The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-04

so ntere sting, that we have been furnished WIN
copy OF IL for the Patriot |
MONTEREY, Mexico, .. |
September %, 1916.
Ny DEAR M: General Worth has just leit mere |
He called 10 request me TO write 10 you, and give
you description Of the battles, and say "thai the
old lst brigade, in which we served happily To-
gether for long time, has immortallzed ITSELF :.
The general would have written to you himself
bat every instant of his time is Employed IN addt-
ton TO his duties Of general Of division, he Is gov
ernor of the town-a post Of labor and importance,
at this present time, while the Mexican army Is
evaeuatIng the city.
Our division left General Tayors camp Sunday
morning, the 10th instant, TO turn the town, block
up the Saltillo road thus cutting of retreat and
preventing the enemy's endorsements from enter
ing, and TO storm the Bishops Palace and the
heights defended by artillery, on the right OF the
city. AS we marched out Of camp, the road was
lined by our friends, who had come out to see US
depart on our desperate mission, and to say Ias'
"God speed you.n
The division marched slowly, hating from time
to time TO repair the road for the passage OF arte-
ry Late in the afternoon we reached the vicinity
Of the first conicsl height half way down the slope
of this height the side towards the town is the
Bishops Palace strong work, with a redoubt OF
| solid masonry.
| About retreat Reconnaissance was ordered, which
! the general accompanied. The reconnaissance was
handsomely made under heavy hre from the enc
my's battery. On the return OF the party, an at
| tempt was made by the Mexican cavalry TO cut it
of, which was prevented by The Texan rangers,
| under Colonel Hays
The division moved forward short distance, and
| biyouacked for the night.
Early in the morning we again moved forward.
In short time the advance, under Capt G. f. Smith,
became sharply engaged with heavy column OF
two thousand Mexican cavalry, supported by in
fantry. Duncsnss battery and ours moved rapidly
| To the front. The light infantry crowned the hills
in the most dashing and beautiful manner, and the
| remaining columns In mass marched forward. The
enemy soon repealed, and our tatteries moved
rapidly forward and opened on the rereating cayal.
ry and the Bishops Palace. We have been told
that one she'll either from Duncans battery ours,
| killed thirty men. The batteries from the heights
at this time opened CALLING FIRE upon us. General
| Worth with his usual military quckness, perceived
that the height mus, be carried, or we could not
maintain our position. The storming party was
Immediately organized under the command Of Capt.
G. f. Smith, and consisted Of four companies Of the
artillery battalion and five Of Texan rangers.
Soon after they marched, the 7th infantry was
sent to support them, and afterwards the 5th infan-
| try, together with one hundred rangers, under Col
/ Hays. The enemy, from the start, poured grape
shot upon Smiths command, and from the time they
arrived at the foot of the height until they reached
the crest, the FIRE of small arms lncessant and
terribe-the enemy rushing down the side Of the
/ hills To meet our troops.
men proclaimed that the height was gained.
| The enemy about six hundred yards nearer the
city on the same height, had another fort, which
was stormed by the 5th and 7th infantry, under
command Of Gen. Smith. The artillery captured
on these heights Immediately opened on the Bish-
ops Palace, and exchanged shots with the enemy
until dark.
AT hslf-past o'clock on the morning Of the Odd
Gen. Worth detached Col. Chids with strong
command to storm the conical height on the slope
u 4 = A.
Of day the rattle OF small arms announced that our
troops were engaged. Soon after the mist cleared
away beheld our colors streaming over the
heights.
Our troops on the height suffered good deal from
the enemy's guns in the palace. About 9 a. m,
Lieut.. Roland, with his howitzer, was detached to
reach, if possible, the high ground beyond the pal
ace. After infinite labor he reached the position,
and Immediately opened destructive fire Of shells
on the palace.
Il The enemy, much CALLED, soon followed their in
fantry outside, supported by cavalry and charged
up the hill. They were met by our troops, who
rushed to the charge, like wave that moved down
the HILL carrying everything before then and dis
4 appeared in the redoubt and in the palace.
) The two batteries of our division at once gal
loped up to the palace, and opened destructive
FIRE upon the retreating enemy and town. This
cannonade ended the days fight
n During the night IL was reported Il Gen. Worth
that the enemy expected reinforcements by the Sal
tillo road. A strong command was organized to cut
them off. The general assigned me to the command
of the light artillery of the detachment. Early in
the morning we moved to the position we were to
occupy After were strongly posted | ad-
| vanced with Col. Hays to reconnoitre small town
about three miles in our front, said to be fortified
and occupied with cavalry. Soon after, an express
arrived from Gen Worth, stating that he was going
with his whole force into town, and ordering us to
Join him Immediately limbered up my pieces and
moved off at rapid pace, escorted by the rangers,
and reported to the general in person in town at 81
p. m. a..
The fight was then going briskly on, our infan-
try constantly gaining ground, by cutting through
the houses, and the artillery laundering down the
streets This continued until 10, p. m, when the
firing ceased, except from Monroe's mortar and the
howtzers from the citadel
The morning Of the Oath every preparation was
made for continuing the fight, when the enemy sent
in flag of truce, and afterwards surrendered the
town.
The army and the country knew General Worth
before be brave and dashing soldier, but in the
valleys, on the mountains, and in the streets of
Monterey he has proven himself to be wise and
prudent No questions the fact, that it was
his success this side of the town that brought the
enemy to terms. o..
Our troops were much exhausted by fatigue and
want of supplies; but, after the first gun was fred
never heard murmur of complaint.
Mackas battery has done remarkably WELL
Our poor friend, Dick Graham, lies near me dam
eerously wounded God grant that he may live!
never think of our loss on the other side of the
town without shudderng. 1t is for others, not me,
to tell the story of their fate. Company after COM
pany marched into part Of the town where no ami
mated thing could live They fell, sealing their de.
voton to their country with their lives.
u Our loss, in killed and wounded is upwards of
i 500, excluding 40 officers
The enemy's loss was heavy, probably as great
| as own ' - 49,.
Bragg's battery is very much cut up. Hopes are
entertained to-day Of the recovery Of Maj. Lear.
i This is pleasant place; plenty Of fruit, grapes,
oranges, apples, &c. a......... i.
i Gen. Worths division garrisons the city. The
remainder of the army is at Gen. Taylor's old en-
campment. ..... ..
Il have written very hurriedly merely to give you
a very brief, and know imperfect and incom-
plete account of the work done this side of the
4 town. ..... ....
General Taylor was in the thickest Of the fight
throughout If God ever made man insensible to
apln 80 .bo