The Columbian fountain., 1846-05-25

i The dragons were held 10 reserve. ma as 7
soon as the advance of our line had uncover-
ed the Mexican batteries, Gen. Taylor told
Capt May that his time had come: 9 Here's
the enemy's battery, sir. take II, n0lens Uolens"
May dashed upon il with his squadron, and
lost one third Of it but he cleared the battery
and captured its commander, Gen. Vega, in
The act of raising a port-tire to fire a piece
himself May took his sword, and brought
the General off, The enemy renamed the
guns, and lost them second time 10 the 5th
infantry. Capt Barbour, Of the Sd infantry,
with his single company and few men from
the 5lh, who joined him in the chapparrel,
threw his back against clump of bushes and
received and gallanty repclled charge Of
cavalry. Capt. Duncan, with his battery, did
terrible execuion--he is a most promising
officer. Lieut.. Ridgeley was also among the
foremost. In truth, it was series of brilliant
skirmishes and heavy shocks, ia which ! 500
fighting men met 5000 hand TO hand--over-
whelmed them with the precision Of their
vollies, and the steady GOODNESS Of the bayo-
net, and drove them from the field with the
loss OF their artillery, baggage, pack mules,
liked ammunition, and near 10000 stands Of
muskets.
The fort, meanwhile, had been summoned,
with true Mexican duplicity, and told that
Taylor was flying. The Matamoras newspa-
pers and official bulletins called him coward
ly tailor. In answer to the summons. the Of
6cers plunged their swords into the parapet.
and replied sto the hilt.o Up 10 the evening
Of the 9th, 1900 shells, and 5000 shot had been
thrown, and the only loss was that ot The brave
commander, Major Brown, and one serieant,
and one private killed, and l9 wounded.
The General returns to the army tonight, and will
cross the river tomorrow next day. The fort will
be increased In guns, and especially provided with
mortars, which will bring the town to terms at once.
The navy will cooperate at the mouth of the river.
and steamboats, begin to carry supplies by that route.
Gen. Taylor has just given Gen. Vega letter to
Gen. Gaines, and letter Of credit on his factor
The officers here and in the main body We'd with
their commander in delicate attentions to brave and
accomplished enemy, who won their admiration on
the field and taken like soldier in full harness,
and fighting CALAMITY to the last Our loss is about
80 killed and l4O wounded. In haste,
II. M.
Mexican loss at Palo Alta, set down by themselves,
at $50; at Resacu de la Palma, 1000 missing.
Since the battle, our dragoons have been exchanged
grade for grade; and the Mexican wounded sent
over to Matamoras. By the next arrival, you will
hear OF the fall of the town, and probably an offer
from them to receive Mr.. Slide in any capacity.
1t ought to be mentioned that some Of our regi-
ments are full and two of them only have about 800.
Many instances of occurred of men handing their
caneens to the wounded Mexcans, and turning from
them to fire upon others. There was not single
occurrence Of cruelty towards the enemy. The
morale Of the army is at its highest. 1t can now
accomplish anything, and they would die for COM
mander who does not askthem to 60 where he is not
willing to lead, and in whose judgment they fully
confde
The steamers Galveston and Augusta arrived at
Brazos st. Jago, on the 18th, and discharging
when the Col. Harvey left.
The steam schooner James Gage. left Brszos ST.
Jago in company with the COL Harney, with de-
spatches for Galveston; consequently the next ani-
val to be looked for will be the steam ship Galveston
The officers killed and wounded on the American
side are as follows:
|. Major Ringgod, wounded, (since dead.) Capt.
Page, wounded. Lieut.. Luther, wounded.
Lieut.. lnge, I'd dragons, killed. Lieut. Cochran,
4th infantry.do Lieut.. Shadburne, Sth Infantry do
Lieut. Col. MIntosh wounded. Lieut. Col Payne.
do. Capt. Montgomery, do Capt. Hooe. do. Lieut..
Gates, do. Lieut. Seldom, do Lieut.. Mcclure do.
Lieut. Burbank do. Lieut. Jordan, do. Lieut..
Fowler, do
Number of non-commissioned officers and privates,
not known.