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On the afternoon of the 7th, Gen. Taylor the 3d advancing in column to the attack, took up his line of march from Point Isabel wheeled and fled.

for Fort Brown, and encamped for the night "While Ringgold was thus making fearful about seven miles from the former post; but havoc with his Light Artillery on the right, here we find the story so graphically told Duncan, on the left, poured in his destructive Sby the American Review, that we must volleys in such fierce and rapid succession on Sadopt it: the enemy, that their ranks melted away be

"On the 8th, Gen. Taylor again commenced fore them like frost-work, and a shont of trihis march, and about 11 o'clock came in sight lumph rolled along our lines that was heard of the enemy, drawn up in order of battle, over the roar of battle. Duncan and Ringstretching a mile and a half across the plain, gold, occupying the two extremes of the lines, Salong the edge of a chapporal; and a little in sent hope and confidence through the army advance of it, on the left, were their splendid as it saw with what superiority and address Lancers, a thousand strong, while throughout our artillery was managed. To the fierce the rest of the line were masses of Infantry music that thus rolled over the field from either and a battery alternately. Our Army was wing, the two eighteen-pounders in the cen immediately formed in column of attack, and, ter kept up a steady accompaniment, shaking curtained by two squadrons in advance, the field with their steady fire as, slowly admoved steadily forward to within cannon-vancing, they sent death through the Mexi range, when one of the enemy's batteries can ranks. But the enemy's batteries were opened. The column was then deployed in worked with great vigor, and their shot told line, except the 8th Infantry, which still stood on our left severely; yet still the regiments in column, and the battle was set. Col. Twiggs destined to support the artillery stood firm, commanded the right, composed of the 3d, while the balls tore through their ranks. At 4th and 5th Infantry, and Ringgold's artillery. one time, they lay for three-quarters of an Lieut. Churchill commanded the two eigh-hour in the tall grass, while the shot of the teen-pounders in the center, while Lieut. enemy kept tearing up the ground amid Col. Belknap was placed over the left wing, them, bounding and leaping by, carrying composed of Duncan's artillery and 8th infan-away, here a head and there an arm, and yet try-and the BATTLE OF PALO ALTO com- not a soldier quailed, but cool and resolute as menced. The gallant Ringgold opened his old veterans, kept their position without a (battery on the right with terrible effect, and murmur or a look of complaint. In the mean our little army for the first time found them-time, Lieut. Duncan set the prairie on fire selves in the midst of battle. There stood six with some smoke-balls, and the thick smoke rolling along the lines, shut out the two armthousand disciplined men, supported by a powerful Artillery, and in position of their ies from each other, and stayed for a while own choosing; here were scarce two thousand the work of carnage. It was now 4 o'clock, untried soldiers, marching steadily up to the and the bloodshot sun was stooping to the attack. In a moment the field was in an uproar, and the mid-day sun looked down on as brave a fought battle as ever the stars and (stripes floated over.

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western horizon, and silence rested on the field of death, save when the groans of the dying and wounded arose from the plain. Duncan, taking advantage of the smuke, carried his artillery through the lane of fire, with The deadly precision of Ringgold's guns the flames rolling ten feet around him. Sudtold with fearful effect on the enemy's Caval-denly the enemy saw his horses' heads movry, that were waiting a favorable moment to ing in a trot on their flank, and the next mo(bear down on our Infantry. Platoons went ment the pieces were unlimbered, and pourdown at every discharge, and wherever his ing in a scouring, galling fire on their ranks, Spracticed eye directed a cannon, a line open-'rolling them back on each other in inextricable Sed amid the riders. At length, unable to stand confusion. The Mexicans had changed their the rapid fire, they wheeled off, and moved line of battle, to escape the murderous effect Saway in a trot, when a ball from one of the of the close and well-directed volleys of Seighteen-pounders in the center falling into Ringgold's battery and the eighteen-pounders their midst, hurried them into a gallop. But that had been pushed forward during the making a circular sweep, they suddenly short cessation of the cannonading. The gal threatened our flank, and the train in the rear. lant Ringgold, while seated on his horse, diDown came the thundering squadrons, making recting the movement of the guns, received (the plain tremble under their horses' feet, a shot which passed through his horse, cut(when the 5th Infantry was thrown into square, ting in two the pistols in his holsters, tore (and with fixed bayonets waited the shock. A away the flesh from both his legs, from his sudden fire from one of the angles of the for- knees upward. As he fell on the field some) mation sent twenty horses, emptied of their officers gathered around him, but he waved riders, galloping over the plain; but those be- them away, saying, "Leave me alone; you hind pressed steadily on, when they, seeing are needed forward." The sun went down

