Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-06-11
COMMANDMENT OF FORT BROWN.
From The Neio Orleans Piooyune

COMMANDMENT OF FORT BROWN.
From The Neio Orleans PiooyuHe
CAM Opposite Matamnrns, MAY Is, 1876.
- Gen. T.. and command LEFT the LIST Of this
month. On the morning Of the Sd, at daylight, the
Mexcans opened their batteries our fort, or rather
our grand entertainments; from that moment Il was
right hot work until ~ O'Clock, when both parties had
TO cease until their guns would cool. Was you ever
shot al, in front, with l2poundef, in the flank BY
6pounder and shells directed 70 burst your head
II not, try it just 10 properly enjoy brandy toddy af-
ter the gun-cOolng begins. Well after the refresh.
m ens the ball continued vaucd only by little more
vlndlctve loosencss' and wd-coll, come-lke lying
Of shells.
II was only 2S minutes after we commenced our fire,
before one Of our Spound shot struck their le-pound
cannon directly in the mul2Ie and knocked IT, head,
back, and stomach, into the air about 20 feet and
was accompanied By legs, hands, and arms. Seven
Mexcsn officers were wounded, and eight prvales,
who were around the piece Killed. We have not heard
from their , FOUNDER since and so hot was the little
fort in which II had been placed, that they COM
PEELED TO abandon IL. When the FIRE first came rush
ed into my tent ard jetked up my rife, and as step
ped out ninepound shot struck my tent at the head
OF my bed, cut of The back upright pole, passed out Of
the back part through two other tents and then bur
led itself in the patapei Pm glad was not caught
Mapping"
In the FIRST half hour sergeant Of Capt Lees
pany killed; he carried TO the hospital
tent (ull Of sick,) and directly after he laid
bed, bomb-shell thrown through the top of the
tent III the bed, burst and blew the dead mans
head of, without injuring any one else. Ga Wednes-
day, the 9Th May, and third day OF the bombardment,
Major Brown struck on the leg with bomb shell,
and his leg had TO be ampuated-he died the 9th.
These are the only two have lost during the
whole of the bombardment, which commenced on Sun
day, the third and lasted, with little inlermssion day
and night, until the next Saturday, at dark. During
this time, the enemy had thrown about 500 shots
solid and shell-amongst u.s. II is incredible that the
damage should have been 50 slight.
Finding we could not dlsmouut their mortars-thcy
being sunk in the ground with thick embankmens in
ifont,-and having only about 400 rounds Of ammuni-
tion 10 our cannon, We went to work tn throw Up
kind Of temporary bomh-proo shelter by taking our
barrels of pork LAYING sticks Of wood them and
built al points in the fort where they would be
nent for the men; and when the smoke from
their guns, every would fall from the psfspet and
"hole." When we would see shell coming, we would
fall upon the ground, the explosion Generosity takes
place upward. The Mexican thought they had kill.
ed nearly all of Us, they had the impression that all
who fell were shot.
II very disgusting to stand and be fired at all
round, and not be able TO return il ain full force and
virue;" but, knowing our ammunition was scarce, we
reserved il till the death struggle should come on. We
were in hopes that, alter reasonable time Of bomhafd-
ing, the enemy would attempt TO storm w. Two or
three iens made bet they could not lie brought
10 the scratch. Five moriars playing on US at
once, from every point Of their works. Gen. TayoT's
orders TO were to maintain this post, and not pre-
tend to make any sally, risk in the least his position
signal guns should he fred at certain Intervals which
would notify him Of the fact. This notice given
TO the General as they heard all our guns al Point
Isabel.
the train Of provisions and when about twelve miles
from here he saw the enemy in position, He mmedi-
ately 'waked into their affections" We heard the
firing OF cannon both sides, and distinctly the vol
les Of mUsketTy. We knew well that il was the Gen
era pokng il into their short ribs We had then stop
ped to "cker;" but at the first gun we sprung 10
parapets, opened our batteries, and for one hour we
had the preties little fight that ever be-
held. They gave US gun for gun, while we slung al
them the hest the shop contained"
But wait, forgot one thing: On the first Wednes-
day. after the bombardment had last three days, The
enemy "soundrd parley" Major Sewall and Lieut..
Briiton ordered TO go out and see what they
wanted. They did SO, and the Mexicans demanded
the surrender OF the fort "for humaniy's sake" They
gave US one hour TO surrender or they would put US
all to The sword. They brought letter from Gen.
ATisia To our commanding officer. The commanding
officer, Captain Hawkns-Brown having been shot
Just beforehand council Of called, and said he
presumed we were unanimous upon such points, but
that he would put the matter to vote TO their feel
ings. The vote Of the youngest member was taken
first, and on throughout. This was the unanimous
vote: defend the place to the death"
General Arista in thirty minutes replied TO as
follows; That we had received his humane commune
cation, but not understanding perfectly the Spanish
language we were doubtful if we had understood ex'
acy his meaning; but from all we could understand,
he had proposed that we give him possession Of this
place or we would all be put 10 The sword IN one houf
If this was the proper understanding, we would res
pecliuy decline the proposition, and "took this oppor,
unity TO assure his Excellency OF our distinguished
respect" Alier the reception Of this by his excel
ency," il just rained balls The different mortaTs kept
two pair Of aaide-bags" in the air all the time, vati-
ed only by their and 4.pounders.
But in the midst Of all the Storm the Star Spangled
Banner nil hoaied on our breast works, at the point
where they directed their strongest eiorts and we
took out our two regmensl coloTs and planted them
on different parts Of the wall. This fire was kept up
all pghl while their musketry played upon US from the
rear, al the distance of five hundred yards. We Of
dered our men not TO fire shot until they came with
in eighty yards-but they did not approach. Their
object was to exhaust US IN ammunition They knew
from deserters that was scarce and Gen. Taylor had
gone for a supply. They are fond Of fighting at long
distances, but they can't stand The cold Steel
Now for where left nf on the night Of the Sih;
Gen. Taylor and the Mexican army were - miles
from here-between this and Brazos. The batteries
al Matamoos and around US, and in our fort, kept up
a constant firing until dark, when all ceased. We had
no communication from the General, but that he had
10 lick ZEN or die The sound Of arms had retro
graded but advanced; besides, there ringing OF
bells in the city, or signs of rejoicing therefore we
Judged they had not The first cause for jollidcaon.-
That night was the first sound mapping that had been
done in the fort for six nights. The next morning at
daylight the enemy's batteries opened on us as usual,
we laying low as our cannon ammunition was nearly
eaxhausled, giving them now and then " crowder,"
to let them know that the degenerate sons OF Wash
inqton" ware moi all dead vet At ! O'Clock we heard
Gen. Taylor open again, and from that till O'Clock
the battle raged with fury and coming closer almost
every shot. The General was driving them before
him in the chapporal at the point Of the bayonet.
About half mile in our rear we saw their cavalry
etreating for The ferry, TO the river TO Maia
moros. and they in utter confusionj we turned