Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-02
Hon. WIZ. L. MaRcr. Sec'y of War.
REPORT OF COLONEL CHrlDs.

REPORT OF COLONEL CHrIDs.
Sir: have the honor to report, that, alter
twenty eight days close investment, the en-.
envy yesterday raised the siege, and left fer
Atxco.
l will avail myself of this opportunity Ia
submit to the General i,-chief brief "a.
count of the operations of The troops at this
point, from the period Of my assuming COM.
diand to the Termination of the Siege, and the
arrival of Brgader General Lane with reia.
forcements.
On entering upon duties as civil and militia.
,ry governor, found myself in Command Of
Captain Ford's company of cavalry, as stronst
Captains Hendricks and Mller's company OF
artillery numbering 100; together with six
commanded by Lieut. Colone; Black-his to-
tai effective strength being 247-and hospitals
filled with 300 sick.
With this command San Jose. the grand
depot in the city, Loretta, and Gaudaloure
were 10 be garrisoned, and held against the
combined efforts Of the military and popa.
lace.
The Isolated position selected FOR the hos.
pitfalls compelled me to remove them within
the protection OF San Jose, on the demonstfA'
ton of hostility. This was not long in exs
hibitng itself. when put myself. with sach
means as T had at my disposal, in the best poss
s,be state for defence, combining my efforts
to the squares Immediately around San Josef
and from these points the enemy, during the
entire siege, were not able TO force IN tonk
for single moment) sentinel
| No open acts of hostility. other than the
interfering of struggling suldiers. occurred
until the night Of the 18th of September,
when fire was opened from some of the
Streets On the night Of the 14th it com
i menced, and from every street. with vic
ience that knew of no cessation for twenty
! eight days and nights
t The enemy. with their numerous Cavalry
( succeeded in cutting Oft, at once, every kind
of supply. and vanly attempted to change
the current of the stream Uf wa,er. that We
might become more easy preys The night,
however, before the cattle and sheep dlsap
peared from this vicinity, two well directed
parties obtained 80 OF the former and 400 OF
the latter
The various points to be defended for the
D, eservation Of San Jose. Oh which the safety
of the other posts depended. demanded the
un,iring vigilance of every officer snc. man.
The enemy augmented liz numbers daily
and daily the firing was increased; and finally
ON the 22d of September, General Santa An
ma arrived with large reinforcements from
Mexico, much to the delight of the besiegers,
on which occasion n general ringing of bells
took place. and was only sto?ped--as it had
been several times before-by discharge
OF shells and round-shot from Loreto into the
heart Of the city.
On the 25th of September Gen. Santa An.
ma demanded my surrender A copy Of HE
demand together with thu reply. are herewith
enclosed, marked A.
here beg 10 pay a passing tribute 70 ny
gallant troops. So soon as had despatched
my answer, supposed not raument wouic
be LOST by the General, who was to attack mo
at all points with his 5000 troops. rode TO
the different posts, and announced to the troops
the demand, the force with which It was
backed, and my reply. Their response con.
WINGED me that all was safe; that hard and
bloody battle must be fought ere the great cap.
tain of Mexico would overcome my littls
band.
The point Of attack was San Jose, cor,imxm.
ded by Lieut.. Col. Black. with Capt. Fordt
compsuy of cavalry, and Capt. Miller's com.
pany Of 4,h artillery, and four companies of his
own regiment. and one hospital. the guard 81
which was in command Of Capt. Rowe, Of the
9th regiment of infantry.
The duty required Of this command, a. I
have before observed. in consequence ii the
various points to be defended. demanded IN IN.
firing effort on the part Of every officer and 81.
dier. A shower of bullets was constantly
poured from the streets, the balconies. tho
house-,ops, and churches, upon their dessssa
heads. $50
Never did troops endure mofs fhiiRaA r
watching alght afisr aight tss Aoss shse ~