Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-15

in the largest plazo, to which our troops have
fought, step by step, and from house TO house.
Duncan batteries are in town, and the pres
ent impression is that the place will soon be
taken. Gen. Worth has gained all tie strong
holds that command the city, and has pushed
the enemy as far as they can go without falling
into General Taylor hands ON the other side
of the city All this has been done with the
loss of only about ~ killed and wounded
At first il seemed totally impossible to storm
these heghts--t looked like charging upon
the clouds--but il has been done. The Bishop s
palace, which il as strong as it has been repre-
sented to be, has been stormed and taken by
our brave soldiers. Capt. Gillespie was NOR.
tally wounded, and died yesterday morning,
regretted by the whole army.
Gen. Tay lor has arrived at Gen. Worth =
head quarters to day, and is now engaged in
town with AIhpudas messengers considering
the enemy's proposals for surendering the
town and the large fort at the North East side
of it.
That fort is very strong, and is believed to
contain at least twenty guns. Hostilties have
ceased until the conference shall be conclu-
ded There must be an immense quantity of
property in town, particularly arms and ammu-
milton.
| should have mentioned that the Cd divis-
ion marched from camp with only two days
rations, and no tents. A large majority of the
officers, and many Of the men worked and
climbed mountains, chased the enemy, and
fought forty eight hours, with nothing to eat
but raw corn.
Much of the two days rations were spoiled
by the rains and as the troops were frequently
ordered off at an instants notice they left
their haversacks behind.
There has been from ten to fifteen thousand
troops at this place ever since we have been
here, but they are leaking out, in citizen $
clothes, as fast as they can dodge off, AS SOL
diers there is no escape for them
Monterey, Mexico, Sept. %, 1916.
The city has capitulated on the following
mtted to march out of town with their small
arms and six small field pieces, leaving all their
munitions of war behind, with all their artil-
lery and public stores.
They are to retire to Linares, sixty mile $
hence, and about thirty miles North of Saltil'
10, and are not to approach nearer than that
to this place within sixty days, or until each
party can hear from its respective Government.
Ampudia kept Gen. Taylor until nearly mid
night last night, preparing the terms, etc.
Many persons, particularly the Texan vol
unteers who fought so bravely, are dsplcased
at these terms. The town was all but in our
ken in three hours. | believe that it would
have required much more hard fighting to TAX c
it, but this was not the question with Gen
Taylor.
He and all his officers knew perfectly well
of course, that the town could soon be taken
but he wanted no prisoners to take up his time
and eat their substance, he had an object in
view which will be reached by the terms OF
this captulaton, and that object will lead to O
result most beneficial to our government, un.
der whose advice or orders Gen. Taylor acted
in agreeing to these terms.
Major Mansfield, Of the engineers, reconnoi.
tered the enemy's works on the night of the
18th, but could obtain no very accurate infor.
nation, although he approached very near to
some of them on the hcights.-On the 2Ot
Lieut.. Scarritt and Lieut.. Pope were sent on,
TO rcconnotre the works Scarritt OH the right
and Pope on the left of the town.
The latter approached and discovered the
position of battery on the extreme left, and
was exposed to a fire Of cannon and musietry
from lancers, from which, after finishing his
observations, he retired in safety
Ga the night of the 2Oth the mortar and
howitzcr batteries were placed in position Ia
play on the strong holds around the citadel
The action commenced on the morning Of the
2lst, by the opening of these two batteries.
|
skirmishers and advanced rapidly towards the
works followed by the brigade in line of bat
tie under cross fire of artillery from the cita
del and fort, and a heavy fire of musk-try.
| The column charged into a street about 200
yards to the right of the battery, passed the
works entirely, and effected an entrance to the
town. After advancing rapidly about 4Ol
yards beyond the battery, they came immediate
ly in front of II masked battery of artillery ant
musketry, which swept the street completed
by its range.
The barrcadcs of the streets at sixty yards
distance from the head Of the column, wer,
lined with Mexican troops, who entirely GOV
cred themselves, opened murdcrous discharg'
of grape and musketry upon the advancing
column. Every house in the street was pierre
| ed for musketry and enfiladed the street il
| every direction.
II Under this fire the following officers wer
| killed or mortally wounded Ma jor Barber
Sd Infantry, by grape shot in the abdomen
/ Capt. Williams, typographical engineers, sho
/ through the body by musket ball, fell in tn,
| street and was dragged into the doorway of
house by Lieut. Pope, amidst a shower of ball
that covered him with dust
| The gallantry of this young officer, now il
| his first battle, is spoken of in admiration b.
! the army Capt Williams died the next da
| anu was UuEicu Will VI WdT Ny III
Mexican troops, into whose hands he had fal
len. Lieut.. Terrett, lst Infantry, shot throug
| the body, died the next day.
/ WoUNDED-Major Mansfield, ball throug
the calf of the leg. This brave officer woul
not leave Oh account of his wound, but rod
about, behaving in the most gallant .manne
all day. Capt. Bainbridge, Sd infantry, slight
! ly wounded in the hand.
| Major Lear, dangerously wounded in tn
mouth, the ball passing out at the back of hi
head Major Abercrombe, lst Infantry, st
verely wounded Lieut.. X. Graham, 4th in
fantry, severely wounded in both legs an
body, hopes are entertained of his recovery =
A great number of men killed and wounded
number not known.
1t being impossible, in the opinion of tn
engineer officers to effect anything in attach
ing the barricades in front, the column move
rapidly up street to the right, with the il
tention of turning them.
|, Being reinforced by the Ohio regiment,
second charge was made, under the directio
, of Gen. Butler, which owing to the trcnei
dous fire of musketry, and grape from the ba
| ricades and stone house, likewise proved inc
a fcctual.
The troops were then ordered by Gen. Tia,
, lor to retire in good order and get under GOV,
= 81.