Complete history of the late Mexican war/Battle of Monterey
BATTLE OF MONTEREY.
Sept. 28th, (1846), about noon. The works commanding the approaches to the city, are the Bishop's Palace and a fort on a height commanding it on the west: the citadel on the north and several detached redoubts on the east. The streets were barricaded. In the afternoon a battery was commenced for the mortar, and during the night the mortar and two twenty-four pound howitzers were established. An express from General Worth arrived the same night, stating that he had arrived at his position, and would storm two heights southwest of the castle before storming the heights directly west of it.
Sept. 21st at 7 A. M., the first and volunteer divisions were ordered to advance towards the city. Our mortar and howitzer batteries opened; but did not have much effect. Taylor directed the first division to move to the east of the city to support Major Mansfield in reconnoitering the enemies' works. The division was under the command ot Colonel Garland, 4th Infantry, and went into action with the 3rd Infantry under Major Lear, 4th Brigade under Colonel Wilson consisting of the 1st Infantry under Major Abercrombie and the Baltimore division under Colonel Watson, and Bragg's and Ridgeley's batteries. Major Mansfield was the first to commence the action. Company C, 3rd Infantry, under Lieutenant Hazlitt, was reinforced by company H., 3d Infantry, under Capt. Field, The division was formed in line of battle out of reach of the guns of the enemy, and was then ordered to advance by Lieutenant Pope and Colonel Kinney, and go into the city and storm battery No. 1, at the eastern end. The battery opened upon the division and the first shot struck in front of our line and ricoched over us. We were fired upon from the citadel. Our men in the midst of these shots, pushed rapidly onward five hundred yards and rushed into the streets. Not turning soon enough to the left an unperceived battery opened upon us a deadly fire and balls flew from housetops, yards, and from every direction upon us. Many of our men were cut down. Major Barbour was the first officer who fell. An escopet ball passed through his heart. Our men retired into another street, under cover of some walls and houses. Lieutenant Bragg's battery now arrived and came into the street but could not effect much. Finally we 
were directed to retire in order and make an attack from some other point. Capt. Backus of the 1st Infantry, succeeded, with fifty men, in stationing himself in a tan yard about a hundred and thirty yards in the rear of the battery No. 1, and nearer the town. There was a shed with a wall which served as a breast work for our men. Twenty yards southwest of the battery was a distillery with thick walls, on the top of which were sand bag embrasures. Capt. Backus drove the enemy from this. Two companies of the 4th Infantry (90 strong) moved forward under a terrible fire, and determined to storm a work defended by five hundred men.
Now the Mississippi and Tennessee regiments, under General Quitman, advanced and finally took possession of the battery, after great loss. This was severe fighting. Major Lear was severely wounded, Lieut. D. S. Irwin killed, Capt. G. P. Field killed by lancers. Lieutenants Hoskins and Woods were killed and Lieutenant Graham mortally wounded. Major Abercrombie and Capt. La Motte were slightly wounded. Lieut. Dillworth lost a leg and Lieut. Ferret was taken prisoner.
The division was ordered to the captured battery to support Ridgely's battery, about to advance into the city. Our men had the mortar and three twenty-four-pound howitzers playing upon the city and one of them having been taken to the captured work was firing upon Fort Diablo. A body of men, from the 3rd and 4th Infantry, of one hundred and fifty, were now ordered to enter the city and take possession of a work of the enemy, apparently a few streets distant. They were exposed to a most destructive fire; but moved on, taking advantage of every shelter in their way. Capt. L. N. Morris, 3rd Infantry was commander. Our men crossed one street and were fully exposed to the guns mounted in barette of a "tete de pont," commanding' the passage of El Puente Purissima. We passed through several gardens and streets and finally reached a slight shelter. There was a stream before us and the enemy in force with three pieces of artillery on the opposite bank, so that we could not go any farther. All the streets seemed to be blockaded and every house fortified. Capt. Morris received a mortal wound at the bridge and Capt. W. S. Henry took the command. Lieutenant Hazlitt soon fell. At last, our cartridges being nearly exhausted, we were commanded to retire, in order, to our captured works. At one time, after day-light, we were obliged to lay flat nearly an hour, the balls came so thick. Lieutenant Ridgely, with a section of his battery, advanced to the street leading to the "tete do pont," but finding his fire entirely ineffectual, retired. Lieut. Bragg put to flight, with his battery, a show of a charge of lancers. Our men had not been able to take any dinner or supper and the night was cold and rainy. We had mounted on battery No. 1, one twelve pounder, one nine, two sixes and one howitzer, in all, five pieces.
