New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-01

was the only side that was assailable The
enemy had cleared the trees and all obstruc-
tons on this side, leaving clear sweep for their
guns At the foot Of the hill was g wall about
ten feet high inclosing the hill. Inside OF this
wall there was timber slung by ropes from the
top. so their infantry could stand and fire over
Il At the base Of the HILL where the road
passes to the City Of Mexico they had forraid
able ea-thwork. commanding the road and the
south front OF the wall This earthwork was
sunrise to our regiment, we could not see
Il where we were owing TO a sharp bend in me
road 70 the left. and the thick foliage that
side OF the road.
The castle was the. military school OF Mexico.
such were the formidable works we were called
upon TO attack.
General Shields. our brigade commander. was
with the South Carolina and ID Pennsyl-
vania regiments. supporting another battery.
our batteries opened fire on the castle at day
light on the 18th and continued until about
o'clock when il supposed the garrison Of
the castle had been reduced. TO avoid heavy
loss from our artillery FIRE. At the moment our
gins stopped firing. the volunteer storrnins
marty passed Us under the command Of Major
Tv-iggs or the marine corps, going at quick
s-er NJ the road toward the enemy The New
York regiment was iu line, and quickly fol
lowed them for a short distance, when we turned
sharrIv To the left. leaving the road and pass
ing through an opening that had been cut
through the hedge az the side cf the road the
night before We suddenly came out into an
open and clear field. IN fun view OF the castle
and IN front Of the lower wall which was lined
with Mexican heads. We We're exposed TO the
FIRE from the lower nall. the castle and the
earthzorks which were on our right flank
which was a surprise 10 Us. and which did Us
,-vs~- an
road could not have turned the bend but prob
blv haired so that the enemy should not see
them until We should draw their fire. before they
made the assault Ny solution is that We were
tho fo-'orn hope. We got the full force Of the
eneny-s FIRE in front and on our right flank
The effect Of this sudden and terrible fire was
disastrous 70 or regiment. Within one minute
from the tine We came out into this open field
cur commanding officer. Lieutenant Colonel
Charles Baxter. and Captain Charles Pierson
were rnortslly wounded. and Captain Abram
Van Olinda was killed. The head Of our column
was staggered for moment. but only for a
moment when We rushed forward The storm
ing party by this time had got to work ana
relieved US from the flank fire They were hio-
den from our v1ew by the thick foliage on the
side Of the road that was between US On We
vent toward the lower wall-every man for MN
self We soon cleared the wall OF the enemy
notwithstanding two intervening bitches 70"
vide 20 jump, and half full Of water. We hAo
70 20 in and get out the best we could s0INe
Of the men losing their shoes Il the n1u1
think our engineers did not dtscoVe.
ditc s. or they would have provided
on reaching the wall after the rush aoIosS '''a'
terrible field. were badly mixed up O'"
reformed what was left of Us, ana H'ONeu oH "
the flank 70 the left some little oisiAios' - al
opening in the wall made by our a. p
-, ,,--,,,-h s7s m tbe steep and rugged ascent.
TSe Nfstor lanes c Durham, was now in
command A. We assembled the hill he was
disabled by a spent ball on his sabre belt over
,ba nj, n his stomach. which curied him up on
the ground for time. The command was then
assumed by my captain, who was the raTakins
leaving me in command Of the <com-
psny.