward with all speed, 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 a fire from heavier guns that they were soon silenced. Lieut. Johnson, of the 1st 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. Cadwalader was ordered out to support Col. Riley-heavy reinforcements being seen on their way out from the citywhile Gen. Pierce's brigade was sent to sustain Gen. Smith. The firing from the batteries of the enemy continued incessant, while from a hill just outside of the range of their guns the spectacle was most grand and imposing.

At about 4 o'clock Gen. Scott arrived, and, seeing the immense strength of the Mexicans, at once ordered Gen. Shields' brigade from San Augustin -a part of Gen. Quitman's command-to the right to support Riley and Cadwalader, and prevent, if possible, a junction of the forces coming out from the city with those of Valencia. But few of the movements of our own troops could be seen from the hill where we were posted, owing to the dense chaparral, sharp rocks and ravines, but not a motion of the enemy but was plainly visible.

C

The order of battle of Valencia was certainly most imposing. Infantry were 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 battle. Two separate charges of the latter were distinctly seen repulsed by Col. Riley, who had moved his brigade at one time to a position partially in the rear of the enemy's works. Col. Harney was exceedingly anxious to march his cavalry to the scene of action, but it was deemed utterly impracticable. The nature of the ground was such that the infantry even had great difficulty in finding the way across the pedregal, as the Mexicans term it; ground covered with sharp jagged rocks.

ingly broken ground on which they had been op-
erating for nearly twelve 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 quartered 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 rain and on ground where they could not even stretch themselves out. Add to this, the prospects of the morrow were far from flattering-were enough to dismay any but the stoutest hearts-that the enemy would doubtless reinforce and strengthen his works during the night, having every superiority 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 assert that the bivouac of the 19th of August was gloomy in the extreme.

Early in the morning of the 20th Gen. Worth was ordered to move with a part of his division (Garland's brigade) towards the scene of action at Coutreras, to aid in the attack 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, and some 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 Coutreras had been Gen. Scott stormed and carried. Yet so it was. himself, accompanied by Gen. Worth, started for the scene of action, when they were met by Capt. Mason with the joyful intelligence that Valencia had been completely routed, after a short but terrible struggle.

The attack upon his works was planned by Gen. Smith, and resulted in the capture of fifteen pieces of artillery, some fifteen hundred prisoners-among them Generals Blanco, Garcia, Mendoza, and the notorious Salas-all the ammunition and camp equipage, while the road along which those who escaped fled was strewed with muskets. No less than seven hundred of the enemy, among them many officers, were left dead on the field-the number of wounded was undoubtedly far greater. I have no time now to enlarge or comment upon this well-planned and brilliant achievement, but, reserving a more full description for some other time, must pass on to other exciting events.

The works at Coutreras completely in the power of the American army, Gen. Scott at once ordered Gen. Worth to fall back upon San Antonio, 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 Generals Twiggs, Pillow, Smith, Pierce, and Cadwalader, moved on towards San Angel and Cohoycan. Scarcely had the advance of General Twiggs got half a mile beyond the latter village before a rattling fire of musketry announced that it was actively engaged with the outposts of the enemy, and the heavy booming of another ion had fallen upon work. strong cannon now gave token that the noted second divis

But a few minutes more and a tremendous firing | The strength of the enemy at this battle is known from the right, and immediately in the main road to have been fifteen thousand at least-many say from San Augustin to the capital, made it evident twenty thousand-all fresh troops, and in a position that Gen. Worth's division was actively engaged. of uncommon strength. Opposed to them were He had completely turned the strong works of San about six thousand Americans, jaded and broken Antonio, but, while doing so, the enemy had aban- down by marches and countermarches and by incesdoned the place, with the loss of their heavy guns, sant toil before the stronghold of Coutreras and and had fallen back upon his second and stronger San Antonio. At Churubusco the Mexicans themline of works. It was now at the commencement of selves say Santa Anna commanded in person, but the battle, about one o'clock in the afternoon, and that he left early. The noted battalions of Hidalgo sure such a rattling of fire-arms has seldom or never and Victoria, and of Independencia-the Polkas, been heard on the continent of America, accompa- or young men of the capital, from whom so much nied with such booming of artillery; and this was was expected-nearly all fled without firing a gun. continued over two hours, and until the enemy was fully routed from every point, and until those who were not killed or taken prisoners were in full flight for the city.

In the different works (but mostly in the church) taken by Gen. Twiggs nearly two thousand troops were captured. Among them were Gen. Rincon, who commanded in person; Gen. Anaya, lately President substitute; and Gen. Arevallon, as also Col. Gorostiza, formerly minister at Washington. Gen. Garay was captured near San Antonio by Gen. Worth, and several influential officers, among them Col. Miramon, by Gen. Shields, at the hacienda. But the most important capture of all was the entire foreign battalion, mostly made up of deserters from our own army, with their commander, the notorious Riley himself. They are all now under close guard, and I trust will be strictly dealt with.

