The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-10

dered an attack, not wishing to al
low Arista time to strengthen an al
ready strong position which he nc-
cupied AT a sharp raVine Mccall
was again deployed TO the left with
skirmishers 10 bring IN the action.
G. r. Smith was sent IN cover the
right, while RidRely now in command
of Ringgold battery. was sent 10 feel
the position of the Mexican guns
This officer had advanced but n short
distance when a heavy fire was open
ed upon him. hut he kept, on till he
( could see and answer the enemy
Fighting now became general on
both wings. the combat had fairly
commenced, and General Tavior de-
termine6 tn ut his way through He
ordered Duncans battery and TIE
+ Eighth infantry n work n 7 te front
The fight was then carried on under
! terrible difficulties az the Americans
! had fairly to feel their way through
the thick underground and drive out.
at the point of the bayonet. the sharp
shooters OF the enemy, who seemed
! TO fill every thicket Finally the enc
my was forced back to the ravine,
and in this the Mexicans took shelter
under cover of their batteries.
At this crisis General Tavior. conf
/ dent in his men. ordered May To dash
hts squadron directly down the roaf
and over the raVine. and TO charge
the batteries and 70 capture the guns
/ ct all hazards This spirited officer
/ formed his men IN column AZ tours
and dashed forward. Eidgely. who
/ had driven two guns forward, now
+ drew the Mexican fire. and MAY the
/ next instant was flying upon the foe
His way, as the batteries were mar
ed, led through an avenue of death,
/ but into the ravine they dashed with
r. shout If defiance, and up the OPP
posiie side, and the slashing work Of
+ the saher commenced. The Mexican
artillerists seemed for the moment
/ psraiyzed by the suddeness of the
attack. and the guns on the right
I were Immediately in May possession
| while l.. T. Graham and the rear pla-
! toon. riding down the cannoniers On
/ the left. almost at the same .t-1e
/ captured the pieces on that side Cen
/ eral Lev ega, the Mexican artillery
( commander. surrendered his sword
TO May. and was sent prisoner to
the rear.
The eneny's center was now cut,
bat the Mexicans fouht stubhornly
on both wings, and even made a de-
tern1ined effort to retake the guns
The battle then became 80 confused
because of the irregularities of the
field that officers found themselves
directing strange men, bat the Amer
leans, one and all. were filled with
but one desire. 10 get at the enemy
at close quarters. Several officers
were killed and the veteran McIn-
tosh was shot down and baYonettei.
The Mexicans finally gave ground.
Belknap brought the Eighth infantry
into the struggle and, uniting his
efforts with those IF Garland and
other officers, the men We're at length
launched with such force against the
Mexicans that every part of the line
was carried
The Rout Begins.
Some of the Mexicans broke and
| scattered in disorder. but few of tho
brave, IN small parties. turned upon
their pursuers, only II he borne down
and crushed.
on toward Matamoras, but four
miles distant, the stricken Mexican
/ army rushed. the cavalry riding over
the infantry in their efforts TO shake
off the pursuers. AS in Wild confusion
they emerged into the open ground
near Fort Brown the gallant defend
ers of that position for the first time
knew that their friends were victo-
rious Hundreds Of Mexicans plung-
ed into the Rio Grande and scores
were drowned in the turbid stream
overcrowded ferryboats sank. and
those men who reached the opposite
shore were without arms and minus
much of their clothing The rout
was complete.
In the second days fighting known
as the engagement of Resaca de Ia
Palma. Arista lost in Killed and
wounded over 1000 men. a greater
number than the entire American
force engaged. All the Mexican bag
gage and stores fell into the
hands of the Americans. including
even the private correspondence of
the Mexican commander and a formal
order, prepared in advance, "for the
sending of General TAYLOR and his
men as prisoners to Mexico City"
General Taylor's loss while greater
than the day previous, was relatively
small Three officers only were kill
ed 4ietttenants Fnge. Chadhourne
and Cochrane, The greatest loss the
army sustained however, was not