The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-12-12


; ,ha, quarter. On reaching the advance
fIparlies, Gen. Smith discovered tina, TN
der favor OF The ground, he could, b.,
diveriing q portion Of the force to ths
fright; and moving it obIiquely up lht
Mill, carry the SOiduda simultaneously y
with the Federation. ie accordingly
livery judiciously pointed and sccompar.
lied The 5'h@h and BIsnchsrd's com.
pany, in that direc;ion.-Cap'. Smiths
command having most gallsntly carried
he first object of attack, promptly turn
ed the captured gun--s nine pounder--
upon The second. and moved on with his
main body, 10 participate in the assault
Upon SOlddd0-which was carried in
gallant style by the corce under Scott,
Miles, Blanchard and Hays, (who had
been detached on special service, bu,
who returned in time 10 share with fifty
OF his men in The lirsl assault, and take y
prominent part in the second, The whole
directed by Gen, Smith.
AT this point we secured another 9
poundsr. and imme dislely both pieces
were brought 10 bear upon the Bishop.
Palace, situated upon and midway the
ISourbern slope Of the hill Mdependen
cia. valley of only six hundred yards
Intervening We had now secured an
important advantage, snd yet bu, hal
the work was done. The possession Of
these heights only made The more spps
rent The controlling importance OF those
Iopposi,e, and lhesnccessi'y of occupying
the Palace. A violent storm ensued
and ng ght closing in, operations for The
day ceased. The troops had now been
thirty six hours without food, and con
sanlly taxed 10 The utmost physical ex
er,ions. Such as could be permitted
-Iep, with arms in hand, subjected 10 .
pelung storm. and without covering,
III 8, A, NJ. when Trey were aroused
carry The hill ludependencia
Lieut.. Col. Childs was assigned to
lead this slorming party, consisting oI
hree companies, ! and G 4th, and a
Sd (ar'iIery batlaIion) three companlt'
SIh Infantry, a, b and D. under
Capt, Scrlven, with Two hundred Tex
an riff mel, under Col. Hays end Lieu
Col. Walker, (Csp'sin OF Iitles. acting
in co operation. The command moved
Al 8, conducted 10 lis point Of ascent by
Capt. Sanders, and Lieut.. Meade, 10
biographical engineers. Favored by
he weather, i, reached by dawn oil day
within about one hundred yards Of the
lcrest, in which position, among the
Iclelts o! rocks; body Of the enemy had
bee stationed the previous evening, ir
Isppsrenl anticipation Of ausck. The
Ienemy's retreatiDg fire was Intellectual
land not returned until Coils, Chllds' snt
1Hays' command had reached within
few wards OF The summit, when wei
directed and destructive fire followed by
he bay one's Of the regulars, and rush o
Texans, placed us in possession OF 'ht
work; tbs cannon having been prevlou"
lly wthIrAwn, no impression could b.
made upon massive walls of the Palace
OF its ouIworkS, without artillery, exec p
at enoi mou, sacrifice.
Lieut.. Roland, Of Duncan's battery
was ordered from the main camp will
= he pound howitzar; and in two hours
sided by fifty meo from The line, unde
-ICsp,. Sanders, military engineers. 70
= he purpose OF selecting the route leaS
" difficulty } that enterprlsing and gallar
( officer had his gun in position, hsVln
sscended an scclIvily, as rugged ss slice
) between 7 and 500 feet, in Two houri
A FIRE was Immediately opened from II
J. lhowilzsr, covered by The epsulmen. OF II
ID ca ap,ured battery, upon the Palace and i
r oulworks-four hundred yards Distant
e. and soon produced vissbe sensation.
er Meanwhile, 10 re inforce the position Il
y 9th Major Scott and Bauchard's vountee
l. Al. hnsn