The loss on our side has fallen most heavily upon the South Carolina and New York volunteers, the 6th infantry, and Smith's light battalion, attached te Worth's division, and the batteries of Captains Magruder and Taylor. The South Carolina regiment was nearly cut to pieces, losing 137 out of 272 men with which it went into action. The first artillery has suffered severely in officers.

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 Augustin 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 number of Mexican infantry were posted. On the left of the tete de pont, or work at the bridge, 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 containing a number of guns of heavy caliber. This work was a little advanced from the tete de pont, and nearly in a line between it and the village of Cohoycan. Further on, on the other side of the work at the bridge, and about three hundred The Mexican accounts acknowledge the loss, in yards from the road, was a large building, well killed, wounded, and prisoners, of no less than thiradapted for the protection of infantry, and in which teen generals (among them three ex-presidents) the enemy had also posted an immense body. The and forty-five pieces of cannon. One of our officers ground in the vicinity of all these points was com- says that we have captured more ammunition than pletely covered with corn and other fields, cut up in Gen. Scott has used since he has been in the counevery direction by wide and deep ditches, present- try. ing obstacles innumerable to the advance of our troops. No reconnoissance of the position of the enemy had been made, and consequently its strength The following, from the New Orleans Delta, contains could only be ascertained by hard blows and knocks. more particulars of the brilliant exploit of Gen. Smith: The divisions of Generals Twiggs and Worth During the night of the 18th, Gen. Worth's were at once engaged, the former with the church division, with a part of the 1st brigade, occupied and stronghold of Churubusco, and the latter with the hacienda of San Juan de Dios. the batteries at the bridge; and in the mean time On the 19th, Gen. Twiggs came up with the Gen. Shields' brigade-the New York and South | advance, Gen. Smith's light brigade advancing on Carolina volunteers-together with the 9th, 12th, the left, and Col. Riley's to the right, supported and 15th regiments of infantry, under Gen. Pierce, by Capt. McGruder's battery, and Lieut. Cadwalwere hurrying onward from Cohoycan to attack the ader's howitzers, which belonged to the division hacienda. Soon they too were engaged; and now of Gen. Pillow. The enemy opened his heavy the battle became general. The enemy had over batteries from Coutreras, and the advancing troops twenty pieces of cannon, all in admirable position, of Gen. Smith's brigade engaged the enemy's and served with more than ordinary skill, while but few of our guns could be brought to bear. The battery of Capt. Frank Taylor, it is true, opened a well-directed fire upon Churubusco; but so exposed was its situation that it suffered most terribly, both in officers and men.

To describe the fierce conflict, even now that two days have elapsed, or to give an account of the part taken by the different regiments, were impossible. From the opening of the strife up to the time the Mexicans were entirely routed and in full flight for the city, was one continuous roar of cannon and musketry, accompanied by the loud shouts of the victors as some new vantage ground was gained; and high above the din rose a dense column of smoke, at times completely shrouding the combatants.

G. W. K.

infantry. These two brigades for more than one
hour sustained the fire of 22 pieces of artillery,
mostly of heavy caliber. They were finally com-
pelled to retire, after sustaining a severe loss in
killed and wounded. Gen. Pillow had ordered Gen.
Pierce's brigade to the support of Col. Riley.
this stage of the proceedings, while the battle was
raging, the enemy appeared on the left of the fort
of Coutreras, and in rear of the village of Ensal-
do, with a force of 12,000 men, under the imme-
diate command of Santa Anna.

At

The 15th infantry, under Col. Morgan, was then ordered by Gen. Pillow to the support of Smith's and Riley's brigades. About this nne Gen. Scott came upon the ground, bringing with him General Shields' brigade of volunteers, which was imme

LATE VICTORIES IN MEXICO.

