The house-tops near the plaza were converted into infantry fortifications by the use of sand-bags for parapets.

Such were the defences of Monterey in September, 1847.

General Ampudia, with a force of certainly ten thousand men, was in command.
General Taylor's force was about six thousand five hundred strong, in three divisions, under Generals Butler, Twiggs and Worth.

The troops went into camp at Walnut Springs, while the engineer officers, under Major Mansfield--a General in the late war--commenced their reconnoissance.

Major Mansfield found that it would be practicable to get troops around, out of range of the Black Fort and the works on the detached hills to the north-west of the city, to the Saltillo road.
With this road in our possession, the enemy would be cut off from receiving further supplies, if not from all communication with the interior.