On the 10th of August, a party of Americans, under Major Lally, was attacked near the National Bridge, by the guerrillas. The skirmish was severe, the major being attacked in front and rear, and losing many men. He maintained his ground, however, with vigour, and finally drove off the enemy. A short time previous to this, an engagement had taken place between Captain Ruff's cavalry and the guerrillas, in which he was eminently victorious, not losing a man.

These attacks of the guerrillas kept the region between Vera Cruz and Puebla in a state of constant alarm, and rendered travelling, except with a strong escort, in the highest degree dangerous. The most active and daring of these partisans was the celebrated Father Jarauta, a priest, who had organized most of the parties, and who seems to have been considered as their general leader. Vigilant exertions were made to capture him by Captain Walker, and General Patterson, who was then stationed at Vera Cruz, but without success; and, until the close of the war, he continued to arm and lead different bands, whose rapid and fearless movements rendered his name a terror in that neighbourhood.

MARCH TO THE CAPITAL, AND BATTLE OF CONTRERAS.

ENERAL SCOTT, with the main portion of the army, remained at Puebla until early in August, when he prepared for a march upon the capital. A sufficient garrison was left in the city under Colonel Childs. On the 7th, Twiggs's division, preceded by Harney's brigade of cavalry, moved for the capital; and was followed, on the three succeeding days, by the divisions of Quitman, Worth, and Pillow, the corps being at no time more than five hours' march, or supporting distance, apart. On the first day, the troops entered a beautiful rolling country, of great fertility, covered with gardens, which sup

plied the inhabitants with food, and surrounded by lofty mountains, capped with snow. Among these Popocatapetl and Iscatapetl were so near as to render the morning and evening air quite chilly. The fields were covered with the beautiful maguey plant, through the rows of which, as the road gradually ascended, the long lines of soldiers, followed by their immense baggage train, exhibited a noble spectacle. The second day's march ascended through defiles, narrow passes, and deep chasms, succeeded by thick woods of the finest forest trees, with here and there beautiful little lakes embosomed among quiet valleys, with their cool deep waters glittering in the southern sun. On the third day, the advance reached the strong pass of Rio Frio, where the enemy had been reported in force. At this place, the mountains which skirt the road on the left, close upon it for about a mile, overhanging and enfilading it completely, and affording excellent coverings for an enemy's marksmen. It was passed without meeting the enemy, and the troops commenced the ascent of the ridge, which separates the plains of Puebla from the valley of Mexico. After winding along this for several miles, a sudden turn in the road brought the army within full sight of the vast plain of Mexico, in the centre of which lay the goal of ambition, the object of so many fatiguing marches, with its lofty cathedral, its checkered domes, its frowning walls, and bright embosoming lakes. The army passed the night in sight of the city.

On the following day, the troops descended into the great valley or basin of Mexico, the different divisions approximating more closely than they had done in any part of the march. The road ran through Lake Chalco and Xochimilco on the south, and Lake Tezcuco on the north. Close to the latter, and on the opposite side of the road, was the isolated mound, called El Penon, of great height, strongly fortified, by a triple row of works, and flooded around the base by sluices from the lakes, and heavy rains. It is eight miles from the capital, and commands the advance to it, from the east. A careful reconnoissance of this place, made on the 13th and 14th, convinced Genera Scott that an attempt to carry it, even if successful, would be attendea by great and disproportionate loss, and have a chilling effect upon the subsequent battles, anticipated before the city walls. This was confirmed by another reconnoissance upon Mexicalzingo, left of Penon, a village at a fortified bridge across the canal, leading from Lake Xochimilco to the capital. This could have been carried after masking El Penon; but on the other side of the bridge, the Americans would have found themselves on a narrow causeway four miles from the road flanked on the right and left by boggy grounds.

These difficulties caused the general to abandon the idea of a direct

march upon the city, and to avoid the eastern defences, by passing round the western and southern shores of Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco, at the foot of the hills and mountains, so as to reach the village of San Augustin, and there conduct a reconnoissance upon the city.

Accordingly, by a sudden retrograde movement, the army commenced its march on the 18th, Worth's division, with Harney in advance, composing the van. Twiggs's troops were left at Ayotla until next day, in order to threaten Penon and Mexicalzingo, so as to deceive the enemy as long as possible. The route lay over a field of lava, broken into rocks, chasms, and deep ravines, many of which, on account of the rainy season, were filled with water; but notwithstanding these difficulties, the advance under Worth reached San Augustin on the 18th *

The march of the American army around Lake Chalco must be regarded as one of the most scientific operations of the war. Santa Anna had good reason to believe that such a step was impossible, and few generals besides the American commander would have attempted it. The reward was commensurate with the labour of achievement; for besides its resulting in the subsequent glorious battles, it enabled our army to escape the terrible batteries of Penon and Mexicalzingo, the first of which mounted fifty-three guns, and the second, thirty-eight. General Scott, throughout the whole of this splendid campaign, exhibited all the characteristics of a most able commander-in-chief. All his dispositions for action were marked by the most consummate science and ability; but in Mone did he display these qualities to greater advantage than in the arrangements for the final attack on the capital and its defences.

WIGGS marched on the 16th from Ayotla towards Chalco, a small town situated on the lake, six miles from the road. Before reaching it he met a corps of cavalry and infantry, more than double his numbers, under command of General Valencia. The American general halted, formed in line, and opened upon them from Captain Taylor's field-battery, by which many of the cavalry were killed and wounded, and the remainder dispersed. Except this skirmish the army experienced no further molestation during the march,

save from guerrillas on the heights.

A little north of San Augustin, is the village of San Antonio, which had been strongly fortified by the enemy, with field-works, containing heavy guns, and a numerous garrison. It could be turned only on the left by infantry, who would be obliged to advance over a field covered with volcanic rocks and lava. A careful reconnoissance evinced that the point could be approached only from the front over a narrow causeway, flanked with wet ditches of great depth. Towards evening, while Captain Thornton with a small party were examining the works, a masked battery opened upon them, killed the captain and wounded his guide.

On the same day a reconnoissance was commenced to the left of San Augustin, first over the different mounds, and farther on over the same field of volcanic rocks and lava, which had been partially traversed in the route around Lake Chalco. This was continued on the 19th by Captain Lee, assisted by Lieutenants Beauregard and Tower. Other divisions coming up, Pillow's was advanced to make a practical road for heavy artillery, and Twiggs's thrown farther in front, to cover that operation. These movements resulted in the battle of Contreras.

San Augustin, at which the American army was then stationed, is a small village, situated on the road leading from Southern Mexico to the capital, about ten miles from the latter. Being in the north of a broken volcanic valley, access to it is extremely difficult, and the movement of cavalry across it, impossible. On the rocks which border the western side of this valley, is the strong post of Contreras, which the Mexicans had fortified in the most careful manner, and furnished with a large garrison. About the same distance north of