The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-10-22

the point of the ridge. The artillery batial-
ion, 9Th, 7ih, and 9Th infantry, and the Lou
isiana volunteers remained in this position
about two hours, directly under the fire of
the enemy's guns (now two.) The balls |
fell directly in their midst all this time with |
out wounding man. To begin with the
Mexicans manage their artillery in battery as
we'll as Americans do-this believe is now
conceded BY every officer. AT half past 10
O'Clock the column moved towards the gen.
erals position. AT this time, Capt. McKa-
vett, Of The 9Th infantry, was shot through
the heart by a ine-pound bail, end private
of The 9Th infantry was so severely wounded
in the thigh that be died the mex. morning.
About fifty Mexlcans how appeared upon
the hill side, over the moving column, and
fired al our troops some hundred musket shot
without doing aay harm. The division de-
! ployed into the positions pointed out, and
remained an hour or two, when Capt. C. F.
Smith, of the artillery battalion with two
companies (hs own and Capt. Scott's) andl
four companies Texan Rangers on foot were
ordered to storm The second height. This
the gallant officer cheerfully undertook, and
was followed with enthusiasm by the officers
and men of his command. Ii was consid-
cred on all sides to be a most dangerous
undertaking and this party was considered
most emphalcaly forlorn hope. That the
heigl would be taken, no one doubted, but
that many brave fellow would fall in the
attempt seemed inevitable. The distance
10 be climbed after reaching the foot of the
hill was about quarter of mile; part oil
the way was almost perpendicular, and
through thorn bushes and over sharp pointed
rocks and loose sliding stones.
The 7th infantry, commanded by Capt.
Miles, was ordered to support Capt Smiths
/, party; and by marching directly TO the foot
/ of the height arrived before Capt. Smith,
who had been ordered TO take circuious
route. Capt. Miles sent up Lieut. CAN'T,
with detachment of men upon the hill
a side TO divert the attention of the enemy
f from Capt. Smiths command, which could
not yet be seen. The 7th had already sus-
tanned heavy fire OF grape and round sho,
as they forded the San Juan, which winds
around the foot OF the height, without kill
, ing man, Lieut.. Ganlt's party were greeted
with grape and round shot, which cut the
4 shrubs and tore up the loose stones in ranks,
4 without killing any one; but the gallan
!. young officer came within an inch of being
: killed by cannon ball, which raked down
the steep and filled his face with fragments
of rock. dust, and gravel. This FIRE was
accompanied by constant discharge of mus
kerry, The enemy covering the upper part OF
T. the hill side; but the detachment continued
e to move up, driving the Mexicans back, un-
e til they were recalled. Capt. Smiths party
e now arrived and moved up the bill, the ran
u gers in advance, and did not halt for an in
n slant until the Mexicans were driven from
g the summit. Whilst this was going on, Col
: Persifer F. Smith, who commanded the 5.h
e and 9TH iuEantry-the 5th Blanchard's Lou
e isana boys, under Major Martin Scott, had
been ordered 10 support the whole-gave
IS orders for these commands TO pass around on
IS each side aud storm the fort, which was sit
d ted about half mile back of the summit
IS on the same ridge, and commanded the
:. Bishops Palace. Such foot race as now
n ensued has seldom, if ever been seen, the
g Louisiana boys making the tallest kind o
ID strides TO be in with the foremost. Capt
W Smith had the gun which he took upon the
10 height, and run down towards the breastwork!
IL and fred into it. Then came Col. P F
Ut Smiths men, with a perfect rush, firing AMI
ID cheering-the 5.h and 7th and Louisanan
D., rea ching the ridge nearly at the same time
BIT The Mexicans fired at them with grape bu
le it did not save them, or cause an Instantt
1t. hesitation in our ranks. Our men ran ant
I'd fired and cheeted, until they reached til,
he work, the foremost entering at one end
N whilst the Mexicans about 1000 in numbe
e. left the other in retreat, The colors of th'
&c 9Th infantry were instantly raised, and scarce
IT. ly were they up before those of the TIN wer
e along side. The three commands. entered
ID the fort together, so close was the race-th,
9Th, however getting an advance in first
ny J. w. Miller, of Blancbard't company, wa
Is among the first four or FIVE who entered
IT The three commands may be said TO hav
g. come out even in the race, for the 7th wa
tn not Eve seconds behind. In less than fiy
II. minutes the gun found in the fort was thun
he dering away at the Bishops Palace! Nor
tn ammunition was found than our troops wi
in use with the three guns that were captured
ne One of the guns was found concealed
81. They are ine-pound brass pieces. Seve
at al mules and half a dozen beautiful ten
ar were likewise captured. Killed none
ng Wounded, in the 7th infantry. Lieut.. Poi
es ter, bullet through the calf of the leg; o
ne derly Sergeant Hurdle, of X company; Co
air porai S. P. Oakley, severely in the ihigl
ne Oakley is from New York city, and vel
I'd, intelligent, we'll educated uan, as well, q
he a good soldier. Private White-lhe sam
IA who captured the Mexican officers run
'ur at Marin, and who received il and ITS col
'ut tents from Gen. Taylor-wounded in tn
.ir- head. Fillhinlaniry, killed, none; wounde
It'll Lieut. Russell, IN the arm; Sergeant Mait