Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-10-23


Gentlemen: | date both my letters on one day,
because am obliged to foot up the news of the
last four days, having had no writing materials
along. Even now, though write in palace,
am obliged to hold the sheet of paper in one
hand on my knee, for want Of desk. But
have no timo for extra remarks-a chance offers
to send you the news, and must hurry to give
you glance at what has been done here, before
the express goes oil.
On the morning of the 2ls, Col. Childs, of the
Artillery Battalion, with three of his companies
ono commanded by Capt Vnton, another by
Capt. J. B. Scott, and the third by Lieut.. Ayers,
and three companies Of the 9th lnlantry-com.
pany commanded by Lieut.. Longstrect and
Lieut.. Wainwright B company, Lieut.. Halo
way, commanding, and Lieut. Merchant; ID COM
pany, Capt. Scrivner and Lieut. Montgomery
was ordered to take the summit of Palace Hill.
The Colonel left camp at o'clock, A. NJ. and
climbed the mountain through the chapporal and
up the steep rocks, with such secrecy that, day
break, he was within one hundred yards of the
brcast-work of sand bags before he was dscov.
cred. The Mexicans poured their musketry into
them, but they rushed up the precipice and soon
had the place. Three of the artillery men, hay-
ing rushed ahead too fast, found themselves in
the hands of the Mexicans. They surrendered;
the Mexicans took their muskets, and shot them
down with the very pieces they had given up. |
saw the poor fellows lying there.
have but a few moments left to write in, and
must therefore defer the particulars Of the storm
ing of the palace until have moro time. Col.
Stamford went up at daylight with the balance oi
the 9th, and Major Scott led the 9th. The Lou.
siana boys were on the hill with the 9Th, at
o'clock, A. NJ. One of Duncan's howitzers, in
charge of Lieut.. Rowland, was dragged up, OF
rather lifted up, and opened on the palace, which
was filled with troops. The Mexicans charged
on the howitzer, but were driven back, A con
srant firing was kept up for several hours, parlic
ularly by Blanchard's men, who left Il dozer
Mexcans dead upon The hill side.
At length charge was ordered, and our mel
rushed down upon the palace, entered hole in
door that had been blocked up but opened by tn,
howltzer, and soon cleared the work Of the few
MeXicans who remained. Lieut.. Ayers was tht
lucky one who hrst reached the halyards ant
lowered the flag. One eighteen pound brass
piece, u beautiful article, manufactured in Liver
pool in 18l2. and ashorIbrass twelve pound how
iizcr. were captured, with large quantity of am
muniton, and some muskots and lanccs.
The fort adjoining the palace walls is not com
pleted, but is very neatly constructed as far as
5 is built. The killed on our side in taking III
palace was sevcn--wounded, Twelve. Lieu
, Wainwright was wounded in the arm and side b
musket ball, but will sooner recover, it is hoped
Mr.. John Francis, of Now Orleans, belonging t
BIanchOrd's company, was killed. will give
full account of this affair at another time. Co
: Childs, Capt. Vinton, Capt. Blanchard, Lieu
= Longslrcet, Lieut.. Clark, (Adj. Of the Slh,) Lieu