Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-01-05

fight. Flying artillery had Just
been adopted by our army and
IL proved It's superiority over
all other kinds during thisgreat battle
The regulars were mostly armed with 1
the improved percussion muaket, buck |
and bali cartridge, while most Of the |
volunteers used the old ilint and steel /
musket with the sMua cartridpes The I
Texans were armed with ola flint and I
steel rifles and pistols generally. The |
regiment the writer bad the honor TO
belong TO was armed With Mississippi
rifles without bayonets, There was
no such thing rs ritled cannon IN
those days. The artillery IN use In
our army was nine and twelve pound
brass pieces. Vwelvo-pDund hoHil2er
uoitars OF o large caliber were also
used. The old-fashioned fuse had
been dispensed with IN our artillery
service and the percussion hammer
substituted,
THE CIrY's FoRTiF1CArI0Ns.
Ampudia, the commanding gen
eral OF the Mexican forces, had had
ample time to prepare for cur
reception, All that nature could do
was already done 10 defend every app
prnach 60 the city, and the most skill
I ful engineers OF the age had supervised
I the erection OF forts barbados and re-
/ doubts, which, taken in connection
with the fact That every h0usetop was
/ secure resort for soldiers, made the
CITY one OF the best fortified inland
/ points on this continent at that time.
/ The most formidable OF these foraiica-
tons was known as the "BlaeK Fort
! II commanded the valley TO the east
and north of the city, aud was built
on the most scientific plans known 60
the military engineers of that day,
] The wall surrounding the main fort
fnearly a mile IN length, was quilt OF
solid masonry,
INfPERvIoUs To THE HEAVIEST AR
TTLLEKN,
and was mounted with thirty-two
pieces of heavy artillery, angles ana
embrasurcs enabling the garrison 70
bear st least ten OF rwelve pieces uVon
any possible point OF attack. This
wall was about eight feet high, with
steps on the inside for the use OF the
infantry. The wall was surrounded
10y m0at some six feet deep, which
could be-filled with water at short
notice. There was but one entrance IA
this fort aud that was over ponder
Gus draw-bridge Their forts covered
every possible approach 70 toe city
both front and rear. The names o
some of these defeuscs, ss j now he
member, were forts Diablo, reneru
Soldado, Independence, the BishOpi
Palace and the Cathedral. These worl
! all well manned with IN
fanlry and artlllerymen. Sixty
! odd pieces OF artillery wer,
/ used by them on the occasion.
4. THE MEXICAN NUMBERS AND ARMS
According 20 Gen Ampudla's re
. port, he had about ten thousand vet
{ Grams or regular troops, infantry ant
, cAvalry, and about four thousand wei
( disciplined volunteers. The celebrated
{ Tampico and Durango regiments par
j ticipated ia the battle. All his troop
were well clad in blue uniform, aim
liar TO our own, and were armed will
= British muskets, flint and steel, anC
+. bayonets. These arms were great,
e greatly inferior TO ours in accuracy
+ but Of much larger caliber and NOR
d elective At long range. Their cavalr.
b Qancers) were armed with cscOupittel
y u short gun swungto the saddle, saoer
!. and lances. These We're sple,
% didly caparisOned, and the
e horses were well up to thei
II duty. Their artillery was much MOI
- cumbersome than ours. 10 was heR'
= Ter and of larger caliber. The OLE
fashioned fuse was used I'm firing an
the csissOns and carriages were draw
/. by little mules We had many oppo
8 tunities during the three days bait
y 10 notice that their fixed Dmmunitio
s was very defective. Their shells espi
@ cially sometimes passed wide Of Ia
g mark, and at other times to our grta
9 delight failed TO explode after aligh
o ing unceremoniously in our mids
"a Ampudia was the general in con
l. mand, but the flower of the Mexica
y army officers were there.
IS GATEWAY 10 THE CITY.
d In the rear Of Monterey the highel
p crest OF the mountain rises, which
j separated from the valley by two pR
Y allel ridges OF mountains, which {
e themselves are steep and rugged III
r city, therefore, has tho appearance
It Of being surrounded on TIRE
It sides by these mountains. The fou
J. principal highways that led into th
y city We're the road from PaTras on Ga
g north, entering the city near the ht
g springs; one came ia from the cas-
the route by which Gen. Tay br's a
my came; one from the south Gale
e the Victoria and LoniaTes road, AN
II one on the west, leading through
: mountain pass to Saltillo--so that ia
o city WAS not really assailabIe except /
L one direction. and even the valley
d front was broken by extensive roo
i. quarrles, where iteeemed the materi,
y for The city and immense fertilization
8 had been carried from. Monday morn
, ing, September p opened bright an
= clear.
. THE ORDER on ATTACK.
q The mountain tons were as origh
and the church-bells in the city ran
il out az clear, esif the bird OF peace wa
G protecting With her ouispread wing
the smiling valley. Glen Worth Wit
a division of the army regulars and
e regiment Of Texas rangers had move
Z. around via the hot springs and estaf
e llshed himself on the west eide of til
d city ia position 20 command ia
|. pass aud road 20 Saltillo. The tw
o divisions under Twigg and w. o Blu