The guard left in it the preceding night,
except Captain Ridgely's company, was relieved at midday by
General Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was thrown
under cover in front of the town to repel any demonstration of
cavalry in that quarter. At dawn of day the height above the
Bishop's Palace was carried, and soon after meridian the palace
itself was taken, and its guns turned upon the fugitive garrison.
The object for which the 2d Division was detached had thus been
completely accomplished, and I felt confident that with a strong
force occupying the road and heights in his rear, and a good
position below the city in our possession, the enemy could not
possibly maintain the town.

During the night of the 22d the enemy evacuated nearly all his
defences in the lower part of the city. This was reported to me
early in the morning of the 23d by General Quitman, who had
already meditated an assault upon those works. I immediately sent
instructions to that officer, leaving it to his discretion, to
enter the city, covering his men by the houses and walls, and
advance carefully as far as he might deem prudent. After ordering
the remainder of the troops as a reserve, under the orders of
Brigadier-General Twiggs, I repaired to the abandoned works and
discovered that a portion of General Quitman's brigade had
entered the town, and were successfully forcing their way towards
the principal plaza. I then ordered up the 2d regiment of Texas
mounted volunteers, who entered the city dismounted, and, under
the immediate orders of General Henderson, co-operated with
General Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was also
ordered up, supported by the 3d Infantry; and after firing for
some time at the cathedral, a portion of it was likewise thrown
into the city. Our troops advanced from house to house, and from
square to square, until they reached a street but one square in
rear of the principal plaza, in and near which the enemy's force
was mainly concentrated. This advance was conducted vigorously,
but with due caution, and although destructive to the enemy, was
attended with but small loss on our part. Captain Ridgely, in the
mean time, had served a captured piece in battery No. 1 against
the city, until the advance of our men rendered it impruden