Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-11-28
OFFICIAL


OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
HtAoouARrKss lsr DiusioS Amy of occurartoN,
Camp near Monterey, Mexico, Sept 90. 1876.
SIR For the information Of the major pen.nl comm,n
u'nS the army OF occupation, | have the honor 10 make IN,
following report OF the operations Of the division OF the ar
my under my command, against the enemy in position I,
monterey On the morning Of the 2lst inst. my division
advanced towards the city. Lieut. Col J Garand's brigade
composed OF the 3rd and 9TH regiments Of regular infantry,
ana Capt b Brsgs's horse artillery. Lieut. Col II Wilson.
brigade, composed ofihe LIST regiment Of regular infantry
and the Washington and Baltimore battalion OF volunteers,
Were ordered TO tho east and lower end Of the city, TO makc
diversion IN favor OF Brevet 9rgadier Gen w J worth's
division, which was operating against tho west and upper
part OF the city. II being deemed practicable. an as.
saut was ordered agsinst two Of the enemy's advanced
wofks Inc regular force of my DIVISION was thrown TO
the right OF the two works with orders TO tax. poses, sion
OF come houses IN the city, on tho right and rear OF the enc.
@, : adsaneed position. with a view OF annoying him in
uanA ana rear. The washington and Baltimore battalion"
was ordered on the road leading directly 10 the works
Under a most CALLING and destructive Ere from three batte-
res IN front aud one on the right. as well ss from that of
small arms from all tho adjacent houses and stone walls.
my division advanced as rapidly as The ground and the stern
opposition Vt the enemy would admit OF. The lst, Sd, and
ath regiments OF infantry gained the position to which they
we'e ordered, and annoyed the enemy in flank and rear,
until he was obliged 10 evaeusie his two advanced works
which were hoiIy pressed by Gen Buffers division of vol.
nn'eoss, aud tho w ashington and Baltimore battalion, un.
der command OF Lieut. Col Watson.
The ID and 18th advanced still further into the city nm,
hndins the streets strongly bauicadcd by heavy masses of
masonry, behind which batteries were placed, and the hon.
IS filled with light troops. were Obliged 70 re,ire 10 N.
WORKS hfsi taken by the Nolunieers,. The position Of the
sncmys batteries, and the arrangement of bis deienees in
every street and corner, rendered IL necessary for IN, re.
1lit troops who advanced into the city 10 DC sepsr.,ed
eaeh company being led by lie captain or immediate COM
murder aud Tor the Time acting independently. After a
most manly struggle OF some six hours, my men succeed.d
alter various rePuises. in driving the enemy from each and
every OF ms p siuons IN the suburbs. The Sd infantry
GO nmsneed by MAJOR " Lear, aud part Of he 9Th, oil an
der iae command OF Lieutenant Colonel J Garland. led m
towards the right, and IN the direction Of one Of the ene-
my's strongest works IN front Of a bridge in the CIV
Capt. B Bragg's battery accompanied the command. under
a destructive hte, which killed and disabled several of hi,
men aud horses, until directed TO retire beyond the range
o. smsh arms In thus desperate Struggle, the Sd infanuy
had captains L n Morris and 6 Field, Brevet Major p N
ba'O'uT, LIT Lieutenant and AdJuant ID ) Irwin, aud %
Lieutenant Z Hazltt, killed. togt tier with several non.
commissioners officers ard men, ad It's commanding fiji
CO.. MI 7 W -" Lear. and Captain II b ,inbIicge. wound-
ed-tae former dangerously, and The latter slightly; and The
an lost its %aoJuAnt, Lieut. Z Hoskins. aud Br-yet l,t
Lieut. GODS, OF the "a infantry, serving with the Atb IT..
number OF Killed ana wounded AMONGST the officers shows
with what prase"crthy heroi'm each regiment and comps-
ny was led against the enuenched enemy. The lst in.
ianuy, commanded by Brevet MSjlr, J ] Asercr,m-
bic, passing two OF the enemy's advanced works, sue
eeeded an gaining possession OF some houses on
the let OF the position OF the 81 ard 4th. Captain, E
Bickus and J VI Scott, OF the list, with three Comma
MES, took an advantageous position in rear OF the two
works referred 10, and, by hring into the gors e.. ass;s-
ted tho volunteer force very materially In driving The
enemy from them. Captain J II Lamolte, of the LIST. viii,
his eompsny. was doing valuable service at this time. when
So SNaHN N"S "NANAEs a"N " u Oul.Eu 20 HlHe n
killed and wounded IN these three companies. in this opor.
auon, numbers ,~hlrty.siT. Lieut. K Diworth, of Capt ] Il
Llmo;'e's company, was noriaIly wounded by a twslyo
p uader before entering the town. The remainder Of
Captain J IL Lamoue's company being without an officer
was incorporated with others OF the regiment. Canta-n A
; Miler's company. lsTinfanuy, was actively employed ia
driving the enemy from his hedges and stone fences p,ar
the advanced work, and having succeeded, with c~onsidern-
ole Ices, took command Of what remained Of COMPANIES
Z, T.. G., and X, lt Infantry, accompanied BY Lieut. s
Hamilton, acting adlutant, Breyet Major J J AbeTcrombie.
