Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/38

34 mounted in barette of a "tete de pont," commanding' the passage of El Puente Purissima. We passed through several gardens and streets and finally reached a slight shelter. There was a stream before us and the enemy in force with three pieces of artillery on the opposite bank, so that we could not go any farther. All the streets seemed to be blockaded and every house fortified. Capt. Morris received a mortal wound at the bridge and Capt. W. S. Henry took the command. Lieutenant Hazlitt soon fell. At last, our cartridges being nearly exhausted, we were commanded to retire, in order, to our captured works. At one time, after day-light, we were obliged to lay flat nearly an hour, the balls came so thick. Lieutenant Ridgely, with a section of his battery, advanced to the street leading to the "tete do pont," but finding his fire entirely ineffectual, retired. Lieut. Bragg put to flight, with his battery, a show of a charge of lancers. Our men had not been able to take any dinner or supper and the night was cold and rainy. We had mounted on battery No. 1, one twelve pounder, one nine, two sixes and one howitzer, in all, five pieces.

While these scenes were transpiring under the eye of General Taylor, Gen. Worth was moving towards the Saltillo road. A large body of cavalry and Infantry opposed him, and charged upon our men. They were met by the battalion of light troops under Capt C T. Smith and Capt. McCulloughs company of Rangers. The first squadron of the enemy were mixed in with our advance when the second came furiously rushing on. Lieut. Hays, of Duncan's battery, poured in among them round shot, which passed over the heads of our men, and the enemy were dispersed with a loss of about one hundred, and among them, one Colonel. Our men marched round nearly two miles to the west end of the town, under a heavy fire from