Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-03
Tar sToRMING OF MONTEREY.

lie Peyton, OF this city, (says the New oi'e""
Picayune):
MONTEREY, Sept. %, loie.
NV Dear Sir: After a most obstinate ana san
culinary conflict. which was continued Toh Jay
10 day for five days, Gen. Ampudia capi'uiea1ie ea
this city on the 24lh inst. Our loss ID h',Ieu
and woupded has been extremely severe, not less
th,n 5O0 amongst whom are some ofthe mostya-
luable officers OF The regular army, as "ch d.
volunteers.
The Isl Regiment of Tennessee volunteers,
commanded by Col. Campbell, suffered more Sc
yerely. perhaps, than any other which was en-
gagged during The siege, having had twenty-seyen
killed on the field, and seventy-seven wounded
some OF them MORALLY, and many OF mem Sc
riously, and This out OF a force oi 9hly 80 inen'
Notwithstanding This tremendous loss, The fegi-
ment charged under the lead OF its gallant colonel
and olhcr officers, and wasl The frslregiment winch
s,orm.d The fort. mounted the brcast-WoIks, and
nntnrled The stars and stripes upon us walls,
amidst a peflecl hail OF balls, which was
pouring upon II.
These Mexican towns and f~orlresses are in
credibly strong, and lew men hight better from
house tops, and behind stone walls, or are more
adruit in The use Of stationary artillery Than The
Mexicans. In these actions Gen. Taylor had, all
told. about {. 900 men; while Gen. Ampudia's force
consisted OF 10, 500 infantry and cavalry, besides
militia, rancheros, &c. Gen. Taylor had cigh-
teen pieces OF artillery, OF which seventeen were
field pieces; while Gen. Ampudia had f%orly-iorr
pieces; ihirly-eieht OF which, with two standards
OF colors, are now 10 our possession.
Our Army arrived before Monterey the morn
ing OF Saturday The 18th inst, and about hali-pasl
s o'clock, while reconnoiterins The W OF
the civ, a ball, discharged from a IL FOUNDER,
struck near Gen. Taylor and staff, and bounded
with terrible velocity over his head, al which The
old hero did no, change a muscle or even bat his
eye. This day, the 10Th, was spent ID making
reconnoisanceS OF the place, and lis various out
posts, amidst a good deal Of firing on The part Of
The Mexicans, from cannon and a short gun call
ed an escopeuc, which carries a large ball 10 a
distance OF 500 or GOO yards.
On Sunday, the 2oth, Gen. Worth was deIach-
ed by Gen. Taylor, in commas Of the ID divi-
sion Of The regular Amy (about 1900 strong) and
Col. Aays's regiment of Texas Rangers (consis-
ting of 400 men, with a view OF turning The CT
" and occupying The SaltilIo road, for The purpose
OF cutting off The enemy's supplies and reinforce
ments, which were daily expected under Gen.
Santa Anna. The division performed the march
making a road, filling ditches, &c.-a distance of
about six or seven miles, and reached the vicinity
Of The enemy in the evening, about 5 o'clock,
when the General, with an escnit from Col.
Hays's Rangers, was fired on BY The batteries
placed on the heights, and also by a corps Of the
/ CHIEFLY = lieUl libOPJ "ho wv ~.N s"SNSH -
c%orn-fcld 10 cut of his party.
From This time until the appearance Of the
white flag, on The evening Of the 9Th, the divi-
sion OF the Army commanded by Gen. Worth
was necessarily engaged, and was ever success
ful-never Tor one moment hesitating or falter-
ing-pulting 10 route the eEemy's cavalry on the
plains, driving his infantry through the chaparral
and from the housc-tops, scaling immense heights,
capturing guns, and slormlng toTtresses which
we've mol only deemed lmpregnable but which
seemed 10 be almost inaccessible. And, best Of
all. these brilliant exploits were performed with The
loss OF fourteen killed and ~fitty-six wounded and
during The tour days con.es, there occurred moi
the slightest error or mistake on The part Of The
commanding General, nor was there a. any time
The leas, taltering or hesilancy on the part OF The
officers and men-regulars and volunteers in
executing his orders. Indeed, il is difficult 10 de-
,ermine which is most worthy OF admiration, the
wisdom and energy displayed by the able and ac-
compiished commander, or The s~allantry and ar
dor with which he was sustained by those under
his command.
