The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-21

our dIpIodCHcSs WiSSo, lhOuBh Hui'S W.
well, jjined at this point, and instrumental
IN causing the artillery captured from the enemy 20
be placed IN battery and served by Capt. Ridgely
against No. 2, until the arrival OF Capt. Weosers
howitzer battery, which took It's place La the mean
time, directed such men as could be collected o.
the LIST, 3D. and 4th regiments, and Baltimore oatal
ion, to enter the own, penetrating to the right, ana
carry the I'd battery IL possible. This command,
under Lieut. Col. Garland, advanced beyond Inc
bridge "Purisims," when, finding itimpracueaole 10
gain the Of the Cd battery, portion oil II sus,
tanned themselves for some Time IN " II advanced
positioni butts no permanent impression eouid DC
made at that pelpt, and the main object OF the gem
eral operation had been effected, the command, M
GLIDING section Of Capt. Ridgely's battery, which
had joined il, was Withdrawn TO battery NO.
During the absence of this column, demonstration
Of cavalry reported in the direction OF the eita-
del. Capt Bragg, who was at hand, immediately
gallopped with his battery to a suitable posltion,
from which a few discharges eaectually dispersed
the enemy. Capt. Miller, LIST infantry, was de-
spached with a mixed command, TO support the Dat
terry this service. The enemy's lancers had pre-
viously charged upon the Ohio and part OF the
Mississippi regiment, near some fields at distance
from the edge of the town, and had been repulsed
with considerable loss A demonstration Of caval-
ry on the opposite side of the river was also dis
persed in the course of the afternoon by Captain
Ridgeys battery, and the squadrons returned TO the
city. AT the approach Of evening, all the troops
thai ndu Decn engaged were Ofutftu DdCh 10 camp,
except Capt Ridgey's battery ,.snd the regular in
fantry Of the LIST division, who were detailed as a
guard for the works during the night, under com
mand Of 1t. Col. Garland. One battalion Of the lst
Kentucky regiment was ordered 10 reinforce this
command. lnlrenching tools were procured, and
additional strength was given TO the works, and pro-
lection to the men, by working parties during the
night under the direction of Lieut.. Scarrtt engl-
neers.
The main object proposed in the morning had
been Ell. cted. A powerful diversion had been made
to favor the operations Of the I'd division, one OF
the enemy's advanced works had been carried and
we now had a strong foot-hold in the town. But
this had not been accomplished without very
heavy loss embracing some Of our most gallant and
promising officers Capt. Williams Typographical
engineers, Its Terrett and Dilworth, LIST infantry,
1t. Woods, Cd infantry, Capts Morris and Field,
Bvt. Major Barbour, Its Irwin and Hazlitt, Sd in
fantry, L. Hoskins 4th infantry, 1t. Col. Watson,
Baltimore battalion, Capt. Allen and II. Putnam,
Tennessee regiment, and 1t. Hett, Ohio regiment,
were killed, or have since died Of wounds received
in this engagement, while the number and rank OF
the officers wounded gives additional proof Of the
obstinacy of the contest, and the good conduct OF
our troops. The number of killed and wounded
incident TO the operations in the lower part of the
city on the 2lst is 1874.
Early in the morning Of this day, (2lst,) the ad-
vance Of the 81 division had encountered the enemy
in force, and after brief but sharp conflict repused
him with heavy loss Gen. Worth then succeeded
in gaining position on the Satillo road thus cut
ting the enemy's line Of communication. From this
position the two heights south OF the Satilo road
were carried in succession, and the gun taken in
one Of them turned upon the Bishops Palace. These
important successes were fortunately obtained with
comparatively small loss; Capt McKavett, 9th in.
fantry, being the only officer killed
The god day Of September passed without any
active operations in the lower part of the city The
| citadel and other works continued to FIRE at parties
exposed TO their range, and at the work now occu.
pied by our troops. The guard left in it the pre-
ceding night, except Capt. Ridgley's company, was
relieved at midday by Gen. Quitman's brigade
| Capt. Bragg's battery thrown under cover in
front Of the town to repe any demonstration of cav
airy in that quarter. At dawn Of day, the height
above the Bishops Palace was carried, and soon
after meridian, the Palace itself was taken and il,
guns turned upon the fugitive garrison. The OBJ
jsct for which the % division was detached had thus
been completely accomplished and felt confident
that with strong force occupying the road and
heights in his rear, and good position below the
city in our possession, the enemy could not posi-
| bly, maintain the town.
During the night of the 22d, the enemy evacuated
nearly all his defences in the lower par, Of the city
This was reported TO me early in the morning OF
the 23d by Gen. Quitman who had already media
| ted an assault upon those works. | Immediately
instructions to that officer leaving it to his dis
erection to enter the city, covering his men by the
houses and walls, and advance carefully as far az
he might deem prudent. After ordering the remain
der Of the troops as reserve, under the orders oil
Brigadier General Twggs, repaired to thr absn
doned works, and discovered that a portion of Gen
Quitmans brigade had entered the town, and were
successfully forcing their way towards the principal
plaza. then ordered up the I'd regiment Of Texas
mounted volunteers, who entered the city, dismount.
ed, and, under the immediate orders of Gen. Hen
derson, co-operated with Gen.. Quman's brigade
Capt Braggs battery also ordered up, support
ed by the Sd infantry; and after firing for time
at the cathedral, portion of it was likewise thrown
| into the city. Our troops advanced from house To
house, and from square to square, until they reach
| ed street but one square in rear of the principal
plaza, in and near which the enemy's force was
mainly concentrated. This advance was conducted
vigorously bnt with due caution, and although de-
structive to the enemy, was attended with but small
loss on our part. Captain Ridgley, in the mean
time, had served a captured piece in battery No.
against the city, until the advance of our men rem
dered it imprudent to fire in the direction of the
cathedral. was now satisfied that we could ope.
rate successfully in the city, and that the enemy had
retired from the lower portion Of it to make stand
behind his barbados. As Gen. Quitmans brigade had
been duty the previous night determined to with
draw the troops to the evacuated works. and concer
| with General Worth combined attack upon the
| town. The troops accordingly fell back deliberate
| ly, in good order and resumed their original posi-
tons, General Quitman's brigade being relieved az
ter nightfall by that of General Hamer. On my re-
turn to camp, met officer with the intelligence
that General WORTH induced by the firing in the
lower part of the city, was about making attack
at the upper extremity, which had also been evacu.
ated by the enemy to considerable distance | re.
GREETED that this information had not reached me be-
fore leaving the city, but still deemed it mex pedien
to change my orders, and accordingly returned to
camp. A note from General Worth, written a,
eleven o'clock, p. M, informed me that he had adj
vanced to within short distance of the principa
plaza, and that the mortar (Which had been sent to
his division in the morning) was doing good exc
cution within effective range of the enemy's posi-
| ton. VI. "
Desiring to make no further attempt upon the city
without complete concert as to the lines and mode
Of approach, instructed that officer to suspend his
advance until | could have an interview with him
| on the following morning at his headquarters.
Early on the morning of the oath | received
through Colonel Moreno, a communication from
General Ampudia, proposing to evacuate the town
| which, with the answer, we're forwarded with my
first desnatch. | arranoed with Cnlnnel Mnrenn q