CAMP NEAR JALAPA, April 23d, 1847,
    Messrs. Swain, Abell & Simmons:--I send you the following account of the movements of the Pennsylvania troops, or that portion of them that were most seriously engaged, and which came under my personal observation, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, on the 18th of April. Your regular correspondents will doubtless give you the general details of the action; but I shall confine myself to a plain, but truthful statement of events as they occurred on that memorable day. Attached as I am to one of the companies (the Philadelphia Rangers) which suffered most from the fire of the enemy's batteries, the task assigned us led the corps into the hottest of the engagement; and but for the coolness of the officers, scarcely a man would have survived to tell the history of the fight.
    Among the enemy's works, there were two batteries, on the tops of two high limestone hills, which were separated by a deep ravine. These were erected on the edge of a thick chapparel, and were approached by a narrow mule-path, in which two men could with difficulty walk abreast. This path led from the main road back about three-fourths of a mile, before we came opposite the first battery, the second lying across the hollow, about two hundred yards further off. It was thought important that these batteries, or stone breastworks, each of which contained six field pieces, and about 2000 men armed with muskets, should be taken, or at least a strong and determined demonstration made against them simultaneously, whilst an attack was going on by Gen. Shields and others on more distant batteries commanding the pass. The character and situation of these two batteries could not be accurately known. It was ascertained that they were there; and imperfect reconnaisances assured us of their formidableness. It was decided that they should be attacked simultaneously. Forlorn hopes were selected for the occasion. To attack the first, or one lying nearest the road, the 2d regiment of Texas volunteers, commanded by Col. Haskell, was designated. This regiment, having been nearly twelve months in service, had suffered great loss, and was much reduced in numbers. Accordingly, it became necessary to add to its strength. For this purpose, the Philadelphia Rangers, Captain Charles Naylor, and a Kentucky company of volunteers, Capt. Williams', were added to the regiment for the fight. The whole regiment, as now strengthened, numbered less than four hundred men. To support this little forlorn-hope storming party, Col. Wm. B. Roberts, of the 2d Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers, with six companies of his regiment, was to constitute the reserve. The force under Colonel Roberts amounted to between four and five hundred men. Thus was organized the first storming party and its reserve.
    The storming party of the 2d regiment and its reserve was similarly organized. Eight companies of the 1st Pennsylvania regiment, under Col. Wynkoop, constituted (about 500 men) the storming party; and the 1st regiment of Tennessee volunteers, with the remaining two companies of the 1st Pennsylvania volunteers, constituted the reserve.
    On Sunday morning, the 18th of April, at six o'clock, the parties left their camp. Col. Haskell, (with whom was Captains Naylor and Williams,) and his forlorn hope storming party, taking the lead. At about ten o'clock of the same morning they reached the ground. The whole force belonged to Gen. Pillow's brigade, and was under his command.
    Col. Wynkoop, with his 1st Pennsylvanians, advanced from the road along the narrow path, and quietly took his position in the chapparel, about two hundred yards from its edge, opposite the battery. Col. Campbell and his 1st Tennessee reserve took up his position in the rear of Col. Wynkoop, to come to his support.
    Col. Haskell, with his second Tennesseeans, and Captain Naylor's and Captain Williams' companies took theirs along the path opposite to the battery they were to storm. The chapparel was very thick; the regiment had moved in double file, by the right flank; Captain Naylor's company, the youngest in commission, being on the left flank. After about a half mile's march through the chapparel, along the narrow path, the whole of Capt. Haskell's line came to a halt, and was broken into companies from the right, quietly, one by one, in silence, by Col. Haskel, for it would not do to give orders audibly. As soon as a company was thus broken off, and the Captain privately instructed as to his position, it was moved or filed into the chapparel by the right flank. The companies first broken on the right moved off first, and moved by companies, one not waiting for the other. It thus happened that the companies on the right passed through the chapparel, and uncovered before the enemy's batteries, before the companies on the left of the line had received orders, or had moved at all, and full twenty minutes before Col. Roberts, commanding the second regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers, had made his appearance.
