The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-12
To the President.
HEADsUARrERs ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
Clmp near Matamoras, May l6, 1916.


SR: have now the hoLor To submit a more de-
tailed report Of the action of the 9Th inst.
The main body of the army OF occupation march
ed under my immediate orders, from Point Isabel
on the evening OF the 7th Of May, and bivouacked
seven miles from that place.
Our march was resumed the following morning
About noon, when our advance of cavalry had
reached the water-hoe of "Palo Alto" the Mexl-
can troops were reported in our 'front.' and were
soon discovered occupying the road in force. or
dered halt upon reaching the water, with view
TO rest and refresh the men, and form deliberately
our line of battle. The Mexican line was now
plainly visible across the prairie, and about three
quarters of a mile distant. Their left, which
composed of heavy force Of cavalry, occupied the
road, resting upon a thicket of chapparal, while
masses of infantry were discovered in succession on
the right, greatly outnumbering our own force.
Our line of battle was now formed in the following
order commencing on the extreme right 5th lnfan-
try, commanded by Lieut.. Col. Mcintosh; Major
Ringgold's artillery; Sd infantry, commanded by
Captain L. n. Morris; two lS-pounders, COM
manded by Lieut.. Churchill, Sd artillery; 4th in
fantry commanded by Major G. W. Allen; the
81 and 4th regiments, composed the I'd brigade
under command of Lieut. Col. Garland; and all
the above corps together with two squadrons OF
Dragons under Captains Ker and May, composed
the right wing, under the orders Of Col. Twiggs
The left was formed by the battalion of artillery
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Childs, Capt. Duncan's
light artillery, and the 9Th infantry, under Captala
Montgomery-alI forming the lst brigade, under
command of Lieut.. Col. Belknap The train
was packed near the water, under direction Of Cap
tans Crosman and Myers, and protected by Capt
Ker's squadron.
At O'Clock we took up the march by heads Of
columns, in the direction of the enemy-the 10
FOUNDER battery following the road. While the col.
umns were advancing, Lieut.. Blake, Typographical
| engineers volunteered a reconnaissance OF the enc
my's line, which was handsomely performed, and
resulted in the discovery of at least two batteries Of
artillery in the intervals Of their cavalry and nfan
try. These batteries soon opened upon us;
when ordered the columns halted and depoyed
into line and the FIRE to be returned by all ar
lery. The 9th infantry, our extreme left, was
thrown back to secure that flank The first fires Of
the enemy did little execution, while our l8-pound-
ers and Major Ringgods artillery soon dispersed
the cavalry, which formed his left. Captain
Duncans battery, thrown forward in advance of the
line, was doing good execution at this time Capt
Mays squadron now detached to support that
battery and the left of our position The Next
can cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, were now
reported to be moving through the chappara to our
right, to threaten that flank, or make demonstra
ton against the train. The 5th infantry was
Immediately detached TO check this movement,
and supported by 1t. Ridgey, with section Of
Major Ringgold's battery and Capt. Walkers COM
pany of volunteers effectually repused the enemy
the 9Th infantry repelng char rye of lancers, and
the artillery doing great execution in their ranks
The Sd infantry was detached to the right as
still further security to that flank yet threatened by
the enemy. Major Ringgold, with the remaining
section, kept up his fire from an advanced position
and was supported by the 4th infantry.
The grass of the prairie had been accidentally
fired by our artillery, and the volumes of smoke
now partially concealed the armies from each other.
As the enemy's left had evidently been driven back
and left the road free as the cannonade had been
suspended, ] ordered forward the l8.pounders on
the road nearly to the position first occupied by the
Mexican cavalry and caused the lst brigade to take
up a new position still on the left Of the lS-pounder
battery. The 9Th was advanced from It's former po-
| ston and occupied pc mt on the extreme right OF
| the new line. The enemy made change Of posi-
ton corresponding to our own, and after suspen'
sion of nearly hour the action resumed
The fire of artillery most destructive
| openings were constantly made through the enemy's
ranks by our fire, and the consistency with which
| the Mexican infantry sustained this severe cannon
| ade was theme of universal remark and admira-
ton. Capt. Mays squadron was detached to make
demonstration on the left of the enemys position
and suffered severely from the fire Of art llery tc
| which it was for some time exposed. The 4th infan-
try which had been ordered to support the lS-pounde
battery exposed to most CALLING fire Of arrille
| ry by which several men were killed and Capt Page
dangerously wounded The enemy's fire was di
reced against l8-pounder battery and the guns
himself while cooIy directing the fire Of his pieces
was struck by cannon ball and MORALLY wound
ed.
In the meantime the battalion of artillery unde
Lieut. Col, Chlds had been brought up to supper
the artillery on our right. strong demonstration
of cavalry was now made by the enemy agains
this part of our line, and the column continued t
advance under severe fire from the 1S-pounders
The battalion Instantly formed in square ant
Il held ready to receive the charge of cavalry, bu
when the advancing squadrons were within clos
range deadly fire of canister from the Is. pound
ers dispersed them brisk fire Of small arms wa
now opened upon the square by which one officer
f Lieut.. Luther ID artillery, was slightly wounded
= but a well directed volley from the front of III
square silenced all further firing from the enemy il
this quarter. 1t was now nearly dark and the ac
ton was closed on the right of our line, the enem,
. having been completely driven back from his posi-
ton and foed in every attempt against our line.
While the above was going forward our RICH
3 and under my own eye the enemy had made sc
n rious attempt against the lefl Of our line. Captai
, Duncan instantly perceived the movement, and b
the bold and brilliant man1uvrelng of his battery
completely repulsed several successive efforts
the enemy to advance in force upon our left hanE
Supported in succession by the 9Th infantry and b
Captain Ker's squadron Of Dragons, he gallant
held the enemy at bay, and finally drove him, wit
9 immense loss, from the field. The action here an
along the whole line continued until dark, when tn
enemy retired into the chappara in rear Of his pos
ton, Our army bivouacked on the ground il occu
, pied. During the afternoon the train had bee
h moved forward about half mile, and was packe
e in rear Of the new position
y Our loss this day, was aine killed, forty-fou
wounded, and two missing. Among the wounde
were Major Ringgold, who has since died, and Cap
~ tain Page, dangerously wounded; Lieutenant Lu
Their slightly 80. ! annex a tabular statement OF IN