Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/544

486 retired from before the post on the arrival of the Portsmouth. Ten more men were added to the cornmand of Lieutenant Heywood; the houses occupied by his force were connected by a high wall, the doors bastioned, and the windows filled in. Piñada was known to be within twenty miles of San José, with from four to five hundred men, but, as every thing appeared quiet, the Portsmouth again set sail for another part of the coast. Lieutenant Colonel Burton was besieged for three weeks by the force under Piﬁada, when he organized a storming party, under Captain Steele, who drove the enemy from their works, and captured their flag.

The guerilleros, under Piñada, having been driven from La Paz, once more appeared before San José, after the departure of the Portsmouth, and closely invested the place. From the 24th of January, 1848, to the 14th of February, the efforts of the enemy to capture the post, were unintermitting, and a severe fire was constantly kept up. The provisions of the garrison were getting very low, though their courage and determination rose higher as their difficulties increased; they were strictly confined to the cuartel; Passed Midshipman Duncan and six men were taken prisoners, and on the 11th of February Passed Midshipman McLanahan was killed. The water was also cut off, and disease was fast generating. Fortunately, to the great joy of the garrison, Commander Du Pont arrived from La Paz, at sunset on the 14th of February. At daylight on the 15th, he landed with 100 men; Lieutenant Heywood sallied out with his party; and after a short, but well-contested conflict, they effectually routed the enemy, killing and wounding