under Brigadier-General Worth, was directed to turn the enemy's position by making a wide sweep to the right of the Marin road; and, after joining the Saltillo road, to storm, if practicable, the detached works in that quarter.

Accordingly, at two o'clock P. M., the Second Division, reinforced by Hays's regiment of mounted Texans and McCullough's and Gillespie's companies of rangers, took up its line of march; while, in order to divert the enemy, whose attention had been already drawn to the movement, the First Division, under Brigadier-General Twiggs, and the field division of volunteers, under Major-General Butler, were ordered to form in line of battle upon the plain to the east of the city, and threaten the formidable redoubts in front. They remained in position until dark. During the afternoon, a battery was commenced for the mortar and two 24-pound howitzers, with the view of opening a fire upon the city the following morning, during the attack by General Worth's column. The infantry and the 1st Kentucky regiment covered the erection of the battery during the night. The remainder of the troops were withdrawn, after dark, to their camp at Walnut Springs. In the mean time, General Worth had succeeded, with great difficulty, in gaining the vicinity of the Saltillo road, and at six o'clock P. M. the division was halted for the night, just without range of the battery upon Independence Hill and that of the Bishop's Palace, about midway of the same slope.

Nearly opposite, on the other side of the Arroya Topa, were the forts of Federation and Soldada. These latter heights General Worth determined to carry by assault, the following morning, and despatched an express to the General-in-Chief, informing him of his intention, and requesting that a strong diversion might be made in his favour on the eastern side of the city. This had already been determined upon by General Taylor, and was promptly responded to by him.

Early on the morning of the 21st, the First and Volunteer

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Divisions were ordered under arms, and, supported by the light artillery, marched towards the city. The 2d dragoons, under Lieutenant-Colonel May, and Colonel Woods's regiment of Texan cavalry, were thrown to the right, to support General Worth, and make an impression upon the upper part of the town. The loud reports of artillery and small arms to the west of the city, proved the contest in that direction already begun. The mortar, under Captain Ramsey, and the howitzers, under Captain Webster, now opened from the east upon the citadel and town, and the main battle commenced.

A portion of the First Division, under the command of Colonel Garland, and consisting of the 1st and 3d regiments of infantry and the Baltimore battalion, supported by Bragg's and Ridgely's batteries, was ordered to make a strong demonstration upon the lower part of the town, and carry, if possible, one of the redoubts. Major Mansfield and Captain Williams, topographical engineers, accompanied the column, and the most favourable points of attack were to be indicated by Major Mansfield. The column was accordingly formed, beyond reach of the guns of the enemy, when it received directions to move forward and attack battery No. 1, in advance of the north-east corner of the city. Major Mansfield, the chief engineer officer, covered by skirmishers, had already succeeded in reaching the suburbs. The remainder of the column followed, and although subjected, for a distance of five hundred yards across the plain, to the fire from battery No. 1, and a severe cross-fire from the citadel, it dashed impetuously towards the city, passed the batteries in front, and entered the streets. In an instant, without note or warning, a masked battery opened its deadly fire; and from the tops of houses, from the corners of streets, from windows, and barricades, poured down one continuous storm of bullets. Without shelter; in a narrow street; exposed to the enemy in every direction, without the possibility of effectually returning his fire officers and men fell

rapidly. Major Barbour, the first officer who fell, was killed instantly by an escopet ball passing through his heart. The assault at this point was hopeless; so the column retired into the next street, under cover of the walls and houses. Here were brought the wounded, the dying, and the dead. The men still pressed on, encouraged by Major Mansfield, who, though wounded, with indomitable courage led them forward, and pointed out places of attack.

At the head of the Baltimore battalion, here was seen the gallant Colonel Watson, cheering on his men with the courage of a veteran commander. When the stoutest hearts quailed amid the iron tempest poured upon them, dismounting from his horse he still pressed on, though followed by but few of his men. His horse was soon struck by a shot, and fell dead, and shortly after the colonel himself received a ball, which severed the jugular vein and killed him instantly.

Bragg's battery now dashed up, but could make no impression upon the barricades. The firing increased: artillery and smallarms, hurling a storm of grape, canister, and bullets, at all imaginable angles, literally swept the streets. To have remained any longer, hemmed in by batteries and barricades and superior numbers of the enemy, would have entailed a still more terrible loss of life, without any corresponding prospect of success. The command was therefore withdrawn, for the purpose of seeking a more favourable point of attack.*

During this time, Captain Backus, of the 1st infantry, with a mixed command, had possessed himself of a shed attached to a tannery. This shed faced the gorge of battery No. 1, at a distance of a hundred and twenty yards, and from behind the low parapets surmounting its roof the Americans poured a deadly and incessant fire into the battery.

Learning, however, that Colonel Garland's command, unable

Captain Henry's Campaign Sketches.