Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-03
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES
From Gen. Taylor.
Relative 10 the S,orming Of Monterey.
HEAD QUARrERs ARMY OF OccurATIoN,

'Nl'N w itt ItCtut Optfdttons ptiviN NaVhNNitJg
resulting in the capiulation Of that city.
The Information received on the route from Ger
ralvo and particularly the continual appearance in
our front OF the Mexican cavalry, which had
slight skirmish with our advance al the village Of
Ramas induced the belief, as we approached Mon
terey that the enemy would defend that place
Upon reaching the neighborhood Of The city on the
morning Of the 10Th Of September this belief was
fully confirmed II was asceriained that he occnpi.
ed the town in force that large work had been
constructed commanding all the northern approach
cs and that the Bishops Palace aud some heights
in its vicinity the Saltillo road had also been
fortified and occupied with troops aud artillery. II
was known from information previously received
that the eastern approaches were commanded by
several small works in the lower edge of the city
The confguraton of the heights aud gorges in
the direction Of the Satillo road as visible from
the point attained by our advance on the morning
Of the 10Th, led me to suspect that it was practica.
bile to turn all the works in that direction, and thus
cut the enemy's line Of communication Amer es-
iabshing my camp at the walnut Springs three
miles from Monterey, the nearest suitable position,
II was, accordingly, my first TO order close
Reconnaissance Of the ground in question, which
was executed on the evening Of the 10Th by the en-.
gineer officers under the direction Of Major Mans
field. A reconnaissance of the eastern approaches
was at the same time made by Capt Williams, to.
Major Mansfield proved the entire pracIicablity Of
throwing forward column to the Saliillo road and
thus turning the position Of the enemy. Deemnq
this 10 be operation Of essential importance or.
ders were given to Brevet Brig. Gen. Worth, com.
manding the second division 10 march with his
command on the Goth to turn the hill Of the Bish.
ops Palace; to occupy position on the SaItIo
road, and TO carry the enemys detached works in
that quarter, where practicable. The first regi-
If al
mand Of Col. Hays was associated with the second
division Of this service. Capt. Sanders, engineers
and 1t. Meade, typographical engineers, were also
ordered TO report TO General Worth for duty with
his column
At o'clock, P. NJ. on the Goth, the second di.
vision took up its march. II was soon discovered
by officers who were accommodating the town, and
communicated to Gen. Worth, that its movement
had been perceived, and that the enemy was throw
ing renforcements towards the Bishops Palace and
the height which commands it. To divert his at.
,ention as far as practicable the first division, I'M.
der Brigader General Twiggs. and field division of
volunteers, under Major General Butler, were dis.
played in front Of the town until dark Arrange
ments were made al the same time TO place in bat
terry during the night. at a suitable distance from
the enemy's main work, the capital two "a poun.
der howitzer, aud 10 inch mortar, with view to
open fire on the following day, when proposed
W manu- uhcfsioh w idNOT OF ven. w Orln move
ment. The 4,h infantry covered this battery du
ring the night Gen. Worth had in the mean time
reached and occupied for the night, defensive po-
sltlon just without range Of battery above the
Bishops Palace. having made reconnaissance as
far as the Sato road.
Before proceeding to report the operations of the
2ls, and following days, beg leave TO state that
shall mention in detail only, those which were con.
Quoted against the Eastern extremity Of the city or
ola
you for the particulars Of Gen Worths operations
which were entirely detached to his own full re-
port transmitted herewith.
Early on the morning OF the 2Ist | received a
note from Gen. Worth, written at half past o.
clock the night before, suggesting what had al.
ready intended--a strong diversion against the cen.
ire and left Of the town, to favor his enterprise
against the heights in rear. The Infantry aud Ar.
tilery OF the first DIVISION and the field division Of
volunteers, were ordered under arms, and took the
direction Of the CITY, leaving one company of each
regiment as a camp guard. The I'd dragons, un-
der Lieut.. Col. May, and Col. Woods regiment OF
Texas mounted volunteers under the immediate
direction OF General Henderson, were directed to
the right, to support Gen. WORTH il necessary, and
TO make an Impression If practicable, upon the up
per quarter Of the city Upon approaching the
mortar battery, the LIST and Sd regiments of infant
~ and battalion of Baltimore and Washington vol
under command Of Li.u,. Col Garland, were di.
reccd towards the lower part of the town with or
ders to make strong demonstration, and carry one
Of the enemy's advanced works if il could be done
without too heavy loss Major Mansfield, engi-
neers, and Capt. Williams and Lieut.. Pope, topo-
graphical engineers, accompanied this column, Ma
jor Mansfield being charged with its direction, and
the designation of points OF attack. In the mean.
time, the MORTAR served by Capt. Ramsay, of the
ordnance and the howitzer battery under Capt
Webster, LIST artillery, had opened their fire upon
the CITADEL which was deliberately sustained, and
answered from the work. Gen. Buffers division
had now taken up position in rear Of this battery
when the discharges Of artillery, mingled finally
with rapid FIRE Of small arms, showed that Lieut.
Garlands command had become warmly engaged
now deemed il necessary TO support this attack
and accordingly ordered the 18th infantry, aud three
regiments Of Gen Buffers division TO march al
once by the leh flank in the direction of the ad.
vanced work at the lower extremity Of the town
leaving one regiment list Kentucky to cover the
mortar and howtzer battery. BY some mistake
two companies of the 4ih infantry did not receive
this order. and consequently did not Join the adj
vance companies until some time afterwards.
Lieut. Col. Garand's command had approached
the town in direction 10 the right Of the adyanc-
ed work mo. ~ at the northeastern angle Of the
city, and the engineer officer, covered by skirmish
ers. had succe, ded in entering the suburbs and
gaining cover. The remainder of this command
now advanced, and entering The town under heavy
fire Of artillery from the citadel aud the works on
the len, and of muskelry from the houses and
small works in front. A movement to the right
was attempted with view 10 gain the rear Of No
l, and carry that work, but the troops were so
much exposed to the FIRE which they could not ef-
fpctuallV retuFn and lad aIraadv sch "a