The Arkansas banner., 1847-06-14
COf. 6. A. MAY,s AEPoRr
Drassaa Camp, (Nsar Asaa Eaeva. Merieo. ,

| have the honor to sabHsH the following report of the services rendered by nay commsRd in the alEAir Of the 22d. and the battle of the 2sd at. sih the Mexican army. Immediately on receiving intelIi- genee of the advance of the Mexican forces on the Inorningof the 32d, 1 accompanied the geneTai-in- chief wfth my squadron 10 the battle field The action net becoming general that day. the dntas af thy squadron were simply observatory: and [ re- tuned in the evening, n compianee with iRstsac- toas previously received from the commanding ge- neral, to SAiiiio. On the morning of the 23d a. gain accompanied the general to the battle ground with my squadron. consisting of seventy two total seyeRty-Six aggregate. As soon as reached the scene of action. tsek position near the squadron of the ist dragoons. to b. able to eosopefate with if, il necessary and also to be in supporting distance Of Captain SheFnAan's battery. Shortly after this the battle became general. the enemy s grand column of attack having forced fle position occupied originally by the Keniueky and Arkansas mounted volunteers and driving them before it, was rapidly gaining ground towards our rear. At this moment the commanding general directed me to as sume command cf the dragoons, and check that column. Capt Stein, Ist dragoons, being absent engaged in some other portion of the field the command of the squadron of the lst dragons de- yolyed on Lient. Fucker. Owing to the numerous deep ravnes cutting the entire field of battle, was compelled to pTrsue ctrcuitous route to gain the head or ffoRt of the advancing column On nay way thitherI was joined by Capt. Pike, Arkansas
 
 formed me he had been ordered to report to me for duty. So soon as appeared with my command in
 front of the enemy. his cavalry halted under cover of deep ravine, supported by large masses of m. fantIy. Al the same time Coloneis Marshall and Yell, separated from my command by deep ravine. advanced their respective commands towards the enemy, By these combined movements the pro gress of the seemingly victorious column was check ed maintained that position nearly an hour; du- ring which time the enemy did net advance beyond the defensive position assumed on my first appear ance m his front Twas, however, unable to charge hls cavalry, owing to the intervention of deep vines.
 The position then occupied wss emineniiy ia vorable for the use of artillery and accordingly despatched Lieut. Wood my adjatant, to the com mandng general requesting piece ef artillery 10 be sent 10 me. Before the arrival, however, of the piece of artillery placed under my ordsrs by the general, was ordered by Brigadier General Wool 10 return to the position occupied first in the ming to support the batteries situated on the ridge nearest tothe the enemy, and which were also iin- mediatcly under the eye of the genera-in-chieE While in that postionI was direction to detach Lieutenant Fucker, with the squadron of the Is dragoons, with orders to proceed up the rayine un- der cover of the ridge and to charge the enemy's batteries situated the plateau at the base of the mountain. He had not, however, proceeded more than few hundred yards, when t was observed that the enemy's column the left flank was again advancing, driving the Kentucky and Arkansas mounted volunteers and menacing OUT rear. was ordered by the commanding general to recall the squadron of the lst dragoons and to proceed with my three sqnadrons and section of artillery, under Lieut.. J. F. Reynolds, to check and force back this column. Before the squadron of the ist dragoons could be recalled, it had gone so far up the ravine as 10 be in close range of the enemys artillery. 1t was thus. for short tmes exposed to severe fire, which resulted in the loss of few men. The oth- CT two squadrons and the section of artillery
 mt. l ... -es. IA. where portion Of our supplies were stored, and against which the enemy was directing his move ments Lieut. Rncker joined me near the rancho, and in time 10 assist me in checking fhe heavy airy force, which was then very near and immedi- ately in our front A portion oT the eneIny's cay. airy, amounting, perhaps, to two hundred men, not perceiving my command. crossed the main road near to the rancho and received destructive fire from number of volunteers assembled there The remaining heavy column was immediately checked and retired in great disorder towards the mountains on our left, before however, could place my com maad Tn position 10 charge. Being unable, from the heavy clouds of dust. 10 observe immediately the movements of the body of cavalry which had passed the rancho followed itu and found if had crossed the deep and marshy Tavine the right of the road, and was attempting to gain the mountains on the right. I immediately ordered Lieut. Rev nalds 70 bring his section into battery which he did promptly, aud, by few we'll directed shots, dispersed and drove the enemy in confusion over the mountains. next directed my attention 10 the annoying column which had occupied so strong a position on our eft flank and rear during the whole day, and immediately moved my command to po- sutton whence could my artillery on the masses crowded in the ravines and gorges of the mountains As was leaving the rancho 1 was joined by about two hundred foot volunteers, under Major Gornan, and detachment of Arkansas mounted volunteers under Lieutenant Colonel Roane. Believing my command now sufficiently strong for any coatin- gency which might arise, advanced it steadily to- wards the foot of the mountains and to within few hundred yards of the position occupied by the my. then directed Lieut.. Reynolds to bring bis section again into battery; and R the of half an hour, by the steady and destructive fire of his artillery, the enemy was forced to fall back. This advantage followed uP, In doing which was joined by section of artillery under Capt. Bragg My command still continued to advance and the enemy to retire. We soon gained position where we were able to deliver destructive fire. which caused the enemy to retreat in confusion. While the artillery was thus engaged, by order of General Wool steadily advanced the cavalry; but, owing 10 the deep ravines which separated my command from the enemy, was unable to gain ground on him. The enemy hayiag been thus forced 10 ahan- don hls position on our left and rsar. was again directed to assume position in supporting distance of Capt. Sherman's battery. which occupied it's former position and against which the enemy seem- cd to be concentrating his forces After having oc capied this position time, the general chief directed me to move my command up the rayine to- wards the enemy's batteries, and to prevent any further advance on that flank. This position was occupied until the close of the battle, the enemy never again daring to attempt any movement to- wards our rear. The cavalry, except Capt Pke's squadron. which Sas detached for picket service on
 the right of the load. occupied during the night of the 2Sd, the ground near where was directed last to take my position before the close Of the battle Finding on the morning of the 24th that the enemy had retreated, l was joined by Captain pikeiS squadron, and ordered by the general in pursuit.
 In closing this report, should do injustice to my feelings were to omit tt bring to the notice of the commanding general the steady bearing and gallant conduct of the officers and men of my command The squadrons of the lst and 2d dragoc IS, under command of Lieutenants Rucker and Campbell, and the squadron of Arkansas mounted volunteers, under Capt. Pike. displayed the greatest coolness aud steadness under toe heaviest rs of the enemy, and the greatest pfnnptitade in obeying ali my commands that day. To Lieutenant Th J. Wood, my ad1aant, my thanks are particularly due for the Dromnt manner in winch ha eenvaxad ,x.. ..<i.,.