Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-09

Brooks and Lieut.. S. S. Anderson, 81
artillery, alternately, and the latter by
Lieut.. Stone, ordnance. The batter
les were traced by Capt. Hnga', and
Capt. Lee, engineer, and constructed
by them, with the able assistance Of
the young officers of those corps and
the artillery. g a..[,q,
TO prepare for an assault, it was
foreseen That the play of the batteries
might run into the second day; but re-
cent captures had not only ,r+b!ed our
siege pieces, snt also our ammunition;
and we knew that we should greatly
augment both, by carrying the place.
| was, therefore: in no haste in order
ing an assault before The works were
well crippled by our missiles.
The bombardment and cannonade,
under the direction of Capt. Huger,
were commenced early in the morning
of the 12'h. Before nlghtfall, which
necessarily stopped our batteries, we
had perceived that a good impression
had been made on the castle and its
outworks, and that large body of the
enemy had remained outside, towards
the city, from an early hour, q avoid
the FIRE, and to be at hand On its cessa-
ton, in order TO reinforce The garrison
against an assault. The same outside
force was discovered the next morn
ing, after our batteries had respcned
upon the castle, by which we again re-
duced its garrison to the minimum
needed for the guns.
Pillow and Qutman had been in po-
sitron since early in the night Of the
18th. Major General Worth was now
ordered TO hold his division,in reserve,
near the foundry, to support Pillow;
and Brigadier General Smith, Of
Twiggs' division, had just arrived
with his brigade from P'edad, z miles
to supper, Quitman. Twiggs' guns,
before the southern gates, again re-
minded US, as the day before, tina, he,
with Riley's brigade and Taylor's and
Stepioe's batteries, was in activity,
threatening the southern gates, and
there ho|disg great part Of the Mex
lean army on the defensive.
The signal had appointed for the
attack was the momentary cessation of
fire on the part of our heavy batteries,
Aoout 8 o'clock in the morning of the
18th, Judging that the time had arriv-
ed, by the effec, ofthe missiles we had
thrown, sent an aid-de-camp to Pill
low, and another TO Quit,nan, with no.
tiee that the concerted signal was about
to be given. Both columns now adj
vanced with an alacri:y that gave as
surance Of prompt success. The bat
teries, sizing opportunities, threw
shots and shells upon the enemy over
the heads Of our men, with good effect,
particularly at every attempt TO rein
force the works from without to meet
our assault. t"N
MAJOR General Pillows approach,
oni,he west side, lay through an open
grove, filed with sharp shooters, who
were speedily disloged; when, being
up with The front of the attack, and e.
merging into open space, at the foot Of
a rocky activity, that gallant leader
was struck down by an agonizing
wound. The immediate command de-
vo!ved on Brigadier General Caelwal-
adler, in the absence of the senior brig
adler { PIERCE of the same division
an invalid since the events of Aug: 49,.
On a previous call of Pillow, Worth
had just sent him reinforcement
Col. Clark's brigade
The broken ACTIVITY was still TO be
assembled, and a strong redoubt, mid
way, to be carried, before reaching the
castle on the heights. The advance
of our brave men, led by brave officers,
though necessarily slow, was unwaver-
ing, over rocks, chasms, and mines,
and under the hottest fire Of cannon
and musketry. The redoubt now
yielded to resistless valor, and the
SuOutS tIIdt IOIIONcO dIuOuICSN w VIC
castle the fate that impended. The
enemy were steadily driven from shell
ter to shelter. The retreat allowed not
time 10 fire single mine, without the
certainty of blowing up friend and foe.
Those who at distance attempted TO
apply matches TO the long trains, were
shot down by our men. There was
death below, as we'll as above ground.
AT length the ditch and wall Of the
main work were reached; the scaling
ladders were brought up and planted
by The storming parties; some Of the
daring spirits first in the assault were
cast down--killed or wounded; but a
Judgment was soon made; streams Of
heroes followed; all opposition was
overcome, and several Of our regiment.
al co.ors flung out from the upper
Il Ch