The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, November 17, 1846, Image 1

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TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
IU1.F-YEARLV. IS ADVANCE. 5
AND FABRSEBS' . AriD : MECHANICS' RESISTED.
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I $2 S3 WIIJ. US CliAHUED.
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PRINTED AND PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY JONATHAN ROW, SOMERSET, SOMERSET COUNTY, PA.
2jcv Scries.
TUESBA1T, NOVEMBER 17, 1846,
Vol. 5.-No. I.
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THE DYINT ROSE-CUD.
EV MRS. OSGOOD.
jib me ! ah, wo is me ! .
That I should perish now,
With the dear sunlight just let in
Upon my balmy brow!
My leaves instinct with glowing life;
Were quivering to unclose;.
My happy heart with love was rife
I was almost a rose
Nerved by a hope, warm, rich, intense,
Already I had risen
Above my cage's curving fence
My green and graceful prison.
My pouting lips, by Zephyr pressed,
Were just prepared to part,
And whisper to the wooing wind
The rapture of my heart.
Ia new-born fancies revelling,
My mossy cell half riven,
Each thrilling leaflet seemed a wing
To bear me into Heaven.
How oft, yet while an infant flower,
My crimson check I've laid
Against the green bars of my bower,
Impatient 6f the shade!
And pressing up and peeping through
Its small but precious vistas,
Sighed for the lovely light and dew
That blessed my elder sisters.
I saw the sweet breeze rippling o'er
Their leaves that loved the play.
Though the light thief stole all their store
Of dew-drop gems away.
I thought how happy I should be
Such diamond wreaths to wear,
And frolic with a rose's glee
"Willi sunbeam, bird and air.
Ah me! ah, wo is me, that I,
Ere yet my leaves unclose,
"With aYt my wealth of sweets, must die
Before I am a rose!
The Battle and the Armistice.
We find in the government paper the
annexed letter from an officer of the army
at Monterey. We arc glad to see that
the letter receives the scmi-ofiicial en
dorsement of the government paper, be
cause the writer not only defends Gen.
Taylor's conduct in regard to the terms
granted to the Mexican commander, but
states circumstances to show the impor
tance of the armistice to Gen. Taylor
himself, as well as reasons why its pre
mature termination by the order of the
Government is unfortunate for our own
army: Nat. Intel.
Monterey, (Mexico,) Scptem
ber 28, 181G.
My Dear Colonel: This place sur
rendered the evening of the 2 1th, after
three days' contest, during which we drew
ourselves around it like a boa constrictor,
the fold becoming more contracted each
day. The place is strong by nature, and
had been much strengthened by art.
They had more than thirty pieces of ar
tillery, which they had disposed of with
skiil, and used with good effect. The
defence was obstinate. Everv battcrv
had to be carried excepting two, one of
which was evacuated during the second
night; the other not until after the surren
der. The latter was their citadel, and
would have required a breaching battery,
which we had not, at least not nearer than
Camnrgo.
The town is a mass of castles. When
the attack extended into the town these
houses were carried only by small as
saults. Worth's division took the heights,
crowned with batteries, in the rear. He
carried lliem, one after another, in a most
gallant manner, and with little loss. A
demonstration, made by the other divi
sions on the opposite end of the town,
intended at first only as a diversion in his
favor, soon became a most general en
gagement there." The horns of the bull
were there, and we got terribly gored.
There was the'main loss, with the least
pin. General Taylor was there with all
his staff. We went into the range of the
fire at about half past eight A. M. and
went out of it at 4 P. M. This w as a
l-ng time to be peppered. The two fol
lowing days were partly passed in street
fighting, in which the light artillery (sin
gular as it may seem) bore a conspicuous
part. Indeed, Ridgely and Bragg were
conspicuous the first day. So, it is said,
wts Duncan, who was with Worth.
