Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-16
Official Report Of Captain Hd,ckins.
IEAD0uARrEEs PORT TAYLOR,

|
Official Report Of Captain Hdickins.
HEADorARrERs PORT TAYLOR.
| Texas, May TO- 1876.
SIR: have the honor report that on the morning of
the 9th instant during the third day OF the of
this fort, Its gallant commander Major Brown received
severe wound which caused his death at two O'Clock on
| the 9Th instant l Immediately assumed command and
have the honor 10 report the result OF the
since o'clock Z. NJ the 4th at which time Cant
Walker left with report OF the result I'D TO that time
Al nine O'Clock F. Nj. the 4th firing OF muske,ry was
heard IN about three four hundred va rs d,s
iant, and apparently extending mile up the river the fling
irregular. This continued until hall past eleven O'Clock
T. NJ The garrison was under arms batteries and defen
ces all manned and continued during the night On
the 9Th instant At five o'clock A. NJ the fire was recon-
moBced from the cnemys batteries which was immediate
y returned from the eighteen FOUNDER battery and six
FOUNDER howizrr, placed IN ombrazue the southeast
basuon The firing kept up hour receiving du-
ling that time about nifty round shot and shells from the
enemy. The batteries both sides ceased fIing At tho
same time. Our expenditure Of ammunition was thirty
rounds OF both cabTe. At eight O'Clock A. NJ VALDEZ
Mexican, came IN and reported that party of dragons
mad been driven back from the prairie the point and 80
party to the FORT that he had thirty deserters from
Arsas army who stated that the Mexieans were without
subsstencesores that they tired left for their
homes; that II was stated IN the Mexican that Ara
had received express from Mexico informing him tina,
another revolution had broken Mexico and that n,
could receive no support from the Government At nine
o'clock A. NJ 1t reported that Reconnaissance of Of
heers escorted BY mounted men Of the enemy going
in within eight hundred yards OF the fort and tina,
other parties mounted and infantry the same dis
ance extending from the bend OF the lagoon to the river
Lieut.. Hanson, 9TH infantry asked permission TO take Tho
dragons and 60 and look them. This was granted
and IN an hour he returned reporting that the enemy was
establishing battery the crossroads; his appcarance
them created great alarm and they were soon CON
centratsd distance under their work Ever
man at work to-day Strengthening the deiences Several
parties OF cavalry and infantry to-day occupying our
old oncampment At eleven o'clock T. VI. musketry was
heard in from bend OF lagoon the river The
troops oil at their places the basens during the NIGHT
"Wednesday, May 6.-At five O'Clock A. NJ the cav
nonade commenced from the lower fort and morter battery
Many round shots and shells thrown until six O'Clock
when there was cessation firing. During the last hour
the shot and smells well directed bursting in all dire.
lions IN the interior OF the fort tearing tents TO pieces
and inJurng several horses. At half past six O'Clock the
signal lepounders fired, which the enemy opep.d
their batteries m front and rear and the cannopad
continued from two morars and howiizar in 'front.' and
mortar established at the crossroads in rear until
ten O'Clock A NJ, when gallant commander received
mortal wound from falling shell. Large mounted On tie.
and infantry were at this time the rear At seven
o'clock one mortar playing upon from the town and
woifom the rear AT ten O'Clock small party of nfan
Try crePt rayne and fired musketr; but being out of
range the ire was not returned Al half past 10 O'Clock
a. NJ several parties OF infantry and mounted men were
seen surrounding u IN the Several rounds of CAMS
ter were fired from Lieutenant BragRs battery which so
dispersed them Several afterwards heard 10 hay.
been killed. Immediately afterw ards and until half
past twelve O'Clock F. NJ, received Continual shower
OF shells from the enemies batteries At two O'Clock five
shells were thrown. At half past four o'clock r. NJ
white hag was shown the old buildings in rear and
pAuey sounded by the enemy Two officers advanced and
were met by two officers Of my command who brouobt me
the document marked \, signed by Gen. Arista allowing
me one hour 10 reply.
TINS document being considered one OF great importance
deemed II necessary conyoke council consisting al ali
the company commanders IN my command aud laid it be-
fore them They unanimously concurred with me in the
reply, copy Of which the accompanying document marx
ed H. Tins document despatched IN the allotted time
and shortly after its reception the enemes' batteries
ed upon us with continual shower Of shots and shells I'M
VI sonse, ne night was passed very quietly, but
slant vigilance exercised IN the commando every man
Kept at ms post as an attack confidently expected in
the morning.
