Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-05

SEES and barbados thrown up In every street.
.sO1r side or wing Of the army has had
some hard fighting, and our loss has been We
ry great. They had a very strong work on
this side, the South East, built of earth, stone
and sand bags, containing twelve, nine, q
six FOUNDER and an old fashioned thirty two
pound howiizer, with large musketry force,
This work was hanked by stone house ar
ranged with loop holes and fiat roof with a
parapet for men to lie behind. Both of these
were again flanked by another redoubt about
800 yards distant, heavily armed with cannon,
infantry with escopets and fine English mus
kets. The first works were carried ,butattend-
ed with great. very great loss; for independ-
emily Of all those, there was cross fire from a
very strong castle about 1000 yards distant,
with shells and IL pound shot.
"We had been attached 10 the dragons, and
as they could do nothing in this kind OF work
we have had but little chance. However when
our troops moved down, RIDGELY rode up TO
Gen. TAYLOR and volunteered to move with
two pieces to see what could be done, as all OF
us were ignorant ofthe ground. He cheerful
w granted if TwrGGs consented. We
moved forward at dashing gallop, with only
two pieces, leaving caisSons behind; when
within 400 yards they turned their whole fire
upon us. II was terrific. We however gave
them three or four rounds, but discovering the
strength Of the work, and perceiving we should
be mlfiiilated in thirty minutes, retired, hav-
ing had two men and three horses wounded.
| verify believe two more rounds, as they then
would have had the exact range, would have
Knocked US all over. The Third and Fourth
Infantry and the Baltimore battalion threaten
ed the right and the Mississippi and Tenn.
volunteers attacked and carried 1t on the left.
Poor WATSON was shot dead through the neck.
about seventy yards from the work leading his
men on. The Third Infantry went into the
engagement with twelve officers; FIVE were
killed, one MORALLY and one slightly wounded
Judge Of the fire.
s.5hortly after these were carried Gen. TAY
LoR told RIDGELY TO take two pieces and move
on an open plain not over $50 yards from the
third fort mentioned and silence it. r. told
him he though it too strong for our pieces to
affect it in the least, and asked him if il had
been reconnoitred. He said no, and proposed
it should be done. RIpGELY dashed off half
speed, and perceIying it was very strong, re-
turned and reported. God only knows how
he escaped. rs there was a continuous haze
of muskery fred at him until he returned, and
yet neither himself nor his horse was touched.
We tuen turned their own guns on them and
served a twelve FOUNDER until the ammunition
was expended. We were then despatched with
two pieces 10 sweep street strongly defended
with cannon and musketry.
ave had ON the twenty third a severe street
fight, the Mississippi volunteers all with rifles,
some Of the Tennesseeans and Texans on
our side, against some 5000 Mexicans whom
AMpUpn had collected in the plaza. They
evacuated and carried off the cannon from the
third fort on the night of the 22nd. We took
possession on the 23d and Gen.-brought
on this street fight, greatly to Gen. TAYLOR
disgust; but he had TO support him. BRAGG
was sent in with his battery and got badly
used, as he also was on the 2lst"