Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-06-03
The Battles Of the Slh and 9Th Of May,
Correspondence Of the N. O. Bulletin.
PolNr IsABEL. Nav Y, 1916.

D ,
time; OF the bombardment of the fort OPP
posie Matamoras. and the movement Of
Gen, Taylor with the main body to this
place for the purpose Of strengthening Its
defences. Having effected this, he march.
ed without waiting for reinlorcements, on
the evening of the 7th, and on the sh,
at 2 O'clock, found the enemy in position,
in front of a chaparrol, which lies oppo-
site TO the timber Of stream called in Palo
| Alto.
The train was closed up, the troops ILL
ed their canteeus, and Gen. Taylor prompt
Iy formed his line Of battle as follows: on
the right was Ring5old's Battery, 5lh aud
Sd Infantry; then two eighteen Founders;
then the Artillery Battalion. The LEFT
was composed of the 4rh and Sth Infantry
and Duncan's Battery. A daring recon.
noisance by Capt. ]. Z Blake, showed the
enemy's line 10 be Of nearly twice the
strength Of ours, with heavy reserves in
the chaparre. The Mexcans opened the
action with their artillery the range orwhich
was hardly great enough 10 reach our line,
which was moving slowly forward, and
some Of them got into the thickest of their
shot AMI hnIted, Their fire was returned
| from all Of our batteries, and | venture to
say that no field Of battle ever displayed
such skill or rapidly of fire, and evolution.
The first and only important movement
attempted by the enemy, was a deach-
ment of their cavalry to make detour
around cIump OF chaparrel on our right,
and attack the train. Capt. Walker, OF
the Texas rangers, promptly reported this,
and the 9th Infantry was detached to meet
! it,, which it did handsomely, receiving the
lancers in square, and driving them by
well directed volGy. The Mexican ca
yalry then again pushed on for the train,
and found the Sd Infantry advancing in
columns OF divisions upon Them, They re-
tired, and as they pissed the Jlh, they re-
ceived a fire from Lieut.. Ridgeley's two
field pieces, which had arrived at the nick
OF Time. Two field pieces Of the enemy
which were following his cavalry were al
50 driven back
Meanwhile the encmys left was rddled
by the IS Founders, which slowly adyanc.
ed up the road-Duncan's battery on the
left neglecing the enemy's guns, threw
their fire into the Mexican infantry, and
swept whole ranks. The 9Th Infantry on
the LETT suffered scvcrly from the encmy's
fire. The grass was set on fire at the end
Of an hours cannonading, and obscured
the enemy's position completely, and an
interval of three quarters Of an hour On.
CURED, During this period our right, now
resting on the eighteen Founders, advanced
along the wood, originally occupied by the
Mexican left, and when the smoke had
cleared away sclliaientIy to show the enc
my, the fire was resumed with increased
rapidly aud execution, Duncan divided
his battery on the left, giving a section to
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 prolongalion Of The
enemy's right, endading thar 1alk com.
pletely. Night found the two armies in
this position.
On The 9th, the Gen. parked the heavy
train, collected The enemy's wounded in
hospital, buried their dead, arranged our
own wounded, (among whom we have to
regret tho sudden death of Maj Ringgod,
and probably Capt. Page,) and moved on
IN pursuit of the enemy on the Mammoms
road. They had taken post in the chapa-
rell the second tlme occupying the bed Of
stream called Rosaca dc Ia Palma, with
rheirarlilery on the road at It's crossing.
| have no tme for details of this affair."
The General brought up his troops byI
baualions, and posted Them with brlel or
ders to find the enemy with the bayone,,
placed the artillery where they could act
in the road.
The Dragons we're held IN reserve, and
as soon as the advance OF our Inc had IN.
covered the Mexican batteries, Gen. Tay.
Tor told Capt. May, that his time had come
" Here's the enemy's battery sir-take il,
aolcA8 Dolcas." May dashed upon it with
his squadron, losing one third OF his nun.
Der, but he cleared The battery and captu.
red its commander Gen. Vega, in the aclI
of raising por,life, 10 fire piece hlm.
self. May took bis sword, and brought the
General off The enemy renamed the
guns and lost them a second Imo to the
9Th Infantry. Capt Barbour, Of the 3I
infantry, with his single company aud
few men from the 9th, who Joined him 10
the chlpnrrel, threw his back against a
clump Of bushes, aud received aud gal.
lantly repealed a charge Of cavalry. Capt
"A l. g.. "a.