State journal & flag. [volume], October 23, 1846, Image 2

About State journal & flag. [volume] (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) 1843-1846

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From the jV. O. Picayune.
BATTLE OF MONTEREY.
Bishop's Palace, Monteuey, Mexico.
S pi. 24.
Gentlemen—This is the fourth day since
the battle of .Monterey commenced. On
the 20th, at noon, Gen. Worth marched
from the camp east of the town in the direc
tion of the heights west of the town. Mc
Cullough’s ar.d Gillespie’s companies ol ran
gers forming the reconnoiteiing party. At
night the division bivouacked almost within
range of the tuns stationed upon the highest
point of the hill, on which the Bishop's Pal •
ace is situated. At daylight on the 21st
the column was again in motion and in a
few moment was turning the point of a tidge
which proludsd out towards the enemy’s
guns, bringing us a? near to them as their
gunners could desire. They immediately
opened upon the column with a howitzer and
12 pounder, firing shell and round shot ns
fast as they could discharge their pieeps.
The road now wound in towards a gorge,
but not far enough to he out of range of
their guns, w hich still play ed upon us. An
other ridge lay about three fourths of a mile
beyond the first, around the termination of
which the road wound, brit g ng it under the
lofty summit of a height winch rises between
Palace Hill and the mountains which nriso
over us on the west. When the head of
the column approached this ridge a body of
Mexican cavalry came dashing around the
point to charge upon our advance. Capt.
Gillespie immediately ordered his men to
dismount and place themselves in ambush.
The enemy evidently did not perceive this
manoeuvre, but the moment they came up.
the Texans open on them ns most effective
fire, unsaddling a number of them. Mc
Culloch's company now dashed into them.—
Capt. C. F. Smith’s cantp, and Captain
Scott’s camp of artillery', (acting ns infan
try,) and Lt. Longstreet’s company of the
8th infantry with another company of the
same regiment likewise charged upon the
enemy. The Texan horsemen were soon
engaged with them, in a sort ol hand to
hand skirmish, in which a number of the
enemy foil, and one Texan was killed and
two wounded. Col. Duncan now’ opened
upon them with his battery of light artillery,
“ >vit uioi.iiui'jia ui fi'njitf nmuii”
them and scattering them like chaff. S.v
cral men and horses fell under tin's destruc
tive fire. I saw one horse and rider bound
some feet in the air and both full dend and
and tumbled down the steep. The foot
companies above named then rushed up the
steep and tired over the ridge at the retreat,
ing enemy, a considerable body of whom
were concealed from our view, around the
point of the hill. About thirty of the enemy
were killed in this skirmish, and among them
a captain, who, with two or three others,
fell in the road. The Captain w.ts wounded
in three places, the last shot hitting him in
the forehead. He fought gallantly to the
last, and I am sorry that I cannot learn his
name. The light batteries, one of which is
commanded by Lieut. Mackhll, were now
drawn up, on theslojes ol the ridge, and the
howitzers opened Upon the height ol Palace
Hill. A few shell only were thrown before
the enemy commenced firing with a nine
pounder from the height immediately over
the right of the column, aiming at Duncan's
batteries. The several regiments took po
sitions, and a lew more shells were thrown
towards Palace Hill, hut did no execution
The 9 pounder continued to throw its shot
with great precision, at our batteries, one
ball falling directly in the midst of trie pie
ces, but fortuna ely bitting neither men nor
guns. Finding his batteries thus exposed,
and unable to effect anything. Col. Duncan
removed his command to a ranchc about half
a mile further up the Santillo road, where
Gen. Worth took up his position, nfer or.
dering the foot regiments to form along the
fence, near the point of the r'dge. The nr.
tillery battalion, 5th, 7lh and 8th infuntrv,
and the Louisiana volunteers remained in
this position about two hours, directly under
the fire ol the enemy's guns (now two-) The
balls fell directly in their midst all this time
without wounding a man t To begin with the
Mexicans manage their at tillery in butt-try
as well us the Americans do—his 1 believe
is now conceded by every officer- At half
past 10 the column moved towards the gen.
eral’s position. At this time, Capt. McKa
vett, of (he 8th infantry, was shot through
the heart by a 9 pound ball, nitd a private ol
the 5lh infantry was so severely wound
ed in the thigh, that he died the next morn
Ulg.
About fifty Mexicans now appeared upon
the hill side, over the moving column, and
fired at *ur troops some hundred musket
allots, without doing any harm. The Divi
sion deployed into the positions pointed out,
nnd remained an hour or two. when Cnpt.
C. F. Smith, of the Artillery Battalion, with
two companies, (his own and Cnpt. Scott’s,
and lour companies Texan Hangers on foot)
were ordered to storm the second height I
Thisilie gallant officer cbeerlully undertook,
nnd was followed with enthusiasm In' the
officers and men of his command. It was
considered on all sides to he a most danger
ous undertaking, nnd his party was consid
ered most emphatically a forlorn hope. That
the heights would be taken no one doubted,
but that many brave fellows would fall in the
attempt, seemed inevitable. The distance
to be climed after reaching the foot of the
hill, was about a quarter of a tnile ; a part of
the way was almost perpendicular nnd
through thorn bushes and over sharp-pointed
rocks and loose sliding stones.
