BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 



375 



sances to be made by Lieutenant Beaurgard and Captain Lee, of 

 the engineers. He found that the deep rocky ravine of the river 

 protected the right flank of the Mexican position, while abrupt and 

 seemingly impassable mountains and ridges covered the left. Be- 

 tween these points, for nearly two miles, a succession of fortified 

 summits bristled with every kind of available defence, while the top 

 of Cerro Gordo commanded the road on a gentle slope, like a glacis, 

 for nearly a mile. An attack in front, therefore, would have been 

 fatal to the American army, arid Scott resolved, accordingly, to cut 

 a road to the right of his position so as to turn the left flank of the 

 Mexicans. To cover his flank movements, on the 17th of April, he 

 ordered General Twiggs to advance against the fort on the steep 

 ascent, in front, and slightly to the left of the Cerro. Colonel Har- 

 ney, with the rifles and some detachments of infantry and artillery, 

 carried this position under a heavy fire, and, having secured it, ele- 

 vated a large gun to the summit of the eminence, and made a de- 

 monstration against a strong fort in the rear. Early on the 18th, 

 the columns moved to the general attack. General Pillow's brigade 

 assaulted the right of the Mexican entrenchments, and although 

 compelled to retire, produced a powerful impression on that part of 

 the enemy's line. General Twigg's division stormed the vital part 

 of Cerro Gordo, pierced the centre, gained command of the fortifi- 

 cations and cut them off from support ; while Colonel Riley's bri- 

 gade of infantry rushed on against the main body of the foe, turned 

 the guns of their own fort against them, and compelled the panic 

 stricken crowd to fly in utter confusion. Shields' brigade, mean- 

 while, assaulted the left, and carrying the rear battery, aided mate- 

 rially in completing the rout of the enemy. The whole American 

 force, in action and reserve, was 8,500. Three thousand prisoners, 

 four or five thousand stand of arms, and forty-three pieces of artillery, 

 fell into Scott's hands. In the two days of conflict our loss amounted 

 to 33 officers and 398 men, of whom 63 were killed. The enemy's 

 loss was computed at 1,000 at least, while among the prisoners no 

 less than two hundred and eighty officers and five generals were in- 

 cluded. Santa Anna, and General Ampudia who was in the action, 

 escaped with difficulty; and the commander-in-chief, accompanied 

 by a few friends and a small escort, finally reached Orizaba in 

 safety, after encountering numerous dangers amid the mountains and 

 lonely paths through which he was obliged to pass. 



This very decisive victory opened the path for the American army 

 to the highlands of the upper plateau of Mexico, and, acccordingly, 

 our forces immediately pushed on to Jalapa and Perote, both of 