Thursday, May AT half past 5 O'Clock A. NJ. the
enemy's batteries opened with shells and continued for
about hour and half and then ceased Al hall past
seven A NJ several rounds canister grape were fired
into the enemys pckeiguards the houses in rear and
at the old guardhouse Of the second brigade which caused
them 10 abandon their positions This was replied to by
discharge OF some ten twelve shells. At nine O'Clock
A. NJ. we received shower Of some four or five shells
and then stopped About this time the enemy commencsi
hrng IRON shells, having previously thrown composition
shells and It discovered that Of the nortars had
been removed from our and returned the city At
quarter past ten VI. received three shes at eleven
A. NJ eight shells; at twelve NJ. six shells by which
four OF Lieutenant Brsggs horses were killed and the
wheel Of one Of his casons disabled. At half past twelve
the batteries Ied with round shot and shells and
continued for an hour and hall. BY this limo our bomb
proofs were so far advanced that troops were compar
lively protected. Al two o'clock small parties OF infantry
commenced on with random muskery on the bank Of
the Tver and from tho rayine. At half past two T. NJ
regular bombardmeni with shot and shells from hoyze
and the morars, kept up with little nterp,izson mil
sunset. At five O'Clock, during this bombadment sbel
struck IN tent almost entirely destroying the instruments
OF the seventh infantry band the value Of three hundred
dollars The accuracy Of their firing now evidently in
creased. at least oneha the shells thrown fell in the
foi sentinel to-day lost bis by round shot from
the enemy. As soon as dark enough parry head
ed by our interchangeable engineer, Captain Mansfield was
TO level the traverse thrown I'D by General Wo,b
aud cutting down the chapaa which served as cover TO
the sharp shooters Of the enemy At II O'Clock al ngbt
random IRE OF muskety commenced around u.s. follow.
Cd by Two bIEssi his continued for about hour and
from Il. VI. was continued until near daylight
FRipAY, NAY s-Atu quarter past o'clock A N
the enemys batteries again opened with shells from the
lower fort, from the saudbag battery and from our rear
The fire this morning was kept up until o'clock A. NJ
without cesauon party was sent out ths morning and
burnt the old houses the on The river bank
This drew from them several round shout and shells; from
IL % half pat2 T. VI heavy bOmbafdment Of shells was
kept up; least fifty thrown at as during that time Al
half past they again opened their shells upon u.s. accom-
panied by round shot Al this time the enemy had esab-
shcd mortar IN the rdgo Of chspuua across the river
and immediately w5stoi u.s. Moriars woro now paying
upon from the NORTH, SOUTH and west four IN number
The hrng Of round shot kept Up for two hours and
that OF shells until hi past 2. VI. About half past
7. NJ heavy cannonadng heard, supposed to be
little north Of east Of us; It apparently approached until
half past !, when u became very distinct; lasted until
nearly =. NJ This supposed be an action between
our forces and the enemy little before sunset Mexican
came running IN with white fog from the direction Of The
second brigade guard house claiming protection lie stated
that forces bad n contact with those Of the ons
my had driven them back; that he was q prisoner in
charge Of tho picket guards fired by our baeros tho,
while thoy were buying the dead and carrying of the
wounded hc cieIted hs escape. nunnv tho cannunade
this afternoon usm1I column NJ infantry from above, and
one Of cavalry from below, advancing supposed
60 he rciuiufccmcut 10 the enemy The excitement M our
commlnd DUNG this distant canu0nadug intense Du-
ring the day received hundred and fifty q, two
hundred shells, end from seventy five hundred round
shot, and not man disabled During the previous night
the aardsg The flag the outside had become unrRged;
and ~ me hnR had become too intense 60 fe-estabsh
them temporary stsH -rece5 the inside and the
national llg o ihe foyonth Infantry rsised subsuutc
We passed very quiet night-the troops the alert st
| their guns.
Saturday, Way 9.An officer n the seventh succeeded
IN lowering he top mast n the hsg staff and rigging the
hslhards, but found he could raise again without
great labor and exposure he therefore dashed M position
snd raised he national nor, after having stood success
zion Of round shot canister, and shells from me enemy
batteries Tor fifteen NJ twenty minutes. Al 10 O'Clock,
scfgsani and ten fred he houses The road which
had been succes-iyey occupied Oy and the
Lu.l- M IL --u.L 49, L.--L..-.-