Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/524

466 continued. without cessation, after the departure of Santa Anna. On the 2nd of October, Colonel Childs availed himself of the reduction of the enemy's numbers, to make a sortie against some barricades and buildings, the ﬁre from which had become very annoying. One of the expeditions was conﬁded to Captain Small, of the 1st Pennsylvania, who passed through the walls of an entire square, by the aid of picks and crowbars, with fifty men, gained a position opposite one of the largest barricades, and drove the enemy from behind it with great loss, — they leaving seventeen dead on the ground. The barricade, consisting of one hundred and ﬁfty bales of cotton, was consumed; and Captain Small retained possession of a prominent building near it, for twenty-four hours, when it was blown up by Lieutenant Laidley. Another expedition was intrusted to Lieutenant Morgan, of the 14th infantry, with a detachment of marines and Lieutenant Merrifield, of the 15th infantry, with a party of rifles. They attempted to gain possession of certain buildings from which a galling fire was constantly poured, but were only partially successful, and returned again to San José. On the 5th instant, Captain Herron, of the lst Pennsylvania, was detached with his company to take possession of a building, from which the enemy had been enﬁlading the Plaza, and accomplished it in a handsome manner. Successful sorties were also made from Guadaloupe, on the 6th and 8th, by Lieutenant Edwards and Captain Johnson, with small parties.

The assailants were largely reinforced on the 8th instant; the supplies of the garrison were growing low; and affairs began to assume a still more critical aspect. Still, there were no symptoms of giving way, and none proposed a surrender. The Mexicans made