The 7th Infantry, commanded by Cnpt.
Miles, was ordered to support Cnpt. Smith’s
party, and, by marching directly to the foot
o( the height, arrived before Cnpt. Smith,
who had been ordered to taka a circuitous
route. Capt. Miles scut up Lieut- Gant!
with a detachment of men. uuon the hill side,
to divert the attention of the enemy from
Capt. Smith’s command, which could not
yet be seen. The 7th had already sustain
ed a heavy fire of grope and round shot, as
they lorded the Sun Juan, whicfl winds
around the foot of the height, which fell like
a shower of hail in their ranks, without kill
ing a man. Lieut. G tnti’s pariv were gree
ted with grape and round shot, which cut the
shrubs and tore up the loose stones in the
ranks without killing any nne ; but Illegal
lant young officer came within an inch of
being killed by a cannon hall, which raked
down the steep and filled his face with frag
ments of rock, dust and gravel. This fire
was accompanied by a constant discharge
of musketry, the enemy covering the upper
part ol the full side, but the detnehrnent con
tinued to move up, driving the Mexicans
back,twtil they wero recalled. Capt- Smith’s
parly now arrived and moved up the hill
1 the Rangers in advance, and did not halt foi
an instant until the Mexicans were driver
J from the summit. Whilst this was going on
Colonel Persifor F. Smith, who commanded
i the 5th and 7ih Inlantrv—the 5th, with Blun
I chard’s Louisiana boys, under M»j. Martin
I Scott, hail heen ordered to support the whole
i—gave orders for these commands to pass
around on cnch side and storm the tort,
1 which was situated ahout half a mile back
I of the summit on the same ridge anti com
1 mnnded Bishop’s Palace. Such a foot race
I as now ensued has seldom if ever hcer. seen;
I the Louisiana hots making the tallest kind
of strides to he in with the foremost. Cnpt.
I Smith had the gun which lie took upon the
\ height, run down toward the breastworks
j and fired into it. Then came Col. P. F.
! Smith’s men, with a perfect rush, firing and
[cheering the 5th and 7th and Louisianians
reaching the ridge above nearly at die same
| time. The Mexicans fired at them with
grape, hut it did not save them, or cause an
; instant’s hesitation in our ranks.—Our men
, run and fired, and cheered, until they reach
i i d the work, the foremost entering at one
i end, whilst the Mexicans, about 1000 in
j number, left the other in retreat. The col
ors of the 5th Infantry were instantly rais.
cd, and scarcely wore they up before those
i of the 7th were alongside. The three com
mands entered the fort together, so close
was the race—the 5th however getting an
j advance in first. J. VV. Miller, of Blanch
ard’s company, was among the first (our or
five who entered. The three commands
may he said to have come out even in the
race, for the Till was not five seconds be
hind. In less than five minutes llie gun
lotind iri the fort was thundering away at
i the Bishop’s Palace ! More ammunition was
i found tlian our troops will use with the
I three guns that were captured. One of the
guns was found concealed. They were 0
j pound brass pieces. Several mules and half
j a dozen beautiful tents were likewise enp
j lured. Killed, none. Wounded, in 7th In
fantrv, Lieut. Potter, bullet through the calf
| of the leg. Orderly Sergeant Huddle, of
K. company ; Corporal S. P. Oakley, sc.
verely in the thigh, Oakley is from New
York city, and a very intelligent, well edu
cated man, as well as a good soldier.—Pri
»* imr—mu auiiiv « il'J Cup'UlcU Ulf
Mexican officer’s trunk at Marin, and w ho
received it and its contents from Gen. '1'ay.
lor—wounded in the head. Fifth Infantry
—killed, none; wounded—Lieut. Russell,
in.the arm; Sergeant Maj. Brand, badly,
in tho mouth with musket ball. Privute
McManus and Grubh, slightly wounded—
Sergeant Uptergrnph, co|or>bearer, distin
guished himself by his gallantry.
Thus was this brilliant coup tie main made
almost without bloodshed- I have not lime
now to give, the particulars of this glorious
affair.—Capf. C. F. Smith was in the ad
vnnee. with McCall, at the battle of krsacn
do la Pulma. and is one ot the most gallant
and accomplished officers in the Army_so
say nil his fellow officers whom I have heard
speak of him. Col. P. F. Smith—Gen.
Smith of Louisiana—distinguished himself
on that occasion, us did Maj. Scott and Capt.
Miles, and, in truth, every officer and man
ami bis duty nobly.
The gallant conduct o( Capt. Blanchard
and Lieut. Tenbrick, and ' be two brothers
Nicholls, is praised by all the officers who
were there. In truth the Louisiana buys
havo fought every day for four days, ami
I assure you, as Gen. Worth’s report will
hear nte out in saying, and as everv officer
in the 2d Division will lestify, that this corps
had distinguished itself on every occasion
where they have beencnlled on. The sons
of Judge Nicltolls, of Donaldsonville, have
stood fire for four or five hours at n time,
driving tho enemy—under their battery—
Irom bush to bush, and rock to rock, and at
last were among the foremost 10 rush into
the Bishop’s Palace and take it by storm.
