Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-15

and all his officers knew perfectly well, Of
course, that the town could soon be taken. but
he wanted no prisoners to take up his time and
eat his substance, but he did have an object in
view which viii be reached by the terms OF
this capitulation, and that object viii! lead TO a
result most beneficial TO our Government, un.
der whose advice or orders Gen. T. acted In
agreeing to these terms. As have few mo-
ments to spare before the express goes out this
morning, he was detained last night by the
slow progress of business with AMpUDIA)
will speak Of the operations of Gen. TaYLoR
on his side of the town.
Major MAsssFIELD, OF the Engineers, re-
connoitered The enemy's works on the night Of
the 18th but could obtain no very accurate
information, although he approached very
near to some OF them on the heights. On the
2Oth, Lieut. ScARRITT and Lieut.. PORE were
sent out TO reconnotre the works; ScARRITT
on the right and PORE on the left of the town.
The latter approached and discovered the po-
siton OF battery on the extreme left, and was
exposed to FIRE of cannon and musketry from
Lancers, from which, after making his obser-
vations, he retired in safety. On the night Of
the 10Th the mortar and howitzer batteries
were placed in position to play on the strong
holds around the citadel.
The action commenced on the morning OF
the 2lst, by the opening of these two batteries.
Col. GARLAND's brigade were ordered to move
10 the left for the purpose OF storming the bat
terry discovered by Lieut. PoPE the day before,
and to occupy, if possible, the lower part of
the city. Major MANSFIELD, Captain VIII
LIAMs and Lieut. PoPE were ordered to ad-
vance to select the most available point Of at
tack, and to direct the movements of the col
umn upon il. Three companies were thrown
forward as skirmishers and advanced rapidly
towards the works, followed by the brigade
in line Of battle under cross fire from the Cit
adeI and fort, and heavy fire Of musketry.
The column charged into street 200 yards
to the right of the battery, passed the works
entirely, and effected an entrance to the town,
After advancing rapidly about 400 yards be-
yond the battery, they came Immediately in
front Of masked battery of artillery and mus
kerry, which swept the street completely by ITS
range The barricades of the streets at sixty
Yards distance from the head of the column,
were lined with Mexican troops, who entirely
covered themselves, opened a murderous dis
charge Of grape and muskeiry upon the ad-
vancing column. Every house in the street
was pierced for musketry and enfladed the
street in every direction.
Under this fire the following officers were
killed or MORALLY wounded: Major BARBER,
Sd Infantry, by grape shot in the abdomen;
Capt WILLIAMS, Typographical Engineers,
was shot through the body by musket ball,
fell in the stree, and was dragged into the door
way of house by Lieut.. PORE, amidst
shower of balls that covered him with dust
The galantry of this young officer, now in his
first battle, is spoken Of in admiration by the
Army. Capt. WILLIAMS died the next day
and was buried with the honors Of war by the
Mexican troops, into whose hands he had fall
len. Lieut.. TERRErT, lstInfanuy shot through
the body. died the next day.
Uo,mded-Maj. MANSFIELD, ball through
calf of the leg. This brave officer would not
leave on account of his wound, but rode about
behaving in the most gallant manner all day.
Capt. BAISBnIDGE, Sd Infantry, slightly wound
ed in the hand. Maj. LEAR, dangerously
wounded in the mouth, the ball passing out at
the back of his head: Maj. ABERcRoMBIE,
LIST Infantry, severely wounded. Lieut.. X.
GRAHAM, 4th Infantry, severely wounded in
both legs and body; hopes are entertained OF
his recovery A great number of men killed
and wounded-number not known.
1t being impossible in the opinion OF the En-
g;neer Officers TO effect any thing IN attacking
the barricades in front, the column moved ra-
q
ton of turning them. Being reinforced by the
Ohio regiment, second charge was made I'M
der the direction Of Gen. BUTLER, which, ow-
ing to the tremendous fire of musketry and
grape from the barbados and stone houses,
likewise proved Intellectual. The troops were
then ordered by Gen. TAYLOR to retire IN good
order and get under cover from the enemy's
fire. which order was handsomely executed.
The following officers were killed or mortal
" wounded (since died) in the second charge:
Col WATsoN of the Baltimore battalion; Capt.
l.. N. MoRRis, Sd Infantry; Lieut.. X. HAz-
LIT, 4th Infantry. Three officers We're killed
in the first charge which | did not include in
that list, viz: Lieut.. HosKENs, Sd Infantry;
Lieut.. J. S. WOODS, 18th Infantry; Captain
FIELD, Sd Infantry.
Womded.-Ma]. Gen. BUTLER, slightly
through the calf of the leg; Col. MITCHELL in
the leg; Capt LAMoTTE, LIST Infantry, slight,
ly; Lieut.. DILwoRTH, lstlnfantry, leg shot off.
During the engagement in the town OF Cor
LAMBS brigade, the forts that were passed on
the left in entering the town. were CALAMITY
carried bv the Tennessee and Mississippi regi-
ments-the first commanded by Col. CAMP
BELL, and the second by Col DAVIS. Lieut..
Col. McCLusG, of the Mississippi regiment,
was dangerously wounded. These regiments
sustained great loss, of killed and wounded,
bu, cannot, in the short time left me, ascer-
tain the names or number of those who FELL
Capt BRAGG's battery of light artillery was
brought into action, but as il was impossible 10
use il efIectually, it was Withdrawn. Several
pieces Of artillery were captured. The .orts
that were taken were occupied by RlDGELEY's
light artillery company, who turned the cap
tured pieces against the Mexican works, and
the cannonade was kept up tie rest OF the day
There were many skirmishes and gallant deeds,
etc. ETC., which will mention at future time.
On the night Of the 22d, the enemy aban-
doned the two works which had proved so de-
structive to the Sd and 4th Infantry, and they
were occupied early next morning, by the MIS-
sissippi and Tennessee regiments, under Gen.
QulrMAN. About 8 O'Clock, same morning,
these two regiments advanced on the town, and
a sharp engagement commenced. These reg
iments were supported by body of Texan
Rangers, (dismounted for the occasion, } under
Gen. HENDERsoN, and by the third regiment
OF Infantry The fight was kept up until
o'clock, p NJ, during which time our troops
drove the enemy from house TO house, almost
10 the main plaza. The loss of life on our side
was not severe during this day. On the NOR
ing of the oath, flag of truce was sent IN,
which resulted in the capituatlon OF the town.
During the whole Of the engagement on the
Dist. Col. KINNEY was exceedingly useful IN