Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-04-28
VOL. Vino. Al.

competedo on Wednesday, the oath instant, our guns
! were unmasked and the chappora cleared away so
as to bring us view of the strong holds to be bat
tered down. As soon as the enemy obtained sight
OF our nice little arrangement, he opened trenen-
dous and well-diTected fire upon it, and then our
men returned the favor with unmitigated pleasure,
and up TO the meridian that day the firing was in.
cessant on both sides. About that time the amuni-
ton OF our little party gave out, and consequently
they rested from their labors within their trenches
until relieved by other divisions from the different
vessels of the squadron. Along with the relieving
party, as aud to the commading officer, was your
TREND who greets you as above Arrived at the
field OF action, with abundance of solid shot and
shells, our commander would have opened immedi-
aely, but the officer of Engineers requested that he
would suspend the firing of his battery until he
could repair the breaches which had been made in
the buIWark by the cannon shot. This could be
done most eiiectuay during the night; and there
fore 1t was determined to put off the commence
mentof hostilities until day light next morning.
Stretched on the barren sand dosed away the
night, watching the magnificent appearance of the
bomb Shells as they circumrotated through the
ambient space until the chill air of morning gave
us warning that day dawning; then / hove out
and proceeded to the Captains tent, He was al
ready the ramparts OF the buwark, and the Off
GERS, seamen and marines soon gathered round
their guns. The MeXcans opened the fire upon
us by delivering a superb discharge of round shot
WhchJust grazed our parapet bags We immedi-
ately returned the favor, and the fire became general
on both sides, and continued with unremited vigi-
lance for two hours-and | never heard tell of a
more beautiful display of artillery operations than
there participated IN.
Between and \, NJ. it became necessary that
we should cease firing to let our Paixhans cool and
go to breakfast. Our Captain invited us to his
quarters and in taking our porter she'll fell and
burst alongside the canvass throwing the dirty sand
all over us. | was detailed to return on board ship
for more Shells and ran greater risk of losing nv
allotted time here below in carrying the message
than II | had remained at the guns. While on my
return the enemy was making his last expiring eff
fort, throwing constant stream Of she'll and shot
right into our little fort and with such exactness
that the sand and gravel was flying over us in one
continual shower; and if it had not been that
bulwark of sand bags was superiority constructed,
many of us would have been lying on Sacrifcios
AS it was, but few killed and wounded; but
in the course of the day made breach in the
walls silenced the batteries, unshipped the guns
and drove the AleXicans from their forts and then
mounted the ramparts, and gave them three cheers.
From day-break up to p. NJ. we had expended
upon them between six and seven hundred PaiX
han shells and solid shot.
THE NAVY.
AS soon as Com Perry perceived the land forces
engaged he ordered Capt. Tattnall, with what is
called the Mosquito Fleet, consisting of the stea
Spit(re and Vixen, andfye gun boats to attack.
Capt I. inquired at what point he should engagea
Com. Perry very emphaticay replied 'Wherey-
er you can do the most execution SIR According
II the little feet took position under point OF land
known as the liIneliln, about mile from the city
where they were protected from point blank shot
OF the castle. AS soon as they got their position
in line they opened fire Of round shot and she'll at
a rapid rate, and threw them handsomely into the
town and Fort Santiago
The castle soon paid It's respects to Capr. Iatnal
and the powerful engines OF havoc and destruction
were now in full blast from every quarter, hurting
their dreadful and deadly missiles into each others
ranks in rapid succession, which they kept up UNI
til dark, when the Mexican batteries comparatively
ceased and the Musquto Fleet held off for the
night
At eight o'clock the party that were in the tren-
ches relieved by another detail. The troops
who returned from the entertainment were literally
covered with smoke and dust, and SO much disig
ured that they coudnot be recognized except by
their voices. Shell after she'll exploded in their
midst, and shot after shot threw barrels of earth
from the entertainments over their heads as they lay
in the trenches. Their escape seems to have been
miraculous, indeed and every person is surprised
that at least half of their number was not
slain.
But here allow me to relate an incident that oc-
CURED during the heaviest of the fret is an evil
dencc of the GOODNESS of the American soldier in
time of the greatest danger, and at the same time
illustrates the ruling passion OF small portion OF
the army, which amounts 10 mania IN some IN
stances brought on, doubt by having to much
spare time, and no means whcreWlth to convert II
into usefulness. A small party who had beenly-
ing in the trenches all day, becoming tired otdolng
nothing as they said, were devising some means Of
passing away their time. at length one OF them.
proposed a game OF cards, and hauled out an old
greasy pack and some half a dozen of them sat
down in the ditch to play, with nothing but tobac-
co for stakes They became much interested, and
it was not long before they forgot all about cannon
bomb-sheIIs Mexican batteries or anything else but
their tobacco and cards. 1t was not long, however
before Is inch shell, fell the top OF the en-
bankmcnt the explosion completely covered them
with earth they all scrambled out as quick as they
could and shaking the sand from their clothing and
cleaning it out OF their eyes, one of them very cool
ly remarked. stHi, boys, be damed If that did
Mt come mighty near being ten strikeP'
COL. HARNEY'S DRAGON FIGHT
Information was received in camp this morning
that a body OF Mexcans were hanging on our rear,
intending to force the lines If possible and make
their way into the city with number OF cattle
Col. Harvey with one hundred and twenty dra-
goons was ordered out in search OF them and to re-
port his observations He discovered them, about
two thousand in number, entrenched at BRIDGE
and supported by pieces Of artillery three miles
from Gen Pattersons head quarters Col. Harvey
started on his return intending to prepare properly
and attack them the next morning. But the gallant
old soldier knowing that delays are dangerous,
could not bear the idea of leaving the enemy after
having come in sight of them without having
brush. Accordingly he returnedto the place, took