The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-11-05
A LETTER FROM ONE OFsTHE LOU.
IsvILLE VOLUNTEERS.


Kentucky Riflemen, has been kindly hand
ed 10 US for publication by his brother to
whom il was addressed. From this, Our rea-
ders will learn what loss the Kenuckians
sustained in the battle Of Monterey as well
as many other interesting particulars:
MONTERREY, MEXICO, Sept. %, 1916.
DEAR BROTHER: The battle is over.
Last Saturday we arrived at our present
camp three miles from Monterey, about o.
clock. The Mexican cannon comm enced
firing on some of our troops in the morning,
that were sent off early TO reconnoiter the
city. The cannon played on them so that
they could moi make any important discover
les. We encamped at "a very pretty place
where are the most beautiful springs ever
saw.
On Sunday we did not fire gun, although
the Mexicans were popping at US whenever
any eff our men came near them. On Mon
day. the 2lst, we were marched out 10 see
the elephant. had just seated myself on
the ground to my beef and coffee, when the
word was given TO fall in. left without eat
ing mouihlul We started for the town
aud got within half a mile of it. when the
black rascals began TO send US dose after
dose of blue pils-cannister and grape from
four, SIX, twelve, and .eighteen-pounders.
The LOUISVILLE Legion was left 10 protect our
mortar, which was very busy in sending them
bombs, stuffed not with oysters, but hard
ware The balance of the volunteers and
regulars were taken TO the lower part of the
town TO what we thought was small fort
The firing there became general al o clock
in the morning on both sides; our division al
that point being commanded by Gen. Twiggs.
The cannon played for about one hour when
the men were ordered TO advance on the
fort with small arms. The battle now be
came desperate, our men in the open plain
advancing on fort like Gibraltar They
silled pressed on 10 the battery under the
fire of about three thousand Mexicans, and
one piece (cannon) bearing on them and cut
ting our men dreadlully. But they rushed
in with the bayonets, butts of their guns,
knives, &c. They soon had the fort in their
own hands The other fort, and siiIlhouse,
and sagar-house, which overlook the first
fort, poured in deadly fire on our men. We
then took the second. the third still playing
on our men with bombs, grape, canister
and round shot. We then took the still
house, sugar-house, and severa small houses
of some Importance. Still one more fort
within three hundred yards, continued play
ing on US, so that we could not gel our can
non TO bear on them. In the evening, the
regulars, the Mssssippians, Tennesseeans
and Ohioans came back, and our left wing
was ordered down to the fort 10 take charge
of it. Our FIVE companies started and lief
the right with the mortar. had one man
wounded by twelve. FOUNDER in the foot be
fore we left the mortar but not seriously
We had to march one mile and half through
the fire of -four batteries which were stationed
atthe different points, and threw their shot
into our ranks at cross FIRE. AT the sec
ond fire | had one of men wounded jus
by my side. "A twelve.pound shot STRUCK
hm-on the thigh and tore all the flesh from
tie bone, from the knee 10 tue hip, but dir
not break the bone. His name is Levi
Young. stopped and tried to console him
but being poor consolef left one of my mel
to take care Of him. While stopping witt
him, which was not more than minute, tw
more shot came at US, mostouchlng US.
had TO run 10 each up with my company
and by this time had got within half a mil
of the fort, and still nearer 10 the cannon
grape, canniser. and all kinds of canno
bali from ten or twelve differen cannon an
points. We then deployed and came int
the fort without loosing another man.
then commenced rainigng just at sundow
and we had to stand in The fort all night i
the most violent rain and in mud The mu
in the fort in the morning was about kne
deep. We had nothing 10 eat. There wer
three hundred men in that place who ha
stood up all night without blanket to thro
over their sholders. We found about fit
dead Mexicans in the fort, on whose bodit
were some very good ovefcoats. | took
coat off of one of them and put it on myse
and tlen took a seat on him. Capt. Benz
min Stewart, of the Washington Blnes, toe
seat on another Mexican body. The nel
morning, about III O'Clock, we were ordere
backto camp. Stewart and laid down in
house 10 sleep, but the internal whelps sci
us messenger 10 leave from twelVe-pou
der. which had like 10 have finished u
The ball struck the end of the house al
covered us with rock and mortar, and thu
striking the other end Of the house tried
roll over US. But it was too hot We lie
not being very sleepy anyhow. For fort
eight hours we did not eat mouthful exec
one piece of raw bacon. 1t was raining
that we could not make fire. Our GU
were wet, as were also the most of our c;
ridges Gen. Worth, with 800 men, W
at the upper end of the town next morn
Tuesday, 22d, behaving with great galal
~. He got TO the top of the bill at da
break, although it rained prodgiously, a