The morning' of the fourth day General
Ampudia held out the flag. That day
was a day of rest, for in the evening the
articles of capitulation were signed. I
was present at the council which arranged
the basis for them. Ampudia spoke with
dignity and some eloquence. Ills coun
tenance, however, looked somewhat be-
As many soldks have marched out as
we can march in. Under other circum
stances, the leniency of the articles might
I be questioned. Gen. Taylors answer
in the morning had been that arms should
be iaid down and the parole imposed.
lie was afterwards induced to concede, as
it was possible, perhaps probable, that at
that very moment peace existed between
the two nations.
Had he insisted on his first terms, the
contest would undoubtedly have been re
newed, at least for some hours, which
would have been marked by a most exas
perated contest, and the cflusion of much
blood. We would have gained all but
the citadel, with what further loss we
know not. Under all the circumstances,
I approved the course taken. I heard no
one find fault with it while the chances
of more hard fighting were open. When
they were closed, some voices said they
were still for war.
The suspension of operations will lit
tle more than give us time to prepare for
ulterior operations, if they become neces
sary. Our provisions arc now about out.
We could not move onward, even if no
obstacle was in the way. General Tay
lor wishes some four or five hundred
thousand rations put in depositc here be
fore he aims at Saltillo. They must
come up from Camargo. It will take
the major part of the four weeks to pro
vide this store, muster all the means of
transportation that we can. So you see
my work is only begun. I am ready for
the task. My strength and willingness
are undiminished.
Extracts from the Diary of an Officer
cflhe United Slates Jlrinr, at Monte
rey. "September 21. A day to be noted
henceforth in history. The night of the
20lh being dark and rainy, and conse
quently favorable for operations, our bat
tery of '2-1-pound howitzers and the mor
tar were established in a hollow opposite
the main work, and at about thirteen hun
dred yards off, with orders to open on
the old Cathedral, which is strongly for
tified, so soon as we should hear the fire
from Gen. Worth's division. Accor
dingly at 7 o'clock we commenced throw
ing shells. The enemy returned it pretty
briskly with round shot, and soon got the
range of our pieces. While in this po
sition we lost one man and a Iu r?e. At
about 9 A. M. the 1st and 3d Infantry
and Baltimore Battalion, under Col. Gar
land, advanced on our left and engaged
the enemy, who occupied an advanced
redoubt and the hedges and houses in the
I suburbs of the town. The I ennessce
1 T?nirir,nt ,v"ca ernl fnrrirl fr Ills slin
port. This brought on a general action,
and in succession the Ohio, Mississippi,
and 4 ill Regiment of U. S. Infantry,
Ridgely's and Bragg's batteries, were
thrown forward. The enemy had a flank
fire of artillery from their main work on
the troops as they advanced, and a direct
fire from die town and batteries. 1 he
extreme right battery of four guns was
carried with the bayonet, the enemy de
serting their guns with the utmost precipi
tation. The first division, composed of
the 1st Infantry, Baltimore Battalion, 3d
and 4th Infantry, charged past this bat
tery, and, passing another battery and
several breastworks still in the hands of
the enemy, charged into the heart of the
town, followed by Bragg's battery. This
was a fatal mistake. Without any defi
nite object in view, they found themselves
in a network of fortifications, exposed to
a murderous fire of grape and musketry
from the hedges and houses on their right
and left, front and rear, along the narrow
streets in which they were penned up.
The consequence was that they were
terribly cut up. The 3d and 4th Infantry
will hardly muster a company strong.
The Baltimore Battalion lost Col. Wat
son, and was, like the rest of the com
mand for the time, scattered. Bragg's
battery, unable to manoeuvre, or even turn
in the narrow streets, suffered severely in
men and horses. The remnant of "this
devoted band was recalled, and rallied in
the ravine in which our battery was situ
ated. At this time our guns (24-pound
howitzers) were ordered to advance and
support Ridgely's guns that were playing
on the second battery, exposed to a galling
fire - of musketry and shells. One was
put into the road and opened with shells,
spherical case and canister, at about two
hundred yards. I served and pointed
this gun for upwards of half an hour, and
during that time was the mark for their
fire. 1 had one ball through the collar of
my coat, and one through the skirt. Mv
horse was shot through the shoulder, and
finally mortally wounded through the
head under me. How I escaped is in
comprehensible. I thank God for his
mercy. We occupied this position and
kept up an incessant fire until late in the
afternoon, when the troops were all with
drawn, except the 1st and the remnant of
the 3d and 4th infantry, who occupied
the battery taken from the enemy, and
strengthened it, working all night.'
