Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/40

36 were exposed to the fire from the Bishop's Palace several hours  but Lieut. Dana of the 7th infantry, with his captured gun, returned the fire with some effect.

Those who occupied battery No. 1, at the eastern extremity of the city, at day-break, (Sept. 22d,) were obliged to lie flat in the mud to shield themselves from the sharp firing from Fort Diablo. Shells, fired from the citadel, fell all around our men, though none burst in the work. Lieut. Scarrett was laboring to put the battery and distillery in a better state of defence. Capt. Bainbridge had command of the 3rd Infantry in the morning. A portion of Colonel Davis's regiment, under General Quitman, relieved the 1st, 3rd and 4th Infantry, and the Kentucky regiment. In returning to camp, our men received a destructive fire from the batteries of the enemy, crosswise. One poor fellow, a corporal in the 4th Infantry, was cut in two. Gen. Worth's attack upon the height, commanding the Bishop's Palace, at day-break, (Sept. 22d.) was fierce and successful. The force consisted of artillery and infantry under Colonel Childs and some Texans under Colonel Hays. The party moved up the hill and at the same time Capt. Miles, with a small force, descended towards the palace and gave three cheers to divert the enemy. In return they received a shower of grape. The enemy, at the castle, being checked so that they could not aid their flying forces, the height was carried with little loss. Capt. Gillespie first entered the breastwork and fell mortally wounded. General Worth soon sent the 5th Infantry, Capt. Smith's command and Capt. Blanchard's Louisiana volunteers, to reinforce Colonel Childs. Lieut. Roland soon placed a howitzer in position and blazed away at the castle with much effect. A light corps of artillery, under Capt. Vinton, Blanchard's company and some Texans were on the left of the hill,