394 VALENCIA DISCONCERTS SANTA ANNA'S PLAN OF BATTLE. 



him obstinately resolute in his insubordination, the commander-in- 

 chief suffered him, in direct opposition to his own opinion, to remain 

 and to charge himself with the whole responsibility of the conse- 

 quences. Thus, if Scott advanced upon the main road, he would 

 meet only Santa Anna in front, and the efficiency of Valencia's 

 force, on his left flank, would be comparatively destroyed. If he 

 conquered Valencia, however, at Contreras, after passing the Pedre- 

 gal, he would rout a whole division of the veterans of the north — 

 the remnants of San Luis and Angostura, — while the remainder of 

 the army, composed of recent levies and raw troops, disciplined for 

 the occasion, would, in all likelihood, fall an easy prey to the eager 

 Americans. 



The reconnoissances of the American army were now completed 

 both towards San Antonio over the main northern road, and towards 

 Padierna or Contreras over the southern and south-western edge of 

 the Pedregal. That brave and accomplished engineer, Captain — 

 now Colonel Robert E. Lee — had done the work on the American 

 left across the fields of broken lava, and being convinced that a 

 road could be opened, if needed, for the whole army and its trains, 

 Scott resolved forthwith to advance. 



On the 19th of August, General Pillow's division was com- 

 manded to open the way, and advancing carefully, bravely and 

 laboriously over the worst portion of the pass, — cutting its road as 

 it moved onward, — it arrived about three o'clock in the afternoon 

 at a point amid the ravines and barrancas near Padierna or Con- 

 treras where the new road could only be continued under the direct 

 fire of twenty-two pieces of Mexican artillery, most of which were 

 of large calibre. These guns were in a strong entrenched camp, 

 surrounded by every advantage of ground and by large bodies of 

 infantry and cavalry, reinforced from the city, over an excellent road 

 beyond the volcanic field. Pillow's and Twiggs's force, with all 

 its officers on foot, picking a way along the Mexican front and ex- 

 tending towards the road from the city and the enemy's left, ad- 

 vanced to dislodge the foe. Captain Magruder's field battery of 

 twelve and six-pounders, and Lieut. Callender's battery of moun- 

 tain howitzers and rockets, were also pushed forward with great 

 difficulty within range of the Mexican fortifications, and, thus, a sta- 

 tionary battle raged until night fell drearily on the combatants amid 

 a cold rain which descended in torrents. Wet, chilled, hungry and 

 sleepless, both armies passed a weary time of watching until early 

 the next morning, when a movement was made by the Americans 

 which resulted in a total rout of Valencia's forces. Fighting at a 



