The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-02
THE DAILY UNION

The part which each corps conLfiDuled 70 tho sue
oesses Of the day will appear more fully IN future
reports. To MAJOR Generals Butler and Henderson,
and Brigsaisy Generate T.osss and Worth, command
log divisions must express my obligations Tor the
eficent support which they have rendered-paIucu-
aIly 50 10 BrigadIer General Worth, whose services
from has detached position, have been most eonspier
| uous.n o.
| We are favored also with tho following letter by
gentleman Of Washington, from an officer in the
army, whose duty il Is TO sec much of the field Of
bate, and whose intelligence is shown by the char
actsr ofhis letter lie mentions in high, and doubt
just terms, the active services OF Gen. Twggs, In
these memorable engagements
From an officer In the comp Of Gen. Taylor to his
. .. brother IA Washington.
CAMP BEFORE MosTEREr,
September 49, 1886
have written TO you several hasty letters of our
proceedings IN this quarter and az mail has been
established between this and Camargo weekly, Il
again avail myself Of the present respite TO write
you.
On the 18Th inst our advance, when within about
mile Of Monterey, was fired upon by the batteries
OF our enemy, which certainly the most conclu-
slye proof that they had no idea Of entering the
city with their free will So after drawing the fires
from one or two other points of the city, we en-
L
tan, when the necessary preparations were made 10
| attack Monterey The same evening company Of
Dragons, Capt Graham's, made reeonnolsance 10
the south OF the city by which We learned the posi-
ton Of certain works, and that attack could be
made. The 20th was still occupied by making sd-
ditlonal reconnaissance in other directions and by
the I'd division Of Gen Worth's) the army making
detoar 10 the northern part Of the city, and in the
latter part of the day by demonstration Of a por-
tion Of the army IN front Of the city, which had the
effect Of disclosing some Of their masked works. and
the firing Of their cannon continued some time afler
dark On the 2ist every body was Ssser for The
fray; so after good and hearty breakfast, so lar as
was concerned, we advanced towards the town
Gen. T,oiggs galaniy leading his division agaiast he
fors i he southern part u The Looa exposed 10 hGspy
and destructive fire, aad succeeded glr about four
hours Of the hardest ghting, in taking iTO Of the
my forts together ,0iA Gpsral pieces " cannon Our
loss this day was considerable. The cavalry not
being Of any service against stone walls, were
deTed 10 work their way towards Gen. Worth on
the north; but since his passage through gorge Of
the mountains, the enemy had established battery
which in part preeluded Us from joining him. and
even il we had our services could have been but OF
little utility, as the enemy were fortified, and
skilfuly too, that, as cavalry, we could net have
operated. However, took station on the road
leading 10 MoBtcova, just out OF range Of the shot
from the Bishops Palace and fort IN our front and
right, capturing several Of the Mexicans who at
tempted 10 escape Dy inns TOuNc. ~ may DC as well
to inform you that in Of the city rises success
sion OF mountains the lefl or south was Gen. |
Twiggs on the right OF north was Gen. Worth, and
in the front was the residue of the army-Major |
General Taylor everywhere. So that you perceive
no chance was lefl for their escape; for they too
well knew that the moment they met ia open |
field, their chance was hopeless. Whilst we stlI oe-
cupied station above indicated, we had the pleas
ing satisfaction Of seeing the troops Of Gen. Worth
carry by storm two Of the enemy's works, in posi-
ton, too, where It seemed almost hopeless effort
being on the highest points above the city, and
sufficiently high TO have wearied some Of our
most noted predestrians-these points carried, our
chance was enhanced greatly. The troops oc- |
cupyng their position this night, except those who
were in front of the city, piquets and vdettes being
all sufficient during the night
Dad, after breakfast, we again. advanced to-
wards the town, when the proceedings Of the |
day before were enacted-our troops in the
lower part Of the town doing all that could be |
done, and gradually advancing into the city, Those
in the upper part, from their position, having at
daylight this morning carried by storm another
height from the enemy, and also established bat
terry opposite the Bishops Palace, and by o'clock
this day was in possession Of all the enemys Bate
res of any consequence, and their own guns play
ing upon them from these heights.
23d, a battery was established by direction of
Gen. Worth on one Of tn, heights in of the
city, which must have done great execution, as we'll
the enemy were closely confined to the main plaza
of the city and one fort, of our lsrge mortars
together with ammunition, naviBg Ss1ts day been
sent to Gen. Worth under escort Of the dGagoons
The Gath, the enemy made overtures and Of the re-
suit you are already informed Too much praise
cannot be given Gen Worth, for he has mos, GER
ainly re-established himself in public favor, and oil
those whose ready pens condemned his former
course, should now be ready TO acknowledge his
merits and porth. His skill in conducting all his
attacks cannot be better shown than by bis slight
loss, although opposed by overwhelming numbers
Although the Dragons had but little to do with
fighting, they were constantly in the saddle and
when not employed on other duty, had to seek for
our dead and wounded as well as keep off such Of
the enemy's anccrs, whose temerity would lead
them near our lines; and this, too, in the face of
two batteries which Kept up a constant cannonade
at us; but as our men were well scattered and had
become such "artfu dodgers" that the dragoon loss
is only one horse killed; one wounded, and
one horse. The accuracy with which one Of these
batteries fired their l2-pound guns was such that
relieving or relieved, but what they lost more
men, and a horseman had to run the gauntlet when
passing to and from camp.
The enemy's force must have been, at the least
$1,000, and some fifty pieces of cannon, Us as
can make it. Our strength could not have ex-
ceeded 6, 900. The loss Of the enemy is consider
able--ours must be about 500 killed, wounded, and
missing. Amongst the officers killed are Major
Barbour, Captains Morris and Field, and Lents
Irwin (adjutanO and Hazlett of the 4th infantry;
Lieuts. Hoskins and Woods, of the 4th infantry
Wounded, Major Lear, badly, and Captain Balm
bridge, slightly, of the Sd; and Lieut.. R. H. Ora
ham, Of the 4th infantry. Lieut.. Col. Watson, of
the Baltimore battalion is also numbered among
the killed. .. - w.. .. ~, -tel
Our general has published an order of congratu-
ation to the army upon our triumph. send here
with a copy as il mPy not be embarrassing to you.
.,. -----------------------------
A very intelligent correspondent from western
State sends US n criticism upon a communication
C-or "a y L., O.. NJ.