Capt. Blanchard and his company havo al
ready made a reputation that will not soon
he forgotten, S. G. Allen, private of this
company, was mortally wounded in this
fight, and died next morning. Capt. Smith
had no one killed or wounded in his party
of regulars—two Texans were wounded,
viz, Wm. Catley, and B. F. Kecse.
II.
Tho following is a brief account of ihe at
tack by Gen. Taylor’s command on the
north east side of tho city.
Monterey, Sept. 25,
Major Mansfield, of the Engineers, rocon
nniteri'd the enemy's works on the night of
tho 10th, but could obtain no very accurate
information, although he approached very
near to some of them on the heights. On
the 20th Lieut. Scan itt and Lieut. Pope
| were sent'out to reconnoiter the works:
Scarritt on the right and Pope on the left of
the town. The Tatter approached and dis
covered the position of a battery on tho ex
treme left, and wus exposed to a fire of can
non and musketry from Lancers, from which
after finishing his observation, he retired
in safety—On the night of the 20th the
mortar and howitzer batteries were placed
inn position to play on the ttrong holds
around the citadel. The action commen
ced on the mot ning of the 21st, hy the open
ing of these two batteries. Colonel Gar
land’s Brigade were ordered to the lefi lor
Ihe purpose of storming the battery discos,
ered by Lieut. Popa the day before, and to
1 occupy, if possible, the lower part of the city,
j Maj. MansfieM, Capt. \\ illiams and Lieut.
J Pope were ordered in advance to select the
j most available points of nltack, and to di
j rect the movements of the column upon it.
| Three companies were thrown forward as
j skirmishers and advanced rapidly towards
i the works, followed by the Brigade in line
I of battle under a cross fire ol nitillery from
j the citadel and foil, und a heavy fire ol mu»
| ketry.—The column charged into a s reel
about 200 yards to the right of the battery,
passed the works entirely, and effected ar
entrance to die town. After advancing rap
idly about 400 yards beyond the battery
they ciime immediately in front of a mask
ed battery of artillery and musketry, whirl
swept the street completely by its range,
The barricades of trie streets at sixty yards
distance Irom the head of the column, wort
lined ’with Mexican troops, who entirely
covered themselves,opened a murderous dis
charge of grape and muskr/iy upon the ad
vanciog column. Every house in the street
was pierced for musketry and enfiladed the
street in every direction- Under this fire
the following officers were killed or mortal
ly wounded : Major Barber, 3d Infantry, by
grape shot in the ahdoment ; Capt. Wil
tiams, Topographical Engineers, slrot thro
the body by a musket ball, fell in ihe street
and was ilranged into the doorway of u
house by.Lieut, Tope, amidst a shower of
balls that covered him with dust. The gal*
lantry of this young officer, now in his first
battle, is spoken o( in admiration by the
Army. Capt. Williams died the next day
and was buried with the honors of war by
the Mexican troops, into whose bands he
had fallen. Lieutenant Terrett. 1st Infant,
ry, shot through the body, died the next
dav.
Wounded.—Msj. Mansfield, ball through
calf of the leg. This brave officer would
not leave on account of his wound, hut rode
about, behaving in the most gallant manner
all day. Captain Bafhbrtdge, 3d Infantry,
slightly wounded in the hand. Major Lear
dangerously wounded in the mouth, the ball
passing out at the back of his head. Maj.
Abercrombie, 1st Infantry, severely wound
ed- Lieut. R. Graham, 4>h Infantry, se
verely wounded in both legs and body;
hopes arc entertained of his recovery. A
great many men killed and wounded—rtuin
her not known.
It being impossible in (he opinion of the
Engineer officers to effect anything in at
tacking the barricades in front, the column
moved rapidly up a street to the right,
with the intention of turning them. Being
re-inforced by the Ohio regimen', a second
charge was made under the direction of
Gen. Butler, which owing to the tremendous
fire of musketry and grape from the barri
cades and stone houses, likewise proved in
effectual. The ti oops were then ordered by
Gen. Taylor to retire in good order and got
undercover from the enemy’s fire, which
order was handsomely executed.
The following officers were killed or mor
tally wounded (since died,) in tlie second
charge ; Col. Watson, of the Baltimore Bat
talion ; Capt. L. N. Morris, 3d Infantry;
Lieut. I). Irwin, 3d Infantry ; Lieut. R.
Hazlitt, 4th Infantry. Three officers were
killed in the first charge which I did not in
clude in that list, viz: Lieut. Ho.“kens, 3d
Infantry; Lieut. J.S. Woods,4th Infantry;
Capt. Field, 3d Infantry,
Wounded—Major General Butler, slight
ly, through calf ol the leg ; Colonel Mitchell,
in the leg; Captain Latnotte, 1st Infantry,
slightly ; Lieut. Uilwortli, 1st Infantry, leg
shot off.
izuring ine engagement in town by unr
land’s Brigade, the forts dial were passed on
the left in entering the town, wore gallantly
carried by the Tennessee and Mississippi
regiments—the first commanded by Coln'I.
Campbell, and the second by Col. Davis.
