Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/52

 7 o'clock, who brought the fatal news of the complete rout of Valencia. Then Don Antonio (Santa Anna) gave orders for our return to Mexico, as it was to be made another Troy. Rangel's brigade was ordered to take possession of the citadel, and Santa Anna gave Perez and Bravo orders to retire from San Antonio; as San Angel being taken we were cut off by the enemy, and you can imagine the confusion and the destruction of the moral of our Army which ensued. In moving our artillery and ammunition we were put to much inconvenience and delay, for, as it had rained the night previous, the wheels stuck in the mud, and the mules, fatigued, could not haul them. The result was that when the Yankees observed our movement, and saw us withdraw our pieces from the embrazures at San Antonio, he detached two columns, one by the Pedregal (rough volcanic ground) and the other down the main road, and consequently took San Antonio, and most of Alvarez's troops, brought from the South, were made prisoners. Whilst this was going on at San Antonio, the same troops which had routed Valencia were detached in two columns, one of which attacked Churubusco, where, after a small resistance, the companies of Independence and Bravo were taken prisoners, as also other companies that were cut off in their retreat. The other column came down the main road and attacked the bridge by the same name, where our own wagons (returning from San Antonio and fast in the mud) served them as trenches; and after an attack of infantry alone they took our position which appeared impregnable, putting us shamefully to flight; and had the enemy been any other they would have gone directly into Mexico, for our cursed soldiers, frightened to death, were bellowing through the streets, "here comes the Yankees."—Finally, Santa Anna resolved to defend the city at the first line, and if our soldiers would not run, we had a sufficient number left to defend this unfortunate city.

But now they speak of a capitulation, or I know not what. The result is that the Yankees can march directly into Mexico at any hour they please, owing to the cowardice and  of our generals-in-chief. Bassadre, Mora Villamil and Aranjois started at day-break this morning with orders from Pacheco to ask Scott for 30 hours armistice, in order to bury the dead and collect the wounded. Santa Anna became very angry and said, "this cursed Pacheco had made a fool of