American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-11-23


lilo road, thus cutting the enemy's line o.
communication From this position the two
heights south of the Saltillo road were car
RED IN succession, and the guns taken in one
of them turned upon the Bishops Palace
These important successes were fortunately
obtained with compare lively small loss; Capt.
McKavett, 9th infantry, being the only officer
killed
i The 22d day of September passed without
any active operations IN the lower part of the
city. The citadel and other works continued
to fire at parties exposed TO their range, and at
the work now occupied by our troops. The
guard left in it the proceeding night except
Capt. Ridgley's company, was relieved at mid
day BY Gen. Quitman's brigade. Capt Bragg's
battery was thrown under cover in front Of
tho town TO repel any demonstration of cav
airy in that quarter. AT dawn of day, the
height abo, e the Bishops Palace was carried,
and soon after meridian, the Palace Itself was
taken and its guns turned upon the fugitive
garrison The object for which the 2d diVis
ION was detached had thus been completely
accomplished, and felt confident that with
strong force occupying the road and heights
in his rear, and good position below the city
in our possession, The enemy could not posi-
bly, maintain the town.
During the night of the 22d, the enemy
evacuated nearly all his defences in the low
er part of the city This was reported TO me
early in the morning OF the 23d by Gen. Quit
m N, who had already medltated an assault
upon those works. | Immediately sent in
structions to that officer. leaving it 10 his dis
cfelion TO enter the city, covering bis men by
the houses and walls, and advance carefully
as far as he might deem prudent After or.
dering tEss remainder # the troors as a reserve,
under the orders Of Brigadier General Twiggs,
| repair, 10 the abandoned works, and dis
covered that q portion of Gen. Qui mans
brigade had entered the town, and were sue
ces,lully forcing their way towards the prin.
cjpal plaza. | then ordered up the 81 re i
ment Of Texas mounted volunteers, who en-.
tered the city, dsmounted, and, under the
| immediate orders OF Gen Henderson, coop
Grated with Gen. Qul'mdn's brigade. Capt
/ Bragg's battery was also ord red up, support
ed by the 81 infantry: and after firing for
some time at the cathedral, portion of it
was likewise thrown INTO the city. Our troops
advanc irum house 10 house, and from
square to square, until they reached & street
hut one square in rear of tn principal plaza
IN aud near with the enemy's force was main
~ concentrated. This advance was conduct
ed vigorously but with due caution, aud al
though destructive to the enemy, was attend
ed with but small loss on our part. Captain
Rdgey, in the meantime, had served cap
tured piece in battery No. against The city,
until the advance Of our men rendered it inn
prudent to fire in the direct on of the cathed-
raj. | was now satisfied that we could ope-
rate successfully in the city and that the en-
envy had retired from the lower portion of it
TO make stand behind his barbados. As
Gen. Quitman's brigade had been on duty the
previous night, determined to withdraw the
troops TO the evacuated works, and concert
with General Worth combined attack upon
the town.
The troops accordingly fell back deliberate
ly, in good order, and resumed their original
positions, General Quitman's brigade being
relieved after nighttall by that Of General
Hamer. On my return to camp, met an
officer with the intelligence that General
| Worth, induced by the firing in the lower part
OF the CT Twas about making an attack at the
upper extremity, which had also been evacua-
ted by The enemy TO considerable distance.
regretted that this information had not reach
ed me before leaving the city, but still deem
ed 1t lneXpedent to change my orders, and
accordingly returned to camp, A note from
General Worth, written at eleven O'Clock, p.
IN, informed me that he had advanced to
within short distance of the principal plaza,
and that the mortar (Which had been sent TO
MS division 10 the morning) was doing good
execution within effective range Of the enc
my's position.
| Desiring 10 make no further attempt upon
the city without complete concert as TO the
lines and mode of approach, instructed that
officer to suspend his advance until could
have an interview with him on the following
morning al his headquarters.
| Early on the morning of the Gath receiv-
ed, through Colonel Moreno, communica.
ton from General Ampudia, proposing to
evacuate the town; which, with the answer,
were forwarded with my first despatch. +
arranged with Colonel Moreno a cessation of
fire until l2 o'clock, al which hour would
receive the answer of the Mexican general at
General Worth's headquarters, TO which |
soon repaired. In the meantime, Gene raj
AmPudla had sign6ed to General Worth his |
desire for personal interview with me, to |
which acceded, and which finally resulted |
in capituIation, placing the town and the !
materlei OF war, with certain exceptions, in
our possession. A copy of that capiulation
was Transmitted with my first despatch.
Upon occupying the city, it was discovered
to be Of great strength 10 itself,an TO have its
approaches carefully and strongly fortified
The town and works were armed with forty
two pieces of cannon. well supplied with anu
munlIion, and manned with force of at least
1000 troops of the line, and from 1000 to
5000 irregu'ars. The force under my orders
before Monterey, as exhibited by the accom-.
panying return, was 425 officers, and 1890
men. Our artillery consisted of one l0-inch
mortar, two 24-pounder howitzers, and four
light field batteries of four guns each-the
mortar being the only piece suitable to the
operations of siege.
Our loss is twelve officers and one hundred
and eight men killed. thirty one officers and
three hundred and thirty. seven men wounded.
That of the enemy is not known, but is be-
Ii q cd nL,nsi .Iern hl., L