Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-10-30

10 the SOleS OF the 1eeI OF any mdn III zen.
Worth's command. The rain on the nights
OF the goth and 2lst, combined with the con-
slant expectation OF an attack from the enc
my, were causes sufficient to drive away sleep; |
but to these should be added hunger and that |
excess of fatigue which drives off slumber, as
well as the circumstance that many of us had |
wounded comrades demanding attention; with
this combination of drawbacks, YOU can east
ly conceive that one had little time or inelina-
ton for writing
Speaking of wounded comrades reminds me
of poor Thomas. He,was one of the most
daring spirits in McCullock's company, and
had his horse wounded in the charge the enc
my's lancers made upon US On the morning of
the 21st. On the following morning, while
storming the battery on the height overlook
ing the Bishops Palace, he was MORALLY
wounded, and after suffering incredibly, died
on the morning of the oath. A musket ball
shattered his hip joint, at the same time that
the brave Capt. Gillespie was shot through
and the two are now quietly resting side by
side on the height where they received their
death wounds-MountGi Gillespie as it has been
appropriately named by Gen. Worth. The
friends of Thomas are among the most respec-
| table IN Maryland; he was in the same mess
with myself, and it may afford his acqualntan-
| ces some consolation to know that every at
tention was paid him, during his last hours,
that circumstances would admit
| Of the thousands of Mexican soldiers that
occupied this Gibraltar of a town few days
since, not as many hundreds now remain. At
one time, so confident were Ampudia and his
generals of success, they sent Romano with
fifteen hundred or two thousand cavalry in
the rear of Gen. Taylot,'t TO cut off his retreat.
The " redeeming'' game of the Texans and
regulars on the afternoon of the 23d-digging
through and under houses, taking inch by
inch, but never giving one-and then the close
proximity of the % pound mortar so success
fully worked by Major Munroe and Lieut..
Lovell-all combined to intimidate the Mexi-
cans to degree that induced them to sue for
terms. Shells from the mortar fell and explo-
ded all around the great Cathedral: had one
entered that establishment, filled as it was with
ammunition, every house on the main Plaza
would have been riven to fragments, and the
loss of life would have been fearful To spare
the shedding of so much blood, and so terrible
an injury of property, were some of the main
causes that induced Gen. Taylor to offer the
Mexican commander the terms he did.
| saw Ampudia as he left town for Saltillo
on the morning of the 26th-rode along in
his escort for mile or two. The base and
lying wretch-for every page in his black his
tory proves him such-looked crest-fallen,
nervous, and timid to degree. He was fear
full lest some of the Texan rangers, many OF
whom had deep wrongs still to avenge, might
shoot him from the way-side and as he rode
. through their encampment, situated directly
on his route, he could not conceal his fears.
They allowed him to pass, however, without
even cry or shout of exultation.
Opinions are various in camp as to whether
the Mexicans will now offer peace, or make a
stout resistance at Saltllo, larger portion
believe inclining to the latter opinion. A
, , Mexican who arrived from that place yester.
day, reports that they have already commenced
fortifying it on an extensive SCALE but this
should be taken merely as rumor or story Of
a Mexican-the most unreliable information
conceivable. Again, great many are discon-
tented at the terms given the Mexicans, and
think that they now will certainly fight agar
after being let off SO easily. Hal the battle
continued on the oath three hours longer the
Mexicans would undoubtedly have been or
: their knees crying and begging for their lives
L. A terrible carnage would have ensued, ha(
!. not Ampudia sent in proposals for surrende
y of the town, for his forces were huddle1, if
l. can use such a term; and all this Gen. Taylo
we'll knew. To carry out the known concil
ii iatory policy of our Government, however
appears to have been his aim-to spare life
: and property, in accordance with his instruc
- tons, his object-and this should relieve hin
from all censure in the matter For myself
) having some slight knowledge of Mexican
IL character, believe the whole policy of GU
= Government is and has been wrong for years
% Shower any quantity of magnanimity upol
C this people and it is entirely thrown away
they neither feel nor appreciate it. An inhe
: rent pride, which grows upon them with ev
q cry step in downward AMI disgraceful career
II causes them to look with pretended scor
IL upon every offer of generous forbearance il
T. their diversity, and as well might Van Am
burg attempt to concilate his tigers and hyena
- by choice bits of meat and love pats on tn
head, as these people by acts of Kindness
~ The policy has been tried all summer, and tn
y effects of its workings has been shown by ras
L cally extortons on the part of those of whor
,e our Government has attempted to purchas
l. provisions, and by every exertion on the pal
10 of the military to cut our Army in pieces whe
d it beleaguered this place about. But enoug
y of this for the present. word or two
J, news, such as have to OFFER
III The two Texan reg iments, under Colonel
u Hays and Woods, will probably return HON
'e in the course of week, and she uld hostlltie
e recommence, fresh regiments, mt united on tn
y. best horses that can be procured, will at ono
'e be raised.
C. An express has come in, stating that Ger
d. Wool, with $500 men, was to leave San AT
le tonic yesterday for Chihuahua. What in tn
name of all that is reasonable, so large a fore
90 is going in that direction for, is more than
&c can make out That whole section is now
Us the hands of the Camanches, as it were, an
d. the difficulty of moving so large number {
'e men when one quarter of the force is MOI
nc than is necessary to subjugate any army no
III there, or that can be SENT looks to me as a
Is most insurmountable With not double II
& number, Gen Taylor has marched upon Or
{. of the strongholds of the country and drive
Ct off an army complete in all its appointments
if Gen. Wool goes to Chihuahua with Il
at number stated, it seems to me that he WI
as have no other enemies to contend with tina
- the worst of all-hunger and suffering. hoE
u that he will march this way, where his serv
Ie' ces may really be needed,
is Gen. Taylor is still encamped at the O.
ground, three miles from here-Gens, Wort
J.. and Smith are in town. The main part of Il
g wounded officers are doing we'll Gen. Butl
IS is recovering, while Coils. McClung and Mitcl
IL ell are also in fair way. G. W. K.
MONTEREY, Sept. %, 1916,
o'clock afternoon.