Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-27

I
bred and fifty men; four nine Founders, one twelve
FOUNDER brass gun, One lwenly-four FOUNDER now
ilzer and TWO national (garrison) standards cap
tured. Very respectfully,
| Your obedieni servant,
w. ]. WORTH,
Brevet Brgadier General,
Commanding ID Division
Major W. w. S. Bliss,
Assistant Ad't General Army of Occupation
HEADQUARTERS lsr Div. Army OF OCCUPATION,
Camp near Monterey, Mexico, Sept. ~, DO.
Sir: For The information of the major general
commanding the army of occupation, have Inc
honor 10 make the following report oil the opera
tions of the divisions of the army under my COM
mand, against the enemy in position at Monte
rev. on The morning of the 2lsl instant my d.
vision advanced towards the city. Lieut.. Col.
]. Garland's brigade, composed Of the Sd and An
regiments of regular infantry, and Captain b.
Bragss horse artillery, Lieut.. Col. H. Wilson's
brigade composed OF the Isl regiment oil regular
infantry and the Washington and Baltimore bat.
talon of volunteers, were ordered TO the East and
lower end OF the city, TO make diversion in ia
yor of Brevet Brgadier General w. J. Worths
! division which was operating against The west
and upper part OF the city. II being deemed
practicable, an assault was ordered against two
OF The enemy's advanced works. The regular
| force Of my division was thrown 10 the f'Sh. "
the lwo works, with orders 10 take possession oil
some houses in the city, on The right and rear Of Inc
enemy's advanced position, with view OF an
moving him in flank and rear The washing
ton and Baltimore battalion" was ordered on The
road leading directly to the works. Under most
CALLING and destructive fire from three batteries
in front and one on the right, as we'll as from that
of small arms from all the adjacent houses and
stone walls, my division advanced as rapidly as
the ground and The stern opposition OF the enemy
would admit Of The Isl, Sd and 4ih regiments
OF infantry gained The position 10 which they were
ordered, and annoyed the enemy in flank and
rear, until he was obliged TO evacuae his Two ad-
vanced works, which we're holly pressed by Gen.
Buffers division OF volunteers, and the Washing
ton and Baltimore battalion, under command OF
Lieur. Col. Watson.
The Sd and 4lh advanced still further into the
city, but finding the streets strongly FABRICATED by
heavy masses Of masonry, behmd which bate
ries were placed and the houses hlled with light
troops, were obliged 10 retire 10 the works first
taken by the volunteers The position Of The
enemys batteries, and the arrangement OF his
dsfence,, in every stree, and corner, rendered II
necessary TOR The regular troops who advanced
into the city to be separated, each company being
led by its captain or immediate commander, and
for The time acting independently. Alter most
manly struggle OF some six hours, my men sue
ceeded, after various rrpuses, in driving The enc
nv from each and every oi his positions in The
suburbs The 81 infantry, commanded BY Ma
lor w. w. Lear, and part Of The 4th, all under
The command OF Lieutenant olonel J. Garland,
led off towards the right, and in the direction OF
one OF the enemy's strongest works IN front oil
bridge in The city. Captain B. Brase's battery ac-
comranict The command, under destructive FIRE
which killed and disabled several OF his men and
horses. until directed 10 retire beyond the range OF
small arms. In thi, desperate struggle, The /
n!an bad Captains l.. N. Morris and q. +.
Field Brevet Major P. ". Barbour, Isl LieuIen-
ant and Adjuant ,. S. Irwin, and I'd Lieutenant
K. tiazi i'll, killed, together with several non-com
missoned officers and men, and It's commanding
officer, Major W. w. Lear, and Captain Il.
