I was called upon by
you last evening to make such report of the conduct of the Mississippi Riflemen
as came within my immediate observation during the battle of Monterey, and in
conformity thereto I herein send you a statement which I vouch to be correct as
far as it proposes to detail. On the morning of the 21st Inst. our Brigade
under the command of Genl. Quitman moved out in the direction of Monterey; the
Tennessee Regiment on the right. When we arrived opposite the city, we halted a
short time, and then were ordered to move south by the left flank, the
Tennesseeans still being in front. A brisk cannonade was kept up upon us until
we had moved our Regiment with its whole front nearly opposite the Lower Fort
or Redoubt of the Town, the Tennesseeans still being on the left. At this
moment a most destructive fire opened from the Fort of Grape, Canister and
musketry-raking our whole line from right to left. We instantly received orders
to charge and they were as promptly executed, and the Fort carried by storm. As
far as my attention was directed to the first occupation of the Fort by our
troops, I can say that Lieut. Col. McClung of our Regiment was the first on the
wall, followed immediately afterward by others of the Regiment. At this moment
I heard Adjutant Griffith proclaim we had taken the Fort. As to the conduct of
the officers and soldiers of the Regiment on this day, I say with pleasure they
did their duty nobly. On the 22d Genl. Worth on the part of the American Army
had the field, and we had but little to do except to receive such shots at the
lower Fort, which was in our possession, as the enemy thought proper to send at
us.
On the morning of
the 23d you were ordered out by Genl. Quitman with two companies of our
Regiment, and two companies of the Tennesseans to take the Fort No. 3 opposite
to our then position, which you promptly did. In about an hour thereafter I was
ordered by Genl. Quitman to move out quickly with the balance of the Regiment,
except Capt. Taylor's company, which was ordered by you to remain and guard the
Fort, to sustain him in an attack made with the detachment under your command
on the lower part of the Town. We instantly moved out, and immediately after
passing the creek, a heavy fire of grape and musketry opened, by which we were
annoyed and exposed to for several hundred yards; yet it was met with admirable
firmness by the Riflemen until their arrival in Town, where a warmer salute
awaited them, which was received with equal spirit by the whole Regiment. We
remained some time under cover of the houses, during which time a portion of
the Regiment joined your command, and a portion remained with me. We were
afterwards ordered by Genl. Quitman to charge on the Town, and the command was
executed with almost unparalleled firmness. We carried the Street here for
several hundred yards under a continued shower of grape and canister shot,
accompanied with musketry, and took a position in the heart of the Town and
maintained it firmly for several hours under a most galling fire the whole
time, and until we were ordered by the commanding General to draw off, and then
retired in good order.
The officers with me
of the Mississippi Riflemen, as far as now recollected, were Capts. Willis &
McManus; Lieuts, Patterson, Townsend, Wade, Arthur, Bradford and Markham, who
all behaved with great presence of mind and courage, as did every soldier who
accompanied us. Indeed their gallantry was conspicuous throughout, and met my
entire approbation. I cannot close without making mention of Capt. Bennett of
the 1st Tennessee Regiment under Col Campbell, and Capt. Hewitt, of the 2d
Regiment of Texas mounted men under Col. Woods, who voluntarily served with my
command and under my orders. They both together with their companies behaved
with great gallantry, and from them I received most efficient aid. Dr. Veech,
Quarter Master of Col. Woods' Regiment was also with me the whole time, and
with his great coolness and courage rendered me essential service. All
reflected on themselves the highest honor.
* Alexander Bradford,
a lawyer, made his home at Holly Springs, Mississippi, and was well known as a
successful lawyer. During the Seminole War, in 1836, he seems to have rendered
important service as a soldier. In the Mexican War he was major in Jefferson
Davis's regiment. He was a candidate for Governor of Mississippi in 1847
against Joseph W. Matthews.
SOURCE: Dunbar
Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters,
Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, pp. 114-6
