During the Mexican War, Samuel Chamberlain served in northeastern Mexico. The seventeen-year old joined General John Wool's troops at San Antonio and then marched to Parras to hold the U. S. line cutting Mexico's Northeast off from the capital. Chamberlain described the street fighting n Monterey:

"For four hours until dark, Hell reigned in this part of the city.

He sketched the retreat of the city's civilians, which he called the Mexican army's "camp followers. . .men, women, and children of every grade, color and condition on foot, on donkeys, mules, half-starved little ponys, carrying immense bundles of household goods, with chattering parrots, hens, chickens and monkeys. . ."