Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-06-13

river The troops all at their places in the basons during
the night
Wednesday, Man 6-At five o'clock A. M. the cannonade
commenced from the lower fort and battery Many
round shot and shells thrown until six o'clock when there
was cessation OF firing During the last hour the shot and
shells were well directed bursting IN all directions IN the IN
terror of the fort tearing tents to pieces and nunng
several horses At half past six o'clock the signal IL poun
ders fred which the enemy opened their batteries IN
front and rear and the cannonade continued from two
and howlzer in 'front.' and mortar established at
the roads in until ten O'Clock A M when
gallant commander received mortal wound from falling
she'll Large mounted parties and infantry at this
time in AT o'clock mortar playing upon
from town and two from the At ten o'clock small
party Of infantry crept up in ravne and fired muskery but
being out of range the lire not returned At half past
ten o'clock A. NJ several parties OF infantry and mounted
surrounding in Several rounds Of
canister fired from Lieutenant Bfaggs battery which
dispersed them Several afterwards heard have
been killed. Immediately afterwards and until half past
twelve o'clock r. NJ received continual shower of shells
from the enemy batteries At o'clock five shells
thrown At half past four O'Clock p M. white flag was
shown at the old buildings in rear, and parey sounded
by the enemy Two officers advanced and by two
officers Of my command who bough the document mark
ed A, signed by General Arsta allowing hour reply
This document being considered of great importance,
deemed necessary to convoke council consisting OF all the
company commanders in my command and laid it before
them They unanimously concurred with in the reply
copy of which the accompanying document marked b. This
document dispatched in the allotted time, and shortly al
ter its reception the eemys batteries opened upon with
shower OF shot shells until
was passed quietly but constant vigilance was exercised
In the commands every man kept his post attack
confidently expected in the morning.
ThurSday May 7.-At half past o'clock A. NJ. the
mys batteries opened with Shells and continued for about
hour and half and then ceased At half past A. M
several rounds OF canister and grape fired into the
mys pckegua at the houses and at the old guard
houee OF the second Brigade which caused them to abandon
their positions This replied to by discharge of some
ten twelve shells At nine o'clock A. NJ received
shower of four five Shells and then stopped About
this time the enemy commenced firing shells, having pre-
viousy thrown composition Shells and discovered that
of the had been removed from and
turned to the city AT quarter past ten A. NJ. received
three shels eleven A. NJ. eight shells twelve NJ six
Shells by which four OF Lieutenant Braggs horses kill
ed and the wheel of OF his casson disabled half
twelve the batteries opened with round shot and Shells
and continued for hour and half BY this time our bomb
proofs far advanced that troops comparative
y protected AT two o'clock small parties of infantry com
menceG with random musketry the bank OF the river
and from the ravine. At half past NJ regular bonn
bardnent with shot and Shells from howzer and the
tars, kept up with little intermsson until At
five o'clock, during this bombadeat, shell struck tent
almost entirely destroying the instruments of the seventh in
antry band, to the value Of three hundred dollars The
curacy of their firing evidently increased least
half of the shells thrown fell in the fort sentinel to-day lost
his arm by round shot from the enemy. As
dark enough, party headed by interchangeable engineer
Captain Mansed sent out level the thrown
by General WORTH and cutting down the chapana which
served cover to the sharp shooters of the enemy At II
around us followed by bugles; this continued for about
hour and from A. NJ continued until near day
light.
Friday, May s.-At quarter past o'clock A. NJ
the enemys batteries again opened with shells from the lower
fort, from the sandbag battery, and from The fire
this morning was kept up until o'clock A. NJ wihou,
saton party was sent out this morning and burnt the
old houses the the river bank This drew
from them several round shot and shells from Il to half
past +. NJ heavy bombardment of shells kept up !;
at least fifty thrown at US during that time AT half past
they again opened their shells upon US, accompanied
by round shot, At this time the enemy had established
mortar in the ridge Of chaparra the rver aud mue
ately west of us Mortars playing upon from
the NORTH SOUTH and west, four number The firing of
round shot kept up for hours and that of shells until
half past p NJ About half past p. M. a heavy can
nonadng was heard supposed 10 be little north Of Of
apparently approached until half past A, when it be
came very distinct lasted until nearly p. NJ This
supposed to be action between forces and the enemy
A little before sunset Mexican running in with
white flag from the direction OF the second brigade guard
house claiming protection He stated that forces had
come in contact with those of the enemy had driven them
back that he prisoner in charge of the picket guards
fired by batteries that while they buryng
dead and carrying off the wounded he effected his escape
During the csnnonade this afternoon, small column Of in
fanty from above, and of cavalry from below, seen
advancing supposed be reinocemens to the enemy The
excitement command during this distant cannonading
intense During the day received from hundred
and fifty to two hundred Shells and from seventy five one
hundred round shot, and not disabled. During the
previous night the haads Of the flag on the outside had
become unrgged and the firing had become intense
to re establish hem temporary staff erected the in
side, and the national flag of the seventh infantry raised
substitute We passed very quiet nghtthe troops the
alert at their guns.
Saturday. Mly An officer of the seventh succeeded
in lowering the opmas of the flagstaff, and rigging the
halards but found he could raise it again without great
labor and exposure he therefore lashed position and
raised the national flag after having stood succession OF
round shot, canister and shells from the enemys batteries
for fifteen twenty minutes. At 10 O'clock sergeant and
E.aI .,
sively occupied by and the cnemy's pckes. II
brought heavy discharge of Shells canister and round shot
from the enemys batteries Shells, with slight intervals
continued until half past ocock p. NJ; the mortar OH
our west silent, and firing from a position between
and the fort, at the upper ferry il much further
off, but fired accurately Two p. NJ, Major Brown died.
and ip short time heard the engagement between
the armies Quarter TO six quite number of Mexican cavalry
and few infantry in the Athis time
celved heavy fire of rouBd shot and shells From the time the
battle commenced aud continued TO increase eighteen
pounder and sxpounder fired in the direction Of the
upper ferry when finding il difficult TO distinguish between
friend and foe, the firing discontinued close
this report and pass in silence the gallant and aboous efforts
of the officers and Of this fulfil the high trust
reposed in them by the Commanding General Under The
disndvantageous circumstances labor performed by the
men with the greatest aacy and always good cheer Our
interchangeable engineer, Captain Mansfield is entitled the
highest praise We have only TO lament the loss Of gallant
and faithful officer who, proud Of the trust eposed in him.
would have gorcd in the accomplishment of the task which
he so gallantly commenced
have the honor TO report list Of the killed and wounded
during the days bombardmen of Fort Tayor Texas
am, sir, respectfully, your obcdien servant
f.. s. HAWKINS.
TopIui Inf, n