The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-06-20

,oud not afford 10 lose, we can only
,ccoun, for the result by the impression
made on The enemy by our firm and
advance; by the s,eadiues'
with which we repulsed their cavalry
and by the unrivslled skill Of our ar
lillery officers and men-to which mus
he added perfec, knowledge on The
part Of both men end officers, taa
if we lost that battle the Fort at Ma,a.
moras would fall, the Army he destroy
ed, and our depot, Poin; Isabel, be ta-
kan TO the eternal disgrace Of The Il.
m, ricsn Army and The RUN Of The inter
est Of our Government, for some time =,
at least, in this part OF The world. We
could not afford 10 be driven back a
single inch, and all were prepared for
anylhiug but retreat.
% the morning Of the 9th, the Mex
can army left the field ., early dawn.
and, after arranging our train, we COM
menced the march towards our Fort al,
his place. 1T 2 o'clock, p. M, we
found the enemy drawn up in great
force. occupying ravine which our
road crossed, with thick chappareP or
,horny bushes on either side before j,
reached the ravince, and a pond Of wat.
-r on either side, where il crossed the
ravins, constituting complete defile.
They were 1000 strong, we were Sd
weaker than ,ha previous day. The
General ordered an immediate attack
by all tho troops excep, the Frist Bri
gads, which was kept in reserve, and
soon The ra,ling Ere Of mu,katry, ming
led with The heavy sound Of artillery,
announced The commencement Of ,ht
c,ion. The enemy had chosen his po
silion which he considered impregnsbl
was vastly superior 10 us in numbers
and hsd'ien pieces Of artillery plan,e
in the dchlr, which It was absolutely
necessary ier US 10 tske.hefore he coul'
be hfsten The pieces were hanked OF
either side by a Regiment OF brave vel,
eran troops, from Tampico. and we were
obliged 10 stand an awful shower oi
grape and bule, before charge could
resch them. The battle had lasted
some two hours with great foty on both
sides and many heroic deeds had been
lone, hut no serious impression made,
VIXEN Gen. TAYLOR sent for Captain
MAY, of the 2l Dragons, and toId
rim he mus, take that battery with his
Squadron OF Dragons. If he lost every
nan. May Instantly placed himself a.
the hosd of his men, and setting off al
full speed, with cheers and shouts lash
ed into The defile, where he was greeted
with an overwhelming discharge Of
grape and bullets, which nearly ami
hisred his first and second platoons, but
he was seen unhurt. darting like light
oing through this murlerous hail storm
and IN second, he and his men drove
away or cut TO pieces the artilleri'ts.
The speed OF his horse was so great,
however, that they passed through thP
battery, and were halted in it's rear.
There turning, he charged back, and
was Just in time 10 rescue Mexican
General officer, who wonli not leave
his gun, and who was parrying the
strokes Of one Of his men. He handed
his sword to MAY, announced himself
as Gen. VEGA, and gave his parole
MAY turned him over 10 an officer, and
gslIopplng back TO Gen. TAyLoR,repOrt
ed that he had captured the enemy
battery, and the gallant Gen. VEGA
bravely defending it, whose sword HI
had The honor TO present his Command
ling officer. The General was extreme
|ly grsli6ed, and felt no doubt that
blow had been given, from which
would be difficult for the enemy to re
! cover-snd so i, proved, for porto
4 Of the 5lh Infantry, 6ndiug that the er