USA > Texas > A new history of Texas; being a narration of the adventures of the author in Texas, and a description of the soil, climate, productions, minerals, tons [!], bays, harbours, rivers, institutions, and manners and customs of the inhabitants of that country; together with the principal incidents of fifteen years revolution in Mexico; and embracing a condensed statement of interesting events in Texas, from the first European settlement in 1692, down to the present time: and a history of the Mexican war > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
On the 19th. Gen. Taylor arrived before Monterey, with a force of about 6000 men, and reconnoitered the city at about fifteen or sixteen hundred yards from the Cathedral fort, during which he was fired upon from its batteries. His force was en- camped at the Walnut Springs, about three miles short of the city. This was the nearest position the army could obtain a supply of water and bread, out of the reach of the enemies bat- teries. The remainder of the 19th was occupied by the on: - neers in making a reconnoisance of the city batteries and com :- manding heights.
On the 20th, Gen. Worth was ordered with his division to
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THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
move by a circuitous route to the right to gain the Saltillo road beyond the west of the town, and to storm the heights above the Bishop's palace, which vital point the enemy appeared to have strangely neglected.
Circumstances caused his halt on the night of the 20th, short of the intended position. On the morning of the 21st, he con- tinued his route, and after an encounter with a large body of the enemy's cavalry and infantry, supported by artillery from the heights, he repulsed them with loss, and finally encamped, cov- ering the passage of the Saltillo road. It was here discovered that besides the fort at the Bishop's palace and the occupation of the heights about it, two forts on commanding eminences on the opposite side of the San Juan had been fortified and occupied.
These two latter heights were then stormed and carried. The guns of the last fort carried being immediately turned with a plunging fire upon the Bishop's palace.
On this same morning, the 21st, the first division of regular troops under General Twiges, and the volunteer division under General Butler, were ordered under arms to make a diversion to the left of the town, in favor of the important operations of Gen. Worth. The twenty inch mortar, and two twenty-four pounder canisters had been put in battery on the night of the 20th. in a ravine about 1400 yards distant from the Cathedral fort or cita- del, and were supported by the 4th regiment of infantry. At 8 o'clock, A. M., on the 21st, the order was riven for this battery to open upon the citadel and town, and immediately after the first division, with the 3d and 4th infantry in advance, under Col. Garland, were ordered to reconnoitre and skirmish with the ene- my on the extreme left of the city. and should prospect of success offer, to carry the most advanced battery.
This attack was directed by Maj. Mansfield. engineer, and Maj. Kirney, quartermaster, of the Texas division. A heavy fire from the first battery was immediately opened upon the ad- vance, but the troops soon returned it, entering, and engaging with the enemy in the streets of the city, having passed through an incessant cross fire from the citadel and the second batteries, and from the infantry who lined the prospects, streets, and house tops of the city.
The rear of the first battery soon turned, and the reverse fire of the troops through the gorge of the works killed or dislodged the artillerists and infantry from it and the building occupied by infantry immediately in its rear.
The first division was followed and supported by the Missis- sippi and Tennessee and first Ohio regiments, the two former regiments being the first to site and oreupy the fort.
The success of the day here stopped. The Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio regiments, though warmly engaged in the streets for some time after the capture of the first battery
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
and its adjoining defenses, were unable from exhaustion and the loss they had suffered, to gain more advantage. A heavy shower of rain also came up to cause a suspension of hostilities before the close of the day.
The 3d, 4th, and 1st infantry, and the Baltimore battalion. re- mained at the garrison of the captured position, under Col. Gar- lar !, assisted by Capt. Ridgeley's battery.
Two twelve pounders, one four pounder, and one howitzer, were captured in this fort. Three officers and some twenty or thirty men were taken prisoners. One of the twelve pounders was served against the second fort and defenses, with captured amunition, during the remainder of the day, by Capt. Ridgeley.
The storming party of Gen. Worth's division also captured two nine pounders, which were also immediately turned against their former owners.
