The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-14


fantry and wing Of the ath thrown into the for.
est on the le and the ID and the other wing Of the Ah
skimishers the battery and engage tho Mexican
infantry. Capt McCalls command became at once
in very exposed position did great execution The en-.
envy had at least eight pieces of artillery and maintained
an incessant fire upon our advance
The action became general and although the enc.
mys infantry gave way before the steady fire and resist
less progress Of our yet his artillery still po-
ston 10 check our advanceseveral pieces occupy ng
the pass the ravine which he had chosen for his
position Perceiving tina, no decisive advantage could be
gained until this artillery was silenced ordered Can't
May to charge the batteries viii, his squadron of ORA
goons This was calamity and cfiectualy execucd the
enemy was driven from his guns, and Gen La Vega,
who remained alone at one OF the taken pr
The squadron which suffered much in this charge
not being Immediately supported by infantry could
petely silenced In the meantime the sth infantry had
been ordered up and had become warmly engaged on the
were ordered to charge the bate RES which was
handsomely done and tho enemy entirely driven from
his ARTILLERY and his position on the elt Of the road
ih regiments OF infantry had been deplo ed the right
Of the road where at various points they became sk
Buchanan and Lieutenants Wood and Hays ath infantry,
composed chiefly of men Of that regiment drove the
enemy om breast work which he occupied and cap.
tured piece OF artillery. An attempt to this
piece was rcpeled by Capt Barbour. Sd infantry The
enemy completely driven from his postion on
the right of the road All retreaed precpitaely leaving
baggage Of every description The 4th infantry took
possession Of camp where the head.auarters Of the
Mexican generaln-chief we're established All his OF.
fetal correspondence was captured at this place.
The artillery hattalsn lex eotng the h,nk companies
pahei distance in rear fia Ia TALON wss now
ordered up tn pursue the enemy and with the Sd nfaa
followed him rapidly to the river making number OF
prisoners Great numbers of the enemy drown ned
nsar h ne nc
msnder Of the army on the field OF battle.
The strength Of our marching force on this day as
and 2,049 men-aggregate, 2,222. The actual number
engaged with the enemy did not exceed LOO Our loss
three officers killed and twelve wounded thirty
six men killed and seventyo one wounded. Among the
officers killed have to regret the loss of Lieutenant
Inge 2d Dragons who fell at the head OF his platoon
while calamity charging the enemy battery Of Lieu.
tenant cochranc OF the ath and Lieutenant Chadboune
of the sth infantry, who likewise met their death ia the
thickest of the fight The officers wounded Lieu
tenant Colonel Payne. Inspector General Lieutenant
Dobbns Sd infantry serving "ith the light infantry
vance slightly Lieutenant Colonel Mcintosh 5th nlan.
try, severely, (twice Captain Hooe oh infantry
verely, fright arm since amputa,ed Lieutenant Fowler
slightly Lieuienans Gates and jordan sth infantry Sc.
verey, leach twice Lieutenants Seldom Maclay Bur.
bank, and Morris, 9Th infantry slightly. statement
of the killed and wounded is annexed herewith.
have no accurate data from which to estimate the
enemys force on this day. He is known to have been
reinforced after the action of the sth both by cavalry
and infantry and doubt to extent at least equal 10
his loss that day II is probable that 5000 men were
and strongly defended with artillery The enemys loss
very great. Nearly 200 Of his dead buried by
wounded in missing in the two affairs Of the Sth and 9TH
is, think moderately estimated at 1000 men.
Our victory has been decisive. A small force has
overcome immense odds of the best troops ths Mexico
can furnshveieran regiments perfectly equipped and
appointed Eight pieces OF artillery several coors and
standards great number Of prisoners including four
teen officers and large amount OF baggage and public
property have fallen into our hands.
The causes OF victory are doubtless to be found in the
superior quality OF our officers and have already
in former reports paid general tribute the admirable
duty and feel it to be one Of great dclcacy-to notice
individuals In SO extensive field that of the sh
9.h was fought could possibly be witness to more
than small psrti0n OF the operations OF the various
corps and must therefore, depend upon the reports Of
subordinate commanders, which respectfully enclose
herewith.
