Brief sketch of the Battle of Monterey; with details of that portion of it, which took place at the eastern extremity of the city

[From "The Historical Magazine, and Notes and Queries Concerning the Antiquities, History and Biography of America", vol. 10., no. 7]

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE BATTLE OF MONTEREY; WITH DETAILS OF THAT PORTION OF IT, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE EASTERN EXTREMITY OF THE CITY

By the Late Colonel Electus Backus, U. S. A.

On the 19th of Sept. 1846, Genl. Taylor arrived in front of Monterey, with an Army of 6,220 men, of which 2,831, were Regulars, and 3,379, were Volunteers. It was organized into four Divisions. The 1st was commanded by Genl. Twiggs; the 2d, by Genl. Worth; the Volunteer Division by Genl. Butler, and the Texans, by Genl. Henderson. Lt.-Colonels Garland and Wilson, each commanded a Brigade in the 1st Division. The two Brigades of the 2d Division were commanded by Lt.-Colonel Staniford, and Col. P. F. Smith, and in the Volunteer Division, the Brigades were commanded by Genls. Hamer and Quitman. Worth's Division had proceeded us to Serralvo, and had gained much information in reference to the strength of the Mexican Army, and of its preparations to meet us at Monterey. Much difference of opinion existed among officers of the Army about the probable defence of Monterey, Genl. Taylor inclining to the opinion that the Mexicans would evacuate the city, at our approach. Genl. Worth held a contrary opinion, and wagers were freely offered and taken, that a hostile shot would not be fired.

So firm was Genl. Taylor in his views, that he did not even halt, to reconnoitre the approaches to the city, but marched directly towards the citadel, until the booming of the enemies cannon, and the hissing of his balls near his person, advised him of the error he was committing. He then retraced his steps to Walnut Springs, where he encamped, and then sent out his Engineers to make the requisite examination of the town and its defences. Major Mansfield and his assistants reported that the works at the west of the city could be turned. On Sunday the 20th of Sept Genl. Worth was detached with his Divission and Hay's Regt. of Texans, to pass the Bishop's palace--gain the Saltillio road, and cut the enemies line of communication with the interior. He halted at night, near the Bishop's palace, but out of reach of his guns. On the morning of the 21st he advanced, and meeting a large force of the enemies Cavalry and Infy., an action ensued, which lasted about 15 minutes, and resulted in the defeat of the enemy with the loss of about 100 men. Genl. Worth gained a desirable position on the Saltillio road, and detached Capt C. F. Smith of the Arty., with his skirmishers, and the Texans, to carry the works on Federacion Hill. The 5th and 7th Regts. of Infy., under Col. P. F. Smith were soon added to the assaulting party, and the two works on this range, were handsomely carried, with but small loss on our part. Two guns were captured.

To divert the Mexican troops from Worth's operations, and to gain information of the defences at the east end of the city, Genl. Taylor determined to display a large force in front (north) of the city, and to send Col. Garland, with a suitable command, to make a forced reconnaissance in that direction, and "to " carry one of the works, if it could be "done, without too great a loss." On the previous night, a ten inch mortar, and Webster's 24-pounder howitzers, been advanced to a ravine, within range of the citadel, guarded by the 4th Infy.,and Kentucky Volunteers.

Early on the morning of the 21st, Col. Garland advanced towards the city, with the following troops of Twiggs' Divission: 1st Infy --187 men. 3d Infy. 296. Total --483 Regulars. Baltimore and Washington Battallion, 334-817. With this force Col. Garland marched on the road towards town, but before he reached the mortar Battery, he inclined to the east, and placed his command under the cover of some low shrubbery. Maj. Mansfield, Lt. Starrett and Lt. Pope were in front, with Mr. Kinney as a guide, ready to commence the reconnaissance, and Capt. Field's company of the 3d Infy. was deployed as skirmishers, to protect the engineers. A moment before we moved Genl. Worth's column was seen advancing over Federacion hill, and some indiscreet person called out "three cheers for General Worth; he has "carried the heights."

