Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-07-02
Breret Brig. Gen. u S. "A. Ca,nmandinr.
The ADJUTANT GESERAL Of The .army, Wasaington
HEADQUARTERS Army OF OCCUPATION,
CAMP NEAR FoRr BRowN, TEXAS,


CAMP NEAR FoRr BRowN, TEXAS, :
May IL, 1916.
SIR In submitting more minute report of the
affair Of 'Resaca de la Palma, have the honor to
state that early on the morning of the 9th inst the
enemy, who had encampcd near the field of battle
the day previous, was discovered moving by his left
flank, evidently i'll retreat, and perhaps at the same
time TO gain new position on the road to Matamo-
ras and there again To resist our advance.
ordered the supply train to be strongly parked
at its POSITION and left with it four pieces of arte-
ry-the two Is Founders which had done such GOOD
service on the previous day, and two IL FOUNDERS
which had not been in the action. The wounded
officers and men We're at the same time sent back
to Point Isabel then moved forward with the
columns TO the edge of the chapparrel or forest,
which extends to the Rio Grande a distance of Sc
ven miles. The light companies of the first brigade
under Captain G. II. Smith, second artillery, and
select detachment Of light troops, the whole under
command of Captain Mccall, fourth infantry, were
thrown forward into the chaparre feel the enemy
and ascertain his position About o'clock. re-
ceiVed report from the advance that the enemy
was In position on the road with least two pieces
OF artillery. The command was Immediately put i'm
motion, and about four O'Clock came up with Cap
tain Mccall, who reported the enemy in force on
our 'front.' occupying ravine which intersects the
road and is sorted by Tickets of dense chaparral
Rdgely's battery, and the advance under Captain
Mccall, were at once thrown forward on the road
and into the chaparral on either side. while the fifth
Infantry and one wing of the fourth was thrown in
TO the forest on the left, and the third wing of the
fourth on the right of the road These corps were
employed as sklrmishers to cover the battery and
engage the Mexican infantry. Captain McCalls
command became at once engaged with the enemy,
while the light artillery, though in a very exposed
position. did great execution. The enemy had at
least eight pieces of artillery, and maintained an in
cessant fire upon our advance.
The action now became general and although
the enemy's infantry gave way before the steady
fire and resstless progress of own yet his ar
tlllery was still in position to check our advance
several pieces occupying the pass the ravine
which he had chosen for his position. Perceiving
That no decisive advantage could be gained until
this artillery was senced, ordered Capt Nav to
charge the batteries with his squadron of dragons
This was CALAMITY and elfectually executed. the
enemy was driven from his guns and General La
Vega, who remained alone at one of the batteries.
was taken prisoner. The squadron, which suffered
much in this charge, not being immediately sup
ported by infantry, could not retain possession of
the artillery taken, but il was completely sienced
In the mean time the 9Th infantry had been ordered
up and had become warmly engaged on the right of
the road This giment and part OF the 9th
were now ordered TO charge the batteries. which
was handsomely done, and the enemy entirely dri-
ven from his artillery and his position on the left of
the road.
The light companies of the 1st brigade and 3rd
and 4th regiments of infantry had been deployed
on the right Of the road, when, at various points
they became briskly engaged with the enemy a
small party under Captain Buchanan and Iieuten-
ants Wood and Hays, 4th infantry, composed chief
Nv of mon of that giurcuC, tlIUve the uueuy from
breast-work which he occupied and captured a
piece OF artillery. An attempt to recover this piece
was repulsed by Captain Barbour. Sd infantry
The enemy was at last completely driven from his
position the right Of the road and retreated pre-
clptaely, leaving baggage of every description
The 4th infantry took possession of camp whc9e
the headquarters Of the Mexican gcneral-in- chief
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 train
which was parked some distance in rear That
battalion was now ordered up to pursue the enemy
and with the Sd infantry. Captain Kerr's dranoor s.
aud Captain Duncan's battery followed him rapid,
! ly to the river, making a number of prisoners
Great numbers OF the enemy were drowned in at
/ tempting to cross the river near the town. The
| corps last mentioned oncampcd near the rvcr-thc
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 IL.
officers, and 2,0f9 men-aggrcgate 2,222. The
actual number engaged with the enemy did not ex
coed 700. Our loss three officers killed anC
twelve wounded thiry-six men killed and seven
! ty-one wounded. Among the officers killed. have
10 regret the loss of Lieutenant lnge. 2nd Dragons
who fell at the head of his platoon while CALAMITY
charging the enemy's battery Of Lieutenant Coch-
ranc, of the 4th, and Lieutenant ChadbourEe. OF
the 9Th infantry, who likewise met their death in
the thickest Of the fight. The officers wounded
were Lieutenant Colonel Payne, Inspector General
! Lieutenant DobbHs, Sd infantry serving with the
light infantry advance, slightly; Lieutenant Colo
mel Mcintosh, 9th infantry, twice severely; Cap