A Loan of rive Millions.
The Secretary of the Treasury has is
sued proposals for a loan of $5,000,000
at six percent. The Union says that
the Jaw under which the loan is propo-
sed to be made, limits the amount to ten
millions of dollars, leaving it to the option
of the government to issue treasury notes,
or make a loan, or both, provided the
treasury notes and loan do not together
exceed ten millions of dollars. It would
appear, from the course pursued by the
Treasury Department, to be the intention
of the government to effect the whole op
eration by an issue of five millions of
treasury notes, and a loan of five millions
of dollars only. With a loan of five
millions ol dollars, and an issue of five
millions of dollars of treasury notes, to
gether with the moneys now in the trea
sury, and the accruing proceeds of the
customs, and of the sales of the public
lands, it is believed that the government
will have all the funds required."
Cumberland, (Md.) Nov. 3.
Tremendous IBigli Water.
We were visited with a rain on Friday
night last, which lasted, with but little in
termission, until Monday afternoon, caus
ing a rise in the waters of the neighbor
hood rarely equalled. Wills's creek rose
to perhaps within a foot of being as high
as the last freshet; and when at its high
est, the Potomac commenced to rise, and
continued rising until evening, by which
time a great portion of the lower section
of the town was under water. We are
informed by one of our oldest citizens
that the Potomac river never attained the
same height within his recollection. The
back water from the river came into the
street at the Wills's creek bridge, and ex
tended to the public square, partially un
dermining Black's Exchange Hotel, and
causing much damage to the house, filling
all the cellars, and ran down Mechanic
street. The back water from below ex
tended up Mechanic street as far as the
Virginia Hotel.
Immense loss must ensue to many of
our citizens, the amount of which as yet
we have no means of ascertaining. And
not only will it be injurious to our town,
but the farmers adjacent to the river have
doubtless suffered greatly, as shocks of
corn in great quantities were seen floating
down the stream. Wc also learn that
much damage has again been done the
Maryland Mining Company's Railroad
above the Narrows. Civilian.
The Storm and its Effects. The
train of cars with the Western mail, due
at six o'clock on Tuesday evening, did
not reach ibis city until 5 o'clock Wed
nesday morning, having been detained by
a flood in the Potomac, which deluged
the road. In the neigl borhood of Ca
toctin the water was so deep that it en
tered the cars, and even put the fire out
in th? locomotive. The passengers, how
ever, arrived safe, after a most tedious and
disagreeable trip.
We Irarn that in the vicinity of the
Point of Rocks the canal was entirely
overflowed, and it is feared has suffered
considerable damage, though this could
not of course be ascertained until the wa
ter fell. Halt. Sun.
From the Piqua (O.) Register of Oct. 24.
Tne Presidency.
If anv other State than Oiiio is to have
the Candidate of the Whig party for
President in 1818, let Pennsylvania be
that State, "and Hon. Andrew Stewart
be the man! He is now the champion of
the interests of the North in Congress
the able advocate of the Protective Poli-
cy, upon wiiicii, we nave no nouot, tne
next Presidential Election will mainly
turn. What say the Whigs to the sug
gestion?
What say the Whigs to the suggestion?
We say good excellent. We should
like to hear the response of the Whig
press and party of the whole Union to
tins interrogatory. We can speak for
Pennsylvania. Such a majority as she
would roll up for him, has not been heard
of since she gave her fifty thousand ma-
jonty for Andrew JacKson. unioniown
Democrat.
Ohio.
From the following article from the
Wayne county, Ohio, Democrat, our rea
ders will be gratified o perceive that Mr.
