Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-31

now conceded by every officer. At
half past len the column moved to-
wards the Generals position. At
this time COL. McKavet, Of the Sth in
fantry, was shot through the heart by
a nine pound ball, and private of the
5th infantry was so severely wounded
in the thigh that he died the mex,
morning About fifty Mexicans now
appeared upon the hill side, over the
moving column, and fred at our troops
some hundred musket shots, without
doing any harm. The division de.
ployed into the position pointed out,
and remained an hour or to. when
Capt. C. F. Smith, of the artillery bat
talon, with two companies, This own
and Capt Scott's) and four companies
of Texas Rangers on foot, were order
ed to storm the second height! This
the gallant officer cheerfully under
took, and was followed with enthusi-
asm by the officers and men under his
command. 1t was considered on all
sides to be a most dangerous undcrta-
king, and bis party was considered
most emphatically the forlorn hope
That the height would be taken TO one
doubted; but that many brave fellows
would fall appeared inevitable. The
distance to climbed. after reaching the
foot of the hill, was about a quarter OF
a mile; part of the way was almost
perpendicular. and through thorn
bushes and sharp pointed rocks, and
smooth sliding stones.
The 7th infantry commanded by
Captain Mills, was ordered to support
Captain Smiths party. and by march
ing directly TO the foot OF the height,
arrived before Captain Smith, who had
been ordered to take circuitous
route. Captain Miles sent up Lieut..
Gnstt with detachment OF men, on
The hill side, to divert the attention of
the enemy from Capt. Smiths com.
mand, which could not yet be scen.-
The 7th infantry had already sustain
ed heavy fire of round grape shot,
as they forded the San Juan, which
winds round the foot of the height,
which fell among their ranks without
killing a man. Lieut. Gnatt's party
were greeted with grape and round
shot, and that gallant officer had a
narrow escape from cannon ball,
which raked down the steep. The
fire was accompanied by a constant
discharge of musketry. the enemy
covering the upper part fthe Hill side,
but the detachment continued 10 move
up, driving the Mexicans back, until
they were recalled. Captain Smiths
party now arrived and moved up the
hill, and did not halt for moment un-
/ Ill the Mcxicans were driven from the
summit. While this was going on,
Col. p. f. Smith, with the 5th and 18th
infantry-the 5th with Blnnchard's
Louisiana boys, under Major Martin
Scott. had been ordered up to support
the whole-gave orders for the COM
mand to pass around on each side and
storm the fort, situated about hall "A
mile back of the summit on the same
ridge. and commanded the Bishops
Palace.
Such foot race as now ensued has
seldom, if ever been seen; the Louisi.
ana BOYS making the talest kind Of
strides TO be with the foremost. Capt
Smith had the gun which he took up
on Tie height, run down towards the
breastworKs and fired into it. Then
came Col. Smiths men. with perfect
rush, firing aud cheerng-thc 5th. 7th
and Louisian ans reaching the ridge
about nearly the same time. The
Mexicans fired at them with grape,
but il did not save them. or cause a
minutes hesitation in our ranks. Our
men run. fired and checrcd, until they
reached the work; the foremost enter
ing at one end. and Mexicans. about
.OS0 in number, left the other in re-
treat. The colors of the 5th infantry
were instantly raised. and scarcely
were they up. before those Of the TN
were along side. The three command,
entered The fort together, so close was
the race-the 5th however getting an
advance in first. ]. w. Miller, Of
Blsnchard's company was among the
first four or five who entered. The
three commanders may be said TO have
come out even in the race, for the 7ih
was not five seconds behind. In less
than five minutes. the guns found in
the fort were laundering away at the
Bishops Pslacel More ammunition
was found than our troops will use
with the three guns captured. One Of