137'
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
Major Wm. R. Scurry were at the head of their respective Battallions, and brought them forward with the utmost coolness [and] delibera- tion. From this point the attack commenced, the immediate object being to dislodge the enemy from the battlements of the adjacent houses, from which they poured down upon us-themselves in comparative security-an incessant fire. The Regiment advanced to the attack with the greatest enthusiasm and alacrity. The men with their officers salied from street to street and from house to house as fast as doors could be forced and walls scaled.- Captains Truett and Thompson passing up Matamoros street in the direction of the Western side of the city for the protection of the flying artillery, which had entered and was raking the streets. They were accompanied by Captain John A. Veatch quartermaster of the Regiment, and Major Bradford of the Mississippi regiment, both of whom are highly lauded b~ Capt. Truett and his men for the calm and judicious manner in in [sic] which they assisted in conducting the assault on that part of the city. This party penetrated as far as the West side of Santa Reta street, which leads south direct to the great Church. Captains Johnson and Lyons accom- panied Major Scurry passed in the direction of the Church, penetrat- ing with a considerable party as far as the junction of Santa Rita and Moralo streets, leaving only one block of buildings between them and the public square which surrounded the great Church. Within about fifty paces of this point was a battery which had been thrown across the street. They remained a short time at this place, exchanging shots with a large body of Mexicans,. who occupied the roofs of the houses on both sides of the battery, when Major Scurry with the highest evi- dences of unconquerable cour[age and] perseverance, crossed with 11 men, to the West side of Santa Rita street under a heavy fire from the cannon at the battery and from the musketry both from the Church and the roofs of intermediate houses. Captains Hall of Liberty, Hall of Houston, Sparks and Wilder, as did all who were engaged, gave evidence throughout the action of the possession of those qualities which adorn the soldier's character. Lieut. Col. Myrick was near my own person in our advltnce into the City, and by his calm and determined bearing, and the invincible perseverance and courage with which he pressed forward, contributed in no small degree to the rapidity of our advance. We had penetrated south as far as l\foralo Street in the neighborhood of the West end of the great Church. In this manner we were rapidly penetrating into t[he] center of the city, and should in a few minutes have been enabled to occupy the roofs of the houses immediately surrounding the Church, and near where most of the troops in the city seemed to be placed, and upon whom we could have poured a most destructive fire from our rifles. At this juncture orders came to retire from the city, which we did slowly and in good order. Our loss was inconsiderable. Six wounded, one mortally, two badly and three others slightly, covers the entire loss. This when we take into con- sideration our exposed condition is almost incredable; for in addition to the enemy's fire, bombs were frequently falling in our immediate neighborhood, supposed to have been thrown from Genl. Worth's bat- teries. What loss the enemy sustained is impossible to say; but from the traces left in their retreat, it must have [been l considerable. Many instances of individual daring and indifference to danger displayed, both by men and officers, might in justice be mentioned;
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