Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/133

Rh had checked us from charging on them; but we were anxiously waiting for orders from Gen. Patterson to charge on the enemy. During this perilous and dangerous position, we could hear Gen. Twiggs' division on our right shouting and cheering, and the firing of heavy artillery and musketry, firing volley after volley, and the sharp cracks of the rifles.

Our regiment, and in fact, the whole division, began to get impatient and excited in not getting orders from our generals to charge. Col. Wynkoop, a braver and more gallant officer never drew a sword, sent a messenger after Gens. Patterson and Pillow, to receive orders to charge on the batteries in our front, but the messengers soon returned without finding either Patterson or Pillow.

He again sent another, he returned with the same result. He then sent another, who made inquiries of the whereabouts of either Gens. Patterson or Pillow, but none could tell; he returned and reported the same to Col. Wynkoop.

Fortunately the Mexicans were either bad gunners or they could not depress their cannons enough to have effect on our men. Had they been good gunners, or depressed their pieces enough, there would have been few left to tell the tale of the battle of Cerro Gordo.

Col. Wynkoop began to get tired waiting for orders. Was about to order a charge on the batteries, when some soldier hallooed out that a white flag was waving from the Mexican batteries, the batteries we were about to storm. We all thought it was a joke, that it could not be possible that they have surrendered up their strong batteries and entrenchments, but the ceasing of firing all around put some truth in the report, and finally an aide came to Col. Wynkoop, confirmed the report, and ordered Col. Wynkoop to countermarch his regiment to the National Road. There was much dissatisfaction among both the officers and soldiers for not getting orders to charge, left standing to receive a plunging fire in our front. All the fault of our Generals in failing to give us orders, and failing to carry out the pledges they made to us previous to starting for the battle-field.