The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-12

9o'eLocK, p. M.-An attack is expected, and eve
ry man IN the army will rest tonight on his arms.
night attack is what soldier dislikes very much,
because it is then difficult to distinguish friend from
foe.
SErTEmBER 20.-Eyerything remained quiet last
night. Tomorrow an attempt will be made To take
Monterey. A stout resistance is expected, for the
town is strongly fortified we'll as the heights that
command il, and the enemy has troops and ammu-
milton enough there TO defend il. A movement will
no doubt be made tonight No one expects an easy
victory; on the other hand, all have made up their
minds 10 much bloodshed IL is believed that
large number Of the enemy is in our rear-in fact
there's little doubt on the subject.
An express rider is off this morning for Camargo
finish hastily, having already taken notes that will
enable me to rewrite what have already penned in
my two last communications. II.
BIsHoP's PALACE, MONTEREY, Mexico,
September "a.
GENTLEMEN: This is the fourth day since the bat
tie Of Monterey commenced On the Goth, at noon,
Gen. Worth marched from the camp east of the
town, in the direction Of the heights west OF the
town. McCulloeh and Gilespie's companies Of
rangers forming the accommodating party. AT night
the division byouaeked almost within range of the
guns stationed upon the highest point Of the hill, on
which the Bishops Palace is situated At daylight
on the 2lst, the column again in motion, and in
few moments was turning the point OF ridge
which protruded out towards the enemy's guns,
bringing us near TO them as their gunners could
desire. They Immediately opened upon the column
with a howiizer and l2-pounder, firing shell and
round-shot as fast as they could discharge their
pieces. The road now wound in towards gorge,
but far enough TO be out Of range OF their guns
which still played upon Another ridge lay about
three-fourhs Of mile beyond the first, around the
termination Of which the road wound bringing IL I'M
der the lofty summit Of height which rises between
Palace HILL and the mountains, which arise over us
on the west. When the head Of the column APP
preached this ridge body Of Mexican cavalry came
dashing around the point TO charge upon our adj
vance. Captain Gillespie Immediately ordered his
men TO dismount and place themselves IN ambush
The enemy evidently did not perceive this manGu-
we, but the moment they came up, the Texans
opened on them n most effective fire, unsaddling
number Of them. McCuoch's company now DASH
ed into them-Capt. @. F. Smiths comp, and Capt
SCOTS comp. of artillery (acting as infantry,) and
Lieut.. Longstreet's company OF the 9Th infantry
with another company Of the same regiment likewise
charged upon the enemy. The Texan horsemen
we're engaged with them, in a sort Of hand to
hand skirmsh, IN which number of the enemy fell
and one Texan was killed and two wounded. Col.
Duncan now opened upon them with his battery Of
light artillery, pouring few discharges of grape
among them, and scattering them like chaff. SIEVE
raj men and horses fell under this destructive FIRE.
saw one horse and rider bound some feet into the
air and both fall dead and tumbed down the steep
The foot companies above named then rushed up the
considerable body of whom were concealed from
view, around the point of the hill. About thir-
ty OF the enemy were killed In this skirmish, and
among them captain, who, with two or three
others, fell in the road. The captain was wounded
in three places the last shot hitting him in the fore
head. He fought calamity to the last and am
sorry that cannot learn his name. The light
batteries, one Of which is commanded by Lieut.
Mackall, were now drawn up, on the slope
Of the ridge, and the howitzers opened upon the
| 4 A.. r. N i LII. l..
thrown, before the enemy commenced firing with
a nine-pounder from the height Immediately over
the right Of the column, aiming at Duncan's bat
teries. The several regiments took positions, and
few more shells were thrown towards Palace Hill,
but did no execution. The nine-pounder continued
to throw its shot, with great precision, at our bat
teries, ball falling directly in the midst Of the
pieces, but fortunately hitting neither guns
Finding his batteries thus exposed, and unable to
effect ything, Col. Duncan removed his command
to rancho about half mile further up the Saltllo
| road where Gen. Worth took up his position, af-
ter ordering the foot regiments to form along the
| fence near the point of the ridge. The artillery
battalion, 9Th, 7th, and 9Th infantry and the Louisi
ana volunteers remained in this position about two
hours directly under the fire of the enemy's guns
(now two.) The balls fell directly in their midst
all this time without woundng man. To begin
with, the Mexcans manage their artillery in battery
as well as the Americans do--this believe is now
conceded by every officer. At half-past 10 the col
umn moved towards the generals position. At this
time, Capt McKavett, of the 9Th infantry, was
shot though the heart by nine-pound ball, and
private OF I'M, s,h infantry severely wounded
in the thigh that he dieu TIC next morning About 80
Mexicans now appeared upon the NH Ss,,de over inc
moving column and fired at our troops some nun
bred musket shot, without doing any HARM The
division depoyed into the positions pointed out, and
remained an hour or two when Capt. G. f. Smith,
of the artillery battalion, with two companies (his
o,u nd "a al fourc Texan
Rangers on foot, were ordered to storm the second
height. This the gallant officer cheerfully UNDER
took and was followed with enthusiasm by the Of
fcers and men of his command. 1t was considered
on all sides to be most dangerous undertaking, and
this party was considered most emphatcaly for
lorn hope. That the height would be taken, no
one doubted, but that many brave fellows would
fall in the attempt, seemed inevitable. The distance
to be climbed after reaching the foot of the hill was
| about quarter Of a mile; part of the way was
almost perpendicular, and through thorn bushes
| and rharp-pointed rocks and loose sliding
ston ... ,..|
| The 7th infantry, commanded by Captain Miles,
was ordered to support Captain Smiths party and,
by marching directly to the foot OF the height ar
| rived before Captain Smith, who had been ordered
| TO take circuitous route. Captain Miles sent up
Lieutenant CAN'T, with detachment OF men, upon
the hillside, TO divert the attention Of the enemy
from Captain Smiths command, which could not
| yet be seen The 7th had already sustained heavy
fire of grape and round shot they forded the San
Juan, which winds around the foot of the height
which fell like shower ofhail in their ranks, with
| out killing man. Lieutenant Gantt's party were
greeted with grape and round shot, which cut the
shrubs and tore up the loose stones in the ranks,
without killing any one; but the gallant young of
fcer came within an inch of being killed by cam
non ball, which raked down the steep, and filed his
face with fragments Of rock, dust, and gravel This
fire was accompanied by constant discharge Of
musketry, the enemy covering the upper part Of the
driving the Mexcans back, until they recalled
Captain Smiths party now arrived and moved up
the HILL the rangers in advance, and did not halt for
an instant until the Mexicans were driven from the
summit Whilst this was going on, Colonel Persi-
fer f. Smiie, who commanded the 9Th and 7th infan-
try-.the 9Th, with Banchard's Louisiana boys, I'M
der Major Martin Scott, had been ordered to sup.
port the whole-gave orders for these commands TO