Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-12-10
BATTLE OF MONTERREY.
:
GEN. WORRIES REPORT.
HEADauAnTEns FIELD DIVISION Volunteers,

moSIEsEY, oepIeB.Der 90, TS>so.-
DIR: have the honor TO report that, in obedience
to the verbal orders of the general-in-chef the d
Visions under my command, composed of Leuten-
ant Colonel Duncan's battery of horse artillery ar
tillery battalion, Git. Col. Chlds,) and 9Th reqi
ment, (Capt. Scriven,) constituting the first br-
gade, under Lieut. Col. Stamford Lieut.. Mack
ALPS battery horse artillery, 9th infantry, (Maior
Scott J seventh, Capt. Miles, and one COMPANY
OF Louisiana volunteers (Capt. Blanchard, } second
brigade, under Brigadier General Persifor f. Smith
Colonel of rifles,) and Col Hays regiment of Tex
an mounted rlflemen, moved from the main camp
at FL Bosque de 81. Domingo, at D. m. on the
Goth.
My instructions were, by detou to the right,
to endearor to find and reach the SalGlo road effect
thorough reconnaissance of the approaches to the
city from that direction, TO cut off supplies and re-
Inducements and, If practicable, carry the heights
OWING to the difficulties of the ground after
leaving the Marin, and before striking the Presqui-
ma Grande road, the division had reached only six
mIles-ln consequence of the delay in making the
route practicable for artillery, which service was ex
ecuted by Captain Saunders-ai D. n, and was
halted just without The range Of gun battery up-
ON the summit Of an isolated hill, called Lomu de
IndepCndcncia, midway on the ascent of which was
the Bishops Palace Thence Reconnaissance was
made, under cover of detachments of Hays' Tex
ans, to the Intersection of the Presquina Grande
route, then In our possession with the Saltillo road
The examination resulted in the conviction that the
grounds in our front and on our left, in advance,
constituted at the same time the weak and the srono
points OF the enemy's posliion and entered mainly
into the defences OF the city--the weak point be-
cause commanding the only lines Of retreat and of
supply in the direction of Satlo, and controlling
that In direction of Presquina GTande the strong
point, because Of the peculiarly defensive character
Of the bills and gorges, and of the very careful and
SlZllfl with which fhey had hacn if,od
and guarded. 1t was also clearly indicated that
our further advance would be strenucusy resisted
On the morning of the Dist, the division was put
in motion, and with such formation as to present the
Teadiest order Of battle any point Of assault. At
the advance, consisting of Hays Texans, sup
ported by the light companies, LIST brigade under
Captain G. F. Smith, (both extended as the valley
widened or contracted,) closely followed by Dun
cam light artillery, and battalion heads of columns
ON turning the angle of the mountain, at hacien-
da called San Jeronip,o, came upon strong force
OF cavalry and infantry, mostly the former con-
flict Immediately ensued. The Texans received
the heavy charge of cavalry with their unerrng ri
fies and usual gallantry the light companies open
ed rapid and well-direced fire; Duncan's bate
ry was in action in minute, promptly support
ed by section of Mackall's,) delivering its fire o.
yer the heads Of our men, Ere the close of the
combat, which lasted but fifteen minutes the first
brigade had formed to the 'front.' on the right and
,e'., anu ucINeleQ llS IRE. Inc "a brigade was
held In reserve, the ground not admitting of its de-
ployment The enemy retired in disorder, Oeav-
ing on an ground one hundred killed and wonnd-
| ed among the former Don Juan n. Najira. colo
mel OF the permanent regiment of lancers upon the
Satilio road, and was closely persued until we
got possession of the gorge, where all the debouch-
es from Monterey unite, where by the force just de-
feated, also renforcemenis and supplies from
that direction, excluded from entering the CT
ty. At this important point the division was halt
ed, and attention directed toward the mountain
forts which envelop the city on its western ant
southwestern faces. Soon discovering. however
that position brought US within effective rang,
of the batteries, the troops were adranced some
eight hundred yards farther on the Saltillo road.
The examination, thus far, had manifested be
sides the importance Of the positions, the ipracii
cabty Of any effective operations against the city