Cox, the Whig candidate for Senator is
elected in that district, thus giving the
Whigs a majority of two in the Senafc
of Ohio.
"WAYNE COUNTY SENATOR.
There is no longer any doubt with regard
to the right of Mr. Cox to a seat in the
Senate of Ohio. Errors in the returns
made to the Clerk of the Court, sufficient
to give Mr. Cox a clear and unquestiona
ble majority of five or six votes, have
been discovered and in due time will be
fully substantiated. Mr. Cox has served
the proper notice upon Mr. Wilford, ad
vising him that his seat will be contested;
and that he will push his claim to a suc
cessful issue, there can be no manner of
doubt. He has received a manifest ma
jority of the votes cast; and will, as he
ought, be awarded his seat."
A soldier on a trial for habitual drunk
enness was addressed by the president
"Prisoner, you have the prosecution for
habitual drunkenness, what have you to
plead in your defence?'
" Nothing, please your honor, but an
habitual thjrsl !"
THE STORMING OF MON
TEREY. The following account of the opera
tions of Gen. Worth's division at Mon
terey, and defence of the capitulation, are
from the pen of Col. Balie Peyton :
Monterey Sept. 25, 1846.
My Dear Sir : After a most obstinate
and sanguinary conflict, which was con-
tinued from day to day for five days, Gen.
Ampudia capitulated this city on the 24th . ,. f Btlont in u-rrt md
. ' , i 11 i i ii les, forcing him from street to stieet anu
instant. Our loss m killed and wounded . .a :i,,u tho pnn
, , , . i ,i , house to house, until nigntcnueu tne con
has been extremely severe, not less than . . , i- :n ti,
,J r .i. . flict. He maintained his position in me
ouu, amongst wnom are some oi me
7 r
most valuable officers of the regular army,
as well as volunteers.
lie first remmcnt of 1 ennessce voiun-
n. - . m 1
raent ol 1 ennessce voiun- Major Mur.roc, with instructions to
led by Col. Campbell fire ashcl (wei2hinlf niliety pounds) eve
'JFuT: t"Zl rv half hour during the night. This du-
tecrs, command
suffered more sev
oincr wn.cn was engageu oun g ,uo fc,egu formc with lerriWe effect,
having had twenty-seven killed on the everv shell falling in the plaza,
field, and seventy-seven wounded some - forcca'werc colectcd
of them mortally, and many of the n e-, - of mcn
riously, and this out of a force of only . '
3 t- . i- .i - . He had made everv necessary prcpara-
379 men. INotwithstanding this tremen-, "c ' 1 . , , ,
i i .it , i.. ,kq : tion for pursuing his advantages the next
dons loss, the regiment charged under the , . pk;a orv
& i . i .i rr day. even to placing some of his ai tillery
lead of Us gallant colonel and other offi-!UJ' t' Cl llM ? ,n;nc hh
, , t t u ' on the tops of high buildins, wnicn
cers, and was the first regiment which,"" Vj F i 9 i !,-
i i i r . , , tl I would command and sweep the liouse-
stormed the fort, mounted the breast- i " . . , ri,
i i e i i .u i . tops from which the encmv fought,
works, and unfurled the stars and stripes , lui . f
. ... r . i -i . Such was the state ol preparation
upon its walls, amidst a perfect hailstorm ! , . .. . X ...
I. ,., i i when Gen. Ampudia capitulated the city,
of bals which was pouring upon it. i . . ' ,i
,ni ,t ir reflecting equal honor upon the military
These Mexican towns and fortresses , , , 1 i ,wi ,i
i-, t . i r r.K. skill of the head which conceived, and the
.i i i i .1 :
aru increuiuiy strung, unit icw iticn nj;ui
better from house-tops and behind stone
walls, or are more adroit in the use of
stationary artillery than the Mexicans.
In these actions Gen Taylor had, all told,
about 5,000 men, while Gen. Ampudia' s
force consisted of 10.500 infantry and
cavalry, besides militia, rancheros, fcc.
