The daily union., 1846-10-23
FROM the Raltlmore American.
EXTRACTS from Liisr from officer Ofhis United STATE,
army Ia .u,rieo, dated o..


"MosrERGr, September 25, 1886.
Yesterday morning flag oftruee came into our
camp, offering 10 surrender the town, provided the
troops marched out with their arms colors artillery,
and private property, which General Taylor re-
fused. They entered, however, into an armistice
from 10 until IL o'clock. General Taylor transfer
red the negotiations from our camp TO Worth's
headquarters al the Bishops Palace, large work,
situated on an emiDence in rear Of and comma andng
the city. After much discussion, General Taylor
agreed that the cavalry and infantry should march
out with their arms and that the artillery should
carry a field battery OF six 6-pounders and thirty
rounds OF ammunition and personal effects. All the
forts, Notifications, with their armaments ammuni-
ton, supplies, and government property of every
description to be delivered over to us at ten O'Clock
this morning. They are allowed one week to va
cate the city, and then TO withdraw beyond this
province, the whole of which is given up to us ex.
cept Tampco; and this presume, they claim, as
the navy has not succeeded in taking it. This, you
will perceive, makes the Sierra Madrc mountains
the boundary.
"General Ampudia, during the conference, said
he had positive information that General Kearny
had taken Santa Fe, and that our citizens had cap
tured California. What a slice has been taken from
theml
"They have further entered into an armistce for
eight weeks General Taylor agreed to this on Am
pudia's positive thai commissioners tosre
in .Msrico arranging the basis Of treaty.
General Worth has just completed a series of the
most brilliant operations IN modern warfare and
with but little loss He carried four works. and then
came into the town, when every house was fortif-
cation. He acted thus: divided his forces into two
columns moving parallel, and opening their way
with pick-axes through the houses and walls. Thus
when they Knocked hole in the house they OF
course had possession, and IN this way avoided the
streets and the enemy's fire from roofs Of houses
and barrlcades thrown up in every street. aa--
sour side or wing OF the army has had some hard
fighting, and our loss has been very great. They
had very strong work on this side, the southeast,
built Of earth stone, nd sand bags, containing a
twelve, nine, a six FOUNDER, and an od-fashioned
thirty-two pound howitzer, with large musketry
force. This work was hanked by a stone house ar.
ranged with loop holes and fiat roof, with parapet
for the men to lie behind. Both of these were again
fanked by another redoubt about 800 yards distant
heavily armed with cannon, infantry with escopets
and fine English muskets. The first works were
carried but attended with great very great loss for,
independently Of all those, there was a cross-fre
from very strong castle about 1000 yards distant,
with shells and l2pound shot
"We had been attached to the dragons, and as
they could do nothing in this kind of work, we had
but little chance. However, when our troops moved
down, Ridgey rode up to General Taylor and vol
unteered to move with two pieces to see what could
be done, as all ofus were ignorant of the ground.
He cheerfuly granted, if Twiggs consented. y
u
two pieces, leaving cassons behind; when with
in 400 yards they turned their whole fire upon us.
IL ,cas terrific We however gave them three or four
rounds, but discovering the strength of the work,
and perceiving we should be annihiiated in thirty
minutes, retired, having had two men and three
horses wounded | verify believe two more
rounds, as they then would have had the exact
range, would have knocked us all over. The third
and fourth infantry and the Baltimore battalion
threatened the right, and the Mississippi and Ten
nessee volunteers attacked and carried it the left.
Poor Watson was shot dead, through the neck,
about seventy yards from the work leading his men
on. The third infantry went into the engagement
with twelve officers; five were killed, one mortaliy
and one slightly woundcd--judge Of the fire.
"Shorty after these were carried, Gen. Taylor
told Ridgely to-take two pieces and move on an
open pisin not over25O yards from the third fort
mentioned, and silence il. II. told him he thought
it too strong for our pieces to effect in the least
and asked ifn had been reconnoitred. He said no,
and proposed it should be done. Ridgely dashed
of half speed, and perceving il was very strong,
returned and reported God only knows how he
escaped, as there was continuous blaze of musket.
ry fired at him until he returned, and yet neither
himself nor his horse was touched, We then turned
their own guns on them, and served l2-pounder
nntil the ammunition was expended. We were then
despatched with two pieces to sweepa street strongly
defended with cannon and muskeuy
1--WE had on the 23d severe street fight, the
mississlppi volunteers all with rifles, some Of the
iennessecans and Texans on our side, against
some 5000 Mexicans whom Ampudia had collected
IN the plaza. They evacuated and carried og the
cannon from the third fort the night OF the 22d.
we took possession on the 23d, and Gen. -----
brought on this street fight, greatly to Gen. Taylors
sentin with his battery and got badly used, as he
also was on The Olaf