The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-10
THE BATTLE OF PALO ALTO
AsAa &AAa&%A&
The Anniversary of Great Import to Texas.

ana tourth composing the Third BRIGADE
Garia,dd "e STv,luind or Lieutenant Colonel
d ragonn nhese with two squadrons of
were directly under the command ~ 90 -
eral Iwiggs. The left was fornSd nv -,
tsnont t ~ aTrtiiIery commanded by Lieu.
leht battery and the Eighth rerniar in'
i9ntry, Under the command Of CSntain
brIraSoon i vTd ana all forming tho First
N,dkaue uhder Lieutenant Colonel Hickman
Inc Americans had hardly futmed ihstr
lne when the whole Mexican front blag,,t
s Satn the opening challenge to battle In
ssahtIy the American batteries replied ana
the blue of the smiling heavens vvos o.
scuied by dense masses of smoke 1hSt nm.
PdihnS quo sounded the prelude 10 Inc
~ a .Cst alia DIoodiest contest that was ever
10 engage the American arms, and gnye tbc
impetus to far-rcachinG imperialism th15
VIII only cease when the germ of American
liberty has inoculated the civilized world
Rapidly the Mexican guns pourpd firth
the,r angry protest. and with answering
Jury Churchill and Duncan moved down
the Mexican cavalry, and piled the load
around the opposing guns. Down upon the
gallant Americans swept General Tnrreion
win thousand Of the flower Of his rorrt
~ nus aim TO scatter and turn their right
Inc old Firth was detached to repJlsc mo
Wtock' supported by Ridgclcy's battery, a
section OF Ringguld'S artillery and Cnntlin
/ samuel Walkers celebrated reNas Hangers
me infantry formed in squares and waited
the charge With liked bayoucts On swcpt
wv lhNItblh AtNltuuS, 4 dense mass OF
men and horses. But bark to the angry
guns Of the little batteries blowing with
! bursting shell through those SERTED ranks
pnhstlN openings mark their destructive
course through the advancing host that an
instant before had moved an impeuctrahle
column. But the gaps are closed. and with
tn" courage Of veterans aud vi"torS they
advance on the dcathdcalng batteries. The
Americans ply their guns with Increased
! fury, and at last the wavcring column turns
and beaten and mutlHted the aStonishcJ
ianccrs seek a breathing spell within the
safety OF their own lines but only to re
cover ana charge again. for by this the dcs
perate nature Of the engagement is i'm.
pressed upon officers and men With ter
rihle grandeur the battle ragged over the
entire field, Companies wheeling ana
maneuyCrng; artillery galloping from poiut
to point; the inccsSant roar of the red hnt
guns; the charge OF cavalry, the shouts NJ
the officers. and the answering cries ~
the men; the screams Of the muitGliy
stricken: the savage neigh of the mad
dcned horses; and In those mysterious
flashes of silence that stilled the din of
conflict, the Cro1nS and walls Of the dying
rose upon tho air to Smite the angUiShcl
cars Of the frcnzicd combatantS.
Douhtfully the balarce hung. Back and
forth the Mexican cavalry charged and re
treated, until its decimatcd columns could
endure no more. The awful havoc wrought
ny American cannon had almost demorahzcd
the Mexican army and a diversion that oc-
( Cured nj this time was welcome rcSpito
and saved them from ignominious rout. The
dry grass of the prairie had been igultcl
by tho artillery and n sudden cessation OF
hostiiltieS was enforced. An hour elapsed
aud the Americans opened fire with the
same whitening destruction. General Tay
lor had steadily advanced, and upon re-
suming the battle his eighteen Founders oc-
cupiod the ground formerly held by the
Mexican lanccrs A new disposition had
been made of the Mexican forces, ana their
guns wcrc served with better effect Con
contmtnc thctr fire upon ihc American