Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-10-16


Hasty Memoranda Of the operations Of the f.
merican Armq before Monterey, McricO,
from the 10Th to the 2lth September.
On the 18th Gen. Taylor arrived before
Monterey, with force Of about COOS men, &
after accommodating the city at about 1900 or
1000 yards from the Cathedral fort, during
which he was fred upon from its batteries !;
his forces was encamped at the Walnut
Springs, three miles short Of the city. This
was the nearest position at which tie army
ccald obtain supply Of water, and be beyond
the reach of the enemy's batteries. The re-
mainder Of the l9th was occupied by the en-
ginePIs IN making recOnnolsances OF the city,
batteries and commanding heights. On the
20lh Gen. Worth was ordered with his dlvIS-
ion 10 move bya circuItous route 10 the right,
to gain the Saltilo road beyond the west Of
the town and to storm the heights above the
Bishops Palace, which vital point lhe enemy
appear to have strangely neglected. Circum-
stances caused his halt on the night Of the
goth, short OF the intended position. On the
morning of the 2lst he continued his route. &
after an encounter with large body of the
enemy's cavalry and infantry, supported by
with a loss, and finally encamped, covering
the passage Of the Saitilo 5oad. 1t was here
discovered, that besides the fort at the Bish-
ops Palace and the occupation of the heights
above it, two forts, on commanding emlnen-
oes, on the opposite side of the San Juan, had
been fortified and occupied. These two lat
ter heights were then stormed and carried
the guns of the last fort carried being imme-
diately turned with plunging fire upon the
Bishops Palace. On this same morning (the
2lst) the lst Division Of regular troops, an
der Gen. TWigS, and the Volunteer Division
under Gen. Butier, were ordered under arms
TO make a division to the left of the town, in
favor Of the important operations of General
Worth. The 10 inch mortar and two p
FOUNDER howitzers, had been put in battery
the night Of the Goth, in a ravine 400 yards
distant from the Cathedral fort or Citadel, &
were supported by the 4th Regiment of lnfan-
try. At 8 A. NJ. on the 2lst, the order was
given for this battery to open upon the citadel
and town, and Immediately after the lst Dl-
vision, with the Sd and 4th Infantry in ad'
vance, under Col. Garland, were ordered tc
reconnoiter and skirmish with the enemy Oh
the extreme left of the city, and should pros.
pect Of success offer, to carry the most advan
ced battsry. This attack was directed by
Maj. Mansfield, Engineer, Capt. Williams
Typographical Engineer, and Maj. Kinney, Q
M. to the Texan Division. A heavy fire from
the first battery was Immediately opened up
on the advance, bnt the troops soon turned it.
entering and engaging with the enemy in the
streets fthe city, having passed through ar
incessant cross fire from the Citadel and the
frs! and second batteries, and from the infan-
try who lined the parapets, streets, and house
tops of the city. Tho rear of the lst battery
was soon turned, and the reverse fire of the
troops through the gorge of the works, klllec
or dislodged the artillerists and infantry iron
it, and the building occupied by infantry I'M
lnediately in its rear. The Ist Division was
followed and supported by the Mississippi 6
Tennessee and Isl Ohio Regiments, the two
former regiments being the first to scale anC
occupy the tort. The success Of the day here
stopped. The Mississippi, Tennessee anc
Ohio Regiments, though warmly engaged il
the streets of the city for some time after thu
capture of the 1st battery and its adjonin:
defences, were unable, from exhaustion ant
the loss they had suffered, TO gain NOR
advantage. A heavy shower of rain ais
came up to cause suspension of hostilitIe
before the close of the day. The Sd, 4th AM
lst infantry and the Baltimore Battalion re
dAtCu 10 l!IC SG'IIoOli u VIC CoPtuiCu PO0l
ton, under Col Garland, assisted by Capt
Ridgley's battery. Two ID Founders, one
FOUNDER, and one howitzer, were captured il
this fort, three officers and some 20 OF 80 me-
taken prisoners. One of the IL Founders wa
served against the I'd fort and defences, wit
captured ammunition. during the remainder c
= the day, by Capt. Ridgely.
The stormng parties Of Gen. Worth's Di
vision also captured two nine Founders, whlc
were also Immediately turned against thei
former owners.
On the morning of the 22d Gen. Wort
continued his operations, and portions of hi
division stormed and carried successfully tn
heights above the Bishops Palace. Bot
were carried by a command under Capt. Wiz
ton, Sd Artillery. In these operations I'll
company of Louisiana troops under Cap
Blanchard performed efficient and gallant Sc
vice as part of Capt. Vinton's command
Four pieces of artillery, with a good suppl
of ammunition, were captured in the Bishop
Palace this day, some of which We're immpd
ately turned upon the eremy's defences in tt
city. On the evening of the 22d, Col. Ga
land and his command were relieved as II
garrison of the captured forts by Gen. Qai
man with the Mississippi and Tennessee R
glments, and five companies OF the kentucb
Regiment.
Early on the morning of the 23d, Gen. Gu
man, from his position, discovered that the .secor