While these scenes were transpiring under the eye of General Taylor, Gen. Worth was moving towards the Saltillo road. A large body of cavalry and Infantry opposed him, and charged upon our men. They were met by the battalion of light troops under Capt C T. Smith and Capt. McCulloughs company of Rangers. The first squadron of the enemy were mixed in with our advance when the second came furiously rushing on. Lieut. Hays, of Duncan's battery, poured in among them round shot, which passed over the heads of our men, and the enemy were dispersed with a loss of about one hundred, and among them, one Colonel. Our men marched round nearly two miles to the west end of the town, under a heavy fire from "Independence Hill," situated west of the palace and from "Federacion Hill," between which heights, the Saltillo road runs. Now General Worth determined to storm Federacion Hill, and Capt. C. F. Smith, 2d Artillery with three hundred men, half regulars and the rest Texans, under Major Chevalier, undertook the dangerous enterprise. Capt. Miles with the 7th Infantry marched soon after to his support. As Capt. Miles' command advanced, it was not observed by the enemy until it had reached the small stream (Arroyo Topa) south of the city, along the base of the hill on which the battery is situated. As soon as discovered, they were continually fired upon by the enemy, but without much effect. Our men crossed the river and formed on a point of rock out of reach of the enemy. Detachments were then sent forward under Lieutenants Grant, Little, and Gardner to divert the enemy from Capt. Smiths' command. Colonel Smith of the 2d brigade, came up with the 5th Infantry and ordered Capt. Miles with the 7th to assist him in an attack on Fort Soldado, a temporary breastwork a little south east of Federacion Hill. They moved on and found that Capt. Smith had already got possession of it. The 2d Brigads formed and advanced amid a shower of balls, and when within a hundred yards, made a charge at double quick step. The enemy fled in all directions. The left wing of the 7th entered the redoubt with that of the 5th. Many of the Louisiana volunteers under Capt. Bianchard, and the Texan Rangers were up with the advance, all fearlessly striving to be the first to meet the enemy. Colonel Smith appointed Capt. Smith to retain possession of the first height stormed, and Capt Miles with the 7th, the last. Capt. Scott with the 5th Infantry, was to move on the same ridge farther east. The second Brigade held their position during the afternoon and night of the 21st. The 7th Infantry were exposed to the fire from the Bishop's Palace several hours but Lieut. Dana of the 7th infantry, with his captured gun, returned the fire with some effect.
Those who occupied battery No. 1, at the eastern extremity of the city, at day-break, (Sept. 22d,) were obliged to lie flat in the mud to shield themselves from the sharp firing from Fort Diablo. Shells, fired from the citadel, fell all around our men, though none burst in the work. Lieut. Scarrett was laboring to put the battery and distillery in a better state of defence. Capt. Bainbridge had command of the 3rd Infantry in the morning. A portion of Colonel Davis's regiment, under General Quitman, relieved the 1st, 3rd and 4th Infantry, and the Kentucky regiment. In returning to camp, our men received a destructive fire from the batteries of the enemy, crosswise. One poor fellow, a corporal in the 4th Infantry, was cut in two. Gen. Worth's attack upon the height, commanding the Bishop's Palace, at day-break, (Sept. 22d.) was fierce and successful. The force consisted of artillery and infantry under Colonel Childs and some Texans under Colonel Hays. The party moved up the hill and at the same time Capt. Miles, with a small force, descended towards the palace and gave three cheers to divert the enemy. In return they received a shower of grape. The enemy, at the castle, being checked so that they could not aid their flying forces, the height was carried with little loss. Capt. Gillespie first entered the breastwork and fell mortally wounded. General Worth soon sent the 5th Infantry, Capt. Smith's command and Capt. Blanchard's Louisiana volunteers, to reinforce Colonel Childs. Lieut. Roland soon placed a howitzer in position and blazed away at the castle with much effect. A light corps of artillery, under Capt. Vinton, Blanchard's company and some Texans were on the left of the hill, and fired continually. The fire was briskly returned by the enemy.
About noon, the Mexican cavalry deployed before the palace and endeavored to charge upon our skirmishers. Our men pursued them, under Vinton, with terrible effect. Many of the enemy were kept from entering the castle again, as our men rushed in through every opening, and drove the enemy before them. Lieutenant Ayers was the first to enter, pull down the Mexican flag, and raise the star spangled banner.
