Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-16
From the New orIean. Delta, June S.
Despatch of General Arista.

Yesterday we gave the soldiery and laconie de-
spatch OF Gen. Taylor 10 the War Department
al Washington, telling Of The battle Of Palo Al
,o-,he battle Of the sih Of May. To-day We
give the despatch OF Gen. Ars.a to the Mexican
Minister Of War, giving his accoun, OF the
same action. They are really worth reading
worth preserving in connection with one anc-
thcr. The one is characteristic ofih man (Gen.
Taylor) bold, unaffected. sen;eniious the other
i as thoroughly Mexican as ramp~a, bravado
and inflated bombast can make II. he ciaiu'u
the victory of the day, but The result OF The bat
lie of The GIN has shown that one other such viclo-
nv was enough for him II will De observed
tina, Gen. Arista races his own force down 10
three thousand and magnifes ours up TO the
same number. or "a trine less" But we refer
our readers To the despatch; il will be seen that
Inc General was about 10 do something which
would have covered him with glory, when the tall
OF nigh, put an end 10 hosillities!
From the Boetin de Ia division del Nnrte, pub
lishei al Matanoras On the | iii Of May, We
translate the following Official documen. relative
10 the battle OF palo Alto, on the S!h uiiimo:
NORTHERN DIVISION.
Gsnsralin. Ciisf-Conslant in my purpose Of
preventins General Taylor iio,n etisc;ins a
iunction between the forces he was taking from
Santa Isatel and those which he left al the toriih
catious opposite Matamoras, | set on TODAY from
the Tanques del Ramlreno from which place
addressed TO your Excellency my last despatch,
and marched towards Palo Alto as soon as my
spies informed me that The enemy had LETT Santa
Isabel determined In introduce into their fortfca-
lions number OF wagons loaded with provisions
and artillery.
arrived opposite Palo Alto about one o'clock
P NJ, and Sd " that The enemy was entering The
place. With all The forces | had, proceeded te
form my line OF battle on large plain-a WOODY
elevation supporting my right Hank, with quas
mire on The ei difficult oil penetration. Scared,
had we fired our FIST gun when the second com
mander-in chief, General Don Pedro Ampudia
arrived; as had warned him 10 join me- as sooT
as he had well reinforced the several points which
were necessary TO besege The enemys troops tina
were left 10 the Notifications opposite Matamoras
The forces under my command were 3,O0t
men and IL pieces Of artillery; those Of the IN
yaders were 3 600 men. or ,rife less and su
perior force Of artillery, as they numbered 2
pieces OF l6 and Is FOUNDERS
The battle commenced with such ardor. tha
the firing of cannon did not cease Tor a moment
during which the enemy endeavored 10 follow
their course towards Ma!amoras. in order 10 sus
pend The seise OF their troops al the oriiiica,on
and with such object they sci fire 10 shrubberl
and grass so as To form opposite their line
thick smoke, BY which they succeeded IN hdn:
themselves from onr view; but l. through neccs
sary operations, defeated lheir opJec' on Two Oil
ferent occasions.
Gen. Taylor maintained his attack more as
defensive than an offensive one, using oh city III
best part Of his forces-the artillery projected b
one half Of his infantry and all his cavalry; pre-
serving the rest to forty the turf, at distance
about Two thousand yards from the battlefield.
was anxious 10 make charge on The enemy
because the cannon balls caused great loss on on
files. and ordered Gen. Don Anastaso Tore
=. tha art II fha n
vary, on our left flank, in orccr TO give IN
charge a, The same time with the infantry AM
the rest oil the cavalry, on the right flank.
was waiting the moment in which Genera
Torrelon should commence the charge, and ,ha
the enemy should begin 10 feel lis effect, in orde
TO give the impulse on The right; but the effor
was checked by counter. movement OF portion
OF The enemy's force that defended marsh
which prevented the attack.
Some OF our companies were impatient on ae
count of the loss we had suffered, and they com
menced to ger out of order, asking that should
give the command 10 advance at once, or retreat
Al snch moment, ordered column of caval
ry, under command of Col. Don Cayetano Mon
tero, TO charge, with The view that the parie.
thrown out Of order should resume their posi
ton, and in all possible manner march on The
enemy, who, owing 10 the great distance al which
thew stood, bad time 10 fall back on the reserve
and, night approaching fast, The battle ended, anc
we remained masters Of the field.
After this result, every measure necessary tc
the circumstances was taken, and our division
encamped on a more concentrated ground 10 the
same battlefield.
The combat was long and bloody one, which
may be better explained BY the calculation of the
COMMANDMENTS Chief of Artillery, Gen. Don To
mas RsQuena, who assures me that The enemy
fred over 5000 canpon sho, from 10 o'clock