The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-10-20

in favor Of the importont operations OF
Gen. Worth. The 10 inch mortar and
two 2f-pounders howitzers had been put
in battery sae night Of the 20th, in ra-
vine fourteen hundred yards distant from
the Cathedral Fort or Citidal, and were
supported by the 4,h regiment Of inian-
try.
Ais 4. NJ. on the 2isl the order was
given for this battery to open upon the
ciiidai and town, and immediately after
the lst division, with the Sd and 4th M
iantry in advance, under Col. Gariant'
were ordered 10 reconnoitre and skirmist.
with the enemy on the extreme In OF
the extreme lcls of the city, and, should
prospect of success ofie-, 10 curry the
most advanced battery. This attack was
directed by Major Mansfield, Engineer
and Major Kinney, Quarternasier 70 the
Texas division. 4 heavy fire from the
first battery was Immediately opened up
on the advance, bui the troops soon turned
il, entering and engaging with the enemy
in the streets OF the city, having passed
through au inccssant cross FIRE from the
ci;idal and the first and second batteries,
and from the Infantry who Lined the para
pets, streets, and house-tops Of the city.
The rear of the first battery was soon
turned, and the reverse FIRE Of Of the
troops, through the gorge Of the works,
killed or dislodgcd the artillerists and in
l;.niry from it, and the beiIding occupied
by infantry immediately in the rear. The
first division was followed and supported
by the Mississippi and Tennessee and
first Ohio regiments, the two former regi-
ments being the first 10 scale and occupy
the fort. The success of .he day here
stopped. The Mis;i i;sIppi, TeAnes $50,
and Ohio regiments, though warmly en-
gagged in the streets of the city for some
time after the capture of The first battery
and its adjoining defences, were unable,
from exhaustion aud the loss they had
suffered, TO gain more advantage. 4 hea-
Wy shower of rain also came up TO cause
Il suspension Of hostiIities before the close
Of the day.
The third, fourth, and first Infantry
and the Baltimore Battalion remained as
the garrison of the captured position, un-
dor Col. Garland, assisted by Captain
Ridgeley's battery. Two 22-pounders,
one 4-pounder, and one howitzer were
captured in this fort, thsee officers and
some twenty or thirty men taken prison
ers. One of the l2-pounders was served
against the second fort and defences, with
captured ammunition, during the remain
der Of the day, by Captain Ridgely.-
The storming parties Of General Worth's
division also captured two 9-poundcrs,
which were also Immediately turned a.
gsinst their former owners.
On the morning OF the 22d Gen. Worth
continued his operations. and portions Of
his division sto7ined and carried success
siveiy the heights above the Bishops
Palace. Both were carried by COM
mand under Capt. Rinton, third artillery.
In these operations the company Of Loui-
siana troops under Capt Blanchard per-
formed efficient and gallant service as part
OF Capt. Enton's command. -Four pie
ces Of artillery, with good supply of am
muniiion, were captured in the Bishops
Palace this day. some of which were in-
medialcly turned upon the cnemy's de-
fences in the city. On the evening of the
22d Col. Garland and his command were
relieved as the garrison Of the captured
forts. by Gen Quitman with tie Mssis-
sippi and Tennessee regiments, and FIVE
companies of the Kentucky regiment.
Early on the morning OF the 23d, Gen.
Quitman, from his position, discovered
that the second and third forts and defen-
ccs east Of the city had been entirely a.
bandoned by the enemy, who, apprehend-
ing another assault on the night of the
22d, had retired from all its leicnces To
the main plaza and its immediate vicinity.
A command Of two companies OF Mis~is-
sippi aud two Of Tennessee troops were
then thrown into the street to reconnoitrc,
and soon became holly engaged with the
enemy. These were soon supported BY
Colonel Moods regiment of Texas Ran
gers, dismoentcd, by Bragg's light Bate
ay, and the Sd Infantry. The cnHmy's
fire was constant and uninterrupted from
the streets, house-tops, barricades, &C.,
in the vicinity Of the plaza. The pieces
of Bragg's battery were also used with
much effect far into the heart Of the city.
This engagement lasted the best part of
the day, our troops having driven the
scattered parties ofthe enemy, and pene-
trated quite to Tie dciences Of the main
plaza.
The advantage thus gained it was not
considered Necessary to hold, as the ene-
my had permanently abandoned the city
and Its deiences, except the main plaza,
lis immediate vicinity, and the cathedral
fort or cilidal. Early in the afternoon
(same day. Gen. Worth assaulted from
the Bishops Palace the west side of the
city, and succeeded in driviar the enemy