    Before, however, the whole of Col. Haskell's line was thus instructed, put into position, and broken into the chapparel by companies, the fire of the enemy's batteries was opened upon the little squads of companies as they emerged, separately, from the chapparel. At the time the fire commenced Col. Haskell was putting Capt. Williams' Kentucky company in position, and giving private instructions to Captain Williams. A deafening yell from the Tennesseeans immediately followed the fire, and they rushed on, in squads, as I have said, to the charge. Confusion for a moment prevailed. Captain Naylor, who had not been put in position, but stood as he had been originally halted, called aloud to Col. Haskell as to which way he should charge, and the Colonel shouted to him, "Onwards! Onwards!" Captain Naylor, taking up the word, now called to us--"Now, Pennsylvanians! onwards! onwards!" and rushed on, as he was then faced, at the head of his men, with great rapidity. This carried him into the chapparel, along the whole of Col. Haskell's line, and along the whole line of fire. The fire was dreadfully severe, and the Tennesseeans, leaving some forty killed and wounded, in as many seconds, almost instantly recoiled. Captain Naylor, finding that the fire crossed his flank, from the right, and supposing the order given to him in the midst of the confusion of the fire of the enemy, before the line of battle had been formed, as I have described, halted for a moment, and assembled his scattered forces, amidst a tremendous shower of grape and cannister. He then filed them to the right, and uncovered from the chapparel before a discharge of six cannon and a terrible blaze of musketry, from the guns of a thousand men behind the breastwork. The whole of Col. Haskell's forces had before this recoiled and fallen back under cover of the chapparel, in little detached squads, as they had advanced to the charge.
    At our appearance--I mean Captain Naylor's little band--no human being was to be seen with whom we acted; we were alone, about fifteen of us--not more. To avoid the fire, prevailing like a storm of horizontal hail around us, we threw ourselves upon the ground, and, after a moment's hesitation, fell back into the chapparel. Our orders were, that we were to reserve our fire, and not a gun was to be discharged. Seeing that we could meet none of Col. Haskell's forces there, we moved down the hill, and crossed the ravine before spoken of, so as to recover the line of direction from which we had diverged; and again, at the word "onward!" from our Captain, at our head, we rushed up the opposite hill, amidst a tremendous shower of balls, escaped from the chapparel and uncovered before another battery--the battery which Col. Wynkoop was to storm. From this battery we also drew the fire, its cannon belching forth their contents, and the whole line of battery illuminated with the blaze of musketry.
    Here, again, no aid was to be found; not a soldier with whom we were to act was to be seen, nor did we know than any force except our own little squad, (now reduced to about nine men,) were any where near us, even in the chapparel. To avoid the fire we sat on the ground--then fell back into the thicket. The balls still breaking in showers around us, we gradually fell back; and, after retiring about forty or fifty yards, we came suddenly and unexpectedly upon the first Pennsylvania regiment, then in the chapparel; drawn up in line of battle, commanded by Col. Wynkoop. This was to us an unexpected meeting, and showed to us at once our true situation. The little band of Philadelphia Rangers, under Captain Naylor, had thus uncovered their front in the charge upon both batteries--that which Col. Haskell was to storm, as well, also, as that which Col. Wynkoop was to attack. The surprise seemed to be mutual. Col Wynkoop and Capt. Naylor grasped hands with most fervid cordiality, and both exclaimed that the whole Pennsylvania force must now onward. Captain Naylor instantly rallied his band, formed them in line of battle of Col. Wynkoop's right, and expressed his strong desire and determination to carry the battery before them, for the honor of old Pennsylvania. Col. Wynkoop complained that he could not get orders, and seemed almost maddened at the thought that he could not get permission to advance.
    Here some altercation took place between Col. Wynkoop and Col. Campbell, commanding the 1st regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. Col. Campbell asked Captains of Companies in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment whether they were not willing to advance with their companies and attack the battery, exclaiming, "The battery is before you; advance, and it is yours!" Captain Bennett, with his company, filed out from Col. Wynkoop's line, and formed itself. Captain Naylor instantly formed the remainder of his company on the right of Captain Bennett's--both evincing the utmost eagerness to carry the battery before them. Gen. Pillow now came up, wounded. The Tennesseeans, under Col. Haskell, recoiling from the dreadful fire of the enemy, now slowly gathered from various parts of the chapparel, their scattered forces. By and by, Col. Roberts, with his 2d Pennsylvania Regiment, marched up in order; and the whole of Gen. Pillow's Brigade gathered, as it were, by accident, in the same neighborhood. And whilst we were debating as to what was to be done and as to how the attack was to be renewed, the tidings reached us that the whole Mexican force had surrendered.
    The Philadelphia Rangers had been scattered, and Capt. Naylor and all of us were in the greatest distress of mind, supposing that the greater part of the company, as well as Lieut. Hare, had been killed or wounded. Lieut. Sperry, our other Lieutenant, had been left behind, sick, at Vera Cruz, and Lieutenant Hare was the only Lieutenant on duty. Indeed, we were particularly unfortunate for want of officers on that day. Not only had we but one Lieutenant, but some of our best non-commissioned officers had been and were then suffering from severe illness, and, consequently, off duty. Our First Sergeant, Willits, had been wounded at Vera Cruz. Sergeant Tourison, of Germantown, was our acting First Sergeant, and was by the side of the captain amid all the perils and trying circumstances of the day.
    But to return to my unvarnished account. Our inquiry was for our absent comrades. Captain Naylor was more particularly anxious to know the fate of Lieut. Hare. The firing had ceased, and he detailed a party of men to seek for his Lieutenant and missing men. After a short absence the detail returned with Lieut. Hare, and our company, along with the others, began gradually to gather together.