After the castle was taken, General Worth moved down his forces from the hill and the amunition train the ranch of the Saltillo road and remained in the castle during the night of Sept. 22nd. He, however, ordered the 5th Infantry and Blanchard's company to return to the redoubt on the hill where were stationed the 7th Infantry.
Sept. 23d, at 7 o'clock in the morning General Worth opened upon the town, from the castle, with the enemy's own guns, as he intended to do when he first approached the city. A report was raised that the enemy were endeavoring to escape and the whole command were out immediately marching towards them.
It was now expected every moment, that the city would capitulate; but they held out and fought like tigers. At the east end of the city the firing commenced briskly, the same morning at day-break. The Texan cavalry under Colonel Woods, had dismounted, and with the Mississippians, under Colonel Davis, were engaged with the enemy. The Mississippians very early took possession of Fort Diablo, without any opposition, as the enemy had abandoned it the preceding evening. This was the place from which, on the 21st and 22d, our men had received such a destructive fire. This force under General Quitman, drove the enemy before them from house to house, shooting them wherever they saw one of their heads projecting.
Bragg's battery was now ordered into the city and the 3rd Infantry ordered to support it. They moved forward, and when they came within range of the enemy's guns of the citadel, they crossed the field of fire at full gallop and were unharmed. The 3d went under cover, in a circuitous route. On their arrival in the city they found it cleared of the enemy on a line with the cathedral, and within two squares of it. This edifice was in the main plaza, where the enemy had been concentrated. Much bravery was manifested by General's Quitman, Henderson, Lamar, and Colonels Wood and Davis. Several were wounded and a few killed. Bragg's battery was in action with them during the remainder of the day. The fighting was not so severe as it was on the 21st, except in the street running directly from the cathedral. It could not be crossed without passing through a shower of bullets. One of Bragg's pieces had little eflfect in this street as the weight of metal was too light. Bragg's first sergeant by the name of Weightman, was shot while pointing the gun. Our men could only cross, without great danger of being shot, excepting when our piece was pointed at the enemy. Then the Mexicans would fall behind their barricade and our men would cross in squads. As soon as our piece was fired the balls of the enemy came down the street like a shower af hickory nuts.
General Taylor was in town entirely regardless of his person in the midst of danger. This was very imprudent and wrong. He even crossed the street where so many balls were continually passing, and crossed in a walk. A commanding officer ought to look out for himself and army better than that. Taylor was brave to the back bone, but imprudent. Capt Henry reminded him that he ought to retire to a safer position; but he said "Take that axe and knock in that door." Our men commenced on the door and the occupant unlocked and opened it, and behold it was an extensive apothecary shop. The doctor (San Juan) treated his visitors to ripe limes and cool water. He said that Ampudia was in the Plaza with four thousand men, and that two thousand were in the citadel. One door was burst open and we saw five genteel looking women who were on their knees with crucifixes pleading for mercy. They were very grateful when they found that their throats were not to be cut. General Taylor expected that General Worth would commence throwing shells into the city, in the afternoon, and perceiving that the field pieces were of little use, ordered these forces to retire to camp. During the day (23rd) the enemy sent in a flag of truce, requesting a cessation of hostilities, that the women and children might be removed. Old Rough and Ready said, "No, it was too late." It was reported that some of the enemy were leaving on pack mules, and undoubtedly many others would have left, had not General Worth taken possession of the Saltillo Road. General Worth on the west side of the city, ordered a heavy gun under Capt. Chapman's company to open on the city. This firing drove the enemy from their lines bordering on the river. About 10 A. M. the 7th Infantry left the redoubt and joined Gen. Worth, at the palace, for the purpose of entering the city. The enemy did not make so great a resistance at the west part of the town as at the east where they were in a larger body, and our men did not suffer so much in the former as in the latter position. There was some loss, however. Capt. M. Kavett, of the 8th Infantry, while marching around the base of the hill, on the morning of the 21st, was killed. Lieut. Potter 7th Infantry, while storming the redoubt, was wounded. Lieut. Rossell was wounded in the attack upon the palace. Major Brown's company of artillery, Capt. Blanchard's company and some Texan Rangers, with a piece from McKall's battery, were ordered to march under Brown and take possession of a mill on the road to Saltillo, in order to cut off retreat. The city had been reconnoitered by Lieutenant, Meade and Capt. McCullough. They found that the city had been cleared of the enemy as far as the Plaza