Democratic banner. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1837-1849, October 22, 1846, Image 1

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BY‘M‘ooßE' & THOMPSON;
EPIBWMEa
Tho "DEMOCRATIC BANNER” Is published
vfreak|y.- on Wednesday mornings.uls2 porn‘hnum
-ol‘-81 75 if paid an ndvnnco. .
No 11 or can bo disconlinucd (unless at tho op~
non Orinocdhorsfi unnl all urrenrngan are paid.
WAdvorusamtnts. &c.. at tho usual rates.
BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Ledger.
Glorious News.’4— Capitulation of
Monterey after three days’ fight
ing ! Col. Watson, of the Bal
timore Battallion, killed—about
500 flmericans hilled £9 woun
ded—3oo [tilled—Hasty memor
anda of the operations of the .4-
meriean army before Monterey
from the 19th to the 28th Sept.
On the 19th Gen. Taylor arrived belore
Monterey with it three of about 6000 men,
and. after reconnoitering the city at about
1500 or 1600 yards from the Cathedral
tort, during which he was fired upon from
the battery. his force was encamped at
the Walnut Springs. three miles short til
the city. This was the nearest position
from which the army could obtain a ‘up
ply of water and bread, and be without
the reach of the enethies batteries. 'l'hel
remainder of the 19th was occupied by the
engineers in making reeonnoisanees ol the
city. for the purpose of erecting batteries
to cannonndc from the heights.
On the 20h Gen. .Worth was ordered
with his division to move by a circuitous
route to the rightto gain the Saltillo road,
beyond the west of the town. and to storm
the heights above the Bishop’s Palace,
which vital point the enemy appeared to
have strangely neglected. Circum-tun
ces caused him to halt on the night of the
20th, short of the intended position.
On the morning of the 21m he contin
ued his route, and after an encounter wnh
a large body of the enemy’s catalry and
infantry, supported by artillery from the
heights, he repulsed them with loss and
finally eneamped, eovering_the passage to
the Sallillo road. It was here discovered
that besides the hut at the Bishop Pal
ace and the occupation of the height; a
bove. there were two forte- on cemmaTi -
in: emincnees on the opposite side of the
Siogeuip which had been lortified and oc
cupied; These two latter heights were
then stormed and married by the force un
der Gen. Worth. and the guns being im
mediately turned upon the city, a plurging
fire was commenced upon the Bishop’s
Palace.
On the' same morning. the 215 i. the first
division of regular troops. under General
Twigs. and the volunteer division, under
Gen. Butler, were ordered under arms to
make a diversion to the left ot the town in
favor ol the important iterations of Gen.
\thh. [The 20 inclxmrtars and two 524
pound howitzers had been put in a battery
on the night of the 20th in a ravine 1400
yards; distant lrom the cathedral fort and
Citadel. and were supported by the fourth
regiment of intantry.
At 8& o‘rlock. A. M., on the 21st. the
order was given furthe battery to open the
citidel and town. and immediately after
the first discharge the divtsion, with the
3d arid 4th‘infnntry in advance under Col.
Gartland. who were ordered to recottnot
tre and skirmish with the enemy on the
extreme lett of the city. and should a ptos«
pect oi success otter, to carry the tttost
advanced battery. This attack was di
rected by Major Mansfield. engineer ;
Capt. Williams. of the Topographical en
gineers. and Major Kenny; quarter-mas
ter to the Texas Rangers. '
A heavy fire lrotn the first battery was
immediately opened upon the advance. but
the troops soon turned. and entering the
city. engaged with the enemy hand to hand
in the streets. Passing through an inces
sant cross-fire from the citadel. and the
first and second batteries, as well as from
the infantry who lined the parapets, streets
and house-tops oi the city, the rear of the
first battery was captured,. and xthe tire
sdonlturnéd upon the'e’nein'y ; this and the
reverse fire of the troops through the gorge
of the works. killed or dislodged the artil- ‘
lerists and infantry 'fromv'it, and the buil- :
dings occupied by. infantryimmediately in
its rear. > ‘ t a .> :
y'l'he first division was followed and sup»
ported by the Mississippi and Tennessee.
and first Ohio regiments—the two former
regiments being the, firstt to scale and oci
copy the forte "I‘he- success Jul the :day'
hero-stopped» [The Missisaippi. Teones
see and Dhio regiments; though warmly
.eh‘g‘aggd in thezstreets [or some;time.alter.
thema‘ptu’re ofthe first battery and Hood
joining-defences, were unable [rotatex‘
‘ imitation and the loss they had sustained,
attogaiufroore advantages. ;A heavy. show.
