The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-12
Hasty memoranda OF the operations ofthe
American army before Monterey, Mex
leo, from the 10th to the Gath September

On the 18th Gen. Taylor arrived before Monte
rev. with a force Of about 5000 men, and after re-
connoering the city at about 500 or 500 yards
from the Cathedral fort, during which he was fired
anon from its batteries his force wal. encamped at
the Walnut Springs, three miles short OF the city.
This was the nearest position at which the army
could obtain supply Of water, and be beyond the
reach OF the cnemy's batteries. fhe remainder OF
the 18Th was occupied by the engineers in making
reconnoisances Of the city, batteries and command
ing heights. On the Doth, Gen. Worth was order
ed with his division to move by circuitous route
10 the right to gain the Saltillo road beyond the
west ofthe town, and to storm the heights above
Bishops Palace, which vital point the enemy APP
pear to have strangely neglected. circumstance
caused his halt on he night of the 2Oth short of the
intended position. On the morning OF the 2lst he
continued his route, and after an encounter with
large body of the enemys cavalry and infantry, sup
ported by artillery from the heights, he repulsed
chem with loss and 6nally encamped, covering the
passage Of the SaIllo road. II here discovered,
that besides the fort at the Bishops Palace, and the
occupation Of the heights above It, two forts, on
commanding cminences on the opposite side of the
San Juan, had been fortified and occupied. These
two latter heights were then stormed and car
ried--he guns Of the last fort carried being i'm
medately turned with a plunging IRE upon the
Bishops Palace On this same morning 1.-THE 2lsD
the Ist division Of regular troops, under Gen.
Twiggs, and the volunteer division under Gen.
Butler, were ordered under arms to make diver
sion to the left Of the town. in favor Of the important
operations Of Gen. Worth. The lO-inch mortar
and two 24.pounder howtzers, had been put in
battery the night of the Goth, in ravne 400 yards
distant from the Cathedral fort Citadel, and were
euppovted by the 4th regiment of infantry. At a.
M on the 21st the order given for this battery
to open upon the citadel and town, and Immediately
after the let division with the Sd and 4th infantry
in advance, under Col Garland, were ordered to
reoonnotre and skirmish with the eaemy on the
extreme left Of the city, and should prospect Of sue
cess Offer To carry the most advanced battery. This
attack was directed by Maj Mansfield, engineer, Capt
Williams typographical engineer, and Maj. Kinney,
auartermaster TO the Texas division. heavy fire
from the first battery wns Immediately opened upon
the advances but the troops soon turned It, entering
and engaging with the enemy in the streets OF the
city, having PASSED through an incessant cross hre
from the Citadel and the first and second batteries,
and from the infantry who lined the PsraPets streets
and house-,ops of the city, The rear of the LIST bat
terry was soon turned, and the reverse fre OF the
troops through the gorge Of the works Killed or aus
lodged the artleriss and infantry from Il, and the
building occupied by infantry Immediately IN IT'S
rear. The LIST division was followed and support
ed by the Mississippi and Tennessee and ls'
Ohio regiments, the two former regiments being inc
first to scale and occupy the fort. The success o.
the day here stopped The Mississippi, Tennes-
sec, and Ohio regiments, though warmly engaged
in the streets Of the city for some time after the cap
ture Of the let battery and its adjoining defeDces
were unable from exhaustion and the loss they had
suffered, to gain more advantage. heavy showe'
Of rain also came up to cause suspension OF hosu,
ties before the close Of the day. The Sd, 9TH, and
1st infantry, and the Baltimore battalion remained
the garrison Of the captured position, under Col
Garland, assisted by Capt Ridgely's battery Two
l2-pounders, one 4-pounder, and howitzer, were
captured in this fort, three officers and some 20 o.
30 men taken prisoners. One Of the l2-pounders
served against the I'd fort and defences, viii
captured ammunition, during the remainder Of The
day by Cap. Ridgely. The storming parties o
Gen. Worth's division also captured two 9pound
ers, which were also Immediately turned agans
their former owners
On the morning Of the 22d Gen. Worth oontinu
cd his operations, and portions Of his division
stormed and carried successfully the heights abov'