Three hearty cheers were given, but our position was thus revealed to the enemy, who prepared for us a warm reception. We now moved out on the plain, and rapidly formed our line--the 3d on the right, under Major Sears--the 1st in the centre under Maj. Abercrombie--the Baltimorians on the left, under Lt.-Col. Watson. We moved forward in line, at quick time, and had scarcely marched one hundred steps when the guns of the citadel opened upon us, with effect. Lt. Dilworth fell with the loss of a leg, and several soldiers were cut down. Capt. Field was soon engaged with the enemies skirmishers, and two other companies were sent forward at a trot, to assist him. Maj. Mansfield sent Mr. Kinney back to Col. Garland, and requested "to change his point of direction more to the right." To change direction in line under fire is always difficult and hazardous, even for well drilled troops. With Volunteers it is simply impracticable, and so proved to the Baltimore Battallion. It first wavered and then broke into fragments. Two companies are said to have reached town, but I saw but two officers and fifteen men, during the day. Some plunged into the open stone quarries for protection and some, including Officers, returned to Walnut Springs. Genl. Taylor met one of the captains running to the rear. He halted him, with a gentle rebuke and sent him back. But evading the General's eye, he again turned and fled to the camp at Walnut Springs. A few days subsequently, the Genl. discharged him and sent him home to Washington. They were unfortunately dressed in the uniform of the Regulars, and thus gave the impression that the Regulars were whipped and had dispersed. The 1st and 3d advanced steadily, and as they approached the town, ran over an unfinished breastwork, without opposition. As fences and walls intervened, we changed direction by the right flank and entered a street running south, into the city. The 3d was in front, and already suffering. Our loss was small (1st Infy.) and we had not yet fired a gun. At the foot of this street was a deep ditch of running water, which was crossed by a log or narrow bridge. The 3d crossed the ditch, and the 1st was halted near it, and faced to the front --east.--A fire was opened upon us by troops in an area in front of us, in the shrubbery. We returned the fire, and drove them back. We were ordered to advance, and we jumped a wall covered with thorns, and formed our companies in the enclosure. Maj. Abercrombie was wounded and retired. Capt. Miller was ordered with his co. to escort Braggs Battery, and I thus found myself the senior officer of the 1st Infy. present, and in command. I had but two companies of 44 men each. I marched eastwardly about 100 yards to some small adobe buildings, and then crossed the ditch on a log, to the street on which the 3d was yet standing, and which ran east and west. We marched eastwardly, down this street, which soon brought us opposite a tannery filled with Mexicans, who discovered themselves by delivering across the wall, a tremendous discharge of musketry. It was so close, that I at first apprehended that my command was destroyed, but a moment's glance, showed that no vital harm was effected. We returned the fire across the wall, and from behind some large trees, and very shortly, the Mexicans were either running, or begging for quarter, with their hats on their bayonets. We ceased firing, but before we could secure the prisoners, they again fired on us, and compelled us to shoot down all except eight. These were the 1st prisoners taken. I now had possession of the Tannery, and it was never lost from that moment. I mounted a stone wall, and clambered up, on its flat roof, and now had a fair view of the enemy and his defences. On my right (south) about 250 yards, was Fort Diablo, or Battery No. 2. But we were partially concealed from it by shrubbery. In front of us, east, about 120 yards, was a strong stone building used as a distillery and tannery, having a large flat roof; which was covered with Mexican troops. On its north face, was a parapet of sand bags, but we were on its left (west) flank, which was not protected. On the front of this, was Redoubt No. 1, which had four guns in embrazures, and one howitzer in the centre. The men on the distillery overlooked and defended this work. But we did not approach it in front. We entered about 300 yards to the west of it, and had passed around nearly in its rear. Its gorge opened towards us, but was concealed by a pile of brush. All this, I saw in a moment, and I called my men up on the roof. Capt. I. M. Scott, whose co. had been deployed as skirmishers, had collected some ten of his men and was the first to join me. About 15 or 20 men covered the front of this roof, which had a stone parapet about 2 feet high, on its eastern face. Behind this, we lay flat upon our stomachs, and opened a careful fire at the enemy on the distillery. It was now after 9 Oclock, a.m. In about five minutes I saw a great commotion among the Mexicans on the distillery. Some were plunging down the ladder--some were lying down, and some jumped from the roof to the ground. The roof was soon cleared, and a body of men issued from the building and fled across the creek to Diablo. Between the Tannery and Distillery were several small buildings, occupied by Mexican troops, who were watching for shots, at detached parties, or individuals. Capt. Lamotte, undertook to dislodge them with but five or six men, but was severely wounded in the arm and breast, and compelled to retire. Four men of his company endeavored to remove him, and as they were stooping to pick him up, two were instantly killed by a cannon ball, and a third lost his leg. The 3rd Infy. was yet in its original position, firing at Mexicans in the trenches west of Fort Diablo. The Mexicans were sheltered by breastworks, while the 3d was exposed in an open street and suffered much, both from a direct and cross fire. Major Barbour fell soon after crossing the ditch, and Capt. Williams of the topographical Engineers, and Lt. Terret, Adjutant of the 1st Infy fell as soon as we had entered the city, mortally wounded. Col. Watson reported to Col. Wilson with much indignation, that the Baltimore battallion had fled and dispersed. Col. Wilson directed him to collect his men and assault No. 1 Battery. He moved in that direction with a mere handful of men, and just opposite the Tannery, on the north side, was shot.

