The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-06-09
WAR NEWS.
THE ES-ADDITIONAL PAR
TlCULARS.

The Washington Correspondent of the
Tribune contains an extract from Letter
ofan Officer who was despatched in advance
from Palo Alto, to reconnoitre the Mexican
Army
Next morning (Iho 9th) at early dawn !
saw their whole army drawn up mile of,
with their rear resting en- the Chapparel-
They then novel into the Chapparel out OF
our sight. This was done by o'clock in the
morning.
Gen Taylor saw that they did not intend
10 fight him again in open ground. He then
ordered Capt Mccall. The great hunter with
his party OF one hundred men. tchosen from
| five regiments, 10 advance into the woods
and find their position. The four light COM
panies Of the first Brigade under the orders
OF Captain Smith of I'd Artillery were added.
| The command consisted of in all OF about
220 men. We were accompanied by
Lieutenant Pleasanton and six dragons,
and Captain Walker and few Texan Ran
gers.
We entered the woods about o'clock A. NJ
We moved into the woods about six miles,
constantly seeing their scouts. We took one
prisoner and killed another Mexican. We
| approached a ravine called Resaca &c la
| Palma tthe Palmetto Ravine.) This ravine
in appearance very much resemblel The bed
of a river, about forty yards wide and curved
around our approach so that they could have
direct and cross fire upon u.s.;
The Mexicans had placed two cannons in
the ravinc TO rake the road, and six pieces
back on the bank of the ravine 10 rake each
side as we approached. These pieces OF
cannon were supported by Two lines Ofinfant
ry-one on each side OF the ravine. The
woods on each side of the ravine were dense
y thick thick. We advanced near this pc
siton, with the advance in musket range
when two pieces of cannon and one of their
lines OF Infantry opened their fire upon US.
The fire was whitening. We fell back
some one hundred yards. Capt. Mccall
| then drew us up across the road-sent back
for The wounded. He found that Lieut. Dob
bins and several men were missing. He
then sent a Serj't. and few men for them.
They received hot fire from the Mexicans
that they could not approach. He then sent
me with ten men 10 bring them of. ] found
them near the Mexican lines watching an
opportunity 10 POP over n Mexican or two
Capt Mccall finding that the whole
Mexican force was there, decided 10 retire to
pOolllOu anu VIII ulltli 0tll ny iOT
should arrive. He carried off his wounded,
though attacked by the whole Mexican
force.
Fortunately Gen. Taylor was close at
hand, He ordered Immediately Lieut.. Ridge
ly's field battery formerly RinggoId's)f FORWARD
10 oppose their guns and clear the road. AT
the same time he ordered Capt. SnE. 10 the
reght and CAPT Nc Call 10 The left of the
road 10 engage them closely. The 9Th In
iantry were ordered to ouiilank them; but
their position was such it could not be done
Gen. Taylor seemed determined 10 gain the
day-by one oflhosc movements only caught
by good soldier. He ordered Capt. May
with suadron of Cavalry TO charge and
take their cannon. He drove them from
Their guns and penetrated their lines taking
Gen. Vega prisoner.
TheMexicans Immediately reoccupied their
batteries but were not allowed 10 use them,
for mass OF Infantry then was poured upon
them, with liked bayonets, which drove them
back with great slaughter.
Then see hand-to-hand combats The
Mexicans at one time charged our guns
LieutRidgely defended them with his sword
Lent. Jordon ofthe Slh Infantry was person
ally engaged with several Mexicans; be
was bayoneied twice and shot once-(not
killcd.) Lieut. Lincoln cut two of them
down with his sabre.
must stop-the Express is going.