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

'racled, closely followed by Duncan
light artillery. end battalion, heads o
columns, on turning an angle OF The
mountain, etc hacienda called San Je
ronimo, came upon strong lorce o.
cavalry and infantry, mostly the former
A conflict Immediately ensued. The
ITexans received the heavy charge o
cavalry with their unerring rifles, snf
usual gallantry; lhe light companies o
pened a rapid and we'll directed fire
IDuncsnan's battery was in action in one
minute, [pronp,ly supported by sec
lion OF Mscksll's, ] delivering its fie O.
yer the heads Of our men. Ere the
close Of The combat, whick lasted buI
fifteen minutes, The frs, brigade had
formed 10 The front, on The right and
left, and delivered its FIRE. The second
brigade was held in reverse, the ground
not admitting Of its deploymeni.
The enemy retired in disorder, Tiesv.
ing on the ground one hundred killed
and wounded, among the former, Don
Juan N Naj,rs, Colonel Of the perma-
npn, regiment Of laprsrs, Upon the Sal.
lilo road, and was closely pursued IN
I'll we go, possession Of the gorge, where
all the debouches from Monterey unite,
whereby The force just defeated, as also
and supplies from that
direction were excluded from entering
the city. 4, this important point the
division was halted, and attention d.
rec,ed toward ,he mountsin forts which
Envelope the city on its wes'ern and
faces Soon discovering,
tina. our position brough, us
within effective range OF the batteries,
The troops were advanced some eigh'
hundred yards further on The Salullo
road.
The examination, thus far, had man
llested, besides the importance Of tn
positions, The impraclicabIi,y Of any eI-
fecive operations against The city, nnH'
possessed OF The exterior foits and bat
leries. Independent. however, OF uIIe
ior obiecls, The occupation Of thest
heights became indispensable 10 the res
,ora,ion of orr line Of communic4'ior
with head quarters, necessarily sbao
doned for the moment, in order 10 Sc
cure the gorges of The Sal'illo road. A
l2, NJ. "a force was detached unde'Cap',
C. f. Smith, with orders 10 storm the bat
ter,es on the crest Of the lesres, hill cal
led Federation, end after taking thai 20
carry The fort called Soldsda, on the
ridge Of the same height, retired about
600 yard.
The two effec,ually guardedthe slopes
aud roads in either valley, and conse'
queu,ly The approaches 10 the city. This
consisted Of four companies
TX Cd, b Sd and G end Hath artillery.
of the artillery battalion, ard Green
McGowsn's r. A. GilIespie's Chand
lers, Balowe's and M'CulIoch's com
psnies Of Texan RAemen, under Majo'
|Chevaler, acting in co operation 10 al
about three hundred effective. 1t wa
10 mask The movement OF ,b'
s,orming party. % approaching 'h'
base of the mounlain, the guns Of boil
batteries opened plung'og fire, on
Numerous light troops were seen de
scending and arranging ,hemse elues
favorable points on The slopes PeTce'V
Iine these indications Of determined re
lsis,ance, Capt Miles was detached viii
the 7h to support g. co operate with tn
l6rs, party. ln 2 shor, time the fire be
lcams general, the enemy gradual
.lyieIding and retiring up The rugged al
loliyily. and our men as steadily puTs'
ling. The appearance OF heavy re''
, Irorcemen,s on tho summit, and The CO
r Idinal importance Of The operation d
; manding further support, the o'h' nnd'
s Major Scott, and Blauchard's compan