Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-02


81 suceessive nights, nor exhibit more patience.
spirit, and gallantry. Not post Of danger
could present itself, but the gallant fellows
were ready 10, fill it. Not sentinel could be
shot, but another was anxious and ready to
take his place Officers aid soldiers WED with
each other To-. be honorcd martyrs. in their
eouniry's cause. This is the general charac
ter the the iraops had the honor 10 com
mand, and | was cintent the crown of victn-
" would perch upon their standard when the
last great effjri should be made. Their b'hd
and determined front deprived them Of VIVA:
they anxiohsly desi ed.
On the 30thult. Gen. Santa Anna had es-
tablshed his battery beating npan San Jose.
and opened witt, much spirit. Having antic-
ipa,ed this lnuvelaent,I iksd ihrowr;,p- a trav
erse on the plaza. ~i,hdra~n a l2-pounder
fro Lnreto. by which ,nea..s 1 was erabled
to answer his shot Towards night his bat
terry ceased. ard on the next m x.,,ng was
Withdrawn. together witlnlr,ln 3.00l 10 1000
Of the besieging force. to meet the reinforce
men,s then daily expected al Pinal
Oh the Cd insran, awaited myseF If some
reduction Of the enemy's numbers Ia make a
s,rtie against certain barracades and buildings.
whose fire had become yerv ANNOYING One
of the expeditions vase fl led TO Ca IT. Small.
oil the LIST Pennsylvania volunteers. Passing
through the walls of al entire square with
flfy men. he gained a position opposite the
b4Tsclde. and ,r we the enemy with great
loss they leaving seventeen dead un The gfs'iind
The bar i ade. consisting Ut $50 bales OF Col
ton. was consumed. In this affair. Capt
Small. and his command. behaved with great
gallantry. and for twenty four hours We're un
ceasing in their labors accomplishing the
object; when sen, Lieut.. Lad!ey, Of the ord
nance corps. to blow upa prominent building.
which WAS done by that excellent officer in
good style; when the entire party was with
drawn. with few wounded.
At the same time. Lieut.. Morgan. Of the
18th regiment. with a detachment OF marines.
and Lien, Merrisld. Of The 18th regiment.
with detachment Of rifles attempted to gain
possession Of certain buildings from "hich We
were receiving most CALLING fir.. Lieut.
Mortified entered The building. Lieut.. Nor
gan was not So f,r,unate. The enemy being
present in great force. directed him To fall
back. with the loss IF one man killed On the
9th instan, Capt. Heron was detached with
his company to take possession OF building.
from which the enemy had been enflading
tie plaza. This he did in a yer. handsome
manner. and to my entire satisfaction, with IN
1y a few men wounded.
Other minor acts Of oallantry and good con
duet were exhibited by Ulcers and men al San
Jose; and from Guadalupe one or two success,
ful snrIips were made upon the enemy. when
engaged in their daily attacks Oh San Jose.
From Lent Col Black. the immediate
commander of San Jose. and his o II ers. have
received the most cordial support. C'l. Black
E,r more than thirty days WIS unlirmg in his
off ,ysc nj o.,1 ,f,f. fptv nf fhHt nj
Officers and men were at their posts night and
day. without regarding the pelling storm; and
cannot say tnn much in praise Of the galan
colonel. his officers and men, beiore and after
the siege.
Lieut.. Laldley. Of The ordnance corps. com
Manded the ~ FOUNDER. the mountain howit
ger. and tonr rocket batteries. 4, the barrIcade.
and there stationed himself night afer night
and as often these batteries were opened
it was with effect. Capt. Ford. commanding
the cavalry. although no opportunity occurred.
in consequence of the limited number Of his
ready. Capt Miller, Of the 4'h artillery. was
particularly successful IN managing Ike IL
pnunder in one of the general attacks, and
showed HIMSELF good officer and skilful arsiI-
ierist.
Major Gwynn. commanding Loreto. alahn'
not attacked, was vioilan,. and his command
was Of great assistance to ME. Several de-
tachments from his post occupied exposed
points. and received heavy fires from the
my-especially de,achmenis under Lent>
Carroll and Moore. ho for f,rty-eighi hours
stood their guard, and were of essential ser
vice TO ,ne.
cannot speak to-, highly of Capt. Kendrick
and his management If his batteries. HIS
shells and shot fell beautifully upon houses
and churches. where the enemy were in great
numbers. Wherever his shot took effect. the
firing soon ceased. The limited number of
these missiles compelled us TO Use them with
great canton. ain much. very much. in
drbted To Capt. Kendrick fur his ig,lanee and |
exertinns before and during the siege. ! will
take this occasion to mention Sergeant Dwell.
Of Company B I'd artillery. as Innst skillfui |
arti1lerist. never saw shot thrown with |
more accuracy than from his gun. |
take great pleasure in speaking of Capt.
Morel.ead. conmandilg Guadalupe. The
place and def.nces were in mos, dilapids'ed
condition. Capt Morehead. with his com
mand. succeeded in placing himself in most |
perfpc, state Of defence. By great and consan,
labor. The enemy several tines fl, him, hut.
finding him always on the alert. made no Sc
rions attack. BY s'uties upon the enemy,
when attacking San Juse. he was of essential
service 10 as. and killed many Of them. I
consider him an excellent and gallant ofi-er.
Lient Edwards. Cd artillery. in charge of the
monntan howirzer. threw his shells with
great accuracy. and commanded successful
sor'ie.
To Capt Rowe. of tho 9th infantry. who |!
commanded the guard of one Of iha hospitals
"a constant paint Of attack both day and night
] am greatly indebted for his able defence Of
that position, and his gallant bearing before
the enemy. |
To Surgeon Mills. chief of the Medical de- !
"a rtment. and 70 his assistants, great praise is /
due FIR their nnweasied and iaborinus services +
Left with | 800 sick. and limited supplies.
with hut six assistants. their utmost exerlions
were necessary 10 administer timely remedies
To 80 many patients. Their attention 10 the )
wounded deserves my notice and ,I'anks.-
These gentlemen were no, oniy occupied in
their professional dniies. but ihe want Of Off
GERS and men compelled me To make large re-