Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-12-10

restoration of line of communication with head
quarters, necessarily Abandoned for the moment il
order to secure the gorges Of the Saltillo road.
TX m force was detached under Captain G.. +
Smith, with orders to storm the batteries on tn
crest OF the nearest hill called Federaci0n and af
ter taking that to carry the fort called Soldada, Oh
the ridge OF the same height, retired about Cox
yards The two cflectually guarded the slopes ant
roads 10 either valley, and consequently the ap
proaches TO the city. This command consisted OF
four companies, tx I'd, b Sd, and G and Ii 18th ar
tlery,) OF the artillery battalion, and Green's, Nc
Gowanfs, r. A. Gillespe's, Chandler's, Ballowe's
and McCullough's companies of Texan rif1emen
under Major Chevallie, acting in co operation-in
all abon, 500 electives. II was impossible to mask
the movement of the storming party. On approach
ing the base oil the mountain, the guns of both bat
ter.sr opened plunging fire, and numerous ligh,
troops were seen descending and arranging them
selves at favorable points on the slopes. Perceiv-
ing these indications of determined resistance Capt
Miles was detached with the 9TH, to support and
cooperate with the first party In short time the
flre became general, the enemy gradually Welding
and retiring up the rugged activity, and our men
as steadily pursuing.-The appearance of heavy re-
Inducements on the summit, and the cardinal im-
porance of the operation demanding further sup
port, the 5th under Major Scott, and Blanchards
company OF volunteers, were Immediately detached
accompanied by Brigadier General Smith, who
reaching the advance parties, General Smith dis
covered that under favor of the ground, he could,
by divertng portion of the force to the right and
moving it obliquey up the hill, carry the SoLdada
simultaneously with the Federacion He accor-
dinghy very judiciously pointed, and accompanied
the 9th, 9TH, and Blanchard's company in that d.
rection.-Captain Smiths command. having most
CALAMITY carried the first object of attack promptly
turned the captured gun-a nine pounder-upon
the second, and moved on with his main body to
participate in the assault upon Soldada, which was
carried in gallant style by the forces under Scott
Miles, Blanchard, and Hays, (who had been de-
tached on special service, but who returned i'm time
to share with fifty of his men in the first assault
and to take prominent part in the second. J the
whole directed by Gen. Smith.
AT this point we secured another 0-pounder and
immediately both pieces were brought to bear upon
the Bishops Palace, situated upon and midway the
southern slope of the hill Independencia a valley
OF only 6OO yards intervening. We had now Sc
cured an important advantage, and yet but half the
work was done. The possession of these heights
only made the more apparent the controlling i'm
porlance OF those opposite, and the necessity of
cupying the palace violent storm ensued, and
night closing in, operations for the day ceased
The troops had now been thirty-sx hours without
food, and constantly taxed 10 the utmost physical
eXertons. Such as could be permitted slept with
arms in hand, subjected to pelting storm, and
without covering, till a. M, when they were a
reused to carry the hill independencia
Lieut.. Col. Childs was assigned to lead this
storming party, consisting of three companies. |
and g 4th, and Sd, (artiliery battalion y three
companies 9th infantry, Ca, b, and ID, } under Cap.
SERVER, with two hundred Texan r6cmen. under
Col. Hays and Lieut.. Col. Walker, Captain of ri
fles,) acting in cooperation. The command moved
at 8, conducted to its point of by Capt San
ders, military, and Lit. Mead, typographical engi-
hut nnx al. -. -
dawn OF day within about one hundred yards of the
crest, in which position, among the clefts of rocks,
body OF the enemy had been stationed the previ-
Gus evening In apparent anticipation of attack
The enemy's retreating fire was Intellectual, and
not returned until Coils. Childs and Hays com
mand had reached within few yards of the
summit when well directed fire, followed by the
bayonet OF the regulars and rush Of the Texans,
placed us in possession of the work the cannon
having been previously withdrawn, no impression
could be made upon the massive walls of the pal
ace or its Oulwoks without artillery except at enor
nous sacrifice.
Lieut.. Roland, of Duncan's battery, was order
ed from the main camp with l2-pound howitzer :;
and in two hours, (aded by fifty men from the line,
under Capt. Sanders, military engineers, for the
purpose of selecting the route least difficulty that
enerprsing and gallant officer had his GUN in posi-
ton, having assembled activity as rugged as siesp
between seven and eight hundred feet in two hours
"A lire was Immediately opened from the howitzer,
covered by the epaulencnt of the captured battery
upon the palace and its outworks-fur hundred
yards dstant-and soon produced visible sensation.
Meanwhile, to reinforce the position, the 5th j..
Major Scott and Blanchard's volunteers, had been
passed from the first heights and reached the Sc
cond in time to participate in the operations against
the palace.
After many affairs of light troops and several
TENTS, heavy sortie was made, sustained bv n
strong corps of cavalry, with desperate resolution
to repOssess the heights. Such move had been
anticipated and prepared for. Lieut. Col. Childs
had advanced, under cover, two companies of lioht
troops under command Of Capt. Vinton, acting ma
Jor, and judclously drawn up the main body Of his
command, thanked on the right by HAYS, and left
by Walkers Texans. The enemy advanced bold
ly, was ropulsed by one general discharge from all
arms, fled in confusion closely pressed by Childs
and Hays, preceded by the light troops under
Vinion and while they fled past our troops entered
epalace and fort. in few moments the unpretend-
ING flag OF the Union hadreplaced the gaudy standard
of Mexico. The captured guns-one six inch how
ltzer, one WE'VE and two nine FOUNDER brass guns
together with Duncan's and Mackall's field bate.
RES, whch came up at gallop, were in full and
effective play upon the retiring and confused mass
es that lled the streets (of which we had the pro
ongation) leading to the nearest plaza. la cnpeILa
also crowded with troops. At this moment the en-.
emyS loss was heavy. The investment was now
complete. Except the force necessary to hold the
positions on hdcpendenciaand serve the guns, (shf
ed to points whence the shot could be made TO reach
the great plaza,) the division was now concentrated
around the palace and preparation made to assault
the city on The following day, or sooner, should the
geneIal-in- chief either direct or before commu-
ncation be had, renew the assault from the opposite
quartcr-ln the mean time attention was directed
TO every provision our circumstances permitted to
alleviate the condition of our wounded soldiers and
officers to the decent interment of the dead. not
emitting IN either respects all that was due to those
of the enemy.
About III a. M on the 23d, a heavy fire wa.
heard i'm the ou,,e;,, o,,a.,a. H.. "