The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-30
A STRIKING DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO
RATrI ES

on the flo Grande. IL - accompanied by two
sketches of the battles of the two days; but il is
impossible for us TO have them engraved in time to
crafty the ardent curiosity of our readers, and still
less to have an engraving made Of General Arista's
map, which was taken with his camp papers. Gen
Taylor could win two more such battles before we
could have these cuts executed by our obliging en-
gruver in Washington
FOAr Polk, PoNr ISABEL, TEx,s,
May &c. 1876.
My DEAR GENERAL: Lwrote you few DAYS ago
in great deal of hurry and excitement giving you
the last news from our little fort opposite Matams
ras. Since that time events of such Importance have
transpred, and have produced such an imprss sion
on my mind, that cannot refrain from giving you
detailed account Of them-knowing at the same time
that you take great interest in anything connected
with military events
General Taylor having received information from
the fort, on the morning of the 5th Of May that
was doing we'll, and the enemy's shells not doing
much execution concluded TO wait this place with
his army for few days, and on the morning of the
6th placed his whole force on the trenches Of this
work, and by the united efforts Of officers and men,
added greatly TO lis strength in the course of twenty
four hours. About 3 o'clock on the 7th of May,
General Taylor having completed all of his arrange.
| ments, moved forward with his army and supplies,
TO resume his former position opposite Matamoras,
determined and prepared TO push his way through.
ceIye orders TO JOIN the army on this march, and TO
be present at the two succeeding engagements
His artillery consisted Of two l6-pounders on siege
carriages, intended TO strengthen the fort and Major
Ringgolds and Captain Dunesns light artillery bat
teries. The cavalry numbered two hundred sabres,
divided into two squadrons, and the infantry num-
bered about 800 bayonets, composed Of the 3d.
4th, 5th and 9Th regiments, with battalion Of ar
| tlllery acting on foot.
AT IL O'Clock on the 9Th, the scouts reported the
appearance Of the enemy Line Of battle was i'm.
mediatey formed, and the supply train Consisting
of $50 wagons) closed upon the troops. The army
then advanced in this order about mile, when the
troops found an abundant supply OF water. From
this position the enemy was seen drawn up in the
form OF a crescent with his left resting the road
leading to the fort. As soon the two armies had
| approached within half mile Of each other, the
Mexcans opened their batteries. Our artillery bat
talon was thrown back to look to the left flank
which was menaced by the enemy,,s cavalry.
General Taylor advanced in person with the two
l6-pounders and directed them TO be placed in bat
terry as soon as he was told that the range was good
When the fight commenced, Ringgods and Dun
cans batteries moved rapidly forward some eighty
ninety yards, and returned the FIRE Of the enemy's
artillery. The two lS-pounders were directed
against the cavalry on the left flank Of The enemy's
line. This cavalry, accompanied by two pieces Of
artillery, soon made amovemcnt to turn our right
| 10 attack the train. As as this was observed
the 5th infantry advanced to the front and right
and formed square against cavalry in some low
bushes. The head Of the cavalry perceiving the
square advanced at a charge sufficiently near TO dis
charge their escopeues, but without doing much
damage. The fire was immediately answered by
one face of the square, which emptied some dozen
saddles. The head Of the cavalry column then
| withdrew, and continued its movement towards our
rear. The Sd infantry was then placed so as to
cover the train, and pieces of Ringgold's bate
ry disposed on the left Of the 5h. These move
ments were executed with great promptitude and
effect The cavalry seeing the Sd infantry covering
| the tran began a retrograde movement, and at the
same moment the two pieces Of Ringgold's battery
under Lieut. Ridgcly opened brisk FIRE on the col
uu1n and the two pieces Of artillery that accompa
MED it before they could be unlimbered. This fire
was 80 CALLING to the cavalry as to compel them to
retire with the utmost precipitation. During these
movements Duncan's battery had done the enemy
lines great damage.
The battle commenced at 3 o'clock, p. M. and af-
ter continuing one hour and half the smoke from
the cannon and burning prairie (between the two
nies) became so dense that the artillery fire gradu
ally ceased on both sides, and there was intcrmis
sion Of three-quarters Of an hour. The 5th infan.
try was then moved forward to the point abandoned
by the enemy's cavalry. The two l5-pounders
were also advanced along the road--the artillery
battalion on Ringgold's lef, and Duncan threw him
self on the enemy's right supported by the 9th in
fantry. The battle was renewed and the firing con-
tinued until dark, when our train being ordered to
the rear Of our new front, all bivouacked for the
night around the spot occupied by the two l8pound-
ers. On the morning Of the 9th Gen. Taylor deter
mined TO disembarrass himself of his train and with
this view, it was placed in good position, guarded
by the teamsters, the two l8pounders, and two -
Founders, (that happened to be in the wagons for
the defence of the fort,) with such feld-works as
could be Immediately constructed The army then
moved forward over the ground occupied by the en-
envy the day before, and for the first time got an
ooft 81 hau aoI Al. LII
been done. $50 of the enemy had been buried the
night before, and upwards Of 100 were lying dead
on the field. Most Of the wounded had been carried
off, but enough remained to tell the dreadful havoc
that had been produced in their ranks. They ac-
knowledge their forces to have been upwards of
1000, and their loss in killed and wounded 500
The loss sustained by our army was As killed and
wounded; among the latter three officers, one of
whom, Major Ringgold, has since died.
Gen. Taylor had not advanced far before he was
informed that the light troops had discovered the
enemy, occupying strong position three miles this
side the fort, and prepared to receive him.
i This accompanying sketch represents the posi-
ton Of the enemy near as could be ascertained.
The artillery and infantry of the line posted
indicated, and their light troops filed the woods up
to the line A. B. General Taylor thsew for
ward one hundred men as skirmishers, who
engaged those Of the enemy and drove them
back. Ridgely's battery pushed along the road
until it gained the point c, when it opened upon
the guns Of the enemy. The 5th, Sd, 4th, and 9th
regiments of infantry were put into the brush on
each side of the road, extended as light ifnantry
Captain May was then ordered to charge the three
guns pointed down the road with his squadron Of
Dragons, which was done in gallant style, and the
h men driven from their pieces. The 9Th infantry
followed up the charge and took possession of the
guns. General lie Vega surrendered his sword to
Captain May. Duncan's and Ridgely's batteries
rushed forward, gained the centre Of the enemy's
position and directed terrible fire on the TANKS Of
his broken lines, while the 9Th and 9Th attacked
him in 'front.' the Mexicans gave way and all the
rest was rout In this battle the slaughter on the
part Of the Mcxcans was immense-between one
and 200 we're made prisoners, among them were
twenty officers, eight pieces of cannon, number Of
standards, ten or twelve wagon loads Of ammun-
ton and arms, 500 pack mules, besides large
quantity Of camp equipage, &C., were also captured
General Aristas private baggage, portfolio, with all
/ hia inntr,,ctiann frnna Tornel The Secretaru, of