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

woods in their rear were giving up column
after column of Infantry, which were ma
noeuvred with groat regularity, and batter
es were observed taking their designated
places in our front and on our tanks. The
lowest estimate at The time OF the enemy's
force was s, 900 OF all arms-our own be-"
ing under 1000 fighting men. We have
since learned lha, on this occasion the enc
my had over 5000 fighting men. But the
greatest difficulty under which we lsbored
WAS The absolute necessity of protecting in
an open prairie, from the enemy our numerS
Gus train of provisions and ammunition,
without which, even il we gained victory
we could not relieve our garrison opposite
Matamoras, or maintain our position IheTe
Besides we we're miserably deficient as to
The number Of our cavalry, having only 200
Drsgoons, willis .he enemy could not have
mad less than 1900 or 1000. The men be-
ing refreshed our General rode to each Bri-
ysde, told The men 10 keep cool, and wnen
he enemy charged not to fire shot until
they were repulsed with the bayone,, and
had turned their backs in flight.
Our advance then recommended slowly
but firmly, wagons and ALL and when we
arrived within good artillery range, their
batteries opened upon us, some Of Their
balls bouncing along The plain and passing
us in '.ehochet 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 movemen, was now
observed among The enemy's cavalry as il
abou. TO charge, and the Regiments nearest
them were thrown into square, or forma.
,ion preparatory TO the square, and so dis
posed as 10 protect our own artillery when
ever it was ordered to fire. During this
Tune, some fifteen minutes, the enemy's
fire was received in perfec. silence by US,
an at length, Captain DUNCAN having been
ordered 10 open upon lhem, advanced in the
most gallan, manner, and placing himselfin
Il position to be protected by the Infantry
assault the enemy's cavalry, and one which
would enable him al The same time to gall
heir cavalry and masses of infantry, sent a
wilhering fire among them, which created
.ome confusion, and which was answered
ny our squares Of infantry by one long sim,
uItareOus shout, which showed how anx,
Ious they were TO he led TO The charge al
Ionce--bul this could no, be. They were
destined TO give the strongest evidence Of
courage that soldier can exhibit to stand
IN squares for hours under the five of the
|enemv's artillery, so as to protect from The
Ienemy's cavalry our own artillery, whilst
the latter was moving down the enemy's
ranks. AS soon as Duncan opened, Major
RINGGuLD's thunder was heard on the righ
Lieut. CHuRCKILL's from the Ia Founders
in the centre, and all the enemy's batteries
opening al the same time, tremendous
cannonadng ensued, which, on This PLAIN
of almost 5oundless extent, presented
spectacle Of great magnlfcence, THE battle
commenced at 10 minutes past 2, P. NJ |,
had lasted about an hour, when large body
of lhe enemy's red Lancers charged the 5h
Infantry, with a view o! cutting off our wa
gon train. They were met with the mosl
perfect tranquility, and discharge of mus
quetrv from the 5Ih (Gen. BRooK's) Regi-
men, told US their fate. They fled precipi.
aeIy, leaving men, horses, and guidons on
The field, In the meantime the whole or
LEI of battle had been changed to conform
to The manGuvres of lhe 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
fright and most in advance. 1t must be OBJ
served also ,ha, in these different changes
lur General was always slowly but sleadi-
| iy gaining ground 10 The front, and The enc
my gradually falling back, The epemy's
fire having slackec ed, and then ceased
Gen. Taylor, from his new and more adj
vanced position, ordered al! his batteries it
open, and in his turn attacked the enemy
with such fury as to cause evident des'ruc
lion in his ranks, bu, still they remained
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