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

The Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio re-
giments, though warmly engaged in The
streets for some time after the capture OF
the FIRST battery and its adjoining defences,
were unable from exhaustion and the loss
they had sustained, TO gain more sdvan-
tage. A heavy shower Of rain also came
| up to cause suspension OF hostilities be-
fore the close of OF the day.
The Sd, 4th and LIST infantry. and the
Baltimore battalion remained as the garri-
son OF the captured position under Col.
Garland, assisted by Capt. Ridgley's bat
terry.
Twotwelve Founders, one four FOUNDER,
and one howi'zer were captured in this
fort Three officers and some twenty OF
thirty men were taken prisoners. One oil
the IL Founders was served against The
second fort and defences, with captured
ammunition during the remainder ofthe day,
by Capt. Ridgley.
The storming party Of Gen. Worth's
division also captured two nine Founders,
which were also Immediately turned a.
gainst their former owners.
On the morning of the 22d Gen. Worth
continued bis operations, and portions OF
bis division stormed and carried success.
siveIy the heights above the Bishops pal
ace. Both were carried by command
under Capt. Vinton, OF the Sd artillery
In these operations the company Of LOUISE
ana troops, under Capt. Blanchard, per-
formed efficient and gallant service, as part
If Cant Vinton's command
Four pieces Of artillery, with good
supply Of ammunition were captured in
the Bishops palace also on this day, some
of which we're Immediately turned upon
the enemies defences in the city.
On the evening Of the 22d, Col. Gar
land and his command were relieved as
the garrison of the captured forts, by Gen.
Quitman, with the Mississippi and Ten
nessee regiments, and five companies Of
the Kentucky regiments.
Early on the morning of the 23d, Gen.
Quitman, from the position, discovered
that the I'd and 81 forts and defences, east
of the city, had been entirely abandoned
by the enemy, who apprehending another
assault on the night Of the 22d had retired
from all his defences TO the main palace
and its immediate vicinity.
A command Of two companies Of Mis-
sissippi and two Of Tennessee troops were
then thrown into the streets 10 reconnoitre,
and soon became holly engaged with the
enemy. These were soon supported by
Col. Woods regiment Of Texas Rangers,
dismounted, and By Bragg's light artillery
and the Sd infantry. The enemy's fire
was constant and uninterrupted from the
streets, house tops, barbados, &c.
In the vicinity Of the palaza, the pieces
Of Bragg's artillery were also used with
much efficiency far into the heart Of the
city. This engagement lasted the best
part of the day, our troops having driven
the scattered parties of the enemy, and
pentrated quite to the defences of the
main palaza, in its immediate vicinity, and
TO the Cathedral fort or citadel.
Early in the afternoon Of the same day,
Gen. Worth assaulted. from the Bishop
palace. the west side Of the city, and sue
ceeded in driving the enemy, and main
tanning his position within short distance
Of the main palaza, on that side Of the city.
Towards evening the mortar had also been
planted in the cemetery enclosed. and
during the night did great execution in
the circumscribed camp of the enemy in
the palaza. Thus ended the operations
of the 23d.
On the morning Of the Oath al an early
hour communication was sent by Gen.
Ampudia to Gen. Taylor, under flag of
truce, making an offer of capitulation to
which the latter refused to accede, as it
asked more than the American command
er would under any circumstances grant,
AT the same time demand TO surrender
was made TO Gen. Ampudia in reply.
Twelve o'clock, NJ, was the hour at
which the acceptance was to be commu-
nicated to the American General.
AT III o'clock, A. NJ, the Mexican
General sent, requesting personal con-
ference with Gen. Taylor, which was
granted, the principal officers of rank on
either side accompanying their General.
After several offers in relation TO the
capitulation Of the city, made on either
side and refused, at half past P. M. Gen.
Taylor arose. and saying he would give
Gen. Ampudis one hour to consider and
accept or refuse, left the conference with
his officers.
At the expiration Of the hour the dis
charge Of the mortars to be the signal for
the recommencement of hosiilites.
At the expiration Of the time agreed on,
however. an officer was sent on the part
Of General Ampudia 10 inform the Ame-
rican General that TO avoid the further ef-
fusion of blood, and the national honor be-
ing satisfied by the exertions of the Mexi-
can troops, he bad, after the consultation
with bis general officers, decided to capt..
ula.e. accepting the offer Of the American
General
The only Baltimorean or Philadelphian
in the party of the list of killed and wound
ed, is Col. VIM. H. Watson, Of Baltimore.
No particulars is given as to the mode or
manner Of his death.
Ampuda said his forces was 1000, but
il is estimated at 1000. The forts &C.
cupied by RIdgely's artillery company
who turned the captured pieces against the
Mexican forces, and the firing was kept
up by this compony during the day.