Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

STORMING THIE BISHOP'S CASTLE-THE SORTIE. 195
Bishop's Castle; which was below, and about four hundred
yards distant firom the position last carried. No artillery
was found in the redoubt, and Lieutenant Roland, of Duncan's battery, aided by fifty soldiers of the line, undertook
the Herculean task of dragging or rather carrying a twelvepounder howitzer up the rugged acclivity which the troops
had climbed in the early morning. In two hours the labor
was successfully accomplished; and the howitzer, covered by
the epaulernent of the captured work, commenced to play
upon the castle. Meanwhile the 5th Infantry had been
brought up by its gallant Major, Martin Scott, to reinforce
the hight, while the troops of Major Vinton, and the Texans
under Hays and Walker, advancing to covered positions on
both sides of the ridge, invested the castle with a close and
constant fire, which the enemy returned from the parapets
and loop-holes of that massive edifice. This contest of
sharp-shooters continued for several hours, and with the fire
of Roland's howitzer, produced a visible efiect upon the garrison. At length the Mexicans conceived the desperate resolution of re-taking the hight, as the only means of saving
the castle; and about 3 P. M., having received heavy reinforcements from the city, they made a vigorous sortie under
Colonel Francisco Berra. This was a movement long anticipated, and for which the needful dispositions had been made
by the accomplished strategist who commanded our troops.
The enemy was allowed to advance, unmolested, for some
distance up the ridge; and then, at a preconcerted signal, a
general discharge from all arms was poured into his culumnn,
which caused it to reel and stagger back in dismay. Our