ys earlier. I must not omit to add
that Captain Mason and Second-Lieutenant Davis, both of the Rifles,
were among the very severely wounded in storming the same tower. I
estimate our total loss in killed and wounded may be about two
hundred and fifty, and that of the enemy three hundred and fifty. In
the pursuit toward Jalapa (twenty-five miles hence) I learn we have
added much to the enemy's loss in prisoners, killed, and wounded. In
fact, I suppose this retreating army to be nearly disorganized, and
hence my haste to follow in an hour or two to profit by events. In
this hurried and imperfect report I must not omit to say that
Brigadier-General Twiggs, in passing the mountain range beyond Cerro
Gordo crowned with the tower, detached from his division, as I
suggested the day before, a strong force to carry that height which
commanded the Jalapa road at the foot, and could not fail, if
carried, to cut off the whole or any part of the enemy's forces from
a retreat in any direction. A portion of the First Artillery under
the often-distinguished Brevet-Colonel Childs, the Third Infantry
under Captain Alexander, the Seventh Infantry under
Lieutenant-Colonel Plympton, and the Rifles under Major Loring, all
under the temporary command of Colonel Harvey, Second Dragoons,
during the confinement to his bed of Brevet Brigadier-General P.F.
Smith, composed that detachment. The style of execution, which I had
the pleasure to witness, was most brilliant and decisive. The
brigade ascended the long and difficult slope of Cerro Gordo,
without shelter and under the tremendous fire of artillery and
musketry, with the utmost steadiness, reached the breastworks,
drove the enemy from them, planted the colors of the First
Artillery, Third and Seventh Infantry, the enemy's flag still
flying, and after some minutes of sharp firing finished the conquest
with the bayonet. It is a most pleasing duty to say that the highest
praise is due to Harvey, Childs, Plympton, Loring, Alexander, their
gallant officers and men, for this brilliant service, independent of
the great results which soon followed.

"Worth's division of regulars coming up at this time, he detached
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel C.F. Smith with his light battalion to
support the assault, but not in time. The general, reaching the
tower a few minutes before me and observing a white flag displayed
from the nearest por