Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-06-04

The following minute and graphic account
of the two battles Of the 9Th and 9th of May,
in which our gallant Army won for themselves
imperishable renown, will be read with deep
and thrilling interest. 1t is from the pen of a
heroic officer who nobly bore his full share of
the duties and dangers Of the trying occasion
CAMP OPPOSITE MATAMoRAS, !
May 18th, 1896
On the LIST of May the Army under General
TAYLOR took up its line of march at 3 O'Clock,
p. M. for Point Isabel, thirty miles distant, in
order to force up from that point provisions,
which were necessary to the maintenance of
our Fort here. To defend it in our absence
Gen. TAYLOR left the 9TH Regiment of lnfan-
try, Braces battery Of four six FOUNDERS,
| Capt. LowD's battery Of four eighteen pound
ers and some convalescents as garrison--the
whole under the command of Major Brown
of the Army. We had heard Of the crossing
of six or seven thousand of the enemy TO OPP
pose our march TO our depot, and expected to
| fight them going down--but did not meetwith
them. On the 2nd instant, in the afternoon,
we reached Point Isabel, and on the Sd heard
the bombardment of our Fort at this place.
This bombardment continued at intervals for
several days. In the meantime, Gen. TAYLOR,
having learned by express from Mai. Brown
that he could hold the Fort, put his whole
command to work in the entertainments at
Point Isabel, the basis OF our operations, and
having made it sufficiently strong and loaded
about three hundred wagons with provisions
and ammunition, he determined to proceed at
once to the relief of our gallant little band in
this Fort, and give battle to the enemy if ne
cessary. Hecommenced his march at O'Clock,
p. M. on the 9TH instant, in the following
order A squadron Of Dragons, command
ed by Capt. MAY, in front; the third Brigade,
composed of the Sd and 4th Regiments OF In
fantry and RrNGGoLp's Light Artillery; the 9Th
Infantry not Brigaded, and the LIST Brigade,
composed of the Artillery Battalion serving as
Infantry DuNoAS's Light Artillery and the
9Th Regiment Of Inlantry-to which must be
added two eighteen Founders drawn by oxen,
and Capt. KERR's squadron Of Dragons pro-
tectlng the rear-the wagons on the march be-
ing in a great degree interspersed between the
Brgades for greater security.
On the night of the 9TH we encamped about
IL miles from Point Isabel, without seeing the
enemy. On the Sth we had advanced about
miles, when we deserted the enemy some
two miles distant, drawn up in great force on
the open prairie, and occupying the crest OF a
very gentle slope with their backs to the thick
bushes, called in this country "chapparai.
We Immediately formed line to the front,
and advanced calmly and quietly to the attack.
Our brave and considerate old General, find
ing that the enemy waited to receive US, and
that we were passing near lake Of water, the
day being very hot and the men thirsty, halted
in full view Of the adversary and directed the
men to fill their canteens with water. We
had now little leisure TO examine the force
of the enemy and its composition. The hori-
zon in our front and 10 the right appeared lin
ed with cavalry. dancers and Dragons -
The woods in their rear were giving up col
umn after column Of Infantry, which Were
menGuvred with great regularity, and batter
les of Artillery were observed taking their de-
slgnated places in our front and on our tanks.
The lowest estimate at the time Of the enemy's
force was 5000 of all arms--our own being
under 1000 fighting men. We have since
learned that on this occasion the enemy had
over 5000 fighting men. But the greatest diff
! iculy under which we laboured was the alb
solute necessity Of protecting in an open pra-