    The meeting of the Captain and Lieutenant was a joyful one. Each had supposed the other lost. Their separation was the result of the confusion incident to the opening fire by the enemy before the arrangements of Gen. Pillow and Col. Haskell were completed. Immediately after the order of Col. Haskell was given to Captain Naylor to "onward," as I have narrated above, Gen. Pillow came up to the rear of Capt. Naylor's company whilst it was in motion, and said to Lieut. Hare, "Now is your time, sir; file to the right, and in upon them." Lieut. Hare, suspecting that Capt. Naylor had received a similar order, took the second platoon under his command, and filed directly into the chapparel, immediately in front of the point on which the heavy guns of the enemy bore. Advancing straight forward, in the direction in which Gen. Pillow placed him, for about two hundred yards, he came to the edge of the chapparel, and with a little band of not more than eight brave men, he rushed on, waving his sword, some eighty yards out of the chapparel, towards the battery. He did all that the most chivalrous and heroic man could do to urge his men forward, but seeing his men fall around him, the Tennesseeans recoiling from a fire almost unparalleled in severity, and believing that his captain, with the greater part of the company had also fallen, he obeyed the order of the Lieut. Colonel, and reluctantly fell back into the chapparel. His captain, with a knowledge of all the particulars, in the report made to Col. Haskell, as I have heard, speaks in the warmest terms of his conduct and heroism, and all who saw him on that day, concede to him a display of coolness, courage and daring, of which his friends may all be proud.
    Had the whole company filed into the chapparel, at the place designated by Gen. Pillow to Lieut. Hare, and been led on by their Captain as, from his well known character, they would have been led, it is not risking too much to assert that in less than one minute at least one half of the company would have been killed and wounded. Although no one knew it at the time, it was at the point of easy access to the battery, and on which the whole force of the battery bore.
    It is here generally conceded that this attack--ordered as it was at the points where it was--was most injudicious. The little forlorn-hope band of Kentuckians, Tennesseeans and Philadelphia Rangers, utterly unsupported as they were by troops of any kind, (for Col. Roberts, with his 2d Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, had not yet come up,) would have been sacrificed to a man long before one of them could have reached the batteries. Not one of the officers or men, unless it were the Colonels and Generals, had ever seen the ground; and when the fire opened, so dense was the chapparel, that no one knew whether to march to the right, left or front to meet the enemy's batteries; and when we emerged from the thicket, we were two hundred yards and upwards from the line of their fire. These two hundred yards had been chapparel, which had been cleared within two weeks, and the brush strewn over the ground in a way to impeded our advance, and so arranged as to make the march itself almost as difficult as it would have been otherwise to resist the enemy's fire.
    One thing is certain, that the troops there engaged--Tennesseeans, Kentuckians and Pennsylvanians, officers and men--displayed the highest courage, and would never have recoiled had there been the remotest hope of advance. Their loss altogether was seventy-nine killed and wounded, and this was occasioned in as many seconds. The 1st Regiment of Tennessee and the 1st and 2d Regiments of Pennsylvania were not engaged at all, with the exception before stated of Captain Naylor's company.
    Captain Naylor's conduct was all that a man's and an officer's should be. His situation was one of the most trying in the army. Though constantly ordering his men to fall, and to cover, and to shield themselves from the storm-hail that enclosed them, he never once thought of shielding himself--never once during these gloomy scenes did he bow his head or lose his erect position. Though his brave company is fast falling before disease and the enemy, (for he has lost seven killed and wounded with a few weeks,) there is still enough left to do good service to their country.
    In connection with this statement is may be of interest to state that Gen. Twiggs, following up the victory of Cerro Gordo, took peaceable possession of Jalapa on the evening following the battle. Perote has also surrendered, and it is reported that Puebla has sent in a deputation.
            Respectfully yours,                                   J. L. J.

Source:

J. L. J., "Letter From Mexico," The Dollar Newspaper, Philadelphia, Pa., Wednesday, 26 May 1847, p. 2, cols. 4-5.

    I have to say that I'm mystified by the heading that this news article carries, because, quite frankly, none of these items are discussed in the letter or report that the editors published:

    Conflicting Rumors--Anecdote at the Surrender of Vera Cruz--Mexican Boasting--A Slander Rebuked--A Visit to the Cathedrals of Jalapa--Church Ceremonies--Gen. Scott's Change of Policy and Determination to Conquer a Peace--Gen. Cadwallader--Health of the Volunteers--Quartering on the Enemy, etc.

    I can only think that this letter came in after they had done the setup for the prospective article and they simply forgot to change it. At any rate, it's a first class description of part of the Battle of Cerro Gordo, which is what I was looking for in the first place.

    Enjoy!

    Chris