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THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

on the field of blood, and as his departing live!" Noble words that deserve to be rays struggled for a moment to pierce the written in letters of gold. That feeble garriwar-cloud that curtained-in the wo armies, son, which bad for a whole week so firmly the firing, by mutual consent, ceased, and the withstood the close siege of the enemy, lay) Battle of Palo Alto was over. Our little army on his brave heart, and he resolved to succor Sencamped on the field where they fought, it or fall in the attempt. There spoke out the amid their dead and dying companions. spirit of the true hero-the same that on the This was one of the most singular battles Hights of Bennington exclaimed, as the the records of our military history exhibit. It sword pointed to the enemy moving to battle. was a pure cannon fight, in which our In-"Those red coats, men-before night they are fantry, though cool and steady throughout, ours, or Molly Stark's a widow! The same and ready at any moment to pour themselves that uttered in the very blaze of the hotlyin a furious charge on the enemy, took scarce worked battery at Lundy's Lane, "I'll try. Sly any active part. Appointed simply to sus- sir!" the same that on the rending decks of the Stain batteries, they stood and saw the artillery Chesapeake, faintly murmured, "Don't give contest the field. Gen. Taylor, who evinced up the ship." It was a noble resolution to the utmost coolness and bravery, evidently save that garrison or leave his body at the feared to engage the enemy mass with mass, fobt of the walls, and right nobly was it carwith so inferior a force-hence there was not ried out.

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a single column of Infantry sent forward "The next day the army recommenced ite against his lines-no concentrated movement march, and found the enemy gone, leaving) on either wing or the center to break his or his dead unburied. The number of bodies) der of battle, and convert a retreat into a rout.flying around the spots where the artillery) ***" When night closed over the scene of was posted, showed how terrible the fire of strife, the Mexican Commanders saw that our guns had been, and with what steadiness they could do nothing in an open field and and bravery the Mexicans had stood to their fair fight, and so retreated to a still more for-pieces. In one place, fifty-seven bodies were midable position. The only mistake, if any, found in a heap, or about the entire number which Gen. Taylor made in this engagement of killed and wounded together on our side. was, in not advancing with his whole army "Gen. Taylor soon came up with the eneon the enemy's lines at the time they were so my, occupying a strong position on the farturribly shaken and thrown into disorder by ther side of a ravine, and resting his left on a our artillery. There is no doubt, had he done pond so as to prevent the possibility of being this, but that the enemy would have been ut-outflanked on that side. Eight pieces of ar terly routed, and the next day's battle pre- tillery defended this position, divided into vented. *three portions one on the left side of the "The weary night wore away-the gallant road, one on the right, and one in the center. Ringgold lay dying-Page speechless and It was evident from the outset, that the great faint, and scures of our brave men stretched struggle was to be along the road where the on the field of their fame, wounded or dying. batteries were placed, protected by a ditch while hundreds of the enemy made the night and breastwork in front. Reinforcements of hideous with their cries and groans. That 2,000 men had arrived during the night, and was an anxious night for the brave Taylor. here, within three miles of the Fort, the BatHe had advanced to within a short distance tle of Resaca de la Palma was fought. The of the fort, and found the enemy strong, and victory of the day before, and the recital of) (resolved to dispute his entrance. He had the gallant deeds at night, had filled every fought one battle, lost one of the most efficient bosom with a fierce desire to perform some Sofficers in the army, and was far from reïn-brave act, and the troops defiled past the wagSforcements, and without a protecting breast-ons and deployed in front of the enemy, with work, while the enemy were in reach of help an alacrity and ardor which showed that wild from Matamoros, and could choose their posi- work would be done before night should tion at leisure. With 2,000 men he had beat close over the scene. Scarcely were our (6,000, and killed and wounded nearly 800;troops in order of battle, before the artillery) but he knew that loss would be more than of the enemy opened and rained a perfect) (made up before morning by reinforcements. shower of balls on our ranks The road was) In this trying position, he called a Council of swept at every discharge with grape-shot and War, composed of thirteen officers, and asked ball, that threatened to carry entirely away? them what he should do. Four only out of the daring squadron which should presumed Sthe whole number were in favor of advanc-to advance along it. To the left of the road, Sing-the remainder advised either to intrench the conflict at once became fierce and bloody, where they were, or retreat to Point Isabel. The 4th, 5th and 8th Infantry, and a part of and wait for reinforcements. When all had the 3d, were there, mowing down the enemy spoken, the brave old veteran exclaimed with their steady volleys, strewing the road. "I will be at Fort Brown before night, if Aside with the dead, and sternly forcing back

