The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-06-30
Battles OF E'aIO Alto and
RESACADELA PALMA
OFFICIAL REPORTS.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OccnPATIoN,
Camp near Matamoras, May l6, '46.
SIR:-I have now the honor to submit
more detailed report of the action Of the
Sth inst.
The man body of the army of occu-
patton marched, under my immediate Or
ders, from Point Isabel, on the evening of
the 9TH of May, and bivouacked seven
miles from that place.
Our march was resumed the following
morning. About noon, when our adj
vance of cavalry had reached the water
hole of "Palo Alto" the Mexican troops
were reported in onr front, and were soon
discovered occupying the road III force.
| ordered halt upon reaching the water,
with view to rest and refresh the men,
and form deliberately our line of battle.
The Mexican line was now plainly visi-
bic across the prairie, and about three
quarters Of a mile distant. Their left,
which was composed OF a heavy force OF
cavalry, occupied the road, resting upon a
thicket of chaparrei while masses of in
fantrv were discovered in succession on
the right, greatly outnumberlng our own
force.
Oar line of battle was now formed in
the following order. commencing on the
extreme right: 5th infantry, commanded
by Lieut.. Col. Mcintosh; Major Ring
COLDS artillery; Sd infantry commanded
by Capt. L. n. Morris; two eighteen
FOUNDERS commanded hv Lieut.. Church
i'll, Sd artillery; 4th infantry, commanded
by Major G.. w. Allen; the Sd and 4th
regiments. composed the Sd brigade, un-
der command of Lieut.. Col. Garland; aud
all the above corps, together with two
squadrons of Dragons under Captains
Ker and Nav, composed the right wing,
under the orders of Col. Twiggs. The
left was formed by the battalion of artil-
lerv commanded by Lieut.. Col. Chids,
Capt. Duncan's light artillery, and the sth
infantry, under Capt. Montgomerv-all
forming the lst brigade, under command
of Lieut.. Col. Belknap. The train was
packed near the water, under direction Of
Capt. CrossInan and Myers, and protect
ed by Capt. Ker's squadron.
At 2 o'clock we took up the march by
heads of columns in the direction Of the
enemy-the ls-pounder battery following
the road. While the columns were ad-
vancing, Lieut.. Blake, Typographical en-
gineer, volunteered a reconnaissance Of
the enemy's line, which was handsomely
performed, and resulted in the discovery
OF at least two batteries Of artillery in the
intervals Of their cavalry and Infantry
These batteries were soon opened upon
US; when | ordered the columns. halted
and deployed into line, and the FIRE to be
returned by all our artillery. The Sih in
fantry, on our extreme left, was thrown
back to secure that flank. The first fires
ofthe enemy did but little execution, while
onr Is-pounders and Major Ringgold's
artillery soon dispersed the cavalry,
which formed his left. Captain Dun-
cans battery, thrown forward in advance
ofthe line, was doing good execution at
this time Capt. Mays squadron was
now detached to support that battery, and
the left of our position. The Mexican
cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, were
now reported to be moving through the
chaparrel to our right to threaten that
flank, or make a demonstration against
the train. The 9TH infantry was immedi-
ately detached to check this movement,
and supported by Lieut.. Ridgcly, with
section Of Major Ringgold's battery and
Capt. Walkers volunteers efectually re-
pulsed the enemy--the 5th infantry repel-
ling charge of lancers, and the artillery
doing great execution in their ranks. The
81 infantry was now detached to the
right as a sill further security 10 that flank
vet threatened by the enemy, Major
Ringgold, with the remaining section,
kept up his fire from an advanced posi-
ton and was supported by the 4th infan-
try.
The grass,of the prairie had been acci.
dentally fired by our artillery, and the vol
umes Of smoke now partially concealed
the armies from each other. As the en-
emy's left had evidently been driven back
and left the road free as the cannonade