he general assault two of the regiments: the
Voltigeurs and the 11th, and at the appointed time Colonel
Ransom, with his temporary brigade, conducted by Captain Lee,
Engineer, not only made the movement in front, to divert and to
distract the enemy, but, after crossing the deep ravine,
advanced, and poured into the works and upon the fugitives many
volleys from his destructive musketry.

In the mean time Smith's own brigade, under the temporary command
of Major Dimick, following the movements of Riley and
Cadwallader, discovered, opposite to, and outside of the works, a
long line of Mexican cavalry, drawn up as a support. Dimick
having at the head of the brigade the company of Sappers and
Miners, under Lieutenant G. W. Smith, engineer, who had conducted
the march, was ordered by Brigadier-General Smith to form his
line, faced to the enemy, and in a charge against the flank,
routed the cavalry.

Shields, too, by the wise disposition of his brigade and gallant
activity, contributed much to the general results. He held masses
of cavalry and infantry, supported by artillery, in check below
him, and captured hundreds, with one general (Mendoza), of those
who fled from above.

I doubt whether a more brilliant or decisive victory, taking into
view ground, artificial defences, batteries, and the extreme
disparity of numbers, without cavalry or artillery on our side,
is to be found on record. Including all our corps directed
against the intrenched camp, with Shields' brigade at the hamlet,
we positively did not number over four thousand five hundred rank
and file; and we knew by sight, and since, more certainly, by
many captured documents and letters, that the enemy had actually
engaged on the spot seven thousand men, with at least twelve
thousand more hovering within sight and striking distance, both
on the 19th and 20th. All, not killed or captured, now fled with
precipitation.

Thus was the great victory of Contreras achieved; one road to the
capital opened; seven hundred of the enemy killed; eight hundred
and thirteen prisoners, including, among eighty-eight (p. 317)
officers, four generals; besides many colors and standards;
twenty-two pieces of brass ordnance, half of large calibre;
thousands of small arms and accoutrements