‘ er._ot'.rain here eatneuptolcuuse avsuspen.
aion ofllhatilitiqstbelore‘: the; close of; the
day. - . m: s:
v, The? 3d; 4th and] st- intatt try »aad;BultiL
tnore battalion,reipsinetlas the garrison oi
, the cuptu‘redposition’uhtlerCol. .Gartla’nd',
assistcdzby. Capt; Ridgetyfehntloryrtwo
~"2 poundere, tint: 4-pituntlcr. nnstwongyhmw
i'i(ZET'|‘7ElBs.Capluerl tin- thlSJOl'ly” three
..‘ofliceiswod‘ some twenty: ornitnrty. men
were_tak'eo prisoners. .One ol the 12 poun
derawao served against“ the second tort
.~\etiilidefettces‘. tutti. {captured gatttntopttwoiy
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. ‘~ ‘ ". , fl." I‘":““‘; "‘ I ‘ I I I
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.. -. 1 , . . \ . ~ w‘ ,«r ‘," u" ‘ VI" ,_ '1“ ' ’ 12:; l ‘ ”:1 ‘93,
V ' I V r I. V: I . , ' H , ‘ A w ‘3 ..« -.7 , - .1. - A .1; ,‘ _
‘ V-. . u“ ‘.f H; ' _ '‘X :- . .z, r_ ‘. , ‘ ;_- 'g; ‘s'} '5 '‘ ' ’ s‘: '3' ‘4 7" -‘ I
. . A - '1: ' ‘v; . . , ' x - i=6? ‘3‘? #5 "‘3 ‘i 7*” ”‘3‘ ‘5" >"I
‘' , . ~\.".;: 0 , '33 J '3‘ ' 3»; ~ ' .v . . Vm’ A :9: ‘l‘. Vi 3;; 4i ”‘3' it; I” ‘ ‘
. . H»: can u, .3... , . ,C ’ -,', v 3,. ,43 3.4.. “m a»; ' "4'3: '
. , . ‘ ‘ ,
by Capt. Ridgely. The storming part of
Gen. Worth’s division also captured _two
nine pounders, awhich Were also turned a:
gains: their former owners.
On the morning of the 22d.Gcn. Worth.
continued his operations. and with a por
tion of his division stormed and carried
successively the heights above the Bish
op’s Palace; both Were carried by a corn
mand under Capt. Vinton, of the 3d artill
tary. in this operation, the company of
Louisiana volunteers, under Capt. Blanch
ard pertormed efficient anti gallant service
as part okCapt. Vinton's command. Four
pieces of artillery, with a good supply of
ammunition. were captuted in the Bishop’s
Palace this day, some of which were im
mediately turned upon the enemies’ de
fences in the city. On the evening of the
2d, Col. Gartland and his command were
relieved as theeurrison of the captured
torts by Gen. , Quitman. with the Missis.
stppi and Tennessee regiments, and five
companies ol the Kentucky regiments.
Early on the morning ol the 23d. Gen.
Quitman. from his position, discovered
that the 2d anti 3d posts and the defences
east of the city, had been abandoned by
the enemy. who, apprehending another
assault, on the night of the 22d. had retir
ed lrotn all his delence‘ to the main pal
ace and its immediate vicinity. A com
mand. consusting of two companies at
Mississippi and two of 'lennessee troops.
were then thrown into the streets to re
Ctlnnutit‘e. and soon became wholly enga‘
ged with the enemy. They were imme
diately supported by 'Col. Wood's I’Pgl
ment of Texas Rangers, dismounted, by
Brigg’s light battery. anti the 3d infantry.
