Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/97

Rh [2 miles] to support Quitman. Twiggs' guns, before the southern gates, again reminded us, as the day before, that he, with Riley's brigade, and Taylor's and Steptoe's batteries, was in activity, threatening the southern gates, and there holding a great part of the Mexican army on the defensive.

Worth's division furnished Pillow's attack with an assaulting party of some 250 volunteer officers and men, under Capt. McKenzie, of the 2d artillery, and Twiggs' division supplied a similar one, commanded by Captain Casey, 2d infantry, to Quitman. Each of those little columns was furnished with scaling ladders.

The signal for the attack was to be the momentary cessation of fire on the part of our heavy batteries. About 8 o'clock, of the 13th, Scott sent to Pillow and Quitman, with notice that the concerted signal was about to be given.

Both columns now advanced. The batteries threw shots and shells upon the enemy over the heads of our men, with good effect.

Major General Pillow's approach, on the west side, lay through an open grove, filled with sharp shooters, who were speedily dislodged; when, being up hill with the front of the attack, and emerging into open space, at the foot of a rocky acclivity, that gallant leader was struck down by an agonizing wound.

The immediate command devolved on General Cadwallader. On a previous call of Pillow, Worth had just sent him a reinforcement, Col. Clark's brigade.

The broken declivity was still to be ascended and a strong redoubt midway to be carried, before reaching the castle on the heights. The advance of our men, though