Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-11-28
THE BATTLE OF MONTEREY.
DISPATCHES FROM GEN. TAYLOR
HEADaUARTERs ARMY OF OccuPATIoN,
CAMP NEAR MONTEREY, OcToBEn y, 10


CAMP NEAR MONTEREY, OcTonER ., lsfG.
Sin have the honor to submit detailed report o
The recent operations Monterey resulting in the capu
ation Of that eiy.
Tno information received on the route from Seravo
particularly the continual appearance in front Of the Mex
cavalry which had slight skirmish with advance
at the village of Ramas, induced the belief approached
Monterey, that the enemy would defend tina. place. Upon
reaching the negborhood Of the city the morning Of the
9h Of September this belief fully confirmed. II
asceaned thai he occupied the force that large
work had been constructed commanding all the northern a
proaches and thai the Bishops Palace and heights
vicinity the Salto road had also been fortified and
occupied with troops and artillery II was known, from IN
rmaon previously received that tire eastern approaches
commanded by several small works the lower edge OF
the city.
The coniguraion of The heights and gorgos the drec-
ton OF the Sa5 road, visible from the point attained by
advance the morning of the 18th, led TO suspect
that it practicable to all the works in that direction,
and thus cut the enemys line of communication. After
tablshing my camp the Walnut Springs, three miles
from Monterey, the suitable position, was accord
nsy my first TO order close reconnaissance Of the
ground iii question: which executed the evening of
the 10Th by the engineer officers under the direction OF Major
Mansfield. reconnaissance of The approaches
at the same time made by Capt Williams, Typographical
sneers The examination made by Major Mansfield proved
the entire practicabiy of throwing forward column the
Salo road, and thus turning the position of the enemy
Deemng this to be operation of essential Importance
dcrs given Brevct Brig Gen. WORTH commanding
the second DIVISION march with his command the Goth
the hill Of the Bishops Palace occupy position
the Salo road, and carry the enemy detached works
in that quarter, where practicable The first regiment
Texas mounted volunteers under command of Col. Hays
associated with the serond division this service Capt
Sanders, engineers and Lieut. Meade, typographical cng
were also ordered to report TO Gen. Worth for duty
with his column.
At O'Clock p M on the 2Oh the second division took
up its march. 1t was discovered by officers who
reconnoitrng the town. and communicated TO Gen. WORTH
that its movement had been perceived and that the
throwing renorcements towards the Bishops Palace and
the height which commands it, To divert his attention far
practicable, the first DIVISION under Brig. Gen. Twggs
and field division Of volunteers under Major General Butler
displayed in front of the town until dark. Arrange
ments made ut the time to place battery during
the night suitable distance from the enemys work.
the CITADEL two "a FOUNDER howitzers and 0nch MORTAR
with view to open fire the following day. when pro-
posed to make diversion in favor of General Wohs
The dth infantry covered this battery during the night
Gen. Worth had in the time reached and occupied for
the night defensive position just without range of battery
above the Bishops Palace having made reconnaissance
far as the Saiillo road.
Before proceeding report the operations Of the 2st and
following days. beg leave that shall mention de
tail only those which conducted against the
tremty of the city elsewhere, under my immediate dec
ton referring you for the particulars of Gen. Worhs opera
tons which were entirely detached, to his full report
transmitted herewith.
Early on the morning Of the 2ls received note from
General Worth, written at hapast nine oclock the night be-
fore suggesting what had already intended strong diver
sion against the and left of the town. favor his
prise against the heights in The infantry and artillery
the first division, and the field division of volunteers
ordered under and took the direction Of the city, leaving
company Of each regiment a camp guard. The I'd
dagoons, under Lieut. Col May, and Col. Woods regi-
ment of Texas volunteers under the immediate di-
of
support Gen. Worth, if necessary, and 10 make mpes
sion, if practicable upon the upper quarter Of the city Upon
approaching the mortar battery, the st and 3d regiments OF
infantry and battalion of Baltimore and Washington voun-
tees with Captain Braggs field haeryhe whole under
the command of Lieut. Col Gaand-wce directed towards
the lower part of the town. with orders 10 make strong de-
monsraon and carry of the enemys advanced works,
it could be done without heavy loss Major Mansfield,
engineers and Capt Williams and Lieut. Pope Topographic
cal engineers, accompanied this column, Major Mansfield
being charged with its direction and the designation Of points
Of aack In the time the mortar, served by Captain
Ramsay of the ordnance and the howize battery under Cap
tain Webster st artillery, had opened their fire upon the
CITADEL which deliberately sustained and answered from
the work. Gen. Buffers division had taken up posi-
ton i'm rear Of this battery, when the discharges of artillery
mingled finally with rapid fire of small arms showed that
Lieut. Col Garlands command had become warmly engaged
deemed necessary 10 support this attack, and accord
ingy ordered the dh infantry and three regiments of General
Buffers division 10 march at by the e flank in the di-
of the advanced work al the lower extremity of the
town, leaving regiment s Kentucky to the
of the 4h infantry did receive this or1e and
queny did not join the advance companies until some time
afterwards.
Lieut. COL Garlands command had approached the town
in direction 10 the right of the advanced work NO y al
the northeastern angle of the city, aud the engineer officer,
covered Ivy skirmslers had succeeded the suburbs
and gaining The remainder Of this command now adj
vanced and entered the town under heavy FIRE Of artillery
from the citadel and the works left and of musketry
from the houses and small works in front A movement Ia
the right was attempted with view gain the rear Of No
and carry hat work, but the troops SO much exposed
fire which they could not eccuay rerp and had already
sustained such loss particularly officers that wa.
deemed best to withdraw them to a more secure position
Capt Backus, lst infantry however, with portion of hi.
and other companies had gained the of tannery
which looked directly into the gorge of No. l. from which
he poured most destructive fire into that and upon b,
strong building in its rear This Rrc happily conceded n
point Of time with the advance of portion Of the volunteer
division upon No. l. and contributed largely the fall of ha
strong and important work.
The three regiments Of the volunteer division under III,
immediate command Of Major General Butler had in the
time advanced in the direction Of No. The leading
brigade under Bngader General Quiiman continued its ad
upon that work. preceded by three companies the Ill
infantry, while General Butler with the st Ohio regiment
entered the the right The companies Of the 4h in
ianty had advanced within short range Of the work, whcr
they received by fire that almost strucl
down onehird of the officers and men, and rendered il
cessary TO retire and effect conjunction with the two othe
companies then advancing Gen. Qutmans brigade, though
suffering most severely particularly in the Tennessee regi
men continued its advance and finally carried the work il
handsome style, well the strong building in its
Five pieces Of artillery, consicabe supply of ammunition
and thirty prisoners including three officers fell into ou
hanlg MotOr INF flor with The