American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-06-15

, the enemy. A small party under Capt. Buch
I anan and Lieuts, Wood and HAYS, 4.h infantry
, composed chiefly Of men of that regiment, drove
the enemy from breast work which he occu.
pied, and captured piece of artillery. Ar at.
tempt TO recover this piece was repealed by Cap.
tain Barbour, Sd infantry. The enemy was at
last completely driven from his position on the
right Of the road, and retreated precipitately,
leaving baggage of every description. The
attn infantry took possession of camp where
the headquarters of the Mexican general-in-
chief were established. All his official cores.
pondence was captured at this place.
The artillery battalion excepting the flank
companies) had been ordered TO guard the bag
gagetrain, which was packed some distance in
rear. That battalion was now ordered up to
pursue the enemy, and with the Sd infantry,
Capt. ker's dragons, and Capt Duncan's bat
terry, followed HIM rapidly TO the river, making
a number Of prisoners. Great numbers Of the
enemy were drowned in attempting to cross the
river near the town. The corps last mentioned
encamped near the river--the remainder of the
army on the field of battle.
The strength Of our marching force on this
day, as exhibited in the annexed field report,
was 10 officers, and ? ,049 Interchangeable o
222. The actual number engaged with the ell
envy did not exceed 100. Our loss was three
officers killed and twelve wounded; thirty-six
men killed, and seventy-one killed. Among
the officers killed, have to regret the loss of
Lieut.. Inge, I'd dragons, who fell at the head
OF his platoon, while CALAMITY charging the en-
emy's battery; OF Lieut.. Cochran, of the 4th,
and Lieut., Chadbourne, Of the Sth infantry,
who likewise met their death in the thickest of
the fight. The officers wounded were Lieut..
Col. Payne, Inspector General; Lieut.. Dobbins,
80 infantry, serving with the light infantry ad-
vance, slightly; Lieut.. Col. Mcintosh, 5th in
tantry, severely, (twice0 Capt Hooe, 5th in
tantry, severely, fright arm since amputated.)
Lieut.. Fowler, 5th infantry, slightly; Captain
Montgomery, Sth infantry, slightly; Lieuten-
ants Gates and Jordan, Sth infantry, severely,
(each twlce) Lieuts. Selden, Maclay, Burbank,
and Morris, sth infantry, slightly. A tabular
statement Of the killed and wounded is annexed
herewith.
! have no accurate data frsm which 10 esti-
mate the eEemy's force on this day. He is
known TO have been reinforced after the action
of the 9Th, both by cavalry and infantry, and
no doubt TO an extent at least equal to his loss
on that day. 1t is probable that 5000 men
were opposed TO us, and in position chosen by
themselves, and strongly defended with artil
lery. The enemy's loss was very great. Near
ly zoo OF his dead were buried by US on the
day succeeding the battle. His loss in killed,
wounded, and missing, in the two affairs Of the
8th and 9Th is, ! think, moderately estimated
at 900 men.
Our victory has been decisive. A small
| force has overcome immense odds of the best
troops that Mexico can furnish--vetcran regi-
Tnents, perfectly equipped and appointed. Eight
pieces Of artillery, several colors and standards,
great number Of prisoners, including fourteen
officers, and a large amount of baggage and
public property have fallen into our hands
The causes Of victory are doubtless 10 be
found in the superior quality Of our officers and
I men. have already, in former reports, paid
a general tribute to the admirable conduct Of
the troops on both days. 1t now becomes my
duty-and feel it to be one Of great decacv
to notice individuals. In so extensive field
as that of the sth, and in the dense cover where
Mos, Of the action Of the 9th was fought,
could not possibly be witness to more than a
small portion Of the operations Of the various
corps; and must, therefore, depend upon the
reports of subordinate commanders, which re-
spectfully herewith submit.
COL TWiggs, the second in command, was
particularly active on both days in executing
my orders, and directing the operations of the
right wing. Lieutenant Colonel Mcintosh,
, commanding the 5th infantry, Lieutenant Col.
Garland, commanding the Sd brigade, Lieuten-
ant Colonel Belknap, commanding the LIST bri-
gade, Lieutenant Colonel Chds, commanding
|, the artillery battalion, Major Allen, Captains
, l.. n. Morris and Montgomery, commanding
= respectively the 4th, Sd, and Sth regimenst OF
= infantry, were jealous in the performance of
their duties, and gave examples Of their COM
mands of cool and fearless conduct. Lieuten-
| ant Colonel Mcintosh repulsed with his regi-
ment charge of lancers in the action of Palo
ALTO, and shared with it in the honors and dan
gers of the following day, being twice severely
: wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Belknap headed
} a charge of the 8th infantry, which resulted in
driving the enemy from his guns, and leaving
US in possession Of that part of the field.
Captain Duncan and Lieutenant Ridgely de-
serve especial notice for the gallant and eff
Gent manner in which they InanRuvred and
, served their batteries. The impression made
by Captain Duncan's battery upon the extreme
) right Of the enemy's line, at the affair Of Palo
!, Alto, contributed largely to the result of the
day; while the terrible fire kept up by Leute-
nant Ridgely, in the affair of the 9th, inflicted
heavy losses upon the enemy. The l9-pound-
err battery, which played conspicuous part in
the action Of the Sth, was admirably served by
Lieutenant Churchill, Sd artillery, assisted by
Lieutenant Wood, Typographical enginceEs.-
: The charge of cavalry on the enemy's batteries
on the 9th, was CALAMITY led by Capt. May,
and had complete success.
I Captain Mccall, 4th infantry, rendered dis
tinguished service with the advanced corps I'M
der his orders. Its loss, in killed and wounded,
, will show how closely it was engaged. may
take this occasion to say that, in two former in
stances, Captain Mccall has rendered valuable
service as partisan officer. In this connection
er, of the Texan rangers, who was in both aE
fairs with his company, and who has perform
ed very meritorious services as spy and parti
san.