The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-15
OFFICIAL DHsPATOHES
S E A 7 O + w A r.

THE COMMANDMENT OF FORT BROWN,
Opposite n6atamoras,
Letter from Gen. Taylor.
HEADQUARTERS Amy OF OccUPArioS,}
Natamoras, Mexico, May IL, 1886
Sr respectfully enclose herewith the Official reports
Mansfield engineers of the bombardment Of that work
and the operations OF the engineer department during its
These reports together with one furnished by Major
Brown before his lamen DEATH viii give history of
the operations at Fort Brown from the LIST to the 10th Of
May.
In rendering these reports deem il unn sce ssary
pay any further tribute to the services memory Of
Major Brown. His death voucher for his patriotism
and devotion to duty. would call the attention Of tho
Department to the services Of Capt Hawkins who sue
Bragg. who skilly directed the operations of their
specvc and particularly to those OF tho sas
nssr oiicer. Cap. Ma.sasld whose an.rng ygilsssss
planned, cannot be too highly praised.
LAM SIR, very respectfully, your obodient ssrt
Brevst Brig. Gan o. S. A. con.'s.
The Adj. General Of the Army, Washington.
IN. Report Of Captain Hs.pkin..
HEADQUARTERS, FoRr TAYLOR,
Texas May 10, le46
SIR: Ihave the honor report that the morning Of
the 9th instant during the third day Of the bombardmcnt
Of this fort its gallant commander Major Brown re-
o'clock on the 9th instant Immediately assumed
mand and have the honor to report the result Of the
commandments since o'clock p Nj. the 4th at
which time Capt Walker left with report Of the result
up to that timn AT nine O'Clock p NJ the 4th firing
Of musketry was heard in about three four
hundred yards distant and apparently extending mile
up the rivers the firing very irregular This continued
arms batteries and deences all manned and con
tinued during the night On the 5th instant five
O'Clock, A. M the ERE was recomme need from the enc
mys batteries which Immediately returned from the
eighteen-pounder battery, and sx.pounder howitzer
placed in embrasure the southeast bastion. The
firm kopf svtn kkukx-
about fifty round shot and shells from the enemy, Tho
batteries on both sides ceased firing at tho same time
Our expenditure of ammunition was thirty rounds Of
both calibrc. At eight o'clock A. NJ, Valdez Next
came in and reported that party Of dragons had
party to the fort that he had seen thirty descrters
from Aristas army who stated that the Mexicans were
without that they were tired and left
that Arista had received express from Mexico inform
ing him that another revolution had broken Next
co. and that he could receive support from the Govern
ment At nine o'clock A. NJ. it was reported that re-
connoisance Of officers escorted by Of the
enemy was going in within eight hundred
of the fort and that other parties and infantry
were at the same distance extending from bend Of
the lagoon the river Lieut. Hanson It'll infantry asked
to take the dragons 60 and look at them
This was granted and in hSnr he returned reporting
that the enemy establishing battery at the cross
and they were soon concentrated at distance under
enng the offences Several parties Of cavalry s and
infantry oday occupy ing old encampment
eleven o'clock ?. M, muske.ry heard in rear,
from bend Of lagoon to the river The troops at their
places in the bastons during the night.
Wednesday. Nay 6-At five O'Clock, A. NJ, the can
nonade commenced from the lower fort and mortar bat
terry. Many round shot and shells thrown until six
clock when there was cessation of firing. During the
last hour the shot and shells well directed burst
ing in all directions in the interior Of the fort tearing
tents to pieces and nurng several horses At hall
which the enemy opened their batteries in our front and
and the continued two mortars and
howitzer in 'front.' and a mortar established at near
the CROSSROADS In until ten O'Clock A. M when
gallant commander received mortal wound frum fail
ing shell Large mounted parties and infantry
at this time in At O'Clock one mortar
play ing upon from town and two from the rear
o'clock small party of infantry crcpt up ravine
returned At half past O'Clock A. M several par
ties Of infantry and mounted surrounding
in Several rounds Of canister fred
Lieutenant Braggs battery, which dispersed them
several ards heard to have been killed. Inn
mediately afterwards and until hafpast twelve O'Clock
r NJ we received continual shower Of shells from the
snsmy's batteries. At two o'clock five shells
thrown AT halfpast four o'clock r. NJ. white flag
shown at the old buildings in rear paIley sounded
by the enemy. Two officers advanced, and met by
two officers Of my command, who brought me the docu
This document bcing considered Of great import.
ssung Of all the company commanders in my commend
and laid before them. They unanimously with
document marked b. This document was Dispatched in
the allotted time, and shortly after its reception the
shower Of shot and shells until sunset She night was
passed very quietly, but constant vigilance
cised in the command every man kept at his post
an attack was confidently expected in the morning.
Thursday. May 7-At half past o'clock A. NJ, the
cnemy's batteries opened with shells continued for
about an hour and half and then ceased. At half past
A. several rounds Of canister and grape were
fired into the enemys picketguards, at the houses in
rear and at the old Of the second brigade
which caused them 10 abandon their positions This was
replied to by discharge Of ten twelve shells
At O'Clock A. NJ we received shower Of some four or
five Shells and then stopped About this time the enemy
commenced firing iron shells, having previously thrown
composition shells and discovered that OF the
hodh
the city. At quarter past ten A. NJ received three
shells at eleven A. M eight shells; at twelve NJ. six
shells by which four Of Lieut. Braegs horses kill
ed and the wheel Of OF his disabled At half
past twelve the batteries opened with round shot
and shells, and continued for hour and half By this
time bomb proofs far advanced that our
troops were comparatively protected At two o'clock
muskery on the bank Of the river and from the ravne
AT half past two p. NJ regular bombardment with shot
aud shells from howizer and the mortars was kept
dui ing this bombardment, shell struck in tent almost
entirely destroy the instruments Of the seventh in
iantry band to the value OF three hundred dollars The
accuracy firing evidently increased,
least half Of the shells thrown fell in the fort
nel to-day lost his by round shot from the enemy
it dark enough, party headed by in
deiatgable engineer, Captain Mansfield, sent out to
le,e ine traverse throw up by General WORTH and cut
sharp Of the enemy. At IL O'Clock, night
random hre OF musketry commenced around u.s. followed
by two buges this continued for about hour and
from A. u. continued until near day light
Friday, May s-Ata quarter past O'Clock, A. NJ, the
encmy's batteries again opened with shells from the low
fort IRON the sadbag battery. and from The
hre TINS morning kept up until 5oclock A. NJ. with
out cessation party sent out this morning, and
burnt the old houses the the river bank
This them several round shot and shells; rom
IL to half past r. NJ, heavy bombardment OF shells
was kept up least nifty thrown at us during that time
Al halt past they again opened their shells upon u.s. &C
companicd by round snot AT this time the enemy had
established in the ridge OF chaparral across the
Iver, ana immediately west OF u.s. Mortars were now
play ing upon as IRON the north SOUTH and west four in
number The firing OF round shot kept up for two
hours ana that Of shells until half past p "a About
han past Z. NJ, heavy cannonading was heard sup
posed to be little north OF east of u.s. ii apparently s-
preached until halt past when became very DIS
uncti u lasted until nearly P. NJ This supposed to
nc an action between forces and the enemy. lit
lie before sunset, mexican came running en- with
whic the direction Of the second brigade guard
house protection He stated that our lore had
come in contact with those OF the enemy; had driven