Gen. Taylor had eighteen pieces of ar
tillery ,of which seventeen were fieldpieces
while Gen Ampudia had forty-four pieces
thirty-eight of which, with two standards
of colors, are now in our possession.
Our army arrived before Monterey the
morning of Saturday, the 19th instant,
and about half-past eight o'clock, while
reconnoitering the outworks of the city, a
ciiv, a
under
ball, discharged from a twclve-po
struck near Gen. Taylor and staff, and
bounded with terrible velocity over his
head, at which the old hero did not change
a muscle or even bat his eye. This day,
the 19th, was spent in making reconnois
sanccs of the place and its various out
posts, amidst a good deal of firing on the
part of the Mexicans, from cannon and
a short gun called an escopctte, which
carries a large ball to a distance of 500
or 600 yards.
On "Sunday, the 20th, Gen. Worth
was detached by (Jen. Taylor, in com
mand ofthc second division of the regular
army (about 1,500 strong) and Col.
Hay's regiment of Texas Rangers, (con
sisting of 400, men,) with a view of
turning the city and occupying the Saltil
lo road, for the purpose of cutting off the
enemy's supplies and reinforcements,
which were daily expected under Gen.
Santa Anna. The division performed the
march making a road, filling ditches,
&e, a distance of about six or seven
miles, am! reached the vicinitv of the
enemy in the evening, about five o'clock.
i .t t . r
wnen me oencrai, wiui an usewn innu
Col. Hay's Rangers, was fired on by the
batteries placed on the heights, and also
by a corps of, the enemy's light troops,
who were sent through a cornfield to cut
off his party.
From this time until the appearance of
the white flag, on the evening of the 24th,
the division of the army commanded by
Gen. Worth, was incessantly engaged,
and was ever successful never for one
moment hesitating or faltering -putting
to rout the enemy's cavalry on the plains,
driving his infantry through the chaparral
and from the house-tops, scaling immense
heights, capturing guns, and storming for
tresses which were not on'y deemed im
pregnable but which seemed to be al
most inaccessible. And, best of all, these
brilliant exploits were performed with the
loss of fourteen killed and fifty-six wound
ed; and during the four days' contest there
occurred not the slightest error or mistake
on the part of the commanding general,
nor was there at any time the least falter
in" or hesitancy on the part of the ofi-
ccjs and men regulars and volunteers
in executing his orders. Indeed, it is
difficult to ' determine which is most
wor'hy of admiration, the wisdom and
energy displayed by the able and accom
plished commander, or the gallantry am
1 ! ll
arilOr Willi which iic us suiiumtu
those under his command.
When the difficulties and apparently
insuperable obstacles are considered, I
venture the assertion that the scries of
successes obtained by the division under
Gen. Worth's command, in the recent
operations against Monterey, will bear a
favorable comparison with the proudest
achievements of the American arms. He
wasopposcd by a greatly superior force,
which was well served with artillery, and
posted upon the highest peaks of the
Sierra Madre. He stormed heights, took
ftirpp nicens of nrtillerv. turned them on
the enemy, and with these and the aid of , in a great and mr.gnammyw
one of his own pieces which he con- j wards a weak and distracted Government,
trived to place upon the summit which All this has, in my opinion, been a.-coin-commands
the famous Bishop's Palace, I plished in as full, complete ami ample a
eight hundred feet above the base of the j manner by the course pursuea in the cc
pountain united with the inestimable pitulation, as if we had tormtrt ue c;ta-
l ....-
services rendered by the dauntless and
invincible spirits who stormed these '
t heights, he reduced that stronghold of the :
enemy and drove him into the city, upon
which lie turned the guns he had captured.
He bivouacked his force for the night on j
the bleak mountain, and the next day,
after bombarding the town, he conducted;
his forces into the streets amidst ashower ,
of balls discharged at his person. He ;
was seen every where, directing every
-. . V fprt!n fl: h:.tter.
