Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-20
Capt. ID Dragons commanding I'd Squadron
Lieut. Mcdonald, AdJI Dragons.
Report Of Lieut.. Col, Belknap TO Gen. Taylor.

| Capt. ID Dragons commanding I'd Squadron.
Lieut. Mcdonald, Adj Dragons.
| Report 81 Lieut.. Col. Beikndp 10 Gen. Taylor
| HE.pSUARrERs FRsr BRIsApE,
Comp Matamoras, Nay Is 1886
Sf; la submitting an official report OF the operations
The hrs' brigade IN the actions of the Sh and OF May
falo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. feel degtee of do.
cacy in the task from humble rank comparison with
the Importance and magnitude OF my command and lest
shall be unable do full Justice TO the admrab, cnndnc
OF the officers aud men who served under my orders
On Inst meeting the enemy received your order to form
o ei win instructions TO move into the and
ao" the men TO refresh themselves by getting water Per,
eening 10 lev moments that the advancing
and not knowing precisely being the left of The Inn,
where water was 10 be obtained directed the men TO re
main IN the ranks The enemy shortly after hayin bo.d
and your instructions tor the OF the men hav
ing been repeated, they proceeded get wafer and i'm
mt datsly fell in prepared and eager for action The
gade was then ordered 10 advance IN column ON the , f
the army, the battalion of artillery under command T
Lieut. Col Chids, the right, the eighth regiment of in
taniry commanded by Capt Montgomery on the left and
Capt Duneans battery in the centre. The army them hay
ing been ordered advance, the brigade moved IN this
der until the enemy opened his batteries When the bri
gade was halted, Capt Duncans battery advanced about
two hundred yards and commenced most fire
upon the enemy. This disposition for abo,,
Two hours when tho encmys fire slackened and finally
ceased. Nothing could supass the GOODNESS and st.,d
ness Of the command while thus exposed To CALLING 6,
receiving a they did the heavy discharges OF the enemy
selves. "i-
In short time after the firing ceased the army WAS mr.
dercd To advance and take position IN.
enemy; the battalion Of artillery taking post IN rea, and ~
the right OF the Is FOUNDERS Cant fopc,n. ,r,,,I
their Lett, aud the Sth infantry on the LETT and II, ,h
tear OF las battery. At this moment Capt Duncan with
ms usual quickness OF Pscepon, discovered aud cmmu
nieaied To inc the fact that the enemy was moving Tho ON
tire cavalry aud infantry his right wing unon %
tram M rear ct the left OF line OF bltte and Thai his
battery could produce destructive etiect uno, h
enemy by taking position further the left ordered him,
10 proceed the threatened point with nil n,sshI A.,
patch, and hold the enemy check Till the sth inf,n,r
tU Ia he .,,.
10 the lett flank IN full view Of the enemy and ENGAGED
him within point blank range OF his small guns. So sJ
den aud unexpected this movement to the enemy yh
moment before saw this battery disappear the oppos,
direction behind the smoke of the burning prairie b,, he
whole column OF cavalry pulled up a halt before n sbo,
had been fired VI the guns unrnbercd s,on, H.,
ny OF the enems Infantry supported by squadrons of
cavalry, debouched from the extreme right pont az b
ehapara and moved steadily forward TO the attack ono
sechon OF the battery opened upon them with round sbo,
shells, and spherical case, well directed ,ba, the L
advance, horse and foot fell back in disorder t the hnh
es the other section played in the time upon the
masses OF cavalry that had halted the sight of the Guns
as before mentioned Although these shot were well a.
ieeted and each made an opening through entire saua
dfon' tins part OF the enemY's line stood mistaken
me Column OF cavalry and infantry driven back in The
ehaPaaI by The other section, reformed there and moved
forward second time the attack with great rrRuari,v
Alter they advanced about hundred yards from the
ehapaEai, the section before ordered 10 dive them back
again opened, and drove them with greater success
than before. They fell back pe nell TO the bushes and
commenced their their supporting cavalry ahap
doned them, rushed back upon the head of The columns
that had before wiIhStood shot, and flight commenced
Squadron after squadron took the entire night wing
sl the army was IN full retreat. Both sections were now
brought TO bear the enemys broken aud ving col
umns and brisk and destructive fire kept up nj, they ds
appeared IN the chapara darkness put end TO the
battle. ~
When this battery first reached its position on the LEFT,
and before the infantry could ts supnort
Her. OF the 81 Dragons who had been directed with bis
squadron to guard the baggage train, with n prompness
and engerness worthy OF all praise, offered to repe any
attempt OF the enemy to assai the battery its left
During the absence of the 9Th infantry on the lief, the
commander OF the artillery battalion vigorously and success
fully rePelled desperate effort the part of the enemy
TO carry the oPoundets, by promptly forming square aud
arrestng the charge Of cavalry While in this position
he received fire from a line Of the enemy's infantry
which quickly returned. lie then encamped ON bis
own ground at this time the brigade near the
opounder battery aud byouaekcd in front OF the army
On the morning OF the 9Th instructed to assume
the same order aud advance upon the enemy he having
al the night and early in the morning retired The brigade
advanced ucTos the plain and took position in the chapar
raj where halted Tor several hours waiting instruction.
and burying in the eleven Of the enomy's
that there found terribly manged The army having
been put in march in the afternoon the brigade was order
ed to halt a when within about mile of the
enemy's position In few minutes, the firing having
commenced in 'front.' received orders move up 10 Dun
cans battery and one battalion Of nany the battery and
the 9Th regiment were Immediately put notion the
ter in double quick time
On arriving at the sceneo Of action the 9Th regiment
charged the enemy the right tho road and drove him
from his position. At tins Capt May of the ID
dragoo -, informed that he had charged and carried
wa
unable to maintain it, Immediately ordered the sth
iantry to form in the road when led charge up
on the battery, part Of which had, reported been re-
taken by the enemy. This movement executed with
the greatest colory, and the battery secured The Teg
ment then charged upon the ayne and the small
prairie amidst sheet O fire from the and right drove
tho supporting column before IT, destroying the enemy in
vast numbers, they having maintained most determined
and obstinate resistance until finally repulsed and driven
from the field Capt Montgomery with his regiment pur
sued vigorously in the chspsua the opposite side Of the
ravine until, from the rapid flight Of tho enemy. further
pursuit useless The conflict short; the result
shows tho severity.
At the head OF the rayine, with Capt Mccall 4h
infantry, who, in command Of the advance. had gaany
brought the action and poured most destructive and
kept up ncessnnt fire upop the enemy.
Alter tile commencement Of The action, on advancing
with the 9th infantry and the battery OF artillery ordered
Lieutenant Colonel Chlds TO remain with his battalion AZ
due 10 Colonel Chds 10 state that he was de-
srous that hrs battalion should be selected to advance into
the action Instead Of the 9th regiment lie soon after 70
ceved orders from the Commanding General To advance
lie obeyod and rapidly pursued the enemy 10 the Rio
Gande where, having thrown pickos captured ono
captain and about twelve pvaios during the enemys flight
A. the onemys batteries were carried ami bis
infantry began TO give ground Captain Duncan was order
ed TO the ravne and take up position that FRO
yioDsy occupied rendering impossible Tor him 10 assa
The enemy without Calling troops Thi. was done
and the enemy vigorously pursued we'll shots
from our batteries driving him from position TO position oil
he reached tho river
Where oil have acted noby rnay seem improper To
speak Of individuals but feel compelled name tho COM
mundef4 Of the CORPS IN the brigade The commander Of
the battalion Of artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Chds needs
praise from lis we'll earned fsme-won on many
E.NI - 30. ~ q