Bainbrdee, wounded-lhe former dangerously,
and the latter slightly and the 4th LOST lis adIu-
tant, Lieutenant C. Hoskins, and Brevet lst
Lieutenant Woods, OF the ID infantry, serving
with The 4lb The number Of killed and wounded
amongst The officers shows with what praise
worthy heroism each regiment and company was
led against the entrenched enemy. The lst in
fantry, commanded by Brevel Major J. J. Aber-
crombis, passing TWO of The enemy's advanced
works, succeeded in gaining possession oil some
houses on the left oil the position OF The Sd and
4lh. Captain E. Backus and J. M. Scott, of the
Isl, with their companies, took an adyan-
ragenus position in rear Of the Two works re-
terred 10, and, by firing into The sorges assisted
The volunteer force very materially IN driving
the enemy from them. Captain J. Fl. Lamolle,
OF The Isl, with his company, was doing yalu-
able service al this time, when he received TWO
wounds and was obliged 10 retire. The killed
and wounded in these three companies IN this
oreration, numbers lhir,y-sx. Licu. K. Dill
worth, of Capt. J. Ii. LamoItes company, was
mortally wounded by twelue-rounder before
en.ering the town. The remainder Of Capt J.
81. Lamoite's company being now without an OIL
fcer, was incorporated with others OF The resI-
nenl Capt. A. S. Miller's company, Isl i"ian'
rv, was actively employed in driving HE enemy
ir, m his hedges and stone fences near The ad-
vanced work and having succeeded, with consi-
herabIe loss, look command OF what remained vi
companies c, Z, G, and X LIST infantry, accom-
panied by Lieut. S. Hamilton, acting adluiant,
Brewer Major j. J. Abercrombie, commanding
the regiment, having been wounded, and Lieut. J.
&. Terretl, his adIulanl, and moved 10 repel a
threatened attack on Capt. B. Bragg's battery BY
body of lancers; after which his command join
ed Gen. Hamer's brigade, operating in the sub
urbs and there rema ned ill the close of the day
The Baltimore and Washington battalion, COM
manded by The gallant Lieut.. COL VIM. Fl. Wat
son, who was killed whilst advancing under
heavy fire into The city, served in cooperation
with The regular infantry. After their command
er lel The companies were detached and did good
service ill the close OF the day.
The number Of killed and wounded in this as
saull, shows with what obsinacy each position
was defended by The enemy, as we'll as the gal
Iantry and good conduct displayed by our officers
and men,
Capt. B. Briggs battery having suffered severe
", alter advancing some distance into the city,
was obliged TO Withdraw 10 point out OF range
OF the..enemy's small arms. Capt r. Ridgely,
with one section of his battery, annoyed The enc
my's advanced works for some time in The COM
mencenenl oil the assault, but was obliged 10 re-
tire ont OF range OF their batteries that were play
ing on him. Having used welve-pounder Ia
ken from The first work against the enemy, till
The ammunition gave oul, he was sent with one
section ofhis own battery still further in advance;
but being unable TO accomplish much against he
eneuy's heavy bIeaslworks, returned TO, and &C.
cupiel with his battery The first work taken from
Inc enemy Captains r. Rdselv and B. Bragg,
and their subaerns, W. H. Shower, G. II.
Thomas, J. F.. Reynolds, c. l.. Kibun and S.
G. French, deserve the highest praise Tor their
skill and good conduct under the heaviest fire of
The enemy, which, when an opportunity offered,
was concentrated on them. In the advanced
works referred To- were taken four officers and
sixteen men, prisoners OF war, together with five
pieces Of ordnance some ammunition, and small
arms. Having thrown up some slight breast
works the Isl, Sd, and h infantry, and Capt. R.
Ridseiy's battery, occupied this position until the
morning OF The 3D.
Owing TO the position oil the enemy and the ma
lure OF the ground, the two squadrous of 2d dra
groons commanded by Lieut.. Col c. A. May,
were not brought into action. They we're, how
ever, actively and uscfuy employed in collect
ing and conveying the woundet TO our camp
On the 23d, The advance into the city was re-
sumed, the infantry working their way from
house 10 house, supported by Caps. R. kidsely
and g. Bragg's batteries driving The enemy be-
fore them When nigh; closed our operations on
The 23d, our men had advanced 10 within two
squares Of lie centre Of the city.
A cessation ol hosli!iiies on The morning Of The
24h stopped our further progress ami gave US
time 10 collect the wounded and bury the dead
The operating strength OF my command on The
morning OF The Dist, was sixly-ihree officers and