Battle of Monterrey - Battle

Battle

The Mexican strong points were at the Black Fort, the Tannery (la Teneria), El Rincon del Diablo, Purisima tetes-de-pont (two bridges), Ft. Libertad, the Bishops' Palace (Obispado) and Federacion Redan. Units were shifted about, but were generally as follows: -1.) the Black Fort Col. Jose Lopez Uraga and 9 guns, -2.) the Tannery : 2d Ligero (Col. Jose M. Carrasco) and Queretro (Comdte. Jose M. Herrera) Battalions and 3 guns (Lt Juan Expejo), -3.) El Rincon: Lt. Col. Calisto Bravo and 3 guns (Capt. Ignacio J. del Arenal) -4.) Purisima : Aguascalientes Battalion (Col. Jose Ferro)and one gun(Capt Patricio Gutierrez) -5.) Ft. Libertad and 4 guns, -6.) Obispado: various units (Lt. Col.Franciso Berra) and 3 guns, -7.) Federacion Redan and 2 guns, and -8.) the Reserves at la Plaza :3d Ligero (Lt.Col.Juan Castro) and 1 gun (Lt Agustin Espinosa). General Zachary Taylor, commander of all U.S. forces, decided to attack western Monterrey in a giant "hook" movement while carrying out a small diversion against northeastern Monterrey. On September 21, General William Jenkins Worth overran Federation Hill in western Monterrey, there was a light skirmish with the Mexican cavalry and the Jalisco (Col. Juan Najera) and Guanajuato (Lt. Col. Mariano Moret)lancers being replused with the commander of the former killed.In the mean time Taylor launched a diversion against eastern Monterrey. This diversion quickly grew into a full-out assault as Taylor threw half of his overall army against northeast Monterrey. Taylor's best infantry division was repelled by 200 Mexican soldiers in El Fortin Del Teneria (Tannery Fort) until the end of the day when his men finally managed to overrun the fort. Jefferson Davis's Mississippians and a Tennessee regiment under Colonel William Campbell stormed over its wall with bayonets and swords.

On September 22, 1846, General Worth attacked a second more fortified hill called Independence Hill where an old Bishop's palace (Obispado)was located that contained 300 Mexican soldiers. Worth's men climbed the steep slopes of the hill, attacked a small redoubt, and tricked the Mexican soldiers inside the Bishop's Palace to advance out of the fort into the middle of hill, where they were attacked from both sides by Texan volunteers and from the middle by Louisiana volunteers and regular soldiers.

On September 23, General Worth advanced into the city from the west while Taylor moved his men into the city from the east. The Texan volunteers taught the U.S. regulars new techniques for fighting in the city; techniques that they did not employ on the 21st which led to staggering casualties. Armed with these new urban warfare skills, the U.S. Army along with Texan, Mississippian, and Tennessee volunteers moved house to house, rooting out Mexican soldiers hiding on rooftops and inside the thick, adobe-walled houses of northern Mexico.

The Mexican Army and the city's remaining citizens congregated in the city plaza. Trapped in the city plaza and bombarded by U.S. forces with howitzers, General Ampudia decided to negotiate. Taylor, still facing a larger army in enemy territory, negotiated a two month armistice in return for the surrender of the city. The Mexican Army was allowed to march from the city on the 26th, 27th and 28th of the month, with their arms and one battery of artillery (six guns). Left behind were some 25 guns. Although it was considered a victory for the United States, the number of American casualties was slightly higher than local defenders' casualties.