Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-27

crowded with troops. Al this moment me ene'
my's loss was heavy. The investment was NO"
complete Except the foIce necessary 10 hou .he
positions on IadependcnciG and serve tae guns,
fshifted TO points whence The SHOT couih DC 'naue
to reach the great plaza,l The division was NOW
concentrated around The palace, ana P'epara'ion
made 10 assault the CITY on me lolin"ine udy' ~
sooner, should the gene'a-ln-cniei ei'he' 81 W
rect, or, before communication be had, renew Inc
assault from the opposile quarter. In The mean
time attention was directed 10 every provision our
circumstances permitted 10 alleviate The condi-
ton of our wounded soldiers and officers; 10 tne
decent interment Of the dead, mol emitting ID elmer
respect all that was due 10 those OF the enemy.
About 10. A. NJ, on the 23d, heavy fire was
heard 10 the opposite quarter. LIS magnitude ana
continuance. as well as other circumstances, did
not permit doubt that the general was conduct
ing main attack; and that his orders for my CO.
operation (having to travel circuit oil some SIX
mies) had miscaTried, or failed TO reach me oy
means Vt The numerous cavalry OF the enemy.
Under these convictions, the troops were instant,
ly ordered TO commence an operanon "hcn, u
not otherwise directed l had designed to execute
in part, under favor OF the night. Two columns
of attack were organized, to move along the two
principal Streets leading from our position, IN d.
reclion OF the great plaza, composed OF light
troops slightly extended, with orders 10 mask The
men whenever practicable; avoid those points
swept by The enemys artillery; 10 press on TO The
first plaza CapelIa 10 gel hold Of the ends oil
streets beyond then enter The buildings, and by
means OF picks and bars break through the longl-
tudinal section of The walls; work from house 10
house, and, ascending TO The roois 10 place Them
sci es upon the same breast-heisht with Inc ene-
my. Light artillery by sections and pieces, I'M
der Duncan, Roland, MackaIl, Marlln, Hays,
M ,rI o. I'D ,;tah lo IN
leryals, covered by reserves to guard the pieces
and The whole operation against the probable en-
lerprises Of cavalry upon our lett. This was ell
fecluaIly done by selzing and commanding the
head Of every cross street. The streets were, al
different and well-chosen points, barficaded by
heavy masonry walls, with embrasures Tor one or
more guns, and in every instance well supported
BY cross batteries. These arrangements OF de-
fence gave 10 our operations al This moment
complicated character, demanding much care and
precaulioa; but the work went on steadily, stimuli
aneously and successfully. Alb jul the time our
assault commenced the fire ceased from our force
in The opposite quarter. Disengaged on The one
side. the enemy was enabled to shit men and
guns 10 our quarer as was soon man tested by
accumulation Of FIRE. Al dark we had worked
through The walls and squares, and reached 10
within one block Of the gical plaza, leaving
q
which lowered over The principal defrnces, and
during the night and ensuing morning, crowned
its roof with Two howilzers and six-pyunder.
All things were now prepared TO renew the as
saul at dawn Of day, when flag was sent ln,
asking momen'afy suspension oil hire, which
led TO the capiluatian upon terms so honorable
10 our arms. As The columns If tack were
moving from The Palace hill, Major Monroe,
chief Of artillery, reached me with ten inch
mortar, which was Immediately advanced 10 me
plaza Chapel put in position, masked by Ibe
church wall, lis bed adjusted as rapidly as posi-
Bile, and b. sunset opened upon the great square.
Al this period, our troops had worked TO within
one square Of the plaza. The exact position OF
our comrades on the opposite side was moi known,
and the distance of The position 10 be assallcd
from The bomb battery bul conjectura eight
hundred yards was assumed and luze and charge
regulated accordngy the first shell fell lille
short Of the point on which il was directed, and
beside our troops; slight increase oil the pro-
iecling charge gave exact results. The whole
service was managed by Major Monroe, most
admirably, and, combined with other operations,
exercised decided influence upon the final re-
suits Early on The morning OF The 23d, Major
Brown, artillery battalion was dispatched with
select command. and one section OF Mackals
battery, under Lieut.. Irons, 10 occupy The stone
mill and adjacent grounds, constituting, one
league in advance, The narrow gorge near 81.