Commanding Ie regiment and having been vrnnnd,d -
Lieut. } Teuett, his adIuiaut, and moved to repel a threat.
sned attack on Capt IS Bragg's battery by a body Of lancers;
after which hs command joined Gen Hamcr's brigade. Oh.
Grating in The suburbs, and there remained ul the CT, Sc of
the day. The Baltimore and Washinglon battalion. com.
manded by the gallant Lieut. Colonel VIM II Watson. who
Was killed whilst advancing under a heavy fire, into Inc euy.
served IN Corporation with the regular infantry. After
their commander fell, the companies were detached and did
good service tall the close OF the day.
The number OF killed and wounded in this assault. shows |
with what obsinsey each position was defended by the enc. |
my, as well as the CALAMITY and good conduct displayed by |
our officers and men.
Capt B. BragR's battery, having suffered severely. afts,
sdyanc ng some distance into the city, was Obliged TO with. |
draw TO a point out Of range Of the enemy's small arms.
Captain x. Rldgely, with one section OF his battery. an. |
noyed the enemy's advanced works for some time in the
commencement OF the assault, but was obliged 10 retire out
Of range OF their batteries that were playing on him. Hsy. |
ing used a Twelve FOUNDER taken from the hnt work. nesiDs,
the ensmy. tai the ammunition gave out, ne wac sent wi h
one secuon Of his own battery stll further 10 Advance; but
being unable to accomplish much against the eneny's hea-
w breastworks. returned to, aud occupied with hrs battery
the hrsi work taken from the enemy. Captains II. Ridge
and B. Bragg. and their subaterns, W. n. Shower. q. |
Thomas, J. f.. Reynolds, c. L. Kilburn. and s
French, deserve the highest praise for their skill and good
conduct under the heaviest fire OF the enemy, which, when
an opportunity offered, was concentrated on them. In the
WORKS referred 10, were taken four officers and
sixteen men, prisoners Of war, together with i've pieces of
some ammunition and small arms. Having
thrown up some slight breatworks, the LIST, 80. and Attn in,
inny, and Capt. X Riigely's battery, occupied the pos,.
ion until the morning OF the 22d.
Owing TO the position OF TIE enemy aud the nature Of the
ground, the two squadrons OF the % Dragons, command-
81 by Lieut.. Col. Z. y. May. were not brought into scuon. |
were, however, actively and usefully empioyed in
,,llectng and conveying tho wounded ~ our camp. On
me 23i, the advance into the city was resumed, the infan.
~, working their way from house ~ house. supported by
Captains. r. Ridgely and b. Bragg's batteries, driving the
nomy before them. When night closed our operations on
he 23d, our men had advanced TO within two squares of
he centre Of the city.
A cessation OF hOslliues on the morning OF the Oath
toppsi our further progress, and gave us time to collect
Ihc wUuuded and bury the dead. The operating strength
{ my command on the morning or The 2lsr, was sixty three
,hicefs aud ten hundred and twenty-five men, and out Of
hat number were killed and wounded fifteen officers and
mo hundred and ~siNty.iOur men. | enclose herewith a
.bular statement o, the killed, wounded, and missing. or
he field oiiccfs tax. pleasure 10 noticing the conduct Of
he lse and lamentrd Lieut.. Col. W. n. Watson Of the
and baltimore Battalion vi volunteers. who Tell
the head Of his command, whilst galanty leading il
enemy WORKS, as also thatOf Maj Z W w. Lear.
30 infantry, who was dangerously wounded m
he same assault, Tor which good service ! present his nsme
or prlise and promotion. Lieuienans G. ". r. Wood.
~ """'HJH "N " - ~ bleuhH y lulahify were aC- ]
lively aud u'eiully employed a. actng assistant sdjutqnt
yenefas, the former u Lieut.. Col II. Wilson, 4h brigade.
and The later To Lieut.. Col. J. Garland Of tho 80 brigade.
Tncy were both dism1unted by the enomy's artillery.
My staff officers, Lieut. u Z Buell., 80 iniintry. acting
assistant adjutant general, and Lieut. p w Mcdonald. ID
aid-de-camP, rendered me valuable snd meut,.
services, 10 exposed positions. during the time my d.
vision wus ou-aRed With the enemy.
! ON, sIr, very resp. ctiuly,
your obedicnt servant,
d. TWlGGS,
Brig Gan II < g. ,.u, IL No.. !
MsJ5r " vs. S Bliss,
Asst AJ'tGen Army Of Occupation.
~ Az. Al. W a. f " I