Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-27

OFFICIAL DISPATCHES FROM GEN.
TAYLOR.


OFFICIAL DISPATCHES FROM 1EN.
TAYLOR.
Re.poUaRrEas FisLD DIVISION VoLukTEERs
Monterey September 80, 1916. }
s,,.-Pursuant, 10 The instructions ot the Major
General commanding, ON the Dist inst al about
8 o'clock, A. NJ, marched my division lwith
the exception one company from each infantry
regiment, lett IL guard Inc camP) and placed u
in order of battle, under cover, Immediately 10
rear OF the mortar and howilZer battery, my iei!
resting on the main road - Monterey. ha',
been in position but shor; time when received
tae Generals further orders To move as speenlly
as pra,licatlr, with three regiments 10 the sup
MORT of Gen. Twigss' division, hen engaged IN
an auemp to carry the enemy's first battery on
our left. To expedite his movement marched
the three nearest regiments, commanded respec-
lively by Coils Davis, Camobell and Mitchell oy
The LETT flank, leaving Col. Ormsby 10 sustain the
batteries. Finding the rife regiment IN rom,
that of Col. Campbell was ordered 10 lake us
place. The two last mentioned Iegimen's eou-
shining Cen Quirman's field brigade, ne LOOK
the immediate command oil thein anu noSeu On
with spirit and promptoess IN the direction inri-
ca,ed nv the enerrys line oi IRE. Having seeh
Cen Qui,,pan's breaie fairly in motion, turn
ed nv attention Ia that Of General damer, now
consisting olthe Ohio regiment Only. Pursuing
the instructions ot the Malor General
felt nv way gradually, without any knowledge
of The localities into thai part OF the Guy Doiuel-
ing on the enemy's continuous line Oh batteries,
assailed at every sep BY heavy hres IN 'front.' ant.
flank Alter having traversel several squares,
NIL Major Man field, the engineer who had con-
duoted The movement OF Gen. Twiggs' division
on The first battery He informed me ot the TALL
ure oftha! attack, and advised The wIthdrawa Il
nv command, as there could no longer De any
obec, in advancing fur'h r, warning me al The
same time that il advanced must meet nfe
,ha, would sweep all before IL. knowing 'he
Major General commanding 10 be put snort
distance in The rear, salloped back and com
municared his information, IN consequence oi
which he gave the order 10 Teirograde, and the
m ,yemrpI was commenced accordingly. IN
sho,t lime however il was known that Gen. Quit-
mans brigade had not only slormed the
battery in question, but had also Carried
stone house OF considerable strength Connect
ed with the hrs and ccuPi-d oy tne enc
my's infantry. The direction oil Gen. ddhets
brigade was AL once changed, and The CITY re-
entered by aao,ner ruuie, which, alter about
han hours m rch un.ei destructive FIRE, brought
il within, say one huro'ed yards oil the enenys
ssco d tort, called z Dabo. A very slight re.
connoi. rance suf. eitoco ,y,ncr me thai This as
a position ii no oioinaly Strength. SIM, ieeiing
is importance, alter consul ing with pafl ol my
staff as ois prac,,c ,biiitr. ad resolved 10 al
tempt carrying i ~ stntin II was IN The ACT ol
Directing The a,v.nce, when fsceivei wound
which comp ed me 10 nai. Cnl. Mtcncii was
al th- same Tine wougtrd al lite head oi hrs re
giment, as was his &tlnant The men were laii-
ing last uGder ne c"nye rgns hres of atleasi three
dis net batteries lhat cununually swept the inter
veniny soace through which il was necessary 10
pA>s The los, vi puod 100 from my wound,
rendered il necessary hat should QUIT The held;
and had discuveied AT second glance mat The
position was covered by heavy tre ot musSe'ry
from olher works directly IN lis rear, thai had
not Sen IN the frs, hdsiy examination. Under all
these dIscuurageinen;s, l was mos. reluctantly
compelled on surren;-ring Inc command, 10 ALL
wise the withdrawal OF the troops 10 less expo.
Sc position. There isa possibility that The WORK
might have been ccrlied, bat Mt winonl exces-
siye los; and, il ca ried, eei assured j, would
have been unlenable.
Accordingly, The division, I'm Ter Gen. Hamer
on whom deyuved The command moved 10 new
position near The captured tort, and within sus-
tanning distance oil our field batteries on the leit
The troops remained in and near this position
and under h,e Of The enemy's batteries until late
in The day. For the details Of the alter proceed
ings OF the day, Iret.r TO Gen. Hamers report.
Il is with no lille pride and qualification that
bear testimony OF the gallantry and general good
conduct o: my command. Were proof wanting,
a mcurnful one is 10 be found in The subjoined
return OF the casualties ol lne day. That part OF
my division properly in The field, did not exceed
eleven huniTed oi which lumber .ull one-htth
was killed or wounded. The tact that troops Tor
The frs time under tire should have suffered such
loss, without shrinking, IN a Continuous struggle
OF more Than Two hours, and mainly against
sheltered and inaccessible toe 6rds bu few paral-
lels, AMI is OF itself an eulogium to which need
not add. That there were some more prominent
tar M Ham pfhPrS
lest where eli were brave there can be no doubt;
and leave l. taose better qualified from their
situations han nv SELL The pleasing, though cell
cafe task u reporting upon their respective me-
rils.
OF my brigadiere however, it is proper that
shouli myself speak. General damer was
placed in d sltua,o, where no,nlng brilliant could
be achieved, b IL whicl al every moment imPefa
lively demanded prudence AMI calm, unoendins
cuurag. IL is bat justice 10 him 10 say thai
found hn equal 10 The emergency.
General Qalman had before him field in
which military genius ana skill Were called into
reQuis,ion ana hono,> could be fairly won, and
| but echo The general voice in saying that he
nvb,y awaited himself If The occasion.
NV special ,hanks are due 10 Major l..
Thomas assistant adjutan, general; General "A.
Sidney Johnston OF Texas. acting inspector gene
raj, and Lieutenant G. W. Lay, aii-de-camp,
who not only displayed great sallantiy ana COOL
ness, but by their professional skill, activity and
energy, rendered valuable service throughout the
action. Alter my withdrawal, they remained
with the roops in The field.
Surgeon 4. P. Hunt, my volunteer aid-de-
camp, also evinced great cooIness, and conveyed
promptly The orders conded 10 him.
o. NY way back 10 camp found The Ken
lucky regiment, under command OF Col. Orns-
by, dra IN NJ in fine nrder 10 repel threatened
cnarg- from iafse dy OF Mexican cavalry
then II view, rnungn necrs>arily kept from The
Sell 1T &c IA proper, h.y OCCUPIED a IN 81 i'm
pun4nt pnsi,ion, and mad two 'ueL wounded in
deiendins II.
| IN Ike no m. niion OF the movements OF Cap.
Web>e,s huwnzer battery, which was witE-
drawn from NV division and placed under chai se
OF the chielol artillery.
Enclosed are The reports Of Brig Gems. Hamer
ami Quilnan Of The operations Of their respective
briyaaes; also, stateme nj in detail oil the loss
sustained by the division.
| AN, SIR, very respectfully,
Your ubeiient servant
W - BIZ Tier,
Major n. Comdg Fi,d Div. Vol.
Maj. w. w. ). sLI>s,
ASS. A1't General,
Head-QuaTlers Amy OF Occupation,
Monterey Mexico.