diately ordered to the support of the forces under | village of Ensaldo. As soon as Col. Riley ascended General Cadwalader. General Twiggs, as night the hill and came in full view of the enemy, they approached, finding it impossible, from the nature opened a severe fire on Riley's forces. Our correspondent then continues-" Col. Riley of the ground, to reach his command, fell back to the position occupied by Gen. Scott, and passed threw out his two advance divisions as skirmishers, the night exposed to the inclemency of the weather. and said, 'Now, boys, close in with them, and let McGruder's and the howitzer battery being dis- the bayonet do its work,' and his command rushed abled, and our left advancing on a road previously down the slope with a yell and enthusiasm enough prepared by the enemy, thereby exposing our in- to strike terror to the heart of the boldest, while The sapfantry to a destructive fire as they approached-the rear of his command moved steadily forward as McGruder's and the howitzer batteries were order- if they were all made of one piece. ed by Gen. Smith to open, to attract the attention pers and miners and rifle regiment which had been of the enemy, while he made a movement to the thrown across a ravine intervening between the right, to try one of the enemy's flanks. After one they passed up, and under the brow of the slope passing over the broken and irregular surface of which Col. Riley came down, from that position ground, and crossing the deep ravines, he succeed-poured in a fire which swept in front of Col. Riley's ed in reaching the village of Ensaldo. Gen. Smith column; then inclining towards their left, joined being the ranking officer, Gen. Cadwalader reported in the attack of the troops outside of the left flank to him with four regiments of Gen. Pillow's divi- of the fort. Gen. Cadwalader followed the route sion. Col. Riley's brigade had crossed the ravine, taken by Col. Riley, and as soon as his troops were and passed towards Coutreras, after a strong body formed, moved on to his support. The first briof the enemy, which he drove off. The enemy gade, which was bringing up the rear, had been was now drawn up into line, above the village, on ordered to follow the same route, but while it was the right of the fort. This was a strong position on its march by the right flank up the ravine, and nearly opposite the fort, Gen. Smith ordered the of the enemy. brigade to face to the left and advance in line to attack the enemy's force in flank. This movement was executed in less time than it takes me to write it. They met the enemy outside of the fort just as Col. Riley's brigade rushed into it; the enemy was completely routed and commenced a precipitate reTheir cavalry and infantry had been formed treat. to receive the charge, but were compelled to give way to the bayonet. The rout was 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 intercept them. They, however, were not aware of it until they received the well-directed fire of the South Carolina [and New York] regiments, which mowed them down like grass before the scythe."

General Smith now ordered Gen. Cadwalader's force to be drawn up on the outer edge of the village, facing the enemy's heavy force on the left of the fort. After making the proper disposition of his forces, Gen. Smith now determined to attack the enemy's right, with Col. Riley on the left. Gen. Cadwalader, on 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 in"But now," says our fantry on the church-yard. correspondent, "imagine the position of this portion of the army, numbering 3500 at the outside without artillery or cavalry, while the enemy in front and on the left, had 19,000 troops, (those in the fort said to be the best in Mexico,) with 22 pieces of artillery, and among his troops 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 attack on the main work was determined upon, and the movement to take place at 3 o'clock of the following morning."

The force of Gen. 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 reported his near approach with the Scuth Carolina and New York volunteers. Gen. Shields, though outranking General 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 enemy'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 Coutreras, or to take the reserve of the enemy in flank, if he should change his front.

At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, the movement commenced, which was so slow that daybreak appeared before the head of Cadwalader's brigade commenced ascending the ravine at the

The rout and dispersion were now complete. 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 offiThe enemy left dead upon the cers of high rank. field upwards of 700, which we buried; but his loss, says our correspondent, was much larger, as the Mexicans were still burying the dead two days after the battle. The troops in front were commanded by Valencia, and those outside by Santa The two 6-pounders of Washington's batAnna. tery, taken on the field of Buena Vista by the Mexicans, were recaptured in this fort.

The enemy were pursued to San Angel. He endeavored to make a stand at every point. They were finally compelled to take refuge in ChumAt San Angel Gen. Pillow assumed the basco. command, and when the troops arrived at Culican, shortly after, Gen. Scott assumed the command of the whole. The position now occupied by the enemy (Chumbasco) was a very strong one, and it being the last stand the enemy could make in defence of the capital, he fought with desperation for Several more than two hours, before the works were carried. Our loss at this point was over 1000 men. pieces of artillery, and two stand of colors were captured; General Rincon, with 104 officers, and upwards of 1100 non-commissioned officers and privates, surrendered as prisoners of war. Mexican loss in this engagement is said to be 5000

The

[Copied by Chambers' Journal from an American the custom of the nation, and the fashion that is paper.]

From Sharpe's Magazine.
THE MAIDEN AUNT.

was left a widow, with two children-a son, who followed his father's profession, and a daughter, who was the godchild and namesake of her aunt Margaret. Mrs. Ferrars resided near a large seaport town on the southern coast, which we shall call Wearmouth.]

