Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-07-09
Battles of PalO Alto and Resaca De La Palma.
ONICiai Reports.
GEN. TAYLOR'S REPORTS.
ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
Camp near Mata,noros, May l6, 1916.

|
The main body of the army Of occupu
ton marched, under my immediate or
ders, from Point Isabel. on the evenin
OF the 7h of May, and bivouucked seve
miles from that place.
\ Our march was resumed the fnllowin!
morning. About noon, when our ad
vance of cavalry had reached The water
hole of Palo Aho,' the Mexican troop
were reported IN our front, and w"r
soon discovered occupying the road II
force. ordered n halt upon reaching 'h'
water, with view 10 rest aud refresh tl'
men, and form deliberately our line Il
battle. The Mexirnn line was nov
plainly visible across The prairie, and n
bout three quarters of mile distant
Their lrfi, which was conposej of q
heavy force of cavalry, occupird The road
resting upon u thicket of chappnrcl, while
masses of infantry were discovered III
succession on the right, greatly oulnum-
berlng our own frce.
Oar IIue of battle was now formed in
the following order, commencing on the
extreme right 9Th infantry comman.
drd by Lieut.. Col. Mclnlosh; Major
RInggold's artillery 3d infantry, com
mandet by Captain n. l.. Norris; rwo
Is FOUNDERS, commanded by Lieut..
Churchill, 3d artillery Alb infantry, com
manded by Major q. W. Allen; the 81
and 4lh regiments, composed the 81
brigade, under command of Lieut. Col.
Garland aud all the above corps, togrth-
or with two squadrons of Dragons under
Captains Ker and May, composed the
right wing, under the order of Colonel
Twigos. The left was formed, by the
battalion of artillery commanded by Lien
lenan, Col. ChiIds, Capt. Duucnu's light
artillery, and The Sih infantry, under
Capt. Monlgomery-al forming the lst
brigade, under command of Lieut., Col.
Belknnp. The train was packed near
the water, under direction of Captains
Crossman and Myers, and protected by
Capt. ker's squadron.
At o'clock we took up The march by
heads of columns ~ The direction of The
enemy-the Is pouuder battery following
the road. While The columns were ad-
vnncing, Lieut.. Blake, Typographical eu-
gineers, volunteered reconnaissance Of
the enemy's line, which was handsomely
performed, aud resulted in the discovery
of at least two batteries of artillery ia the
Of their cavalry and infantry =
These batteries were soon opened upon
rs when | ordered The columns hailed
NJ al mt, II, h.,
returned by all our artillery. The Slh
on our extreme lcfi, was throw
back to secure lha, flank. The first hres
of the enemy did but little execution,
while our Ia Founders aud Major Ring
Colds artillery soon dispersed the cavalry,
which formed hIs left. Capt. Duucnn's
battery, thrown forward in advance of the
line, was doing good execution nj tins
lime. Capt. Mays squadron was now
detached to support that battery, aud the
Iett of our p"sition. The Mexican cav
nlry, with two pieces artillery, were now
reported to lie moving through The chap
Iarel TO our right, to threaten that llank,
or make demonstration against tre
train. The 9th infantry was Immediately
detached tu check tins movement, and,
by 1t. Ridgrly, with n sccli"n
Of Major Ringcold's battery and Capt.
Walkers volunteers, cftrcIualIy repulsed
the euemv-ihe 9th infantry reprIlng II
charge of iancrrs, and the artillery dung
great execution in their ranks. The 3d
was now detached to the right
us a stlIl further security to that flank yet
threatened Ivy The enemy. Major Ring
gold, with the remaining seciIoh kept up.
his fire from an advanced position and was
by the lh infantry.
The grass of the prairie had been accl-
dcnlally fired hy our artillery, aud the
volumes Of smoke now partially conceal
ed the armie> from ench other. As the
enemv's left had evidently been driven
back aud left the road free ns The caunnn-
ade hnd been suspended, | ordered for
ward the ~ Founders on the road nearly
t" the position first occupied 10y the Mex
lean cavalry, aud caused the lst brigade
to Take up n new position still on The left
oflhr H. FOUNDER battery. The 9th was
advanced from lis former position and oc-
cupicd ~ point on the extreme right uftlIe
new llur. The enemy made change uf
position corresponding Ia our own, aud
nfcr suspension of nearly au hour the
action was resumed.
The fire ot artillery was now must de-
structi,e-- Openings were constantly nindr
lhrnugb the enemy's ranks hv our fire,
aud the consistency with which The MrAi.
can infantry sustained this severe cannou-
adt was theme of universal remark aud
Capt. Mays squadron was
detached Ia make demonstration ou the
left of the rnrml's position, and suffered
severely from tie fire of artillery to which
II was for somc time eNposed. The lib
which had been ordered to sop.
port lhe II pounder hallr'y was exposed
Ia ~ most CALLING fire at nulIlrry, hy
which several mrn were killed aud Cnpr.
Page dangerously wounded. The euemy's
fire wns directed against our II puuuder
battery aud the guns under Major Ring.
gnl. ~ Us ,lcinIly. The MAJOR himsrli,
ulnle cunlly directing lhr fire of hls PIE
ces, wns struck by n cannon ball aud NOR
Ill I.A