On the morning of the 22d. Gen. Worth continued his opera- tions, and portions of his division stormed and carried successive- ly the heights above the Bishop's palace. Both were carried by a command under Capt. Vinton, of the 3d artillery. In these operations the company of Louisiana troops, under Capt. Blan- chard, performed efficient and gallant service, as part of Capt. Vinton's command.
Four pieces of artillery, with a good supply of ammunition, were captured in the Bishop's palace on this day, some of which were in mediately turned upon the enemy's defenses in the city.
On the evening of the 22d, Col. Garland and his command were relieved at the garrison of the captured forts, by General Quitman, with the Mississippi and Tennessee regiments, and five companies of the Kentucky regiments.
Early on the morning of the 23d, Gen. Quitman, from his position, discovered that the 2d and 3d forts and defenses, east of the city, had been entirely abandoned by the enemy, who appre- hendin - another assault on the night of the 22d, had retired from all its defenses to the main palace and its immediate vicinity.
A command of two companies of Mississippi and two of Tennessee troops were then thrown into the streets to recon- noitre, and soon became hotly engaged with the enemy. These were soon supported by Col. Wood's regiment of Texas Ran- gers, dismounted, and by Bragg's light artillery and 3d infantry. The enemy's fire was constant and uninterrupted from the streets, house tops, barricades, &c.
In the vicinity of the palaza, the pieces of Bragg's artillery were also used with much efficiency far into the heart of the cuy. This engagement lasted the best part of the day, our troops hav- ing driven the scattered parties of the enemy, and penetrated quite to the defenses of the main palaza, in its immediate vicin- ity, and to the Cathedral fort or citadel.
Early in the afternoon of the same day, Gen. Worth assaulted.
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THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
from the Bishop's palace, the west side of the city, and succeeded in driving the enemy, and maintaining his position within a short distance of the main palaza, on that side of the city. Towards # evening, the mortar had also been planted in the cemetery en- closed, and during that night did great execution in the circum- scribed camp of the enemy in the palaza. Thus ended the operations of the 23:1.
On the morning of the 24th, at an early hour. a communication was sent by Gen. Ampudia to Gen. Taylor, under a flag of truce, making an offer of capitulation, to which the latter refused to ac- cede, as it asked more than the American commander would under any circumstances grant. At the same time a demand to surrender was made to Gen. Ampudia in reply.
Twelve o'clock, M., was the hour at which the acceptance was to be communicated to the American General.
.- At 11 o'clock, A. M., the Mexican General sent, requesting a personal conference with General Taylor, which was granted, the principal officers of rank on either side accompanying their General.
After several offers in relation to the capitulation of the city, made on either side and refused. at half past 4 P. M., Gen. Tay- lor arose, saying he would give Gen. Ampudia one hour to con- sider and accept or refuse, and left the conference with his officers.
At the expiration of the hour, the discharge of the mortars to be the signal for the recommencement of hostilities.
At the expiration of the time agreed on, however, an officer was sent on the part of Gen. Ampudia to inform the American General that to avoid the further effusion of blood, and the national honor being satisfied by the exertions of the Mexican troops, he had, after tho consultation with his general officers, decided to capitulate, accepting the offer of the American Gen- eral.
Ampudia said his force was 7.000, but it is estimated at 11.000. The forts occupied by Ridgeley's artillery company, turned the captured pieces against the Mexican forces, and the firing was kept up by this company during the day.
KILLED.
2d .Infantry-Brevet 1st Lieut. J. S. Woods, (serving with 1st infantry.)
3dl Infantry-Capt. L. N. Morris; Capt. G. P. Field; Brevet Major P. N. Barbour; Ist Lieut. and Adj. D. S. Irwin; 2d Lieut. R. Hazlitt.
4th Infantry-1st Lieut. and Adj. C. Hoskins.
Sth Infantry-Capt. H. Mckavett.
Maryland and Washington Battalion Volunteers-Lieut. Col. IV. H. Watson.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
VOLUNTEER DIVISION.
Ohio Regiment-1st Lieut. M. Hett.
