three thousand prisoners, four or five
thousand stands of arms, and forty-three pieces of artillery are
taken. By the accompanying return I regret to find our loss more
severe than at first supposed, amounting in the two days to
thirty-three officers and three hundred and ninety-eight men--in
all, four hundred and thirty-one, of whom sixty-three were killed.
The enemy's loss is computed to be from one thousand to one thousand
two hundred. I am happy in communicating strong hopes of the
recovery of the gallant General Shields, who is so much improved as
to have been brought to this place.

"Appended to this report are the following papers:

"(A) General return by name of killed and wounded.

"(B) Copies of report of Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, acting
inspector general (of prisoners taken), and accompanying papers.

"(C) Report of Brigadier-General Twiggs, and subreports.

"(D) Report of Major-General Patterson and report of brigade
commanders.

"(E) Copy of report of Brigadier-General Worth announcing the
occupation by his division of the castle and town of Perote without
opposition, with an inventory of ordnance there found.

"I have the honor to remain, sir, with high respect, your most
obedient servant,

"WINFIELD SCOTT."

A Mexican historian gives the following account of the close of the
battle: "General Santa Anna, accompanied by some of his adjutants, was
passing along the road to the left of the battery, when the enemy's
column, now out of the woods, appeared on his line of retreat and
fired upon him, forcing him back. The carriage in which he had left
Jalapa was riddled with shot, the mules killed and taken by the enemy,
as well as a wagon containing sixteen thousand dollars received the
day before for the pay of the soldiers. Every tie of command and
obedience now being broken among our troops, safety alone being the
object, and all being involved in a frightful whirl, they rushed
desperately to the narrow pass of the defile that descended to the
Plan del Rio, where the general in chief had preceded, with the chiefs
and officers accompanying him. Horrid indeed was the descent by that
narrow and rocky path, where thousands rushed, disputing the passage,
with desperation, and leaving a track of blood upon the road. All
classes being confounded, military distinction and respect were lost;
and badges of rank