in which was the cemetery. Capt. Miles, with three companies was ordered to take possession of the street nearest the river. Colonel Stanniford was to take posession of the next street north. Both parties, the first under the direction of Capt. Holmes, and the second, under Capt. Scriven, moved on and took possession of the cemetery, without a shot from the enemy. Loop holes had been made in the walls and they had been prepared for defence. A piece of artillery followed each of these commands. Then came Colonel Childs with the Artillery Battalion and Capt. Miles with the remainder of the 7th and a company of the 8th Infantry. The last was designed to protect the amunition train sent round by Gen. Taylor. Major Monroe and Lieut. Lovell soon placed the mortar in position. Captains Holmes and Scriven, with tlheir forces marched through the same streets to a square in advance of the cemetery and soon commenced with the enemy. Colonel Childs followed the street upon which was situated a large Plaza. Capt. Gatlin of the 7th was now wounded. Our troops were soon under cover of walls and were reinforced by two companies of the 5th under Capt Merrill, and finally by three more under Major Scott. The column in the next street under Colonel Smith were now shortly engaged with the enemy. Capt. Holmes was aided by Texans under Walker, and found his way through gardens and houses until he came very near the enemy in Cathedral Plaza. Lieut. Colonel Duncan was sweeping the street with his battery. Major Brown was ordered to join the Texans in the Plaza and aid Col. Childs. They worked their way towards the enemy with pickaxes, and soon came up with them, and cracked away. Night came on and our men kept possession of the houses taken, excepting Capt. Holmes who thought best to go back a little as he was far in advance and had many wounded. Our troops in the Plaza took possession of the houses on both sides and rested till morning. Lieutenant Lovell threw shells into the city during the night with great effect, and the enemy returned the compliment from their howitzers. Lieutenant Gardner of the 7th, manifested much bravery in leading the advance with ladders and pickaxes. At one time nearly all of his men were killed or wounded.
After reveille, on the morning of Sept. 24th, General Ampudia sent Colonel Murino into our camp with a flag of truce, and an offer to surrender the city, if General Taylor would allow him to march out with his troops and all the public property. Of course when the city was nearly in our hands, such an offer was declined. But General Taylor sent back his terms, saying that an answer would be received at General Worth's headquarters at 12 M. Murino said that he had been informed that commissioners had been appointed to negotiate for peace and that no reinforcements would be sent them, and that it would cost us two thirds of our command to take the city, if we could do it at all. The action was to commence again if terms were not agreed upon.
The commissioners on our side were Generals Worth and Henderson and Colonel Davis. On the other side they were, Manuel M. Llano, T. Requena, and Ortega. The following are the terms:
Terms of the Capitulation of the City of Monterey, the Capital of Nueva Leon, agreed upon by the undersigned Commissioners, to-wit: General Worth, of the United States army; General Henderson, of the Texan Volunteers; and Colonel Davis of the Mississippi Riflemen, on the part of Major-general Taylor, commanding in chief of the United States forces; and General Requena and General Ortega, of the army of Mexico, and Senor Manuel M. Llano, Governor of Nueva Leon, on the part of Senor General Don Pedro Ampudia, commanding in chief of the army of North Mexico.
Article 1. As the legitimate result of the operations before this place, and the present position of the contending armies, it is agreed that the city, the fortifications, cannon, the munitions of war, and all other public property, with the undermentioned exceptions, be surrendered to the commanding general of the United States forces now at Monterey.
Article 2. That the Mexican forces be allowed the following arms, to-wit: The commissioned officers, their side arms; the Infantry, their arms and accoutrements; the cavalry, their artillery, one field battery, not to exceed six pieces, with twenty-one rounds of amunition.
Article 3. That the Mexican armed forces retire within seven days from date, beyond the line formed by the pass of the Rinconada, the city of Linares, and San Fernado de Pusos.
Article 4. That the citadel of Monterey be evacuated by the Mexican and occupied by the American forces tomorrow at 10 o'clock. Article 5. To avoid collisions, and for mutual convenience, that the troops of the United States will not occupy the city until the Mexican forces have withdrawn, except for hospital and storage purposes.
Article 6. That the force of the United States will not advance beyond the line specified in the third article before the expiration of eight week, or until the orders of the respective governments can be received.
Article 7. That the public property to be delivered shall be turned over and received by the commanding generals of the two armies.
Article 8. That all doubts as to the meaning of any of the preceding articles shall be solved by an equitable construction, and on the principles of liberality to the retiring army.
