MONTERREY, capital of Nuevo Leon, on the Santa Cata lina river, 45 m. N.E. of Saltillo, Mexico. At this strongly fortified city, on Sept. 19-24, 1846, occurred one of the hardest fought battles of the war between Mexico and the United States (1846-48). Some 10,000 Mexicans under Gen. Ampudia gar ris med Monterrey, against which 3,08o American regulars and 3,15o volunteers commanded by Maj.-Gen. Zachary Taylor ad vanced. As the Americans approached the town (Sept. 19) they were greeted by a sharp fire. To reduce the stronghold they were equipped with only 4 field batteries, a 24 lb. howitzer and one s o in. mortar, but information revealed that the western end of the city was vulnerable in flank. Colonel Worth, with about 2,000 men, advanced to that quarter in order to turn Independence Hill and occupy the Saltillo highway, which was the only avenue of retreat southward for the Mexicans. Having moved forward about 7 m. through thick country he was stopped by darkness and a heavy storm. The next day he repulsed a charge of Mexican cavalry, assaulted Federation Ridge, took three forts, and succeeded in sending forward to Independence Hill, the main flank position, about 500 regulars. Meanwhile, at the eastern end of the city, Taylor had not succeeded so well. Col. Garland, being sent forward with little more direction than that he should take his column off to the left, advanced through fields, thickets and crooked streets in the face of a withering fire. The American artillery could do little execution and the units without much centralized leadership were separated. At a crucial moment,
however, Col. Jefferson Davis led a charge that took the prin cipal outlying fortress, but the First Ohio regiment farther to the right had to retreat with heavy loss. On the western side of the town, Worth's troops, having crouched at the base of Inde pendence Hill all night in the rain and cold, quietly crawled at dawn toward the summit, where they took the crest and sent the garrison fleeing (Sept. 22). The next morning Col. Quitman, who was occupying the captured works on the east side of the town, started an attack from house to house on his own initiative. Hearing Worth's cannon, which had been dragged to the top of Independence Hill, firing with effect, Quitman's scattered men closed in. Worth, now feeling from the firing heard from Quit man's troops that a general engagement was taking place, started toward the town. Leaving a force to guard the Saltillo highway, he had his men with pickaxes, crowbars and shells with fuses, work from house to house. At noon both sides, weary of the struggle, rested. Night fell with the Mexicans cooped in the Plaza. When the morning came (Sept. 24) the Ohio volunteers, who had taken the place of Quitman's troops, prepared to renew hostilities when a bugle in front sounded a parley. Ampudia proposed an armis tice, to which Taylor acceded. In consideration of the receipt of the city by the Americans, the Mexicans were allowed to retain their individual arms, ammunition and six field pieces. The American loss had been heavier than that of the Mexicans.