The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-06-20

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es were observed taking their designate
'IplaceS in our front and on our Aanks. Th
Lowest estimate at the time Of the enemy
Iforce was 5 600 of all arms-our own be
.Ilng under 1000 fighting men. We hav
since learned that on this occasion the enc
my had over 5000 lighting men. But tn
greatest difficulty under which we Iabore
was the absolute necessity of protecting il
an open prairie, from The enemy our num1r
Gus train of provisions and ammunition
without which, even if we gained a victor,
we could not relieve our garrison OpposjI
Matamoras, or maintain our position there
Besides we were miserably deficient as Il
The number Of our cavalry, having only 20(
Dragoons, willis ,he enemy could not hay,
had less than 1900 or 1000. The men te
Ing refreshed our General rode TO each Bri
gsde, told the men TO keep cool, and wher
The enemy charged not to fire shot unit
they were repulsed with The bayonel, anC
had turned their backs iG flight,
Our advances then recommended slowly
but firmly, wagons and all, and when VT
arrived within good artillery range, lheiI
batteries opened upon us, some Of Their
balls bouncing along the plain and passing
MS in ':ehoCheI' others 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 nov
observed among the enemv's cavalry az il
about to charge, and the Regiments nearesr
them were thrown into square, or forma-
lion preparatory TO the square, and so DIS
posed as TO protect our own artillery when
ever il was ordered TO fire. During this
'ume, some fifteen minutes, the enemy :
fire was received in perfect silence by Us,
IN at length Captain DUNCAN having been
ordered to open upon them, advanced in the
most gallant manner, and paring himseiir
position to be protected by the Infantry,
assault the enemy's cavalry, and one which
would enable him az the same time to GAL
heir cavalry end masses Of infantry, sent =
wItheriUg fire among them, which created
,ome confusion, and which was answered
by our squares Of infantry by one long sin.
'nIaueous shout, which showed how anx,
'ous they were TO be led to the charGe o.,
once--b but this could not be. Thsy were
destined to give lhe strongest evidence Of
courage that soldier can exhibll--to to stand
IN squares for hours under the fire Of the
enemy's artillery, so as to protect from The
enemy's cavalry our own artillery, whilsl
the latter was moving down the enemys
ranks as soon as Duncan opened, Major
RINGGoLD'S thunder was heard on the righ
Lieut. CHURcEILL's from the Is Founders
in the centre, and all the enemy's batteries
opening al the same time, a tremendous
cannonading ensued, which, on this PLAN
Of almost boundess extent, presented
spectacle OF great magnlf@nce The battle
commenced at 10 minutes past 2, p. NJ. II
had lasted about an hour when large oOdy|
Of the enemy's red Lancers charged the 5lh
Infantry, with view oc cutting off our wa.
gon train. They were met with The most
perfect tranquility, and discharge OF mus
Quelry from the 5h (Gep. BRooK's) Regi,
men' told US their fate. They fled precipi.
lately, leaving men, horses, and guldons on
he field, In the meantime the whole or
der of battle had been changed to conform
the manpuvres of the enemy, and our
Brigade, the lst, which was the left, now
found itself in advance and on the right
the Artillery Battalion being on the extreme
light and most in advance. 1t must be oh,
served also that in these different changes
,ur General was always slowly but steadi.
Y gaining ground to The front, and the enc
ny gradually falling back, The eOemy's
Ere having siacke, ed and then ceased,
Gen. Taylor, from his new and more sd-
yanced position, ordered al! his batteries TO
open, and in his turn stacked the enemy
with such fury as 10 cause evident desruc.
non in his ranks, but still they remained
arm. By charge on them they might
have been routed entirely, but then we
must have exposed our wagons to be cap.
nreG by their cav ally, and 'haI could no
be thought of