Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-06-04

wecouh not relieve our garrison opposite Mat
amoFas, or maintain our position there Be
sides we were miserably deficient as 10 the
number Of our cavalry, having only some 900
Dragons, while the enemy could not have
had less than 900 or 1900. The mea bsinr
refreshed our General rode to each Brigade.
told the men to keep cool, aud when the enc
my charged not TO fire shot unuil they were
repulsed with the bayonet, and had turned their
backs in flight.
4 Our advance then Recommended slowly but
I firmly, wagons and all and when we arrived
within good artillery range, their batteries open.
ed upon us, some Of their balls bouncing along
the plain and passing US in "rechochet !" 9th.
ers flying over our heads, and falling in the
rear. showing us in few moments that their
pieces were served with skill and precision
A movement was now observed among the
enemy's cavalry as if about to charge, and the
Regiments nearest them We're thrown into
square, or formation preparatory to the square,
and so disposed as to protect our own artillery
whenever il was ordered 10 fire. During this
time, some fifteen minutes, the enefny's fire
was received in perfect silence By us, and al
length, Capt DUNCAN having been ordered 10
open upon them, advanced in the most gallant
manner, and placing himself in a position 10
be protected by the Infantry, assault the enc
my's cavalry, and one which would enable
him at the same time to gall their cavalry and
masses of infantry, sent IA whitening fireamona
them, which created some confusion. and
which was answered by our squares Of infan-
try by one long simultaneous shout, which
showed how anxious they were to be led TO
the charge at once--but this could not be-
They were destined TO give the strongest evil
dence Of courage that soldier can exhibii--to
stand in squares for hours under the fire Of the
enemy's artillery, so as to protect from the en-
emy's cavalry our own artillery, whilst the
latter was moving down the enemy's ranks
| As soon as DUNCAN opened, Maj. RINGooLp's
thunder was heard on the right, Lieut.. CHuR-
cHILL's from the Is Founders in the centre,
and all the enemy's batteries opening at the
same time, a tremendous cannonading ensued,
which, on this plain of almost boundless ex-
tent, presented a spectacle Of great magnif.
cence. The battle commenced at 10 minutes
past 2, p. M. 1t had lasted about an hour
when large body of the enemy's red Lancers
charged the 9Th Infantry, with a view Of cut
ting off our wagon train. They were met
with the most perfect tranquility, and dis
charge Of musquetry from the 9Th General
| BRooK's) Regiment told us their fate. They
fled precipitately, leaving men, horses, and
guidons on the field. In the mean time the
whole order Of battle had been changed to
conform to the manguvres Of the enemy, and
our Brigade, the LIST, which was the left, now
found itself in advance and on the rgh,--the
Artillery Battalion being on the extreme right
and most in advance. II must be observed
also that in these different changes our Gener.
al was always slowly but steadily gaining
ground to the front, and the enemy gradually
falling back. The enemy's fire having slack
ened, and then ceased, Gen. TAYLOR, from
his new position, ordered all his batteries to
open, and in his turn attacked the enemy with
such fury as to cause evident destruction in his
ranks but still they remained firm. BY
charge on them they might have been routed
entirely, but then we must have exposed our
wagons to be captured by their cavalry, and
that could not be thought Of
The battle had now lasted from 10 minutes
past 2 p. M. to about p. M. At this mo.
ment, the enemy was discovered coming down
with his left flank in great force Of cavalry and
infantry on the Artillery Battalion and the
| Is Founders which that Battalion supported.
The lS Founders were served by thirty men,
and the Artillery Battalion was about 800
strong. Both the Battery and this Battalion
were in such position that they could not be
supported by the other portion Of the army,
and at the time the charge commenced the
Battalion had deployed into line. Howeveri
was thrown into square by prompt mannu
vre, and waited steadily the Mexican charge.
On they came, ''horse, foot and Dragons"
shouting and yelling, when single horseman
rode into the Square and said, ''Men, place
myself in your Square," The General was
Immediately recognized by the men, who gave
him three cheers for this evidence of his conf
dence. At this moment Lieut. CHURCHILL
discharged one of his Is Founders, loaded with
grape into the advancing ranks, creating great
havoc, but not checking entirely their onward
movement They marched forward to within
good musket range, some $50 yards of US, hal
ted and delivered their fire, which our men re-
ceived quietly at a shoulder. Finding that
they would come no nearer, CO.. CHILps com
manding this Battalion, ordered the volley.
which was given as if in parade, when the
enemy Immediately retired, and the action en-
ded for the night. Our Army slept on their
arms precisely as night found them, and oecu-
pied the position in which the enemy commen.
ced the battle. The two armies slept quietly
almost in presence of each other. The night
was serene and beautiful, the moon casting
the soiiest light on every thing around US, and
but for the groans OF the wounded and the
screams Of those who were suffering under the
knife of the Surgeons, NO one could have In
agined the scenes which had occurred hut
few hours previously.
On our side we had ffty-fiye killed and
wounded. The gallant Major RNoGoLD was
MORALLY wounded, and his noble steed killed
by the same shot, as he was giving his last
fire for the night, and after having distinguish
ed himself by the GOODNESS, precision and e.
feet with which he managed his Battery. Capt
JOHN PAGE, Of the 4th Infantry, was horribly
wounded supposed TO be mortally. Many