The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-14
AMERICANS.
DEATH OF AN ACCOMPLISHED OFFICER
CAPTAIN WILLIAMS, OF THE TOPO
GRAPHICAL, ENGINEERS.

| ShhEIilShL E1NoINEEAo. .r.
Ertraet from klsr from Lisui. George @ Aissds,
Corps Typographical Engineers, 10 Col j. j. .ibsrt,
dated Monterey, 25ih October, 1886. far
alt is with extreme pain, have again to announce
myself TO you as the senior officer Of typographical
engineers present with the army OF occupation in
Mexico. say with extreme pain, because have
70 report TO you the death OF Captain M. q. Will
hams, typographical engineers, who fell MORALLY
wounded on the morning OF September 81, while
calamity leading the advance Of an assault then
being made on the enemy's batteries in front Of
Monterey. was not present at the time, being on
duty in another part Of the wn, but understand
from Lieut.. Pope, Typographical engineers, who was
at Captain Willamss side when he fell That he as
sisted in taking him into neghboring house, where
he was obliged to leave him, owing TO the very
CALLING FIRE which did not permit the troops TO hall
even long enough to carry off the wounded. This
part of the ground being Immediately under the fire
IT the enemys batteries was not again passed over
by our people but since the occupation ofMonterey
have learned from the medical and other officers OF
the Mexican army, that Captain Williams was
taken into one Of their hospitals and treated with
the greatest kindness, every effort being made to
alleviate his sufferings and save his life. His
| wound, however, proved mortal, and he expired
early on the morning OF the 23d, and was buried
that afternoon with the honors due to his rank in
the garden of the convent Of San Francisco. |
could not learn he had lefl any messages or letters
| for any Of the members Of his family while in the
hands Of the Mexcans, and his only request TO
Lieut. Pope was, he wished il to be made known
he fell while leading the advance and in the dis
| charge Of his duty
Captain Wiams's gallantry and bravery was
most conspicuous this occasion. The object Of
the expedition was Reconnaissance Of the positions
Of the enemy, but finding an entrance into the town
| practicable, an advance was made with view to
turn one Of the batteries and take il in rear, which
with well. directed assault from the front caused il
TO be abandoned by the enemy, leaving four pieces
of artillery II was in the streets of the town while
leading the advance in making this detour that Capt
Williams fell.
"You, colonel, with whom he has been for SO many
years associated, better bear testimony than
myself to the loss the service has suffered in his
death. His high scientific attainments, his amable
disposition, and courteous bearing we'll known
to all who knew him. We who have been recently
| associated with him witnesses of the fearless
exposure Of his person on all occasions where the
| enemy was to be met And while we sympathise
| with his mourning family, we tender to them
the consolation, that he fell every true soldier
would wish to fall, on the battlefield and in the
thickest Of the conflict.
81 enclose you a letter from Lieut. Pope, which
requested him to write ALSO for the satisfaction Of
Capt. w. 8 family. Lieut.. Chandler, 81 infantry, in
formed Lieut. Pope, he was acquainted with the
family of Capt. W., and should write to them"
r..a--- MonrEnEY, Mexico, Sept. 80, 1916.
SIR: In compliance with your request of this
morning, | have the honor to enclose you the fol-
lowing statement of the circumstances attending the
death of Captain w. G. Williams, corps topograph-
| ical engineers. .t b. IL. 70. H. d.
| On the morning Of the 2lst Of September Major
| Mansfield, Captain Williams, and myself were or
dered forward for the purpose of making close re-
connoisance Of the enemys works on the southeast
part of this place. To cover the recommending
party, and to attack some of the Mexican redoubts,
| il practicable Lieut. Col. Garands brigade was or
dered to accompany US.
| A closer examination proving the practicabty Of
taking in reverse one or two of the enemy's out
1 works in the southeast part of the town, Colonel
Garland led his column to the attack, preceded
| by the engineer officers composing the recon-
NOTHING party. Capt. Williams behaved through
| out the whole affair with the utmost gallan-
| try and fearlessness, exposing his person freely
wherever it became expedent, until he fell in the
streets of the town about Hundred yards to the
right and rear of the most advanced redoubt of the
enemy, and in advance of the column Of attack.
| was by his side at the moment Of his fall, and sue
ceeded in conveying his body TO an ad acent house.
and making him as comfortable the nature of the
circumstances admitted | Immediately examined
his wound aud felt satisfied it was mortal He
was shot entirely through the body with muske
1 ball, and internal hemorrhage ensued Captain w
said to me he knew he had but short time to live.
! As the column was rapidly advancing my duty
compelled me to leave Captain w. in the house
where had laid him. The movements of the com
mand having carried me far from the spot, did not
return in that direction, and had no opportunity of
seeing Capt w. again previous to his death. learn
however, that he was kindly treated by the Mex-
cans into whose hands he fell, until he expired
the morning Of the 23d of September and that he
was buried with the honors due to his rank.
| His last remark to me was, that he wished it to
be known that he fell while in the advance, and in
the discharge of his duty To this fact I most
cordially testify, and lament with every officer who
knew him, that he did not live to reap the reward
of his gallantry and devotion.
vI have the honor to be your obdient servant,
| .ra" "... 40 JOHN POPE, ,'"
| ..,..' ....an .~ Lieutenant u s. A.