Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-06-13
To the PRESIDENT.
Reports from General Taylor.
HEADaUARrERs Army OF OccurATIoS,
CAMP NEAR MATAMoRAs. MAY Is. 1874

SIR have the honor to submit more detailed re-
port of the action of the 9Th instant
The main body of the army of occupation marched under
my immediate orders from Point Isabel the evening of the
7th May, and bivouackea miles from that place
Our march was resumed the following morning. About
noon when advance Of cavalry had reached the
OF : Paio Alto, the Mexican troops reported in our
'front.' and discovered occupying the road in force
ordered halt upon reaching the water, with view 10 rest
and refresh the and form deliberately our line of battle
The Mexican line plainly visible the prairie,
and about three quarters of mile distant Their left which
was composed of heavy force of cavalry occupied the road
resting upon thcke Of chaparra while Of infantry
were discovered in succession the right greatly ounumber
ing force.
Our line of battle was formed in the following order,
commencing the extreme right 9th infantry, commanded
by Lieut. Colonel Mcintosh; Major Rnggods artillery Sd in
antry, commanded by Captain L. M Morris two Is pound
commanded by Lieut. Churchill 3D. artillery; 4h infantry,
commanded by Major G. W. Allen; the Sd and 4th regi
mens composed the third Brigade under command of Leue-
nant Colonel Garland and all the above corps together with
two sduadons OF dragoons under Captains ker and May,
composed the right wing under the orders of Colonel rwgg
The LETT formed by the battalion of artillery commanded
by Lieutenant Colonel Chs, Captain Duncsns light arle
y, and the sh infantry under Captain Montgomery, all form
ing the first brigade. under command of Lieutenant Colonel
Belknap The train parked near the water under direc-
ton of Captains Crosman and Myers and protected by Cap
tain Ker's squadron.
About two o'clock took up the march by heads Of
umns the direction of the enemy the lSpounder battery
following the road While the columns advancing, Lieu
nossance Of the enemys ne which handsomely perform
ed and resulted the discovery of least two batteries of
artillery in the intervals of their cavalry and infantry These
batteries opened upon u.s. when ordered the
umns halted and into line, and the fire to be returned
by all artillery. The sth infantry, extreme left,
was thrown back to that flank The first fires OF
the enemy did little execution while Spounders and
Major Rnggods artillery dispersed the cavalry which
formed his left. Captain Duncan's battery thrown forward
in advance of the ne doing good execution at this time
Captain squadron was now detached to support that
battery and the left OF position The Mexican cavalry
with two pieces OF artillery reported TO be moving
through the chapaa to right to threaten that flank
make demonstration against the train The 9Th infantry
Immediately detached to check this movement and, sup
ported by Lieutenant Rdsey with section of Major Ring
gold battery and Captain Walkers company of volunteers
eectualy repulsed the enemy-the 5h infantry repcllng
charge of ancer and the artillery doing great execution in
their ranks The third infantry detached to the
right still further security that flank yet threatened by
the enemy Major Ringgoid, with the remaining section
kept up his fire from advanced poson and supported
by the 4th infantry.
The grass Of the prairie had been accidentally fred by
artillery, and the volumes of smoke partially concealed
the armies from each other As the enemy left had evident
been driven back and left the road fee and the
ade had been suspended ordered forward the spoundes
the road nearly to the position first occupied by the Mex
cavalry and caused the first brigade take up po
sion, still on the left of the lspounder battery The 5th
was advanced from its former position, and occupied point
on the extreme right of the line The enemy made a
change OF position corresponding own and after
pension OF nearly an hour the action resumed.
The fire OF artillery most destructive openings
were constantly made through the enemys ranks by fire.
and the coEstancy with which the Mexican infantry sustained
this cannonade theme of universal remark and
admiration. Captain Mays squadron detached make
demonstration the e of the enemys position and suf
ered severely from the fire Of artillery, which il for
some time exposed.
The fourth infantry which had been ordered to support the
lSpounder battery, exposed to most calling fire Of
llery by which several killed and Captain Page
dangerously wounded The enemys fire directed against
our FOUNDER battery and the guns under Major Rnggod
in its vicinity The Major himself, while cooly directing the
fire Of his pieces, struck by cannon ball and mortay
wounded
In the time the battalion OF artillery under Lieut.. Col
Chlds had been brought up support the artillery
right strong demonstration Of cavalry made by
the enemy against this part Of ne and the column
nued to advance under fire from the lSpounders
he battalion was instantly formed in square, and held ready
to receive the charge of cavalry, but when the advancing
squadrons within close range deadly fire Of canister
from the ls-pounders dispersed them. brisk fire Of small
arms opened upon the square, by which officer
(Lieut Luther, I'd artillery slightly wounded; but
weldreced voey from the front of the square senced all
further hiring from the enemy in this quarter II
nearly dark and the action closed the right of
line, the enemy having been completely driven back from his
position and oiled in every attempt against our line.
While the above going forward right and under
my own eye the enemy had made serious attempt against
the left OF our ne Captain Duncan instantly perceived the
movement and, by the bold and brilliant manGuvrng of his
battery completely epulsed several successive efforts OF the
enemy to advance in force upon left flank Supported in
succession by the sh infantry and by Capt Ke squadron Of
Dragons, he galanty held the enemy bay, and finally
drove him, with immense loss from the field. The action
here and along the whole line continued until dark when the
enemy retired into the chapaua Of his position Ou
army blvouacked the ground il occupied During the al
ernoon the train had been moved forward about half mc
and was parked in Of the position
Our loss this day nine killed, forty -four wounded, and
two missing. Among the wounded Major Rlnggold
who has since died. and Capt Page dangerously wounded
Lieut. Luther slightly So annex tabular statement of the
casualties of the day.
Our own force engaged is shown by the field report here
with to have been 1T officers and 9, IL aggregate
22sS The Mexican force according to the statements Of
their own officers taken prisoners the affair Of the 9rh
not less than 5000 regular troops with ten pieces Of artillery,
and probably exceeded that numbehe irregular force not
known Their loss not less than 200 killed and 400
woundedprobaby greater This estimate is very moderate,
and formed upon the number actually counted upon the cd
and upon the reports Of their officers.
As already reported in my first brief dcspach the conduct
Of officers and every thing that could be desired
Exposed for hours TO the aa cannonade Of a
gave me throughout the of victory
| purposey defer the mention of individuals until my
port Of the action Of the 9h when will endeavor do JUS
days In the time refer for minute details to the
reports Of individual commanders.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obcdient servant
u. TAYLOR,
Brera Brig Gen. u. s. A. commanding.
The Ap1UrANr GESEaAL Of The Army, Washington.
HEADaUARrEns Amy OF UccUPATIoS,
CaynD near Fort BrO,cn TeDas, Man IL 1916.