Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-15

b.vouacked almost within range Of the guns
stationed upon the highest point OF the hill, on
which the Bishops Palace is situated
Al daylight on the 2lst, the column was
again in motion, and in a few moments was
turning the point of ridge which protrudcd
out toward the enen,y's guns, bringing us as
near them as their gunners could desire
They immediately opened upon the column
with howitzer and twelve pounder, hring tne
shell and round shot fast as they could ds'
charge their pieces. The road now wouhd III
toward a gorge, but not far enough to be Out
of range Of their runs, which still played upon
us. Another ridge lay about three tourths OF
a mile beyond the first.
When the head of the column approached
the ridge a body Of Mexican cavalry came
dashing around the point to charge upon oul
advance. Capt. Gillispie immediately ordered
his men To dismount and place themselves IN
ambush The enemy evidently did not per-
ceiye this manGuvre, but the moment they
came up, the Texans opened on them a most
effective fire, unsaddling number Of them.
The Texan horsemen were soon engaged
with them, in sort of hand to hand sk,rmish
N which a number Of the enemy fell, and one
Texan was killed and two wounded. Col
Duncan now opened upon them with his bat
# grape among them, and scattering them
like chaif. Several me and horse fell under
this destructive fire.
The light batteries, one Of which Is COM
nandcd by Lieut.. Mackall, were now drawn
up, on the slope of the ridge, and the howit-
zers opened upon the height of Palace Hill
A few shells only were thrown, before the
enemy commenced firing with nine FOUNDER
from the height immediately over the right OF
the lnmnyaiming at Duncans batteries.
Finding his batteries thus exposed, and un.
able to effect any thing, Col. Duncan removed
his command 20 rancho about half mile fur
,her up the Saltllo road where Gen. Wcrth
took up his position, after ordering the foot
regiments TO form along the fence, near the
point of the ridge. The balls fell directly in
heir midst oil this time without wounding d
man.
A. half past 10 the column moved toward
the generals position. At this time, Capt
McKavett, Of the 9Th infantry, was shot
through the heart by nine pound ball, and a
private of the 5th infantry was so severely
wounded in the thigh that he died the next
morning.
The division deployed into the position.
pointed out, and remained an hour or two,
when Capt G.. +. Smith, of the artillery bat
talon, with two companies (his own and Capt
Scott's) and four companies Texan rangers on
foot, were ordered to storm the second height
This the gallant officer cheeriully undertook
and was followed with enthusiasm by the Off
GERS and men of his command. IL was con-
sidercd on all sides to be dangerous under
taking, and this party was considered most
Iemphatcally forlorn hope.
The distance to be clmed after reaching the
foot of the hill, was about quarter ofa mile !;
a part of the way was almost perpendicular
and through thorn bushes Il over sharp point
ed rocks and loose sliding stones.
The 9TH infantry, commanded by Capt
Miles, was ordered to support Capt. Smith s
party, and, by marching directly to the foot OF
the height. arrived before Capt. Smith, who
had been ordered to take n circutous route
Capt. Niles sent up Lieut. CAN'T, with de-
tachment of men, upon the hill side, to divert
the attention of the encmy'from Capt Smith !
command, which could not yet be seen. The
9TH had already sustained Il heavy fire of grape
and round shot, as they forded the San Juan
which winds around the foot of the height.
| Lieut.. CAN'T S party were greeted with grape
and round shot, which cut the shrubs and tore
up the loose stones in the ranks without kill
| my any one /; but the gallant young officer
came within an inch of being killed by a can.
non ball, which raked down the steep an,
filed his face with fragments of rock, dust ant
gravel.
This fire was accompanied by a constan
II l.sc harge Of musketry, the enemy GOVERN:
the upper part of the hill side, but the detach
ncnt continucdto move up, driving the Mcxi
cans back, until they were recalled. Capt
Smiths party now arrived and moved up thu
hill, the rangers in advance, and did not hal
for an instant until the Mcxcans were driver
| from the summit.
| While this was going Oh, Col. Persifor F
Smith, who commanded the 9th and 9TH in
,antry, gave orders for these commands t.
pass around on each side and storm the for
which was situated about half "A mile back o
he summit on the same ridge and command
I'd Bishops Palace.
Capt. Smith had the gun which he too
upon the height run down toward the breas
works and fired into it. Then came Col. 7. +
Smiths men, with Il perfect rush, firing an
II chcering--the 9TH and 9TH and LouisianaI
H reaching the ridge above nearly ut the sam
time. The Mexicans fired at them with crap
but II did not save them or cause an instant
| hesitation in our ranks
H Our men run and fired, and cheered, un,
they reached the work, the foremost enterin
ut one end, whilst the Mexicans, about 100
| in number, left the other in retreat. The Co
ors Of the 9th Infantry were instantly raised
and scarcely were they up before those Of tn
| 9TH were along side
II In less than five minutes the gun found i
the fort was laundering away at the Bishop
| Palace More ammunition was found tina
our troops will use with the three guns thu
were captured. One of the guns was foun
concealed. They were nine pound bras
pieces.
Il BIsWoP's PALACE, Monterey, Sept. "a, 1916
4 On the morning Of the 2lst, Col. Childs,
the artillery battalion, with three of his con
| panies-one commanded by Capt. Vintol
mother by Capt. J. b. Scott, and the third b
Lieut.. Ayres, and three companies of the u
Infantry-commanded by Lieut.. Longstre
and Lieut. Wainright Lieut.. Holloway, ar
Lieut.. Merchant Capt. Scrivner and Lieu
Montgomery-w ordered to take the sun
nit of Palace Hill.
II The Colonel left camp at o'clock, A. \
md climbed the mountain through the chapa
rel and up the steep rocks, with such secret
II hat at day break he was within one hundr,
Yards of the breast work Of sand bags befo
he was discovered. The Mexicans pour,
their musketry into them, but they rushed ,
the preci pice and soon had the place.
H Three of the artillery men, having rush'
ahead too fast, found themselves in the han
II f the Nexicans. They surrendered Il
Mcxicans took their muskets and shot the