The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-12
THE DAILY UNION

ton the right OF the road, and retreated precp-
lately, leaving baggage of every description. The
4th infantry took possession of camp where the
headquarters of the Mexican general-in-chef were
established. All his official correspondence was
captured at this place.
The artillery battalion excepting the flank COM
panes) had been ordered TO guard the baggage tram
which was packed some distance in rear. That
battalion was now ordered up to pursue the enemy,
and with the Sd infantry, Captain ker's Dragons,
and Captain Dunean's battery, followed him rapidly
TO the river, making a number ofprlsoners. Great
numbers Of the enemy were drowned in attempting
10 cross the river near the town. The corps last
mentioned encamped near the river-the remainder
of the army on the field OF battle.
The strength Of our marching force on this day,
as exhibited in the annexed field report was l73
officers, and 2,O49 men--sggregate 2,222 The ac.
tual number engaged with the enemy did not exceed
100 Our loss was three officers killed and twelve
wounded; thirty-six men killed, and seventy-one
wounded. Among the officers killed. ! have to re.
greet the loss of Lieutenant lnge, I'd Dragons, who
fell at the head OF his platoon while gaanuy charg
ing the enemy's battery; of Lieutenant COchrane, of
the 4th, and Lieutenant Chadbourne, Of the 9th in
fantry who likewise met their death in the thickest
of the fight. The officers wounded were Lieutenant
Colonel Payne, Inspector General Lieutenant Dob
bins, Sd infantry, serving with the light infantry
advance, slightly; Lieutenant Colonel Mcintosh,
5th infantry severely, ,twice;J Captain Hooe, 5th
infantry, severely, fright arm since amputated
Lieutenant Fowler, 5th infantry, slightly Captain
Montgomery 9th infantry, slightly Lieutensnts
Gates and Jordan, 9Th infantry, severely, leach
twce) Lieutenants Selden, Maclay, Burbank, and
Morris, 9Th infantry, slightly. A tabular statement
Of the killed and wounded il annexed herewith.
have no accurate data from which to estimate
the enemy's force on this day. He is known to
have been reinforced after the action of the 9Th,
both by cavalry and infantry, and no doubt to an
extent at least equal to his loss on that day. IL is
probable that 5000 were opposed to US, and in
a position chosen by themselves, and strongly de-
Tended with artillery. The enemy's loss was very
great. Nearly 200 of his dead were buried by US
on the day succeeding the battle. His loss in killed
wounded and missing, in the two affairs Of the 9th
and 9this think, moderately estimated at 900 men.
Our victory has been decisive. A small force has
overcome immense odds of the best troops that
Mexico can furnIsh-veeran regiments, perfectly
equipped and appointed. Eight pieces OF artillery,
several coors and standards, great number Of
prisoners, including fourteen officers, and large
amount Of baggage and public property have fallen
into our hands.
The causes Of victory are doubtless to be found
in the superior quality of our officers and men.
tribute TO the admirable conduct of the troops on
both days. Ii now becomes my duty-and feel 1t
to be one Of great delicacy-to notice individuals.
In so extensive field as that of the 9Th, and in the
dense where most Of the action Of the 9Th
was fought, could not possibly be witness to mere
than small portion Of the operations of the various
corps; and | must therefore, depend upon the re-
ports Of subordinate commanders, which | respect
fully enclose herewith.
Colonel Twiggs, the second in command, was
particularly active on both days in executing my
ORDERS and directing the operations Of the right
wing Lieutenant Colonel Mcintosh, commanding
the 5th infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Garland, COM
manding the Sd brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Bel
KNAPP commanding the LIST brigade, Lieutenant Colo
mel Childs, commanding the artillery battalion, Ma
jor Allen, Captains l.. N. Morris and Montgomery,
commanding respectively the 4lh Sd, and 9Th reg-
ments Of infantry, jealous in the performance
Of their duties, and gave examples TO their COM
mands Of cool and fearless conduct. Lieutenant
Colonel Mcintosh repulsed with his regiment a
charge Of lancers in the action of Palo Alto, and
shared with it in the honors and dangers Of the fol-
lowing day, being twice severely wounded. Lieu
tenant Colonel Belknap headed charge Of the 9th
infantry, which resulted in driving the enemy from
his guns, and leaving us in possession OF that part
of The zelda -
Captain Duncan and Lieutenant Ridgely deserve
especial notice for the gallant and efficient manner
in which they maneuvred and served their bate
res The impression made by Captain Duncan s
battery upon III extreme right Of the enemy's line,
at the affair Of Pao Alto, contributed largely to the
result of the day; while the terrible fire kept up by
Lieutenant Rldgely, in the affair of the 9th, in
hlced heavy los es upon the enemy. The l8-pounder
battery, which played a conspicuous part IN the ac-
ton Of the 9Th, admirably served by Lieutenant
Churchill, Sd artillery, assisted by Lieutenant
Wood, typographical engineers. The charge of
cavalry on the eHemy's batteries on the 9th, was
gaantly led by Capt May and had complete success.
Captain Mccall, 4th infantry, rendered distln-
guished service with the advanced corps under his
orders. Its loss, in killed and wounded, will show
how closely it engaged. ! may take this occa-
sian to say that, in two former instances, Captain
Mccall has rendered valuable service partisan
officer In this connexion would mention the ser
vices of Captain Walker, Of the Texas rangers, who
was in both affairs with his company, and who has
performed very meritorous services az spy and
partisan.
| must beg leave to refer to the reports Of subor-
dnate commanders for the names of many officers,
non-commissioned officers and privates, who were
distinguished by good conduct on both days. In
stances of individual galantry and personal conflict
with the enemy were not wanting in the affair OF
the 9th, but cannot find place in a general report
The officers serving the stats of the different
commanders are particularly mentioned by them.
| derived efficient aid on both days from all the
officers of my staff Captain Bliss, assistant adju
tant general Lieutenant Colonel Payre, Inspector
General, Lieutenant Eaton, A. D. c., Captain Wag-
gaman, commissary Of subsistence, Lieutenant
Scarret engineers, and LieutenGnts Blake and
Meade, Typographical engineers, PROMPTLY con.
veyed my orders to every part of the field
Lieutenant Colonel Payne was wounded in the affair
of the 9th, and have already had occasion to re
port the melancholy death of Lieutenant Blake, by
accident, in the interval between the two engage
mens. Major Craig and Lieutenant Brereton, OF
| the ordnance department, were actively engaged in
their appropriate duties and Surgeon Craig, medical
director, superintended in person the arduous SER
vice of the field hospitals. take this occasion To
| mention generally the devotion to duty of the med,
cal staff Of the army, who have been untring in their
exertioas, both in the field and in the hospitals, to
alleviate the sufferngs of the wounded of both ar
miles, Captains Crosrnan and Myers the quarter.
| masters department, who had charge of the heavy
supply train at both engagements, conducted it in
most satisfactory manner, and finally brought it UP
with out the smallest loss, to its destination.
enclose an inventory Of the Mexican property
captured on the field, and also sketch of the field
of "Resaca de la Palma" and of the route from
Point Isabel made by my aid-de-camp, Lieutenan
Eaton. One regimental color, battalion Of Tam
pico,) and many standards and guidons of cavalry
were taken at the affair of the 9th. would b,
pleased to receive your instructions as to the dis
position to be made of these rophies-whether they
u n l. Il,