Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1846-12-31
230lttiCdI.
From the Portland Argus.
REPORT or The SECRETARY OF
WAR.

We cannot do our readers better sci
vice than to publish so much Of this abb
: document as relates 10 the movements {
the army during the past year, simply pre-
missing that it will be found eXceedingl
interesting, and a valuable report for iu
ture reference. The Secretary says,
Previous TO my last annual report, tn
largest part Of our regular force had bee
concentrated Corpus Christi under tn
command of General Taylor for the pro
lection OF Texas, and in March last, pur
suant to Instructions from this depart
ment, he moved forward, to be in a situa
ton more etfectuaIly to execute that pur
pose, to the left bank of the Rio Grande
where he arrived about the end of tina
month, selected position for the army
opposite to Matamoros, and proceeded tC
strengthen it by the erection of necessary
field works, at the same time establishing
a depot OF supplies at Point lsabIe, abou
thirty miles distant in his rear, and neal
the coast
Notwithstanding the object Of thus
movement Of our troops was made known
and all intention of doing more than pea
ceabIy TO occupy the territory of Texas
was disavowed, soon after the arrival of
the army on the Rio Grande hostile feel
ing began to be manifested by the Mexi-
can forces stationed on the opposite bank
of that river. and on the Oath of April the
Mexican general, Arista, informed Gener-
al Taylor that che considered hostiIlies
commenced, and should prosecute them. "
On the same day detachment of our
dragons, sent up the left bank of the
rivez to observe the movements of the
Mexican forces, became engaged with a
large body Of these troops, and after a
short affair, in which some sixteen we're
killed and wounded. was compelled to
surrender
After this occurrence, there could no
longer be doubt that the Mexican au-
thnrIies had designedIy changed the re-
Ia,ion of peace between the two countries
into a state of actual war General Tay-
Tor, avaIling himself of the authority vest
ed in him by your direction, called on The
governors Of Texas and Louisiana for four
regiment ofvoIunteers from each State, to
be sent forward with the least practicable
delay. In the meantime, owing to the
scarcity of provisions for the army encamp-
ed opposite to Matamoras, aud being APP
pre- hensve that the enemy would endea-
vor to cot of the communication with the
danni whence supplies "riu uId"I, tue
general, leaving part Of his force to de-
fend his enIrenched camp, (Fcrt Brown,
moved with the rest Of his army to Point
Isabel, After securing his supply train,
he commenced his return march on The
9TH of May, and on the next day encoun
tered the enemy in considerable force at
Palo Alto, where an action ensued, which
was obslcately contested by the enemy
from two o'clock in the afternoon until
nearly dark, when the Mexican army was
finally driven, with immense loss, from
the field The American force engaged
in this action was 2,2S8. That OF the
enemy, as admitted by their own officers
taken prisoners, amounted TO six thous.
and regulars, together with cons,dera-
Bile irregular force.
On the next day the enemy was again
met seven miles in advance, at Resaca de
la Palma, where he was drawn up 10 equ
al force, with the advantage of positions
judiciousIy selected by himself. Here
another action ensned, in which the. enc
my was signaIly defeated, aud driven a
cross the Rio Grande with still greater
loss, leaving large amount Of munitions
and baggage Of every description, which
fell into our possession. His loss in kill
cd, wounded, and missing, in the two en-
gagements, has been estimated at one
thousand men.
During the absence oC General Taylor
with part Of his force from Fort Brown,
that post was bombarded by the enemy's
batteries from the 4th to the 9th ofMay'
OF these gallant achievements it is not
necessary to speak more in detail, as the
official accounts were laid before Con-
gress at the last session. They are con-
sidered, everywhere in our own country,
g. admitted abroad, to be examples of
courage and skill scarcely eXceIed in the
history Of military Notwithstanding
the highest credit alike upon the officers
and soldiers who participated in these
memorable actions.
For several successive years this depart
ment had asked authority to prepare n
ntontran, but the prospect of having
use for it seemed to be so remote that no
provision therefor had then been made,
and for want Of means Of pursuing the en-
envy across the river, the commanding
general was unable to avail HIMSELF to
the utmost extent, of the advantages of
these decisive victories; and it was not
till the 18th that he succeeded in crossing
the river and taking military possession
Of the city of Ma,amoros; which was, on
his approach, hastily abandoned by the
Mexican troops, leaving behind them a
considerable supply OF ordnance and pub
lie stores.
AS soon as it became known at this place
that Mexico had commenced hostilties,
Congress recognised the existence of war
between the Uui,ed States and that re-
public, and on the 18th Of May authoriz-
ed the President to accept the service of
volunteers, not to exceed $4,000. I'm