Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-08
FORT BROWN BELEAGUERED
The BATTLE or PALO ALTO

- 16 vi
The fierce eannonade directed upon
Fort Brcwn on May 3 Fnd 1 failed to
reduce the fortification or force a
surrender. On April : General Am
pudia was ordered to move his d.
vision from Las Taucues del Ra-
nireno and Join the attack, and Gen
ersl Morelia was ordered to cross his
division over the Anaquitas terry,
which was located wet of the pres
n site Of the international rail-
road bridge. the I'VE forces 10 JOIN
IN the attack upon the stronghold.
Moreiia brought four pieces OF ar
tillery across the stresm, and the
fort was exposed to artillery IRE
from all sides. The forts two bat
teries, one commanded by Captain
Bragg and the other by Captain
Lowd, replied TO the artillery IRE,
and with grape and canister do
heavy execution when the infantry
of Ampudia and MortIia charged IN
close formation. Attack after attack
was beaten off on May ! and .. From
the morning of May s until May =
the fort was under constant lombard
ment.
MAJOR Jacob Brown was struck IN
the leg by a cannon ball OF May o.
Amputstion became necessary, and
the gallant officer died May y. just
q few hours before the fort was re-
lieved.> Captain Hawkins Of the 7th
infantry succeeded TO the command
when Major Brown was wounded. !.
The fort was completely invested
Three batteries poured in Q constant
cross fire upon the earthwork, firing
2,140 shell and solid shot during the
homhatdment, killing u officer, one
sergeant and thirteen prIvates. When
summoned to surrender by Genera
Arista, Major Brown retorted ne
would hold the fort 50 long as there
vas a ma TO fire a gun. In his sum
mons to surrender, tienerai Arista
stated the fort was completely cut
off and the American COMMANDED
could kepe fer ne aid from General
Taylor.
General Taylor, arriving with the
troops at Point Isabel on May :
needed no message TO apprise him
Of the attack on Fort Brown. Al
reveills sounded in the American
CAMP on the coast on the morning OF
May q. across the intervening q
miles Of prsiries, marshes and chap
arral between Fort Brown and Point
Isabel came the reverbsrations Of the
cannonadinR. Hour after hour this
continued, borne to the ears of the
anxious American troops by th'
southwest breeze.
Captain Walker with his company
Of Texas rangers was Immediately
dispatched to ascertain conditions al
the fort, and on May 5 brought Tay'
lor the cheering intelligence that al
was well at Fort Brown and tina
Major Brown had giveL the sssur'
snce il would not be captured. Cap
tain Walker had msde his wa,
through the Mexican lines, reached
the fort and returned 10 make his re
port. He stated that the superior
fire of the American artillery haC
silenced the heavy Mstamoros bat
teries within 80 minutes after the en-
gagement opened.
Order March TO Rio Grande
The American force had been pre-
pared to move back 10 ort Brown or
- the afternoon Of May 3, but the re-
&zssurinr reports from scouts decid-
ed General Taylor to hold the main
army at Point Isabel until prepare.
tions for moving stores and NUM-
tions 10 the Rio Grahde could bc
completed.
The American troop we're grestely
perturbed. They could hear the al
most ~unceasing roar Of the cannon
on the Rio Grande, and they feared
their comrades at the tort would be
overwhelmed by numbers. Captain
Walker and his scouts. penetrating
the enemy lines, continued to bring
reassuring messages from the be-
leaguered force, but these did not
quiet the apprehensions of the men.
On the morning Of May 2, Genera
Taylor announced the army would
move out from Point Isabel in the
afternoon, and the order was greeted
with ringing cheers. The order
posted at headquarters, was as fol
lows.
Headquarters Of the Army OF
Occupation, May 2, 1sse.
Order No. Is
The army will march today at
3 O'Clock in the direction Of Msta-
meros. It In known the enemy has