Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1846-11-19
EID

sid hugh ldtt tnat commanded tie 4ep-
proach ID The city IRON our side. The east.
They fen short, however, whilst the ling
1 guns ~ 'lihss old color'd gen,lemAn eete
Throwing round shot far over our heads,
and almost up into our camp Duuc ms
Ratisry having accompanied WORMS di.
visioa. oar three remaining Batteries Of.
Field pieces (Brsggs. Ridgsiy san web
ster 81 took pp position % engage The MeSi.
can tofss npon the south ot the town.
/ The battle commenced with abnsk can
rouadink Oh both sides, ID which Tie enc.
my had much The aayanias s--our c1ns
lnot being large enough 10 b elective in
bstieIing their men were also concealed
behind stone walls, whilst ours were with
IN range u their smallest ii, crss Tho
Mexiesns excel il the exercise 81 aftille-
Try and indeed The battle vAs fought on
their side, mainly with that strong arm of .
war. For shout one hour, Gus divisionre-
mslned 10 line, anxiously watching q scene
so novel e volunteers. their hearts]heal-
ling with wild enthusiasm. ashley beheld
IiheIe great superiority OF Ire Mexican Ar T
Itiilery. Yes-tell il not Ii West Point
publish i not 10 The streets or Washington
The volunteers demanded to IS led
whsre veteran troops have often qssiled |
Ito The csnnon's mouth. To the tnean-
time. The Observation-Disclosures had nov 4
led Of from our left and becoue engaged
with the defenders Of the chain of forts on
the south Of the city. They drove ia j
lbody Of Mexican infantry, and in The heat
lof the pursuit weretrawn 10 between two
batteries which poured down upon them
. shower Of grape and cannisier, making
sad havoc IN their ranks, and cutting down
IAbus early in the action. several 81 the
most gallant officers 10 The service At
this junclnra, our division was put III mo-
tioat Gen Qaitman' brigade. comscsed
lef the Tennes.es and Mississippihregi
ments. hattened 10 the left ID support the
first division OF Regulars. One regiment
Of Gen. Hamer's brigade. The Louisville
Legion, being left to guard The moliar on
The bill either fortunately or nnforlunaie-
lily. did not get into the action Ill all;
whilst the other lIst Ohio Regt faced
Ito the left flank. and with 8 loud huzza,
dashed down alone upon the cenila pfihe
town 10 support Briggs battery. which
had already been weaken Cd by ihs loss
Of III horses, and being il thai quarter
Of The suburbs, vas IN danger Of being
captured.
4 For al isast mils. our regiment ad.
vsnced under the large guns Of theF.'old
colored genileman, and entered the
suburbs Of The. city. only 10 ind ilsslfIra-
ked on ell sides, by batteries Of whose To-
cation We we're ignoiant, and escopette
balls from The tops Of The hhnsea. I'm hose
occupants were paHsctiy safe; ~ we
could neither burn nor batter downfiheir
stout walls. But notwithstanding the
discouSaging and disogreea6s position
!, THAT Of being fred at by an Oh enc !
N.Y. in which our regiment found Itself!
the men eropsd their way cheering ii
every volley that descended upon them.
90 We scrambled through gardens and
yards, until we finally reached u ditch
and stone wall . few feet beyond and
parallel 10 il. behind which We saw for
| the FIRST time. some of The black rascals
loading snd firing off old rusty mpskels
p us. This party rapidly relreaied with
soms loss. tosa battery that vas about 100
yards 10 their rear, and WHICH immedi-
aiely cofpmencei sending ever and
around us ! perfect hail storm oil crape
shot,f Our men wadsd the ditch and
taking a.posiiion along The wall, began 10
pick of the Mexicsns. wheneyer heir
heads would appear above The batteries,
Or they would expose rihehseiyes III
working iheit guns. We held itisr osi-
| ion for some lime. few or our men be-
| ing killed and wounded By The iron
showers that poured over and through
some branches in the wall. Among he
wounded here, were Gen. Butler and
Col Mitchell. l@s.
I Az this period, the scene must have
been grand and gloomy II was certain
| " pery peculiar. Gen. Wor,h's division
was engaged 10 contending for The heights
on the nor,htof the eligible let divi-
sion Of Regulars with the Tennessee and
Mississippi volunteers were storming the
forts upon tie south side, whilst our little .
! Regiment (westook but 400 men into &C
iionl stood alone in the centre. clouds of
dsnse smoke roll'd over and through The
j streets Of The town.-thfough which
might be seen the flashes Of Muskeiry. Il
and The redder flames Of deep toned Artil-
Iery. In the meantime our people had
1euAkoIuCulH Snil jill X ~ " ~ tuhte NJ
\ Oh the LEFT hand the MexicsGs refreshing
from that quarter. eams up 10 the support
Of their centre. aad bringing around with /;
them a field piece, commenced .rskiDg
fire upon our flank. Our Regiment hav.
ing secured the object Of lie attack viz.
ias safety 81. Capt. Rragg's Bailerey. &
was afdered 10 retire, Our forces hav-
| ing gained j loot hold in both ends OF
Tbs City. The battle was from That time
ooaiinued By Us from these quarters a.
lone.
Our companies having become verv
much scattered By Ills species Of Indiaa
| fahsing ii he suburbs and The order 10
retire moi beng generally known. The Re-
gimeni presented ! very ragged and pm
military front when il emerged upon The
plain so much 30, Is 10 embolien IA squa.
dion of Lancers 10 charge Il. They il
seems we're co1tealed behind Ahe large
foa which continued 10 send Sus ID quick
succession It's ugly and unmasicsl NON
nssssengers. Il being Impossible TO form
d. rqnare, in lime 10 resist ibis ehsyge g.
officers had lost their comp ani<s sn 9 men
1 their officers and The sifsFgiefs O osl'er
Regiments both ReggsaIs ana soionisIers
4 bssins ;o;oea 900 Ks, -- our broken CO
4 4, s { Z, 81 dsssily formed. III ine. hehSnd
~ ~ fsnce which happened a. . paiidv