Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-19
To Major G. w. ALLEN,
Commanding 4lh Infantry.
REPORT OF CAPT. L. N. MORRIS.
HEADQUARTERS 3n INFANTRY,


Commanding 4lh Infantry.
REPORT OF CAPT. L. N. MORRIS.
HEaDouARTgRs 3n INFANTRY,
Camp on Battlefield near Matamoras.
May 10, 1876. J
Sir: have The honor 10 report that; in obedi-
.nce 10 Your order, Immediately before The battle
Of the Gth inst. at nis place, | depoyed the 81 in
ian,ry as skirmshers the right oi the road, the
left resting on the road the regiment advanced
rapid to The front; and, soon atlerthe firing COM
menced, | found my command so lar advanced
as TO be exposed TO cross fire from ourown ard
The enemy's batteries, and, in consequence of the
very dense chappora the regiment became very
much scattered. Ipassed an order down the line
for the officers TO collect all the men they could
and bring them into the engagement, which was
altogether on The left of the road. | returned
myself with all The men could collect, turned
Dnncan's battery, and joined in The action on the
lett flank, with Lieulenants Johns, Bee, William.
son and Hatch, 81 infantry; Lieutenant and Ad-
luant Irons passed into the fight with few men
and joined party under Captain MrCall-
The officers near he ON this occasion did
all that could be desired Of gallant soldiers:
they directed lie men with coolness, juig
merit and activity the soldiers 100, about 80
IN the detachment did themselves great credit. |
regret that cannot give more uil account Of
what The regiment accomplished AS stated be-
fore il became scattered, aud each officer was
compelled 10 act independently. Some lew have
to regret that they could mol lind their way out Of
the chapporal in time TO Join in The battle. Capt.
Barbour did good service with his detachment, by
driving hack body of cavalry attempting 10 re-
cover a piece OF artillery taken by some officers
and men Of the 4;h infantry. must not omit TO
| notice in this report The conduct OF Corporal o.
Sullivan. of Company Z, Sd infantry, who fired
! al a body OF lie enemy and Immediately rushed
| in upon Them and seized lieutenant by The col
lar. disarmed him. and delivered hin q prisoner
| ~ lieut.. Graham. He aircrward, went with a
| party under Sergeant Kenda! oi F company, 81
! infantry, captured gun IRON The enemy, relied
il out into HE road, aud turned il over 10 Off
| Ger OF the 9Th infantry There were many other
acts of individual daring; bur, where all behaved
well, il is deemed unnecessary 10 multiply instan-
! ces.
l have The honor TO be, very respectfully, your
| obsdienI servant l.. N. MORRIS,
Captain 81 Infantry, Commanding Regiment
! Lieut.. Col. J. GARLAND,
Commd'g 81 Brigade Army of Occupation
REPORT OF MAJ. T. STAMFORD.
IIEapou.RTEas 5rn INFANTRY,
Camp on ae Field ci Batie, May ~, ls46.
SIR In cbctiepcei 10 your orders, have The ho-
nuT 10 report that, in the action OF Palo Ate, on
the 6lh inst, the 5th infantry was placed on The
extreme right of our Inc. Alter sustaining The
cannonade of the ene..y Tor about ,hrcc-quarteTs
OF an hour the regimen; was ordered 10 tern The
left flank Of the enemy, and was detached Tor
that purpose, advancing nearly hall mile 10
the right and front; the cavalry OF The NexlcaDs,
with Two pieces OF artillery IN view eSlena'ng
themselves apparently Tor the purpose OF out
! thanking US. On the near approach Of the enc
| mys cavalry. The regiment was thrown into
square, with Captain Walker, OF The Texas RAN
| gers and twenty mounted men on outright. The
enemy commenced an irregular ire upon our
| square, as they advanced, woundins three or
four of cur men. and continued 10 do 50 until
within abou, fifty wards, when our fire was deli
vered from one from; Of the square, killing seve-
raj men and horses, and causing The enemy 10
| retire. Our fire was followed by The rifles OF the
mounted men. Al this moment Lieut.. Ridgely,
with two pieces of his battery, came to our sup.
port, and poured in a destructive fire Of grape
and canister on the enemy. now in full retreat
towards his right. The regiment remained on
this ground for about half an hour, when we were
ordered 10 take position on the right of the new
line, which had been formed by throwing forward
our right; the enemy having changed his front
nearly perpendicular to his first line. Here We
received a severe fire from the cncmy's batteries
wounding corporal Of the color company, and
the color sergeant slightly. As it was now near
night we were ordered up for the protection Of
the train; The cannonading from both sides ccas.
ing al dark.
In the battle OF The oh, the 9Th being in advance
and The enemy being discovered in front, the re.
sment was ordered into he chappoTal on The left
OF the road, and directed TO advance as skirmish-
ers and push for the enemy. The chappora al
first was dense and almost impassable: conse.
qnenlly The regiment became much separated and
extended, rendering it impossible 10 advance viii
much regularity. A 'svsI' sannoOadiDg from