Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/42

 have to receive in this capital our vanquishers. One idea gives me consolation—according to what I have been told, there are only six thousand Yankees left, and although we have yet more than twelve thousand. I will be content to lose another battle, if we have one, as we shall lose, for our soldiers will run, but two thousand more Yankees will be killed, only four thousand will then remain, and with these order cannot be kept in Mexico. We are in the last struggles of the drowned. What a shame!

August 19, at 9 A. M., a dense cloud of smoke was seen in the hacienda of San Antonio, caused by the fire of our artillery, directed against a column of the enemy who were coming against them. The enemy retreated and took the route by San Angel. Valencia is situated with his division upon the hills of Contreras, (i. e. the route by San Angel,) and at about 1 o'clock P. M., he commenced firing his artillery, and continued without ceasing until half-past 6, sometimes so rapidly that we counted eight shots per minute, although more commonly only four or five. At 6, P. M., some unfavorable rumors came to the city; it was said that the enemy had taken six pieces of artillery from Valencia, a matter impossible to believe, because, from the roof of the house, we could see that, far from retreating, our troops had charged upon the enemy, who was situated in a lower position, and to appearance, in a hollow, and was not at first to be seen, and the position was only known by the smoke of his firing.

20th, between 6 and a quarter after, A. M., the firing commenced in the same place yesterday, the artillery slowly but the musketry sharply, very sharply. It was heard perfectly well in the main plaza, and sounded like the rattle of a drum. At 10 A. M., we received the news that Gen. Valencia's brigade, which had sustained itself the previous day, had been flanked and attacked in front, and on both sides, after first cutting off his retreat, and of consequence he was completely routed and dispersed, except two hundred and fifty prisoners, who remained in the hands of the enemy, and twenty-three pieces of cannon.

[Note.—There were over a thousand prisoners.]

At 11 o'clock the dispersed began to arrive, all covered with mud, some with their uniforms and muskets, others without them, and from that time till about 1 the wounded continued to arrive, some in litters, asking mercy of Heaven, and others on foot, with their corpse like countenances still dropping blood.