The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-20

nre on us from their howltzers al the blshopa
Palace, but We could not be hurt by them unless
they burst Immediately over our heads. In the
action to-day my regiment had some i've or SIX men
wounded, Lieut.. Potter smong them. At night
Capt. Miles received an order from the commanding
general to move down the mountain at break OF day
near the Arroyo Topa, with three companies TO
make a demonstration 20 attract the attention OF the
enemy from an assault which was TO be made, al
earliest dawn by the LIST brigade, on the height on
which is situated the Bishops Palace. The Bishops
Palace is very strong, large building, 80 arranged
az to fire from it in all directions, both with mus
kerry and cannon, and completely under cover In
front Of the palace is lunette and this place was
considered one Of the strongholds of the enemy.
This assault was well conducted, and Just at dawn
Of day the heavy firing of the enemy was heard
but they could not resist the impeiuosity Of our
men, and this height, which commanded the Bishops
Palace, was in short time in possession Of a de-
tachment from the LIST brigade and Texan rangers,
supported by the remainder Of the brigade. In the
meantime we had decended the mountain with the
three companies Of the 7th without being perceived
by the enemy, and were near the river, when seeing
troops in possession Of the height, our own men
gave three cheers thus attracting the attention Of the
enemy, who soon brought their guns 10 bear on us
with grape and canister. This was exactly what
we wanted, and the object for which we sent
there and being placed under cover Of fence
(hedge) We received their fire until it became so
light that Capt Miles conceived il proper to return
TO the fort, our position rendered us liable TO be
cut off by large force Of cavalry. The 5th infantry
and Blanchard's company had in the meantime been
sent acroas the Arroyo Topa take post to increase
the force for stormng the castle which the next
thing TO be done. The 7Ih infantry now alone
on the height first taken, had To retain posses
sion Of it, and were thus compelled only to wit
the gallant feals of about TO be performed
in their full view, only aiding in throwing round
shot from one OF the captured guns on the palace.
The scene about 10 be described (the taking of the
pslace) was the most Interesting ever beheld. To
us, on the jacent height, not only own move
ments but those of the enemy were distinctly wish
BILE and the deep interest felt by us all may readi-
y be imagined; all eyes being stretched, and now
and then our men rending the air with cheers. Az
ter taking possession Of the height, the column
formed behind It, out Of sight OF the enemy and IL
was not known TO them by how strong force the
height was occupied. Parties Of skrmishers were
now thown forward to feel the way to the palace.
continued sklrmish was now kept up BY our
troops on the palace, drawing from il continued
shower Of escopette balls for about hour. The
slope down to the palace, from the top ofthe height
is, ! think, one-sxlh. The enemy now brought two
guns to bear the sides of The hill with grape and
canister and, after standing few rounds, our Skin.
mishers retired gradually to the top of the hill The
enemy thus bodened, sailed out, thinking to re-
take the height; but this no sooner perceived,
than our sklrmishers again advanced, and the enc
my, although having rushed boldly out, retired
rather more rapidly into the palace. All this time
one Of our l2-pounder howilzers was being carried
up the height unperceived by the enemy. This
was shortly gotten IN position, and Lieut.. Roland
commenced throwing shells and round shot into the
uaace at the most rapid rate. The enemy now left
The palace and occupied the lunette thinking to be
covered from the fire OF Roa piece by the palace;
but the range was so accurately known, that he
cracked the schupneEshot over their heads in beau
tiful style, and made this position rather warm
for them. A body Of cavalry having come up to
support the palace, the enemy determined TO charge
the height, thinking to retake it, together with our
hOwitzer. L he main body Of our column was
concealed behind the top Of the height and the enc.
my had no knowledge that il was there. All the
troops sailed from the palace and, with the caval-
ry, very calamity commenced the charge. You may
imagine our excitement. The enemy had not charged
far up the slope before men, like fight Of black
BIRDS rose from the bushes, pouring into them on ali
sides destructive fire. The cavalry charged up,
and our columns advanced on them to their great
establishment. The charge in the contrary direction
was now much more rapid, and Roland pouring in
his fire of round shot over the heads or our own
men, scattered horses and riders in every direction
our men pursuing them down to the palace, entered
/ pell-mell with them, and turned their own guns
loaded with canister and grape, on the retreating
enemy, some Of our troops pursuing them into the
own. The palace, with four pieces of the enemy's
artillery, was now in our possession, Zone large
l2-pounder, new, and cast in Liyerpool) All of the
remainder of the division was ordered up to the
palace, from which position we commanded the
whole valley, cutting off the retreat of the enemy
entirely in the direction of Satlo. The 7th infan-
try still occupied the height first taken. The fire
from our light batteries and the guns taken from the
enemy, 1--WE had an abundance of their ammun-
'ion,) was kept up constantly on the town. The
5th infantry ordered back to the heights thew
left in the morning, and took with them one of the
9-pounders captured on the 2lst. On the morning
of the 23d, the batteries at the palace, and the gun
occupied by the 5th infantry, opened on the town.
The 7th infantry ordered over to the Bishop 8
Palace. In consequences of the warm fire kept up
from the Bishops Palace, the part of the town with
in range had been abandoned, and reconnaissance
being made, it found that the enemy had retired
to the centre OF the town. Ii now determined
TO push forward a reconnaissance with considera-
be force, and about three O'Clock skrmishers of the
Hh and artillery battalions were thrown into town
the sides of the streets; passing through gardens
,nnce without molestation. Three companies of the
7th, under Captain Holmes, were detached on this
skirmshing expedition. The field pieces were
now thrown forward, three IN number, one in
each street, supported by company of infan-
try. Captain Ross, with one company of the
1th, was detached for this purpose, leaving with
only two more companies. This reconnaissance
was pushed forward and was soon near the enemy,
who had retired little before Them but kept up an
incessant firing of escopettes in all directions down
the streets, on tops of houses, but all concealed.
The town we found to be almost every inch a fort.
fcation; every place susceptible of covering the
enemy pierced with loophoIes; and in our adj
vance, we found their own work of this kind of i'm.
mense advantage to US. On the top Of each house
is breast height, and when not high enough, the
enemy bad made them so by means of sand bags.
The yard walls, church yards and even the
churches all fixed off with relations Of defence,
and stronger place than the town cannot be i'm
asined. While this was going on a mortar no
inch) sent round by General Taylor arrived, and
Captain Miles commanding, with the remainder of
our regiment and two companies of the 9Th, es-
corted it in town; one company Of the 7th being
again detached, to assist in getting the mortar in
position, Captain Miles and myself with the re-
mainder Of his command, advanced in the town to
engage the enemy. The captain sent me on to find
the commanding officer Of the advance, and to as
certain his position, ] had not advanced far, be-
fore found the balls rafting around me, but was
well mounted and kept up the street at full speed,
expecting every moment to be dropped, but ar
rived safely, and returned passing through the same
FIRE, to carry orders to Captain Miles to advance.
We then advanced under a tremendous FIRE from