Article. 9. That the Mexican flag, when struck at the citadel, may be saluted by its own battery.
| W. J. Worth, | |||
| Brigadier General United States Army. | |||
| J. Pinkney Henderson, | |||
| Major-General com'g Texan Volunteers. | |||
| Jefferson Davis, | |||
| Colonel Mississippi Riflemen. | |||
| J. M. Ortega, | |||
| T. Requena, | |||
| Manuel M. Llano, | |||
| Approved, | Pedro Ampudia, | ||
| Z. Taylor Maj. Gen. S. A. com'g. | |||
| Dated at Monterey, September 24th, 1846. | |||
Our troops were commanded during the imposing ceremony by Colonel P. F. Smith. When the Mexican flag was lowered, they fired a salute of eight guns. When our flag was raised twenty-eight guns were fired from the Bishop's Palace. Our troops marched into the city to the tune of Yankee Doodle. Thus ended one of the severest battles ever fought on the continent. The Mexicans, in all of the battles with us have fought more desperately, from the fact that our forces were so very few, compared with theirs. They were ashamed to be beaten by such an inferior force. We have believed from the first that an army of fifty thousand men could have marched to the capital of Mexico without shedding a drop of blood. How awful the idea of ushering such multitudes of immortal souls into the presence of their Maker, in such a manner! General Ampudia had about ten thousand men in action, seven thousand of whom were regulars. Our force consisted of four hundred and twenty-five officers and six thousand two hundred and twenty men. We lost twelve officers and one hundred and eight men killed; twenty-six officers, and three hundred and seven privates were wounded. The loss of the enemy was thought to have exceeded ours. Our men captured forty-two pieces of artillery and one eighteen-pounder. The munitions of war captured from the enemy were immense. The following is a list of the officers killed.
Captain Williams Topographical Engineers; 1st Infantry, Lieutenant J. C. Terrett, Lieutenant R. Dilworth; 3d Infantry, Captains L. N. Morris, G. P. Field, and Brevet Major P. N. Barbour, Lieutenants D. S. Irwin and R. Hazlitt; 4th Infantry, Lieutenant C. Hoskins, Brevet Lieutenant J. S. Wood, 2d infantry (serving with the 4th); 8th Infantry, Captain H. M'Kavett; Baltimore Battalion, Colonel Watson; 1st Ohio, Lieutenant Hett; 1st Tennessee, Captain Allen, Lieutenant Putnam; Captain Gillespie, Texan Rangers. Wounded: Major-general Butler, Major Mansfield; 1st Infantry, Major J. S. Abercrombie, Captain J. H. Lamotte; 3d Infantry, Major W. W. Lear, Captain H. Bainbridge; 4th Infantry, Lieut. R. H. Graham; 5th Infantry N. B. Rossell; 7th Infantry, Capt. R. C. Gatlin, Lieutenant J. Potter; 8th Infantry, Lieutenant G. Wainwright; 1st Ohio, Colonel Mitchell, Captain George, Lieutenants Armstrong, Niles, Morter, McCarty; 1st Tennessee, Major Alexander, Lieutenants Allen, Scudder, and Nixon; 1st Mississippi, Lieutenant Colonel M'Clung, Captain Downing, Lieutenants Cook and Arthur.
It is astonishing that the city could be taken at all by so few. The citadel is a regular bastion work with revetments of solid masonry, with thirty-four embrasures. Inside are the remnants of an unfinished cathedral, which is itself a work of defence. Two magazines were discovered, with ammunition enough to have fired at us for a month. In nearly every street were works of defence. Barricades overlapped each other, and ditches were dug in front, and every house seemed to be a fortification. On the eastern part of the city there were barricades defending each other, and it is surprising that Worth's division who operated there, were not all cut to pieces. The Bishop's Palace has two or three heavy guns mounted, in Barbette, pointing towards the city. There were many fortifications around the-city, Making it a perfect Gibraltar.
Sept. 26th, the enemy were seen in great numbers mounted on every thing that looked like a horse, from the mustang to the donkey, preparing to follow the army. Ampudia left on the 25th with two divisions. The troops of the enemy had left the city before the close of the first week in October. General Worth and his division occupied the city, and Capt. Miles was his executive ofllicer. The Governor of the city was allowed to go on as usual, excepting that he was required to furnish supplies for our army, for which we were to pay cash. Several deserters were observed in the ranks of the enemy, among which was Riley, who was appointed a captain in the artillery of the enemy. Immediately after the battle, the Texas troops were discharged.
When Ampudia reached Saltillo, he issued a proclamation, declaring that he had repulsed us with a loss of fifteen hundred men, on the 21st, that, being scarce of amunition and provisions, a conference was held on the 24th and terms were agreed to, which saved their honor and they marched out with their arms. That Santa Anna was coming and then they would see who would be the conquerors.
