46
took the other road, all the time accompanying us on the left. Hardly had we reached the bridge at Churubusco, when the artillery fire was commenced at that place. General Santa Anna arrived there at the moment we passed, and he ordered such of the artillery as was convenient, should be turned upon the enemy, and that we should continue (to retreat!) On the way we met the division of General Perez, which afterwards engaged the enemy, and while the action continued we reached the city. We found Mexico in the greatest consternation, perhaps more for our sakes than for the events of the morning, for I saw that our presence produced the greatest joy, and we were even cheered when it was seen that we had not met with any loss.
It seems impossible that in the space of six hours, eight thousand men should have been destroyed, of which not the eighth part were killed. But our troops scarcely saw a movement of the enemy before they fled, and that without the possibility of stopping them. The battalions of Bravo and Independence were attacked in the convent of Churubusco, and taken prisoners, and it is thought that Gorostiza is of the number.
To-day about five thousand of the dispersed have been collected, and we have now about twelve thousand men in arms. An armistice, &c. &c.
August 21, 1847.
Old Man:—Although I am a regidor (a civil officer), still I resolved to go to the fight, as I could no longer remain in the city taking care of disorderly women and drunkards; I determined to see the fate of my unfortunate country; consequently, on Tuesday last I received an order from the Minister of War and Government, directing me to join General Alcorta as his aid-de-camp; and on Wednesday morning I went to the Penon, resolved to endure all the privations of a campaign, and to see in what I could serve my country. The enemy presented himself on Thursday morning before us, in order to allow their engineers to make a reconnoisance of our position, but he did not like the patato, and on Sunday night Santa Anna heard that the enemy had certainly taken the route towards Tlalpam (San Augustin). On Monday morning at 9 o'clock, we commenced our march towards the same place (by the city) and on Tuesday, after an examination of the place, we saw we could not make resistance there, and it was resolved that we should take up our position at San Antonio. That same afternoon the Yankees arrived at San Augustin at two o'clock, P. M.
