Having occupied the Mexican 
town of Camargo and established
 his base there, U.S. General 
Zachary Taylor marched his army
 south to assault Monterey the 
capital city of the Mexican 
state of New Leon.  Well 
defended by fortresses and 
redoubts and garrisoned by a 
reported 10,000 men, the city 
appeared to be a tough 
assignment for Taylor's 
command. Nevertheless, after 
carefully reconnoitering the 
city, Taylor felt confident of 
success. 

On May 21st, 1846, Taylor 
launched the first assault 
in what turned out to be a 
three day battle for the city.
The battle began with the 
American First and Volunteer 
Divisions attempting to assault 
the city from the east, while 
the Second Division, under 
General Worth, attacked from 
the northwest.  

In the east, a bayonet charge 
took a Mexican redoubt, 
capturing the guns, which were 
turned on the next redoubt in 
turn.  Heavy Mexican fire 
drove the Americans from the 
city and prevented further 
assaults from the east.  At 
the other end of the city, the 
Second Division first cut the 
Mexican line of communication 
to the north, then stormed and
captured the forts on 
Federacion Hill.  The battle 
subsided for the night.

The next day, Second Division 
continued its advance under 
cover of darkness, assaulting 
and capturing the Mexican 
forts on Independence Hill 
and holding them against 
repeated counterattacks.  The 
First and Volunteer Divisions 
to the east of the city made 
demonstrations to draw Mexican 
reinforcements away from 
Second Division, but made 
no assaults on the city 
themselves.

The 23rd saw the Second 
Division launch a morning 
attack on the city itself.  
Advancing steadily throughout 
the day in close combat, the 
assault carried to the center 
of the city before nightfall.  
From the east, seeing the 
Mexicans withdrawing to oppose 
Second Division, First and 
Volunteer Divisions attacked, 
carrying their own attack to 
the city center in hand-to-
hand fighting. 

General Ampudia, the Mexican 
commander, surrendered the 
town on the 24th of May.