wounded. Fortunately, Captain Backus, of the 1st infantry, gained with his company a stone tannery, the roof of which looked directly into the gorge of Fort Teneria, at a distance of two hundred yards. From this his men poured a most destructive fire into the redoubt, and the building in its rear, thus contributing in no little degree to the capture of those places.

Meanwhile, being apprized of the struggle with Colonel Garland, General Taylor sent to his assistance a reinforcement, consisting of the Ohio regiment, under Colonel Mitchell, a portion of Hamer's brigade, under Colonel Campbell, and Colonel Davis's Mississippians-the whole under the direction of General Butler. This officer despatched General Quitman with the Mississippi brigade and that of General Hamer, in the direction of the city, and then advanced cautiously towards the scene of conflict. Here he soon became exposed to the enemy's fire, and after advancing a few squares, he met Major Mansfield, and received from him information of the failure of his attack. The major advised an immediate retreat. Butler communicated this to the commanding general, who ordered him to fall back; but soon after, on information being received that General Quitman had stormed a strong battery and a stone house, the order was withdrawn.

On leaving General Butler, General Quitman had marched towards Fort Teneria, through a fire from all the enemy's positions, more terrible than any which the Americans had yet witnessed. Musketry, grape, canister, and round shot swept every lane and avenue, rattling over the stony pavements, and crossing in whirling streams at every corner. The ground rocked and heaved as though in the convulsion of an earthquake. The heavy discharges fell on the stunned ear without intermission, and thick folds of smoke rolled up like mountains towards heaven, lighted only by the lurid flashes of cannon. Amid this fearful storm, where the voice of command was drowned in that of death and havoc, Quitman moved forward his staggering lines, which thinned and opened at every step. Four companies of the 4th infantry lost one-third of their officers and men by a single discharge, and fel back on the rear. But the passions of the Americans were wound to the highest pitch, and throwing down every impediment, they rushed with loud shouts towards the fort. Gradually the column became enveloped and lost in smoke, which, lifting occasionally, again displayed the troops moving rapidly up to the cannon's mouth. On arriving within three hundred yards, they opened a fire from their rifles, which continued half an hour. Mexicans, sure of victory, now flung forth a new flag, and poured forth their showers of grape and musketry with unintermitted rapidity.

The

At sight of this defiance, Lieutenant-Colonel McClung shouted the word "charge," and in the same moment the stern voice of Colonel Davis was heard echoing it along his line. Breasting the withering storm, the command rushed forward, over dead and falling, and came like an avalanche upon the fort. McClung, sword in hand, leaped the ditch, mounted the wall, and with one more step was hand to hand with his foe. A tide of exasperated warriors poured after him, and in a few minutes their wild shouts, soaring above the pealing of cannon, told of the hard-earned victory. The Mexicans took refuge in a strong building, known as the distillery, whence they opened a fire of musketry; but this was speedily captured by Lieutenant-Colonel McClung. Five pieces of artillery were captured, a quantity of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, including three officers. McClung being severely wounded, Colonel Davis assumed command, and led the brigade towards Fort Diablo, until recalled by General Quitman. Thus, after a most desperate and bloody conflict of more than two hours, was one of the enemy's strong holds carried by storm, notwithstanding the obstinate resistance they maintained. Considering that it was the first time that the troops of General Butler's

division were ever brought into action-sustaining as they did, a desperate struggle against a sheltered and inaccessible foe-unprotected and bared to the storm of the murderous artillery of the enemy, which, although it swept one-fifth of their number from the ranks, could not cause them to shrink for an instant from a steady advance their conduct on this occasion proves to the world the undaunted gallantry of our citizen soldiers, who have won for themselves the reputation of veteran troops. The charge led by the Mississippi rifle regiment upon Fort Teneria, without bayonets, has gained for the state a triumph which stands unparalleled.

Meanwhile Colonel Garland's command had been exposed to a destructive fire from the second and third forts. An officer of the Baltimore battalion thus describes the operations of that body, prior to its being ordered by Major Mansfield to retire:* "I saw Colonel Watson shouting, but it was impossible to hear a command, owing to the deafening roar of cannon and musketry. The head of our column changed its direction, and I knew at once that the point of attack was changed, and ran in front of my company to intercept the head of my column. I reached it as Colonel Watson was dismounting from his horse, which the next moment fell from a shot. The colonel cried out to his men-Shelter yourselves, men, the best way you can.' At this time the battalion was scattered over the space of about an acre, the men lying down. At first the shot flew over their heads, but the guns were soon depressed so as to take effect.

"I was lying close to Colonel Watson, along-side of a hedge, when he jumped up, exclaiming, 'Now is the time, follow me.' We were now in a street or lane, with a few houses on either side, and within a hundred yards of three batteries, which completely raked it, in addition to which, two twelve-pound guns were planted in the castle on the right, and completely enfiladed the whole distance we had to make. Add to this the musketeers on the housetops, in the barriades at the head of the street up which we advanced, and at every cross street, and some idea may be formed of the deluge of balls poured upon us. Men and horses fell at every step of our advance. Cheers, shrieks, groans, and shouts of command added to the din, and uniting with the roar of cannon, became absolutely deafening.

"We had advanced up the street under this awful and fatal fire nearly two hundred yards, when we reached a cross street, at the corner of which, all who had succeeded in getting thus far, halted, as if by mutual consent. While shaking Colonel Watson by the hand, as he complimented me, a shower of grape, round, and canister shot

• The style of description differs from the original.