The daily union., 1846-10-31

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n, aud crowded with infantry, which opened upon
us the moment the head of our column made lis sp.
psarance. We were within point blank range, and
| for the FIRST time, heard the whistllng Of shot
Our battalion Immediately formed In line OF atiie
under this fre, and ordered 10 charge. For
ward went, cheering and waving my sword, and
the men came after me gallanlly. When within a
hundred yards Of the trenches looked back to see
who was following, being anxious to know the men
Judge Of my astonlshment when beheld the four
companies Of regulars marching by flank TO the
right | saw Col. Watson shouting but as 10 hear
ing a command, thai was AN impossbility, owing TO
the deafening roar OF the cannon and musketry !
saw the head Of our line changing its direction, and
knew at once that the point OF attack was changed
and ran at the head Of my company to intercept the
head of the column. Preached just as Col Watson
was dismounting from his horse, which the next
moment fell from shot, The colonel cried out TO
the men, "Shelter yourselves, men, the best way
you can" AT this time the battalion was scattered
over a space Of about acre and the men were ly-
ing down, the shot in instances flying over our
heads; but the guns were soon depressed, and the
| shot began to take effect .-s.-.
| was lying close to Colonel Watson, alongside
Of hedge, when he Jumped up and cred out "now's
the time, boys, follow me-" was up and after
him in a second, my men following me. We were
now in a street or lane with few houses either
which completely raked t 10 addition TO which two
twelve pound guns were planted in the castle the
right, and completely enkladed the whole distance
| we had to make. Add TO this the thousand muske-
teers the house-tops and in the barneades at the
head Of the street up which we advanced, and at
every cross street, and you may form some idea OF
the deluge Of balls poured upon US. (Bear in mind
that the four companies Of regulars were now with
US the one intermingled with the other) Onward
we went, men and horses falling at every step.
Cheers, shreks, groans, and words OF command
added TO the din, whilst the roar OF the guns was
absolutely deafening.
We had advanced up the street under this awful
and fatal FIRE nearly two hundred yards, when We
reached street at the corner al which all who
he'd succeeded in gs,itg thi. far alive halted, as "
bg mutual consent l was shaking Col Watson
| by the hand, whilst he eomprnenting me, when
shower OF grape, round and canister shot, came
from the above, and fus officers fell, and do
| not know how many pryates. Each man sought
some place Of apparent shelter.
] sat down on the ground with my back to the
wall ofa house. On my leh were two men torn
| nearly ia pieces. One Of them was lying fat on
his back with his legs extending farther in the street
than mine. Crash came another shower Of grape,
which tore one Of his wounded legs nearly of. lie
| reared up and shrieked, and fell back corpse l
never moved, Tor was satisfied one place was az
| safe another. Directly opposite To me was my
| Brevst I'd Lieut. Aisqnth; the right hand corner
| was Lieut. Bowie, slso Of my company; and close
| 20 me sat Colonel Watson and Adutant Schaefer
In few minutes saw our color sergeant, old Hart
come past with his right arm shattered, (t has since
been anputa,ed,) and in a few minutes there came
our battalion flag, borne by one Of the color guards
our glorious stars and STRIPES and note this, that IL
was the first American hag IN the city Of Monterey
an honor which we know belongs TO our battal-
ion rr.....' '. nsa ..g. ~ Z, "..n s.E
When saw the flag, notwithstanding the novel;
ty of the scene around me- thrill Of pleasure shot
through me- and felt as il | could die, for had
made up my mind to die, and no man there ever
thought for moment that he would get out alive,
and most Of them did not The firing still contip-
ued without the slightest intermsson whilst we re-
msned at this memorable corner, which was per-
haps for fifteen minutes When we were ordered
to charge up the street slight hesitation was mani
tested by both regulars and volunteers but the Off
GERS sprsng the front in dosble file, being along
side or Col Watson.
We advanced | suppose about fifty yards, when
Col. Garland of the army, ordered us to retire We
still advanced, and he again ordered to retire. ad-
ding this time, in good order. ] now became sepa-
| rated from Col, Watson, and never him again
He took the lett hand side OF the street and the
right hand, and when reached the open field
where he had first ordered US TO lie down, ] was
Joined by Lieut.. Aisquith, who, to my inquiry, an.
swered that he had Just left the colonel, and sup
posed that he would soon be with us. Seeing no
| other officer around me, rallied the battalion ire
member that the firing just hot and as inces-
SAINT now as il had been at the frst) and led them
down to make another attack the fort, having
made up my mind to take il or die in the attempt
Imagine my surprises most agreeable one, |
confess-to find the fort possession, IL having
been captured by the Mississippi and Tennessee
| regiments when il turned its fire on us as we
| charged into the town. ! have not the slightest
doubt that it was the charge made by the LIST fan
try and on hat the which made the
Mexicans retreat from the fort. ..a.
| was ordered to shelter my men from the fire,
and await further orders. took them in the ditch
and then cambered over the ramparts to take look
| at what was going on. My appearance was greeted
with dozen or so of musket balls which accelera-
| ted greatly retrograde movement, and sat down
quietly with ten feet Of dirt between me and the
enemy's shot. This was the first spot that had
| been in in which was out Of fire for more than
| two hours, and i was nearly exhausted. One Of
my men now came up and reported to me the death
| of poor COL Watson, whom he had seen fall from a
musket shot through the neck. .o ...
| As well as can learn, + the colonel in retiring
| from the city, inclined good deal to the leh and
became separated from the main body of the batal-
ion; that, in company with Lieut.. Bowie, who re-
manned with him, he met another column advancing
to the attack, joined them with the few men he had
with him, and fell a few moments afterwards. He
met with gallant soldiers death-hs face to the
| ioe. loss u ucpoTcu ny WHO hHcW nis
generosity of heart and chivalry Of character. His
loss to me, individually, is great but to the battalion
| it is irreparable. know not how will get along
| without him We have much, very much to con-
tend against, and have had since we left home.
| But of all this more anon. go 'ag#GH"ay m"
| We had been in the ditch for about quarter OF
an hour when Capt. Ridgey's battery came up, also
for shelter; but his appearance was the signal for
the castle to open upon us, which killed one Of his
horses the very first shot, and wounded one of my
men, We were now ordered to support Captain
Bragg's battery which had taken position TO cut
of the aneers who had sailed out to intercept what
| they thought was our retreat. We killed FIVE or
six Of them and the rest fed back to The city i W
| We were again ordered to the fort to be ready
for another attack on the city. Again the castle
opened on us and every shot told, aud never was
i 80 glad in my life as when got into the old ditch
but it was a short-ved qualification, for regiment
\ of Mexican infantry were firing on Captain Web.
ters battery, and their bslls raked the whole fort
ditch and all We were then ordered to Join the
Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee troops which were
forming the plain for another attack on the city
i The attack not made nthon0h I hnrn.