The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker. Page: 200
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200 coirrrATION OF iTE RATTLE.
CHAPTER XX.
The Morning of the 24th-Continuation of the Battle-Lieut. Farrelly-Lieut.
Edw. Deas-Flag from Ampudia, with Letter to Gen. Taylor-Suspension
of Hostilities--Surrender of the City-Disappointment of the TexiansThe
Capitulation-Letter of Col. Davis-Terms of Ceremony of the Surrender-Evacuation
of the City-Visit to Gen. AmpudiA-His Address and
Pronunciamento-Ampudia's Account of the Battle.
AT daylight, on the 24th of September, the Texians under
Lieut. Col. Walker, who had occupied the post-office and the
governor's house during the preceding night, opened a murderous
fire upon the enemy with their rifles. During the latter part of
the night, several of them had crossed the street and picked a
hole through the solid wall of a house on the opposite corner.
Thismovement was made with great caution and secrecy. As
the last stroke of the pick-axe went through the heavy masonry,
a company of Mexican infantry, stationed inside, attempted to
escape by the front door. One half of the company were shot
dead before they crossed the street, so deadly was the fire of the
Texians from the post-office, and at the same time a new line of
operations was opened by the assailants. The fight was also
begun by the regulars, who occupied advanced positions on the
house-tops. Lieut. Farrelly, of the 5th, with his company opened
a brisk fire on the enemy occupying the building called the sandbag
house, which this intrepid young officer sustained with great
gallantry.
It was a most delightful morning; the late rains had cooled the
air, and valley and mountain smiled once more in the bright and
joyous sunbeams, as if to gladden and cheer on &i men to new
exertions for victory. All was life, stir, and activity. McCulloch's
company, which had been posted in the rear on picketguard,
now dashed into the city on their horses, and were drawn
up into a line near some jacales, where they were ordered by Col.
Hays to dismount and turn their horses into a corn-field, to march
down the street, and form on the tops of the houses. Mexican
women were standing in the doors and offering our men oranges
and other fruits, as if to conciliate us, telling us that nearly all
the Mexican cavalry had left the city last night, that Ampudia
was a coward, and that we would certainly carry the city before
sundown.
While we were marching through the streets, the men were
requested by Lieut, Edward Deas to assist in dragging the atil.
lery over the barricades which crossed the streets. This we did,
throwing down the stones and carrying them out of the way, s
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Reid, Samuel C., Jr. The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker., book, 1859; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38096/m1/213/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.