Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-11-07
THE sroRMING OF MONTEREY.

THE STORMING OF MONTEREY.
The following account of the operations Of Gen
WORMS division at Monterey, and defence Of the
MosrEsxr, SKFrrmBER rs, 1916.
Nh DEAN SIR After obstinate and sanguinary
ict which continued from DAY day for five days, Gen.
Ampudia captuated this city the Path instant Our loss
in killed and wounded has been extremely severe, not less
than 500, amongst whom Of the most valuable Off
GERS OF the regular army, well as volunteers. Il
The first regiment Of Tennessee volunteers commanded by
Col Campbell suffered severely perhaps than any other
which was engaged during the SIEGE having had twenty
Killed on the field and seventy wounded Of them
mortality and many Of them seriously and this out Of force
OF only 379 Notwithstanding this tremendous loss the
regiment charged under the lead of its gallant colonel and
other officers and the first regiment which stomed the
fort mounted the brcaswors, and unfured the md
stripes upon its walls amidst perfect hailstsm Of balls which
was pouring upon it.
These Mexican and fortrosscs incredibly ong
and few fight better from houscops and behind stone
was adro in tho Of STATIONARY artillery than
the Mexcaps. In these actions Gen. Taylor had all told
about 1000 while Gen. Ampudas force consisted OF
$500 infantry and cavalry, besides militia rancheros &c
Gen. Taylor had eighteen pieces Of artillery of which
teen field pieces, while Gen. Ampuda had foryfour
pieces thyeght Of which, with standards Of colors
now in possession. ss ~
Our army arrived before Monterey the morning Of saur
day, the 9h instant and about half eight O'clock while
recommending the outworks of the city, ball, discharged
from twelvepounder, struck Gen. Taylor and staff
and bounded with terrible velocity his head which the
old hero did not change muscle bat his eyc This
day, the 18TH spent making "Reminiscences Of the
place and its various ouposs, amidst good deal OF firing
the part of the Mexcans from and short gun called
an escopee which carries large ball to distance of 500
600 yards.
On Sunday, the 20h, Gen. Worth was detached by Gen.
Taylor command of the second division ofe regular army
(abom 500 song) and Col Hayss regiment Of Texas Ran
gers Consisting Of 400 men, with Of turning the city
and occupying the Salo road for the purpose of cutting off
the enemys supplies and renforcemest which were daily
expected under Gen. Santa Anna The division performed
the matchmaking road, filling bitches, &c.a distance of
about miles, and reached the vicinity Of the
my in the evening" about FIVE o'clock when the General with
an escort from Col Hays Rangers was fired on BY the bat
tees placed the heights and also by corps Of the
mys light troops who sent through coneld to cut of
his party.
From this time until the appearance Of the white flag
the evening of the 24h the division Of the army commanded
by Gen. Worth necessarily engaged, and
cessul-nevcr for moment hesating or faerng-put
ting to rout the enemys cavalry the plains driving his
an through the chaparra and from the houseops scaling
immense heights capturing guns, and toming fortresses
which not only deemed mpregnabe but which seemed
to be almost inaccessible. And, best of ALL these brilliant
pos performed with the loss Of fourteen killed and fifty
wounded and during the four days contest there
red the slightest mistake the part of the
handing general there any time the least ALTERING
hesancy the part of the officers and meregulars and
volunteersin executing his orders Indeed it is difficult to
determine which is most worthy of admiraton the wisdom
cr or gaanry and aror with which be sustained by
those under bis command.
When the difficulties and apparently insuperable obstacles
considered venture the assertion that the Of
obtained by the division under Gen Worth command
in the operations against Monterey will hear avora
bic comparison with the proudest achievements of the Amer
He opposed by greatly superior force, which
well served with artillery and posted upon the highe
peaks of the Sierra Madro lie stomed heights took three
pieces of artillery turned them the enemy and with thest
and the aid Of Of his peceswhch he contrved e
place upon the summit which commands the famous Bishops
Palace eight hundred feet above the base of the mountain
united with the nestmsbe services rendered by the daunt
less and invncibe spirits who stoned these heights he
duced that stronghold of the enemy and drove him into the
city, upon which he turned the guns he had captured He
bvouacked his force for the night the bleak mountain
the next day. after bombaring the town. he conducted his
forces into the streets amidst shower Of balls discharged
his person He every where directing every thing
driving the enemy from his batteries forcing him from street
to street and house TO house, until night ended the conflict
He maintained his position in the city, placed inch
Of the strongly fortified squares direct which he
placed that gallant and klu officer Major Munroe, with in
sucons 10 fire shell (weghing ninety pounds) every hall
hour during the night. This duty performed with terri
bic effect almost every shell falling the plaza where the
enemys forces collected the number Of 900
He had made every necessary preparation for pursuing
his advantages the next day, to placing Of his
lcry the tops Of high buildings which would
and sweep the house-tops from which the enemy fought
Such the state Of preparation when Gen. Ampuda
pulaed the city, rejecting equal honor upon the military
skill Of the head which conceived and the ndomabe energy
Of the gallant spirits who executed the plan of operations
Our most serious loss occurred the 2ist when Gen.
Taylor only intended make diversion in favor Of Gen.
Worth, who engaged in the attack the other side Of
the town. but owing the ardor and impeuosy OF the
troops they very became involved general engage
men which Gen. Taylor felt bound sustain This
Of courage involved melancholy consequences but surely
excusabo weakness il il be weakness, TO display
excess Of ardor in the field Of battle.
The volunteers from the different States behaved in the
most handsome They have won for the citizen sol
der the admiration and applause Of the officers and soldiers Of
the regular army who speak Of their conduct in the highest
terms Of appreciation and cuogy. Amongst the volunteers
have shone conspcuousy than the ls Regiment
Of Texas mounted rhemeD, commanded by that Chevac
Bayard, Col j. G. Hays better known Jack Hays. This
corps the Colonel the private has fully sustained its
former reputation In the first affair in which Gen. Wohs
division engaged the morning Of the 2is Col Hays
with several companies Of his mounted remen thrown
forward open the ball. which he did beautifully,
couneng and shooting the presence Of the General the
Colonel of dragons who commanded the enemys forces In
scaling heights stomng batteries and cambcrng walls
and house tops the of the gallant Colonel and the
ports Of the uncring rifle OF the Ranger heard in
the The courage and consancy and sutordnaon Of
this corps is the theme Of admiration in the army.
But my object is narrative and not eulogy Il Is not
ccssary for go detail in relation the accord
ed to the Mexican army in the capulaon you will have
the articles the substance thereof published in the
newspapers this reaches you If any not acquainted
with the facts Of the should object that Commanding
General has granted favorable the retiring army,
lot be remembered that nvincblc little army had alcs
dy suffered severely barring the bosoms Of best citizens
and bavest officers and soldiers the batteries Of
foe that the city still immensely strong in its deences
that the Mexican army double that Of that this
army possession Of the strongest part Of city each
house of which is fortress within itself that each remaining