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THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

the serried ranks, while the artillery kept wheeled on his steed and said to his followthundering on with such rapid and ceaseless ers-" Men, we must take that battery !" In explosions that, as the Mexican prisoners af- a moment those eighty-two stern riders were terward said, they thought we had fifty in- moving in a dark mass along the road, headstead of eight cannon. Shells and shot drove ed by their fearless commander. The next so like a storm of sleet in their faces, that the moment the bugles sounded the charge, and officers vainly endeavored to throw the entire the black and driving mass swept like a thunSarmy forward in a desperate charge on our der-cloud to the shock. A cloud of dust markguns, but so certain and biting was the fire, ed their progress as they rode sternly and that they could not be induced to move a fiercely on. The attention of nearly the whole step, and fell in their tracks. On the right, army was directed to this desperate charge; Your men, advancing through the chapporal, and you could hear their muffled tread as Shad outflanked the enemy, and were pouring they broke into a gallop and tore forward up in their well-directed volleys, while on the to the very muzzles of the guns. Two rods left, the incessant flash of musketry, drown-in advance was seen the commanding form of ed now and then by the roar of cannon May, as, mounted on his powerful charger, and shouts of the men, told how fierce was he rode fiercely on, with his long hair streamthe conflict. Our troops were steadily gain- ing in the wind, while behind shook the glit Sing ground, but the murderous battery in the tering sabres of his followers. One discharge center of the road continued to vomit forth tore through them, stretching nearly a third death, and was worked with coolness and of his company and half of his horses on the Sheld with a tenacity that perfectly maddened ground, but when the smoke lifted, there was our men. Gen. Taylor was within its range, still seen the war-horse of May leaping the and when expostulated with for exposing ditch, breastwork and all, pressed closely af himself so openly, refused to, move out of ter by his remaining followers, riding down danger except by moving forward. The regi- the artillery-men at their pieces, and passing ments got confused in the chapporal some- straight through the Mexican lines. A wild what, but fought just as well; and though the hurrah went up from our entire army as they Infantry held their firm array, they seemed to saw those fierce dragoons clear the breastfight in groups, each one directing its ener-work. The 5th and 8th Infantry followed gies on a single point. The battery of the close after, charging at a run along the road, gallant Ridgely kept steadily advancing like and swept over the breastwork just after the Sa moving volcano, and hurled such a storm dragoons were compelled to leave it, and took of iron on the guns that swept the road, that possession of the guns. Lieut. Duncan then the Infantry which protected them fell at took command of the advance, and soon every discharge like grass before the scythe. cleared_the_road with his deadly artillery, At length a body of lancers came charging while the Infantry, packed now in the nar (furiously along the road, and rode up to the row road, with chapporal on each side, went (very muzzle of his guns. Scattering them poaring onward with furious shouts, driving like a whirlwind with a discharge from one the enemy before them. The battle then beof his pieces, he dashed in person among four came a ront, and rolled furiously toward the that still kept hurrying on, and drove them river, whither the affrighted Mexicans were before him. flying to escape to Matamoros. The cavalry "The Infantry fought with unparalleled first went galloping like a crowd of fugitives bravery, led on by as brave officers as ever to the ferry, while the Infantry, forced from trod a battle-field. Indeed, every officer seem- the chapporal at the point of the bayonet, foled to think it necessary he should show an lowed after.

example of daring to his men, while every "Ah! you should have heard the shouts soldier fought as if he would outdo his leader that then arose from the little garrison of Fort in heroic acts. Sometimes a few men, head-Brown. They had stood and listened, as the Sed by an officer, would charge a gun and fight sound of the heavy cannonading of the first Slike desperadoes around it. In one instance, day's fight came riding by on the evening a soldier leaped astride of a piece he had air-filled with the deepest anxiety as to the captured, and boldly defended himself while issue--for on the success of the army rested hie companions dragged him away with the their own fate. It was with inexpressible joy (prize. From the outset our army steadily they heard, next day at noon, the Artillery advanced on every side, except along the again opened, and almost within sight of the road where the central battery kept playing. ramparts. All the morning the guns of the At length, goaded to madness by the galling enemy had been playing upon their intrench(fire kept up from these few pieces, and seements, and when at last the fierce firing be(ing that the whole battle rested there, Gen. gan in the distance, and the smoke of battle Taylor ordered Capt. May to chage the bat-rose over the tree-tops, telling them that their Stery with his dragoons. His words were, companions were advancing to their relief, "You must take it." The gallant May the excitement became intense. But the

