The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-11-03

gagged in bringing a heavy piece OF ar;il,
lery from the castle TO the support ol their
troops at the foo, Of the hill. They had
in getting il about half way
down, losing, however, so FAR, two or three
Of their men in the attempt, by the deadly
aim OF our riaemen = when Captain Drums
was called 10 the proceeding.
"fll see il can't pn, a stop To ,ha','
was his cool remark; which was presently
followed by the dcep-lone thunder OF one
Of his heavy pieces OF artillery. The effect
was astonishing - the shot from his gun
striking The enemy's cannon, and killing
three or four Of the men. The rest immc.
diaiely re,rea,ed 10 the castle. No similar
attempt was made by them that day.
Hundreds of incidents occurred during
the day loo many 10 undertake 10 relate
in this article.
The firing on both sides continued, as ]
said before, all day there was no cessa.
tion whatever, until "nighi threw her manle
DER The earh;" then comparative quiet
once more reignod | shall not here detail
The proceedings Of The night = the laborious
duties that had 10 be performed - suffice il
10 say, that The rising sun never received a
more hearty, cordial greeting than | gave j,
the next morning.
AT daylight we took the same position
that we had occupied the day previous
Whether we were 10 remain there during
the whole day, we were at the time per.
fecily ignorant. II was, however, the gen
eral wish that Ge were not, for The position
= exposed as we were, 10 the scorchlne
rays OF n tropical sun was most disa'
greeable one. We were soon, however,
informed that we were not 10 remain long
in our present position = that Me castle trds
10 be stormed! A,,his announcement every
eye was in moment directed towards thai
formidable, imposing structure, and deer
murmur throughout, The ranks be,okened
that the news was received with the creates
satisfaction, We were now anxiously
awaiting the order 10 move forward. conlt
moi help remarking,at this awful crisis, when
so many in our ranks were on the brink o
being dashed into eternity, solemnity an'
silence among the men deeper than | eve
witnessed before. With hearts beating
each, each were waiting TO hear the expect,
ed order TO "Forward !" Al last il came
Standing on the right of The regiment, hi,
face pale from excitement, and his eye:
sparkling like jets, Lieutenant Colonel Bay'
ter exclaimed in loud voice -
FoRwARD!n
Instantly the regiment moved forward ic
the right of the division, and then led of
towards the castle in double quick time
As we moved forward, canister, grape, rount
shot, and shell, came pouring among us
with q regular hailsiorm Of bullets, making
awful slaughter in our ranks. But wi,hou
pause, our men dashed gallantly forward
aud turning TO the left into vast field di
recly in front OF tho castle, with shou
that fairly shook the heavens. onward the,
rushed, headed by The gallant Baxter. Cha
pullepec was enveloped in sheet of fame
so incessanl was the discharge of The enc
my's artillery. Discharge after discharge
of grape was hurled with awful destruction
through our ranks still our brave boys wer,
moi dauntcd with the flag Of the Empire
State proudly waving at the head OF ou
column, onward they pushed. Van 0'Lin
da fell dead on the green sward, gallanily
leading his company; then Baxter, mm,ally
wounded; then Pearson, and fearful
number OF our gallant men. Still our reg
linen, dashed boldly forward, until the stone
wall surrounding The base Of the hill OH
which the castle Stood was reached. Then
short delay was necessarily made in order
TO enable the remaining regiments compos'
ing The division 10 come up. Some sharp
fighting took place at this point the en-
emy were shortly driven from their position,
and, aided by ladders, we scaled the lowe.
wall and dashed up the precipilous hill
Now commenced struggle that my pen is
inadequate TO describe. The enemy's ar.
tillery becoming ineffective in consequence
of the sleepness Of The hill, muske,ry was
brought into requistion. The noise Of the
muske,ry was deafening, drowning The
groans Of the wounded and dying.
The bullets flew among US like hail, ST.
lencing in death mauy brave fellow, who,
with loud cheer was dashing boldly and
fearlessly up the steep ascent. Now en-
thusias,ic shouts and The report Of musketry
were heard on our right and left, proceeding
from the troops of Generals Worth, Pillow,
and others. The attack upon tie castle
was made simultaneously a, three difleren,
points. Quilman's division advanced d.
rec,ly in from, OF the castle, while The di.
visions OF Generals Worth and Pillow
charged up the right, left and rear. On
they came, dashing up the rocky ascent,
with determination 10 conquer or die
Reanima,cd by their gallant bearing, our
brave boys pushed OH with renewed vigor.
Officers and men fell dead and wounded
under the murderous fire Of muske,fy that
the Mexicans poured in upon US; gallant
men who had preceded us in the scaling
parties, were stretched ont liicless upon The
hill, with their ladders cln,chcd firmly in
their hands, in the last, strong, c0nvulsive
grasp of death -bu, still undaunied, and
with determination 10 conquer, our troops
continued The charge. Now tho
massive wall surrounding The castle was
reached, and with cheer that must have
struck terror 70 the enemy, our men, led by
their officers and aided by scaling ladders,
and boldly bounded over ticm.-
Then followed loud shouts from ,hsviclors;
Ihe clashing OF bayoneis, and tho piercing
shrieks Of the Meyicans, rs they werel
forced by the point Of the bayone: over n
oly precipice. In nyo minutes after, the
castle was ours the gaudy flag of Mexi.
20, that had for years floaied undisinrbed
rom its lofty staff, was iorn down, aud the
,olors o. the New York regiment aung TO
he breeze over The conquered castle. Nine
leaicning checrs--checrs such as only men
iushed with victory can give greeted
I, as the folds were opened out by the
Wind.