Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-20
Report Of Capt. McCM to Gen. TAYLOR.


SIR On the 9Th instant in Obodisnee to your orders
marched from fso Alto the battle ground Of the s,b viii
INC su'ahec, CONSISTING oi go men, follow and oh
serve he movements oi the enemy the route TO Mata
o'as' iuireccd Capt. Z. +. Smith, I'd artillery with th,
ghi companies OF the LIST brigade TO move en- m, risL, NJ
Tue ROAD while advanced with the detachmen nj composed
y. uey ana infantry on the left Capt Walker OF the
ieNas hangers, with small detachment OF mounted n,p
was ordered To examine the road 'front.' and Lieut. Plea
sohon I'd dagoons, with few Dragons in rear
oi the columns Ut infantry.
Having followed the lTal of the ,nemv ,hon, ,. .i .
halt miles through the chapaaa was taken ON ,L
edge o. e 'acksss prairie, and Of the enemy killed by
Capt Walkers on the prairie, y
Having examined the opposite side Cant w.IL.,..,.
ted the road clear; when desiring 10 procure de6n. me-
nation as to the position Of the enemy pushed him for
~ad into tue chsparra (withn supporting disance and
one or two parties VI from were seen I'M Tho hnsh
one OF which, mounted party, fired upon by my riyb,
hankers On reaching the open ground ut La Resaca Dc
la Palma, the head OF my column received three r,rn a,
canister SHOT from a masked battery which killed one pri
e anu wounded two sergeants the lett of the road
and made my men take cover. They rallied boxrve,
handsomely, within 10 or 50 PAGES. now brought c.,
S' detachment to the lett Of the road, proposing 10
aiAek oy Hank movement what supposed to be onIv
The rear guard OF the retiring army; and sent Lien, M
Gown, with two men, recall Lieut. Dobbins who viii
aew men, had depoyed To the left where he killed one
or Two OF the enemy who showed themselves in hi. o,
Tn the return OF Lieut. DObbns with Lieut. Nice ,y,n |
former reported large body Of troops in motion ON ou S
aud at The same time anceTs were observed in The
road IN front. Being satisfied that the N.Iic,n 80,
was in force ia 'front.' despatched three r.soon
inform you OF the aci and then moved my IN n
stronger position 10 await your arrival.
on your arrival Capt Smith was again ordered IN ,aL
,he rght OF the road, while took the left with orders n,
orng ON the acuon and then flank the enemy Advancing
about three hundred yards more TO the front and ank
encountered the night OF the enemys infantry and the &C
non immediately commenced. They were strongly posd
IN the TaNne, the side OF the pond nh,
line being on the opposite sde and IN addition 10 the IRE
o muskeiry from both lines my men were exoosed a., he.
discharges OF canister from field pieces in rear os
mer CENTRE yet IN short time the enemy wero driven
from their right towards the road and INV man Col,,
with hearty cheer. In following them howeyor 80
ionnu ha our own batteries sweeping nv front and
melr hre being Kept up, made n fank movement 10 the
oAd ana here at once became engaged with enemy
occupying the pond the right Of road As soon s
their lire ceased this point the road TO ro1,
my former position the night flank OF the enemy Here
part OF my regiment became mixed in with the 5h re-
gheh' OF lnanIy; they united with that regiment and
charged win A. Lieut. Pitcher. OF the 9Th regiment wa,
oil the number. continued advance on the EFF of the
'm regiment ana was soon engaged with part of the regi-
ment OF me Iamplco Guards They received several de
suucuVe hres from my men, and then retired sboud
mention that during this interval, Lieut. McCown having
been separated from me, Joined the Sh infantry and
ged win them My command continued TO move forward
on he eneny's right with less information fin
separaoe from bush hgh) until the close of The battIe
Cap' Smith being separated from me, not an eve
witness OF tue individual conduct Of himself and ocers
but enclose herewith his report made me this day.
In That part OF my cammand where was in per.on evsr
oiceT and man did his duty Handsomely recevsd
every assistance from the good conducted OF Lieu DOH
BINS, McCown, Wainwright, and Pitcher Lieus ID
w. and r. used their rifles and guns with good e.c,
against the enemy and everywhere inspired the men with
confidence and cagetness 10 engage,
The loss sustained by the "advance" on tho 9th Nav
was SIX killed and fourteen wounded
lhaVe the honor to be- very respectfully your obadiah,
servant GEORGE A. MCCALL,
capt 4th infantry, commanding the advance
Capt w. w. S. BLrss
AdJutant General Army Of Occupation.