The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1846-07-10
Official Dispatches
FROM THE
ARMY OF OCCUPATION,

Camp near MatamOTos, May l6, 1916.
Sir: have now the honor to submit more
detailed report of the acliOa Of the 9Th inst. |
The main body Of the army Of occupation
marched, under my immediate orders, from
Point Isabel on the evening of the 7th of May
and bivouacked seven miles from that place.
Our march was resumed the following
morning. About noon, when our advance
of cavalry had reached the water>whole of
sPaIo AltO.s The Mexican troops were re-
ported in our front, and were soon discover
ed occupying the road in force. ! ordered
halt upon reaching the water, with view 10
rest and refresh the men, and form delibero
atelV our lines Of battle. The Mexican line
was now plainly Vsiable across the prairie,
and about three quarters Of a mile distant.
Their left, which was composed Of a heavy
force of cavalry, occupied the road, resting
upon thicket of chaparal, while masses of
infantry were discovered in succession on
the right, greatly Outnumbering our own
force.
Our line Of battle was now formed in the
following order, commencing on the extreme
right: 9Th infantry, commanded by 1t Col.
Mcintosh; Maj. Ringgold's artillery; Sd in>
fantry. commanded by Capt L. NJ Morris,
two Is Founders, commanded by L. Church.
hill, Sd artillery; 4th infantry, commanded
by Mai. 6. w. Allen; the Sd and 4th regi-
ments composed the Sd brigade, under cons
mand Of 1t. Garland and all the above corps
together with two squadrOns of dragons un-
der Capts. Ker and MAY, composed the right
wing, formed by the battalion Of artillery
commanded by 1t. Col. Childs, Capt. Dun.
cans light artillery, and the 6th infantry, un
der Capt. Montgomery-a forming the Is
brigade, under command Of 1t. Col Belk
map. The train was packed near the water
under direction Of Capts CTOsman and My.
ers, and protected by Capt. Ker's squadron.
At 2 O'Clock we took up the march BY
heads Of columns, in the direction of the
enemy-the l6-pOunder battery following
the road. While the columns were advance
ing, 1t. Blake, typographical engineers, vols
unteeTed' a reconnaissance Of the enemy's
line, which was handsomely performed, and
resulted in the discovery Of at least two bat
teries of artillery in the intervals of their
cavalry and infantry. These batteries were
soon opened upon us; when ordered the
columns balted and deplOyed into line, and
, the Gre 10 be.EetnTned by all our artillery.
The 9Th infantry on our extreme LETT, was
u tbvOun-baela-Ao-s oeuaa sllat aank. The 6rsi
!, fires of the enemy did little execution, VIII le
our Is FOUNDERS and Maj. Ringgold's artil'
r Iery soon dispersed the caValry, which forms
ed his left. Capt. Ducan's battery, thrown
forward IN advance Of the line, was doing
r good execution at this time. Capt. Mays
j, squadron was now detached to support that
II battery, and the left Of our position. The
Mexican cavalry. with two pieces of artillery
= were now reported to be moving through
=, the chaparral to our right, TO threaten thai
flank, OF make a demonstration aginst the
r train. The 5th infantry was Immediately
: detached to check this movement, and, sup
ported by 1t. Ridgely, with section o
,r Mai. RinPgold's battery and Capt. Walker
p company of volunteers, effectualiy Tepulse'
rr the enemy-lhe 9Th infantry repelling
70 charge Of lancers, and the artillery dom
- great execution ia their ranks. The Sd IN
fantry was now detached TO the right as
,,r still further security to that flank yet threat
81, .ened by the enemy. Maj RinggOld, wit
the remaining section, kept up his fire tror
o' an advanced position, and was supported D
the 4th infantry.
The grass Of the prairie had been acciden
b'r tally fred by our artillery, and the volume
or Of Pmoke now partially concealed the armie
from each other. As the enemy's left ha
Ct evidently been driven back and left the roa
\. free. as the cannOnade had been suspended
b'r | ordered forward the lS>pOunders on Il
b'r road nearly 10 the position FIRST Occupiud
~. the Mexican cavalry, and caused the lst bgi
In ade 10 take up new position still on q
ssp left Of the Is FOUNDER battery. The 5
Sep was advanced from its former position, a.
lb'r occupied a point on the extreme right of I
n IL oh
5Ser. position corresponding to our own. end afl
lb'r suspension Of nearly an hour the acti
Sep was resumed.
npL The fTeof artillery was now most d
nb,r lIructive-openings were constantly ma
nb'r through the enemy's ranks by orr FIRE, q
nb'r the consistency with which; the Mexican
Sep fantry sustained this severe canRonade =
theme of universal remark and admiTali
3, Capt. Mays squadron was detached TO NJ;
Is, demonstration on the left Of the enem
lpcsitiOn, and suffered severely from the
y Of artillery 70 which il was for some q
mar exposed. The 4th infantry, which had b
par. ordered 10 support the I6-poundeT batt
par. was exposed to most CALLING frs Of q
par. terry. bS which several men were killed
par Capt Page dangerously wounded. The
&c emy's Gre was directed against our g. POI
s. er battery, and the guns under Maj. R
gold In iis vicinity. The Major himself v
Z dol coOIly directing the Gre Of bis pieces,
90. struck By cannon bali and MORALLY va
40. ed. 81
do. In the meantime the battalion Of aFli
under Ii. Col Childs, had been brough
$3.50 to support The artillery on our right. A g
1850 demonstration Of cavalry was now mad
Pm the enemy against THE part Of our line,
syOi the column continued to- advance uns
100 severe Gre from the lS.pounders. The
$50 tallion was now instantly formed il sq
go and held ready 10 FeceiVe the charge Of