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

196 THF BISHOP'S CASTLE TAKEN.
men rising in the next instant, from the rocks, charged with
a shout upon the front and flanks of the foe. The Mexicans
were unable to resist this sudden and impetuous assault, and
after a short but ineffectual effort to hold their ground, gave
way, and, like a loosened cliffs rolled headlong down the
descent. Few of the fugitives paused to re-enter the castle;
but " horse and foot" fled in dire confusion past the work,
and, as their own historians confess, " penetrated to the interior of the city, spreading terror." X
The Americans pursuing, entered the castle. Its guns,
together with Duncan's and Mackall's field-batteries, which,
the road being now open, came up from. the valley at a gallop, were discharged upon the retiring and confused masses
that filled the avenue leading to the city. About thirty prisoners were taken in the fortress. Lieutenant Ayres of the 3d
Artillery hauled down the gaudy standard of Mexico; and
in the next moment, the unpretending flag of our glorious
Union floated in triumph from the battlements. As it was
unfurled by the evening breeze, and the " stripes and stars"
flashed in the golden rays of declining day, shouts of joy
burst forth from those who, on the north side of the city, had
been attentively observing the tragic scenes enacted on the
hights. Thus terminated on the evening of September 22d,
the second act of the drama.
*The enemy committed, in my poor judgment of such matters, an egregious
blunder in associating some squadrons of horse with the attacking column. The
practice of mixing small bodies of infantry and cavalry together, is a bad one in
all places, but especially so in that. Ground more unsuitable for the operations of
mounted troops, I never beheld. The proud Lancers, it may be, concluded that
the disgrace and humiliation of defeat could be no greater than that of serving on
foot.