Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-24

OFFICIAL DISPATCHES FROM GEN.
TAYI Or
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION,


STA: have now the honor 10 submit, a detailed
report OF The recent operations before Monterey,
resulting in the capi,ula;ion Of that city
The information received on the Ioute RON
Cerralvo, and particularly The continual aPPedi
ance in our front of the Mexican cavalry, wli.sn
had a slight skirmish with our advance d. 'iie
village al Ramas, induced Inc oeiiel' as we dp
nroach.d Monterey, that the enemy would defend
-fssS place. Upon reaching The neghoorhoou OF
The civ ON The morning Of the l9h OF September
This beliei was fully confirmed. Ii was ascertain
ed, ba, he occupied the Town in force; mat large
work had been constructed, commanding all ,ne
Northern approaches; and that the Bishops "a
lace and some heights in It's vicinity near Inc oa'
lilo road, had also been fortified ana occuP'e"
with troops and artillery. II was KNOWN, iio'n
inflammation previously received, that The eastern
annroaches were commanded by several >'ua''
works in the lower edge of the city.
The conhsuration OF he heights and gorges IN
the direction Of the Saltio road, as visible IRON
me point uaned by our advance on The morning
OF the l9.h led me 10 suspect that II was pracucd,
bic 10 turn all the works in that direction, ana
Tins cut The enemy's line ot communication -
After establishing my camp al the walnut
Springs" three miles from Monterey, the nearest
suitable position, il was, accordingly my hrs' care
To- order close reconnaissance oi the ground IN
onestion. which was executed on The evening OF
he igib BY he engineer officers under The diIec'
lion Of Major Mans6rli A reconnaissance OF
the Eastern approaches was al the same Tune
made by Captain Williams, Typographical enSi-
neers. The examination made by Major Mans
field proved the entire practicabiity oil throwing
forward column 10 the Saltillo road, and thus
turning the p, siton OF The enemy. Deeming lh's
Ia he an operation oil essential importance, orders
were gwen 10 Brevet Brig. Gen. Worth. com
manding the second DIVISION 10 march win ms
4 ths O(l,h. The hill Of The BlSn-
ops Palace; 10 occupy position on the Saltllio
road, and 10 carry the enemy's detached works IN
that quarter, where practicable. The first resi-
ment OF Texas mounted volunteers, under com
mand OF Col. Hays, was associated with the Sc
cond division on this service. Capt Sanders, en-
cine.rs, and Lieut. Meade, Typographical ensl-
neers, were also ordered 10 report 10 Gen. Worth
for duty with his column.
At3 O'Clock, p. NJ, on the 20th the second d.
vision took up its march II was soon discover
ed by officers who were accommodating the town,
and communicated 10 Gen. Worth lhatil move
ment had been perceived, and that The enemy
was throwing rein orcemenls towards The Bish-
ops Palace and The heish, which commands H.
To divert his attention as Tar as practicable, the
first division, under Brisader General Twigss,
and field division O.. volunteers under Major Ge-
neral Butler, were displayed in front OF the town
until dark. Arrangements were made al the
same time 10 place in battery during the night, al
a suitable distance from the enemy's main work,
The citadel, Two 24-pounder howiIzsrs, and To-
inch mortar, wilma view 10 open fire on the toll
lowing day, when proposed TO make diversion
in favor OF Gen. Worth's movement. The 4h
Infantry covered this battery during the night
Gen. Worth had in the meantime reached and
occupied Tor the night defensive position just
without range OF battery atove the Bishops
Palace, having made reconnaissance as far as
the Saltlllo road.
Before proceeding 10 report The operations OF
the 2lsl, and following days, beg leave 10 state
that shall mention in detail only those which
were conducted against the eastern extremity OF
the CRY, or elsewhere, under my immediate d.
rection, referring you for the particulars Of Gen.
WORMS operations, which were entirely detach-
ed, to ms own full repoI, transmitted herewith.
