Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-24

on commanding eminences, on Inc opposite |
side Of tine San Juan. had been fortified and I
occupied. These two latter heights were !
stormed and carred-,hs guns of The last for, |
carried being Immediately turned with piuDg.
ing fire upon the Bishop's Palace. On this !
same morning (2lst) ihe LIST division Of reg |
ular troops under Gen. Twiggs, and the vol
unteer division under Gen Butler, were order
ed under arms TO make diversion TO the left !
of the town. in favor of the important opera
lions Of Gen. Worth. The 10 inch mortar
and TWO "a FOUNDER howilzers had been put in
battery the nigh, of the Goth. in aravine, 400
Yards distant from the Cathedral fort or citadel,
and were supported by the 4th regiment of in
fantry. At s A. NJ. on the 2lst. the order was
given for this battery to open on the ciiidel and
town, and Immediately after, the lsi division,
with the Sd and 4h infantry in advance. under
Col Garland, were ordered TO reconnoitre and
skirmish with the enemy on the extreme left
of the city, and should prospects of success
offer, to carry the most advanced battery. The
attack was directed by Major Mansfield. En-
eineer, Capt. Williams. Typographical Engin-
eer. and Maj Kinney. O. M. TO the Texas
division. A heavy fire from the first battery
was Immediately opened upon the advance, but
the troops soon turned it. entering and eDgag-
ing with the enemy in the streets of the city,
having passed through an incessant cross fire
from the citadel and first and second batteries.
and from the infantry who lined the parapets
streets and house tops of the city. The rear
of the first battery was soon turned, and the re-
verse fire of the troops through the gorge OF
the works killed or dislodged the ar,illerists
and infantry from it. and the building occupied
by infantry Immediately in its rear. The first
division was followed and supported by the
Mississippi and Tennessee and LIST Ohio regi-
ments, the Two former regiments being the first
TO scale and occupy the fort. The success of
the day here stopped. The Mississippi, Ten
nessee and Ohio regiments, though warmly
engaged in the streets Of the city for some time
after the capture of the first battery and it's ad-
| joining defences, were unable. from exhaus-
ZION, and the loss they had suffered, TO gain
more advantage.
A heavy shower of rain come up to cause
suspension of hostilities before the close of
the day. Two IL Founders, one A FOUNDER
! and howitzer, were captured in this fort, and
/ three officers and some 90 or 30 men were ia.
ken prisoners. One of the IL Founders was
served against the second fort and defences,
with captured ammunition, during the remainder
! of the day. The storming parties of Gen.
i WORMS division also captured Two 9 Founders.
which were Immediately turned against their
former owners.
On The 22d Gen. Worth captured the Bsh-
ops Palace.
Early on the morning of the 23d, General
/ Quitman, from his position, discovered that
/ the second and third forts had been entirely a.
bandoned by the enemy, who experimenting
another assault. on the night of the 22nd, had
retired from all his defences to the main plaza
nj opnadiafa vicinitu A command IF
two companies of Mississippi and two Tennes-
see troops were then thrown into the streets 10
reconnoi,re. and soon became holly engaged
with the enemy. These were soon supported
by Col. Woods regiment of Texas Rangers,
dismounled, by Bragg's Ligh. Battery and the
Sd infantry The enemy's fire was constant
and uninterrupted from the streets, house-tops,
barricades, ect. ect. in the vicinity Of the pla-
"a. The pieces OF Braggs battery were also
used with great effect far into the heart of the
city the engagement lasted the bes. par, of
the day, our troops having driven the scatter
ed parties of the enemy, and penetrated quite
TO the defences Of the main plaza. The advan.
tage thus gained i, was no. considered neces.
sary to hold, as the enemy had permanently
abandoned the city and its defences, except the
main plaza, and its immediate vicinity, and
the Cathedral fort or ciiidel. Early on the af-
ternoon. (of the same day,) General Worth
assaulted from the Bishops Palace, the west
side of the city, and succeeded in driving the
enemy and maintaining his position within
short distance of the main plaza on that side OF
the city; towards evening the mortar had also
been planted in the cemetery enclosure, and
during the night did grea. execution in the cir.
cumscribed camp of the enemy In the plaza -
/ Thus ended the operations of the 23d.
/ Early on the morning of the Gath commu.
nicaiion was sent to Gen. Taylor. from Gen.
/ Ampudia, under flag making an offer Of cap.
lIulatioo. 10 which the former refused 10 &C..
cede, as il asked more than the American CON-
mander would under any circumstances. grant;
at the same time demand to surrender was,
in reply, made upon Gen. Ampudia; IL M;
was the hour at which the acceptance or non.
acceptance was TO be communicated to the
American General.
At IL a. M, the Mexican General sent, re-
questing personal conference with General
Taylor, which was granted-the principal Of
ficers of rank on either side accompanying
their Generals After several offers in rela.
ton to the capituation of the city made on
either side and refused, at half past four. Gen
Taylor rose. and saying he would give Gen
Ampuda one hour TO consider and accept or
refuse. left the conference with his officers-at
the expiration of the hour, the discharge of
the mortar vas TO be the signal for the recon-
mencement of hostlities. Before The expira.
ton of the hour. however. an officer was sent
on the part of Gen Ampudia. to inform the A.
merican General that. to avoid the further ef.
fusion of blood, and the national honor being
satisfied by the exer,ion Of the Mexican
troops. he had. after consultation with his
General officers, decided TO cspitulate, accept
IL e.