New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-01
Correspondence Of The Tribune

The Battles OH the Rio Grande-Another Ac-
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Mag y ls46
l send you the following extracts from letter OF
galan; officer in our Army 20 Member of Congress
who kindly favored re wiki a pe.asaL. Though
rather behind The time ye, your readers think will
obtain from i, some additional information concern
ing the late ,riumphs OF our arms RIcHELIEu.
CAM opposite MATAAoRcs, llth May, l5t5.
1--WE moved from Point I.aoe or the III and on the -iH
about noon discovered the Mexican army crawn up
across our road On left Of their line they had eFcsv-
airy her light bunch OF trees they had battery Of
artillery battery IL the center Their right was cover
ed t body Horse and Infantry reserve. Their In
fa,,ry in the Their let rested on the road Geo
TAYLOR drew up his forces the poin of wood which
ran IN the direction OF the MeXcansou- n NJ resting on
The read and ei; the prairie About 100 prasoons
covered left and reaE-our Artillery q ned pieces
were Ia the intervals the lantry. We had Two
Founders The We thoss INTO line on our
right 50 the bat e commenced and lasted Ill tie prairie
caught 1e.
liz the mean time they cavalry round pond on oar
rich. 10 the flank and in the rear Cen Isy Tor
ordered the 5 infantry 10 rcpe the attack They he
lh) formed into square stood TIE charge gave r IN aNO-
~ ard repelled them.
Under cover OF the smoke of the burning prairie Gen
Taylor moved bis right fank TO the place where their
left occupied at the commencement OF the action
The MeXicsns then concentrated body of Cavalry and
large body Of Infantry and charged our right we
formed into square loaded the eighteen FOUNDERS
with grape waited their attack. Two rounds rom
th. guns and voey of musketry them back. They
than drew their forces OF about haf mile from their
line.
We encamped the field Of battle after having fought
half day for IT, My company was Tor guard That nleaI
and WAS posted amidst their dead and hearing oil the
croans OF their wounded. sad spectacle it was-a
scene 10 cause the most careless 10 reflect
Next morning the Glib al early dawn saw their Wnoe
army drawn up about mile OF, with their rear resting
on the cnappuraI They then moved into the chappo-
raj out Of our eight. This WAS done by o'clock in the
morning.
Gen Taylor saw that they did ntcnd fight him
again ia open ground. II. then ordered Capt Metal,
Cth great huner) with his party OF one hundred men,
(chosen from I'VE regiments to advance into the woods
and tind their position The four light companies n LET
Brigade under the orders of Capt smith OF the ~ Ar
tery were added. The command consisted IN al oi
about go men. We accompanied by Lieutenan,
peasantou aud six dragons, aud Capt W aRer ana d
few Texan Rangers.
We entered the woods about 9 o'clock A. NJ. We
moved into the woods about six miles constantly seeing
their We took one prisoner aud Billed another
Mexican We approached q ravine called Resaca de Ia
Palma he Palmetto Rsvine) This ravne in appearance
very much resembed the bed OF river, about forty
yards wide and curved around our approach. so that
they could have direct GDd cross hre upon US.
The Mexcans had placed cannon in the ravine 10
rake the road and six pieces back on the bank Of the rve
rake each side approached These pieces oil can
non supported by two likes OF nfantryoLe on each
OF the rayc The woods on each side OF the ravne
we're densey thick. We advanced near this position with
the advance musket raDgewhcn TWO pieces o! Cannon
and their lines Infantry opened their fire upon us
The fire was whitening. We Tell back some hun
dfed yards. Capt. Mccall then drew 10 up across the
rpad-sent back Tor the wounded. He found that 1t
DJbbins and several men were missing He then sent
Serjt and few for them They received 50 hot
fire from the MeXicans that Il ey could not approHch-
He then sent with bring them OF found
them the Mexican lines watching an opportunity
to pop over Mexican or TWO.