His body remained there until sun set, when it was removed by Lt. Schuyler Hamilton of the 1st Infy. and men of our Regt, aided by Lt. Taylor, and a few men of the Baltimore Battallion. At about 10 a.m., I saw some Mexicans emerging from the door of the distillery, and was about to fire on them, when I discovered a party of women and children behind them. They were again followed by a party of men. I ordered my men not to fire on them, and they moved off towards Fort Diablo. In doing so, the last party of men were apart from the women, and I ordered some shots fired at the men. These men suddenly plunged in among the women and children, and the whole domestic rabble, fled in disorder to Fort Diablo, on the south side of the creek. From this period, not a shot was fired from the Distillery. It was untenable, and its garrison had deserted it, at about 10 a.m. Yet Genl. Taylor says, "The Volunteers carried this work at 12 am." The Volunteers did not find a live Mexican in the work, except the wounded. Col. Kinney, singly and alone, entered the tannery after the Mexicans fled from it, and was there before the Volunteers carne in to town. He stated this fact to Genl. Quitman, in my presence, at Tampico.

I have fully detailed the facts about the exodus of the women and children, because it was stated that "Genl. Twiggs ordered me not to fire on the women." Such is not the case, and for the simple reason, that Genl. Twiggs was not there. He was sick, and did not arrive in town, until after all these works had fallen. After the distillery had been silenced, Major Mansfield passed on to the east corner of the tannery, on which I was standing. His efforts to obtain a closer observation were frustrated, for as often as he raised his spy-glass, just so often were Mexican muskets presented towards him, by Mexicans behind the adjacent buildings. At length, he turned back, and seeing me on the roof, asked me where he could find Col. Garland, and I understood him to say, "He should advise him to retire." I replied, I was sorry to hear him say so, as I thought we could carry Battery No. 1, before us. He said, "we had not men enough," and passed on towards Col Garland, but receiving a ball in his leg. he stopped to tie it up with his handkerchief. Soon after, Maj. Lear, came up to the same corner, and made a deliberate examination of the works before us, and of those over the creek. He then commenced his return towards his Regt., and in passing me I said to him, "Major, with two or three companies of your Regt., I think we can carry that work." He replied, "No--we are in a tight place, and the sooner we get out of it, the better." I replied, "I am sorry you think so. I can hold this place."

He added, "We have not men enough," and passed on. He had scarcely made five steps, before he was struck in the face, by a musket ball, and fell. He was carried off by Mexican prisoners, (under a guard), that I had just captured. Soon after, I heard an order passed down the line, "Retire in good order slowly--slowly." Who gave it, I could not say, and it did not come to me, through an officer. I ordered my men not to move. And yet, I saw the troops falling back, and heard the command repeated, "Slowly--Slowly." Our troops retired, and the Mexicans in Battery No. 1, gave three cheers, or vivas. It was repeated by the garrison of Fort Diablo, and by the troops in the trenches; and then, the bells of the cathedral rang a merry peal. I was in yard of the tannery, where some of my men were cleaning their foul guns. Others were on the roof, and some in rear of an adjacent building. A man on the roof called out, "Captain, the Mexicans are running up this street." It was true. They were running up rapidly--probably to hang on to Col. Garland's rear--and supposed we had all retired. I jumped into the street, with about fifteen men, and found them almost upon me. My only alternative was to charge, and it instantly changed the tide of affairs. We sprang towards them, and they fled precipitately, without firing a shot. I regained the tannery, and held it. This, in my opinion, was the turning point of the day. Had I abandoned this post, it could not readily have been retaken, and it was evidently, the Key to the eastern entrance of the city.

Shortly after, I heard heavy firing from battery No. 1, and again mounted the roof. The fire had been drawn, by three small companies of the 4th, under Major Allen, who had failed to receive their orders in time, and only arrived in front of this work, after Genl. Garland had crossed the plain, retiring. They were unmercifully handled, and forced to recede, with great loss of officers and men. The gorge of No. 1 had been closed with brush, and its embrazures did not point towards us. The Mexicans now opened the gorge, and brought out a piece of Artillery to bear upon us. We were evidently in their way. I could now see through the gorge, into the interior of the work, which was crowded with men and mules. The Artillery was twice discharged at us, and by this time, most of the gunners were killed or wounded by our musketry. We then concentrated our fire on the troops in the Redoubt, and before we could reload, the whole mass was in full retreat towards Diablo. I jumped from the roof; and with the men I found in the yard, pursued the Mexicans to the creek, where I captured about 20 prisoners. Up to this period I had neither seen or heard of Volunteers since the flight of the Baltimorians, at 8 a.m., but while I was crossing my prisoners over the creek, my men called to me. "The Mexicans are coming in our rear." I faced about and prepared for defence, when I discovered the error. Instead of Mexicans, the Volunteers were coming up in our rear, and cheering vociferously at their success in gaining the deserted Battery. (My prisoners, except four, thus escaped.) The Volunteers carne dashing down towards us, and mistaking us for the enemy, were about to fire. I raised both hands and my voice at the same time, and eventually succeeded in persuading them we were friends and not enemies. They came down to my position, and occupied the same ground the 1st and 3d had occupied all the day. They fired on Fort Diablo and the trenches, but retired, without carrying a single new point. I fell back to the tannery, filled my boxes with cartridges from those of the dead men, and in thirty minutes was again ready for action.

