The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-25
From the n. 0. Bulletin, Extra, May II.
LATER FROM THE ARMY.
brilliant kucccesa of the Ame rican A rms

i From the n. q. Bulletin, Extra May H.
/ LATER FROM THE ARMY.
Brilliant success OF the American Arms
The United States steamer Colonel Harvey ar
rived at halfpas two o'clock this morning, bring
ing as prisoners Of war the Mexican General Vega
and Lieutenants Prada and Velez Lieut.. Colone
Marines, aid-de-camp to General Vega, accompa
MED his chief voluntarily.
Though the principal facts by this arrival are Civ
en- In the newspapers Of this morning, the subjOneC
letter. from a highly intelligent gentleman on th'
ground gives so clear, circumstantal and satisfac
tory statement Of events since Gen. Taylor's de
parture from Point Isabel on the 7lh that IN
duced to publish it. Tho accounts are brilliant be
yond the most sanguine expectations; the triumph
OF American arms ID completes a vastly superior
force Is routed through a series Of actions bril-
liant as any on record, displaying in our brave hand
full Of troops, and their ilustrous commander, the
very highest points Of military courage, skill, and
knowledge.
i Correspondence OF the ~ o. Bulletin
PoMr ISABEL, May ~, 1876.
By the last departure wrote you briefly Of the
operations Of the army up to that time, OF the bonn
bardment the fort opposite Matamoras, and the
movement Of General Taylor with the main body
TO this place. for the purpose OF strengthening It's
defenees. Having effected this, he marched with
out waiting for reinforcemehts, on the evening Of
the TIL and on the 9th, at o'clock, found the enc
/ my in position in front ola chapparal which hes OPP
posite TO the timber of a stream called Palo Alto.
i The train was closed up, the troops filled their
canIeens, and General Taylor promptly formed his
line Of battle as follows the right was Ring
COLDS battery 5th and 81 infantry then two egh-
4 teen. FOUNDERS; then the artillery battalion. The
eft was composed Of the 4th and 9Th infantry, and
Duncan's battery. daring reconnaissance by Capt.
J. Z. Blake, showed the enemy's line TO be OF near
y twice the strength Of ours, with heavy reserves
! in the chapaaral. The Mexlcans opened the action
al. If karI
great enough to reach our line, which was moving
| sow Wy forward and some got into the thickest Of
their shot and halted. Their ire returned
from all Of batteries, and venture to say that
no field Of battle displayed such skill, RAJ
pidty Of Are and evolution
The first and only important movement attempted
by the enemy, detachment Of their cavalry
TO make detour around clump ofchspparal on our
right, and attack the train. Capt Walker, Of the
Texas rangers, promptly reported this, and the
5th infantry was detached to meet il, which il did
handsomely, receiving the lancers in square, and
driving them by well delivered volley The cav
airy then pushed again for the train and found the
| Sd infantry advancing in column Of divisions upon
| them. They then retired, and they .epassed the
5th, they received FIRE from Lieut.. Ridgely's two
pieces, which had arrived at the nick Of time Two
field pieces which were following the enemy's cav
airy, were also driven back with them.
Meanwhile the enemy's left was ridded by the
eighteen FOUNDERS, which slowly advanced up the
road-Duncan's battery on the left, neglecting the
enemy's guns threw their fire into the Mexican in
fanry, and swept whole ranks. The 9Th infantry
on the lefi suffered severely from the enemy's fire
Tho grass was set on fire at the end Of an hours
cannonading, and obscured the enemy's position
completely, and interval Of three-qusrters of an
hour occurred. During this period our right, now
resting on the contemporaries, advanced along
the wood, TO the point originally occupied by the
| Mexican left, and when the smoke had cleared
/ ,lxr the
resumed with increased rapidly and execution.
Duncan divided his battery on the left, giving sec
ton Lieut. Roland, to operate in front, and with
the other he advanced beyond the burning grass
(Which was three feet high, and the flames rolled
ten feet in the strong breeze,) and seized the pro-
longation Of the enemy's right, enhladng that flank
completely. Night found the two armies in this
position. - ...
On the 9th, the general packed the heavy train
collected the enemys wounded in hospital, buried
their dead, arranged our own wounded, (amone
| whom we have to regret the sudden death Of Mai
Ringgold, and probably Capt. Page,) and moved or
in pursuit of the enemy on the Matanoras road
They had taken post in the chapparal the second
time occupying the bed Of called Resaca de
la Palma, with their artillery on the road at the
crossing have no time for details Of this affair
The general brought up his troops by bataions ano
posted them, with brief orders to find the enemy
with the ba yonet and placed the artillery wher,
they could act in the road
The Dragons were held in reserve, and al
the advance Of our line had uncovered the Mexican
batteries, Gen Taylor told Capt. May that his TINT
had come Here's the enemys battery sir, take it
nolens polens.n May dashed upon it with his squad
ROM and lost one third Of it, but he cleared the bat
terry and captured its commander, Gen. Vega, in tn,
act of raising port-fre TO fire piece himself
May took his sword, and brought the general off
ond time to the 5th infantry Capt. Barbour, Of thu
Sd infantry, with his single company and few mel
from the 5th, who joined him in the chapparal
threw his back against clump of bushes and re
ceived and gallanly repelled a charge Of cavalry
Capt Duncan, with his battery, did terrible execu
ton He is most promising officer. Lieut.. Ridge
ley was also among the foremost. In truth, It wa
IA series of brilliant skirmshes and heavy shocks
in which fifteen hundred fighting men me
/ 6 900 hand to hand--overwhemmed them witt
the precision of their voleys and the steady cool
ness Of the bayonet, and drove them from the helt
with the loss Of their artillery, baggage, pack mules
fixed ammunition, and near 1000 stands of mus
kets. .-.. ... -,
The fort, meanw while, had been summoned, will
true Mexican duplicity, and told that Taylor wa
flying. The Matamoras newspapers and official bul
lctins called him cowardly tailor. In answer to thu
summons the officers plunged their swords into thu
parapet and replied, " to the hit" Up to the even
inc Of the 9th, 1900 shells, and 5000 shot had beer
thrown, and the only loss was that OF the brav
commander, Major Brown, and sergeant and pri
vate killed, and ii wounded.
The General returns to the army tonight ant
will cross the river tomorrow next day. Thu
fort will be increased in guns and especially pro
E yided with mortars which will bring the town L
terms at once The navy will cooperate at tn
mouth OF the river, and steamboats, begin to carry
T supplies by that route.
+ Gen. Taylor has just given Gen. Vega letter t.
Gen. Gaines, and letter Of credit on his factor =
The officers here and in the main body We'd will
their commander in delicate attentions to Draw
and accomplished enemy, who won their admiration
on the field, and was taken like soldier in full har
ness, and fighting CALAMITY to the last Our los
about 30 killed and l40 wounded. In haste,
III. M.
Mexican loss at Pslo Alto, set down by them
selves at 49, at Resaca de la Palma, 1000 missing
Since the battle our Dragons have been exchanged
grade for grade; and the Mexican wounded sen
over to Mstamoras. BY the next arrival you vii
hear of the fall of the town, and probably an offe
rron, ,bem 10 receive Mr. Slidell in any capacity.
It ought to be mentioned that some of our regi
nens srs'not full, and two Of them only have abou
300 Many instances occurred, OF men handing tnel
-. ..n,ndcd Mexirans- and turnInp