The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-05-30

found the enemy in position, in front OF
ohapparel, which lies opposite to the timber
Of stream called Palo .4lto.
The train was closed up, the troops, fill
ed their can,eens, and General Taylor
promptly formed his line Of battle as follows
on the right was RnggoId's battery, 5Jh and
3d infantry. then two. eighteen pounders'
hen the artillery battalion. The left was
composed of the 4th and 9Th infantry, and
Duncan's battery. daring reconnaissance
By Capt. J. +. Blake, showed the enemv's
line 10 be of nearly twice the strength OF
ours, with heavy reserves in the chapparel.
The Mexcans opened The action with their
artillery, the range Of which was hardly
great enough to reach our line which was
moving slowly forward, and some got into
the lhickest of their shot and halted 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 movemeni
Iauempled by the enemy, was a detachment
Iol their cavalry to make detour around q
oIump of chappare! on our right aid attack
Ihe train. Captain Walker, Of the Texas
rangers, promptly reported this, and !he
9th infantry was detached to meet it, which
it did handsomely receiving the lancers in
square, and driving them by well delivers
ed voIey. The cavalry then pushed on a.
gain for the train, and found the Sd infantry
advancing in column ofdi,isions upon them
they then retired, and as they repussed The
.5lh, they received a fire from Lieut.
Ridgely's two pieces, which had arrived at
the nick Of lime. Two field pieces, which
were following the enemy's cavalry, were
also driven back with them.
Meanwhile the enemy's left was riGded
by the eighteen Founders, which slowly ad
yanced up The road-Duncans batlely on
he left, negIectiug The enemy's guns, threw
helI fire into The Mexican infantry and
swept whole ranks. Tho 9Th infantry on
the left suffered severely from the eoemy's
lire. The grass wac set on FIRE, &, the end
If an hours cannonading aud obVcured the
enemy's position completely, and an inter
val of three quarters of an hour occurred.
During lhis period our right, now resting
on the eighteen Founders, advanced along
the wood, TO the point originally occupied
by the Mexican left, and when the smoke
bad cleared away sufficiently to show the
'"i''"''y """ 0nuvutfur. DunCau uTVls
ded his battery on the left, giving section
10 Lieut.. Roland, TO operate in front, and
with The other he advanced beyond the burn.
log grass, (which was lhree feet high, aDdI
The hame rolled ten feet in the strong bree2pI
ana seized 'he ProioOgalon of lhe enemy's
'Igh', enfIading thai flank COMPLETELY |
\ Ngh' found the two armies in h,s pos,,
ion
On The 9th,rhe General packed The heavy
am collected the enemys wounded in hos
I'aI. buried their dead, arrange our own
rounded, (among whom we have to roore,
Ie sudden death of Major RupgoM, ardIl
FobabIy Capt. Page,J and moved on N q
lrsulI OF the enemy on HE M.uamoras LII
'"d' They had taken po, in the chapa- 10
! HE second time occupying the bed of 81
ream called Resaca de la Palma. with lbe,,l .
''Iery On the road at The crossing. have
'lme Tor details Of this affair. The zen.
al brought up bis troops by baualions and
sled them, with brief orders to find the
emy with Ihe bayonel, and placed The ar. W
ery where they could ac, in the road. N
The d'agoons were held in reserve, and W
soan as the Mexican batteries, Gen Tay. Inr
told Capt May that his time had come, sa,
ere's the enemy's battery, eir, take it. CO
lens vOeaS.' May dashed upon il with W
squadron, and lost one Ihird of it, bu, o.,
cleared the battery and captured its com. nm,
nder, Cen Vega, in HE acl Of RAISING hut
! lire to fire piece himself May took &c
sword and brought The general off, rbe Iro
my renamed he guns, and lost them NV
ohd Time to the 9Th infantry Can, Gee
oour' OF The Sd infantry, with his single the
'Pany and few men from the 5lh, WIN tive
eu hIm IN 'he chaparel, threw his back 'ho'
ngI al. (