The enemy"; fire was constant and umn
terrupted. from streets and house-tops,
‘ barricades. &c.
lo the ytctrilty ot' the Plaza. the pieces
of Bragg's battery were also used with
much eflicienc'y‘ far into the interior of the
city. This engagement lasted the best
part of the day—our troops having driven
the scattered parties of the enemy. and
penetrated quite to tha defences ol the
main Plaza. The advantages thus gained
it was not considered neceaqary to hold.
as the enemy had permanently abandoned
the city and its defences, except the main
l’taza.‘ its immediate vicinity. and the
Cathedral. {ort,nr citadel, early in the al
ternoon ol the same day. Gen. \Vurth
DS~ullPll lrotn the Bishop’s Palace the west
side of the city, and succeeded In driving
the enemy and maintaining his position
twithinea short distance of the Plaza. on
that side of the city; towards evening the
mortar had also been planted in the Cem
etry incloeed. and during the night did
great execution iii the circumscribed camp
ofthe enemy. on the Plaza. Tnus ended
the operations on the 23d.
Early on the morning of the 24th. a
communication was sent to Gen. Taylor
from Gen. Ampudia. under a llag of trace,
making an oll'er of capitulation, in which
the former refused to accede. as it ask
ed more than the Amerlcanmommnnder
Would, under any circumstanceslgrant.
At the'aame time. a demand to surren
der was in reply made to Gen. B'mpudia;
12 o’clock, M., was the hour at which the
acceptance or non-acceptance was to be
communicated to the American General.
At 11 o'clock, A. M.. the Mexican Gen
eral pent. requesting a personal conlerence
with Gen. Taylor, which was granted—
the principal officers of rank on either side
accompanying; their Generalr. Alter sev
eral offers in relation to the capitulation ol
the city, made on either side, and refuaed,
at 45 P. M., Gen. Taylor arose. and say
ing he would give Gen. Amputlia one hour
to consider and accept or refuse, left the
contcrence with his oflicers. At the ex
piration ut‘ thehnur, the discharge 0! the
mortars to be the signal tor the recom
mencement of hostilitiea. ‘
Belore the exfilfimtion of the hour, how
ev'cr, an officer was sent. on the pm! of
Gen. Atnpudia, to inlorln lhe Ameiican
General to avoid the fuilher allusion of
blood, and the nntional honor being satis
fied by the exertions of the Mexican troops,
he had. alter consultation with the gener.
al ofliCers, (leaded to capitulntc. accept
ing lhé oiler of the Amerit'mn General.—
Thc terms of cnpitulatiun you will have
by mail.
The only Baltimorcan or Philadelphiun
in the party. or in the list of killed and
wounded, in Col. 'WID. Watson, of Balli
mure. . _
_' Special Correspondence.
'l'n" nbtrqdu'cing' the, {allowing series of
lam/rs [him Mr. Hull'e. it can hardly be
nalcepsary to témind thé“veuder lhul they
we're Written amid 'lho‘bustle of the camp
finfd3din ‘pf‘ arms." He asks'us to say so
m'ljcli for him, but‘w’q feel it in unnecessa
fy'." V'ln' the Last. letter we 'lmxe‘frdthim
'-_—-n p‘rivnte. on‘e jdx’ned the .25thlxuhh—he
bays; 3 l" omitt‘é‘d to state. inmy letters
[_l‘lnat. tli‘e'M eiicu’hs hailseveh thousp‘n‘d' fégs
'tivillérls‘iahd' bexjvéed'lhree imfi four"lll6us'-
‘jz‘ifid‘v'rpnehéijesl'in' the;cit'y. . 'Theirkilléd
a‘n‘d‘ 'iv'euflgl.é'gl"wa's snip“ eompiqred iwj'di
”(sf-their: l‘llegs‘“ qu V'wal‘lsfl ‘ protecting
mums; g
“'.A'gth‘e sajp! "Capt, Biuggfqhaueg
was; terribly ‘c'u; upE—hes‘luét‘tweoq ‘hfll’f
seal; .‘I am ‘l‘dldmhe believed nob!y._ .Hi's
unlcrlf'se‘rggaqt, Waihhhn mmxcaa
* Ridge y‘llyadlh'r‘ee . fine .-' heme: killed—7nd
‘m'enz Hfl‘h)ell.'d'rdgoona‘had. no 'chqneqm
‘fighg, yb’uy‘Vfire‘yery.’qctiv‘e es scammfigfi
CLEARFIELmPA.‘QCTO'BER'22.I
, 1
' , Mn, Haile’s private; letter assures us of
his fine health and Spirits. Our troops he‘
represents lube almost worn out with lhe
fatigue of their several days labours, butl
otherwise in high spirits.
