Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-09-05

allowing and then respite Of 10 or 20 minutes
Bragg Thomas, Johnson and Lansing we're ordered to hire
charge of canister grape at the enemy whenever OPP
portuny offered to do execution At43 o'clock white flag
shown the old buildings rear and well knowing its
pupo every took advantage Of this opportunity to put
himself and his in order for work the charges
drawn fresh put in, and all delighted the APP
preaching crisis which then supposed to be at hand
Two Mexican officers ADVANCED and by direction OF Captain
Hawkins met by Maj Seawe and Lieut. Brtton, who
brought him communication signed by General Arista de.
mandng surrender of the forces under his command giving
him hour reply council Of held and very
appropriate reply unanimously agreed UPON and sent of in
the allotted time 1t understood by all of
that the crisis rapidly approaching and every took
the favorable opportunity OF the cessation of firing put his
in rst-rae order, this all to work cheeruly,
and seemed glad that they length have oppo
nifty of meeting the enemy hand hand Theday had been
excessively hot and aborng continually, the almost
constantly exposed in the burning The night came and
found prepared for any emergency preparations had been
made hold part II che fort driven from the other and
TO barcade haston if tightly pressed all the means
of barrcading wagon bodes axes and whee collect
cd at those points where thought necessary and every
preparation made to hold the last extremity The
night passed off very quietly but were constantly on the
alert, almost certain of an attack the morning
On the 18th Instant So o'clock A. NJ, the enemys bat,
opened on us and their shells h,c with great
accuracy for about hour when there was cessation
were much disappointed wehad hoped that having de-
manded SURRENDER the enemy least prepared to assa
had become exceedingly tired of remaining passive
under so heavy eembardmen AT u o'clock small parties
OF the enemy rear, occupying the old houses
on the road and the old guard house of the 2dbrgade Bsgs
johnson, and Lansing each gave them round OF canister
- ~
compelled be very particular in the of ammunition
for cannon, the supply becoming very limited whilst
the supplies of the enemy seemed nexhausbe they
commenced throwing shells for the first time It was
supposed from the firing that Of the had been
moved from rear, and had every expect in
very short time from another direction, the enemy
maned far preferable positions for batteries than they
had yet selected The bombardmcnt continued inter-
walls the pleasure of the enemy, taking time procure the
ammunition from and cool their guns We lost
ea horses to day. and of the wheels of casson Of Bagg
battery disabled Our bombproof pretty far
advanced and served TO protect from the whilst
engaged in making sandbags and the relieving parties for
labor. Again, at o'clock P. M, annoyed by the
fire of escopees from the bank of the river and ravne dis
tant however, to be harmless This cowardy action on
the part Of the enemy served but incense mer, and
ny of them applied to be permitted pick them oil with rifles
in they showed themselves 1t about this time
Mexican officer observed frequently take position in
tall tree, the other side of the river examine into the eff
feet and range of their shells from his position he could OBJ
the of the piece directed by Bragg person.
and twice driven very precpatey from his posi-
ton by pointing his rifle him. The bombardment
nued without ntemission until sunset and than two
thirds of the shells took effect in the fort All the instruments
Of the 18th infantry band lost to-day by the explosion ola
IN 4
lost his 1t considered necessary the
thrown up by Gen. Wohs command before the fort
was commenced, and about nine o'clock Capt Miles, in
command, with Lieuts. Van Dorm and Cli, with eighty
men, out to level it. with orders the utmost
precauton, and work silently possible in order
draw the enemys fire. This dangerous operation
compshed with astonishing rapidty and it have
hed the enemy the morning find that it had been
done without their notice This party covered by de
achment of light infantry, commanded by Lieut. Peter
who performed his duty with great credit to HIMSELF
throwing his party up and down the river The guard was
regularly detailed from the 18th infantry and the
commissioned officers and of the 7h infantry devolved
the prketguard duty, this time the dangerous and
arduous duty be performed. On this duty Sergeant
Wragg Corporal Manson pvates Ballard and Melton dis
nguished themselves by their daring bravery in approaching
the enemys lines Corporal Manson and prvates Ballard and
Melton always volunteers when there dangerous
service for picket and invariably performed the duty
CALAMITY About II tonight Sergeant Wragg by the fire Of
of the enemys pckets received ball in his cap without
injury himself and retreaed with his picket having
turned the fire. short time afterwards body of the enemy
advanced to within about three hundred yards of the fort and
firing their escopees at random, sometimes n
soeys, each voey preceded by several blasts buges
The pmpor of this could understand though
kept the alert all night with little officers
md men This firing continued until daylight the
lime when we expected the enemy's columns advance
attack US.
On the sh instant, at dayEght-Ths morning there
evidence Of the advance Of the enemy, and at 81 AM
he batteries opened again from La Forne de Ia Fccha
La Forne Rcdonda, and the battery in with shells,
md the bombardment continued without cessation during
he morning During The heavy bombardment at the sug
ycsion of Capt Mansfield picket sent out to burn the
old house the thrown down the night before
This done by Corporal Manson and private Ballard, who
perform the service; and they
Observed drew the fire Of the enemy with round shot
and shells The firing continued during the day inter
walls The flagstaff being distance outside Of the fort
and exposed TO the fire of the enemy the commanding officer
caused staff be erected inside the fort and the national
flag Of the Uh infantry raised. This was done by
party under Lieut. Hanson and, in erecting the staff Quar-
temaser Sergeant Henry, necessarily exposed performed his
duty very CALAMITY. new mortar battery opened on
from the chaPaa ridge Immediately Of Fort Brown,