Lieut. Col. McClung, of the Mississippi Reg
imeat, was dangerously wounded.—These
regiments sustained a great loss, of killed and
wounded, but I cannot in die short time left
me. ascertain the names or number of those
who fell. Capt. Bragg’s battery of Light Ar
tillery was brought into action, hut as it was
impossible to use it effectively, it was with
drawn. Several pieces ofaitillery were rap
tured. 'Llie forts that were taken were oc
cupied by Ridgely's Light Artillery compa
ny. who turned the captured pieces against
the Mexican works, and the cannonade wns
kept up (he rest of the day.—There were
many skirmishes, and gailant deeds, &o„
Arc., which [ will endeavour to mention at
a future time.
On the night of the 22d, the enemy aban
doned the two works which had proved so
destructive to the 3d and 4th Infantry, and
they were occupied early next morning, by
the Mississippi und Tennessee regiments un
der Gen. Quitman. About 8 o’clock same
morning, these two regiments advanced on
the town, and a sharp engagement commen
ced. These regiments were supported by
a body of Texan Rangers, (dismounted for
the occasion.) under Gen. Henderson, and
by the third regiment of Infantry. The
fight was kept up until 4 o'clock, P. M., du
ring which lime our troops drove the ene
my from house to house, nlincst to the main
plaza. The loss of life on our side was not
severe on this day. On the morning of the
24th, a flag of truce was sent in which re
sult'd in the capitulation of the town.
During tfie whole of the engagement on
the 21st, Col. Kinney was exceedingly use
ful in earn ing orders, and in giving advice
(mice with Mexican customs rendered him
(V.milinr. He was in the thickest of the field,
I moving about'from point to point and doing
good execution with his rifle. This gentle
man’s services have been valuable to Gen.
Taylor in the movements of the army from
Matamoras to this place. He has been
| every where reconnoitcring the country,
and procuring information—riding night and
day, and exposing his hie a thousand ways.
The Colonel never flinched from any duly
required of him, and, had Gen. Taylor or
dered him to go and bring him Ampudia’s
portfolio, he would have undertaken it. I de
vote a paragraph to a mention of this gentle
man's services, because lie deserves much
from the public, for whom he has labored so
urduosly and so efficiently. H.
P. S- Our killed and wounded, in taking
Monterey, amounted to about five hundred,
neatly three hundred killed, Some time
will elapse before the number will be known
arcuiaiely, but it is well known that but
few prisoners were taken by the Mexicans.
From the Union, Oct 0
1 Despatches from N:i|or General Z.
Taylor, received at the War Ol
f ice last night.
[No. 69.]
1 Headquarters A it jiv ok Occupation,
I Camp before Monterey, Sept, 22, 1846.
! Sir :
1 have the honor to report that the troops
I under my command, including the mounted
, volunteers from Texas, marched from Marin
I on the 18th, and encamped before Monte,
rey on the lUih inst It was immediately
I discovered that the enemy occupied lh«
town in lurcc. ami had added greatly to its
strength by forlitying the approaches and
commanding heights, A close reconnois
i sance was made the same evening by the
'officers of engineers and. topographical en
gineers on both flanks of the town, and it
was determined, from the information pro
cured, to occupy the Saltillo road in reurof
the town, carrying, if practicable, the seve
ral fortified eminences in that direction.
The 2d division of regular troops and a
portion of Col. Hay’s regiment of mounted
volunteers was accordingly detached under
Rrig. Gen. Worth on thus service, at noon
on the 20th. A ten-inch mortar nnd two 24
pounder howitzers were plnct d in battery
during the night to play upon the citadel
i and town. At 7 o’clock these guns opened
I and continued n deliberate fire, which was
! returned. To create a still further diver
sion in Invor of Gen. Worth's movement,
the remainder of the force, except a camp
guard, was displayed around the centre and
lelt of the town. The infantry and 1 bat
i tery ot the 1st division made a strong dem
| onsiration on the left, and soon became so
i closely engaged that l moved forward the
! volunteer division under Major General But
ler to its support, leaving one battalion (1st
Kentucky) to cover the mortar battery. A
close contest then ensuod, which resulted ir.
the capture of one strong battery of four
guns, which with sonto adjacent defences
our troops now occupy. A garrison was
left to hold this position, and the remainder
of the force returned to camp.
In the mean time Gen. Worth had enga
ged the enemy early in the morning, and
defeated him with considerable loss. In the
course of the day two of the batteries in
rear of the town were carried by storming
parties oftho 2d division, and a third was
carried this morning at dawn of day. The
Bishop’s Palace occupied the only remain
ing height in rear of the town, and is com
pletely commanded by the works ultcady
carried. Gen. Worth’s division occupies
the Saltillo road, nnd cuts o fin 11 succor or
support from the'interior. I must reserve a
more minute report of the important opera
tions of yesterday until those of the differ
ent communders ure rendered, and also un.
til a topographical sketch of the country can
be prepared. ,
1 regret to report that our successes have
not been obtained without severe loss, to be
attributed in a good measure to the ardor
of the troops in pressing forward. No re.
turns ol killed and wounded have vet been
received, nor is it known what corps of Gen.
Worth's division have suffered most. In
the other portion of the army the 1st, 3d,
and 4th regiments of infantry and regiment
of Tennesse volunteers have sustained the
greatest loss. I’he following is believed to
he an accuiate list ot the officers killed and
wounded :
KILLED.
