Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-06-24
FROM THE N. o. DELTA.
Battle Of RESACA De La PALMA, May 9, 1916,

FORT Polk, Pr. ISABEL, May 90, 1916.
Dear ST:-l regret deeply the DELAY
that has occurred in completing the nara.
tive of the battles of the Sth and 9th
lhIs IS the trst moment | have had oil
leisure, and even now | cannot EXPECT to
do more than break ground IN the scenes
That occurred on The 9th, and trust 10 the
odd moments that | may steal from bust
ness to complete the picture.
On the morning Of the 9th, the sun rose
bright and clear, and with the first drum
our hardy soIdiery sprang from their beds
upon the naked prairie, even before taking
their soldiers meal of hard bread, small
piece of salt pork, and "A cup of cold water,
cast an anxious, hopeful eye towards the
chapparel in their front, along which the
enemy had encamped, and when the
stralnlng eye could discern amid the gray
OF the morning, the enemy's line, a glow
of exultalion filed the cheeks of eyery one.
from our brave and heroic General 10 the
lowest private in our ranks.
The first care of our General was to vi.
sit the wounded and see that every com.
tort was suppIied-lhe constant and well
directed energies of the medical deDnrt.
left but little tor him to do: every one.
whether officer or soldier had been al.
tended with unwearying care and watch.
fulness. The troops having pa rtaken of
their meal, The order was gwen to get the
command underarms. Gen. Tay Tor here
summoned a council of war, composed of
the heads OF the commands, in all thirteen
excluding the ommander-in.C Chief. The
General after returning thanks for their
support and bravery on the 9Th, and wish
ing 10 be advised as 10 what they thought
best to be done, called on each TO give his
opinion. 1t was then ascerlained that but
four out Of the thirteen were in favor of
going ahead, the other officers composing
the counsel voted some to entrench where
they were, and await the assistance Of the
volunteers, and others to retire at once to
Point Isabel, but the General said Z" / w,H
be at Fort Browa before might if / Hpe."
Those who voted for going ahead, as they
watched the countenance of the General,
might have seen The smile of appreciation
that lighted the old mans honest face al
the moment though he bowed with respect
to the opinions Of those who differed from
HIM, and in saying engrdUe on the sacred
banner Of stars and stripes the names of
Taylor, Mcintosh, Morris, Scott and DIN
can, mean no reflection on those who
who voted against them--they were men
tried in many field before, and their
deeds on that day proved them equal to the
best.
1t. Ridgely, who was entitled 10 a vote
in the council, was at the time in attend. |
ance on the amented Ringgold, and there
fore had no voice in tho matter, but as he |
galopped up to his battery on returning
from his visit to the Major, some enc said
!" Rdgely were YOU at the counci?" and
he replied "no, did not know that one
had been called, but hope old Zach will
90 ahead and bring the matter to close
The command at this time was under
arms and the advance sounded. The Mex.
leans at this moment were arranged along
he edge of the chaparral in no very regu.
lar line, and so soon as we commenced .
our movement they retired into the cha.
parral, and we lost sight of them.
Gen. Taylor advanced his line close up
to the pond where the Mexican left rested
The day beforei here he halted 10 organize
his forces for an advance, well knowing
that the Mexicans had merely retrealed to
he Resaca de la Palma, point evident to
avery one at which desperate stand could
De made. Before despalching the ad
vance guard, "A accommodating party was
brown into the chaparral. Lieut.. Duncan
with his battery being thrown forward on
our left, discovered large quantity of