Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-19
LETTER FROM AN AUGUSTA BOY.

= IA
The following letter from Lieut.. Patterson, Of
the Mississippi Rinemen, formerly citizen OF
Charlottesville, was private one written to his
brother, and not intended for publication but at
solicitation it kindly presented 10 us for publ
cation. Lieut. Patterson, while among us, was re-
spected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaint
ance; and we recognize in this letter, that chival
ric bearing, and bold, patriotic, dasafess spirit
which ever characterized him in his intercourse
with our citizens. We are glad to know that his
good conduct in the late battles, has been duly APP
preciated by Gen. Quitman, who has appointed
him his abide camp = charlottesville Jefersonian
CAMP ALLEN, near Monterey,2
September Both, 1916.
DEAR JoHN,-Your letter of August 30th was
received by me day or two since, Just after COM
ing out of three days. fight, that will hereafter be
known as the Battle of Monterey.
j. LIS. supposition that the Volunteers would not
be wanted, except as stand byes by Gen. Taylor,
produced laugh i'm my mess when read it to
them. Tell him to look out for the Official Report
of the battle, by Gen. Taylor, the Brigade Report
by Gen. Quitman, and possibly Regimental one
by Col. Jefferson Davis, commanding the Missis-
sippi Riflemen, and he will tie able to learn what
sort of stand byes the Volunteer corps to which
belonged, were considered.
will not attempt to give you any thing like a
detailed account of the battle because, LIST. feel
that / am incompetent to the task End. if was
ever SO capable, my engagements during the fight
were Of such nature, that it would have been inn
possible for me to have taken note of any thing
cept what was personally engaged i'm. You will
have received, before this reaches you, correct
account of the whole affair.
do not know whether it will appear in the Off
cial report not, but it is well known here, that
Gen. Taylor did not intend commencing the fight at
the time he did. All that he intended doing was
to make show of fight to draw off the attention of
fr,xtr,
place himself in good position in the rear of the
TOWN. Gen. Taylor had at the same time ordered
'Brags Battery" in front of the lower part of the
town, and about two and half miles to the left of
their biggest fort, called by us, the Big Black Fort.
For the support of this battery, the Sd and 4th
Infantry, and the Baltimore Volunteers were order
ed out; they marched down to the position with
the Battery, under heavy canonadng from the
Big Black and two other forts Of smaller size AT
this time our division, Mississippi Riflemen, Ten
nessee Troops, with the Ohio Volunteers, were in
front of the Big Black, about mile off but protect
ed by rise in the ground we lay here in this po-
Of the balls from the BIZ Black. We were then
marched down to support the Sd and 18th Infantry,
under heavy fire from two forts. When we came
APP to the Sd and 9TH, we were just in time to see
them repulsed the third time by the enemy. We
had not fired more than rounds at the fort before
the word charge was given by Lieut.. Col. NJ
glment. We had about seventy yards to run in the
face of the cannon; l passed M'Clung and all
Others some twenty yards, but in jumping the ditch
under the fort l fell down. and M'Clung passed
me, and got up Oh the fort few feet ahead of me.
was ON the fort, however, second to M'Clung.
and long before any one else was on it and was
there In time to shoot Mexican dead in his tracks,
who had raised his gun to shoot M'Clung After
this, MIC. and myself went down in the fort tc-
gether. took Mexican officer prisoner in the
fort, received his sword, and placed him in custody
OF guard and passed on to the next fort, when
NC. was shot through the side and hand We
were now on our way to the third fort with a full
determination to take it, and would have succeeded
with ease, but were ordered back by Gen. Qutman,
and marched up one of the streets into the town,
where we had to stand under deadly fire for about
two hours; we had good many killed. General
Butler was wounded here and had to retire Our
force was small and away from the main body, so
we retired as soon we found it practicable to do
So We made our way to Gen Hamer's Division,
about onefourth of mile Off behind brush fence
The Lancers, In number about 500, charged upon
us, but did very little damage; we killed three of
them only.
have given you only sketch of the hardest
part of this days work. the fighting continued I'M
til dark or nearly so, and never in my life have
felt so much fatigue from days labor. We were
at the time we stopped, mile and half from the
spot where M'Clung was wounded. Col Davis
called upon some one to volunteer his services to
find him and bring him into camp. | volunteered
my services and took six men, made my way back
to the fort under the same fire that we had during
the morning, found him, made litter for him, and
brought him safely into the camp, not without hav-
ing very close shaves with cannon ball occasion
ally.
The next day the men went into the fight reuc-
family; they were worn out after the first day. |
had command of our company, the Captain being
sick. The fighting was much better too, for we
were In town all the time and found covering, and
could shoot the Yelloac-beIlies like squirrels.
1 must stop. doubt if you can make out what
have pencilled out. Write to me at this place.
w. II. III. PATTERSON.
OCTOBER, 9TH, 1916.
have opened this letter to say to you, that we
expect another fight, and will certainly have it I'M
less peace is made by the two Governments within
six weeks from this time. The Mexcans are for
tfyng the Pass between this and Saltilio, and we
intend travelling that road at the end Of six weeks ;
and allow me to say for myself, if there are any
more forts to take, or breastworks to mount, that
intend to be the first the next time, OF die trying
that is, if Gen. Taylor will give our Mississippi
hlfiemen the same chance he did in this fioc.
FATAL RENCONTRE