The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-06-20
From the ". o. Picapune.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT
BROWN.
Camp Opposite Matamoras)
Nav 1S. 1916.

ere this, that we gave the Mexicans
"jesse" on the 9Th and 9th. Gen. Tay-
lor, after establishing his little sand fort
here, right opposite the town, left the
7th Infantry and two Artillery COM
panies in it, with instructions to defend
it to the death; he then left with the re-
mainder Of his force for the Brazos San
tiago for supplies, and with the hope
that the two mortars which he had Or
dered six months ago] had arrived from
Washington, and also to bring up am
munition enough for our four 10 poun-
ders to batter down Matamoras. Gen.
Taylor and command left on the first
of this month. On the morning of the
Sd, at daylight, the Mexicans opened
their batteries on our Fort, or rather
grand entertainments; from that mo-
ment it was right hot work until 12
O'Clock, when both parties had to cease
until their guns would cool. Was you
ever shot at, in front, with 12 poun-
der, in the flank by FOUNDER and a
shell directed to burst over your head?
ifnot, try it, just properly to enjoy a
brandy tody after the gun cooling be-
gins. Well, after the refreshments, the
ball continued, varied only by, little
more "vindicate looseness and wild
colt comet-like flying Of shells. 1t was
only % minutes after we commenced
our fire before one Of our 8 pound shot
struck their 10 pound cannon directly
in the muzzle, and knocked it head, /,
back, and stomach, into the air about
90 feet, and it was accompanied by
legs, heads and arms. Seven Mexican
officers were wounded, and eight pri
Yates who were around their piece Kill
led. We have not heard from their 2
FOUNDER since, and so hot was the little
fort in which it had been placed. that,
they were compelled toleave it. When
the first fire came ] rushed into my
tent, and jerked up my rife, and as |
stepped out, 9 FOUNDER shot struck
my tent at the head ofmy bed, ranged
ed the whole length of my bed, cut off
the back upright pole, passed out the
back part through two other tents, and
then buried itselfin the parapet. I'm
glad was not ''caught rapping."
In the first half hour, Sergeant Of
Capt Lees company was killed; he
was carried over to the hospital tent,
Qull of sick) and directly after he was
laid on bed, a bomb shell was thrown
in the top of a tent, lit near the bed,
burst, and blew the dead mans head
off, without injury any one else. On
Wednesday. the 9TH May, and Cd day
of the bombardment, Major Brown
was struck on the leg with a bomb shell,
and his leg had to be amputated--hc
died on the 9th. These are the only
two we have lost during the whole of
the bombardment, which commenced
on Sunday, the Sd, and lasted, with lit
tie intermission, day and night, until
the next Sunday at dark. During this
time the enemy had thrown about $500
shots-solid and shell amongst US. 1t
is strange that the damage should have
been so slight. Finding that we could
not dismount their mortars, they being
stuck in the ground with thick embank-
ment in front-and having only about
400 rounds Of ammunition to our can
non, we went to work to throw up
kind of temporary bomb-proof shelter,
by taking our barrels Of pork, laying
sticks of wood across them, and throw
ing up six feet of earth upon that
These we built at points in the fort
where they would be convenient for
the men; and when we saw the smoke
from their guns, every one would fall
from the parapet and "hole." When
we would see a shell coming we would
fall upon the ground, as the explosion
generally takes place upwards. The
Mexicans thought they had killed near
ly all of us, as they were under the inn
preston that all who fell were shot.
1t was very disgusting to stand and
be fired at all around and not to be able
to return it Sin fuh force and virtues"
but, knowing our ammunition was scarce,
we reserve it till the death struggle
should come on. We were in hopes
that after reasonable time ofbombard-
ing, the enemy would attempt TO storm
us. Two or three feints were made,
but they could not be brought to the
scratch. Five mortars were playing
on us at once, from every point Of their
works. Gen. Taylor's orders to- us
were TO maintain this post, and not
pretend 10 make any sally, or risk in
the leastposition here; but in case we
were surrounded after he left, that sig
nal guns should be fired at certain in
tervals, which would notify him of the
fact. This nptice wasgiven TO the Cen
araI a. thav hoard nlI o,lr r,,uc a = po;nt