The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-23
am, sir, very respectfully,
your obedieni servant,
ID. Z. TWIGGS,
HEADeUAErERs TEXAS FoHcEs,

SIRi In submitting report OF the disposition and
conduct Of the Texas volunteers under my COM
mand during the recent assault upon and capture Of
the city Of Monterey, shall endeavor to avoid I'M
necessary details, and confne myself chiefly to a
brief statement of such leading and material facts
may seem TO be worthy Of record, and necessary 10
right understanding Of the character and services
Of my people
The Texas mounted men arrived at Monterey IN
advance Of the balance Of the army (beIng honOred
with that poAiron,) and displayed themselves on
the plain In front Of the city, with the expectation of
immediate baue-an expectation founded upon
some demonstrations OfIhs foe. The enemy, how
ever, soon eyincing an lndlsPosIOn to bring on u
general engagement, my forces, after some recon-
nOerng, retIred, der your orders, to the place Of
eneampment 10 await the arrival Of the balance OF
the army. This the 18th Of September
In obedience TO your orders, the first regiment Of
my command was placed the both ult under the
control Of General WORTH and | am proud that II
had the honor OF cooperating IN all the brilliant
operations Of that distinguished officer. An official
account OF his bold and successful attack upon the
upper part OF the city has, doubt, been already
furnished you; and the essential services rendered
by the Texas troops upon that occasion, cannot be
otherwise than source Of exceeding qualification
10 me, as Texan, as we'll Americana graf
hcation which is greatly heightened by the rehec-
lion that the merits Of that gallant band are fully
appreciated by yourself, we'll as by the talented
and hIgh.sPlrIted officer General WORTH whose
military genius guided their valor and conducted TO
victory.
On the 2lst ult. was ordered, with my second
regiment, 10 The support Of Gen. Worth; but, on ar
rlVing at the gorge Of the mountain, received in
stTucuons TO countermarch and re join the forces
under your immediate command, which had COM
menced an assault upon one of the enemy's strong
holds near the lower part Of the city. Before
could arrive however at the theatre Of action the
point ssSailed trumphantly carried; and my
men had the mortifyng disappointment Of not shar
ing the dangers and participating IN the glory Of the
day.
Hosttss not being resumed on the 22d, the reg
iment was variousIy employed during the day in
visiting the Caldaree road, recommending the sub
urbs OF the city, and counting conflict with the
mounted rancheros and lancers, who, Il was sup
posed, might be encouraged TO meet us by their
superior numbers. This, however, they carefully
avoided; and the regiment continued its system Of
vigilance until the morning Of the 23d, when was
ordered by yourseft to repair to the support Of Gen
Quiman, who was in hot engagement with the enc
my IN the lower part Of the city. My union with
him was effected under severe fire Of the foe; but
on reaching the place of action, l was pleased 10
find his troops in good heart, holding the enemy at
bay, though greatly fatgued by present and pre-
vious tolls. My first order 70 my men was
to enter the houses, scale the walls, and fight
the enemy in his own way-that is, under
cover and from the tops of the houses. The
order was promptly obeyed; and in this manner
working through the walls and shooting from the
parapet roOfs-we continued to adyaReo@aPon the
enemy, driving him from one square TO another
until we arrived within short distance Of the
church and grand plaza where the largest portion
OF the enemy's force was congregated. Every foot
was sharply contested by the foe asd nothing but the
unhinching courage and uDerrng shot Of our men,
enabled us to progress against force 80 vastly su-
perlor In numbers to ours The fight on the part of
the Texans commenced about ii O'Clock in the
forenoon, and continued without cessation until
they were called off by your order, towards the
close of the day. They retired with reluctance,
from perfect confidence in their ability TO continue
their onward movement and to hold the city as far
as they might extend their capture. Our loss, I'M
der the circumstances, surprisingly small, be-
ing only one killed and FIVE wounded. That of the
enemy is not known; but we have reason TO believe
that 1t was considerable, not only from their own
but also from the signs Of blood
as well as from the fact that seldom fired
except with great deliberaton, and only where an
object in view.
have observations to offer upon the events OF
the day, further than to express my unbounded ad
mirntion ofthe indomable courage and persever-
ahce exhibited in the attack; and to reterate the re-
greet experienced by men at being called upon, in the
height of success and confidence to retire from the
field of their operations. A. sense Of duty con-
strains me also to public acknowledgment
OF the good conduct of the command with
which | had been ordered to cooperate. Gene
raj Qultman, however, a brave and excellent
officer, will do justice TO the merits of his
Colonel Davis, Of that command, am told, was the
first to receive and return the shot of the enemy and
was among the last to retire from the contest. had
The pleasure OF his company during the greater part
of the fight, and am proud of the opportunity Of
bearing testimony TO his gallant conduct. ! beg
leave also, under the authority of Gen. Lamar, to
compliment Lieut. Thomas, Of the artillery, and his
brave men, for the bold advance and efficient man.
agement of the gun under his charge. When or
dered to retire, he reloaded his piece, fred farewell
shot at the foe and returned Eve hope without loss
under shower of bullets. Special praise is due TO
the young soldier who levelIed the gun, for the cool
and deliberate manner with which he executed his
duty amidst the most imminent danger. His name
is not kno Rn.
In the distribution of honors among my own peo.
Pile, am sensible of the responsibility of the task,
and Of the great difficulty OF executing 1t to the sat
lsfaction Of ALL That some should accomplish more |
than others, is a law of nature 1t may be the re-
suit not so much of superior merit as of mere supe
riority IN physical strength and other adventurous
Bots occasions like the present,
where all did their duty, and did it well, it would
seem to be proper and just that their fame should be
a common one. For this reason, and other consde-
ra,ions, must avoid the indulgence of individual
eulogy altogether, except so far it may be in
separable from exposition Of the conduct Of
my staff, which | feel bound to make, inasmuch
as am in some degree responsible to the pub
~ ioi tboh DtndWOT. NHlhS, my Ju' |
Nor aid, who had rendered himself useful to
me on many occasions, was active officer,
conducted himself in battle with the true spirit
Of the soldier, and had the honor Of being the frs,
IN the regiment to enter the city. He was rapidly |
followed by Mr. Walter VIM, "a worthy gentle
man, and a soldier Of San Jacinto,) who was con-
neced with my military family as the secretary Of
General Lamar During the hottest of tho contest
he was frequently by my side, and also acted with
Major Clarke in the transmission Of my orders, in |
he face of many perils General Burleson, my Sc.
nor aid, had accompanied the command Of General
Worth, and acquired fresh laures for himself, and
added rev ustre to the arms Of Texas. General
Lamar my division inspector, (acting also as adlu-
anti was mainly instrumental in causing my troops
o be called into requisition. He had accompanied
General Quitman in the occupancy Of point in the
over part Of the city, where the battle commenced;
ind II was at his suggestion that messenger was
despatched for my command. He was found in ac-
i've cooperation with the Mississippi and Tennes-
zee troops, but rejoined my regiment on its arrival
md acted, during the balance Of the fight with the