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THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

cannonading advanced steadily nearer, and Churchill, and Inge, and Indon, and McInthe rapid volleys of musketry every moment tosh, and Chadbourne, and Cochrane, and grew clearer, saying in accents more thrilling Walker, and Browne, and last, though not than language, that our brave troops were least, Ringgold, and a host of others. Green victorious. be the grass over the fallen, and ever green

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"At length, when the cavalry, plunging the laurels that twine the brows of the livSwildly over the plain, emerged into view, ing. Noble men! Ye who sleep are not Sthey mounted the ramparts, and under the dead-the brave and patriotic never die-Sfolds of their flag, that still floated proudly in they live in the hearts of their countrymen. the breeze, sent up a huzza that was heard Not a recreant son was found on those battle-) even in Matamoros-the shout of victory. fields; and all honor ought to be paid to our) That was a joyful meeting, when our little army, every man of which was a hero. wearied but victorious army, amid loud huz- With such soldiers we can never be conzas, marched again into Fort Brown, and in- quered, nor our arms disgraced. Palo Alto to the arms of their brave companions. Three and Resaca de la Palma will be bright pages thousand five hundred shots had been fired in the biography of Gen. Taylor. All honor. Sinto that single fort, and yet but two men had we say, then, to our army and its officers. Sbeen killed. We toast the men, but not the cause; and

Gen. Taylor's victory was complete. The while a curse rests on our Capitol, a circle of Mexicans lost their whole Artillery-2,000 light surrounds our Army of Occupation. stand of arms, 600 mules, together with Gen. Our army has won enduring renown, but our Arista's private papers, and Gen. Vega him- Government enduring disgrace." self, whom May made prisoner in his desperate As may well be supposed, the Mexicans) charge on and over the battery. Our loss in were panic-stricken, and fled in every direckilled, wounded and missing, in these two bat-tion. In their haste to escape our bayonets tles, was not far from 170; that of the enemy and bullets, many rushed to the Rio Grande, Sunknown-but it could not be much short of and in attempting to swim that stream, found (1,200. The battle of the 9th was much the a watery grave.

Smore severe, as is evident from the greater After the Battle of La Resaca de la Palma, or mortality that attended it-our loss being the Palm Ravine, the right wing of our Army nearly double that of the day before, Gen. remained on the ground two days, occupied Taylor had thrown up hasty intrenchments in burying the dead and securing the trophies around his train, which had been left on the of the engagement. Among Gen. Arista's pap-) first battle-field, guarded by four hundred ers were found his official correspondence with men; so that he brought but about 1,600 men his Government, full plans of the campaign, (into the fight, while the Mexicans, notwith- and instructions authorizing him to send Gen. standing their severe loss, had received such Taylor and his Army, when taken prisoners, Sheavy reinforcements, that they showed a to the city of Mexico; to treat the American Sthousand stronger than in the previous en- Commander and his officers with such atten gagement. That the Mexicans fought well tion as become the magnanimity of the great is evident from their heavy loss-nearly one- Mexican nation, &c.

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third of their entire army disappeared from On the 18th of May, Gen. Taylor crossed the ranks before it broke and fled. The great the Rio Grande and took military possession disproportion between the killed and wound- of the City of Matamoros without encountering) ed in the two armies was owing entirely to the least opposition. On the previous day, the greater precision of our fire, our soldiers of New-York, deeply impressed with the import(having hit or killed each his man. ance of the services rendered by Capt. JAMES DUN"The charge of May was one of the most CAN, of the United States Army, at the late Battle gallant deeds among the hundreds performed of Palo Alto on the Rio Grande, and entertaining a high respect for his character as a gentleman, and in these fierce-fought battles, and decided the his skill and bravery as an officer, do present to him victory. Had he not succeeded, we should a sword, and that the sum of Two Hundred dollars doubtless have gained the day; for from the be and the same hereby is appropriated for that puroutset, our troops never once fell back or

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wavered, but steadily gained ground. The The Resolution was supported by Mr. McElrath) conflict, however, wonld have been protract- on the ground that Capt. D. was a native of the ed, and our loss much greater, but for this State of New-York, a graduate of West Point, had successful charge, "All honor to Gen. Taylor, and May, been long stationed at Governor's Island, near and Page, and Duncan,* and Ridgely, and New-York City, was well-known and highly es* In the Common Council of the City of New teemed, and was truly a gallant officer.

