Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-08
fOkI BROWN BELEAGUERED
the BATTLE or pAIO ALTO


1ne fierce eannonade directed upon
Fort Brown on May ) end I failed TO
reduce the fortification or force a
surrender. On April : General Am
pndia was ordered to move his d.
vision from Las 1aucues del ka-
mireno and join the aIiack, ana Gen
eral Morelia was ordered TO cross his
division over the Anaquitas ferry
which was located west OF the pres
ent site Of the international rail
road bridge, the W. forces TO JOIN
~ the attack upon the stronghold.
Morclia brought four pieces Of ar
tillery across the stream, and the
Tort was exposed "a artillery fire
from all sides. The forts two bat
t~eries. one commanded by Captain
Bragg and the other by Captain
Lowd, replied to the artillery IRE,
and with grape and canister did
heavy execution when the infantry
Of Ampudia aud Mor,lia charged ~
close formation. Attack after attack
was beaten off on May . and s. From:
the morning of May 3 until May ~
the fort was under constant lombard
ment.
Major Jacob Brown was struck ~
the LEG by a cannon ball on May q
Amputation became necessary, ana
the gallant officer died May =, Just
a few hours before the fort vas re-
lieyed. Captain Hawkins of the Ith
infantry succeeded TO the command
when Major Brown was wounded.
The fort was completely invested.
Three batteries poured in a constant
cross fire upon the eartkwork, firing
2,T40 shell and solid shot during the
bombardment, killing one 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
was a man TO fire a gun. In his sum
mons 70 surrender, Genera Arista
stated the fort was completely cut
of and the American commander
could hope for no aid from Genera
Taylor.
General Taylor, arriving with the
troops at Point lsabci on May :,
needed no message 10 apprisc him
of the attack on Fort Brown. AS
reveille sounded in the American
camp on the coast on the morning Of
May 3, across the intervening -
miles OF prairies, marshes and chap
arral between Fort Brown and Point
Isabel came the sever56rations Of the
cannonading. Hour after hour this
continued, borne to the ears Of the
anxious American troops by the
southwest breeze.
Captain Walker With his company
of Texas rangers was Immediately
dispatched 70 ascertain conditions at
the fort, and on May s brought Tay-
Tor the cheering intelligence that all
was we'll at Fort Brown and that
Major Brown had given the assur-
ance it would not be captured. Cap
tain Walker had msde his way
through the Mexican lines, reached
the fort and returned 10 make his re
port. He stated that the superior
fire Of the American artillery had
silenced the heavy Mstamoros bat
tcries within 80 minutes after the en-
%gsgement opened.
Order March TO Rio Grandc
The American force had been pre-
pared to move back 10 hort Brown on
Mfhe afternoon Of May 3, but the re-
gassuring reports from scouts decid-
4 cd General Taylor TO hold the main
army at Point Isabel until prepare
tions for moving stores and NUM-
tions 70 the Rio Grande could be
competed.
The American troops we're ~greately
%perturbcd. 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
r%eassuring messages from the be-
leaguered force. but these did not
quiet the apprehensions Of the men.
On the morning of May z, General
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 Z. 1886.
Order No. ts
The army will march today az
o'clock in the direction Of Mata-
moros. IL ~ known the enemy has