The Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico: Col. F. M. Wynkoop's account from the Bedford Gazette, dated June 4th, 1847.
The Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico:
Col. F. M. Wynkoop's account from
the Bedford Gazette,
dated June 4th, 1847.

Our Volunteers.

    We are indebted to a friend, says the Pennsylvanian, for the privilege of making a copy of the following letter from Col. Wynkoop of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. It was not intended for publication, but as it contains an authoritative statement in regard to the conduct of the Pennsylvania Regiment at the storming of Cerro Gordo, we have conceived it to be proper to lay it before our readers. The volunteers from this State, as will be observed by the testimony of Col. Wynkoop, nobly sustained the name they wear, and the State that sent them to vindicate the country's rights. His testimony confirms that of many others who were present in the dread scenes of the last battle, and serves to refute the slander which has attempted to disgrace the Pennsylvania troops by the imputation that they broke before the fire of the enemy and threw the whole line into confusion. This is the story of the army correspondent of the Nashville Union, and this is the assertion in substance, as we have had it reported to us from another quarter.--The testimony of Col. Wynkoop is, therefore, highly important in this emergency, and we give it without hesitation.
    We were amazed, a few days ago, on reading in the Sun, of this city, a vile personal attack upon General Patterson, for alleged misconduct at the battle of Cerro Gordo. The writer did not hesitate to employ the most disgraceful epithets in regard to that fine soldier. On this subject, also, Colonel Wynkoop speaks with the voice of authority. He pays a most eloquent tribute to General Patterson; and bears witness to merits which he declares have won the applause of the whole army. We are indeed rejoiced, though we are not surprised that it is so. Gen. P. possesses the nerve and the ability to perform his responsible duties faithfully and efficiently.
    We know it is often a useless task to defend the reputation of the brave men now fighting for their country in a foreign land. There is, we are abundantly satisfied, in the popular mind, a deep and unequivocal contempt for all those vile calumniators, who, either in the spirit of innate profligacy and want of faith, or else effected by the jealousies and rivalries of the camp, strive to stain the good name of the brave soldier.--But we perform a pleasing duty in showing upon how slight a fabric the last of these falsehoods rests, and how easily it is refuted by the evidence of an honest man, who speaks the blunt truth, without disguise, and with no design to make a statement for the public eye:
Hacienda Garcia, 4 May 1847.

