On September 21, 1846, the US Army launched its assault on the Mexican city of Monterey. Three days of brutal street fighting ended in an American victory.

Elias Levengood, a former Pottsville, Pennsylvania resident who once worked at the city’s Pioneer Iron Furnace, fought in the battle with an artillery unit.

On October 4, Levengood wrote from Monterey to his friend Joseph George back in Schuylkill County. He described the horrors of the battle and how close he and his comrades came to death.

The Miners’ Journal later published the letter:

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MONTEREY, (Mexico)

Oct. 4th, 1846.

Dear Sir:—

I send you these lines to let you know that I am at present at Monterey and in good health and spirits.

On the third day of the battle, I met with Lieut. Nicholls. It was his position at that time, to protect us from the Mexican Cavalry and Infantry who appeared determined by a desperate charge, to take our battery from us.

We were then making our way into the city, despite three of their forts, which were showering upon us grape, canister and round shot, as fast as hail.

The first day’s battle, commenced to the best of my belief, at about 7 o’clock, A. M., between the Mexican Cavalry and some of our brave troops. I can assure you that the troops under command of Lieutenant Nichols fought bravely, as did he himself.

At 10 o’clock, A. M., the Infantry were ordered to charge the forts, and at the same time, we, [the Artillerists] were instructed to gallop forward, as fast as our horses could go. We passed a breast work on our right, within 5 yards of us, which was lined with Mexican Infantry, and five yards in the rear of them, were two forts giving us large quantities of grape and canister.

I neglected to say that the lane through which we were obliged to pass, in entering the city, was about eight hundred yards long, and its width did not exceed ten feet.

In our passage through this narrow lane three of our men were killed, and twelve wounded. Ten horses were shot from under their riders.

You will imagine how painful it was to see our brave men lying dead around us, and to hear the groans of the wounded, and their cries for water, which we could not furnish to them, as our men were falling from our piece every moment, and one was obliged to perform the duties of three.

At the piece where I was engaged, our Sergeant and 2 privates were shot down from our side.

I am obliged to close this letter, or I will lose the opportunity of sending it to you. I will write again in a few days, and give you full particulars of the battle.

Your faithful friend,

E. LEVENGOOD

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(Featured Illustration: Capture of Monterey by Carl Nebel and Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot – Wikimedia Commons)

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