Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/320

274 the Mexican forces, he decided to turn their left, and attack them in the rear, while menacing or engaging them in front. The reconnaissance previously commenced by Lieutenant Beauregard, was continued by Captain Lee, of the corps of engineers, for the purpose of discovering a route by which the Jalapa road could be gained, and the retreat of the enemy intercepted. Under the supervision of the engineer officers a road was constructed, leaving the main route a short distance below where it commences inclining towards the river, and extending over rocky slopes and deep chasms, through thickets of chaparral, and beneath frowning precipices, to the left of Cerro Gordo, for a distance of between two and three miles, and within range of the Mexican batteries. When the working parties were discovered, they were fired upon with grape and musketry. Further reconnaissance, therefore, was impossible without an action, and General Scott immediately made his dispositions for storming the whole line of intrenchments and batteries.

General Worth joined the main body on the night of the 16th of April, with the first division of regulars, and on the same evening General Twiggs was directed to advance with his division, early in the morning of the next day, on the line of operations upon the right of the national road. On the 17th instant General Scott issued his celebrated order of battle, — remarkable alike for the prescience which seems to have dictated it, and for the undoubting confidence manifested by its author in the officers and men whom he commanded. To the brave and intrepid Twiggs, whose