. , , . , . " :n nr
Aitt t-kloiAil i fnn.tnf h rftriPr in Dill; Ul
LIL f Jia.Lll iv.ll 4i -
the stronlv fortified snuares, to direct
...l,:l. U .lo.-,l fViit ir'illint n1 skilful
U 1111,11 11C 171111. VI bIKlfc
r w
indomitable energy of the gallant spirits
who executed the plan of operations.
Our most serious loss occurred on the
21st, when Gen. Taylor only intended to
make a diversion in favcr of Gen. Worth,
who was engaged in the attack on the
other side of the town, but owing to the
ardor and impetuosity of the troops, they
very soon became involved in a general
engagement, which Gen. Taylor felt
bound to sustain. This excess of cour
age involved melancholly consequences,
but it is surely a most excusable weak
ness, if it be a weakness, to display an ex
cess of ardor in the field of battle.
TMm vrtlnnfoprs frnm tbp .liferent States
'"
I behaved in the most handsome manner.
Thev have wop. for the citizen soldier the
admiration and applause of the officers
and soldiers of the regular army, who
speak of their conduct in the highest
terms of approbation and eulogy. A
mongst the volunteers none have shone
more conspicuously than the 1st Regi
ment of Texas mounted riflemen, com
manded by that Chevalier Bayard, Col.
J. C. Hays, better known as Jack Hays.
This corps, from the Colonel to the pri
vate, has fully sustained its former repu
tation. In the first affair in w hich Gen.
Worth's division was engaged on the
morning of the 21st, Col. Hays, with
several companies of his mounted rifle
men, were thrown forward to open the
ball, which he did most beautifully, en
countering and shooting in the presence
of the General the Colonel of dragoons
who commanded the enemy's forces.
In scaling heights, storming batteries, and
clambering over walls and house" tops,
i the voice of the gallant Colonel and the
reports of the unerring rifle of the Kan
I ?er were ever hoard in the van; J lie
I nnnrnrrn mill constancy and subordination
0 : !-.
of this corps is tho theme of admiration
in tne army.
But my object is narrative not eulogy.
It is not necessary for me to go into de
tail in relation to the terms accodred to the
Mexican army in the capitulation, as you
will have seen the articles, or the sub
stance thereof, published in the newspa
pers ere this reaches you. If any one
not acquainted with the facts of the case
should object that our Commanding Gen
eral has granted terms too favorable to the
retiring army, let it be remembered that
our invincible little army had already suf
fered severely in baring the bosoms of our
best citizens and bravest officers and sol
diers to the batteries of an unseen foe;
that the city was still immensely strong
in its defences; that the Mexican army
was double that of our o-.vn; that this
army was in possession of the strongest
partof a city each hause of which is a
fortrecs within itself; that each remaining
street was barricaded, and most of ihem
defended by cannon; and that when driv
en from the city the Mexican army pos
sessed a fortress called the citadel, of im
mense capacity and great strength, to
which the whole army could have retired.
To have taken this work without a siege
train, as wc were, by assault, would havt?
cost us very dearly. Independently of
these considerations, our provisions were
growing short and our ammunition was
quite limited. We were far removed
from our supplies and remlorcemcnts,
while the enemy might have been rein
forced at any moment. And lastly, the
policy avowed by our Government docs
not inculcate the idea that this is to be a
vindictive or exterminating war against
the people of Mexico, but on the contrary,
to conquer a peace, or, in other worJs. to
whin Mexico to her own
satisfaction, o-
tain our just rights, and conclude a pe;:re
unou terms such as would be beaming
. ri'ilmn fr:-
del and puttlier whole army to the sword.
This is, in my judgment, the last battlo
which will be fought in the Mcxicar war.
General Ampudia. m urging a oacifia
courso on General Taylor, stated repeat
edly that he knew that Gen. Santa Anna
was disposed to peace; that he was well
assured that the course adopted would
lead to peace between the two countries;
that his object was to save the effusion of
blood and the honor of his Government.