I have already said Col. Garland's force of Regulars was 483 men. The force which operated against the Tannery, distillery, and No. 1 Battery, did not exceed ninety men, at any one period. Genl. Quitman's force was 877 men, viz.: Tennessee Reg't, 443, Mississippi Reg't, 434. He had also the aid of Capt. Backus's force, (say eighty men,) and two out of the three works had fallen, before he was ordered to march in that direction. Not a shot was fired at him from the Tannery and Distillery. The approach of his command, at the moment Capt. Backus was firing on their rear, produced its mortal effect, but the enemy fled before he reached the Battery, and no collision occurred at that point.

Soon after 1 Oclock, Col. Garland was ordered with the 1st, 3d and 4th Regts, and Ridgely's Battery, to assault the bridge-head, called Purissima--the strongest point of the city. I commanded three cos. of the 1st, and escorted Ridgely's Battery, while Capt. Miller of the 1st, my senior, escorted Bragg's Battery, with his own co. and some men from others. Ridgely placed his Battery one square from the Bridge Head, and fired into the barricades for several hours ; but no great impression was made on the stone walls. The 3d and 4th were closely engaged near us, for three hours, and suffered an immense loss. The force was entirely inadequate to the duty required, and it is strange indeed that no Volunteers, or mounted troops, were employed to aid this hazardous and useless enterprize.

After the fall of Major Lear, Capt. Bainbridge succeeded to the command of the 3d, and, receiving a slight wound in the hand, he retired and was succeeded by Capt. Lewis Morris. At about 4 p. m., Capt. Morris fell, and Capt. Henry commanded the Regt., from that time until it left the field. The 1st, 3d and 4th each lost an adjutant, and in this last and fruitless assault, many officers and men were cut down by an enemy they could not reach. . . . At about sunset, the troops fell back to Battery No. 1. The killed and wounded officers were taken back to the same place, excepting Capt. Williams and Lt. Terrett, who were left in a stone building with two drummer boys, and at night, fell into the hands of the enemy, and died in the Mexican Hospital. Thus ended the operations of the first day, and the same troops which had been constantly engaged and had suffered most, were ordered to remain in town, and hold the captured works. These were the 1st, 3d and 4th Reg,'s of Infy and Ridgeley's Battery. To these were added Capt. Shivers' co. of Texas Volunteers. Col. Garland commanded. The other troops returned to the Walnut Springs. The night was wet and cold. The enemy lighted his front perpetually, with Rockets, to prevent a night attack.

Capt. Shivers' co[mpany] was placed as a picket in the tannery, and early on the morning of the 22d, a few Mexicans crawled up and fired into the work. Capt. Shivers' arms were not in order. A few guns were snapped, and the company then fled to the Redoubt in confusion, while the Mexicans were running in an opposite direction. Col. Garland ordered them to return and they did so, without finding an enemy. On the 22d, we threw up a Traverse, to cover the Battery from the fire of the citadel, and opened a communication into the distillery by knocking a hole in the wall.

The liquor in the vats was run off, to prevent indulgence among the troops. Lt. Taylor and 15 men of the Baltimore battallion was with us, on the night of the 21st and morning of the 22d, and these were the only men of the Regt., excepting Col. Watson and his staff, which I saw after 8 a.m. on the 21st of Sept. The only troops which remained all of the 21st in the city, were the three companies of the 1st Infty, under my command, and Mr. Kinney, Qr.-Mr. of the Texas Volunteers, who was all the morning in my vicinity.

At about 12 m., on the 22d, General Quitman's Brigade came in and relieved Col. Garland's command, and we arrived at Walnut Springs at about 1 p. m. Gen'l Worth's division had already carried the Bishop's palace, and the stars and stripes were waiving over it. . . .

On the 23d, our Regt, 1st Infy, was in reserve, and under arms for many hours without firing a shot. Gen'l Quit-man's Brigade--the 3rd Infy, and Texans --were actively engaged and pressed the Mexicans back to the main Plaza, with much loss. Hamer's Brigade had handsomely repelled a charge of Lancers on the 21st, and had done good service on the 22d. The Kentucky troops were on escort duty on the 21st, but were not afforded an opportunity for distinction which they ardently desired.

On the 24th, the capitulation was signed, and the dead were buried.