Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-11-10
From the DAYTON journal.
l. J. L i. z + o VI VI Al e. ID

MAJOR et4-!hS giving the most Ineligible description
we have ye, Of the city Monterey its topog4a-
phy, defeneeS AMI TIL storntnc of the ptac.
and lis eapituatioa. ii-nt Egry resigned few ,lay.
after the battle, and reached hoae last night in good
health. but most heartily SICK the War. IL pronoun-
ees il hnnbng, alike in its origin design conduct
Gen Taylor in hs opinion, is really great..man bat
in danger Of being aerf 81 by the feeble ana tclent
con4uet OF tie government al Washington.
I C,Nr >FAR NovrfaEY Mrx,co
+ thursday, 01t /. Is.
NEssRs CaNtY:-t;entemen--I my last letter from,
Cat1argo informed you th. our army was about NOV
ing u?en Monterey At which place expected TO NEE,
the Mexican forces. Weeft Cainargo on sun lay Sept,
9TH hte Tire days at seralvo, ami eneanpeI before
the walls OF Monterrey SATURDAY. IgtlI sept The first
days OF tbs march vol Of interests the roaI passing
through a wilderness of thorns bro!enn places BY im
alone often miles apart the heated AMI toll soldiers
tonnl water offensive every At Mer the town
SO celebrated IL the history of Texas border warfare
We es9ghf The first glimpse Of the distant mountains, and
the following day, eneamped pure, transparent
mountain stream called the Arroya Ner, the mutnuring
OF whose cool water naio every heart bound with de-
hight As approached the the country inn
-. -, w sa1pS MtIe usually upon the banks OF
pleasant sfetns and amid groves Of olive whose
branches were loaded with both flowers and fruit The
whole Of the vast region between the Calf the noun
t1ins seems TO be thiny populated. On days OF
Tie march, we did not pass Rancho, Ranclero
trmer- the only visible traces of and his religion
being the which erected upon almost every
hl and in every valley. Upon many these holy en-
biehs "sfe inscriptions IN Spanish requesting the pray
"rs ol The clergy for him who died murdered
there.
At aiar'n-tro days march from Monterey-our ar
my was eheenfated IT having hitherto marched by D-
visions Here several hand Balls, printed in English were
scattered through the camp signed Pedro de Ampuda,
inviting all 10 desert and accept places in the Mex
can army, or q free passport o the interior Our men
after ing the Eefya, concluded to visit Gem Peter
Ampuaia IN body, and accordingly we marched The ne.,
day to san Francisco small Village about 10 miles from,
Monterey, and which, like all those through which W.,
had previously passed. was deserted by III ts ,it.,t
who were not too poor to away.
The following day Saturday, Sept l9h was the last
march which many Of our brave men performed. Our
tho Il
fairly left San Francisco heard th. report Of heavy
artillery in direction of Monterey Surprising that the
was-"Qoek time, Forwarl..,--lnl for six miles the
men ran qaiekenng the pace at every report, until
met Dragon going to the who informed us tina,
the firing was from the town upon the mounted Texans
who had ventnred within range OF the encmys guns
The American army of lnvasion about 5000 strong
i'osg ipol ana af,liery.encatlped that morning III
beautiful grove Of Live oaks, about miles the city,
The vicinity OF our own Dayton am informed tat this
camp ground Of the invaders and from which now
write is place much resored BY the elite
The afternoon o" The day of our arrival and morning
OF TIE da} following, were spent oy engineers
connoering the aeences Of the city, which the, report
ed to be sPenddls fortified. Almost every one seemed
to be disappointed in the strength Of the place.
In order that You may better erstand the character
OF the conflict which shall presently attempt to de-
scribe and appreciate the indontabe courage
luton Of little army, displayed in the ..storminp
Of Monterey il proper You should first learn the
position Of tic paffies at ISSUE.
Monterey contains about 900 inhabitants and is sit
naed the base lofty range ,f rugged m punt inr
called the Sierra Nadre. branch the Juan riy
divides the city in unequal pars-tle arp4r and ,.t
portion being between the river and the base Of the
mountain gently ascending slope, covered places
with chapperai-wh here and there field Of
gar cane spreads itself before the town The road by
winch our approached descers plain
to the centre Of the city Standing upon the elevated
OF the latter can be 1t is embowered
sPIre or white wall being in places. all that
biz, through the branches
In front of the city, and about ne-fourth OF a mile
out upon the PLAN stands, solitary and alone, i'm
mense fort covering or Of ground. 1t is built
OF sod masonry WITH basons, dches, &c, and is
OF those strong holds which, in the opinion militia
ry engineers, only b. taken BY they call repu-
lar approaches This fort i pierced for - guns, and
commands every avenue to the city, the plain upon
the last 1t throws both shot and shells wallis
am Il was tins fort nained Afterwards BY boyshe
Oh toored Gentleman from its dingy appearance }
that tired upon our advanced division the day Of
In the Of the city, ridge after RIDGE
and peak over peak the lofty Sierra Marie On the
north OF the city is deep gorge the nountan through
which is the road to Saltilo Mexico This pass
the approaches to Monterey upon that -le defended
by series Of batteries placed upon peaks jutting
from the sides Of the great Sierra and by strong aud
elevated fortress located about half way between the
pass and to"n-known s.the bishops Palace 1t
through this pass alone, that the xican Army could
receive endorsements with safety. The city
was protected on the south By chain Of small forts
(sx think IN number extending from the foot OF the
mountain 0 the plain.
In addition to these immense defences almost
street and square Of the city barrieaded and
raed by field pieces, and every house being built the
old Mexican style with thick walls roofs,}
fortress These Qualifications Of Monterey the posi-
ton and strength Of many Of which learned by cruel
experience. occupied by at least 10000 regular
Mexican troops AMI defended b. forty or ffty pecs Of
heavy artillery 1t will thus BE- that Montereyis
one OF the strongest places the Continent.
When II is recoeceI that the assaauts Of sncI, pa-
ces should other things being equal b. fnIch
neroas than the beseigsd, will perceive how great
neAlcan had the advantage in every thing but the char
acter Of the troops The AngloSaxon race canno, be
having felt the power Paio Alto and
Resaea had wisely reiterated TO one Of their strong holds