2ml Infantry—Brevet 1st Lieut. J. S.
Woods, (serving with 1st infantry.)
8 <1 Infantry—Captain 1.. N. Morris;
Captain G- 1*. Field ; Brevet Major I*. N.
flubour, 1st Lieut, and Adjt., D. S, Irwin;
2J Lieut. R. Hazlitt.
\th. Infantry—1st Lieut, and Adj’t. C,
Hoskins.
8th Infantry—Cnpt. H. MeKavelt.
Mary land and Washington Battalion YoL
unteers—Lieutenant Colonel. W. II. Wat
son,
VOLUNTEER DIVISION.
Ohio regiment—1st Lieut. M. Heit.
Tennessee regiment—Capt. VV, B. Allen;
Lieut. S. M, Putman.
WOUNDED.
Corps of Engineers—Brevet Major .1; K.
T. Mansfield, slightly. *
Corps of Topographical Engineers—Cap
tain W . G. Williams, (in liunds of the en
emy.)
1st Infantry,—Brevet Major J. L. Aber.
crombie. slightly ; Capt. J. II. Lamolte,
severely ; 1st Lieut. J. C.Terrett, in hands
of the enemy ; 2d Lieut. R. Dilworth, se
verely.
3d Infantry—Major W. W- Lear, so.
verely ; Capt. II. Bainbridge. slightly.
4//i Injantry—1st Lieut. It'll. Graham,
severely.
Hth Infantry—1st Lieut. N. B. Rossell,
slightly.
"!th Infantry—2d Lieut. J. II. Potter, se
verely.
8th Infantry—2d Lieut. George Wain
wright, severely.
VOLUNTEER DIVISION.
General Staff—Maj, General \V. O. But
ler, slightly.
Ohio Regiment—Col. A. M. Mitchell,
slightly ; Capt. James George, slightly ; 1st
Lieut, and Adjutant A. W. Armstrong, very
severely; 1st Lieut. N. Niles, severely ; 1st
Lieut. L. Mutter, slightly.
Mississippi Regiment—Lieut Col. A. II.
MeClung, severely ; Capt. II. N. Down
ing, sliglnlv ; 1st Lieut. II. F. Cook, slight,
ly ; 2nd Lieutenant R. K. Arthur, slightly.
DIVISION OF TEXAS MOUNTED
VOLUN FEERS.
1st Regiment—Captain R. A. Gillespie,
mortally.
I need hardly add. that the conduct of
our troops, both regulars anil volunteers,
throughout the operations, has been every,
thing that could lie desired. The part which
each corps contributed to the successes of
the day will appear more fully in future re- j
ports. To Major Generals Butler and Hen
derson, and Brigadier Genernls Twiggs and
Worth, commanding divisions, I must ex
press my obligations lor the efficient sup
port which they have rendered—particular
ly so to Brigadier Gen. Worth, whose ser
vices, from his detached position, have been
most conspicuous. »
I am,sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
X. TAYLOR.
Major General, U. S. A. Com.
The Adjvtant General of the Army,
Washington, D. C.
[No. 90.]
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OP OCCUPATION.
Camp before Monterey, Sept. 23,1846.
Sir : I have the gratificajion to report
thnt the Bishop’s Pulace was gallantly car*
ried yesterday hy the troops of the 2d divis
ion. In the course of the night the batte
ries below the town were, with one excep
tion, abandoned by the enemy, and this
morning wero occupied hv our troops. TV
day the 3d infantry, with the field artillery
ol the 1st division, the Mississippi and Ten
nesse regiments, nod the 2d regiment of
Texas rifiemen, (dismounted.) have been
warmly engaged with the enemy in the town,
and have driven him with considerable loss
to the plnza and its vicinity, which is yet
strongly occupied. A portion of the 2d di
vision has also advanced Into the town on
the right, and holds a position there. The
enemy still maintains himself in the plnza
and citadel, and seems determined to make
a stubborn resistance.
I urn particularly gratified to report that
our successes ol yesterday and to-day, though
disastrous to the enemy, have been achieved
without material loss.
I cannot speak in too high terms of the
gallantry and perseverance of our troops
throughout tlio arduous operations of the
last three days. f
I am, sir. very respectfully,
Your obedient servnnt.
Z. TAYLOit.
Major General U. S. A. Com.
The Adjutant General cf the army.
Washington, D- C
[No. 91.]
| Headquarter Army of Occupation,
Camp before Monterey, Sept-25, 184C.
Sir: At noon on the 23d inst., while
our troops were closely engaged in the
lower part of the city, ns reported in mv
last despatch, 1 received by a flag, a com
munication from the governor of the Slate
of New Leon, which is herewith enclosed,
(No. 1.) To this communication. I deemed
it my duty to return an answer declining to
allow the inhabitants to leave the city. By
eleven o’clock, p m-. the 2d division,’ which
had entered the town from the direction of
the Bishop’s I’alace, had advanced yithin
one square of the principal plazo, and occu
pied *ho city up to that point. The mortar
had, in the meuntime, been placed in battery
in the ceincterey, within good range of the
heart of the,town, and was served through
out the night with good eflect.