Early on The murning OF The 2lsl, received
note from Gen. Worth, written at half.pas o.
clock The night before, suggesting what had al
ready intended, strong diversion aeainslthe cen
Ire and le!t OF the town, 10 favor his enterprise
against the heights in rear. The infantry and ar
tilIery OF The Isl division, and The held division OF
volunteers we're ordered under arms and took the
direction OF The city, leaving one company OF
each resimest as a camp guard. The ID dIa-
goons under Lieut.. Col. May, and Col. Woods
regiment OF Texas mounted volunteers, under The
immediate direction OF Gen. Henderson, were d.
rected 10 the right 10 support Gsn. Worth, if ne
cessary, and TO make All impression il practical
BILE, upon the upper quarter OF the city. Upon ap
preaching The mortar battery, The Isl and third re-
gmen,s OF infantry, and battalion of Baltimore
and Washington volunteers, with Capt. Braggs
field batlery--the whole under The command OF
Lieut.. Col. Garland-were directed towards the
lower part of The town. with orders TO make a
strong demonstration, and carry one OF the enc
mys advanced works, il il could be done without
TOO heavy loss. Major Mansfield, engineers, and
Capt. Williams and Lieut.. Pope, lopograp hcal
engineers, accompanied this column, Maj. Mans
field being charged with its direction, and the de-
signation oi points VI attack. 10 the meantime
the mortar, served BY Capt. Ramsay Of the ord
nance, and The howilzer battery under Captain
Webster, Isl artillery, had opened their FIRE upon
the citadel, which was deliberately sustained and
answered from the wors. Gen. Buffers division
had now taken up position in rear Of this bate
nv, when the discharges OF artillery, mingled f.
pay with rapid fire OF small arms, showed
that Lieut.. Col. GarIand's command had become
warmly engaged. now deemed il necessary 10
support this attack, and accordingly ordered the
4h infantry and three regiments Of Gen. Buffers
division 10 march at once by The left flank in The
direction Of the advanced work al the lower ex-
lremity OF the town, leaving one regiment Isl
Kentucky to cover The mortar and howizsr bat
terry. BY some mistake, TWO companies Of The
Alb infantry did mol receive this order and conse
queny did not join the advance companies until
sometime afterwards.
Lieut.. Col Garlands command had approach
ed the town in direction TO The right OF the ad-
vanced work mo. ~ al the Northeastern angle
of the city, and the engineer officer covered by
skrmishers, had succeeded in entering the su
burbs and gaining cover The remainder Of this
command now advanced and entered The town
under a heavy fire Of artillery from The citadel
and the works on The LETT, and IF muskery from
The houses and small works in front. A move
ment 10 The RICH; was attempted with view 10
gain the rear Of No. and carry that work, but
the troops were so much exposed 10 fire which
they could not effeclually return and had already
sustained snch severe loss, particularly in Of
Gcers, that il was deemed best 10 withdraw them
10 q more secure position. Capt, Backus, LIST in-
tantry, however, with portion oil his own and
other companies, had gained The root OF tanncry,
which looked directly into The gorge OF No. ], and
from which he poured most destructive fire into
that work and upon the strong building IN It's
rear. This IRE happily conceded in point OF
time with The advance OF a portion OF the voun-
teer division upon No. |, and contributed largely
10 the fall OF that strong and important work
The three regiments OF the volunteer division
under the immediate command OF Major General
Butler, had in The meantime advanced in the d-
yection Of No l. The leading brigade, under
Br,gader General Quitman, continued its ad
vance upon that work, preceded by three compa-
MES of the 4lh infantry, while General Butler,
with the lst Ohio regiment entered The town TO
the right The companies OF the 4lh infantry
had advanced within short range OF the work,
when they were received by fire that almost in
one moment struck down one-third OF the officers
aud men, and rendered ii necessary 10 retire and
effect conjunction with the two other COM
lvap 0pfs
brigade, though suffering most severely, par
tcuarly in the Tennessee regiment, continued
il. advance, and finally carried The work in hand
some syle, as well as The strong building in lis
rear. Five pieces of artillery, considerable
supply of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, in
Guiding three officers, fell into our hands. Maj.
Gen Butler, with the Isl Ohio regiment after en-
terng the edge OF the town, discovered that no.
thing was 10 be accomplished in his front, and
a, this point, yielding TO The suggestions of seve
raj officers | ordered relroerade movement;
bat learning almost Immediately from one of my