The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-09

paign. When Gen. Zachary Taylor took up
his bold stand on the Rio Grande and opened
the Mexican war, telling the Mexican COM
mander that he should maintain a block
ade of the river until his government or
dered him to quit; that if the Mexican au-
thorities could not control their ferocious
followers he would cross over and do it,
and in brief announced to friend and foe
that he was ito carry the war into Africa, Z"
he knew the temper of the soldiers of his
army who were to make these promises
good. In the very first skirmish a cavalry
leader Capt. Thornton, led a gallant charge
and after being endorsed 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. If his orders are carried out he has
no doubt Of the result, let the enemy meet
him in what numbers they may He wishes
TO enjoin upon the battalions of infantry
that their main dependence must be the
bayonetw
The occasion of this was on the march
from Point Isabel, his supply depot, back
TO the hostile front at Matamoras. He
was dealing with largely superior num-
bers, and the Mexicans in order to divide
his forces had threatened his base of sup
plies Leaving a garrison for his new
field works opposite Matamoras, Taylor
went to the relief of Point Isabel, and
there the sound of cannon firing at the
front warned him to return. He set out
May with about 1000 men and ten can
non, and the next day met over 5000
MeXicans drawn up across his route, at
Palo Alto. The Americans attacked boldly
and drove off the MeXicans, passing the
night on the battlefield. The artillery had
won the fight and gave this battle its
hero, Maj. Samuel Ringold: Ringold
turned the Mexican left by bold adj
vance OF his battery, and fell with ii terri
bly, painful wound which proved to be
mortal. When his brother officers gath
cred around TO offer aid aud coincidence
he said, Leave me alone, you are wanted
forward"
But Palo Alto did notdecide the struggle,
for the MeXicans simply fell back toward
Matamoras, and took up one Of the strong
est positions that can be conceived of for
the purpose in view to dispute the passage
Of the road. The Mexicans had 1000 fresh
troops, and thus every advantage was with
them. Their line was drawn up behind a
ravine sixty yards wide, and curved con-
cave toward the American approach. The
road crossed the ravine near the center
and was exposed to an enfilading and a
cross fire from Mexican batteries A thick
and almost impenetrable chaparral COW
cred the ground on both sides of the road,
and upon every opening through the thicket
the enemy's cannon were trained.
The sound of heavy firing at Matamoras,
only three miles distant, where 300 Ameri-
cans mOmentarily expecting succor were
behind intrenchments holding large force
at bay, showed Taylor that there was no
time to spare If he wished to save his posi-
tion at that point. A hundred picked men
under Capt. Mccall were advanced through
the chaparral to draw the Mexican fire.
The American cavalry consisted of two
squadrons of dragons under Capt May
rs chief Owing to the nature of the coun-
try, the thicket grown up with cacti
bushes that had TO be hewn away with
swords before the horses could pass, and
the fact that the enemy had strong bodies
of lancers TO operate wherever the ground
was favorable, this little body of mounted
men had been used as 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 Resaca
de la Palma took position well TO the
front for similar service.
As soon as McCall's advance had drawn
the Mexican fire Taylor moved up his ar
tillery, which had done such execution
the day before, but the formation of the
enemy's line did not admit of raking
them in masses, as had been done on the
field of Palo Alto the day before. The
Mexican infantry was strung out in front
of and behind the rayine. Those in front
of the ravine were assailed by the Ameri-
cans as rapidly as they could get to them
through the dense thicket, and Taylor's
injunction 10 depend upon the bayonet
WAS zeaiously observed The MeXicanS