The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-11

desert the lower end of the town entirely as il was
commanded by our guns.
once ia the night we had false alarm, the sent-
mel at the castle firing his musket. As soon as our
troops heard il they gave deafenng yell and sprang
TO their arms, but all again subsidized into silence
reeoleei at this time that shocked at seeing some Of
my men apparently still sleeping, | rushed forward
TO wake and reprimand them As | stopped over
them saw they were sleeping their last sleep. IL
was pile Of Mexican dead, looking ghastly and
distorted in the moonlight.
All the next day we were fighting in the streets
We drove the enemy from house 10 house, and
from square TO square. The Texans preceded Us
and my company followed close behind When the
streets became SO hot that il became certain death TO
venture IN them, the rangers would brake through
the inner partition Of the houses and so advance
gradually, driving the enemys sharpshooters from
the house-tops. For our part, we would remain in
| some house until they were short distance ahead
We would then make our way IN single hle while
complete hurricane ofgrape shot played about our
ears, until we reached new position. As soon as
tins was attained, we would break into the doors on
each side with our axes and burst in among the
frightened inhabitants, who shrieked ard trembled
before US. storm of bullets came from every
house-IoP-s shower of grape swept the street like
tornado, and II was not possible stir from an
shelter without being fred upon from all sides;
every yard was fort, Of which the house was
citadel IL was perfectly astonishing TO me how the
enemy could keep up such a continual stream of
balls; but every street was barricaded and batteries
were erected on the house.tops "Sing, sing, {"
went the bullets, whiZ, whew, went the grape
| shot, but sull we advanced in spite Of every
thing Occasionally, would see a man struck
dead, or another borne to the rear dangerously
| wounded; but ! kept my eyes to the front, and
never looked behind. Although | crossed and re-
creased the street. and the gauntlet of the shot in
every way, came out Of the Sight unhurt. At al
TEl 7.
| the enemy must have marked me, on account Of my
uniform. was at the head of my company, part Of
which had entered house; but as had received no
orders TO enter remained outside, my men being
drawn up on the side Of the street, the centre OF
which was raked by the enemy's FIRE. | staid
| there about twenty minutes, during which period
three balls struck the wall near my heard and one
passed within an inch Of my heart cutting through
the clothes Of the man on my left. Among those
who exposed themselves particularly, | noticed
General Smith. He seemed to bear charmed life
Ballle Peyon also behaved with great courage. But
why speak Of Individuals did rot see a single Of
hcer who was not as calm # he was in a ball.
roomi and ] knew there was not a soldier in the
ranks who would not follow me to certain death
The next day we continued the attack, and the en-
envy were driven 10 the plaza Of the cathedral, the
very centre Of their power My own station was in
an adjoining square, in the house of family Of dis
tncton Ampudla had told them the warfare would
be confined entirely TO the outskirts of the city and
could never reach the interior. No injury was
done to the inhabitants by our troops. About noon
the enemy sued for terms. General Taylor gave
them permission to leave the town with drums
beating, and colors flying. When you remember
that they still possessed fort Of immense strength
one-thlrd of the town, and several redoubts, with
double our own number of troops, and forty-one
pieces of artillery, the terms are not unfavorable
We obtained possession Of the city, with an i'm
mense quantity of ammunition cannon and atorea
But all this you will see in the papeas. There was
some disturbances at first; but strong guards patrol
the place, and order is beginning to be restored.
G..