General Taylor and his brave soldiers slept upon the field of battle. [Illustration: REPULSE OF CAVALRY.] [Illustration] [Illustration: MAY’S CHARGE.] BATTLE OF RESACA DE LA PALMA. The next day after the battle of Palo Alto, General Taylor moved forward towards Fort Polk. He could hear the sound of the bombardment, and he was anxious to relieve the small garrison he had left in the fort. He soon came up with the Mexicans again. They had received more troops and had taken a strong position. It was a place called Resaca de la Palma, or the Palm Ravine. General Taylor did not hesitate to attack them. He and his men were confident that they could beat many times their number of Mexicans. The victory at Palo Alto had assured them of a victory wherever they should meet a foe. The flying artillery was brought into service and poured quick and murderous discharges into the Mexican ranks. Then Captain May, with his dragoons charged down the ravine, through the bushes, and over the guns of the enemy, cutting down all who came within reach of their sabres. General La Vega fell into their hands. The Mexicans continued the fight even after they had lost their cannon, but the Americans soon cleared the field at the point of the bayonet, and then pushed on to Fort Polk. [Illustration: SIEGE OF MONTEREY.] [Illustration: GENERAL TAYLOR.] SIEGE OF MONTEREY. After General Taylor had taken possession of Matamoras, he waited for reinforcements and then moved forward to attack Monterey. This city was very strongly fortified by nature and art. The Saddle mountains extended on three sides of it, while the other side was protected by a high wall and strong works. Besides every house was so constructed of stone as to be looked upon as a fortification. General Ampudia, with about eleven thousand men formed its garrison. General Taylor’s army only numbered six thousand men, yet he advanced, and commenced the siege on the 21st of September. The Americans displayed the greatest bravery in the various attacks, and at the close of the first day of the siege, had taken the Bishop’s Palace and other strong outworks. The next day was employed by the Americans in preparing for another grand attack. On the 23d they assaulted the city on two sides, and their batteries made terrible havoc among the Mexicans. The Texan rangers cut their way through the houses with pickaxes, and the fighting in the streets became dreadful and destructive. The Mexicans were collected in the heart of the city, and to that point the Americans advanced. Night put an end to the fighting, and the next morning, the Mexican general proposed to surrender the city. Officers from both sides met and agreed to certain terms. Then the Mexican army marched out of the city, and the Americans entered and took possession of it. So it seemed that nothing could stop the progress of General Taylor and his men. [Illustration: STREET FIGHT AT MONTEREY.] BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.