The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-02
From the Nashville Wing. Oct %
LETTER or COL. w. b. CAMPBELL.
CAMP NEAR MONTEREY, Mexico,

From the Nashville Wing. Oct %
LETTER or COL. w. b. CAMPBELL.
CAMP NEAR Monterey, Mexico,
September Is, 1876.
Mr. DEAR SIR: have not time, as the express
leaves very shortly, to write you letter, but only
to let you know that an attack was made by Gen.
Tsylor's army on Monterey on the 2lst., which
succeeded in part by taking fortress and portion
OF the town on that day; and on the Odd and 23d,
two other forts fell into hands and on the oath
Gen. Ampuda sent in white flag proposing terms.
conference was held yesterday which resulted in
an armisce for eight weeks, and an agreement that
the Mexican general should march off his whole ar
my with their arms and six pieces OF artillery. The
town and forts, and public property, and public
stores TO be given up TO the Americans, and to-
day. at 10 O'Clock, the main fortress is to be deliv-
cred up.
For all this Tennessee has suffered most severely
my regiment went early into action on the morn
ing Of the 2lst September, and ordered to sus-
tain some regulars who were said to be attacking
fort at one end Of the city. When arrived with
them within point blank musket shot of the fort no
regulars visible they had fled to the right and
taken shelter behind houses, and had got into the
outskirts Of town. so that my command was left
exposed to the most severe discharge of artillery
and musketry that was poured upon a line OF
volunteers. They bore the fire with wonderful cour-
age, and were brought to the charge in few min
utes and rushed upon the fort and took it at the
point Of the bayonet. Ii was most CALAMITY done.
The Mississippi regiment sustained my regiment
most calamity in the charge, and came into the fight
like valiant soldiers. We passed through the fort
and into the town, but other well fortified places put
a stop to our progress, and we had to keep up the
fight from behind wa-fences and houses all day.
The fort which We took has been in our possess
sion ever since. Two other forts were abandoned
by the enemy on the god, and taken possession of
by our men, On the morning of the 2ist September,
| marched to the attack on Monterey with my regi-
ment, numbering 379, including officers, non COM
missoned officers and privates and my loss during
the day was twenty-six killed, n wounded, and 2
missing, supposed now certainly TO be dead. This
will show whether we stood the fire, as our march
all the time was onward or stationary upon the
ground we had taken.
l send you list Of the killed and wounded in the
action, that you may publish. regretted that Capt
Whtfeld's company could not have been with us;
but one company was to be left, and he had the day
before been on hard duty with his, company, and
was properly the one TO be left behind. Myself,
Lieut. Col, Anderson, Major Alexander, and Lieut..
Adjutant Holman, were on horseback, and can
say, that never did men act more promptly and gal
lanty than did Lieut.. Col. Anderson and Adiutant
Holman, and Major Alexander, until the last fell
wounded, early in the action. The whole command
acted ,nobly and bravely. a, , s,,,,,',
naaa .aa,s - SD am yours,