The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1890-11-21

paign When Gen Zachary Taylor took up
his bold stand on the Rio Grande and opened
the Mexican war, telling tlse Mexican com
nander that he should maintain block
ade Of the river until his government or
derea him 10 quit; that if the Mexican al
thorities could not control their ierocious
followers he would cross over and do it,
and III brief announced to friend and foe
that he was ''to carry tae war into Africa
he knew the temper Of the soldiers OF hi,
army who We're to make these promises
good. Ia the very first shirrnish a cavalry
leader, Capt Thornton, led a gallant charge
aud after being unhorsei fought to the
death with a Mexican officer. A lieutenant
and two sergeants were killed while emu
lating their captain. In his first battle
order Taylor assumed that his men were
heroes. He said: The commanding gen
eral has every confidence in his officers and
men. II his orders are carried out he has
no doubt Of the result, let the enemy meet
him in whatnumbers they may. He wishes
to enjoin upon the baftalions Of infantry
that their main dependence must be the
bayonet,'
The occasion Of this was on the march
from Point Isabel, his supply depot, back
to the hostile front at Mataneoras. He
was dealing with largely superior mum
bers, and t.le Mexicans in order to divide
his forces had threatened his base Of sup.
plies Leaving Il garrison for his new
field works opposite MatamoIaS, Taylor
went to the relief Of Point Isabel, and
there the sound of cannon firing at the
front warned him to return. lie set out
May with about 2,0h0 men and ten can
non, and the next day met over 5000
Mexicans drawn up across his route, Mt
palo Alto. The Americans attacked boldly
and drove oil the Mexicans, passing the
night on the battlefield, The artillery had
wen the fight and gave this battle its
hero, Mai samuel Ringold. Ringold
turned tile Mexican left by a bold ad-
vance of his battery, and fell with terri
bly, painful wound which proved to be
mortal When his brother officers. gath
cred around to offer aid and eondolenee
he said, Leave ne alone, YOU are wanted
forward
But Palo Alto did notaecilc the struggle,
for the Mexicaus simply feil back toward
Matamorus, and took mp one OF the strong.
est positions that can be conceived Of for
the purpose III view to dispute the passage
OF the road. The Meyicans had 1900 fresh
troops and thus every advantage was with
tlxm Their line was dra%n up behind a
rasne sixty yards wide, and curved CON
cave toward the American approach. The
road crossed the rayine near the center.
and was exposed To an enflaaing and
cross fire from Mexican batteries. A thick
aud almost iinrenetfable chaparral COW
cred tie ground on 10th sides of the road,
and upon every opening through the thicket
the enemy ! cannon We're trained.
The sound Of heavy timing at Natamoras,
only three mites distant, where N0 4Aneri-
cans momentaiily expecting snecor were
behind irts,nchinents heiaing a large force
at bay, showed Taylor that there was no
time to spar. if he wished to save his posi-
tion at thar point 4 hundred picked men
under Capt. aicCall We're advanced through
the chapaTr.l to draw the Mexican fire.
The American cavalry consisted Of two
sduadrous of dragons under Capt. May
as chief Owing To the nature Of the coun-
try, the thcae5 grown up with cacti
bushes that had To La hcwn away with
swords before the horses could pass, and
the fact thgt the enemy had strong bodies
Of lancegs 10 operate wherever the ground
was favorable this little body Of mounted
men had been used rs escort and for recon-
naissance thus far in the campaign. Twice
Capt May had taken his command post
haste between the American lines opposite
Matamoras and Point Isabel, rendering
valiant service. At palo Alto the dragons
supported the artillery, and now at Kasaca
de la Palma took position we'll to the
front for similar service
As soon as McCall's advance had drawn