The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-06-01
THE MEMOIRS
MAJOR GENERAL
ZACHARY Ia Y L0 r.
CHAPTER v.
BATTLE OF MONTEREY Y,
Written expressly for the National Wing.

CHAPTER v.
BATTLE OF MONTEREY !.
On the 18Th day Of September, 1916, the
American army, under the command OF
General TAYLOR, marched from Marin and
encamped before Monterey, in Mexico, on
the 18th. II was Immediately discovered
that the enemy had occupied the town in
force and had added greatly to lis strength
by fortifying the approaches and command
ing heights. A close reconnaissance was
made the same evening by the officers Of en-
aineers and typographical engineers, on both
TANKS Of the town, and it was determined,
from the information procured, to occupy
the Saltillo road in the rear Of the town,
carrying, if practicable, the several fortified
eminences in that direction. The second
division Of regular troops and portion Of
Hays regiment Of mounted volunteers,
were accordingly detached, under General
Worth, on this service, at noon, on the
Goth.
Aten-inch mortar and 2 "a pound how'll
zers were placed in battery during the night,
to play upon the citadel and town. At Z
o'clock, on the morning Of the 2lst, these
guns opened and continued deliberate fire,
which was returned. To create still fur
ther diversion in favor Of General Worth's
movement, the remainder of the force, ex-
cept The camp guard. was displayed around
the centre and left Of the town. The infan-
try and one battery Of the lst division made
strong demonstration on the left, and soon
became so closely engaged, that Gen. Tay-
Tor moved forward the volunteer division
under General Butler to its support, leaving
one battalion-the lst Kentucky--to cover
the mortar battery. A close contest then
ensued, which resulted in the capture Of one
strong battery of four guns, which, with
some adjacent defences, the American
troops continued TO occupy. A garrison
being leftto hold this position, the remain
der of the force returned to camp.
In the mean time Gen. Worth engaged
the enemy early 10 the morning ofthe 21st,
and defeated him with considerable loss
In the course of the day, two Of the Bate
ries in rear of the town were carried by
storming parties Of the Cd division, and a
third was carried at the dawn Of day on the
22d.
On the morning Of the 22d, the Bishops
Palace, occupying height in rear Of the
town, was calamity carried by the troops Of
the I'd division. In the course Of the night
of The 22d, the batteries below the town
were, with one exception, abandoned BY
the enemy, and on the morning Of the 23d
they we're occupied by the American forces.
During that day, the Sd infantry with the
field artillery of the LIST division, the Mis-
sssippi and Tennessee regiments and the
2dregiment of Texas rihemen (dismounted)
were warmly engaged with the enemy in
the town, and drove him, with considera-
bic loss, to the Plaza and its vicinity, which
were strongly occupied. A portion Of the
I'd division advanced TO the town on the
right, and held position there.
AT noon. on the ,23d, while the Ameri-
can troops were closely engaged in the
lower part Of the city, Gen. Taylor receiy-
ed, by flag, communication from the
Governor Of the State Of New Leon, re-
questing that a reasonable time be granted
for the inhabitants to leave the city. To
this communication Gen. Taylor returned
an answer, declining TO accede to the re-
quest BY IL O'Clock in the evening OF
23d, the I'd division, which had entered
the town from the direction of the Bishops
Palace, had advanced within one square Of
the principal Plaza and occupied the city
up to that point The mortar had, in the
mean time, been'placed in battery in the ce-
metery, within good range of the heart OF
the town, and was served throughout the
night Of the 23d with good effect.
Early in the morning of the Oath, Gen.
Taylor received flag from the town bear
ing communication from Gen. Ampudia,
asking for permission to evac,ate the city
and IFS fort, Upon the grounds, that the de-
fence which the city had made had satisfied
military honor, and that, as the American
Government had manifested disposition
to negotiate for peace, further effusion Of
blood would be unnecessary. Gen. Taylor
declined acceding 10 this proposition and
demanded a complete surrender Of the town
and garrison. A cessation of hostilities
was agreed upon until IL O'Clock of that
day, the 24th,. at which hour The final an
swer Of Gen. Ampudia was to be received.
Before this hour, Gen. Ampudia signifed
TO Gen. Worth desire for personal inter-
view with Gen.. Taylor. The request was
acceded 10, and the respective parties met
at one o'clock in the afternoon of the same
day The result Of the conference was the
naming Of commissions on both sides to
draw up articles Of agreement regulating
the withdrawal Of the Mexican troops and
aetemporary cessation of hostilities. The
commission settled upon the articles, which
stipulated the surrender of the city and all
the public property TO the Americans, the
marching Of the Mexican forces out OF the