The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-06-20
MEXICAN WAR.
THE BATTLES ON THE RIO
GRANDE.

The following minute and graphic ac-
count Of ihe battles of the 9th and 9Th May
in which our gallant army won for them
selves mperishable renown, will be read
with deep and thrilling interest. 1t is from
the pen of heroic officer who nobly boIe
his rnl share of the duties and dangers OF
the trying occasion:
Camp opposite Matamoras.
May l3Ih, ls46.
On the lst Of May the army under Gen.
TAYLOR took up its line Of march a, 3 o.
clock, P. NJ. for Point Isabel, thirty miles
distant, in order 10 force up from that point
provisions, which were necessary 10 the
maintenance Of our for, here. 10 defend il
in our tbsence Gen. TAYLOR lef. the 7lh
Regiment of Infantry, BRAGa's battery OF
four six Founders, Captain LowD's battery
OF four eighteen Founders, and some con.
volescen,s as a gsrrison--,he whole Nnder
the command of Major BRowE. of the al
my We had heard Of the crossing Of six
or seven thousand Of The enemy, to oppose
our march 10 our depot, and expected 10
fgh, them going down, but did rot mee'
,hem. On The I'd instant, in the afternoon
we reached Poin, Isabel, and on the 81
heard The bombardmenI continued al inter-
walls for several days. In the meantime,
General TAYLOR, having learned By express
from Major BRowN, that lie could hold TIT
fort, put his whole command TO work IN
,he en,tenchments al Point Isabel, the basis
Of our operations, and having made ii sufli-
cien,Iy strong, and loaded about three hun-
dred wagons with provision aud ammuni'
,ion, he determined TO proceed at once 10
the relief Of our gallant lEle band IN this
fort, and TO give battle TO the enemy If ne.
cessary. He commenced his march a. 2
O'Clock, p. NJ, on ihe I'm instant, in lhe
following order;-a squadron Of Dragons
commanded by Capt. May. in front; the
third Brigade, composed of the Sd and An
Regiments Of Infantry and RINGGoLD' :
Lighi Artillery; the 5Ih Iolantry, not Brig
AIDED and the Is, Brigade, composed OF the
Artillery Baualon serving as Infantry, Dun
CANS Light ArIillery and The sIh Regiment
of ln(anlry-io which must be added two
eighteen Founders drawn by oxen, and
Capt. KERR's squadron Of Dragons pro
tecling the rear-the wagons on the marcI
beng, in great degree, in'erspersed be-
tween The Brgades for greater security.
On the night Of The 7lh we encamPed a
bout 10 miles from Point Isabel, wlIhou
seeing the enemy. On the sh we bad adj
vsnced about miles, when Wa descrlec
the enemy some Two miles distant, draw
up in great force on she open prairie, an'
occupying The erect Of a very gentle slope
with their backs 10 the thick bushes, caiIe'
~ This country 'chappsral'
We Immediately formed line 10 The from
and advanced calmly and quietly 10 the al
tack. Our brave and conslderale old Gen
eral, finding that the enemy waited TO re
ceye us, and that we were passing near
lake of water, ,he day being very hot AM
the men thirty, halted in full view OF tn
adversary, and directed Tho men to fill 'heI
canlsens with water. We had now Ilt'l
leisure to examine the force Of the enem
and its composition. The horizon in OF
iron, and 10 the right appeared lined vii
cavalry, (Lsncers and Drsgoons) tt