Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-05
Descriptions OF Monterey.


The army is now quietly quartered
in and about the grounds so recently
strewn with the dead and dying. The
blood-stained pavements at this mo-
ment mark the spot Of desperate con-
tlict. While on the march from camp
upon the first days battle, heard Gen.
Butler remark to Col Johnson, Of Tex
as, then acting as his aid, shat the
post Of danger was the post Of honor
That is no d ,ubt true, and. If SO, then
the wreath Of honor should not be
withheld from the graves of the dead
and the brows of the living of those
who participated in the storming of
Monterey. After a careful examina-
ton Of the ground occupied by the
enemy at the point of attack, their
means Of defence, and the number of
troops. one is astonshed. not that so
many were killed, but that any should
be left to tell the story Of the action.
Strange and lamcntable that the
homage of mankind should be pro-
Ifoundly bestowed on those who con
duct successfully the carnage Of the
battlefield! A homage purchased by
the living, at the expense of the blood
Of those who die. These things,
however, have been, are, aud will be
so!
The town is situated at the mountain
pass which separates the plain extend
ing to the Gulf of Mexico, from the
mountainous region, which continues
until you have assembled the table land
upon which the capital is situated.-
These mountains arise with great alb
ruptnoss from the plain, unlike the
Alleghanies. which arc approached
only through a country rough and
broken. long before you are at their
base. Their aspect is bleak and dreary
in the extreme. The ascent presents
an angle apparently of sixty or seven.
" degrees, and their crest exhibits a
sharp ridgc--ef nearly o";Co'nn height j,
except where broken through, as tho
pieces had broken out, leaving apcr-
lures of seven hundred feet, with per.
pendicular sides, through which no
other range is dscernible. Detached
bills seem to rise occasionally like on
excrescence from the plain, and many
Of them Of great height. On one OF
these stands the Bishops Castle. com
handing the town and plain for miles.
II is accessible, it is true, from the
cast, with gentle ascent, but as you
look west from the heights immediate.
Ily beyond it, the head grows dizzy,
and one unacclstomed to high places as
| am. snrinks involuntarily back from
the precipicc, and instinctiyely seeks
surer footing and frmer grasp upon
the thorny chaparral surrounding him.
This Castle, you know, was taken by
/ Gen. Worth. How it was done can-
not comprehend, although the "modus
operandi" has been explained 10 me
half dozen times by those who par
ticipated 10 the battle. Onc would
think it an efectual resistance. proper
ly measured against one body as well
AZ another, totally regardless of mum
bers or courage In fact, no one doubts
that the troops who have taken the
town could defend it against a myriad
Of men. Gen. Taylor, in conycrsa-
ton with me, said he had no hesitation
in pronouncing it the strongest posi-
ton on the continent. except Quebec.
BY The by, a word about tile capltula-
ton. The bearer Of the flag of truce
proposed surrender Of the town, al
lowing them to remove all the public
property: Gen. Taylor asked nncondl-
iional surrender of every thing: quite
difference. They had from to IL
to answer. At IL they sent Tor Gen.
. TAYLOR. After cxhausting his patience
with diplomacy, aud Anpudia had de-
clared he was no way straiteneh to
submission, Gen. Taylor said: "SIr,
hold your town, YOURSELF and your
army in the hollow Of my hand, and
YOU know il; the conference IS closed.
In thirty minutes YOU shall hear from
nv batteries" He took his hat TO
leave the room; Ampudia called him
back and submitted This was told
me in person by Gen. Taylor, and is
strictly true. of course.
Much has been deservedly said of
General Taylor personal bravery; it
is the theme of admiration aud adula-
ton Of those at home, but it is no pc
colarity Of his. He is surrounded by
men equally so-by young men, who
in subordinate positions, are capable OF
any thing and every thing brave and
great: and, although obscured from the