VIII.
Absolute freedom of religious worship and ceremonies is solemnly guaranteed.
General Scott to the Secretary of War.
Headquarters of the Army,
Plan del Rio, 50 miles from Vera Cruz,
April 19, 1847.
To the Honorable
William L. Marcy,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
Sir: The plan of attack, sketched in General Orders, No. 111, forwarded herewith, was finely executed by this gallant army before two o'clock p.m. yesterday. We are quite embarrassed with the results of victory, prisoners of war, heavy ordnance, field batteries, small arms and accoutrements.
About three thousand men laid down their arms, with the usual proportion of field and company officers, besides five generals, several of them of great distinction: Pinson, Yarrero, La Vega, Noriega, and Obardo. A sixth general, Vasquez, was killed in defending the battery (tower) in the rear of the whole Mexican army, the capture of which gave us these glorious results.
Our loss, though comparatively small in numbers, has been serious. Brigadier-General Shields, a commander of activity, zeal and talent, is, I fear, if not dead, mortally wounded. He is some five miles from me at the moment. The field of operations covered many miles, broken by mountains and deep chasms, and I have not a report, as yet, from any division or brigade.
Twiggs' division, followed by Shields' (now Colonel Baker's) brigade, are now at Xalapa, and Worth's division is en route thither, all pursuing, with good results, as I learn, that part of the Mexican army, perhaps six or seven thousand men, who had fled before our right had carried the tower, and gained the Xalapa road.
Pillow's brigade alone is near me at this depot of wounded, sick, and prisoners; and I have time only to give from him the names of 1st Lieutenant F. B. Nelson, and 2d Lieutenant C. J. Hill, both of the 2d Tennessee foot (Haskell's regiment), among the killed, and in the brigade one hundred and six, of all ranks, killed or wounded.