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

Ter cannon, and huge moriars on the walls
OF the castle, vomited forth, unremillingly,
their ponderous rousd shot, grape, canister,
and shell, doing us, however, but little in
jury, rs we had taken the prccaution to oc.
cupy q secure position. The guns from our
several batteries, Mt different commanding
points, promptly answered the enemy, send.
ing forth their deadly contents in reply
All day-from daylight until the sable cur
tains of night shroudcd the contcnding ar.
mics in darkness-the booming of cannon,
the bursting OF shells, the cIashng of grape
and canister, aud the sharp report of mus.
ketry, greeted the ear.
Varons incidents that came under my OBJ
servation during tho day, now force them.
selves upon my memory.
Captain Drums battery, which kept up a
constant and destructive fire upon the cas-
tie toe whole day, was stationed about sixty
yards from tho right Of my regiment. Our
whole division, commanded by General Quit
man, consisting of the Cd Pennsylvania and
South Carolina volunteers, and battalion
Of United States marines, also occupied q
position in supporting distance of tho bat
terry. Attached to the South Carolina regi.
ment were several negrOes-slaves, who had
accompanied their masters-somc of them
priyates, too--on the campaign; and on
several occasions displayed commendable
gallantry. One Of these negroes-a huge,
black, muscular fellow - stood about ten
yards from the guns, and at every discharge
he would eagerly watch what effect it had
upon the castle. If favorable one, he
would jump in the air, clap his hands, and
exclaim
GolIy, massa, you give i'm goss dat
time-suah
Then he would again resume his position
behind tree, and await with anxiety the
discharge of another cannon, with straining
eyes watch for the shot to strike the castle,
and then rush into the road, and 90 through
the same performance as mentioned above.
The fellow had conducted himself in this
manner for two or three hours, when shot
from our battery made desperate havoc with
the out.works Of the castle. The terrible
crash could bo distinctly heard, and the
clouds of dust that asccnded into tho air
from the demolished masonry, presented q
picture similar to q vast conflagration. The
negro deligh, at this momdnt was unbound.
ed. He threw himself on the ground. rolled
over and over, and kicked and squirmed like
q dying animal, uttering loud and joyous
exclamations. Thus suddenly springing tc
his feet, he leapcd about five feet from the
ground, struck his heels together, clappcd
his hands, and exclaimed
"Weoo up! Hoorah BY grashus
massa, dat was tho best Of 'cm all Give
it to i'm ngain
just as he concluded tho last sentence,
the loud report of q monster cannon was
heard from tho castle, then the whizzing
noise Of ponderous shot as j, came flying
through tho air. 1t vas the poor negro's
death messenger before he had an oppor
tunity to resume his position, it struck hin
In the stomach, completely tearing out hiI
cntrailS, and of course depriying him of life
Tho poor fellows merry voice was silcnccC
in death.
Within muskcl range OF Captain Dunn.
battery, small force Of the enemy, perhaps
fifty, occupied position that enabled them
TO annoy us very much, and occasionally
kill or wound one Of tho men stationed a
the guns. These men were undoubtedly
sharp shooters, and were stretched along
for perhaps sixty yards, in deep ditch
Taking advantage Of every opportunity tina,
presented ITSELF Of making their service
available, 10 our deiriment, they would
partially rise up, discharge their weapons
a, us, and then quickly resume their lying
position. These fellows had been harrass.
ing us so long and so fatally, that General
Shields (who commanded the brigade 10
which my regiment was a,ached) deemed
il advisable 10 dislodge them. For iha,
purpose detachment Of thirty men, under
the command OF a lieutenant, was sen,
forward. The lieutenant gallanlly ad.
vanced with his men, under a sharp fire
proceeding from those occupying the
ditch. Before he had advanced forward
sixty yards, three of his men were shot
dead. Still this did not intimidaie him or
his men. Onward he pushed = rapidly
nearing the enemy. Now he was within
thirty yards of them, aud still they main.
tanned their position. Forward the Lieutenant
pushed, and just rs he was within about Ten
Yards of the ditch, masked battery in lis
immediate vicinity, opened its murderous
fire upon the little party. When the smoke
cleared away, but three Of that gallant band
stood upon their feet - the remainder, with
the lieutenant, were stretched upon the
blood damp ground, fIigh,ful, mangled
corpscs. The three survivors stood be-.
wildered for a moment, and then recovering
themselves, speedily rejoined us.
We, TOO, had our sharp.shoo,ers stationed
n, advantageous positions around the castle !;
and the many Mexicans that we found the
next dag, stiff in death, with their fore.
heads pierced with the balls bore proof Of the
accuracy of lheiy ann. The mounted rifle.
men is The regiment allude to. This reg
iment was composed of the best body Of
men - nearly all Americans - that ever
saw. They were all crack shots, each man
being sure 10 fetch his man." Al Cha.
pullepec, they were scattered in different
directions, as near The castle as they could
possibly gel, and hundreds Of the enemy
that day perished by their unerring, deadly
aim. An incident that Witnessed on the
l2ih, suggests the mentioning OF the regi.
ment, in order 10 Introduce the incident
itself.
From the base of The hill on which the
castle of Chapullepec stands, is a broad,
paved road. Down this road, during the
morning, horse mounted by an officer
was frequently seen 10 dash furiously. The
rider was doubtless an aiddeedmp, carrying
orders from General Bravo, stationed a, The
foo, of the hill. lie was very snowy
Chap, and therefore wondered he escaped
our rifles. His horse was richly and show
lily ca parisoned, and he himself was
dressed in a gorgeous uniform = in short,
he was as gay as peacock" !" as The &c
centric and gallan, Captain Fairchild re-
marked at The time. / had my eyes in.
ten,ly fixed upon him the last time saw him
dashiug down the road, expecting every