idea of her true character. But I know her noble

MISS MARGARET FORDE, the lady from whose Journal we now propose to offer a few selections to the public, died in the year 18-, aged seventy-one. She was one of a class, which, fortunately for mankind, is neither small nor rare. July 7th, 18-.-This morning I arrived at my She was a maiden aunt, and she possessed that cheerful unselfishness, since that happy day when I laid the little Margasister's, for the visit which I have annually paid ever that indefatigable activity in the service of others, those warm, ready, and expansive affections, which ret, a sweet, fair, whimpering baby, one hour old, in her mother's arms. Dear child! I have watched we are enabled, by happy experience, to pronounce her through life, and perhaps loved her all the betthe appropriate characteristics of her genus. She was the eldest of eight children, of whom six mar-ceived the blessed gift of being generally loved. ter, because she is not one of those who have reried, and multiplied, and were scattered over the face of the earth, while Margaret, and Owen, the She has little beauty, though there is a charm of youngest brother, remained in single blessedness. sense and sweetness in her face, which makes it Of him we have little to say: he graduated at Cam- lovely in my eyes; and she has always been so bridge, travelled for a few years, to complete his grave and shy in society, that there must be many education, as the phrase has it, and then returned, who have known her all her life, without having an to live as fellow of his college, assembling around him multitudes of minute comforts, studying his ness of mind; I know how rich she is in those fine, own peculiarities with a view to their scientific pure, elevated feelings, which people who are not gratification, carefully guarding himself from all capable of understanding them are in the habit of possibility of annoyance-in short, behaving to him- stigmatizing as romantic. Nevertheless the world goes so much by outward appearance, and Margaself exactly as a devoted wife might behave to an invalid husband, in whose happiness her own conret has so universally obtained the reputation of a sists, and whose every gesture she watches with quiet, cold, gentle girl, with nothing striking in her the tremulous anxiety of deep affection. Shall we confess I was surprised when the news reached me exterior, and very little general conversation, that I be forgiven for insinuating that Owen formed no that she was engaged to be married. I had set her unfair specimen of another class of responsible be- down for one of the sisterhood-not, perhaps, exings, usually known by the name of old bachelors. While he was thus drawling and fidgeting through old maid, for I might have married, had I so chosen, actly for the same reasons that have made me an existence, knowing no harder trial of patience than several times over. But, knowing the earnestness, the occurrence of a false quantity either in his verses the imagination, the enthusiasm, which lay hidden or his punch, no heavier misfortune than the break-under Margaret's quiet manner and composed feating of a watch-glass, or the overboiling of an egg, his sister Margaret was living in the full sense of ures, I felt sure that she could not attach herself the word-living more in one hour than he lived in a twelvemonth-doing, suffering, and sympathizing -mourning with those who mourned, and rejoicing with those who rejoice. In many a house, to many a heart, her face was as sunshine, and her step as music; and if some human faults or harmless foibles

occasionally provoked a frown, or compelled a smile, there were few who did not feel that, in her, the ridiculous was never far separated from the sublimethe sublime of charity and goodness. During the whole of a long and active life, passed among brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, friends and acquaintance, aunt Peggy amused herself by the feminine occupation of keeping a journal; and as, in addition to her other virtues, the good lady was a bit of a bluestocking, she not unfrequently attempted to work up the incidents she was recording with something of artistic skill, and thus to present a continuous narrative, instead of a pile of fragmentary notes. That, among the fortunes of so large a family as we have described, she found many materials for her pen, the reader will have no difficulty in imagining, and we shall procced, without further preface, to lay before him such parts of her lucubrations as have appeared to us to possess some degree of general interest. The character of

the writer will be better developed by herself, than by any description we could hope to give; and we shall add nothing to her words, except such particulars concerning the various members of her family, as may seem necessary to render her story intelli

gible.

THE ALCESTE.

[EMMA, the youngest sister of Margaret Forde, married James Ferrars, a captain in the navy, and

fascination rendered it too probable, that one who to a common-place person; and, alas! her want of her. Pity, thought I, that such capacities for lovwas not common-place would not attach himself to ing as hers, should not find full employment. But I was all wrong, and I confess my mistake with than that which announced to me her engagement. delight. Seldom have I known a happier morning And to-day I heard all the particulars, which are

in

thirty-two; that is, eight years older than his beevery respect satisfactory. Doctor Thornton is trothed, which I consider a very good difference. He is already in excellent practice; and, as the other physician in Wearmouth is an old man, and there can be no doubt that he will succeed to his connection, his income is likely to be handsomer than Emma had any reason to expect for her daugh

ter.

income first, when a marriage is in question! Money How one falls into the habit of mentioning is to happiness very much what the alphabet is to learning; it would be hopeless and absurd to exsatisfied with its possession, as though it were the pect to do without it; but the absurdity of being only thing necessary, is far more glaring, and far less excusable. I have heard little of Dr. Thornton; but I feel so secure of his highmindedness and excellence, because he is the choice of that dear about him. Yet I am heartily glad that he dines girl, that I have scarcely cared to ask any questions here to-day. Margaret's wedding is only delayed till her brother Frederick returns, and, as his vessel, the Alceste, is expected daily, the important ceremony will take place (D. V.) before I leave them. As for Margaret, she is a changed creature, and I can scarcely take my eyes from her face. Such radiance of happiness I never beheld—and