Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-03
NoNTgRgY, Sem. 81. lS.,t

and reflections Of one Of its members. your old
friend ami humble servant.
On Monday last, The 2lsi, (aler having been
under arms a portion Of the previous night, ex-
posed IN heavy ran) At o'clock, A. ~, We
marched from camp with four companies OF The
Isl Infantry, and alter an hours ha ID marching,
we issued from colnfeld directly in front OF
battery, or rather fort, of some six seven pieces
OF artillery, and crowded with infantry which
opened on us the moment The head OF our column
made lis appearance. We were within point
blank range, and !, Tor the first time, heard The
whistling Of a shot. Our battalion was immedi-
a,ely formed in line OF battle under this fire. and
we were ordsred to charge. Forward | went,
cheering and waving my sword, and The men
came after me CALAMITY. When within hundred
yards OF The trenches, looked back to see who
was following, being anxious 10 know the men,
Judge OF my establishment, when | beheld the
four companies OF regulars marching by flank
To the right. | saw Col. Watson shouting but IA
70 hearing command, that was an impossible
", owing 10 the dea;ening roar Of cannon and
mus!;ery. lsaw The head OF our line changing
its direction, and knew Al once that the point Of
attack was changed, and ran al The head OF nv
company 10 intercept The head Of the column.
reached just as Col. Watson was dismounting
from his horse, which Tho next moment fell from
4 shot. The Colonel cried oul 10 the men
''Shcllcr yourselves, men, The best way YOU can
At this time the battalion was scattered over
space oil about an acre, and the men were lying
down. The shot in most instances lying over our
heads; but the guns were soon depressed, and The
shot began 10 take effect
was lying close ls Colonel Watson, along
side OF hedgs, when he jumped up and cried
gu. "Now's the time, boys, follow me-" was up
and after him in a second, my men following me-.
We were now ~ a street or lane with few
house, on either side, and within a hundred yards
Of three batteries which completely raked il, in
addition 10 which Two underground guns were
planted in the Castle on the right, and completely
enIiIaded the whole distance We had 10 make -
Add TO this the thousand musketcers on the
housetops and in The barTcades al the head Of the
street up which we advanced, and al every cross
street, and you may form some idea OF the dsnee
OF balls poured upon us. (Bear in mind that The
tour companies OF regulars were now with u,
the one intermingled with Inc oiher) Onward
We went men and horses falling a, every STEP
Cheers, shrieks groans and words Of command
added 10 The din, whilst the roar OF guns was ab-
souley dcafening.
We had advanced up the street under this aw-
lu and fatal fire nearly Two hundred yards, when
We reached a cross street al The corner OF which
all who succeeded in getting this far alive halted,
As il by mutual consent. | was shaking Col.
Watson by the hand, whilst he vas compliment
ing me, when shove. Of grape, round ard CAMS
ler shot came from line corner above, and EUe
officers fell, and do no; know how many pri-
Yates. Each man sought some place OF appa-
rent shelter.
sal down OH the ground with my back 10 thu
wall Of house. On my lei. were two men torn
peaEy 70 p % ore OF them was yng a. IL G
street than unine. Crash came ano;hcr shower N
grape, which tore one Of his Wounuru legs nearly
off, lie reared up and shriekei, and fell back a
corpse never moved, iur ! was satisfied That
one place was as safe as another. Directly OF
posiie 10 me was my Brryel ~ Lent Aisquh
the right hand corner vas Lieut. Bowls, also ~
my company; and close TO me sat Col. Watson
aud Adl't. Schaeier. In few minutes saw our
color sergeant old Har,, come past with his right
arm shattered, Git has since been ampulated, and
in few minutes there came our Battalion flag,
borne by one oi The color guards, our glorious
Stars and stripes; and note this, that il was the
frat American flag IN the city OF Mon,ersy-an
honor which We know belongs 10 our Battalion
When saw the fias, Notwithstanding the me-
veity Of The scene around me, thrill OF pleasure
shot through me- and felt as il could die-ior
had made up my mind lode, and no man there
ever thought Tor Il moment that he would GET out
alive, and most Of them did not. The firing still
continued wi,huutthe slightest inleImission, whilst
we remained al lhs memorable corner which
was perhaps Tor fifteen minutes. When We were
ordered 10 charge up the street, slight hesitation
was manifested by both regulars and volunteers,
bu the officers sprang 10 The front in double file,
| being alongside Of Col. Watson.
