The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-12
REPORT OF COLONEL TWIGGS TO GEN.
ERAL TAYLOR.
HEADeUARTERs RIGHT WING,
Army OF OCCUPATION,
~
Camp near Matamoras, May Is, 1886

port OF the transactions of the different corps of the
right wing Of the army under my command during
the actions with the enemy the 9Th and 9Th inst
About half past p m, on the 9Th we found our
selves at the Pao Alto, within one mile of the chap
Paral which borders the Rio Grande, and nine miles
from the river, my command being composed Of
Major Ringgod's company OF light artillery, two
squadrons of Dragons, the 9Th infantry, and the
Sd and 4th Infantry, composing the 81 brigade.
The enemy, at the distance Of about half a mile
opened their batteries on their right which being
Immediately responded TO by our two lS.pounders
in charge of 1t. Churchill brought on the action of
the 9Th instant. Ma or Ringgods battery was or
dered TO the right and front of the lS-pounders at
distance Of about seven hundred yards from the
enemy when the battery was opened with great
effect, as was shown the next day by the number Of
the enemy's dead found along his line. The infan-
try in the mean time formed in Of the arul-
ery, receiving with the greatest possible GOODNESS
the enemy s fire. and Only anxious for the order to
rush in and participate actively in the affair.
A regiment Of the enemy's lanceIs was observed
to move to our right, apparently TO gain possession
OF our wagon tram, few hundred yards in rear.
The 9Th infantry and two pieces Of Major Ring
COLDS artillery, under the command of Lieut.. K.
Rldgey were ordered 10 check this movement.
Having gained ground to the right some four or FIVE
hundred yards, the 5th was formed in square re-
eeiye charge from the lancers, who advanced TO
within kfty yards when the opposing side Of the
lie
in the meantime several irregular discharges from
the enemy. The ancers reformed, and continued
their movement 10 get IN rear of our right flank,
when ordered the Sd to move to the right and rear
around pond OF water and prevent their progress
in that direction. Seeing their movement frustrated
in this point, the lancers commenced a retreat in
good order, marching apparently by squadrons,
when LIST Lieut. r. Ridgely, of Major RInggold's
battery assisted by Bryt. I'd Lieut.. French, opened
fire on Them and scattered them in all directions In
this affair the enemy lost twenty-eght or thir-
ty men.
This portion Of the right wing served in about
this position until the close Of the action In the
meantime Major Ringgold, with the remaining two
pieces of his battery, continued to play the enc
my with great success. The gallant Ma or was NOR
tally wounded by cannon ball towards the close
Of the action, and his horse shot under him at the
same time. The army and the country will long
deplore the loss Of 80 brave and accomplished an
officer.
The I'd squadron of Dragons, commanded by
Capt. May, who during the day was under the i'm
mediate orders of the general commanding, being
ordered to turn If possible the left flank Of the enc
my, the 4th infantry ordered TO support him
Having advanced in our right and front some four
hundred yards under very severe FIRE from two
Of the enemy's batteries, il was found that
the force he had to oppose was eight or nine hun
dred cavalry he retired agreeably to his orders and
the 4th infantry was accordingly withdrawn. In
this operation Captain May squadron had FIVE men
wounded and six horses killed, and the All infantry
one killed, one officer (Capt Page MORALLY,
and one man severely wounded. Night coming on,
the right wing took position in front of the wagon
train, and slept their the ground first oc-
cupied by the enemy. The perfect GOODNESS Of Lieut..
Rdgely, and the great precision with which he fred
his pieces whilst acting in concert with the 5h de-
serves notice, the last and most effective shot he
having aimed himself
~ he nf he o. n
ing discovered in the edge Of the chappara we ad-
vanced the 5'h infantry on the right, with the 81
| squadron of Dragons in front, Major Ringgold's
battery, commanded by Lieut.. Ridgely, on the left
of the 5th, and the 81 brigade on It's left On ad
vancing, the enemy having retired, we entered the
chapparal, and approached to within eight hundred
yards Of RsSaca de Ia Palma, where the enemy had
taken position for fight The advance guard hav
ing kept up fire I'LL our arrival, Lieut. Ridgey was
ordered in front Of the 5th with his battery and hav
ing advanced cautiously TO within about four hun
bred yards Of their battery in the road the enemy
opened on him with grape. Lieut. Rdgey pushed
| forward rapidly about hund red wards further
I'd returned their fire with great spirit and success
a vancing on them whenever their FIRE sackened
| At times the two batteries :ere firing canister a
| each other when not more an one hundred yard:
apart. Having advanced IN this manner about fvC
hundred yards, Captain Nay's squadron was or
dered to charge the enemy's guns. Dashing for
Of no other fornatlon) the squadron charged acros
the ravine through seven of the enemy's pieces
driving the gunners from them-Captain May, with
Leuts lnge, Stevens, and Sackett, and the lst anc
I'd patoons Of the squadron, charging the guns il
| the road and on the right Of it-Capt. Graham, &C
companied by Lieuts. Winship and Peasonton, with
the Sd and 4th platoons, leading the charge agans
the pieces the left of the road in the ravine Cap
tain May having charged through the pieces in the
road, rallied some six men, and charged again a
some of the gunners who had regained their pieces
drove them off, and took Gen. Vega prisoner II
the charge Lieut. lnge fell at the head of his platoon
whilst leading it on CALAMITY having passed through
their batteries. Corporal McCauley was taken pris
oner nine privates and eighteen horses were killed
Sergeant McMu'y, nine prIvates, and ten horses
wounded The 4th infantry, (under the command
of Brevet Major Alen;) the 5th, commanded by
Lieut.. Col Mcintosh; and the Sd, commanded by
Capt s. N. Morris, retained possession of the enc
my's artillery repulsing at different times largel,
superior parties brought to bear against them ant
finally brought eff the pieces, making several prison
era of war. After the unsurpassed, if not unequal
led, charge Of Captain Mays squadron the enem,
was unable to fire piece. In this affair, in which
Lieut. Inge, % Dragons, and Lieut.. Cochrane, 4tl
| infantry, were killed, Lieut.. Col. Mcintosh. Capt
Hoe, and Lieut. Dobbins were wounded, | Womb
respectfully call the attention of the commandn!
general to the gallant conduct of Col. McInosh 9Th
and Col. Garland, 4h infantry, Commanding tn
Sd brigade,) Lieuts. Ridgely, Shower, and French
Sd artillery; Captains May and Graham, Lieuts
Wnship, Stevens, Peasonton, and Sackett, I'd dra
goons; and Captain Buchanan, Lieuts. Hays AM
Woods, 4th infantry, &c the latter two having
captured piece of artillery, defended by one hun
dred and fifty or two hundred, with but a few men
The enemy having been routed with great loss
this days action closed with much honor to tn
American army, spreading terror among the Mexi
can people. In this action every officer and MAJ
performed his duty most CALAMITY.
, But Captain Arnold and Lieutenant Mcdonald
| I'd Dragons, my aids the 9Th and 9th instant
performed the several duties assigned them wit
: promptness GOODNESS, and courage. They accom-
panied me during the whole Of the affairs excep
when detached carrying orders. The detailed &C
count of the commander of each regiment and corp
is herewith transmitted
| am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser
want,
ID. F.. TWIGGS,
Il Col Cd Dragons,
Commanding right wing A. d.
Capt. w, w. s. Bliss,
IA, =, "a, of n,