Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-06-10

about $500 shot ~ solU, and shell -amongst
US. tits incredlbls that the damage should
have been so slight, Finding we could
not dismounl their mortors they being
sunk in the ground, with thick embank.
tncnts in frunt-and having only 400
rounds Of ammunition 10 our cannon. we
went TO work 10 throw up a kind Of tenn.
porary bomb.proof shelter, by taking our
barrels Of pork, LAYING sticks across them,
and throwing up six leet oleafth upon that.
These we built at points in the fort where
they would be convenient for tho men, and
when we saw the smoke OF their guns,
every one would fall from the pnrlpot 0nd
" hole" When we would see a shell com
ing we would tall upon the ground as the
explosion generally takes place upwards,
The MexIcans thought they had killed
nearly aA Of Us as they were under the
| impression that all Of those who fell were
shot,
1t was very disgusting 10 stand and be
fred at all around aud not be able TO re-
/ turn il "in full furce and yruem but
! knowing our ammunition was scarce, we
reserved it lilI the death struggle sboull
come on. We we're in hopes that after a
reasonable time Of hombardng the enemy
would attempt To storm us, Two orthrce
ieints were made, but they could not be
brought to the scratch. Five mo,lars were
| PLAYING on us at once from every point Of
their works. Gen. Tnyor's order to ms
was to maintain this post, aud not pretend
to make any sally, or risk in the least his
position here; but in case we were sur-
rounded after he left, TINT signal guns
should he fired al certain intervals. winch
would notify MIN Of the fact. This uutire
was gwen to The General as they heard all
our guns at Point Isabel. Ga The SDh the
General commenced his march with the
! train Of provisions, and when about II
niles from here he saw the enemy IN Pc.
sltion lie Immediately "wiIked into their
affections. We heard the firing Of cannon
on both sides and distinctly the yojes Of
mu,keuy We knew well that il was the
General pokug It into their short ribs. --
We had then stopped 10 " ticker" but at
the first qua, we sprung 10 our pnnpels,
opened our batteries and Tor one hour, We
had The prel,jes, little cannon fight man
ever heheld Thoy grvo us gun for guo,
while we SLING at tbcm, " the best the shop
conrained.'
But wait. forgot one thing on the first
Wednesday after the hombardmenl had
lasted threw DAYS, the enemy sounded a
parIey.n Major ScaweIl and Lieut., Brit.
ton we're ordered TO go ont and sec what
they wanted They did 81 aud the Neyi.
cans demanded the surrender Of the fort
" for humanty'S Sake' They gave us
one hour to surrender, OF they would put
us all to the sword. They brought us o
/ letter from Gen. Arism TO our commanding
officer. The commanding oGirer--Copi.
! Hawkins Brown had been shot just bofre
had a council Of war called, aud said he
presumed we we're unanim1us ON such
points, but that he would put the matter 10
vote as to their feelings. The vote Of the
Youngest member was taken first, and 50
on throughout This was the unanimous
vote defend the place TO doath' Gen.
Arista was in 80 minutes replied to ns fol.
lows: "Thnt we Ind received his humane
communication, bul not understanding per
recty the Spanish hnguiga, We were
doubtful If we bad undersoo exactly bis
meaning; but from all that we could IN.
der-tand, he had proposed that we give him
/ this place, or we Wi nh be pat 10 the
sword 10 one hour; if this was the proper
understanding we would respectfully de.
cline the proposition, and took this oppor-
luuity to assure his EyCeency Of our dis.
tinguished consIderalon" Alter the re-.
ception Of this by his Excclency" il Just
rained balls. The different moHarg kept
two pair Of "sndlIe bags" in the air al the
time, varied only by their & and 4 pound.
ers. But in the midst Of Oh the storm the
Star SpangIed Banner still foaiod on oar
breast works, at the point which they d.
rected their strongest Efforts; we took out
our two regimental colours and planted
them on different prrts Of the wall. This
fire was kept up all night While their mus
kerry played on MS from the rear, at the
distance Of fire hundred yards. We or.
dered our men not to fire a shot until they
came within eighty yards, but they did not
approach. Their object was 10 exhaust
rs 10 ammunition. They knew from dc.
serters that it was scarce and Gen Taylor
was gone for a supply. They are fond Of
fighting at long distances, but they caa'l
stand The cold steel.
Now for where left Of on the night Of
the Slh Gen. Taylor and the Mexican mr.
my were ~ miles from here between this
and Brazos. The batteries Of Malamorns
and those all around US. and in our fort
KEPT up a constant firing III dark when all
ceased We had 20 communication from
the General but lhai be had 10 lick 'em OF
die! The sound Of arms hld not been
refrigerated but advanced; besides there