General Zachary Taylor organized his army into three divisions and marched from Matamoros, arriving north of Monterrey on 19 September.
The town was protected by forts, several on prominent nearby hills, and defended by more than 5,000 Mexican regulars led by Major General Pedro de Ampudia. On 20 September, after a reconnaissance, Brigadier General William Worthâs division was sent around west to cut the road to Saltillo and to capture Federation Hill and Independence Hill, while the other divisions attacked on the east. On the morning of the 21 September, a cavalry attack on Worth was repulsed, and his troops successfully seized the two fortifications on Federation Hill. In the east, Taylorâs advance suffered under heavy fire but succeeded in capturing a fortified bridge and two earthworks, then pushed into town before withdrawing for the night. After dark, a detachment climbed Independence Hill for a surprise attack that captured its two positions.
No skirmishes occurred on the following day, though on 23 September, U.S. forces attacked on the east and west of Monterrey in a bitter house-to-house, urban battle. Cannon were brought into the streets to blast holes through house walls. The next day, at Ampudiaâs request, Taylor negotiated a surrender of the town, allowing Mexican forces to withdraw and an eight-week armistice.
Losses: U.S., 120 dead, 368 wounded, 43 missing; Mexican, 430 dead, wounded, or missing.
MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER
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