The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-24
official Dispatches from General Taylor, rela.
tive to the StOrming of Monterey.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
CAMP SrAR MONTEREY, Oct. 9, 1886

Tive to the Storming Of Monterey.
HEApeuARrEas AMY OF OccurArror,
CAMP NEAR MONTEREY, Oct 9, ls46.
have the honor to submit detailed report of the
Zen. operauons neors Monterey, resulting In the CO.
The information received on the route from Csrravo,
ana parcury me continual appearance in our front OF
our advance at the village Of Ramas induced the belief
I'VE approached Monterey, that the enemy would de-
city the morning Of the 10Th Of September this belief
was fully confirmed It was ascerained that he
structed commanding all the northern approaches and
that the Bishops Palace and some heights in its vicinity
pied with troops and artillery. II was known from in
formation previously received, that the eastern ap
pro1ches ere commanded by several small works in
Tho confguraton of the heights and gorges in the d.
recton of the saltllo road visible from the point
tanned by advance the morning of the 10th led
me to suspect that it was practicable to all the
works in tina, direction and thus the ensmys line Of
Walnut Springs" three miles from Monterey the near.
est suitable position it accordingly my first care
order close reconnaissance of the ground in question:
which executed the evening Of 10Th by the en-.
gineer officers under the direction of Major Mansfield
me made by cap wRa~s was
zeal engineers The examination made by Major Mans
field proved the entire practicabilty Of throwing for
ward column to the Sao road, and thus turning the
position of the enemy Deeming this an operation
OF essential importance orders were given to Breve
4
march with his command the 20h; to turn the hill Of
the Bishops Palaces to occupy position the Saltllo
quarter where practicable The FIRST regiment Of Texas
mounted volunteers, under command of Col. Hays
Capt Sanders engineers and Lieut. Meade topograph
cal engineers, were also ordered to report to General
| Worth for duty with his column.
Alta O'Clock, p. NJ, on the 20th the second division
who were accommodating the town, and communicated
to Gen Worth, that its movement had been perceived
and that the enemy was throwing achievements to
wards the Bishops Palace and the height which CON-
mands it, To divert his attention as far as practicable
the hrst DIVISION under Brgadier General Twiggs and
field division OF volunteers under MAJOR General Butler
were displayed in front Of the town until dark Arrange
ments made at the same time to place in battery
during the night at suitable distance from the enemys
main work. the citadel, two 24pounder howitzsrs and
loinch mortar with view to open fire on the fol
lowing day, when proposed to make diversion in ia
vor of General Worth's movement The 4th infantry
covered this battery during the night Gen Worth had
in the meantime reached and occupied for the night
defensive position just without range OF battery above
the Bishops Palace, having made Reconnaissance as far
| as the Saltillo road.
Before proceeding to report the operations of the 2ls
and following days. beg leave to state that shall men
ton in detail only those which conducted against
the eastern extremity of the city, elsewhere under
my immediate direction referring you for the particulars
| of Gen. Worths operations, which were entirely de
tsched, to his;own full report transmitted herewith
Early on the morning Of the 2lst receiveda note
from General WORTH written at halfpas o'clock the
night before, suggesting what had already intended-s
strong diversion against the and left of the
infantry and artillery Of the first division and the field
division Of volunteers were ordered under arms, and
took the direction Of the:cy leaving ore company OF
each regiment as camp guard The 2nd dragoons un-
der Lieut. colonel May. and Col Woods's regiment Of
Texas mounted volunteers under the immediate direc
ten OF General Henderson, directed to the ghto
support Gen Worth, if necessary and to make im-
PRESTON if practicable upon the upper quarter of the
city. Upon approaching the mortar battery, the LIST and
Sd regiments infantry and ba talion of Baltimore and
Washington volunteers, with Captain Brsggs field bat
were directed rewards the o. psr OF the
town, with orders to make srolg demonstration, and
carry of the enemys advanced works If il could be
done without too heavy loss. Major Mansdeld eng-
| Aecrs and Captain Williams and Lieut. Pope, topogra
phca engineers accompanied this column, Major Mans
field being charged with its direction and the desgna
ton Of points OF attack In the meantime the mortar
served by Captain Ramsay, of the ordnance, and the
howitzer battery under Captain Webster, LIST artillery,
had opened their fire upon the CITADEL which was deli
beraiely sustained, and answered from the work Gen
Buffers division had taken up position in rear Of
this battery, when the discharges Of artillery mingled
finally with rapid fire OF small arms showed that Lieut.
Garlands command had become warmly engaged
deemed necessary to support this attack and
cordingy ordered the 4h infantry and three regiments
of General Buffers division to march at once by the
lower extremity of the town, leaving regiment list
kentucky to the mortar and howitzer battery
By mistake two companies of the 4th infantry did
not receive this srde and consequently did not join the
| advance companies until some time afterwards
in direction to the right of the advanced work
mo. ~ at the northeastern angle of the CITY, and the
gineer officer covered by skrmishers had succeeded
der Of this command now advanced, and entered the
under heavy fire Of artillery from the citadel and
the works the left and of musketry from the houses
and small works in front movement to the right
| attempted with a view to gain the of No. and
that work but the troops wer SO much exposed to
fire which they could not efectusy return, and had
already sustained such severe loss particularly in Off
GERS, that it deemed best to withdraw them to
position Cspt Backus LIST infantry how ever
with portion of his own and other companies, had
gained the roofof tannery which looked directly into
the gorge of No L. and from which he poured most de-
fire into that work, and upon the strong build
ing in its This fire bsppily conceded in point Of
sion upon No l. and contributed largely to tbs fall Of
that strong and important work.
Of
the Meantime advanced in the direction OF No l. The
leading brigade under Brigadier General Qnman. con-
tinued its advance FORK, preceded by three
companies Of the Atm infantry, while General Butler,
with the LIST Ohio regiment entered the town to the
right The companies OF the 4h infantry had advanced
within short range of the work, when they
ceived by fire that almost in one moment struck down
one third of the officers and men, and rendered il
necessary to retire and effect conjunction with the
two other companies then advancing General Quit
mans brigade, though suffering most severely,
partcu arly in the Tennessee regiment continued its
advance and finally carried the work in handsome style
well the strong building in its Five pieces Of
thirty prisoners, including three officers, fell into
hands Major General Butler with the LIST Ohio regi
that nothing be accomplished in his 'front.'
this point yielding TO the suggestions of several officers,
ediatey from one Of my staff that the battery No
in possession the order counermanded, and
determined to hold the battery and deiences already
gained General Butler, with the LIST Ohio regiment,
then entered the town at point farther to the lett and
marched in the direction Of the battery No. 2 While
pakngan examination with view to ascertain the posi-
bty carrying this second work by Storm the general
wounded, and after compelled to quit the fe Id
AS the strength of No. O. and the heavy musketry fire
fankng the approach rendered it impossible carry
it without great loss the LIST Ohio regiment was with
drawn from the town.
Fragments Of the various regiments engaged were
now under cover Of the captured battery, and some
buildings in front, and tho right The field
batteries of Captains Brsgg and Ridgey, we're also
partially covered by the battery. An incesssnt fire
was kept up ON this position from battery Ne J, and
other works its right, and from the citadel all
ourapproaches General Twiggs, though quite unwen,
joined at this point and Instrumental in causing
the artillery captured from the enemy be placed IN
battery and served by Capt kdgiey against No. @ until
the arrival OF Capt Websers howzer battery, which
took its place. la the meantime, directed such
could be collected of the lst 3rd and 4h and
Baltimore b3ttson TO enter the tow penetrating the
r cal