SIEGE OF MONTEREY.
GENERAL TAYLOR.
SIEGE OF MONTEREY.
After General Taylor had taken possession of Matamoras, he waited for reinforcements and then moved forward to attack Monterey. This city was very strongly fortified by nature and art. The Saddle mountains extended on three sides of it, while the other side was protected by a high wall and strong works. Besides every house was so constructed of stone as to be looked upon as a fortification. General Ampudia, with about eleven thousand men formed its garrison. General Taylor’s army only numbered six thousand men, yet he advanced, and commenced the siege on the 21st of September. The Americans displayed the greatest bravery in the various attacks, and at the close of the first day of the siege, had taken the Bishop’s Palace and other strong outworks. The next day was employed by the Americans in preparing for another grand attack. On the 23d they assaulted the city on two sides, and their batteries made terrible havoc among the Mexicans. The Texan rangers cut their way through the houses with pickaxes, and the fighting in the streets became dreadful and destructive. The Mexicans were collected in the heart of the city, and to that point the Americans advanced. Night put an end to the fighting, and the next morning, the Mexican general proposed to surrender the city. Officers from both sides met and agreed to certain terms. Then the Mexican army marched out of the city, and the Americans entered and took possession of it. So it seemed that nothing could stop the progress of General Taylor and his men.
STREET FIGHT AT MONTEREY.
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.
The Mexicans, though beaten so often, did not lose their spirits. Their great general, Santa Anna, soon collected an army of more than twenty thousand men, and advanced towards Monterey. Now General Taylor’s army was much reduced in numbers, and the most of his troops were volunteers, who had never been in battle. But he resolved to await the attack of the great Mexican army at a place called Buena Vista. On the 22d of February, Santa Anna appeared and attacked the Americans; but was repulsed. The great battle was fought on the next day. It commenced early in the morning, and continued until night put an end to the work of death. The Mexicans almost overwhelmed the little army under General Taylor; but each man fought like a hero, and every attack of the enemy was repulsed. Captain Bragg gave them plenty of grape-shot. Three times during the day, was the American army saved by the skill and effect with which the artillery was managed. At length night came, and the exhausted troops sank down on the field. The next morning, the Mexican army had retreated and could not be found. General Taylor had therefore gained a victory over an army more than four times as large as his own.