Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-07-09
From the Baltimore Americda.
The Battles on the Rio Grand G.

l0ag contest with the Indians in Florida there were
many instances In which the skill Of our officers and
the bravery of our soldiers emnenty conspicu-
ouS But the enemies with whom contended were
savages without either knowledge discipline, pro-
Tossing only courage which we were certain must
sooner later Weld the combination of civilized
warfare. With the Mcxicans, thus far, il has been
wholly different and although defeated in the battles
in question, they have far more upon esteem
as brave men and soldiers, than was to be supposed
they could have DONE after the route of San Jacinto
Looking TO the disparity of numbers in the late bat
ties, only attribute the results TO the Judy
ment and high military skill OF the American COM
mander, Which The perfect discipline and courage Of
his officers and men made available for the ends which
have been accomplished War is like game on the
chessboard; but while there are few victories at chess
after which the players may not look back 20 errors
which even tie winner has committed the victories
of Palo Alto and Resaca have been gained without
our being able, so far vet advised to detect
single mistake in any of the preliminary moves
Thus far they have placed Gen. Taylor in the highest
rank Of military commanders.
| To an old soldier who, in times past, has carried
both musket and sword until their use became familiar
that of the more harmless pen which he holds
the movement of Gen. Taylor from Matamoras TO
Point Isabel, gave assured confidence in the man.
None but the highest military judgment could have
conceived it. common man, in Gen. Taylor's cir
cumstances, would have calculated the number of
rations hand; would have put his men on allow
ance, and, sending out messengers to hasten rein
forcements and to order the officer at Point Isabel 10
hold out to extremity, would have remained quietly
in his entrenched camp, waiting until he should be
relieved by the that should arrive and force
their way to him. But Gen. Taylor had other use
for his horses, and instead of waiting until his men
should their steeds, he determined to take his men
10 get palaable food, devouring if need be, the
Mexicans on the way.
Nothing could have been better than Gen. Taylors
whole plan As soon as he reached the RIO Grande
he turned in his whole force to the construction of
permanent fertilization, that, in the possession of
men, might keep at bay a large army of the enemy.
and hold out until reduced by the tedious mode of
regular approaches. This his first move and
the wisdom of it became apparent as soon as the
MexcanS crossed the river. This a step on
their part which he fully anticipated and to obtain
the earliest intelligence of it, he the recon-
noerng parties, of which unnecessarily per-
mtted by It's ofhcer-Capt. Thornton-to be entrap-
ped like rat in an enclosure whose only outlet was
a pair of bars, and in which the Mexicans caught
/ him, and where many brave men were killed, on
duty which did not require that life should be lost
and where every life valuable to the small army
of the Americans The Mexicans having crossed the
In force and surrounded Taylor his second move,
which was leave in the fort the garrison for which
it had been prepared and which afterwards covered
itself with honor within its rampart and march, with
the main body of his force, to open his communion
ton with the depot of his supplies at Point Isabel
!
strengthen its defences, and return to Matamoras
with the provisions, ammunition. and men that he
wanted. There can be doubt that lie calculated
well the probabilities of this move He must have
known that either going or coming he would have a
battle. The chances, supposing the Mexicans had
men of ability among them, were, that the fight would
be on his return march; and that they would make
an attempt the fort in his absence, which, if sue
cessful. would relieve Matamoras from the enemy in
front of it, and con6ne the Americans to the coast;
for if the fort opposite the town taken, Taylor
would not attempt to it, because its pos
session would give TO the enemy the advantages
which he had himself proposed derive from its
structon As he calculated, so it turned out. The
Mexicans left the read open to him to Point Isabel,
and bombarded the fort he left it. As he
intended, also. the fort was strong enough to resist
them effectually.
Having reached Point Isabel he found there 400
recruits for the regular army. In numbers this
no unimportant acquisition to a force of but $500
men. Many would have been tempted to incorporate
these troops into the regiments, relying upon
the steadneSs of the old soldiers to control the new
ones But here again Taylor's Judgment was per-
feet. He knew that troops often make the veto
rams standing shoulder to shoulder with them unsteady
land finding the recruits too raw for the open field,
he left them behind the parapets of Point Isabel and
commenced his return march with those only upon
every one of whom he knew he could RELY as upon
himself The result showed his wisdom. None but
old soldiers could carry batteries horseback-can
follow dragons at running charge-or form squares
as at Waterloo resist the rushing of cavalry
like that of Mexico.
And then the battles. That of Palo Alto was like
the feint which boxers make to try each others
strength and learn each others modes of fighting
before those earnest blows given which settle the
result The Americans slept the field and the
! Mexicans retired leaving two hundred dead behind
them But they certainly did not consider themselves
very badly beaten. They had felt the Americans, and
10 hn n "a hord 90 and
I fight" They felt that over-con6dence would be
error; and they took advantage of their local know
ledge and the nature of the ground, in the very best
manner. They retreated only far to select for
themselves the very best position. They planted
their artillery to command pass through the dense
! wood, I'D which the American columns must advance
They supported it well with their infantry, and they
placed their cavalry forward their hanks as to
out flank their opponents, and charge them In the
rear as one of the accounts saythey did, while they
were engaged with the artillery and infantry in front
The Mexican disposition for the battle, far
: can gather, was an admirable one. 1t showed that
| they had men among them who knew what they
about They must have calculated that Taylor would
charge their batteries with infantry, marching through
the pass in close column of attack and they no doubt
relied upon the destructive effect of raking fire of
grape shot to shake and throw the columns into con-
FUSION when the cavalry, charging on the flank would
turn the confusion into absolute route.
The plan was admirable But though the Mexican
Commander counted probabilities he left out the re-
sources of Taylor's cool judgment and military
genius. He did not dream of the kind of attack to
be made on his battery. The papers are filled with
praises of Capt. May and he deserves doubt high
praise for the in which he executed Taylors
orders But he did that only which every other officer
in the army envied him the opportun of doing and
would have done perhaps as well The mere charge,
however, was by itself nothing, and would have re-
suited in little but for the combinations the mastery