San Francisco. Mexico. Sept. 18.
A Gentlemen: We are at length within
live hour’s march of Monterey—-eay twelve
miles distant. The army left the camp
near Marin, this morning. the first divre
ion starting at 6 o’clock. and the second
division at 7 o’clock. The advance con
sisted of McCulloch and Gillespie’s con!—
panies of rangers. and a squadron of dra
gonna 'under Col. May. The pioneer
corps was broken up. and returned to their ‘
respective regiments. The baggage of the
first division. and one-half the ordnance
train followed that command, and the se
cond division was followed in like manner
by its baggage and the other part of the
ordnance train. The volunteer diviston
marched at eight o’clock. followed by its
baggage and the supply train. The rear
guard was composed ot two companies of
regulars. one lrom each division, and clo
sed the march. following the supply train.
In case General Henderson should arrive
Wllil his Texan rangers. they were to term
the advance. with the exception of four
companies. which were to take the place
oi the two companies of infantry, which
formed the rear guard. Gen. Henderson
overtook the army about four miles lrotn
here. and his command was disposed of
according to the above-named arrange
ment. The habitual order of battle Was
directed to be as lolluws: "first division
on the tight, the Isecoorl on the left, and
the volunteer division on the centre,” the
chicfsofdtvisions to organize such reserves
as they might judge proper. This order
ofbattle not to be conaidered invaluable.
but to be controlled by the nature of the
ground. Four men from Gillespie’s com
pany were attached to each 0! the ttvo
(second and volunteer) divisions.
Everything connected with this day’s
march has been intensely interesting to
till, and novel to many. The troops mar
ched in closed columns, and were always
held in readiness to act .prumptly. The
column embracing the trains, reached
nearly or quite three llllitftl. it thi a grand
‘sight, and so much did the men feel inter-
ested in coming; events, that every one
went at it in n business manner. and, al
though it has been hot and dusty. not hall
a dozen out ol nearly six thousand live
hundred have given in tn-day on the march.
We have forded a number of uregms to
day, commencing near Marin, with the
San Juno, which was nearly waist deep.
0! course we are now in the midst of the
mountains. but so imperceptibly have we
ascended what appeared like mountains.
this morning. that. we now scent to be On
a grout plain. with mountains rising into
peaks. in every direction around us. Our
road has been through a richer region since
leaving Marin. than nny I have seen since
leaving the Rio Grnnde. “'0 passed [WU
or thlec large ha'eiendus. where sugarcane
is C.Ul,LiV§‘,"‘l to u’ con‘suleruhle extent, and
the second crops mom a flourishing state.
All these plantations ure irrigated from
the mountnin streams. ‘
Soon alter we arrived here'thii evening.
in Mexican war has heend‘ollowin: the ar
rny horn Serelvo, was been writing in one
of the houses at the hacienda nun camp. ‘
()n being pointed out by one of the drum
rner boys of the 7th infantry, llu-built‘tl out '
ol the door, nnd wus pursued and caught.
A little while utter he broke from the
guard and ran towards the chupparal. but, 1
unfortunately for the poor devil. he wm
running directly into the camp ol the 2d
division; which lies hid in the bushes. A
hue and cry wuq raised, the guard not
wishingto shoot htm, and. alter a smart
footrnce through the thorn bushes, and
various extraordinary feats of dodging. he
Was captured by some of the soldiers of
the 7th after receivrng a bayonet wound.
He is a spy.