But, if the war is to be prosecuted, wa
are in the possession of one of the strong
est, most healthy, and beautiful places ia
Mexico, from which, when our reinforce
ments and supplies arrive, our army can
not be expelled by any force which Mexi
co will be able to send against it. Wo
have taken arms and ammunition with
which we can act offensively or defensive
ly, according to the course of events an J
the policy of the Government. If it be
the policy of our Government to extend
our boundary beyond the Rio Grande,
then the line of the Riconada, agreed up
on as that beyond which the Mexican
troops are to retire, is the most eligible
which can be indicated by the geographi
cal features of the country.
Gen. Ampudia and his amy left thiJ
morning for Saltillo. He was treated
with courtesy and respect by Gen. Worth,
whose quarters are in the city, and who
accompanied him to the limits of town.
In fact, all our troops displayed that for
bcarance which always marks the con
duct of brave and magnanimous men
towards those whom the fortune of war
has placed in their power. You will ob
serve that in my narration of the events of
battles I have conficd myself to the
opejations of that division of the array
which was commanded by General
Worth. I have done so because I was
with this command, near his person, saw
what occurred, and know that which I
have stated to be subtantially correct.
You are not to infer that I mean to inti
mate that the main army, under the com
mand of Gen. Tayloa, did not perforin
feats equally worthy of tho applause and
admiration of the country. Other3 well
informed as to facts, and much better
qualified for the duty, will uo doubt give
a detailed account of the operations of
the army. Take the army altogether, I
doubt whethei a superior body of men
ever rallied under ths flag of our country,
Ncry truly, yours, &c.
" BALIE PEYTON.
J. Do. Rozier, Esq.
Letter of Gen. Bctleh. The fol
lowing are extracts from a letter of Gen.
Butler to a near relative of his in Louis
ville. In publishing it the Journal of
that city states that the General says, in
the same letter, that it is the opinion of
those Mexican officers who have been
taken prisoners by our army that their
Government will at once offer to our
terms of peace:
Mcxterey, Sept. 23, 1846.
Monterey is ours, but not without a
heavy loss, and my division has probably
sustained more than one-half of it. I anl
myself wounded but not badly. I was
struck by a musket ball below the knee:
it entered in front, grazed the bones with
out injuring them, ranged round through
the flesh, and came out on the opposita
side. I became faint from loss of blood,
and was compelled to leave the field after
having been in it under a heavy fire of
grape and musketry for three hoars. I
have been required by my surgeon to
keep perfectly still ever since the battle.
I was in the act of leading the Ohio
Regiment to storm two of the most for
midable batteries in the town, flanked by
a stone wall ten feet high, wih a deep
ditch in front, and covered by a strong;
musketry force in the rear, under com
plete shelter. There were two other
batteries of grape shot discharged, thai
swept the ground continually. Col.
Mitchell, who commanded the regiment
of Ohio volunteers, was wounded about
the same time that I was, and we then
prudently abandoned the enterprise, as
! we became convinced that our loss would
have been probably at least one hundred
more men, had we persevered.
I hope vou will not think I acted rash
ly. I hnow that I am often rash where I
involve myself alone, not so, however,,
when the fate of others are at slake. The
condition in which we were placed fully
justified, if it did not positively require us
to make the attempt. The peculiarity
of our situation I cannot now exp.ain
without going into greater detail than I
am able to do.
The battle commenced about 9 o'clock
. M., and continued without intermis
sion, with various degrees of intensity,
ibr eight hour. I had almost 1,000
men in the battle the Louisville Legion
hiving been left to guard our. mortars
ar.d of that number we lost hi killed and
wounded about 250.
Wc look our battery and a hoi9 fitted
up as a fortification, and assisted the reg
ulars in taking n fecond. Gen. V.orth,
with great g;.ll..nlry and equal success
and with far less cani-don h;s opcr
na'ios on tho opposite side ' the town.
The loss oi r:.'.".i: irs
whp acted
nci to crur?,
WH?1 US iir-.r. 'i"---
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