drawn into action in taking up the ground for its bivouac, and the opposing height for our heavy battery.  It will be seen that many of our officers and men were killed or wounded in this sharp combat, handsomely commenced by a company of the Seventh Infantry under Brevet First-Lieutenant Gardner, who is highly praised by all his commanders for signal services.  Colonel Harvey, coming up with the Rifle Regiment and First Artillery (also parts of his brigade), brushed away the enemy and occupied the height, on which, in the night, was placed a battery of one twenty-four pounder and two twenty-four-pound howitzers, under the supervision of Captain Lee, engineers, and Lieutenant Hagner, ordnance.  These guns opened next morning, and were served with effect by Captain Steptoe and Lieutenant Brown, Third Artillery, Lieutenant Hagner (ordnance), and Lieutenant Seymore, First Artillery.  The same night, with extreme toil and difficulty, under the superintendence of Lieutenant Tower, engineer, and Lieutenant Laidley, ordnance, an eight-inch howitzer was put in position across the river and opposite to the enemy’s right battery.  A detachment of four companies under Major Burnham, New York volunteers, performed this creditable service, which enabled Lieutenant Ripley, Second Artillery, in charge of the piece, to open a timely fire in that quarter.

“Early on the 18th the columns moved to the general attack, and our success was speedy and decisive.  Pillow’s brigade assaulting the right of the intrenchments, although compelled to retire, had the effect I have heretofore stated.  Twiggs’s division, storming the strong and vital point of Cerro Gordo, pierced the center, gained command of all the intrenchments, and cut them off from support.  As our infantry (Colonel Riley’s brigade) pushed on against the main body of the enemy, the guns of their own fort were rapidly turned to play on that force (under the immediate command of General Santa Anna), who fled in confusion.  Shields’s brigade, bravely assaulting the left, carried the rear battery (five guns) on the Jalapa road and aided materially in completing the rout of the enemy.  The part taken by the remainder of our forces held in reserve to support and pursue has already been noticed.  The moment the fate of the day was decided, the cavalry and Taylor’s and Wall’s field batteries were pushed on toward Jalapa in advance of the pursuing columns of infantry.  Twiggs’s division and the brigade of Shields (now under Colonel Baker) and Major-General Patterson were sent to take command of them.  In the hot pursuit many Mexicans were captured or slain before our men and horses were exhausted by the heat and distance.

“The rout proved to have been complete, the retreating army, except a small body of cavalry, being dispersed and utterly disorganized.  The immediate consequences have been our possession of this important city, the abandonment of the works and artillery at La Hoya, the next formidable pass