The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-13
Brsvs, Brigadier General United State. aria,
The ADJUrANr GENERAL OF rHE ARMY,
Washington, ID. G.
HEADQUARrERs, FoRr TAYLOR,

HEADQUARTERs, FoRT TAYLOR,
Texas, May TO- 1886
Sra: have the honor To report that, on the morn
ing Of the 9th instant during the third day Of the
bombardment Of this fort, its gallant commander,
Major Brown, received severe wound, which
caused his death at o'clock, on the 9Th instant.
immediately assumed command, and have the honor
To report the result Of the bombardment. Since
O'Clock D. m. on the fourth, at which time Captain
Walker eft with report Of the result up TO that
time. At 9 o'clock, p. m, on the fourth hring OF
muskelTy was heard IN our rear about three or four
hundred yards distance, and apparently extending
a mile ~ the river, the firing very Irregular this
continued until half past IL O'Clock, p. M. The
garrison was under arms, batteries and defences
all manned, and continued so during the night. On
the hGh instant, at o'clock, M the hTe was re-
commenced from the enemy's batteries, which was
Immediately returned from the eighteen FOUNDER
battery, and SIX FOUNDER howitzer, placed in embra-
sure on the southeast baston; the firing kept up
one hour, receiving, during that Tune, about fifty
round shot and shells from the enemy The bate
RES on both tIles ceased firing at the same time;
our expenditure Of ammunition was thirty rounds
of both calibre Al o'clock, a. m, Valdez Mex
lean came IN and reported that party Of Dragons
had been driven back from the prairie to the point
and also party to the for-that he had seen thirty
deserers from AriSa s army, who stated that the
Mexcans were without subsistence stores; that they
were tired and left for their homes that it was stated
IN the Mexican camp that Arista had received an
express from Mexico, informing him that another
revolution had broken out in Mexico, and that he
could receive support from the government At
o'clock, a M it Ws- reported that reconnaissance
Of officers escorted by mounted men OF the enemy,
was going on in rear Within sight hundred yards OF
the fort and that other parties, mounted and lnfan-
Try at the same distance, extending from the
bend Of the lagoon 10 the river. Lieutenant Han
son. 7Ih infantry asked permission 10 lake The dra-
goons and go and look a, them; this was granted,
and in hour he returned reporting that the enc
my was establishing battery at the CROSSROADS
HIS appearance among them created great alarm,
and they concentrated q, distance under
cover of their work. Every man n work TO day
| strengthening their defences. Several parties Of
cavalry and Infantry seen to-day occupying our old
| encampment At ii O'Clock, p. M, musketry was
heard IN from bend Of lagoon 10 ~, rlyer
The troops all their places in the bastions during
| the night.
Wednesday, May 6.-At o o'clock, a. m, the cannon.
AIDE commenced from the lower fort and mortar bate
ry many round shot and shells thrown until O'Clock,
when there cessation of firing. During the last
hour the shot and shells well-drected bursting
in all directions in the interior Of the fort, tearlng our
tents to pieces and injuring several horses AT hall
past six O'clock the signal contemporaries were
| fired, at which the enemy opened their batteries
in our front and rear and the cannonade con-
continued from two mortars and howitzer in front,
and mortar established at or the crossroads
| in rear, until ten o'clock a. m, when our gallant
commander received mortal wound from a latting
shell. Large mounted parties and infantry were
seen at this time in At seven o'clock one NOR
tar was playing upon us from town, and two from
the rear. At ten o'clock a strlal party Of infantry
crept up in ravine and fred rnusketry; but being out
| of range, the fire not returned. AT half past
ten O'clock a. m, several parties Of infantry and
mounted men surrounding in rear
Several rounds of canister were fred from Lieut..
| m, / l. -. G..
eral afterwards heard to have been killed, immedi-
atey afterwards, and until half past twelve o'clock,
D. M, we received continued shower Of shells
from the enemy's batteries. At two o'clock FIVE
shells were thrown At half past four O'Clock p M
a white flag was shown at the old buildings in rear
and parey sounded by the enemy. Two officers
advanced and were met by two officers Of my COM
mand, who brought me the document marked A,
signed by General Arlsta, allowing me one hour to
reply. This document being considered one of great
importance, l deemed it necessary to convoke Il
council consisting Of all the company commanders
in my command, and laid it before them, they unan-
imousy concurred with me in the repy--a copy Of
which is the accompanying document marked "B. !"
This document was despatched in the allotted time,
and shortly after its reception the enemy's batteries
opened on US with a continued shower Of shot and
shells until sunset. The night passed very
quietly, but constant vigilance exercised IN the
| command-every man kept at his post, as an attack
Thu sday .May 7h-At half past five o'clock, a.
m. the enemy's batteries opened with shells, and
i continued for about hour and a half, then
ceased At half past seven, a. several rounds OF
canister and grape were fired into the enemys
picket guards the houses in rear, and at the old
! guard-house Of the second brigade, which caused
them abandon their positions: this was replied to
by discharge of some ten or twelve shells. AT
nine O'Clock a. m. received shower of some four
or five Shells and then stopped About this time
the enemy commenced firing iron shells, having pre-
viously thrown composition shells; and 1t was dis
covered that one of the mortars had been removed
from our rear and returned to the city. At quarter
past ten a M we received three shells at eleven a.
m. eight shells, at twelve, m, six shells, by which
four of Lieut.. Bragg's horses were killed. and the
wheel of one Of his cassons disabled. AT half past
twelve the batteries opened with round shot
and shells and continued for an hour and a half
by this time our bombproofs were so far advanced
that troops we're comparatively protected. AT
two o'clock small parties Of infantry commenced on
us with random musketry, on the bank Of the river
and from the ravlne At half past two p. M a reg
ular bombardment with shot and shells from how
itzer and the mortars was kept up with little inter-
mission unt sunset At five O'Clock, during this
COMMANDMENT shell struck IN tent almost entire
ly destroying the instruments OF the seventh in
antry band to the value Of three hundred dollars
The accuracy Of their firing now evidently increased
as at least one-haf Of the shells thrown fell in the
fort. sentinel to-day lost his arm by a round
shot from the enemy. As soon as II was dark
r enough, party, headed by our interchangeable engi'
neer, Capt Mansfield was sent out to level the tra-
verse thrown up by General Worth, and cutting
down the chappara which served as a cover to the
sharp-shooters of the enemy. At twelve O'Clock at
, night random fire of musketry commenced around
us, followed by two buges This continued for
about one hour; and from three, a. M, was continued
until near daylight.
FlidaV, 8h Hay-At quarter past o'clock,
a. M, the enemy's batteries again opened with
shells from the lower fort, from the satd4bag bat
kett M until g. a. m, without cessation A party
was sent out this morning and burned the Oh