Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-06-06

lSunK III Inc gropnd, WIN nick eInOaFk
ments in front and having only about 400
rounds Of ammunition to our cannon, We
; went to work threw up kind OF tempo
ry bomt-prool shelter, by taking our bar
rels of pork, laying sticks Of wood acros;
them, and throwing up six feet of earth
r upon that. These we built at points IL
! the fort where they would be convenient
for the men; and when we saw the smoke
from their guns, every one would
from the parapet and "hoe." WheMl&
would see a shell coming we would Y
upon the ground, as the explosion GEM
: ally ia kes place upwards. The Mexican'
! thought they had killed nearly all Of Us
as they we're ander the impression tina
all who fell were shot.
twas very disgusting TO stand and Be
fired at all round and not be able to return
it Sin full force and vlrtue;" but, know
| ing our ammunition was scarce, we re-
served it till the death struggle should
come on. We we're in hopes that after a
reasonable time Of bombardng, the enc
my would attempt to storm US. Two or
three Ieints were made, but they couC
not be brought TO the scratch. Five NOR
tars were playing on us al once, from
every point of their works. Gen. lay
lor's orders to us were to maintain this
post, and not to pretend to make any sal
/ Iy, or risk in he least his position here
but in case we were surrounded alter ne
left, that signal guns should be fired al
certain intervals, which would notify him
of the fact. This notice was given to
the General, as they heard all our guns
at Point Isabel. On the 9th, the General
commenced his march with the train OF
provisions, and when about twelve miles
from here he saw the enemy in position
He Immediately "walked into their atfec
tons" We heard the firing of cannon
on both sides, and distinctly the voIleys
of musketry. We knew we'll that it was
the General poking it into their short
ribs. We then stopped to "Iicker," but
a: the first gun we sprung 10 our parapets,
opened our batteries and for one hour we
had the prettiost little cannon fight that
ever a man behed. They gave us gun
for gun, while we s,uug at them ssthe hesi
the shop contained"
But wait, forgot one thing: On the
first Wednesday, after the bombardment
had lasted three days, the enemy
sounded parley." Major Seawel and
Lieut.. Britton were ordered to go out and
see what they wanted. They did so, and
the Mexcans demanded the surrender OF
the fort "for humanity'S sake" They gave
us one hour TO surrender, or they would
put US all to the sword They brought US
q letter from Gen. Arista TO our command
ing officer. The commanding officer, Capt.
Hawkins-Brown had been shot just be-
fore-had counsel OF war called, and
said he presumed we were unanimous on
such points, but that he would put the
matter to vote as to their feelings. The
vote Of the youngest member was taken
first, and SO on throughout. This was
the unanimous vote: "Delend the place to
the death" General Arista was in thirty
minutes replied to as follows: That we
had received his humane communication,
but not understanding perfectly the Span.
ish language, we were doubtful if we had
understood exactly his meaning; but from
all we could understand, he had proposed
that we give him possession of this place
or we would be put to the sword in one
hour; if this was the proper understand
ing, we would respectfully decline the
proposition, and "took this opportunity
to assure his Excellency of our distin-
gulshed consideration" After the recep-
lion of this by his "ExcelIency" it just
raned balls. The different mortars kept
two pair OF "saddIe.bags" in the air all
the time, varied only by their 6 and Al
Founders. But in the midst of all the
storm the Star Spangled Banner still float
ed on our breast-works, a; the point where
they directed their strongest efforts; and
we took out our two reglmental colorsI
and planted them on different parts Of the
wall. This fire was kept up all night
while their musketry played on us from
the rear, at the distance Of tre hundred
yards. We ordered our men not 10 fire
a shot until they came within eighty yards
but they did not approach. Their OBJ
iect was to exhaust US in ammunition.
They knew from deserters that it was
scarce and Gen. Taylor had gone for a sup
ply, They are fond OF fighting at long
distances, but they cant stand the cold
steel.
Now for where | left off on the night
If the 9th; Gen. Taylor and the Mexican
army IL miles from here--between this
md Brazos. The batteries at Matamoras
and round US, and in our fort kept up a
constant firing until dark, when all ceas
ID. We had no communication from the
General. bet that he had to lick 'em or
lie! The sound of arms had not retro