Well, :to-tnorrow evening or the next
day morning. we shall have seen the
question decided With regard \p the
strength of Montcrey. Inlorrnntion came
into camp from Monterey last evening.
which Mr. Kendall forwarded to yum—-
This evening the report is that there are
8,000 (one report says 15,000) troops
there. and that the'city is surrounded by‘d
ditch and breastworka, and the streets all
fortified. i ,l i . ,
How doitl‘ie troops act 'on the eve olnn
expected‘fhattl'e? only that they one it
little more precise in the perfortmince of
th'eir tlutiesén‘little inore carexlul in ur-i
rangingtheir arms and knepsnckspto he in
readineestoij anlinslant’a notice—and a
little more p‘nreful to- procure rest. while
they may—l see no chr‘tnge in theirde
meanor. The only conversation is. Ihow.
they willgo to workto take,the city should
reaistnpce be pliered. ”It is the settler] bet
lief that the Mexicnris' Will [fightrand it is
‘clso believed that many lives will be eac‘ric.
fic‘é’d'on both- aides. [predict that on
their retreat 'thénr’rny .will be awfnll'y‘p‘ut
l‘np. (AbouthtWelye hundred 'liexanhorsét
jr'rien'rirénow with us. {and tlteylare/degiri
tins'ol playing: olf cldeporesfi‘ln taking
the town“ they cannot en'gagetyeryegtlyc.‘
lyfbtir. iritoi‘lertuhing".th‘o retreating troupe
.thc'y itiillhé'ndtive and. destructive." ' .11;
, "Nine b’eipck, ’P.’ , Ill—The immersion
blth‘gs‘e' tindo'ught' _best to kno_w.,‘ts- Stilt
that tlie'tt'dopa' at, Monterey.,ttritl.‘rptigt.-,~
El
odr troops Will be greatly disappointed if
no rési/stance is oflered them. '[heyfhave
come a longdietanee to seek a fight. i
was amused at'a remark made by Colonel l
Persilor F. Smith. some daye'r'ago. when
asked what he thought of the probabilities l
iii a battle: “I never knew a man tol
seek perseveringly for a thing a long time. 1
but what he louud it," replied he. “ and l
General Taylor will not. I think. seek in
vain for another set-to with the Mexicani.
One thing'is certain. the enemy has been
at heavy expense to fortify ‘Monterey, and
if we do not find out. belore to-murrow
night at this time. that they. do not intend
to expend their money and labor for noth
ing. 1 shall then be satisfied that‘lhere is
no spirit lelt among them. Two hundred'
Mexican troops left this place this morn
-llnt-Z, alter ill treating and pillaging the m
habitnnts as usual. But these people are
singular beings, and very ungrateful. ln
Marin, where Torrejon’s troops had, a
day or two before. robbed. whipped, and
insulted the citizens sha'rnelully. l more
lamily selling muscat to Americans for
two dollars per bottle, and at the same
time selling it to Mexicans for [our blli
per bottle. We march tomorrow at six
o'clock to cocamp three miles from Mon
lerey.
Camp before Monlcrey. Sept. [BI/L, 12
o’clock. Ill—Well, ' the ball has opened.’
When within about four miles of the citv,
we heard a brisk cannonnding in that di
rection. On arriving here. we learn that
Gen. 'l‘nylor with a detachment of dra
goons and the Texan Rangers, advanced
within a few hundred yards of the city.
when the enemy opened upon thetn'with
.lwelve poundeie. The first ball came
within about ten yards at the general.—
Some twenty-five or thirty shot were fired
at the Dragoonaand Rangers, passing thro’
their linen. but hurting neither man nor
horse. A picket ol 200 Mertcun cavalry
appeared on the plum when our advance
first approached. and. after firing a volley
or two with their eacopettes. retired into
the city. Bishop’s hill is strongly lorti
lied. and they are hard at work on a height
commandlng that place. So to night. or
early in the morning. we Wlll probably
l have but work. They will fightnow, be
)yond a doubt.
Camp before Monlcrcy.
