The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-23

lfcints, a heavy sortie was made sustained BY a
strong corps Of cavalry, with desperate resolution,
10 repossess the heights Such move had been
anticipated and prepared for. Lieut. Col Chiids
had advanced, under cover, two companies OF hght
troops under command Of Capt. Vinlon, acting ma
jor and judicioGsly drawn up the main body Of his
command, hanked on the right by Hays, and leh by
Il Walkers Texans. The enemy advanced boldly
was epulsed by general discharge from all arms,
fed in confusion closely pressed by Chds and Hays
preceded by the light troops under Vintoni and
while they fed past troops entered the palace
Il and fort In few moments the unpretending nag
Of the Union had replaced the gaudy standard OF
Il Mexico. The captured gunA--one six-inch how'll
ger, one twelve and two nine-pounder brass guns,
ogsther with Dunean's and Mackall's held batteries
which 40 gallOp, in full and effective
play upon the retiring and confused masses that nil
ed the street (of which We had the prolongauon)
leading 10 the nearest plaza, Ia eapsa, also crowded
| with troops At this moment the enemy's loss was
heavy The investment was now complete. Ex-
eep the force necessary 10 hold the positions In
dspendsneia and serve the guns (shifted To points
| whence the shot could be made 10 reach the great
| plaza the division was now concentrated around
the palace, and preparation made 10 assault the city
on the following day, sooner, should the general
| n-chief either direct or, before communication
be had, the assault from the opposite quarter
In the meantime attention was directed TO every pro-
vision our circumstances permitted 10 alleviate the
condition Of wounded soldiers and officers; 10
| the decent intermeni of the dead not omitting in
either respect all that due to those Of the
/ my.
| About 10 a. M on the 23d, a heavy FIRE was heard
in the opposite quarter. Its magnitude and contn-
uance, well other circumstances, did not per-
NIT doubt that the general conducting main
attack and that his orders for my cooperation (hay-
ing TO travel a circuit Of some six mes) had miscar
RED, or failed TO reach me by means OF the numer-
Gus cavalry Of the enemy. Under these convictions,
| the troops were instantly ordered 20 commence an
1 haA d.
signed execute in part, under favor Of the night
| Two columns OF attack were organized, TO move
along the two principal streets, leading from our po-
stioD, in direction Of the great plaza composed Of
| light troops slightly extended with orders TO mask
| the men whenever practlcabe; avoid those points
swept by the enemy's artillery to press on to the
hrst plaza Capella To get hold of the ends Of streets
beyond, then enter the buildings and by means Of
picks and bars break through the longitudinal
| ton OF the walls; work from house 20 house, and,
ascending 20 the roofs 10 place themselves upon the
| same breas,-heghI with the enemy. Light artillery
| by sections and pieces, under Duncan, Roland,
| Mackall, Marin, Hays, Irons, Clarke and Curd,
folio wEd at suitable intervals, covered by
! guard the pieces and the whole operation against
the probable enterprises Of cavalry upon our left.
This was etfec,ually done by seIzlng and command
ing the head Of every street The were
at different and well-cbosen points, barricaded by
heavy masonry walls, with embrasures for one or
more guns, and IN every instance well supported by
| cross batteries. These arrangements Of defence gave
To our opemiiOns this moment a com plcated char
acter, demanding much care and precaution but the
work went on steadily, simultaneously and
fully. About the time assault connected, the
IRE ceased from force in the opposite quarter.
Disengsged on the one side, the enemy enabled
TO shift men and guns to quarter
manifested by accumulation Of FIRE. At dark
had worked through the walls and squares, end
reached to within block of the great plaza, leay-
ting covered way IN our rear-carried large build
ing which lowered over the principal defences, and
during the night and ensuing morning, crowned
ITS roof with two howtzers and sx-pounder.
All things were now prepared 10 renew the assault
at dawn OF day, when flag was sent in, asking
momentary suspension OF IRE, which led TO the
capItuIaton upon terms so honorable TO arms.
As the columns of attack moving from the
Palace hill, Major Monroe, chief OF artillery
reached me with ten-Inch mortar, which was
Immediately advanced to the plaza, Chapel put in
position masked by the church wall, its bed ad-
jusied as rapidly possible, and by sunset opened
up'n the great squa,e. At this period our troops
had worked TO Vlt.in one square Of The PLEA. The
exact position OF our comrades, the opposite side
was not known, and the distance of the position to
be sssalIed from the bomb battery but conjectura;
eight hundred yards was assumed, and fuze and
charge regulated accordingly; the first shell fell a
te short Of the point on which 1t directed, and
beside our troops; slight increase of the project
ing charge gave exact results. The whole service
was managed by Major Monroe, most admirably
and, combined with other operations, exercised
decided influence upon the final results. Early on
the morning OF the 23d, Major Brown, artillery bat
talon, was despatched with a select command. and
one section of Mackal's battery, under Lieutenant
Irons, to occupy the stone mill and adjacent
grounds, constituting, one league in advance, the
narrow gorge near st. Catarina. The major took
possession, repulsed the enemys picques, and was
preparing his command to resist any attack, when
no received my orders to retrace his steps, enter
the city, and form the main reserve the ASSAULT
ing columns. tie came up in good time and good
order, and was at once under fire.
On the 25th, in conformity with the articles of
capitulation the citadel was taken possession of by
a command consisting of two companies of each
regiment, and one section of each battery, Cd dvi-
SION. General Smith was directed to take command
OF this corps, and conduct the ceremony, which
duty he executed with delicacy to the unhappy and
Inundated foe
You will receive lists of captured munitions of
war; lists Of such surrendered have already
been handed in. II is a source OF high qualification
that we have been able to accomplish such fortunate
results with so moderate a sacrifice of gallant
Annexed is return Of killed and wounded, exhibit
ing dates, actions, and circumstances.
When every officer and every soldier, regular and
volunteer, has, through series Of harassng and Sc
we're conflicts, in the valley and the mountain in |
the street and on the houseop chcc rfully bravely
and successfully executed every service and com |
Piled with every exaction of vaor and patriotism, |
the task Is difficult delicate 10 distinguish indi
vIduala; and yet it will always happen, it has al
ways happened in the varied scenes of battle and |
siege, that fortune presents to some those opportu-
mites which all would have seized with gladness
and nvidity. 1t is my pleasing and grateful duty to
present to the consideration of the genera-inc
and through him 10 the government the distinguish
ed conduct of Brgader General Smith, colonel of
rifles, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Childs, artillery
battalion; Colonel Hays, Texan riAemen; Brevet
Lieutenant Colonel Duncan, horse artillery, and |
Captain c. F. Smith, second artillery, commanding |
light troops LIST brigade.
MY thanks are also especially due to Lieutenant
Colonel Stamford, 9Th, Commanding first brigade)
Major Munroe, chief Of artillery, general staff
Brevet Major Brown, Captain J. r. Vinton, artle. |
ry battalion; Captain J. B. Scott artillery battalion,
Ought troops;) Major Scott, commanding, and Cap |
tain Merrill, 5th; Captains Miles, commanding, |
Holmes and Ross, 7th infantry; and Captain Scri-
ven, commanding 9th infantry; to Lieutenant Colo
mel Walker. (captaIn rineal Major Cheyaiier and |