The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-11-07
Eleven Days later from Mon
L rev.


Der, from Brazos Santiago via Galveston. She
brought advices from Monterey down to the
9th of October. The city was, at that date,i
the quiet occupation ofour troops. The Pic
ayune says;--"after perusing the letters we
have received by the Galveston, and talking
freely with several military gentlemen, it
gives us pleasure that we have no corrections
to make in the first report which we gave of
the battles at Monterey. Officers who were
in those actions bear witness to the fidelity
of our correspondent"
The evacuation of Monterey by the Mexl-
cans is described in the following letter from
the correspondent of the Picayune:
MONTEREY, Mexico, Sept. 90, 1876.
Gentlemen-We are at length in quiet pos
session of this place, the last division of Am
pudia's army having marched out yesterday
morning. The LIST division marched out on
the Doth, the I'd on the 9Th, and the balance
on the 28th. l saw the two last, and was IL
BILE TO form tolerably good idea ofthe num-
Der of men in them. There could not have
been fewer than $500 in each division, ofreg-
ular soldiers well armed and equipped. Add
to these some 1000 horsemen who left the
city in small parties, during the four days
fight, and at least 5000 citizens of the town
who took up arms in its defence, and you
have pretty strong force for the defence of
place which nature and art have combined
to render as strong as any in the world
How such an army, thus situated, could ever
allow itselfto be conquered by u force less
than 1000 men, will always appear strange to
me. The cowardice of Ampudia is now es-
tabshed beyond u doubt So careful was re
of his person, it is said he never once left his
house when any firing was going on. What
pity that one of our shells could not have
dropped into his bedroom.
felt perfectly satisfied, when ] saw the
Mexican troops pass ont oftown, with the ar
engagements which General Taylor had made
with them. To have taken all these men pris-
oners would have been useless There arms
we did not want; their horses were worthless,
with few exceptions, and it would have been
very expensive and troublesome to feed and
guard so many men. And, moreover,it would
have cost many valuable life TO have carried
the city at the point of the bayonet.
| rode out with the head ofthe column the
day before yesterday, when their second di-
vision left town. That scene alone would
almost have remunerated ono for the long
journey to Monterey. AT the head ofthe col
urnn rode the commander of the dvision,wth
his staff, accompanied by Ma or Scott, Of the
5th Infantry, with his Adjutant, Uieut Deas,)
and Lieuts. Hanson, Robinson and McLaws.
Col. Peyton rode by the side of the chief, and
received very affectionate embrace from
him as we turned out TO let the column march
on, when the head had reached Palace Hill.
And now presented scene which can new
er forget Two regiments of Infantry led off
with colors flying, drums beating, aud the
trumpeters blowing with all their might. The
filters made all the noise they could. The
men were all well armed, and the whole di-
vision seemed to be well appointed, with the
exception of shoes, in lieu ofwhich, most of
the men wore sandals. Three pieces ofartil-
lery were in the centre of the column, one
six, one nine and one twelve FOUNDER. The
line, marching four abreast, extended about
one mile. The army was accompanied by n
great many females; officers wives on horse
back, their faces muffled, and with hats on;
soldiers wives mounted on doukeys or on
foot, some ofthem carrying burdens that |
would scarcely think of packing upon mules;
young women with short pettcoats, and hats,
tripping lightly along: young girls trudging
along with their little valuables in their arms.
| noticed one pretty little creature, about nine
years DID, with pet chicken on one arm and
a parrot perched upon her hand. The uglest
woman ever heard of was walking behind a
poor little f1ea-bitten donkey, belaboring him
with large stick. The donkey was ridden
by young woman, second edition of the
old one. A precious pair, that mother and
daughter. Most OF the soldiers looked sui
len, and their eyes cleaned with hatred, and
a desire for revenge. One of McCullochs
horses, a valuable animal, which man was
leading out of the way of the Mexican
troops, was seized and led off, the soldiers
dwelling their muskets at the holster when
he endeavored to recover his horse. The an
imal was promptly returned, however, on the
circumstance being mentioned to the COM
manding officer.
Yesterday morning the last division was
drawn out in lhe plaza next to the cathedral
that is, all the plaza could holland Capt.
Miles, who is stationed there with his regi-
ment, 9th Infantry,) drew up his command
and saluted the regiments as they passed him.
I never heard noise until yesterday morning.
Pandemonium never contained as noisy a
gang as these Mexicans are. 1t seemed to
be the particular endeavor of every man to
make all the noise that lay in his power
There must have been fifty buglers and as
many fifers and drummers playing at the
same time, and no three of them attempting
the same tune.
/ saw several regiments of fine looking
soldiers, men of good size, young, active and
athletic.