Page:The War with Mexico, Vol 1.djvu/281

252 Shortly before this, judging from the heavy fire that a serious engagement was on, Taylor had ordered Butler to advance with his Field Division. By a sad blunder three companies of the Fourth Infantry, which had been covering the mortar and howitzers, were sent ahead of this corps against the redoubt, and "almost in a moment" — as the official report admitted — a third of the men fell. The rest, including Lieutenant Ulysses S Grant, then retired; and Quitman's brigade, which now formed the left of the line, was ordered to support the regulars — in other words, renew the attack.

With ample courage and enthusiasm the men advanced nearly a mile under the fire of the citadel — which, as Taylor privately admitted, "done considerable execution" — and before long under the worse re of the redoubt in front; but they staggered in the smashing blast of lead and iron, their formation became very irregular, and after a time, though not within effective musket or rifle range, they began to fire at Will. Colonel Davis, then some distance in advance on his iron-gray, Pompey, grew impatient at the waste of time, ammunition and life, and as the redoubt stopped firing just then, he cried, "Now is the time. Great God, if I had fifty men with knives I could take that fort." Then he waved his sword, and called on his men to charge Colonel Campbell, equally ignoring his brigade commander, did the same; and both regiments hurried on as groups and individuals, each man trying to outstrip the rest.

Fortunately the time was ripe. Worn down by several hours of excitement and exertion — for noonday was now approaching — the Mexicans felt a reaction. The stubborn perseverance of the Americans daunted them. Captain Backus and about 100 men of the First Infantry, not receiving the order to withdraw, had climbed to the parapeted roof of a building about 130 yards from the redoubt and now persistently annoyed them. They looked for the reserves; but perhaps Garland's operations prevented sending them, and certainly none came. Ammunition began to fail. The muskets were hot and foul. The cloth of the sand-bags took ﬁre, and made the parapet extremely uncomfortable. Carraseo, the commander, who had run away at the Resaca, now openly took