Colonel Twiggs, the second in command, was particu
larly active on both days in executing my orders and
directing the operations Of the right wing Lieutenant
Colonel Mcintosh commanding the 9Th infantry Licute
Lieutenant Colonel Belknap commanding the III bri.
gade Lieutenant Colonel Childs commanding the artil
ery battalion, Major Allen, Captains L. N. Morris and
Montgomery. commanding respectively the 4th, 3D. and
Stn regiments OF Infantry, Jealous the perform
OF their duties and gave examples
OF cool and fearless conduct Lieutenant Colonel Mcln
osh repued with his regiment a charge of lancers in
the action of Palo Alto and shared with the honors
wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Belk nap headed charge
of the 9Th infantry which resulted in driving the enemy
om his guns and leaving us in possession OF that OF
the field.
Captain Duncan and Lieutenant Ridgely deserve cs.
pecal notice for the gallant and efficient manner in
which they manGuvred and served their batteries The
impression made by Captain Duncans battery upon the
extreme right OF the enemys line at the affair Of Pao
Alto contributed largely to the result Of the day; while
the terrible fire kept up by Lieutenant Ridgely, in the
affair OF the 9Th inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy
The IS FOUNDER battery, which played conspjcuo
part the fthe sth was admirably served by
Lieutenant Churchill. Sd artillery, assisted by Lieut..
the enems batteries the 9th was CALAMITY led by
Capt May, and had complete
Captain Mccall 4th infantry. rendered distinguished
service with the advanced corps under his orders Its
loss, in killed and wounded will show how closely il
was engaged may take this occasion to say that in
two former instances Captain Mccall has rendered va.
liable service rs partisan officer In this connection
wouli mention the services VI Captan Walker OF the
Texas rangers, who was in both affairs with his com.
pany, and v no has performed very merorous service
as spy anu partisan
must beg leave to refer to the reports of subordinate
commanders Tor The names OF many officers, noncomms-
stoned officers and prlvates, who were by
good conduct boln days Instances OF individual gal
anty and personal conflict with the e~emy were not
wanting In the aAar Of the 9TH but cannot find place in
general report. The officers serving on tho saffs Of
tue different commanders. arc particularly mentioned by
derived efficient aid on both days from all the officer,
OF my staff Captain Bliss assistant adjutant general
Lieut. Co Pay ne, Inspector General Lieut. Eaton A. d.
q. tapt Waggaman, commissary of subsistence Lieut.
searret engineer and Lsutenants Blake and Meade
every part OF he field Lieut. Col Payne was wound
ed in the affair OF the 9Th and have already had occa
sion TO report the melancholy death Lieut. Blake by
accident, IN the interval between the two engage.
mcnts Major Craig and Lieutenant Brereton Of
the ordnance department, were actively engaged in
their appropriate duties, and Surgeon Craig MEDICAL
director, superintendent in person the arduous ser.
vice Of the field hospitals take this occasion 10 men
ton generally the devotion to duty OF the medical staff
OF the army, who have been unng in their excrtions
both in the field and in the hospitals alleviate the suE
erings OF The wounded OF both armies Captains
and NJ, Of the quarter department who
had charge OF the heavy supply train at both engage
ments conducted ii In most satisfactory manner and
finally brought up without the smallest loss to its des
tnaton
enclose an inventory Of the Mexican property cap
tured on the field and also sketch of tho field Of" Re-
SAGA de la IA ma" and Of the route from Point Isabel
made by my aiddecamp Lieutenant Eaton One regimen
tai color battalion Of anpico and many standards and
guidons OF cavalry taken at the aar Of the 9Th
would be pleased to receive your inst ucons the
disposition to be made Of these trophicswheher they
shall DO sent 10 Washington &c.
am, very respectfully,
Your obcdient servant
u. TAYLOR;
Brevet Brig Cen u. 8. A. Commanding
The ApJurAST GENERAL Of the Army
Washington, d. c.
Field report Of the corps composing the army Of occupa.
ton Commanded by Brevet Brigadier General T. Tay.
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