    My Dear Colonel:--After having been five months from home--having endured hardships, toil and privations in camp, on the march, and during sieges--we find ourselves in one of the most beautiful and enchanting spots on the face of God's earth. We are encamped 3 1/2 miles above the city of Jalapa, on a hacienda owned by the god-brother of General Santa Anna. His name is Don Luis de Garcia, and next to the wooden-legged General, he is the richest man, it is said, in Mexico. We have a delightful encampment, with the exception that we are greatly in want of tents; and our sick list in consequence of continued exposure, is greatly increased.--Counting the wounded, I have upwards of 70 men in hospital, and a number of sick in camp. Our boys, however, are cheerful, and quite anxious for another chance at the enemy. They behaved admirably at Cerro Gordo, and although they were exposed to a murderous and galling fire for some time, shouldered up to the work like good men, and behaved with a steadiness which surprised even their own officers. I shall never forget the scene. Previous to the attack, I spoke to the men and instructed them not to cock a gun or pull a trigger, until the order was given by me, or the commanding officer, in case I was down. At the same time I ordered the music to "let out" with a strong Yankee Doodle, as soon as they heard the Pennsylvania yell. We moved on to the position which we were ordered to take previous to the attack--that position, as we afterwards ascertained, was within 150 yards of the muzzles of 17 pieces of artillery, and under the fire of 2,000 muskets. My column of attack numbered but 450 men. (This was in consequence of my regiment having been divided to fill up the Tennessee regiments, which were very weak.) About 200 yards from the position, an ambuscade of more than 1,000 muskets opened on us from the chapparal, and grape and canister was poured upon us from the batteries. We had been discovered through the bushes whilst crossing a ravine and the ambuscade had been thrown out to stop us. A number of men were struck down with the first volley, but the line did not quiver. I called out to keep steady and to push on, but it was all unnecessary. The lads never looked behind at the wounded, but moved up rapidly behind me. The fire all this time was pouring upon us from both batteries and ambuscade. With the first call to "Forward," the men broke out into a regular fireman's yell, and the music struck up as though they were blowing their last. The Mexicans couldn't stand it, but "vamosed," as the saying is, straight for their breastwork. We never cocked a gun. Not a shot was fired. We formed our line of attack parallel with the breastworks, and awaited with great impatience the promised order to charge. General Pillow had directed me to form my line of attack, and hold it ready until he sent an officer ordering the charge. The firing at this time had ceased on Twiggs and of the assault. The Tennesseeans had been repulsed from their point of attack, and we had yet received no orders. I had already sent several officers begging, for God's sake, that I should be permitted to lead the men on, but the General had been wounded, was not in the neighborhood, and the officers returned without it. In a short time, however, I received an order to withdraw my force and to fall back upon the National Road. Before, however, this order reached me, I was satisfied that the enemy had surrendered. My force was in full view of the batteries, and the Mexicans were every moment expecting a rush, and had held their cannon ready to open on us when the dash was made. Some time before the order to retire arrived, several white flags were sent down towards my line, evidently for the purpose of surrendering, but my orders were positive to remain in position, and of course I paid no attention to them. The result proved my suspicions to be correct. The enemy had surrendered, how and in what manner you have heard before this. After a later examination of the works, I am convinced that had I been ordered to charge from the position in which I was, I would have had my whole regiment cut to pieces--I would have come off the ground with one third of the number I took on, and hence I am satisfied that it was proper not to order the attack. The strength of the position was not known by Gen. Pillow but(?) is everywhere conceded, that those batteries could not have been taken by a force less than 6000. Several of my wounded have since died from the effect of their hurts. The rest are recovering rapidly.
    The army will move on shortly, and the volunteer portion of it regrets exceedingly that they will be deprived for a while of the presence of General Patterson. We all look upon him as a gallant, able, and superior officer--fearless of danger, regardless of self in the performance of his duties, wise and careful in his judgment, and ever ready to do justice to his command, and crush the petty and contemptible jealousies which are continually manifested by some of the larger "small fry" of the regular army. I tell you that Gen. Patterson has endeared himself to the volunteers in this war, to an extent which ought to be particularly gratifying to his feelings. I do not mean Pennsylvanians alone, but the volunteers from all the States. He leaves us with the regrets of all. We saw him at Vera Cruz; and witnessed during the whole of that harassing siege and severe cannonade, his thorough devotion to his duties. He was so lame as to be compelled to wear crutches, and could not get up the hills into our positions without aid. I have seen him in exposed positions again and again, leaning on his crutches and examining the enemy's movements, when the shells and round shot were falling about him and passing over him in every direction. At Cerro Gordo, when so ill that it was almost madness to think of leaving his bed, he astonished his command by riding in among them immediately previous to the attack, and was received with a simultaneous shout from three or four thousand throats, which must have made the enemy shake in their shoes. At that time he was so weak that he could scarcely manage the animal he rode. He accompanied Gen. Scott to the assault on the left, and remained there until the battle was decided. I feel that the good people of our State deserve to know the man who has been representing them here, and I distinctly assert it, as the opinion of the whole army, that Major Gen. Patterson is a brave, wise and able General. The Pennsylvanians in this campaign feel proud of their State on his account, and sorrowful that orders from Gen. Scott will for a time deprive them of his presence among them. The reason why the General leaves us, is explained "General Orders." The old volunteers, whose period of enlistment will expire on the first of June, have been ordered to return to New Orleans, and General Patterson will be for a while without a command. There are at present but four new volunteer Regiments with General Scott. The 1st Pennsylvania, 2d Pennsylvania, 1st New York, and the South Carolina Regiments, are all that are here. They compose but one Brigade, which is commanded by one of the most gallant officers in the army. I mean General Quitman.
    Brigadier General Shields, who we all thought was dead, is still hovering between life and death, with a desperate wound through and through the chest. We hope he may recover, and it is probable that he will.


Source:

"Our Volunteers", Bedford Gazette, Bedford, Pa, Friday, 4 June 1847, p. 2, cols. 4-5.

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