Capt. Mccall finding that the whole Mexican force
there decided TO retire to strong position ana wall
until Gen. Taylor should arrive. He carried oil Lis
wounded though attacked by the whole Mexican orce
Fortunately Gen Taylor close NJ hand. de I'M
meda,ely ordered Lieut. Ridgeleys field battery, CORNER
y Riuggods forward TO oppose their guns and clear the
road Al the time he ordered Capt Smlth 10 the
right and Capt Mccall the left of the road TO engage
them closely The 9Th Infantry were ordered 10 the eit
to outhdnk them but their position WAS such thrt II
could not be- done. Gen Taylor seemed determined TO
gain the day-by of those movements only caught
by good soldier. He ordered Capt May with squad
ron OF Cavalry to charge and take their cannons de
them from their guns and penetrated their lines
taking Gen Vega prisoner.
The Mexicans Immediately reoccuped their batteries
but were not allowed Them for mass OF Infantry
was then poured upon them with fixed oayonets which
drove them back with great slaughter.
Then you could handto-hand coUoats Inc MEX
icans at one time charged guns. Lieut. RdRey de-
Tended them with his sword. Lieut.. Jordan OF the eth
Infantry was personally engaged with several MexlcAns
ne was bayoueted twice. and shot once-(not slied')
Lieut. Lincoln cut TWO OF Them down with bis SABRE
must stop-the Express is going. Yours &c
TIE WouNDED.-A correspondent OF the N. o.
Delta writing from Point Isabel, May 10Th, says;
We have here quite a hospital OF wounded men,
comprising 80 prvales three Mexican prisoners
one of whom has lost both legs-and the following
officers of The L. s. Army
Col Mcintosh 9th Infantry, was pierced through Inc
mouth with bayouet aud Ohio, in three places.
Col. Payne, Inspr Gen shot in the hip.
Capt Page ith Infantry lower jaw, part OF the tongue
and upper teeth entirely shot away. He IL suffering
dreadtuly.
Capt Hoe, 4th Infantry risht arm enot on ABOVE the
elbow.
In the left hand.
Lieut.. Jordan Sth Infantry shot anu oayoheleu LII
several places.
Lieut., Luther ID Artillery lower lip shot of.
It's expected that all the above will recover, but
most Of them will require great care.
MEXICAN STATEMENT OF THEIR owns Loss
PLAN OF CAMPAIGS.-Among the papers found In
the captured eifec OF Arsta, was the morning re-
turn Of the Mexican force on the day OF the battle
which shows the strength of the enemy to have eN-
ceeded 5000; though i, is not absolutely certain
that the whole of that force on the United States
bank of the Rio Grande. Gen. Arlstas AID While
making arrangements with distinguished ofcer
of our army for the exchange OF prisoners and the
care CT the wounded. stated that the Mexican loss,
in killed on the field of battle and drowned. was
500 Among the latter was one OF the priests In
the train Of the Mexican army. who persisted in his
flight in the waters of the Rio Grande In this
number. the wounded and prisoners of course are
not included. Fifteen hundred Mexican muskeTs
lall Kings arms) had been collected by troops.
The plan of campaign as developed 6y Arlsls
pauers was for that General, after demollshlng the
small force under command of Gen. Taylor. to over
run Texas; aud. having effected +" the conquest OF
that revoed province, if it should De necessary 10
secure the fruits of victory, it was arranged that
Gen. Bus,amente should bring in reintorcements to
the number OF 81 600 and upwards, aud that suose
ouen,ly Paredes himself should march an army OF
occupation into the conquered country
journal Of Commerce.
Leander ut the Rio Grande.
A letter from Charleston gives the following &C
count of the cause that led the.capture OF Lieu
tenant Dess:
Il, appears that Lieut. Deas was officer Of :he day and
was customary for the American band TO perform the
No,;,, - Air. whom the Star Spangled Banner was