The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-06-24

= wv ~dWp III tis tOlDWi0p ofueTs SOii
Wynkoop in front, followed by Col. Hask
% eli, behind whom came Col. Campbell,
. While Col. Roberts brough, up the rear.
D'verging from the Jalapa road 10 the left,
nearest the field works, tie regiments NOV.
Q lng IN the same order, each by the right
fink entered a narrow path leading 10 a
d pom, near the centre Of the enemy's line Of
0 works. In this order the brigade was
moved TO the scene Of action. Continuing
: along The path, the right Of Col. Wynkoop's
e regiment had reached poin, of rising
j ground about $50 yards from the enemy,
when Gen. Pillow, fearful that the enemy
had either discovered him or would do il,
suddenly withdrew Col. Wynkoop by the
! left flank, filing him by the left flank
sqlaFe Oft to the left from the path, and
! directed hin to cross the ravine which was
Immediately on the left side of the path, and
form his line OF battle parallel with the enc.
my's works, under cover of the hill and
chapaual, and hold himself IN readiness 10
assault No. /.
While Col. Wynkoop was executing
this order ns rapidly as the ruggedness of
the ground would allow hrm The General
commenced the work Of placing the COM
mand Of Col. Haskell in position. This no
did by directing Col. Haskell 10 res, his
right on the RICH, OF the path, attending
his left square off 10 the left, 20 az to form
his line Of battle parallel eth the centre
6eld.work of The enemy. BY this ma.
npuyre II will be perceived That the ranks
Of Col. Haskell's command were reversed,
the front rank becoming the rear, and the
night Of the regiment It's left. While this
novel order was in the process Of execu.
ton, and before the independent company
Of Kentucky volunteers, uuder Capt. John
S. Williams, and Capt. Charles MAYORS
company Of Pennsylvania volunteers, which
were the OH and I0lh companies, had got
into position, the enemy opened bis fire
upon US, DIS proper TO remark here that
the command Of Col. Haskell consisted OF
his own regimen, and of Capt. Wliams's
Kentucky company and Capt. MAYORS
company Of Pennsylvania yoluuteers.) Tbs
General Immediately ordered ihs assault.
The men answered the order with shout,
and advanced rapidly and with the greatest
enthusiasm 10 the direction Of the enemy,
who were totally concealed from them by
the density ef the chaparral. Progressing
steadily in the face of q most deadly and
incessant FIRE for more than $50 yards over
rugged and stony ascent, The command
emerged from the chaparraI into the open
space before the works, from which the
chaparraI had been feled for nearly two
hundred yards and left lying on the ground.
Here we were greeted by seven pieces of
artillery Immediately in from. of US. Nc.
opened on one of cur flnks with two
guns, No. on the other with three, while
two smal! pieces on an extension Of the re.
doubt behind No. kept time with the 9th.
ers. This terrible fire was rendered still
more terrible by the help Of 500 musk.
cts, which drove a halIstorm of bullets into
the faces Of The men as they approached.
NolhIng daunted, however, ihcy continued
the assault until they had approached near
enough to the works 10 perceive their great
strength, the number OF the enemy, and the
utter madness of advancing further. With.
out orders from their officers, they com.
menced giving way before the fire and re.
tiriug TO tue chaparra, where they were
quickly re formed for another assault
they did not commence this reIrograde
movement, however, until they had per.
celvcd that every field officer but the Colo.
mel had fallen until, Of the commanders of
companies, two had fallen dead, a third
morialy, aud fourth dangerously wound
ed, to say nothing of the leutenants not in
command killed and wounded, and of the
awful havoc among their comrades. In
less than three minutes, Of less than 400
men, about 50 had been killed and wounds
ed, many of whom fell within forty yards
Of the works.
Here two inquiries naturally present
themselves: Where was Col. Wynkoop
that he was no! assaulting No. II Where
was Col. Roberts tina, he was not support
ing Col. Haskell Col. Wynkoop, speak.
lng for himself, answers the first inquiry.
He declares that he was ordered not 10 adj
vance from his position until ordered to do
SO by Gen. Pillow, either through one OF his
aids or by a concerted signal He states
that he received no order, heard or saw no
signal. Ii he had assalsd No. /, it would
have been better for Us. Then the guns
there, instead Of annoying our flank, would
have been directed al him. No, was in
fact the real point Of attack. IL The whole
brigade had assliled that work, ii would
have been easily carried. Then We could
have turned his own guns on the enemy,
aud, attacking him in reverse, have driven
him from the field. THIS was really what
Gen. Scott desired Gen. Pillow TO do, if
circumstances taeored him with proper
opportunity TO pierce the enemy's line of
batteries"
The second inquiry is answered by the
order IN which the regiments were moved
to the scene Of action, Gen. Pillow had
actually placed Col Haskell between Col,
Wynkoop aud Col. Campbell, who was to
support Col WyukooP, aud Col. Campbell
between Col. Haskell AID Col. Robeets.
who was to support HASKELL Moving as
the regiment Lld by a flank toisomely