Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-09

dealing with the operations of Cen
ersl Taylor's army in Brownsville
and vicinity in 1s46l.
Battle of Resaca De La Palma
The decisive victory of the Amer
lean arms at Palo Alto on May 8.
gave the army renewed confidence.
lney never doubted that Arista
would not permit them to gain the
RIO Grande and relieve Fort Brown
without hazarding another major en-
gagement. While the losses sus-
tanned by the Mexican troops under
the deadly fire of the American ar
tiilery at Palo Alto had been heavy.
there was no evidence that the
morale Of the divisions had been
broken. Arista and Ampudia still
had approximately 5000 effeetives;
Arista could choose his own posi-
ton, and the position chosen. the
hesaca de la Palm, possessed great
natural strength.
The battle Of Palo Alto had been
fought for the most part on the open
prairie, where the American artil-
lery was most effective. Arista
chose for his second stand the dense
c~haparral. a position protected front
and flank by dense brush and the
resaca water holes.
When General Taylor received the
report Of Captain Mccall that the
enemy was ~deployed in full force
along the ReSaca de la Palma, COW
erlng the road from both sides and
well protected by the brush, water
and 4hA Lwuk~ - - -. Wanl
red that the task Of d~islodging the
enemy would be difficult.
Fortunately several American Of
Ulcers were familiar with the trails
and waterholes, having hunted along
the resaca while the army was en-
eamped before Matamoros. This
knowledge proved highly useful IN
the battle.
Arista's Troops Well Protected
Arista posted part Of his troops
on the north side OF the resac1
where they we're protected by the
resaca bank, heavy brush and some
hastily constructed rifle pits. 4
battery was placed on the north
bank at the point where the road
curved 10 cross between the resaca
w~aterholess. This point is east OF
the present bridge Of the Paroles
Line highway, less than two miles
directly north Of Brownsville. The
main body was lined along the south
bank of the resaca, with TorreJon 8
cavalry guarding the roads to the
rear and acting as reserves.
The Mexican headquarters were
established mt n point near the pres
ent Pardees Line highway and with
IN 200 yards Of the bank OF the re-
SAGA. Ambuscades were posted al
various points along the road and
through the chaparral. the position
being one which General Arista
deemed impregnable.
Traces of the old road which fol
lowed the general trend Of the resaca
from a point near the Media Luna
farm. through the Putegnat farm 70
the resaca crossing cast Of the pres
emit Paroles Line highway wer,
plainly evident up to twenty years
ago, and can still occasionally be
found. The bronze grapeshot served
TO the Mexican artillery and the
conical musket balls and iron grape
shot used BY the American forces
can still be found on the old battle
field, their position showing that the
S.etch maps Of battlefield, made ny
%he Mexican and American cngi-
neers. were substantially correct.
and that there has been little or no
change in the Resscs de Ia Palma
since that historic day.
Taylor Orders Advance
General Taylor ordered the troops
to deploy when several hundred
yards from the position selected by
Arista. Captain Mccall took his
company OF scouts and started
through the thcik brush on the left
Of q big bend in the resaca. In a
of a big bend in theh resaea. In a
few minutes McCall'ss men we're en-
gagged. Captain c. r. Smiths COM
pany was deployed as skirmishers
with orders to make their way TO
the left flank of the enemy position
IL possible, and in a few minutes
they were engaged with tho Mexican
skirmishres on the right sid. OF the
road. The third infantry wa de-
ployed 10 tho right Of the road and
the fifth on the left. the fourth in
fantry, with MAYS dragons in the