Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/34

30 earnest. The third shot went directly over General Taylor's staff, coming very near him. Our troops encamped three miles from the city. The city seemed to be well fortified and it was feared that our small guns would not be effectual against the large ones of the enemy. It was concluded that our men must take the big guns of the enemy and turn them against themselves. The town was thoroughly reconnoitered on all sides and our men were frequently fired upon. General Taylor decided to send Genera. Worth to take possession of the road to Saltillo, and storm the heights at the west part of the city. This division, including Colonel Hay's regiment, and Captains McCullough's and Gillepie's rangers, moved off according to order.



Sept. 28th, (1846), about noon. The works commanding the approaches to the city, are the Bishop's Palace and a fort on a height commanding it on the west: the citadel on the north and several detached redoubts on the east. The streets were barricaded. In the afternoon a battery was commenced for the mortar, and during the night the mortar and two twenty-four pound howitzers were established. An express from General Worth arrived the same