Calarna. The major took possession, repulSed
the enemy's picquels, and was preparing his COM
mand 10 resist any attack, when ne received my
orders 10 Teirace his steps, enter The city, and
form the main reserve 10 the assaulIng columns.
He came up in good time and good order, and
was al once under FIRE.
On the 25lh, in conformity with The articles Of
| - nj, 81 lob al
by a command consisting OF two companies 81
each regiment, aud one section OF each battery,
ID division. Gen. Smith was directed 10 take
command vi ibis oorp>, aud eondoo, tho corona
nv which duty-he executed with delicacY 10 the
unhappy and Inundated Toe.
You will receive lists 81 captured munitions Of
war; lists OF such as we're surrendered have al.
ready been handed in |, is source Of high sra-
LITIGATION that We have been able 10 plsh
such fortunate results with Sc moderate a sacri-
fee OF gallant men. Annexed is a return OF kill.
ed and wounded, exhibiting dates, actions, and
circumstances
When every officer and every so der, regular
and volunteer, has, through series OF harassins
and severe conflicts, in the valley and on The
mountain, in the street and on the huuse-top,
cherrully, bravely and successfully executed
every service and complied with every exaction
Of valor and patriotism, the task is as difficult as
delicate 10 distinguish individuals; and yet il will
always happen, AS il has always happened in The
varied scenes of battle and siege, that fortune
presents 10 some those opportunities which all
would have seized with gladness and avidiy. II
is nv pleasing and grateful duty 10 present 10 the
consideration Of The genera-in chief, and through
him 10 The Government, the distinguished conduit
Of Brieader General Smith, colonel OF rifles
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Chi,is artillery BAL
talon Colonel Hays, Texan riflemen B cvei
Lieutenant Colonel Duncan horse artillery; and
Capt. G. F. Smith, second artillery commanding
light troops, lst brigade.
NV thanks are also especially due 10 Lieut..
Col. Stamford, 9th, Commanding first brigace;)
Major Mnnroe. chief Of artillery, general sah;)
Brevet Major Brown, Captain J. K. Vinlon, ar
,illery battalion; Captain J. B. Scott, artillery
battalion, eight tTuopsi Major Scott, comman :
ing, and Captain Merrill, 9Th; Captains Miles,
commanding, Holmes and Ross, Tin infantry;
and CAPTAIN Scriven, commanding Slh infantry;
10 Lieut. Col. Walker, Captain riaes,) Major
Chevale, aid Capl. McCulloch Of the Texan,
and Capt. Blanchard Louisiana volunteers; 10
Lieuenants Markali, (commaniin bat;ery,) Ro-
land, Martin, Bays, Irons, Clarke and Cnrd,
horse artillery; Lieut. Lonssreet, commanding
light company, s h; Lieut.. Ayres artillery battal-
ion, who was among The Fl 81 in he assault upon
The palace, and who secured the coors. Each Of
The officers named either headed special delach-
menls, columns Of attack, slorming parties or de-
tac.ed guns and all were conspicuous for con-
duct and courage. My attention has been paTii-
cularly directed by Gen. Smith 10 the gallant con-
duet OF Lieut.. Gardner 7lh infanlrv, during The
assault upon the city, and on which occasion he
threw himself in advance, and on The most ex-
posed points, anmalins the lnen by his brave ex
ample. Particular attention has also been called
lo The Leulenants Nichols, (brolhers,) Louisi-
ana volunteers, as having highly distinguished
themselves hv personal daring and efficient ser
vice. The Ulcers OF brigade and Iegimenlal staff
we're Gems oicuous in The field or in their parlicu-
lar departments. L;euis. Hansan, Command
ing) Vandurn, aid de-camp, 7th Lieul. Robin
son, 9Th, (quarlermasters Department. on the
sraff OF General Smith; Lieutenant and Adjntant
nanls BENJAMIN, adjutant artillery battalion
Peck, ordnance officer, artillery battalion; G
Deas, adjn,an' 5h; and Page, adju'ant 7'h infan-
try are highly commented by their respective
chiefs 10 ,hr BUSINESS Of which have the pleasure
IN adj nv oersoual observation 10 common with