The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-23
FROM MONTERREY.
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES FROM GENERAL
TAYLOR.


Monterey Mexico, Sept %, 1886.
Sra have the honor TO report that, 70 obedience
the verbal orders Of the geDeran-ehief the disis
100 under my command, composed OF Lieu'enan'
Colonel Duncan's battery o. horse ar.,'iesy, arui,
lery battalion, (LieuteoaDt Colonel Childs,) and
eighth regiment captain Seriyen) constituting the
first brigade under Lieutenant Colonel Stamford;
Lieutenant Macksla battery horse artillery, hfth
infantry, Major Seottil seventh, Captain Milesj)
and one company Louisiana volunteers, Captain
Blanchard second brigade, under Brigadier Cen
enl Penifer r. Smith, Colonel Of rihes,l and
Colonel Hays's regiment Of Texan mounted ride
men, moved from the main camp at E BOsqu de
81 Domingo at 2, p. m, on the 10Th.
My instructions were, by dsioip TO the right, TO
endesvor 10 ind and reach the Salulo road, effect
thorough reconnaissance Of the approaches 10 the
city from that direction, TO cut of supplies and re-
Inducements, and, II practicable, carry the heights
Owing 10 the difficulties Of the ground after leay-
ing the Marin, and before striking the Presquina
Grande road, the division had reached only six
miles--iB consequences OF the delay in making the
route practicable for artillery, which service was
executed by Captain Sanders-at 8, p. m, and Yves
halted Just without the range OF gun-baitery upon
the summit OF isolated HILL called Iona de inds-
psndsneia, midway on the ascent OF which was the
Bishops Palace. Thence reconnaissance was
made under cover Of delachmeDts OF Hayss Tex
ans, 10 the intersection Of the Presquina Grande
route, then in our possession, with the Saulo road
This examination resulted in the conviction that the
grounds in our front and on our len, In advance,
constituted at the same time the weak and the
strong points Of the enemys position, and entered
mainly into the defences Of the city-the weak
point, because commanding the only lines OF retreat
and Of supply in the direction Of SalIllO, and con-
trolling that in direction Of Presquina Grande the
strong point, because Of the peculiarly defensive
character Of tire hills and gorges, and Of the very
csrefOl and sklful manner with which they bad
been fortified and guarded IL was also clearly in
dcatsd that our further advance would be strenu-
Ously resisted.
On the morning Of the 2lst, the division was put
IN motion and with such formation as 10 present the
resdiest order Of battle shy point OF assault. At
g. the advance, consisting ~ Hsyss Texans support
ed by the light companies LIT brigade, under Capt
q. + Smith, (boih extended, as the valley widened
or eoniracted.) closely followed by Duncan's light
artillery, ard battalion, heads Of columns on turn
ing sn angle Of the mountain, at hacienda called
San ysroHimo, came upon a strong force OF cavalry
and infantry, mostly the former. conflict Imme-
diaieiy ensued. The Texans received the heavy
charge 81 cavalry with their unerring rifles, and
usual galantry; the ligh, companies opened rapid
snt well-direeted hr DuneaBs battery 10
non In one minute, promptly supported by a
section Of Mackal's) delivering its FIRE over the
heads Of our men. Ere the close Of the combat
which lasted but fifteen minutes, the FIRST brigade
had formed 10 the 'front.' the right and left, and
delivered It's Ere. The second brigade held in
res rye, the ground not admitting ofits deployment
ground one hundred killed and wounded among
the former, Don Juan N. Najira colonel OF the per.
manent regiment of laneers) upon the Saltillo road
and was closely pursued until we got possession OF
the gorge, where all the d:b0uehIs from Monterey
unite, whereby the force just defeated also rein
forcements and supplies from that direction, were
excluded from entering the city. At this important
point the division halted. and attention directed
toward the mountain forts which enyelop the city
on It's western and south western faces Soon discoy
ering, however, that position brought US within
effective range Of the batteries the troops were ad-
rdneed some eight hundred yards farther on the Sal
tito road.
The examination, thus far, had manifested be-
sides The importance Of the positions the mpractica-
btiy Of any effective operations against the city
uni possessed Of the exterior forts and batteries
independent, no wever OF Interior objects, the occu-
patton Of these heights became Indispensable to the
restoration Of our line Of Communication with head
quarters, necessarily abandoned for the moment in
order to secure the gorges Of the Satio road.
AT IL, m, force was detached under Captain
T.. +. Smith, with orders to storm the batteries
on the crest Of the earest hill, called Ftderaeion
and after taking III to carry the fort called Soida-
da, on the ridge Of same height retired about 600
yards. The two efectually guarded the slopes and
roads in either valley. and consequently the ap-
proaehes to the city. This command consisted OF
four companies, (K I'd, Sd, and g and II, 4th ar.
tlllery,) of the artillery battalion and Green's Me
Gowan's, X A! Gillespies, Chsndler's, Baowe's
and McCullochs companies of Texan rfemen, un
der Major Chevalier, acting in C -operaton-in all
about three hundred electives II was impossible to
mask the movement Of the slorming party On an
preaching the base of the mountain, the guns of
both batteries opened plugging fire. and numerous
light troops were seen descending and arranging
themselves at favorable points on the slopes Per.
celving these Indications of determined resistance
Capt Miles was detached with the 7th, TO support
and cooperate with the first party. In short time
the fire became general, the enemy gradually Weld
ing and retiring up the rugged activity and our men
as steadily pursuing. The appearance of heavy re-
Inducements on the summit and the cardinal mpor-
lance OF the operation demanding further support
the 5h under Major Scott, and Blanchard's comma
ny OF volunteers were Immediately detached accom-.
panied by Brgadier General Smith, who was in
structed to take direction in that quarter On reach
ing the advance pares Gen. Smith discovered that
under favor OF the ground, he could, by diverng
portion OF the force TO the right and moving it OBJ
lquely up the HILL carry the Soiiqda sim ul,aSeouslv
with the Federation. He accordingly very iudicious
ly pointed, and accompanied the 5th, tn, and BIan-
chard company, IN that direction. Capt Smiths
command having most CALAMITY carried the first OBJ
ect oil attack, promptly turned the captured the gun
"a -pounder--upon the second, and moved on
wh ~, nam body, to participate in the assault up
on Sofdada--wbich carried in gallant style |
by the forces under Scott, Miles, Blanchard. ana
Hays(w had been detached on special service bn,
VINO returned IN time to share with fifty of his men
~ ''e htst assault ana TO take prominent part 10
The secondly the whole directed by Gen. Smith.
AT this point we secured another 9-pounder, and
Immediately both pieces were brought to bear upon
the Bishops Palace situated upon and midway the
southern slope Of the hill Independencia valley Of
only SIX hundred yards intervening. We had now
secured important advantage, and vet but half the
work was done. The possession of these height.
only made the more apparent the controlling i'm
portance OF those opposite and the necessity Of oc-
cnnpying the palace. violent storm ensued, and
night closing in, operations for the day ceased The
troops had now been thirty-six hours without food
and constantly taxed to the utmost physical exer-
tons. such as could be permitted, slept with arms |
In hand, subjected TO pelting storm, and without
covering, oil 3 9. m, when they were aroused to
carry the hill Independence. |
Lieut. Col. Chiids was assigned to lead this storm
Ing PARTY, consisting Of three companies, and G |
9Th, and Sd, (artiery battalion) three companies
9th infantry, "a, B, and D. under Capt. Scriven,
with two hundred Texan rhemen, under Col. Hays
and Lieut. Col Walker (captain of ri1ea ac,inaI