treating soldiers. The supplies in Matamoras would have provisioned a besieged army for many months.

For the first time since the movement from Corpus Christi, the Americans were permitted to encamp in habitable quarters, and be unannoyed by the prospect of a momentary attack. They were entitled to this privilege. The fatigues of a march across the desert, a destitution of food and water, the suspense attending the investment of the two forts, and the weariness and suffering of bombardment and battle, had exhausted nature; for a while they were to be rewarded at least with that reward which is the most that a soldier can expect.

FTER the capture of Matamoras, large num bers of volunteers reached Point Isabel and the Rio Grande, swelling the force under General Taylor to a large army. This accession, however, rather embarrassed him than otherwise. He was encompassed with difficulties; the enemy could not be reached but by a-fatiguing march into the interior; to effect which, he had neither supplies for his army, nor means of transportation. Besides this, the Mexicans, on their march, had been careful to remove all provisions, and every other article which might be of use to the invaders. On the other hand, should the Americans remain encamped at Matamoras, not only would the enemy have an opportunity to concentrate a larger force than they had hitherto displayed, but the troops would become dispirited by long inaction, and perhaps wasted by disease. His instructions from government were also of a very indefinite character,

tending rather to increase his embarrassment, than to mark out a satisfactory course of duty.

Amid these perplexing circumstances, General Taylor thought it more prudent to advance into Mexico, than to expose his troops to the numerous dangers consequent upon inactivity. Preparatory to the march of his main army, he despatched Captain McCulloch and the Texan Rangers to scour the country, and, if possible, make himself master of some of the Mexican posts near the Rio Grande. The party soon captured the ports of Mier, Reyonosa, and Camargo. General Worth was subsequently sent to San Juan, and Captain Wall to Reyonosa. On the 5th of August the main army left Matamoras and proceeded toward Camargo.

On the 5th of September, news was brought to General Taylor, that Ampudia had entered Monterey at the head of three thousand men, and that the Mexicans were making every preparation to fortify the place for a successful defence. Upon the reception of this intelligence, he appointed Major-general Patterson to superintend the posts in the immediate vicinity of the river, and marched for the city on the 6th. On the same day he crossed the San Juan, and on the 7th took up his line of march for Seralvo, which was already occupied by an advance corps under General Worth. He soon received intelligence from that officer, that the Mexicans were in such force at Monterey, as to threaten an attack upon his position before the commander could arrive. He therefore hurried on by forced marches, reached Seralvo and relieved General Worth.

Meanwhile some of the troops at Camargo succeeded in capturing sixty Mexicans, on the evening of the 11th. They were well armed with carbines, had a supply of ammunition and pack mules, and were, no doubt, engaged as spies to the American camp. Some of them were provided with brass balls of an ounce weight, and a spy-glass. These men were all detained as prisoners of war.

After the junction of the commander with General Worth, they pushed forward together to Marin, upon the borders of the San Juan river, where the army encamped on the night of the 17th. On the following morning they resumed their march, moving in three divisions, separated from each other by a few miles, and having Gillespie and McCulloch, with a squadron of dragoons, in advance. Each division with its train occupied about three miles, having two companies in the rear of the whole, and the volunteers so placed, that they could retire to the centre in case of an attack. At night they reached San Francisco, within thirteen miles of Monterey. The city of Monterey is one of the strongest in America. It is built in the old Spanish style, surrounded by massive walls, and having battlements upon the roofs of each house. We give a list of its defences when attacked by General Taylor, numbering them for future reference.

1st. A strong redoubt of masonry of four faces, with an open gorge cf

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ten feet prepared for four guns, overlooked and commanded by a large stone house in the rear; the whole prepared with sand-bags and loopholes for infantry.

2d. A strong redoubt of four faces defended by an open gorge of twenty feet and prepared for three guns.

3d. Fleches of masonry for infantry.

4th. A strong masonry work (tête du pont) in front of the bridge of the Purisiana.

5th. A strong redoubt for one gun, but which was not occupied by the enemy during the attack.

6th. A strong redoubt of masonry for three guns, overlooking the approaches from Cadereita, and commanding the gorge of No. 2.

7th. A strong redoubt of masonry for three guns, overlooked and commanded by a large stone house, prepared for infantry by loopholes and sand bags. Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, were connected by breastworks of earth, and brush for infantry, thus forming a complete line of defence from 4 to 7. Barricades of masonry twelve feet thick, with embrasures for guns, were erected in every part of the city. The house-tops and gardenwalls were loopholed throughout the city, and furnished with sand bags, for infantry defence.

8th. The cathedral in the main plaza, forming the principal magazine of the enemy. The plaza itself was surrounded on all sides by the strongest buildings in the city, all of which were garrisoned and defended by large bodies of troops, and stores of artillery and musketry. The streets leading to it were parked with artillery, and every house provided with loopholes for the guns of the infantry. Outside of the city was a steep hill, called, by the Mexicans, Independencia. This was defended by several forts, and the "Bishop's Palace," an immense structure; and to use the language of a volunteer, bristling with cannon and bayonets. This unmanded all the passes to the Saltillo road, and was a most favourable station to resist a direct assault, or annoy an enemy acting against the city.

9th. Fort Independence or Citadel. This is a large rectangular stone building, of which only the walls remain. It is surrounded by an enclosed work of solid masonry, having four bastion fronts, and prepared for thirty-one guns. From No. 7, along the southern edge of the town, a stone wall, four feet thick, prepared for embrasures for guns, and banquettes for infantry, extended beyond the plaza.

The attack upon Monterey was conducted by two divisions of the army, acting separately and independently. The one directed against the city itself was commanded by General Taylor in person, assisted by General Butler, while General Worth, with his detachment, was detached to storm the Bishop's Palace and the other forts outside of Monterey. Each of these merits a particular description.