The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1846-11-07
CAMP NEAR MCNTEREY,t
Sept. 25, 1916.

SS W hNANhN4 fAhS SNhNI ,
which is about 4'miles from Monterey-as we
approached it the firing OfcanuOn was heard,
and when we got here it was ascertained that
the firing was at one Of Gen. Taylor's recon-
n%oitering parties. That evening and the next
day Sunday we rested and brushed up our
rifles for the next days fight, | am rather too
fast-On Sunday evening we marched out with
the Kentucky Regiments and formed before
the town, as a 6int to permit Gen. Worth to
pass around the town with 100 Regulars.
We then returned to camp and in the morn
ing were under arms very early. Our Regiment
then marched down to support a mortar which
was throwing bomb-shells into the town.
We were not there, however, more than ff-
teen minutes when the command came for the
Mississippi Rifles to attack the first fort.-We
started off at once under a cross fire of artillery
from two forts, which assure you threw the
cannon balls about US in a very disageeable
manner. But regarded every thing passing
around US as fine and exciting frolic until we
came to the fort and found some eight or ten
men lying in our path, horribly mangled by a
cannon ball, and uttering the most distressing
groans and shrieks-some with their legs or
arms of, and others crawling on the ground
and dragging their ~entrials after them. l then
felt really solemn, but had no disposition to
return. So soon as we came within two hum
dred yards of the fort we formed and commen-
ced firing upon the rascals in it, while we
were receiving the most destructive fire from
their artillery and mall arms. The Tennessee
Regiments was formed on our left, but the en-.
envy seemed to pay but little attention to them.
After we had fired about ten rounds, Capt.
Willis asked Col. McClug if we had not better
storm it, and Col. McClung-without orders
from Col. Davis-then ordered a charge
There was a general rush for the fort-Mc-
Chung leaped upon the breast-work, followed
BY Lieut.. Patterson and Edward Gregory; they
were not there half a second before a dozen
Southrons and Tombigbee Volunteers fol-
lowed. The Mexcans then ran like the devil
was after them as the remaining Mississippians
and Tennsseeans rushed in. We pursued
them to the next fort, drove them out Of it,
and were chasing them on to the third fort,
when their numbers were so greatly augmon-
ted that we were ordered to retire. In this last
charge Mr., l.. NJ. Turner was shot through
the head and killed on the spot-Lieut.
Arthur at the same time received a ~glancing
shot on the head which tore the skin and flesh
and caused a very profuse flow of blood -
When l saw him his face was covered with
blood, and | assure you that | was much more
alarmed on his account than | was before or al
ter during the whole action.
After we retired we did very little until we
all rested and got ready to leave town for
camp.-Two Regiments were left to guard the
forts we had taken, and we then commenced
retiring under the same cross FIRE of artillery
which we had to sustain in the morning.
While on the plains one or two men were
killed by cannon balls. l forgot to mention
that Col. McClung was dangerously wounded
just before we commenced retiring. John
Markham, of our company, was shot in the
arm (not very severely early in the action. On
the next day we returned and relieved one of
the Regiments in the second fort. On that day
there was no fighting in our part Of the town,
except with artillery. In the upper part of the
town, (about two miles off from us) Gen.
Worth took two forts and the Bishops Palace,
killed two or three hundred Mexican regulars
aud l%ancers, and played the devil with them
generally. He was assisted by several COM
panies OF Texan Rangers who were Of great SER
vice to him.
On the first day in the evening Lieut.. H. F..
Cook was slightly wounded as we were return
ing to the camp from town. On the third
morning we discovered from our fort that the
enemy had evacuated the third fort, Col. Davis
at once took possession Of it with four compa-
nIes-leaving the Southrons and three other
companies in charge of the second fort, In
the course of an hour our friends were engaged
with the enemy up town and we were sent for
to support them. We started offIour company
in 'front.' and passed up in front Of the fourth
fort under q severe fire from scopets and mus
kets. Here one of our men (P. W.. Johnson)
was wounded in the leg. We pretty soon
reached our other companies, who were scat
tered about behind houses. You will under
stand that the Mexicans up, in, and upon
houses, were entirely concealed from our sight,
while we were very frequently fully exposed
to them. But | assure you that there was on
our part, while in town, some of the p~rettiest
running and lodging that YOU ever heard tell
of-by the way, running and lodging are by
no means confined to volunteers. / noticed
several of the Regular officers who had re-
duccd lodging to such a perfect sciencelt that
it seems impossible for any sort of ball to
strike them.
1t is impossible for any one who is absent to
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