The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-22

when the firing temporarily ceased in consequence OF the
passage OF white flag to and from the city.
The hrng to-day has evidently been very destructive 10
the city, and several houses have been destroyed by fire
-Four additional platforms for mortars have been
strcted to-day, and will receive, before the morning.
that number OF morars which will be sent night
and will be ready to be opened the city early to-mor
row.
Measures have also been taken to send out To The
trenches TO night full supply OF ammunition. With
fourteen mortars, four 2i-Pound guns, and two snch
howitzers, decided and effective impression must be
made on the city Tomorrow
No accident injury TO any person in the batteries
and trenches has occurred to-day.
have The honor to be- SIR, respectfully, your obeden
servant JAS BANkHEAD,
Colonel Chief of Artillery
Lieut. IL L. Scorr, Acting Adjutant General, Army Head
quarters
ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS,
Camp Washington, March 2s ls47
SIR have already reported to army headquarters
the operations in the trenches and batteries up o'clock
y. IN. OF the 21th instant
On the night of the 2lth another 24pounder and two
S-lnch howtzers were transported from the ordnance
depot to battery No 4, and the 24pounder, and OF
the howzers were placed in battery; the platform for
the other howzer not being finished; and by O'Clock
on the 25th they were ready with the other three "a
FOUNDERS TO open the fire upon the city. The fire from
ton the whole of the day he 25th) with signal effect
and from the opening of this battery al O'Clock,
to O'Clock, p M, the enemy kept up brisk and well
directed fire upon il of shot and Shells many of the
shot passing through the embrasures but fortunately
injury was sustained from them.
The mortar which had been dsmounted was replaced,
and full supply of shells received during the night
All the mortar batteries continued moderate fire during
the night, the fire being limited to in every five
minutes, until early next morning. he 25th,) when the
hrng was increased to about hundred and eighty dis
charges OF shells and shot per hour, and continued to
about or O'Clock the afternoon, when the passage
OF white flag caused cessation OF the firing for
hour or two was again renewed. and continued all
night, and to about O'clock a. M on the 26th when
the firing was stopped from all OF the batteries by order
IRON headquarters in consequence OF offer of the
thorhes OF the city to capituate
During the Goth platforms Tor four additional mortars
were construced and that number OF moars placed
IN battery which increased the number of mortars in
battery to fourteen The troops remained inactive du
ring this day, the weather being too empesuous
to repair the damage made by the high wind
On the 9th, the men were employed in removing the
sand from the trenches which had been nearly filled up
by the moving OF thy the wind.
The engineers constructed this day three more plat
forms for morars, and the morars being moved out
IN the afternoon, when they were ordered back to the
ordnance depot, as being then unnecessary.
This day, the 2sh the arllerists still in position
at the batteries and everything in perfect readiness for
any service that can be required there.
estimate the number of shot and shells discharged
from the batteries at about two thousand five hundred,
but have not yet received an official report from the chief
OF ordnance of the exact number used.
Having had the honor to be entrusted with the COM
mand and having been almost continually in the trenches,
from the 22d instant, when the batteries opened
upon the city, to late hour yesterday AFTERNOONS when
hostes ceased, and having had arduous duties to per-
FORM have to acknowledge the able support have
received from the officers of every department of the
vice; from the artillery officers for their cheerful and
skllful management OF the guns in the baeries from
the active chief OF ordnance Capt Huger, and other
officers of ordnance, for their most efficient aid from the
officers of the quarermasers department, particularly
Captain Cross, and Captain Irwn for their promptness
in forwarding the ordnance and supplies TO the batteries
and have witnessed with much admiration the high
professional intelligence and untrng exerton of the
81 neer officers on duty in the trenches.
should not omit to mention that two young officers OF
the corps OF typographical engineers Leutenants Derby
and Hardcaste volunteered to serve in the trenches and
did well and gallantry for twenty -four hours.
My adjutant, Lieutenant Nichols, was always in at
tendance with me, and prompt and active in every duty
required of him.
have the honor to be respectfully your obedient SER
want, JAS. BANKHEAD,
Colonel and Chief of Artillery.
Lieut.. H. L. Scorr, A. A. A. G. Army Headquarters
HEADQUARTERS, REGIMENT Mp. RIFLEMEN,
Camp at Vergara, March 81, ls47.
Yesterday number of Mexcans reported to have
been up the Puebla road and to-day, after dinner
detached Lieut. Roberts with his company CO to proceed
that direction, and crossing towards the to return
by the beach About % miles from this the Puente
del Medic, he discovered six men, who displayed white
flag and invited him 10 approach Surprising they would
surrender discovering his force, he met them the
bridge but found they had the expectation from
him; and discovered that they several hundred
strong on the ridge which commanded the bridge on the
opposite side. Uncertain what was his strength, they
permitted him to withdraw under OF the height
this side while they still displayed the white flag from
which position he sent information to camp OF what had
occurred By the generals direction marched to his sup
port with about 200 On approaching the place, we
advanced to reconnotre, when the enemy opened fire
of musketry from large body, stationed either side of
the road the hill rising from the farther end of the
Puente del Medic, handsome stone structure thrown
across small stream of fresh water running into the
river Antigua The bridge barrcaded with abatts,
and entertainments thrown up the heights.
directed Lieut. Roberts to display in the chaPparal
to our right, and crossing below, to turn their left
while Capt Pope, with two companies, crossed above
and turning their left. advancing the remainder by the
road and bridge.
Lieut. Roberts having before been over the ground,
reached their left FIRST and drove them with great spirit
from their position
We pursued them about mile, when sunset induced
me to halt, and recalling the skmishers, returned to
camp about seven o'clock. We had four men severely
wounded hope not dangerously--two sergeants and
We found three dead Mexcans in the pursuits but the
contest having been in the bushes, others may have
escaped notice. An officer wounded supposed
MORALLY passed in the pursuit, but on our return
the place could not be found.
have great satisfaction in speaking of the prompti-
tude and spirit evinced by the whole command but the
activity and galany evnced by Lieut. Roberts and the
two subalerns serving with him on this occasion-Bvt
I'd Lieutenants Maury and Hatch-deserve particular
tice.
We took four muskes and many cartridges.
The enemy were estimated to be two hundred and
fifty men, and supposed to be an advanced party OF force
of some strength, collecting between and the Puente
PERSIFER +. SMITH, Colonel.
Lieut. w. T H. Brooke, A. A. A. Gen. I'd Brig
CAMP WASHINGTON, BEFORE VERA CRuz,
March %, 1s47.
SIR Before leaving camp with the dispatches in
which you inform the President of the United States of
the brilliant which has attended your attack upon
this city and the castle of San Juan de UlIoa, seize