Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-01

vate over zen. hcafneY. hIitT giving an dc'
count Of the march of Gen. Kearney from San
Pedro TO San Diego, he proceeds
But shall return to the Commodore and his
victories The loog looaed for day arrived at
last, and with hearts beating high with hope,
and minds bent on revengng the deaths OF our
murdered country.men, we took up our line OF
march for City Of the Angels. We mustered in
all sbout 6i0 souls The Commodore was com.
msnder in cblef, and Col. Kearney was second
in command. We marched about one hund. !
red and thirty miles without seeing an enemy. |
The frs: we saw was about twenty miles from |
the city. when we met them in squads Of from
ten to fifteen, who appeared IN be watching our
movements; al lset we saw the main body, on
the opposite bank Of the river, San Gubriel, over
six hundred strong. with four pieces Of artillery,
stationed on the bank over which our path lay.
to gain which we had to cross deep, sandy
fat, through the river, which was commanded
entirely by the enemy's guns the order was
gwen 10 halt, the Commodorc dsmounted from
his horse, and walked round amongst his troops
and said ",here they arr, let them come, this is
LAY to show yourselves men; remember,
this is the 9Th day Of Jannary remember, New
Orleans ; revenge your comrades" and many
| other such patriotic expressions. which served
greatly 10 cheer up the men. The order was
| then given to advance. When we arrived q.
bout the middle Of the sandy fiat, they opened
their fire upon ne; their first shot fell short about
fifty yards the Commodore, who was ahead,
then told the men to watch the enemy's guns
and whenever they SO W the hasl. to drop on the
ground by that means a great many lives
were saved, as the sho, would goover our heads.
We kept advancing, and when we got about IF.
~ yards from the river, Col. Kearney ordered
our guns to be numbered and commence fir
ing. The Commodore bein. ahead, looked back
and seeing the artillery un!mbcred ran back
and ordered them to timber up, told them they
would only throw away their shot, that the riv.
er must be crossed, and then our guns would
tell the news. The men seized the drag ropes
of the guns and advanced the first gun got a.
bout half way across tho river when it struck ;
the Co,nmotore dashed in, over his middle in
water, seized one Of the drag ropes, and cheer.
ing the men, soon crossed the river and opened
our fire. The Commodore fired the guns him.
seli; The second slot cismounted their heaviest
gun, and then he gave the order to charge up the
hill, which the enemy still kept possession of.
Up we went 1T was in vain the enemy charged,
our men kept too firm they coud not break
! tnos nd In
ment we gained the top of the hill, our artillery
played upon them in such manner that they
could sla nd no longer. and were forced TO leave
the field. The coolness and bravery with, which
4 the Commodore acted, were the admiration o
all; he kept running from one gun 10 another
a. fast as they were loaded, and firing them
4 and not shot that he sent, as they afierward
said, bu, what threw the dirt over them.
Their balls aew very thick around us, but VI
needed them not We had but two killed an,
: about eleven wounded. The Commodore mad
very narrow escape, muskrt ball passin!
through his whiskers just grazing his face. W.
I encampet tha, night on their battle ground, a
e bout ten miles from the city. The next morn
ing we advanced, and about four miles from th
J. first battle gnmud they met us sgain, but the
=" were not So strmg as before. a great man
Of them deserted in the night. not wishing 4
have another triai-there were about $40 q
them. They commenced the battle with art,l
iery. but the CommHiore ordering the men I
n watch the fash Of their guns and throw them
l. selves down ss they Gid the day prevous. the
, balls done very little execution. The C,immf
g dore, as before, aimed several guns, and keT
y such 4 brisk FIRE upon them that they twic
left their guns. Finding at last they coul
> make no impression upon us with their artiller!
they attempted TO charge our lads saw theI
coming, and sung out there they come" "lt
. them come." says the Commodore, "rcserv
your FIRE I'LL they get within gun shot, the
give them a taste Of Yankee lead and powder
!, Down they came till they 60, within scvcn'
- Yards, when the CoDmodore who had advance
a little to the right OF the line gave the ordt
to fire. when we poured such volicy OF mu
{. kerry into them, that it cut them out of the
in saddles as il they had been feathers thy tr'e
'e in several places, but with no better success
In at last they gave il up aud run, and as the
Of turned the Commodore sent them as las, pr
u sent several large grape, which from appca
=" ances they did not seem to relish. 17fF
', We had the good luck to lose none OF OF
'' cnmrades this day; Ave only were ~ounde
Their number IN killed and wounded We con
. not find out exactly, but they sJmn oil eiCh