When The difficulties and apparently i~nsupera-
Die obstacles are considered; ! venture the asser-
ton that The series Of successes obtained by the
division under Gen. Worlh's command, in the
recent operations against Monterey, will bear a
favorable comparison with The proudcst achieve
ments Of the American arms. he was opposed
by a greatly superior force, which was well scrv-
ell with artillery and posted upon the highest
peaks of The Sierra Madre. lie slormcd heights,
look three pieces OF artillery, turned them on the
| enemy, ana with these and the aid oi one OF his
own pleccs-which he conlrived 10 place upon
The summit which commands The famous BIsh-
| ops Palace, eight hundred feet above the base Of
he moun,ain-uniled with The ineslimablr SER
| vices rendered by the dauntless and invincible
.ririis who ei.raai thosa haigh's, no reduced that
stronghold Of the enemy and drove him into tho
city, upon which he TUNED The guns he had cap
,ured. He bivouacked his force Tor The nigh, on
The bleak mountain, and the next day, alter bonn
baIding the town, he conducted his forces into
The streets amidst a shower OF balls discharged Al
his person. He was seen every where, directing
every thing, driving the enemy from his batteries
forcing him from street 10 street and house 10
house, until night ended the %confict. He main
tanned his position in the city, placed a ten-inch
mortar in one OF the strongly fortified squares, 10
direct which he placed that gallant and skiliul
officer, Mai. Munroe, with Instructions 10 fire a
shell, weighing ninety pounds every half hour
during The night. This duty was performed with
terrible effect, almost every shell falling in the
plaza. where the enemy's forces were collected 10
,he number of 1000 or 5000 men. lie had made
every necessary preparation Tor pursuing his adj
vantages The next day, even 10 placing some OF
his artillery on the tops Of high buildings, which
would command and sweep The house-!ops from
which The enemy fought.
Such was the state Of preparation when Gen.
Ampudia capilulaled the city, rejecting equal
honor upon The military skill Of The head which
conceived, and the indonilable energy OF the gal
liant spirits who executed the plan OF operations.
Our most serious loss occurred on The 2lsi,
when Gen. TAYLOR only intended 10 make a d.
version in favor OF Gen. Worth, who was en-
saped in the attack on the other side Of the town,
hui owing 10 the ardor and iDpeiuosity OF The
troops, they very soon became involved in a ge-
neral engagement, which Gen. Taylor felt bound
to sustain. This excess OF courage involved
melancholy consequences but II IS surely a most
exeusable weakness, il il be a weakness, 10 dis
play an excess OF ardor in Tie field OF battle.
The volunteers from the different States be-
haved in the most handsome manner. They
have won Tor the citizen soldier The admiration
and applause oil the officers and soldiers Of The
regular Army, who speak Of their conduct in The
hishes, terms of appreciation and enlogy.-
Amongst the volunteers none have shone more
consnicuou.ly than the LIST Regiment OF Texas
mounted rihemen, commanded by that Chevalier
Bayard. Col. &c. Hays, better known as Jack
Hays. This corps, from the Colonel 10 the pri-
vate, has fully sustained its former reputation
In the first affairs in which Gen. WORMS division
was engaged on the morning OF The 2lst, Col.
| HAYS, VIII Ststldl iOIHIhuiSo Va MS iH'uHitG
riaemen, were thrown forward 10 open the ball,
which he did most beautifully, encounteTing and
shooting in the presence OF The General, the Colo
mel Of dragons who commanded the cnemy's
forces. In scaling heights, sIorming batteries,
and clambering over walls and hou>e-loPs, the
voice of the gallant Colonel and the reports OF the
unerring rife of The Ranger, were ever heard in
the van. The courage and constancy, and sub
ordination Of this corps, is the theme ol admira-
ton in the Army.
But my object is narrative and not eulogy. Il
is moi necessary for me 10 go into detail in rcla-
ton TO the terms accorded 10 the Mexican Army
in The capitulalion, as you will have seen The ar
,icles, or the substance thereof, published in the
newspapers ere this reaches you. II any one not
acquainted with the facts Of the case should OBJ
lecI that our commanding general has granted
Terms 100 favorable 10 The retiring army, lei j, be
remembered that our invincible little army had
.i.a. Ia n ~ rarod eoueralv in N arpino tha hoSonS nj