Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-01-06
Correspondence of The DemOCrat.l

CAMP ALLEN, NEAR MONTEREY, n. L.,
November %, 1916.
Dear Jones: The unsettled and irregu-
lar nature and duties of camp life have
so dissipated and deranged my usually
sober and steady habitude of thinking and
acting, as to prevent that regularity in my
correspondence which may have been ex-
peCted by pOrtioa OF your readers
Since my last, however, a great event has
transpired in our exDeriei'se, and in the
annals of our nation, the result and de-
tails of which knew would be commune
Gated to you with more despatch than my
opportunities would allow. Yet notwith-
standing, ere this, every patriot tongue
has sweIled with the accents OF victory,
and every press of the country has echoed
the GLAD news, it would not be il-timod or
ungermain, as it surely would be nothing
but Justice, to give some account Of the
part taken by the Mississippi Rihomen in
that engagement, which is destined TO shed
increased lustre upon our country's arms,
and add other laurels TO her chaplet.
About 9 O'Clock on the morning Of the
DIST September, Gen. Buffers division,
composed of the Ohio, Kentucky, Tennes-
see and Mississippi regiments, were taken
behind, and protected by, gently undu-
laling ridge, to support Capt. Ramsey's
MORTAR which was designed to throw shells
into the principal and strongest fortress OF
the town, ominously called by the b-hoys
"the black Portland the boys are right,
for its name bears not halt so black and
threatening an aspect as the fortlflcatl on
itself. There it stood, frownng bloody
death upon US, its fearful looking cannon
peerng through the gaping embIasures,
which stood facing in from every quarter,
and at any position we might take; its old
black ivy towers standing statue like, as
if reviewing our ranks and pointing out
the path where most havoc might be made
with the death dealing balls Of lis artlle'
Nv: its broad heightened front, its deep
prnve like bitches, and It's draw bridg e,
and portcullis standing bolt upright, as If
defying US to enter--aI conspred 10 give
il a most gloomy and .torbidding appear
ancc. The precise figure, dimensions ant
strength Of this lorllf alton, will leave to
be described by persons better informed
as to these matters than am. Suffice II
10 say that il is well constructed according
to the most approved principles OF engl
ncering. and is regarded as almost lmPreg
nable, It's only defect being the want o
bomb-proof magazines 1t was in the face
and teeth of such "learful Adversary
that we were called upon TO make GU
debut miliaire, but as before stated, W.
were safely ensconced behind gentle un
dulation of ground, sufficient to protec
US in a recumbent position, but rather to-
low whilst erect. Our Rillemen had n
sooner halted, than Captain Ramsey crIe
out in an exceedingly buslness-like an
busting tone to our Colonel" Col. Da
Wis, move your men from that position
1--WE were considerably in the rear OF In
mortar,) or they will all be killed: the
are firing a my mortar, and they have a
ready wounded one of my men, an
*'rhis fort is known as the Ca.hedrs
fort, or Citadel. 1t was originally design
ed for Cathedral, and the pillars and tow
ers which rise above The surrounding blu
wark. blackened by time and the ell,
ments. and oyergrown with grass an
weeds. were part of The original edi6c'
The defences are evidently of recentcol
struction. The fort was defended by 81
or 5000 soldiers, under 1t. Col. Gastr
enc Of the most gallant officers in II
Mex;can arnr.