Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/44

40 hill, on the morning of the 21st, was killed. Lieut. Potter 7th Infantry, while storming the redoubt, was wounded. Lieut. Rossell was wounded in the attack upon the palace. Major Brown's company of artillery, Capt. Blanchard's company and some Texan Rangers, with a piece from McKall's battery, were ordered to march under Brown and take possession of a mill on the road to Saltillo, in order to cut off retreat. The city had been reconnoitered by Lieutenant, Meade and Capt. McCullough. They found that the city had been cleared of the enemy as far as the Plaza in which was the cemetery. Capt. Miles, with three companies was ordered to take possession of the street nearest the river. Colonel Stanniford was to take posession of the next street north. Both parties, the first under the direction of Capt. Holmes, and the second, under Capt. Scriven, moved on and took possession of the cemetery, without a shot from the enemy. Loop holes had been made in the walls and they had been prepared for defence. A piece of artillery followed each of these commands. Then came Colonel Childs with the Artillery Battalion and Capt. Miles with the remainder of the 7th and a company of the 8th Infantry. The last was designed to protect the amunition train sent round by Gen. Taylor. Major Monroe and Lieut. Lovell soon placed the mortar in position. Captains Holmes and Scriven, with tlheir forces marched through the same streets to a square in advance of the cemetery and soon commenced with the enemy. Colonel Childs followed the street upon which was situated a large Plaza. Capt. Gatlin of the 7th was now wounded. Our troops were soon under cover of walls and were reinforced by two companies of the 5th under Capt Merrill, and finally by three more under Major Scott. The column in the next street under Colonel Smith were now shortly engaged with the enemy. Capt. Holmes