Tennessee Regiment-Capt. W. B. Allen; Lient. S. M. Put- nam.
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WOUNDED.
Corps of Engineers-Brev Maj. J. K. T. Mansfield, slightly.
Corps of Topographical Engineers-Capt. W. G. Williams, (in the hands of the enemy.)
1st Infantry-Brevet Major J. L. Abercrombie, slightly; Capt. J. H. Lamotte, severely; 1st Lient. J. C. Terrett, (in the hands of' the enemy; ) 2d Lieut. R. Dilworth, severely.
3d Infantry-Major W. W. Lear, severely; Capt. H. Brain- bridge, slightly.
4th Infantry-1st Lieut. R. H. Graham, severely.
5th Infantry-1st Lieut. N. B. Russell, slightly.
7th Infantry-2d Lieut. J. H. Potter, severely.
Sth Infantry-2d Lieut. Geo. Wainwright, severely. VOLUNTEER DIVISION.
General Staff-Major General W O. Butler, slightly.
Ohio Regiment-Col. A. M. Mitchell, slightly; Capt. James George, slightly; Ist Lieut. and Adjutant A. W. Armstrong: very severely; 1st Lieut. N. Niles, severely; 1st Lieut. L. Motter, slightly.
Mississippi Regiment-Lieut. Col. A. K. McClung, severely; Capt. R. N. Downing. slightly; Ist Lieut. II. F. Cook, slightly; 2d Lieut. R. K. Arthur, slightly.
DIVISION OF TEXAS MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS.
Ist Regiment-Capt. R. A. Gillespie, mortally.
Terms of capitulation of the City of Monterey, the Capital of Nuero Leun. agreed upon by the undersigned commissioners. to wit :- Gen. Worth, of the U. S. Army, Gien Henderson, of the T'erun volunteers, and Col. Daris, of the Mississippi rifle- men. on the part of Major General Taylor, commanding-in- chief the United States forces, and Gen. Raquena and tien. Ortega, of the Army of Mexico. and Senor Manvel M. Llano. Governor of Nuero Leon, on the part of Senor General Dor Pedro Ampudia, commanding in-chief the Army of the north of Mexico.
ARTICLE I. 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 ex- ceptions. be surrendered to the commanding General of the United States forces, now at Monterey.
ART. Il. That the Mexican forces be allowed to retain the following arms, to wit: the commissioned officers their side arms. the infantry their arms and accoutrements, the cavalry their arms
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and accoutrements, the artillery one field battery, not to exceed six pieces, with twenty-one rounds of ammunition.
ART IL. That the Mexican armed forces retire within seven days from this date, beyond the line formed by the pass of the Rinconada, the city of Linares. and San Fernando de Presas.
ART. IV. That the citadel of' Monterey be evacuated by the Mexican, and occupied by the American forces, to-morrow morn- ing, at 10 o'clock.
ART. V. To avoid collisions, and for mutual covenience, that the troops of the United States will not occupy the city until the Mexican forces have withdrawn, except for hospital and storage purposes.
ART. VI. That the forces of the United States will not ad- vance beyond the line specified in the 2d [3] article before the expiration of eight weeks, or until the orders or instructions of the respective governments can be received.
ART. VII. That the public property to be delivered shall be turned over and received by officers appointed by the command- ing Generals of the two armies.
ART. VIII. That all doubts as to the meaning of any of the preceeding articles shall be solved by an equitable construction, and on principles of' liberality to the retiring army.
ART. IX. That the Mexican Hag, when struck at the citadel, may be saluted by its own battery.
Done at Monteray. Sept. 24, 1846. . W. J. WORTH. Brig. Gen'l. U. S. A. J. PINKNEY HENDERSON, . Major Gen'l connauding Texan Vol. . JEFFERSON DAVIS, Colonel Mississippi Riflemen.
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MANUAL M. LLANO, T. REQUENA, ORTEGA.
Approved.
PEDRO AMPUDIA. Z. TAYLOR, . Major Generai, U. S. A. Com'g.
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