Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-06-17
lTTE, MISSOURI, SATURDAY, JUNE ~, Is4s.
Missouri horse, under the command of Lit.
Col. Lane, and Loves battery.

Missouri horse, under the command of Lit.
Col. Lane, and Loves battery.
The reports Of these officers, which |
have the honor 10 submit, evince a zeal sci.
dom displayed, rapidi,y of movement yet
to be surpassed, as an iron energy of will
which recognizes no limit, and conveyed
to the department a record of their own
merits.
Convinced now OF the necessity of ter.
minating q siege peculiarly burdensome TO
my troops. | determined at once upon an
act. From my several reconnoisances,
felt sure The enemy believed my main force
would be directed against that portion of
the town fronting my camp, as new batter
les had been established, and unusual degree
Of activity became apparent throughout the
siege in that quarter AT 7 o'clock a. m.
| broke up my camp. and with my entire
force, excepting Beal's dragons, augmen.
ted by Capt. McNar's company Missouri
horse who left to cut off a retreat on the
Durango road, / proceeded around the
southern point of the town, where l placed
in position Walkers battalion, protected
from the enemy's artillery by walls and
houses for the medilated assault. Continu.
ing to the western side of the town, then
detached 1t. Col Lane, with two compa.
MES of the Missouri Regiment, to support
Loves battery, which ordered TO take po.
sition within 500 yards of the town, on The
road leading to Chihuahua, and comman.
ding the principle plaza end church, around
and in whichthe enemy were strongly pos.
ted; reserving Rails four companies as our
center, and so disposed as to afford timely
support to the artillery under Love and
Hassendenbel.
My final disposition made. Hessenden.
bells two IL Founders having been put in
battery on the west side of the town, sup.
ported by Rails command, !, 10 l-2 A. NJ,
ordered my batteries to open, which, for
nearly an hour, maintained spirited and
destructive fire, clearing the houses and
church of the enemy; which latter from its
flanking position and strength Of construc.
ton. became the stronghold of the enemy.
The fire of the enemy during this time,
from all his heavy guns and wall pieces
was incessant, but from their position. with.
out effect. Observing that large gun OF
the enemy, which afterwards learned to
be 9 Founder, had been brought to bear
upon Hassendenbel's battery, and evidently
with view to silence it, Lieut.. Over, ofthe
ordinance. belonging to my staff. hut who
volunteered for duty with Loves battery
was ordered to reinforce Hassendenbel
with "a pound howitzer and a FOUNDER
gun. This movement having been perform.
ed by the enemy, his battery was reinfor-
ced. and an incessant fire Of canister, grape
and round shot was opened upon our bat
terry but without doing material injury
Lieut.. Dyer was soon in position. where he
continued direct fire upon this battery
placed in embrasure in me Of the principle
streets leading TO the main plaza. as well as
the church and large building upon both
Of which were stationed strong force
For upwards of an hour this battery wa.
served with great effect. clearing the hous
es and church; during which time it wai
exposed to the fire Of the enemy's batteries
which, throughout maintained most rapic
firing.
] now ordered Lieut.. Love. with %
FOUNDER howitzer and a 5 FOUNDER gun (the
remainder Of his battery having been dis
abled in firing) 10 advance upon the posi-
tion occupied hv Lieut.. Dyer determined
if possible, to silence the enemv's FOUNDER
which contributed by the efficient manner
in which it was served. greatly to our an
noyance. Immediately after received in
formation that nv rear was threatened by
large cavalry force of the enemy. sup
posed to be about 900 strong, and intended
as reinforcement for the enemy within the
town. Immediately withdrew nv artil
lery to a commanding position about three
quarters Of mile from the town. and ir
the direction of the Chihuahua road; order
ing at the same time. the remainder of my
command to the same point, for the pur
pose of attacking this supposed reinforce
ment. This movement was evidently re
garded bv the enemy as prelude to on
defeat. Loud cheers arose from the town
the houses were again covered by the sol
diery; flag was Immediately run up from
an angle Of the church. and the fire of III,
enemy's heavy guns became unusually
brisk. soon discovered the report Of
large reinforcement of the enemy in m,
rear to be incorrect. and that only a SINAI
body Of cavalry had threatened it, which
soon dispersed with the command under 1t
Col. Lane.
l now determined TO storm the town
agreeable to the dispositions made at tn
commencement If the attack. and therefor
gave orders for Rails Lane and Walker 4
resume their former positions dismount thei
men and charge the town, at the points as
signed them, so soon as my batteries shoul
reopen.
Lieut.. Love was ordered to take up hi
former position. About 3 p. m. the actio
yyas resumed and tho fire of our hatter
returned with unusual briskness. Lieuter