State journal & flag., 1846-06-19
Battle of Palm Bottom.
FORT POLK. POINT ISABEL, May 20, ls4'

lOhi oLhs UNI 1SAoEL, ludy @U, lOfV.
 DEAR SIR:-l regret deeply the della, that has occurred in completing the narrative of the battles of the 6th and 9th. This Is the first moment have had of leisure, ano even now l cannot expect to do more than break ground in the scenes that occurred on the 9th, and trust 10 ihe odd moments that may steal from business 10 complete the pic. ture.
 On tho morning of the 9th the sun rose bright and clear, and with the first drum eur hardy soldiery sprung from their bed upon the naked prairie, and even, before partaking of their soldiers meal of hard bread, small piece ofsalt pork and a cup of cold water, cast an anxious, hopeful eye towards the chaparal in their front, along which the enemy had eacamped, and when the straining eye could discern amid the gray of the morning the enemy's line, glow of exultation filled the cheeks of every one from our brave and heroic General to the lowest private in our ranks.
 The first care of our General was to wis. tt the wounded and ser that every comfort was supplied-the constant and we'll direct ed energies ot the medical department Jeff but little for him to do, every one, whether officer or soldier, had been attended with unwearying care aud watchfulness. The troops having partaken of their meal the or. der was given 10 get the command unde r arms. Gen. Taylor here summoned a coun ci1 of war, composed of the heads of the several commands, in all thirteen excluding the Commander. in. Chief The General at- ter returning thanks for their support and bravery onthe 6th, and wishing to be adys- ed as to what they thought best to be done, called on each 10 give his opinion. It was tie, ascertained that but four out of the thirteen were in favor of going ahead, the other officers composing the council voted, some to entrench where they were and await the assistance of the volunteers, and others to retire at once 10 Point isabel, but the General said II piU De at Fort BroUn by night # I ipe." Those who voted for go. ing ahead, as they watched the countenance of the General, might have seen the smile of appreciation that lighted the old mans honest face at the moment, though he bow. ed with respect to the opinions of those who differed from him, and in saying engrave, on the sacred banner of the stars and stripes the names of Taylor, Mcintosh, Morris, Scott and Duncan, mean no reflection upon those who voted against them, they were men tried in many field before, and their deeds on tha, day proved them equal to the best.
 It. Rldgely, who was entitled to vote in the council. was at the time in attendance on the lamented Ringgold. and therefore had no voice in the matter, but as he gallup. ed up to his battery on returning from his visit 10 the Major, some one said 'Ridgely were you at the councill" and he replied Sno, I did not know that one had been call ed, but I hope old Zach will go ahead and bring the matter to close quarters"
 Tue command at this time was under arms and the advance sounded. The Mex jeans al this moment were arranged along the edge of the chaparal in no very regular line,and so soon as we commenced our move ment they retired into the chaparal and we lost sight of them.
 Gen. Taylor advanced his line close up to the pond on which the Mexican left rest. ed the day before; here he halted to organ ize his forces for an advance, we'll knowing that the Mexicans had merely rclreated to the Resaca de la Palma, point evident to every one at which desperate stand could be made. Before despat ;hing the advance guard accommodating party was thrown forward int" the chaparal. It. Duncan with his battery being thrown forward on our Jeff, discovered large quantity of am munition on the field and secured it. The reconnoitring party under Capt. Ker left no bush unsearched, and discovered numer. ous large graves in which the Mexicans had buried their dead on the night before, but no enemy was 10 be seen.
 Gen. Taylor then gave orders to Capts. Mccall, of the Sd lnf, and Smith, 1st Arr. to select, at their option, 400 men. as an advanced guard, and to select such officers ss they thought proper, from the whole command. The command could not have fallen into abler hands: Mccall had distip. guished himself by his indefatipabIe exer. tions on scout some lane before and Smith led the charge at he Colorado. Among the officers selected oy them, were Lis. D,bbins and cCowan, two oS,he bes, woo,ismen in the army. and who can hi, n dollar at one hundred yards cithout trying very hard. Their orders were to 20 forrard and that the General would follow. The