The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-06-16
TUESDAY, JUNE Is, 1896,


cheers and shouts. dashed into the deiile,
where he wes greeted with an overwhelm-
ing discharge of grape and bullets, which
nearly annihilated his first and second
platoons, but he was seen unhurt dartlng
like lightning, through this murderous
hail storm, and in second, he and his
men drove away or cut to pieces the ar
tillerists.
The speed Of his horses was so great,
however, that they passed through the
battery, and were halted in It's rear
There turning, charged back, and was
Just in time to rescue Mexican General
officer who would not leave his guns, and
who was parrying the strokes OF one OF
the men. He handed his sword to MAY
announced himself as General VEGA, and
gave his parole. MAY turned him over
to an officer, and, galloped back to Gen-
TAYLOR, reported that he had captured
the eneny's battery, and the gallant Gen.
VEGA, bravely defending it, whose sword
he had the honor to presnt his Com
manding officer. The General was ex-
tremely gratifed, and felt no doubt that
blow had been given. from which 1t
would be difficult for the enemy to re-
cover-and so it proved, for portion OF the
9Th Infantry, finding that the enemy had
Immediately re-occupied and commenced
serving their pieces, calamity charged and
bro't off several, when the 9Th, which
had Just come up, marched to the attack
by It's gallant commander, Col. BELKNAP,
seconded nobly by Captain MoNTGoM-
ERY, and took off the remaining pieces.
Col. BELKNAP, leading his Regiment into
the thickest of the fight, seized Mexican
standard, and waving it over his head,
dashed on in front of his men, until his
horse stumbled over some dead bodies and
threw him. Being heavy man, he
was helped on his horse by soldier,
who in the act received ball through
his lungs, and at the same moment shot
carried away the Mexican flag, leaving
| but the handle with the Colonel. lie
dashed ahead with that, however, and
his regiment carried every thing before 1t.
At this moment the Mexicans gave way
entirely, and throwing down their arms,
fed in every direction, leaving all their
stores, munitions of war, arms, standards,
&C., &c. The killed wounded and pris-
oners, including among those who were
drowned in the Rio Grande, can not fall
| short of 5000 that the enemy's loss
in two davs amounts to at least 1000
men, something more than the number
we had i'll our army.
When Lieut.. MAGRUDER introduced
Gen. VEGA to Gen. TAYLOR, the latter
expressed his deep regret that such a
misfortune should heve happened to an
officer whose character he so highly es-
teemed, and returned him his sword
which he had won so bravely. 1t is said
also that the General gave the captive
officer an order on his private banker for
a large sum, for his use when he arrived
in the United States.
Immediately after the victory, a regl-
ment marched into this fort, and was re-
ceived with cheers and open arms. AL
had done their duty-those whe were
left to defend our fort-those who march
ed to its relief had nearly forgot to
mention that no officer in the battle of the
| 9th was more distinguished than Lieut..
RANDOLPH RIDGELY. His conduct drew
praises from the lips of every officer
But shall never finish if | record the
feats of personal valor which occurred in
this battle, where officers and men fought
hand to hand for hours with the Mexi
cans. | shall therefore conclude with
the hope that in few days we shall be
in Matamoras.