Early in the morning of the 24th, I re
ceived a flag from the town, bearing a com
munica'ion from General Ampudia, which I
enclose, (No. 2;) and to which I returned
the answer, (No. 3.) I also urranged with
die hearer ol the flag n cessation of fire un
til 12 o’clock, which hour I appointed to re
ceive the final answer of Gen. Ampudia at
Gen. Worth’* headquarters. Before the
appointed time, however, General Ampudia
had signified to General Vvorth his desire
for a personal interview with me, for the
purpose ot making some definitive arrange
ment. An interview was accordingly ap
pointed for one o’clock, and resulted in the
naming of a commission to draw up articles
of agreement regulating the withdrawal of
the Mexican forces, and n temporary cessa
tion of hostilities. The commissioners nam
ed by the Mexican general-in chief were
Generals Ortega and Requena and Don
Manuel M, Liano, governor of New Leon.
Those named od the American side were
General Worth, General Henderson, gover
nor of Texas, and Colonel Davis, Mississippi
volunteers. The commission finally settled
upon the articles, of which I enclose a copy,
(No. 4,) the duplicates of which (in Spanish
and English) have been duly signed. Agree
ably to the provisions of the 4th article,
our troops have this morning occupied the
citadel.
It will bo seen that tlio terms grunted the
Mexican garrison are less rigorous than those
first imposed. The gallant defence of the
town, nod the fact of a recent change of
government in Mexico, believed to be fa
vorable to the interests of pence, induced me
to concur with the commission i,-, these
terms, which will, I trust, receive the ppro
vnl of the government. The latter consid
orution also prompted the convention for n
temporary cessation ol hostilities. Though
scarcely warranted by my instructions, yet
the change of affairs since those instruc
tions were issued seemed to warrant this
course. I hog to he advised, as early as
practicable, whether I have met tlio views
of Ilia government in those particulars.
I regret to report that Captain Williams,
topographical engineers, and Lieut. Terrett,
1st iiiluntry, have died of the wounds re
ceived in the engagement of the 21st. Capt.
Gatlin, 7th infantry, was wounded (not badlv)
on the 23d,
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your ohediant servant,
Z. TAYLOR.
Msj. Gen. U. S.-Army, commanding.
The Adjutant General of the army.
Washington, D. C.
(No. 1.)
D. Franco. D. P. Morales, Governor of New
Leon, to Aiajor General Taylor.
[Translated,]
Monterey, Sept. 20, 8 o’clock, a. m.
As you are resolved to occupy the place
by force of arms, and the Mexican general
in-chief resolved to defend it at every cost,
as his honor and duty require him to do,
thousands of victims, who, from indigence
and want of means, find themselves now in
the theatre of war, and who would ho use
lessly sacrificed, cluirn the rights, which in
all times, and all countries humanity extends.
As governor of the State, and a legitimate
representative of the people, I stale their
case to you, and hope lrom your civilization
and refinement, that whatever may he the
event of tho present contest, you will issue
oiders that families shall oe respected, or
will grant n reasonable time for them to
leave the capital.
I have the honor to salute your general
in-cli.efof the army of occupation of ihe
United States, and to assure you of my high
est consideration.
God and liberty.
FRANCO DEP. MORALES.
Genera;, in-chief of the Army of Occupa
tion of the United States.
(No. 2.)
I). Pedro Ampudia, general in chief, to Ma
jor General Taylor.
[Translated.]
Headquarters at Monterey,
Sept. 23. 1846, 9 o’clock p. m.
Setou General : Having trade the de
fence of which, I believe this city susceptible,
I have fulfilled my duty, and have satisfied
that military honor which, in a certain man
ner, is common to all armies of the civilized
world.
To prosecute the defence, therefore, would
only result in distress to the population who
have already suffered enough from the mis.
fortunes consequent on war; and taking it
for granted that the American government
has manifested a disposition to negotiate, 1
propose to you to evacuate the city and its
fort, taking with mo the personelle and ma
terielle which have remuined, and under the
assurance that no harm shall ensue to the
inhabitants who have taken a part in the de
fence.
Be pleased to accept the assurance of mv
most distinguished consideration
PEDRO DE AMPUDIA.
To Senou Don Z- Taylor,
General in-clnef the American army,
(No. 3.)
Headquarters Army of Occupation,
Curnp before Monterey, Sept. 24. 1840.
• 7 o’clock, a, m.
Sir: Your communication, bearing date
at nine o’clock, p m., on the 23d jnst., has
just been received b. the hands of Col.
Moreno.
In answer to your proposition to evacuate
the city ami fort with all the pcrsonel and
materiel of war, I have to state that my
duty compels me to decline acceding to it.
A complete surrender ol the town and gar
rison, the latter as prisoners of war, is now
demnnded. But such surrender will be upon
termB, and the gallant defence of the place,
creditable alike to the Mexican troops and
nation, will prompt me to make those terms
as liberal as possible. The garrison will be
allowed, at vour option, after laving down
ns nrrns, to retire to the interior on condition
of not serving again during the war, or un
til regularly exch.mged. I need hardly say
that the rights ol non combatants will be
respected.
An nnswer to this communication is rc
! qtiireii by 13 o’clock. Il you assent to an
; accommodation, an . fficer will be despatched
; at cnee, under instructions to arrange the
conditions.