We advanced | suppose about fifty yards,
when Col. Garland, OF the Army, ordered MS 10
retire We still advanced and he again ordered
US 10 retire, adding this lime, in good order. |
now became separated from Col. Watson and
never saw him again. lie took the lett hand side
OF the street and | the right hand, and when |
reached The open field where he had first ordered
Us TO lie down, was joined by Lieut. Aisquith,
who, to my inquiry answered bat he had Just left
the Colonel, and supposed That he would soon be
with US. Seeing no other officer around me raj
lied the Battalion remember that The firing was
jus, as hot and as inccssant now as il had been
al The Grsl) and led them down 10 make another
attack on the fort having made up my mind 10
take il or die in The attempt
Imagine INV surprise-a most agreeable enc,
coniess-to flnd the Fort in our possession, il
having been captured by the Mississippi and
Tennessee regiments when il turned lis fire on
US as We charged into the town. | have not the
slightest doubt that il was the charge made by the
Is! Infantry and oar Battalion 10 the city which
made the MeIicans retreat from the Fort.
was ordered 10 shelter my men from the fire
and await further orders. took them in the ditch
and then cambered over The rampans 10 take
look al what was going on. My appearance
was greeted with dorm Or So OF musket balls,
which accelerated greatly retIograde move
ment, and sat down quietly with len ieel OF dill
between me and the enrmy's shot. This was the
first spot that had been in in which was OUT Of
6r., han ttI.1 hgu MI L
exhausted. One of my men now came up and
reported 10 me The death oil poor Col. Watson,
whom he had seen fall from a musket Shot
through the neck
As well as can learn the Colonel, in retiring
from the city, inclined good deal 10 lie leit, ana
became separated from The main body OF The
battalion; that, in company with Lieut.. Bowie,
who remained with him, he mel another column
advancing 10 The attack, joined them with the
lew men he had with him, and ie a lew moments
afterwards. He met with gallant soldiers
dealh--his face 10 The Toe. bis loss is deploTed
By all who knew his generosity Of heart and chi
VARY of character. Ibis loss 10 me, individually
is great, but 10 Inc battalion il is irreparable /
know mol how we will gel along without him.
We have much, very much 10 contend against,
and have had ever since We left home. But Of
all this more anon.
We had been in tie ditch for about quarter
Of an hour when Capt Ridseys battery came
up, also for shelter; but his appearance was lhe
signal Tor The castle TO open upon Us, which killed
one of his horses The very first shot, and wounded
one OF nv men, We were now ordered 10 sup
port Capt Bragg's battery which had taken d
position 10 cut off The LanceTs who had sailed out
10 intercept what they thought was onr retreat
We killed or CT them, and the rest fed back
10 The city.
We were again ordered TO the For 10 beready
for another aack on the city. Again The Castle
opened on US and every shot told, and ! neve!
was so clad in my life as when got into the Ole
| ditch. But il was a shur-liyed qualification, fol
regiment of Mexican Infantry were firing OF
Capt. WebsleI's battery, and their balls raked The
whole For, ditch and all. We were then ordered
10 Join the Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee troops
which were forming on the plain for another al
tack OIL the city.
The attack was no, made, although vas burn
ing 10 have revenge, and from the lime last lei
the ditch until we wee ordered back TO The cam
by General Twigss, we were constantly unde
fire, being in open view and fair range OF The ar
,illery in the gray castle. | was under first on
General and then another, until became com
~.