(York, the following Resolution was offered by Mr. McElrath:

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The Resolution was carried, and the sword will be presented whenever Capt. D. returna to New

"Resolved, That the Common Council of the City York.

as Gen. Taylor was preparing to cross and though it seems to be concentrating mostly at attack the city, a parley was sounded, and a Camargo, a Mexican town of about 3,000 inmessage received from the Mexican General, habitants, situated on the bank of the San proposing an armistice until he could hear from Juan River, three miles from its junction) Mexico, expressing the opinion that the bound-with the Rio Grande. This is now Gen. Tay ary could now be settled. This Gen. Taylor lor's Head Quarters, and is designed to be declined. He had proposed an armistice when his principal dépôt It is understood that he was weak, and it was not accepted. He he is to advance with a large force upon should now dictate terms. The Mexicans then Monterey, a town 210 miles listant from Caproposed to surrender all the Public Property, margo, where the Mexicans are concentrating Ammunition, &c. provided Gen. Taylor would an army of such materials as they have. Here not cross the River; to which he replied that he will probably have to do some more fighthe should cross, that "the City must capitu-ing; possibly he will meet with resistance late. all Public Property, Ammunition, Pro- before reaching Monterey, as there are said? visions, &c. must be given up, and then the to be defiles on the way which, if taken adArmy might march out and retire." The vantage of, may prove another Thermopyle Mexican Commander returned no reply to to those who attempt to pass. Chr. sous will Gen. Taylor's last proposition; but during be left at Point Isabel, Burrita, Matamoros, the night evacuated the City with his Army, Mier, and other places now in our possession. and retired toward Monterey, taking what- While Gen. Taylor is moving toward Monever of munitions and public property he terey, Gen. Kearney, at the head of some could find means of transporting. 5,000 troops, is marching upon Santa Fé, the Gen. Taylor has deemed it advisable not Capitol of New Mexico, a town of about 5,000) to interfere with the municipal laws of the inhabitants, situated on the east bank of the Mexican people; and Matamoros, as well as Rio Grande, 1,000 miles from its mouth. Gen. Camargo and other small towns in the vicini K. will most likely take the town with little ty, which tendered their submission on the if any resistance--possibly he is even now in departure of the Mexican Army, looks as un-possession of it.

like a captured town as it well could. The Vera Cruz has been under a blockade ever people enjoy all the privileges, religious and since the 18th of May, and at the latest ac otherwise, they have ever enjoyed, sell their counts our whole squadron under Com. Conproducts for cash at high prices, and buy ner, with the exception of the St. Mary's their goods cheaper than ever; yet the mass [which is employed in blockading Tamef them cherish an implacable hatred of the pico,] was off Vera Cruz. This blockade, invaders. however, is of very litle importance, as Al

On the 11th of May, after hearing of the first varado, Tobasco, and three or four other ports outbreaks on the Rio Grande, the President on the Gulf, are open to the ingress of foreign sent a special message to Congress, announc-vessels, and to the coasting trade. Sing that a state of War existed between this On the 8th of June, the St. Mary's made an country and Mexico. The Message recom-attack on Tampico, but it did not amount to mended that the War be recognized by Con- anything in particular. On the 7th of August, gress, that the President be authorized to call Commodore Conner attacked Alvarado with a large body of Volunteers into the service of a view to the destruction of the Mexican) the United States, and that liberal provision Navy stationed there; but the project was be made for supplies, &c. The President's abandoned after the firing had commenced. wishes were complied with. Congress re- Monterey, a seaport in California on the cognized the existence of the War which he Pacific, (and quite another place from the had made; authorized the reception of 50,000 Monterey to which Gen. Taylor is bound, Volunteers, about one-half to be immediately was taken possession of by Com. Sloat, com mustered into the service, and the balance mander of the Pacific Squadron, on the 6th kept as a reserve, and voted an appropria- of July. A few days previously, a detachment, tion of $10,000,000 to commence operations from Col. Fremont's force took possession of with. The call for Volunteers was promptly a frontier post called Sonora, to the north of responded to, and the Government soon San Francisco. Gen. Castro made an attempt found that it would be under the necessity of to dislodge them, but retreated after a slight (declining the services of thousands who were skirmish.

anxious to enter the service. While we are pushing the War in all diGen. Taylor has now some 20,000 troops an-rections, our Government has sent a messender his command, about 5,000 of whom are Re-ger to Mexico with overtures of Peace. Sgulars, and the balance Volunteers, who have Meanwhile, the expatriated chief (and only Senlisted for one year or during the War. This hero) of Mexico, Santa Ana, and his friends, Army is so dispersed in different encamp-have returned to that country, and are now ments, and so much on the move, that it would junquestionably in possession of the veins of be difficult to state its precise whereabouts, Government.. What effect Santa Ana's

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