Sept. 19, 1846
Guantanam—This has been a day of
excitement and interest to our isolated little
army.- The general left the camp at San
Francisco this morning at sunrise. and by
8 o’clock the whole column was in motion,
the Texan Rangers and Col. May. with a
sqadron of dragoons, 'in advance. The
men started off briskly, and the road was
fine. After two hour’s march. a bridge
was found broken up by the Mexicans. A
com field near at hand afforded materials
for filling up the place, and the army pro
ceeded over the first corn-stalk bridge 1 ev—
er heardof. When within about four or
five miles of the city, we heard a brisk can
nonadw. Some of the amen hsdjest pre
vious to this began to lag, some suffering
from blistered feet, and others from the in
tensity of the heat. but no sooner did the
sound ofcantien reach their care, than they
straightened themselv s tip and pressed
forward with an eagerz’ess which showed
that their sufferitigsrwete all forgotten—i
Capt. Scott, (the reritnble,) or rather nOWI
Major Scott, who- commands the sth in
fantry, marched immediately before us, and
the moment the brave old soldier heard the
enemy's cannon, he drove his spurs into
his horse and pranced about his regiment
as if he would give a liberal portion of his
;ltfe to be at Monterey. Capt. Miles. com
irnander of the 7th infantry. bv whose side
‘ I was riding at the moment. likewise rO5O
iiri his stirrups, with his keen black eyes
sparkling. and his nostrils slightly dilated,
and gave orders to his regiment to close up.
but his orders were useless. for the noble
fellows were already pressing ttpon the
listen”. to the very rumps of the horses—i
1 Again. again, and again, noise of the cannon t
reverberated through the lofty mountains
which rose before us and upon each side,
[I willtdescribe this grand scenery at eno
ther them] and a buzz. a suppressed hur
ra ran through the line. The officers ran
their eyes over their commands with looks
of pride and confidence. and the then re
turned the glance, as if to say. “we are
ready." and pressed on still more eagerly.
I rode out of the celumn and fell 'back to
look at the Louisiana hoys'. Every eye
among lhem‘ was bright with eager excites
ment. Capt. Blanchard and Lieut. Ten;
brink and the two brothers Nicholle. “(0"?
a peculiar smile upon their countenanceei
an expression I never shall forget. They
regrettedthe absence oftheir fellow-citizen!
who had‘returned'to their quiet liomesg '9'
they well' knew how many a brave heart
would burn With bitter disappointment and
laudable envy, could their retumed 9'9“,“
butsee them and. know thef|,f"(.f‘3el"’B‘,3 ?‘
'thismoment. ' ,' ' m," ,5. ~ A”. lg
, on reaching theplacflt‘tfencwxfnmgmiwfi
came’up with Gen.- Worthy mums .onthis
horse in beautifulstyle‘. A handsomer
lofiicerrthanheappéhfpd them} neversnw
-35,9111“: ”Managed the change that had
suddenly‘eome‘over lt_im.. .From the source
th," Idejected, airr and, saddened ,couiitea
nanceJhal he is. said, to havveorn, of late,
_lgichard was new himself. again—,and the
gallant soldiprr forgetting allhis cares;,now
NEW’SERIESv-VOL. 'I.‘;NO. somwnom: N 0.39“.
appeared before us. the personification of
an accompliehed military chieftaiu. Hie
handsome; face w'aelighted up with a proud.
but affable smile, as he motioned graceful
ly to his officers, pointing out to themthe
direction they were to take with their ree
pective commands. and not a men who saw
him. but what would at that moment have
followed him to the cannon’e mouth.
Such was the feeling manifested by the
whole army—which rendered this body of
men invincible. .
This evening the enemy’s batteries have
been opened again upon a reeonnoiteriug
party of ours. Generel’s Taylor. Twiggs.
Worth,- and others, have been out, looking
f“ their works. ( ,
9 o’clack. p. m.—-An attack is expected.
and every man in the army will restto'night
on his arms. A night attack is whataeoi
dier dislikes very much, because it is them
difficult to.distinguieh friend from foe.
September 20,—Every thing remained
quiet last night. To-morrow an attempt
Will be made to take Monterey. A etout
resistance is expectedJ‘or the town is strong
ly fortified. its well eetbe heightethat'com
mend It. and the enemy has troops and
ammunition enough there to defend it. A
movement will no doubt be made to-uight.
No one expects an easy victory; on the
other hand. all have made up their minds
to nee much bloodshed. It is believed that
a large number of the enemy is in our rear
—in fact there’s little doubt on the subject.
An ex press rider is of} this morning for
Camargo. l fimah hastily. having already
lakcn notes that , will enable me to rewrite
what I have already penned in my moles!
oommunicaiions. H.