1 am, sir, very respectfully,
Tour obedient sarvant.
, Z TAYLOR,
Maj. Gen- U. S. A., commanding.
Senor D. Pedro dr Awpuma,
General in Chief. Monterey.
Terms of capitulation of the city of Monte
i rey, the capital of Nuevo Leon, agreed
upon hv the undersigned commissioners,
to wit : Genernl Worth, of the United
Slates army, General Henderson, of the
Texan volunteers, and Colonel Davis, of
the Mississippi riflemen, on tire part of Ma
jor General Taylor,.commanding-in-chief
; the United States forces, and General
Riiqurnaaml General Ortega, of the army
of Mexico, and Senor Manuel M. Llano,
governor ofNeuvo Leon, oti lire part ol
Senor General Don Pedro Ampudin, com
mamling-in chief the army ofthe north of
Mexico.
Art. 1. As the legitimate result of the
operations before this place, ar.d the present
position ofthe contending armies, it is agreed
that the city, the fortifications, cannon, the
munitions of war, and all other public prop
erly, with the undermentioned exceptions, be
suriendercd to the commanding general of
the United States foreps, now at Montercv.
Art. Il- That the Mexican forces be a|.
lowed to retain the following nrms, to wit:
i the commissioned officers their side nrms,
I the infantry their arms nnd accountrements,
the cavalry their arms and accountrements,
the artillery one field battery, not to exceed
six pieces, with twenty.one rounds of am
rrunilion.
Art- IJl. i hat the Mexican armed forces
! ic'iiD within seven days from this date, bc
voi d the lino formed by the pass of ihe Rinc
comiia, the city oi Linares, and San Fe~
nando de Presas.
Act. IV. That the citadel of Monterey be
evacuated by the Mexican, nnd occupied by
the American forces, to morrow-morning, nt
10 o’clock.
Art- V. To avoid collisions, nnd (or mu.
tuul convenience, that tile troops of the
United States will not occupy the city until
the Mexican forces have withdrawn, except
for hospital nnd storage purposes
Art. Vi. That the forces of the United
States will not advance beyond the line spe
cified in tiie 2d [3d] article befoic the expie
ration of eight weeks, or until the orders or
instructions of the respective governments
can he received.
Akt. VII. That the public property to
be delivered shall he turned over nnd re
ceived by officers appointed by the commnn
dinggenernls of the two armies.
Art- VIII. That all doubts as to the mea.
ning of any ol the preceeding articles shall
he solved by an equitable construction, and
( n principles of liberality to Ihe retiring ar
, my.
Art. IX- That the Mexican ffag, when
struck at the citadel, may he saluted hy its
own battery.
Done at Monterey, Sept. 24, 184G.
W. J. WOR TH,
Brgadier General U. S. A.
J. PINKNEY HENDERSON,
Maj. Gen. Com. the Texan Volunteers.
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
Col. Mississippi Riflemen
MANUEL M. LLANO,
T. REQUENA,
ORTEGA,
Approved :
PEDRO AMPUDIA. Z TAYLOR.
Maj- Gen- U. S. A. Com.
Religious Opinions of the Presidents.
— I’he following table, showing the reapnc
live denominations of which the Presidents
of the U. States have evinced a preference,
we find in the New York Telegraph :
Geo. Washington, Virginia, Episcopalian.
John Adams, Mass. Unitarian.
Thus. Jefferson, Virginia, Philosopher.
James Madison. Virginia, Episcopalian.
James Monroe. Virginia, Episcopalian.
John Q. Adams, Mass.. Unitarian.
Andrew Jackson, Term., Presbyterian.
Martin VanBuren, Virginia, Congrega’list.
Wm. H. Harrison, Ohio, Episcopalian.
John Tyler, Virginia, Episcopalian.
James K. Polk, Tenn., Preshyterinn.
Pi'ocimnatiou.
EXECTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
IT Is admitted by every enlightened nation,
that profound gratitude is due to Almighty
God for Ilia mercy and beneficence to man ; and
that it is the especial duty of every Christian
government, in some suitable manner, to make
public manifestations of a sense of that obliga
tion. Ill the dischorgo of that duty, my prede
cessors have established tile practice of ap
pointing a day uf fasting, humiliation, and pray
er—concurring most lienrtily with their views
upon this Biitiject, and the course which they
have pursued—and in view of the many cir
cumsianccs by which we are surrounded, which
point to its necessity and propriety at ihis
linie.—( lieve appointed the fourth day ofl)e
ceniber next tor that purpose, and respectfully
request each denomination of Christians in the
Slate of Alabama, lo cause public w'orsliio to
he made in each of their respective churches
on that day, and I recommend to all of the cit
izens of i lie State, that it bo devoted to Fast
ing, Humiliation, and Prayer,
i .,»>»«, Given under my hand and the
Krenl 8(fixed, at Tuscaloosa,
•U»Nt this twenty-first day of October, in
the year of our Loid, one thousand,
W eight hundred and forty-six,
JOSHUA L. MARTIN.
By tho Governor.
WM. GARRETT,
Secretary of State.
Oct. 21, 1840. 3t-49.
