Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-10-16
heir munitions Of war behind. with all their

60 days, OF until each party can hear from its
government. Ampudia kept Gen.
TAYLOR until nearly midnight last night pre-
pairing terms, etc. Many persons, particular
" the Texan volunteers who fought SO BRAY
Iy. are dspleased at these terms. The town
was all but in our hands, and could. they be-
Iieved have been taken in three hours. be-
Iieve that it would have required much more.
hard fiohting to have taken it, but this was
not the question with Gen. Taylor. He and
all his officers knew perfectly well, of course,
that the town could soon be taken. but he
wanted no prisoners to take up his time & eat
ont his subsistence, but he did have an object
in view hich will be reached by the terms
of this capitalization, and that object will lead
to a result most beneficial to our Government,
under whose advice or order Gen. Taylor ac-
ted in agreeing to these terms. AS have a
few moments to spare before the express goes
out this morning (he was detained last night
by the slow progress of business with Ampu-
dia) | will speak Of the operations OF Gen.
Taylor on his side of the town.
Major Mansfield, Of the Engineers, recon-
noitred the enemy's works on the night ofthe
18th, but could obtain no very accurate infor-
nation, although he approached very near to
some Of them on the heights. On the 20lh,
Lieut.. Scarvtt and Lieut.. Pope were sent out
10 reconnoilre the works, Scarritt on the right
and Pope on the left Of the town. The latter
approached and discovered the position of
battery on the extreme left, and was exposed
to fire of cannon and musketry from Lancers.
from which, after finishing his observations,
he retired in safety. On the night OF thu 2Olh
the mortar and howitzer batteries Were placed
in position to play on the strong holds a.
round the citadel. The action commenced on
the morning of the 21st, by the opening Of
these two batteries. Col. Galand's Brigade
were ordered to move to the left for the pur-
pose of storn1ng the battery discovered by
Liet Pope the day before, and to occupy, if
possible, the lower part of the city. Major
Mansfield, Capt. Williams and Lieut.. Pope
were ordered in advance to select the most a.
valuable point of attack. and to direct the
movements of the column upon it. Three
companies were thrown forward as skirmish-
ers and advanced rapldly towards the works,
followed bv the Brigade in line Of battle, I'M
der cross fire of artillery. The column
charged into street about 200 Yards to the
right of the battery, passed the works entirely,
and effected an entrance into the tower. At
ter advancing rapidly about 400 yards beyond
the battery, they came Immediately in front OF
a masked battery of artillery and musketry,
which swept the street completely by its
range. The barrcades Of the streets at sixty
yards distance from the head of the column,
was lined, with Mexican troops. who were en-
tlrely covered themselves. opened a murder
Gus discharge OF grape and musketry upon the
advancing column. Every house in the street
was pierced for mnsketry and enfiIated the
street in every direction.
Under this fire the following officers killed
or MORALLY wounded: Major Barber. Sd Infantry
by grape shot in the abdomen Capt. ilIiams
typographical Engineer, shot through the body by
musket ball, fell in the street and dragged in
to the doorway of house by Lieut.. Pope, amidst
a shower of balls that covered him with dust
The ga antry of this young Officer, now IN his
first battle is spoken of in admiration by the army
Capt. Williams died the next day and was buried
with the honors of war by the Mexican troops into
whose hands he had fallen. Lieut. Mcrrett Isl
infantry shot through the body, died the next day
Wounded-N1aior Mansfield. ball through calf
OF the leg. This brave officer would not leave on
account of his wound, but rode about, behaving in
the most gallant manner all day. Capt. Balm
bridge Sd Infantry, slightly wounded in the hand.
Major Lear, dangerously wounded in the mouth,
the ball passing out at the hack of his head. Ma
joz AbercombIe, lst Infantry, severely wounded
Lieut. R. Graham 4th Infantry, severely wounded
in both legs and body; hopes entertained of
his recovery. A great number of men killed and
wounded -number not known.
1t being impossible, in the pinion of the Engi-
neer Officers to effect any thing in attacking the
| barbados in 'front.' the column moved rapidly up
street to the right, with the intention of turning
them. Being reinforced by the Ohio regiment, a
second charge was made, under the direction OF
Gen. Butler, which, owing to the tremendous fire
of musketry and grape from the barricades and
stone houses, likewise proved Intellectual. The
troops were then ordered, by General Ia lor, to
retire in good order and get under cover from the
enemys fire, which order was handsomely execu-
ted.
The following officers were killed or MORALLY
wounded (snce died) in the second charge: Col
Watson, of the Baltimore Battaliol Capt l..
Morris, Sd Infantry; Lieut.. D. Irwin, Sd Infantry
Lieut.. r. Hazitt, 4th Infantry. Three officers
were killed in first charge which did not include
in that list, VIZ Lieut.. Hoskens, Sd Infantry
Lieut.. J. S. Woods, 4th Infantry Capt. Field, &c
Infantry.]
Wounded.--Major General Butler, slightly
through calf of the leg; Col. Mitchell, in the leg
Capt Lamonte, lst Infantry, slightly; Lieut. Dill
worth lst Infantry, leg shot off.
During the engagement in town, of Garland
Brigade, the forts that were passed. on the left
entering the town, CALAMITY carried by tn
Tennessee and Mississippi regiments-the frs
commanded by Col. Campbell, and the second b,
Col. Davis. Lieut.. Col. McClung, of the Missis
slppl Regiment, was dangerously wounded. Thes
Regiments sustained great loss, of killed an
wounded but cannot In the short time left me
ascertain the names or number of those who fel
Capt. Bragg's battery of Lig Artillery was bro
into action, hut as it impossible to it effec
lively, it was withdrawn. Several pieces of art
ery were captured. The forts that take
were occupied by Ridgely's Light Artillery con
pany, who turned the captured pieces against tn
Mexican works and the cannonade was kept u
the rest of the day. There were many skirmishe
and gallant deeds, ETC., ETC., which will mentio
at future time.
On the night of the 22d, the enemy abar
doned the two works which had proved so de
structve to the Sd and 18th Infantry, and the
were occupied early next morning by the Mis-
sisSlppi md Tennessee regiments, under Ger
Quitman. About O'Clock, same morning
: these two regiments advanced on the towr
and sharp engagement commenced I'hes
: Rangers were supported by body of Texa
Rangers, (dismounted 70. the occasion,) III
der Gen. Henderson, and by the Sd regimen
of Infantry. The fight was kept up until 4 O
clock, P. NJ. during which time our troop
drove the enemy from house to house, almo
to the main plaza. The loss of life on our sid
! was not severe dur;ng this day. On the morn
ing of the 9th, a flag of truce was sent il
which resulted in The capitnlation Of the towI
81 Iolo s mt IL