The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-31

Founders, and the two 10 FOUNDERS. They recoled
Gen. Taylor would order simultaneous charge
Of our whole line, but it was not done. At this
period OF the action the sight was truly sublime
It was getting quite dark, SO much 80 that we
the fash OF their pieces. Al nm occasional hull of
tho war, the shreks Of the wounded and dying
could be heard, whilst artillery and cavalry
horses were rushing madly to and fro, some
with broken legs, and some in the last ago
MICS Of death. When it became fairly dark,
the enemy ceasedfrng, and, apparently, re-
retired to the woods, though our fire was
kept up some ten minutes longer. Il was about
10 minutes past when we lmbered up our guns,
the action having thus lasted four hours and five
minutes. exclusive of the rest taken by both par
night, on the field, whilst the enemy retired into
the woods, thus leaving us masters Of the ground.
1t was now ascertained that we had suffered some
loss IN killed and wounded. Capt. Page, of the
4th, had the lower jaw entirely shot of, leaving
| the tongue and the roof of his mouth exposed-it
| would have been mercy to have killed him, a. re-
covery Is quite impossible Major Ringgc!d was
also MORALLY wounded, shot having struck both
his thighs, and his horses shoulder several other
officers We're wounded, but none seriously, be-
hove. We had III men killed, and about 60 or so
wounded, most Of them slightly.
The next morning, at daylight, tho dragons
were dispatched TO reoonnoitre the enemy We had
renamed up all night, on picket detachments
without any supper. and in the morning started
without any other breakfast than piece OF hard
my's line, and found them retiring into the woods,
with the exception of about 1000 cavalry who
with an Immense number Of pack mules, were
taking the direction of the mouth of the river
We gradually approached, until we found our
selves on the ground occupied by our opponents
the night before. Here we found the res,,,,, 70
our destructive fire = ll9 dead bodies were
counted on the field which the MeY;co,. III
stripped, and left for us to bury on the ad,a ."u
the woods we found ten or twelve large nil gr.y.
| and several smaller ones, showing the 1est;n1,
paces OF eIncers one six FOUNDER was dsmountc.
ed on the neld, and some 1900 rounds of cannon
cartridges were found abandoned on the nra;r;a
The evidences before us were such as 10 snra -.
that the enemy had suffered very severely and
We're then retreating towards the river. ''''~
returning to camp we found il had becn d.,er
mined upon TO move forward about .l2 M. tha,
DAY, leaving one company with two lS pounders
ana w ioar Twelve Founders to protect all the sup,
ply tram, winch was packed up CLOSELY and nrn
tected by breastwork the remainder Of the mr..
my with the baggage train to move forward IN
pursuit OF the enemy, and give them battle. We
caaded . Suou' ~ e Ine mentioned and had pro-
occupied by the enemy, who had chosen their no
sihons, and commanded every avenue with their
cannon. ~
| ! before mentioned that the woods .x,ona.d
n lne enemys position, on the afternoon Of the
oth instant the entire distance TO the Rio Gr.rdo.
mere n , : ono small prairie, however. about one
niue VIDE ana nve or six long, which wa, used f,r
parking what wagons we had with us' The ro.d
was so narrow that we could only enter the woods
BY platoon front, and il was only - ,.r,o;
pGnis mat the woods would admit Of deployment
OF skirmisners ~ the infantry. The artillery hat
talon, and the 9Th infantry, with INV snnsdron
were ordered TO remain to protect the wagon.
ms was vexatous, but necessary There we
roar Of then 20 ne roll Of the musketry and the
even which party was gaining the dav in about
ten minutes, however, after the commencement
2. .nc oa!ue, our ears were greeted with n loud
shout, Which we knew could not he nv others
than our own troops-at the same in slant an ~
der came for us to advance, as the enemy were re-
| treating we marched into the road at fmll
s speou, ,,, ana soon came up with the head of
Tue columns, meeting several parties of prison
ors, on their way back to the train. We came nm
JUST IN ume to assist in driving tho enemy from
s slei guns. which was done in company with the
osn in!an,Iy; never knew an exciting moment in
my life n then before US, at fun sneed. rnshed
! TWO OF the enemy's guns, and Immediately nj.
yer 'h TI TWO OF Dncnn's, 1anksd BY our squad
mb.reJ ans ono not continue lonssur guns
straight stretch of the road; and we charging i'm,
inediately after, the enemy ran. and ,hus lost an
me-. H.ery, eight pieces. cannot describe the
nght, u was perfect rout, 4. you NAV slppose
When enumeratc the spoils Icould SEQ the road
covered with the enemys dead. and in many
places e was literally blocked up with dead horses
and iaf; so.r,s contnued the pursuit until dark,
anu iet Sc,lceiy Mexican on ihis side Of the Rio
'Irande 500 were drowned in getting over.
s.MT WHIST raging IN all Its fcrceness on the
no,n o. b na',e Is soul stirring and noble excite
ing and horrible to think Of even m,ch less 10 Ia
oongeo 70 look upon, its ghastly barba viii
no. freeze your blood by telling YOU the horrid
ss ms nave Sen, the shreks have heard whilst
:. ue saIhe instant one might see u bacchanaan
orgle, and hear the shouts Of the ,svelIers I have
reao many accounts Of battles but never n de-
yc n;I, o. one Every thing carried at the
ace alone F SnySne. and BY brute bull dog cour
rom position to position without our troops ever
ialter1ng for one instant We at no time had more
Of GOO un me mn engaged the enemy had upwards
lions, only 1000 of whom were IN the ;rst firht.
NEON me o.nci IOUO being drawn from Matamoras Just
t"ash iS commencement Of the engagement,
nage sna &c, fonnaent Of victory In the frst en-
~ Or more cavalry, with IL pieces Of artillery
one OF these was dismounted as before stated,
ana tnree others were 50 much crippled as to
i nn,i y necessary to send them to Matanoras.
M Ia, 70 ther own account they had 400 killed
ana iost 90 by assertions. We had IL killed, and
az .no outside 20 wounded they have six or eight
o'ncers Killed and many wounded.
"a .1c second engagement, their loss is not ac-
me men, Killed. wounded and prisoners. including
, ~ drowned IN attempting to escape Our own
rsI;su 90 not know; the dragons lost Is men,
inge wa, Killed I %, be panied to learn that Lieut.
Sn.eIeu MS neck, and broke the spinal chord He
had only returned from leave Of absence four DAYS
p prgv,O.' ne was the only officer hurt in our re-
Sol. Mcintosh was wounded i'm three places. but
npopes are entertained Of his recovery Col.
rayne, Inspector General, was also wounded.
s INC not seriously hope. Capt Howe, Of the
SSsSnnad ms night arm amputated near the shoulder
Many otner officers were wounded, but none very
seriously, believe. Gen. Do la Vega and 22 other
o.ncers, are prisoners. Arista and Amppda es-
odPvu ~ mere accident: We saw them running
on with about 80 cavalry but, il being quite
daIk, we could not distinguish them from our
own troops, party ofwhom were supposed to be
m tne same direction. About 400 prisoners have
Decn sent down to Point Isabella, and nearly as
many wounded were sent over TO Matamoras
The trophies Of these two victories are pieces
OF cannon, Ia eolors and Standards all the drums,
I4O,OOO rounds Of ammunition $4,000 Of which
are cannon), over 500 mules, with their packs