COMMITTED to the Jail of Tuscaloosa
county, Alabama, a mulatto boy aged
about 19 years, 5 feet, 5 inches high, who calls
himself-and says that he belohgs
to William Hanna, of Greene county, Ala
bama.
I he owner is requested to como forward,
prove property, pay charges, or lie will be dealt
with as the law directs.
L. VV. O’NEAL, Jailor,
Oct. 20, 1840. tf-49.
FOR SALE,
A well broke, and gentle Buggy Horse.
WM. JOHNSON.
Oct, 23, 1916. tf-49.
Jantnol & JFlag.
TUSCALOOSA, OCT. 23, 1840.
We hnve received a communication from
Daton, Marengo county, which the writer,
no doubt, intended for publication. We
have, however, disposed of his communica
tion in a wny to effect the object of the writ
er.without subjecting ourselves to the trouble
of type setting and proof reading it would
impose upon us.
Proclamation by the Governor.—We
publish to-day the Governor’s Proclamation,
recommending that the 4th day of Decem
ber next, be set apart, by •' each denomi.
nation of Christians,” in this Sl*te, as a
day of “ fasting, humiliation and prayer.”
Mr. Hoyt, who was badly wounded by
Mr, Myers, in Richmond, Vo., a short
time since, has died of his wounds.
Hattie of illtercy—September
21st, 98d, and 33d.
Wo present, in another place, the full
eft account of the Battle of Monterey, wo
have yet received. It is copied from the
Picayune—whose correspondent accompa
nies the army. To render the account
more intelligible, wo supply a few facts,
which we glean from other sources.
Monterey is situated in a bend of the San
Juan river ; wbic!*oi*cr bounds it on the
East and South. On the West it is de
fended by the heights, which were taken by
Gen. Worth’s command. In front—or, on
the North—there is a ravine, which does
not appear to have been occupied by the
enemy, although it must be a very strong
position. Immediately in front ol the city,
and south of this ravine, is the citadel; and
south east of the citadel, close upon the
city, the masked battery, Gen. Taylor's
command, in pressing forward towards the
south-eastern end of the ciiy, was raked by
a cross fire from the citadel, and the masked
battery—which accounts for the heavy loss
of men in this quarter. It was here the
gallant 3d. regiment suffered so greatly.
On the 19th September, Gen. Taylor en
camped three miles north of the city, with
a force ol G,000 men. On the 20th, Gen.
Worth was ordered, with his division, to
move by njcircuitous route, to the right, and
drive the enemy from the heights west of
the city. On the night of the 20lh he halted
without coming up with the enemy. On
the 21st, after a severe fight, two of the
heights—there wercthree in all—were tak*
cn,and the enemy occupying them retired
to the opposite side of the San Junn.
In the mean time a portion of Worth’s
command, under Capt. Vinton, was ordered
to storm tho fort, on the principal height,
which commanded the Bishop’s Palace.—
This was soon effected—and Capt. Vin
ton’s seeing the enemy in confusion press
ed forward and secured tho palace, with,
out meeting with any serious resistance.
Thus the enemies'strong holds, command*
ing the Saltillo road, and tho west end of
the city, were in possession of onr army,
after one day’s fighting. Tho other two
days Gen. Worth’s division was engaged in
irregular fighting. His infantry succeeded
in the mean time in forcing the enemy in
to the Plaza—situated in tho heart of the
citv.
Gen. Taylor met with more serious op*
posilinn —his operations being on the side of
the city which'had been strengthened in an
ticipation of the principal nttack. In ad
dition to the masked battery, and the cita.
dal mentioned above, this end of the city
was defended by three forts, in which the
enemy concentrated their principal strength.
The first division of regulars, under Gen.
Twigg«, and the division of volunteers un
der Gen. Rutler, were ordered to move
towards the loft of the town. It was in this
advance that our troops had to encounter so
destructive a fire. They were exposed to
a fire in front /tom the masked battery—
to a cross fire from the citadel, and from the
forts at the east end of the city. Finding
it impossible to storm the battery, the troops
made a movement to the right of it, entered
the city—fighting their way inch by inch
turned their guns upon the rear of tho ene
mie’s battery, and finally drove them out of
it. A garrison was placed In the battery
and the Mississippi, Tennessee, and
Ohio troops, withdrew from the city'. Thus
ended the first day's fighting. Early next
day, Capt. Itidgley turned the guns of the
captured battery on the three fortsat tho east
end of the city, whilst the infantry and reg.
ulnrs resumed the fight in the streets. A
.sortie was made on the foits, and it was
discovered that the enemy had deserted
them. This gave our troops all the strong
holds on the west and east sides of the
city ; nml also the battery in front of the
city. The fighting on the third day, being
within the streets of tho city was somewhat
irregular. During the day some demon
strations were made against the citadel, but
when hostilities ceased it had received but
little injury ; and contained a strong arma
ment, and garrison of COO men.
On the next day an armistice, as our
readers are aware, was entered into, be
tween the Generals of the armies—by which
the Mexicans were allowed eight days to
evacuate the city.
OMINOUS.—The address, and the resolu
tions of the Whig convention of New York,
which nominated candidates for Governor and
Lieu’t. Governor are silent upon the tariff ques
tion.