The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-12-12

After many affairs oflight troops and sew
|ersl feinis, heavy sortie was made, sus
aimed by a strong corps Of cavalry, will
desperate resolution, to repossess the heighu
Such a move had been anticipated and pre-
pared for. Lieut., Col Childs had advanc
ed, under cover, two companions Of llgh
troops under command of Capt. Vnion,ac
ing major, and judlcously drawn up the
main body of his command, faDked on The
right bv Hays, and left by Walkers Tex
ana. The enemy advanced boldly, was
u pulsed by one general discharge from al
arms, fed in confusion closely pressed by
|Chids and Hays, preceded by the ligh
uoops under Vnton; and while they fled
past our troops entered The palace and fort
In few moments the unprelending flag oI
The Union had replaced the gaudy standard
of Mexico. The captured guns--one six
inch howilzar, one twelve and two nine
pounder brass guns, together with Duncan'S
4nd Mackal's field batteries, which came
up al full gallop, were in full and efeo-
i've play upon the retiring and confused
masses that filled The street of which We
had the proonga,ion) leading to The nearest
plaza, la capella, also crowded with troops
At this moment The enemy's loss wss hea'
a.
Excep. the force necessary to hold the po'
sl,ors on Independence and serve ,ht
guns (shif,ed TO points whence the sho
,oud be made TO reach The grea, plaza, the
division was now concentrated around the
palace, and preparation made to assault The
city on the following day, or sooner, should
the general in chief either so direct, or be-
fore communication be lad, renew the as
saull from the opposite quarter. In the
meantime attention was directed 10 every
provision our circumstances permitted, io
Elevate the condition of our wounded sol
llers and officers; 10 the decen, iniermen
If The dead, not emitting in either respec
all that was due to those of lhe enemy.
About 10 A. NJ. on The 23d, heavy fr'
was heard in The opposite quarter. 1t
IN iude and continuance, as well as olhe
circumstances, did not permit a doubt lha
the general was conducting main attack
md that his orders for my corporation
Having 10 travel circuit Of some six miles
had miscarried, or failed 10 reach me by
means Of the numerous cavalry of the enc
ny. Under these convictions, The troops
we're Instantly ordered to commence an op
Grafton which, if no, otherwise directed !
mad designed 10 execute in part, under favo
Of The night. Two columns of attack wer
prganized, to move along Ihe two prlncipa
streets, leading from our position, in direo
lion of The great plaza, composed of ligh
troops slightly extended, with orders Il
mask the men whenever practicable, avoi'
those points swep, by The ensmy's arIileT.
10 press on to the frs plaza, Cspella, Il
get hold OF the ends of streets beyond, the
enter the buildings, and By means of pick
and bars break through the longitudinal sec
lion of the walls work from house 10 hous
and, ascending to the roofs, 70 place them
selves upon The same breast hoighl with III
enemy. Light artillery by sections an
places, under Duncan, Roland, Mackal
Martin, Hays, Irons, Clarke and Curd, 70
lowing al suitable intervals, covered by r
serves TO guard the pieces and the whol
operation against the probable enterprise
Cf cavalry upon our left. This was efiec
uaIy done by seizing and commanding III
head of every cross street. The stree
were. a, different and well.known points
barricaded by heavy masonry walls, wi
limpressures for one or more guns, and
every instance we'll supported by cross bO
feries These arrangements of defen
gave TO our operations at this moment
complicated character, dem siding much ca
and precauiion, bu, the work went on sIea
' lily. simultaneously and successfully,
g About the time our assault commenc
G the FIRE ceased from our force in the opp
s site quarter. Disengsgsd on the one 81
= Ihe enemy was enabled TO shift. men a
guns to our quarter as was soon manilesl
e by accumulation OF fire, Al dark we h
rs worked through the walls and squares a