Bishop‘s Palace. Mantel-cg. Mexico.
Sept. 24.1846}
Gsnranusx: This is the fourth day
since the battle of Monterey commenced.
0n the 20th, at noon. Gen.‘Worth march
ed from the camp east of the town. In the
direction ofthe heights west of the town-
McCullough and Gillespie’s companies of
rangers forming the reconnettering party.
At night the division hivouacked almost
within range of the guns stationed upon the
highest pointof the hill. on which the Bush
op’s Palace is situated. At daylight on the
2lst. the column was again in motion. and
in a few moments was turning the point of
aridge which protruded out towards the
enemy’s guns, brtnging us as near to them
as their gunners could desire. They im
mediately opened upon the column with a
howitzer and 12‘pounder. firing shell and
roundshot as fast as they could discharge
their pieces. The read now wound in to
wards a gorge. but now far enough to be
out of range of their gene, which still played
upon us. Another ridge lay shout three
fourths of a mile beyond the first. around
the termination of which the road wound.
bringing it under the lofty summit of a
height which rises bemoan Palace Hill
and the mountains, which arise over us on
the west. When the head of the column
approached this ridge a body of Mexican
cavalry came dashing round the point to
charge upon our advance. Csptetn Gil
lespie immediately ordered his men to dis
mountand place themselves in ambush.—
The enemy evidently did not perceive
this mantnuvre, but the moment they came
up, the Texans opened on them a most ef
lective fire, unsaddling a number of them.
MeCullough’s company now dashed into
lhem—Cnpl. C. F. Smith’s company and
Capt. Scott’s company .of artillery, [ect
ing as infantry] and Lieut. Longstreet’s
company of the Bth infantry, with another
company of the same regiment likewise
charged upon the enemy. The Texan
horsemen were soon engaged with them.
in a sort of hand to hand skirmish, in
‘ which a number of the enemy fell. and one
"l‘exan was killed and two wounded.—
Col. Duncan new opened upon them with
\his battery of light artillery. pouringn few
discharges of grape among them, and scat
‘tering them like chaff. Several mcnrsnd
horses fell under this destructive fire; I
saw one horse and rider bound some feet
into the air and both fell deed. and tum
bled down the sleep. The foot companies
above named then rushed _up the steep
and fired over the ridge at the retreating
enemy. a considerable body of whom were
concealed from our view. around the point
of the hill: About thirty ol the enemy
were killed lh'lhla skirmish, and. and am
orig them a captain, who. with twoorthree
others. fell in the road; The captain‘ywns
wounded in three places, the last shot
hitting him in the‘lloreheadh He‘fought
ga‘llnptly lo the lastt'aml (”em sorry't'hat
‘I cannot learn his name; The ,llgllt'bat
‘teries.’ one of which is commandedhy
Lieut. Mackell. were now drnwndlp'pn
the slope of the ridge; and the howitze’r'fov
pened‘upon the height of Palace. Hill. ’ A
few shells only were three/h. heldre the
enemy commenced ' firing with s f‘nijte
poander lrom' the heightimmeiliatcly hltér
tlleqright» of the ‘colnrnnflaiinini; at' 110'"-
can'sf battery. '- The“ 'éevti'raL rég'liii‘ehts
took "positions; and 'n'.li-wino'r‘é'shells’wei’e
lllrown‘ towards Palace llill. _biit did no
ex'e'cu't'ton.‘ The nirie' po’uuder cnntiiined
to lhr'onf'tts Shot, wtllt‘ art-at prédisiotfiht
iour'h'dt'lqries.‘ onelihx‘i tolling directlan
thgig'tnitlstv'ol“ ille‘ piticela‘; hntl‘lfortunately
[hittingi‘nci tli’er“,'mcn"Hier'fg'tipé. ,infithilltlg
.hi'sf batteries thus" expns‘cl ,‘jind,-’l’un’nhlh-‘to
l"éll‘ec:t'iniiylhing;'Col. Duncan ddlddfetlliil_
icuinmiuitlk‘ iii “n"i‘ttn'clié about ‘_lialijlti'ft‘tt‘l‘le
MEN
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