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.
[Illustration: STREET FIGHT AT MONTEREY.]