On the 16th of August, General Santa Anna arrived at Vera Cruz, and was allowed to land, as our governmen thought that he would use his best exertions to bring about a peace; but the duplicity of the Mexican character must be learned by sad experience. His proclamation, on the day of his arrival, told his warlike intentions. He was immediately invested with the command of the army, while General Salas acted as President of the republic. He went to San Luis Potosi to raise an army.
Oct. 12th, Lieutenant R. H. Graham, 4th Infantry, died of his wounds received Sept. 21st.
It was said that a woman named Dos Amades, commanded a company of Mexican lancers, who fought desperately and killed many of our men.
Oct. 25th, Capt. Ridgely's horse fell with him in Monterey and so injured him that he died on the 27th, and was buried with military honors the next day. He was a fine officer and a graduate of West Point.
The troops on the Rio Grande were under General Patterson, whose head quarters were at Camargo. The following were the different regiments, and the mode of their distribution:
At Camargo. 2d Brigade, General Pillow commanding, composed of 2d Tennessee, Colonel Haskell; Alabama, Colonel Coffee; Ohio and Kentucky Brigade, General Marshall commanding, composed of the 2d Kentucky, Colonel McKee, 2d Ohio, Col. Morgan; Illinois, Brigade, General Shields commanding, composed of 3d Illinois, Colonel Forman, 4th Illinois, Colonel Baker, 2d Infantry, Colonel Riley.
At Reynosa, Company H. 2d Artillery and two companies of the 1st Indiana, Captain Swartwout commanding.
Matamoras, 3d Ohio, Colonel Curtis, Captains Louds, Vanness, and Norman's companies of Artillery, Colonel Clarke commanding.
Camp Belknap, Indiana Brigade, General Lane commanding: 2d Indiana, Colonel Bowles, 3d Indiana, Colonel Lane.
Mouth of the Rio Grande, 1st Indiana, Colonel Drake.
Brasos Island, Captain Porter's company of Artillery,
Point Isabel, one company of Artillery, Major Gardner commanding
Nov. 2d, 1846. orders were received from Washington, directing General Taylor to announce to the Mexican authorities that the armstice was broken up and that we were to commence hostilities with greater energy than ever. Major Graham, with a small escort was dispatched to give the information to the Mexican forces. General Patterson was ordered to Tampico with a part of our forces at Monterey. General Worth was ordered with his division excepting the 7th Infantry, a company of artillery and McKall's Battery and Colonel Smith, to march to Saltillo on the 12th (Nov.)
Santa Anna took away the commissions and placed in confinement all the principal officers of Ampudia's army, excepting Mejia and Racina. Parades had gone to Havana. On the 8th news arrived in camp that Gen. Wool had arrived at Monclova and would not advance upon Chihuahua until further orders.
On the 10th Major Graham returned, not having gone farther than Saltillo. He learned that Santa Anna was at San Luis Potosi, with sixteen thousand men, and expected six thousand more; but he was nearly destitute of funds and the army had a scarcity of provisions and clothing.
On the 12th Mr. McLane arrived from Washington ordering our army to take all the towns between Monterey and Tampico.
On the 13th, Generals Taylor and Worth moved towards Satillo, and took possession of the city on the 16th. It is seventy-five miles from Monterey. Capt. Harden with his Dragoons, was left in the city.
On the 24th Capt. Taylor arrived from Camargo, with two eighteen-pounders and two eight inch howitzers. Gen. Shields and Col. Harny, arrived from General Wool's command on the 24th. The former is to go to Tampico and take the command. Brevet Major Buchanan, 4th Infantry. Was appointed to command the Baltimore Batallion of Volunteers. Col. Benton sailed for Tampico, from Brasos, with six companies of artillery, about the same time. Santa Anna destroyed the water tanks between Monterey and Tampico. Seven Texans had been taken prisoners at China, before our army reached Monterey. General Taylor demanded their release. Santa Anna complied. They reported that Santa Anna had about 27,000 men at San Luis Potosi. The Mexicans caused some of our men mostly English and Germans, to desert, by giving them $60 each, citizens clothes, a horse, guide to the army, and 50 cents to drink the health of Santa Anna. Dec. 5th General Wool was ordered to Parras, east of Satillo. On the 2nd of Dec. Brigadier General Thomas L. Hamer, of Ohio, died of dysentery, and was burried on the 4th with military honors. He was very much esteemed.