American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-05-30

ID in the following letter. 1t is due
or to state that it was written exclu.
br the qualification of ga select few" of
lds-not for the public eye. The rea.
on this account excuse the air of levity
iich serious matters are discussed
II his exuberance of fun and humor
ssure the reader that the writer bears Q
Phich beats with every generous ant
impulse, and he is fully cognizant of al
IL realities of the service in which he is
CAMP OPPOSITE MATAMoRAs, !
May lS, 1916.
the evening Of the 9th, nothing has
ed here. You may know ere this, that
the Mexicans "jesse" on the 9Th and
zen. Taylor, after establishing his little
# here, right opposite the town, left the
antry and two Artillery companies in it,
structions to defend it 10 the death; he
Z # with the remainder of his force for
/ Santiago for supplies, and with the hope
two mortars, (Which he had ordered six
ago) had arrived from Washington,
o to bring up ammunition enough for
s r ! s Founders to batter down Matamoras.
L. and command left on the lst of this
On the morning ofthe Sd, atIdaylight,
exicans opened their batteries on our
r rather our grand entertainments; from
loment it was right hot work until l2
when both parties had to cease until
uns would cool. Was you ever shot at,
with IL FOUNDER, in the flank by a
pr, and shell directed to burst over your
f not, try it, Just to properly enjoy a
toddy after the gun-cooling begins
hfter the refreshments, the ball continued,
only by little moro "vindictate loose
and wild-colt comet-like flying of shells.
only % minutes after we commenced
% before one ofour Is pound shot struck
2 pound cannon directly in the muzzle,
hooked it head, back and stomach into
about 90 feet, and it was accompanied
IS, heads and arms. Seven Mexican of
3were wounded, and eight privates who
saround their piece killed. We have not
from their IL FOUNDER since, and so hot
he little fort in which it had been placed,
hey were compelled to abandon it. When
fst fire came, rushed into my tent and
up my rife, and as l stepped out, a 9
shot struck my tent at the head of my
fanged the whole length of my bed, cut off
|lck upright pole, passed out the back part
Ugh two other tents, and then buried it.
/ the parapet. Pm glad l was not "caught
ing"
1.-THE first half hour a Sergeant of Capt.
company was killed; he was carried over
b hospital tent (full of sick) and directly
he was laid on bed, bomb shell was
Fn through the top oft tent, lit near the
burst, and blew the dead mans head off
bot injuring any one else. On Wednes-
the 9Th May, and Sd day of the lombard
/, Major Brown was struck on the leg with
and his leg had to be amputated
died on the 9th. These are the only two
ave lost during the whole of the lombard
!. which commenced on Sunday, the Sd,
asted, with little intermission, day and
:, until the next Sunday at dark. During
lime the enemy had thrown about $500
solid and shell-amongst us. 1t is in
BILE that the damage should have been so
t. Finding we could not dismount their
being sunk in the ground, with
embankments in front-and having only
400 rounds of ammunition to our can
we went to work to throw up kind Of
'orary bomb-proof shelter, by taking our
lis of pork, laying sticks of wood across
!, and throwing up six feet of earth upon
These we built at points in the fort
e they would be convenient for the men;
when we saw the smoke fiom their guns,
7 one would fall from the parapet and
D." When we would see a she'll COM
'e would fall upon on the ground, as the
,sion generally takes place upwards. The
cans thought they had killed nearly all
, as they were under the impression that
Tho fell were shot.
was very disgusting to stand and be fired
round and not be able to return it Sin full
and virtue;" but, knowing our ammuni-
was scarce, we reserved it till the death
gle should come on. We were in hopes
after reasonable time of bombarding, the
" would attempt TO storm us. Two or
feints were made, but they could not be
yht to the scratch. Five mortars were
ne on us at once, from every point oftheir
IS. Gen. Taylor's orders to US were to
tain this post, and not pretend to make any
, or risk in the least his position here; but
Sc we were surrounded after he left, that
/ guns should be fired at certain intervals
h would notify him of the fact. This no
vas given TO the General, as they heard all
uns at Point Isabel. On the 9Th, the Gen
commenced his march with the train of
sions, and when about twelve miles from
he saw the enemy in position. He imme-
~ "walked into their affections" We
the firing of cannon on both sides, and
,ctly the volleys of musketry. We knew
that it was the General poking it into their
ribs. We had then stopped to ''licker,"
It the first gun we sprung to our parapets,
ed our batteries and for one hour we had
'rettiest little cannon fight that ever man
Id. They gave us gun for gun, while we
! at them nthe best the shop contained"
1t wait, forgot one thing: On the first
nesday, after the bombardment had lasted
, days, the enemy "sounded a parley."
" Seawell and Lieut.. Britton were ordered
out and see what they wanted. They did
nd the Mexicans demanded the surrender
10 70 1T "tor humanity's sake" They gave
he hour to surrender, or they would put us
o the sword. They brought us letter
Gen. Arista 10 our Commanding officer.
comma ndino oficer Cant uonk;ns