The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-11-17

Add to this the thousand musketeers on the
housetops and in the barricades at the head
OF the street up which we advanced, and al
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 intel
mingled with the other.) Onward we went,
men and horses falling at every step. Cheers,
shrieks, groans and words of command added
10 the din, whilst the roar Of the guns was
absolutely deafeBing.
We hod advanced up the street under this
awful and fatal fire nearly two hundred
yards, when we reached cross street al the
corner Of which all who had succeeded in
getting thus far alive halted, as ifb, mutual
consent. was shaking Col. Watson by the
hand, whilst he was complimentiug me,
when shower OF grape, round and canister
shot came from the corner above, and fue
officers fell and l do no: know how many pri-
Yates. Each man sought some place of ap-
parent shelter
sat down on the ground with my back to
the wall Of the house. On my left were two
men torn nearly 10 pieces. One of them
was lying fiat on his back with bis legs ex-
tending farther in the street than mine
came another shower of grape, which tore
one Of his wounded legs nearly off. He
raised up and shrieked and fell back corpse.
| never moved, for was satisfied that one
place was as safe as anolher. Directly OPP
posite to me was my Brevet I'd, Lieut.. Ais
quith; on the right hand corner was Lieut..
Bewie, also Of my company and close TO me
sat Col. Watson, and Adj't Schaffer. In a
few minutes l saw our color Shrgeant, old
Hart, come past with his right arm shat
tered, has since been amputated.J and in
few minutes there came our Battalion flag,
borne by one Of the color guards, our glori-
Gus stars and stripes; and, note this, that it
was the first American flag in the city of
Monterey-an honor which we know belongs
to our Battalion.
When | saw the flag, Notwithstanding the
novelty Of the scene around me, thrill of
pleasure shot thro' me and felt as if could
die, for had made up my mind to die. and
no mau there ever thought for a moment
that he would get out alive, and most of them
did not. The firing still continued without
the slightest intermission whilst we remained
at this memorable corner, which was perhaps
for fifteen minutes. When we were ordered
to charge up the street a slight hesitation
was manifested by both regulars and volun-
teers, but the officers sprang TO the front in
double file, being alOgside Of 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 us 10 retire, adding this time, in good
order. l now became separated from Colon
ell Watson, and never saw him again.-He
took the left hand side of the street and
the right hand, an6 when ] reached the open
field where he had first order ed us TO lie down,
was joined by Lieut.. Aisquith, vi o, to my
inquiry. answered that he had Just left the
Colonel, and supposed that he would soon
be with us. Seeing no other officer around
me. rallied the Battalion remember that
the firing was just as hot and as incessant 10 W
as it had been at the frst) and led them down
TO make another attack on The fort, having
made up my mind to take il or die in the at
! Tempt.
Imagine my surprise-a most agreeable
one, | confess-to find the Fort 10 our pos
session, it having been captured by the
Mississippi and Tennessee regiments when
ititumed its fire on us as we charged into the
.own. | have not the slightest doubt that it
was the charge made by The Isl Infantry and
our Battalion into the city. which made the
McAlCdUS Tetrfdt lTOf1 Tue II or.
was ordered TO shelter my men from the
fire, and await farther orders. took them
in the ditch and then clambered over the
ramParrs 10 take look at what was going
on. My appearance WAS greeted with a
dozen or so of Inusket balls, which accelera-
ted greatly a retrogade movement, aud | 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 it was
out Of fire for more than two hours, and was
nearly exhausted. One of my men now
came up and reported 10 me the death of
poor Col. Watson, whom he had seen fall
from a musket shot through the neck.
We had been in the ditch for abou:a quar-
ter Of an hour, when Capt. Rideley's bate
ry cane up, also for shelter; but his ap-
pearance was The signal for the castle to open
upon u.s. which killed one of his horses the
the very first shot, and wounded one of my
men. We were now ordered TO support
Capt. Bragg's battery. which had taken a
position to cut off the lancers who had SAL
lied out TO intercept what they thought was
our retreat. We killed five or six Of them,
and the rest fed back to the city.
We were again ordered 10 the Fort, 10 be
ready for another attack on the city. Again
the shot opened on us, and every shot told
and never was so glad in my life as when
got into the old ditch. But it was a short
lived qualification, for regiment Of Mexican
infantry were firing on Capt. Webster's bat
terry, and their balls raked the whole Fort,
ditch and all. We were then ordered to join
the Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee troops,
which were forming on The plain for another
attack on the city.
The attack was not made, although was
burning for revenge, and from the time last
left the ditch until we were ordered back to
the camp by Gen. Twiggs, we we're constant
ly under fire. being in open view and in fair
range ofthe artillery in the gray castle. l
was under first one General and then anoth-
err, until became completely worn out. as
well as my command, which had remained
SO faithfully with me. returned to camp
as night approached, wearied in body and
mind. but thankful to God for preserving my
life through the perils ofthe day.