Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-10-24


was wounded in two or three places, the last
shot hitting him in the forehead. he fought gal
lantly to the last, and ! am sorry that cannot
learn his name. The light batteries one OF which
is manded by Lieutenant Mackall, were now
drawn up, on the slope of the ridge, and the how
izers opened upon the height Of the Palace hill.
few shells only were thrown, before the enemy
commenced firing with nine FOUNDER from the
height Immediately over the right OF the column
aiming at Duncan's batteries. The several regi-
ments took positions, and few more shells were
thrown towards Palace hill, but did no execution.
The nine FOUNDER continued to throw its shot,
with great precision, at our batteries, one ball
falling directly in the midst Of our pieces but
fortunately hitting neither men nor guns. Find
ing his batteries thus exposed, and unable to effect
anything, Col. Duncan removed his command to q
rancho about half mile further up the Saltillo
road, where Gen. Worth took up his position,
after ordering the foot regiments to form along
the fence near the point Of the ridge. The artil.
lery battalion, 9Th, 7th, and 9Th infantry, and
the Louisiana volunteers, remained in this posi-.
ton about two hours, directly under the fire Of
the enemy's guns (now two.) The balls fell d.
| recty in their midst all this time without wound
ing man! ....
| To begin with, the Mexicans manage their artil.
lery in battery as well as the Americans do-this,
| | believe, is now conceded by every officer. At
halfpast 10, the column moved towards the Cen
erals position. At this time, Capt. McKavett, Of
the 9Th infantry, was shot through the heart by q
nine- pound ball. and private of the 9th infantry
was so severely woundedin the thigh that he died
the next morning. About fifty Mexicans now ap-
peared upon the hillside, over the moving col.
| umn, and fred at our troops some hundred musket
Shots without doing any harm. The division de-
| plOyed into the positions pointed out, and re.
manned an hour or two when Capt. c. F. Smith.
of the artillery battalion, with two companies (hs
own and Capt. Scotts,) and four companies Of
| Texan rangers on foot, were ordered to storm the
second height! This the gallant officer cheerfully
| undertook, and was followed with enthusiasm by
the officers and men under his command. Il was
considered on all sides to be most dangerous
undertaking, and this party was considered most
emphatically the forlorn hope. That the height
would be taken no one doubted; but that many
brave fellows would fall, seemed inevitable. The
distance TO be climbed, after reaching the foot of
the hill was about quarter of a mile; part Of
the way was almost perpendicular and through
thorn bushes and over sharp.pointed rocks ana
loose sliding stones.
| The 7th Infantry commanded by Capt Miles.
was ordered TO support Capt Smiths party, and,
by marching-direey to the foot of the height, ar.
rived before Capt. Smith, who had been ordered
to take a circuitous route. Capt. Miles sent no
Lieut.. CAN'T with detachment of men, upon the
hillside to divert the attention of the enemy from
Capt. Smiths command, which could not vet be-
seen. The 7th had already sustained heavy FIRE
OF grape and round shot, as they forded the San
Juan, which winds around the foot Of the height
which fell like shower of hail in their rank ..
without killing man. Lieut.. Gantt's party were
greeted with grape and round shot, which cut
the shrubs and tore up the loose stones in the
ranks without killing any one; but the gallant
young officer came within an inch of being killed
by acannon ball, which raked down the steep and
filled his face with fragments of rock, dust and
gravel. This fire was accompanied by a constant
discharge of musketry. the enemy covering up the
upper part of the hillside, but the detachment
continued to move up, driving the Mexicans back,
now arrived, and moved up the hill the Rangers in
advance, and did not halt for an instant until the
Mexicans were driven from the summit, Wills,
this was going on, Col. Persifer F. Smith, who
commanded the 9th and 9Th Infantry--the 5th,
with Blanchards Louisiana boys, under Mai. Mar
tin Scott, had been ordered up to support the
whole--gave orders for the commands TO mass
around on each side and storm the fort which
was situated about half mile back of the summit
on the same ridge and commanded the Bishon's
Palace.
Such foot race as now ensued has seldom, IL
ever, been seen; the Louisiana boys making the
talest Kind of strides to be in with the foremost.
Capt. Smith had the gun which he took upon tbs
height, run down toward the breast works and
fired into it. Then came Col. P. F. Smiths men,
with perfect rush, firing and cheerinp--the 5lh.
Vh and Loulsianians reaching the ridge above
nearly at the same time. The Mexicans fred at
them with grape but it did not save them, or cause
an instants hesitation in our ranks. Onr man
run and fired, and cheered, until they reached the
work; the foremost entering at one end. and Tho
Mexlcans, about 200 in number, left the other
in retreat The colors of the 9Th Infantry vera
instantly raised, and scarcely were thew IN. be-
fore those Of the 7th were along side. The three
commands entered the fort together, so close was
the race-the 9th, however, getting an advance in
first. ]. w. Miller, of Banchard's company, was
among the first four or FIVE who entered. The
three commands may be said to have come nm,
even in the race, for the 7th was not five seconds
oehiho' In less than hive minutes, the guns found
in the fort were laundering away at the Bishop's
Palace! More ammunition was found than On,
troops will use with the three guns tha. were can.
tured. One OF the guns was found concealed They
are nne.pound brass pieces. Several mules ana
halfa dozen beautiful tents we're also captnred
Killed, none. Wounded, in 7th Infantry 1t. Potter.
bullet through the calf of the leg; Orderly Sergeant
Hurdle, of X. company, Corporal S. p. Oakley
severely in the thigh Oakley is from New YORK
city, and very intelligent, well educated man, as
well as good soldier. Private White-tbe same
who captured the Mexican officers trunk At Mn.
rim, anc who received it and its contents from Gen
Tayor--wounded in the head Fifth Infantry
killed, none; wounded, 1t. Rosse! in the arm.
Sergeant Major Brand, badly, in the mouth with
musket ball. Private McManus and Grub, slipbtlv
wounded. Sergeant Uptergraph, color .bea rcr. dis
tinguished himself by his gallantry.
mus was the brilliant coup de main made al.
most without bioodshed. have not time now to
give the particulars of this glorious affair. Can.
tain e. F. Smith was in the advance. with McC,sIJ
at The battle of Resaca de la Palma and is one Of
the most gallant and accomplished officers in Tho
army--so say oil his fellow officers, whom bavs
heard speak Of him Col. P. F. Smith-C;eneraI