Complete history of the late Mexican war/Battle of Resaca de la Palma
BATTLE OF RESACA DE LA PALMA.
Capt. G. A. McCall was sent forward with one hundred picked men to reconoitre. He found that the enemy had selected a favorable postion and were waiting for our advance. McCall had a slight brush with them and returned. Our forces were deployed to the right and left of the road as skirmishers. Capt. Mc Call's command were ordered to advance and draw the fire of the enemy. The latter were on the opposite bank of a ravine concave towards us and their batteries were so arranged as to sweep the road and every approach through the chaparral. Mc Call received the fire of the enemy and Lieut. Ridgely, successor to Ringgold, was ordered forward with his battery. The battle commenced with fury. Frequently were bayonets crossed, they were in such close proximity, The enemy gave way slowly, but fought like tigers, for every inch of ground. The chaparral was so thick that our regiments were mixed; but fought not the less bravely. Ridgely at one time, had a body of lancers come done upon him, with tremendous force, when he had but one piece unlimbered. Sergeant Kearnes put a load of cannister on the top of a shell and fired which scattered all but four. Then Ridgely charged them in person and drove them back, exhibiting the greatest bravery.
Capt. May rode back and asked the general if he should charge the enemy on the opposite side of the ravine. The answer was "Charge, Captain, nolens, volens!" As May dashed on by Ridgely, the latter cried "hold on Charley till I draw their fire!" Down the ravine they went. Lieut. Inge soon fell and many others; but the rest drove furiously on, crossed the ravine and captured the battery. Capt. Graham's company was with May's in this charge. General La Vega stood by his battery to the last and was taken prisoner by Capt. May. The 3rd were deployed on the right of the road; but met no enemy and not being able to get through the thick, dense chaparral, were obliged to return to get into the action and arrived after the enemy were completely routed. Duncan then took the advance with his battery, the Dragoons, 3rd Infantry and Smith's command being ordered to support the artillery. We dashed on after the enemy who were in full retreat, pouring upon them a very destructive fire. Our men soon came up with the enemy's camp and found it deserted and captured by the brave Barbour, who with his company of the third Infantry had resisted a formidable charge of cavalry. Mules, packs, provisions, and other trophies were left by the enemy. Our men pursued the enemy, shouting as they went, to the river. Many of the enemy were drowned endeavoring to swim across, and were scattered in every direction. The rout was general and complete, though our force consisted of 1700 men, the others being required to guard the train. 2000 of the best of Mexico's troops came over to join in this battle of the 9th, called "Resaca de la Palma". Our loss was three officers and thirty-six men killed, twelve officers and fifty-nine men wounded. The officers killed were Lieut. Z. Inge, 2nd Dragoons; Lieut. R. E. Cochrane, 4th Infantry; and Lieut. T. L. Chadbourne, 8th Infantry. The wounded officers were Colonel M. M. Payne, 4th Artillery, acting Inspector-General; Col. J. S. Mc'Intosh, 5th. Infantry; Capt. A. Hooe, 5th Infantry; Lieut. S. H. Fowler, 5th Infantry; Capt. W. R. Montgomery, Lieut. J. Selden, R. P. Maclay, C. F. Morris, C. R. Gates, J. G. Burbank and C. D. Jordan, Sth Infantry; and Lieut. S. D. Dobbins, 3rd Infantry. We captured eight pieces of artillery, 2000 stand of arms, 200 mules, one hundred and fifty thousand rounds of musket cartridges, and all the baggage and camp equipage of the army. Arista's private papers and baggage fell into our hands. One General, one Colonel, one Lieut, Colonel, four Captains and five Lieutenants, were taken prisoners. Three Captains and four Lieutenants of the enemy were buried on the field, and forty-eight officers besides were acknowledged by the Mexicans to be missing. The killed, wounded, and raising of the enemy could not have been less than 2000.
Gen Taylor was sitting upon his horse in the hottest of the battle, and the balls were rattling all around him. An officer remarked to him that he was exposing himselt too much, and proposed that he should retire. The General said, "Let us ride a little nearer, the balls-will fall behind us."
During the bombardment of Fort Brown (opposite Matamoras). Major Brown the commanding officer was wounded by a shell May 6th and died on the 9th much lamented. The enemy fired 2700 shells at this fort killing one officer, one sergeant, and wounding thirteen privates. They were repeatedly ordered by the enemy to surrender; but would not. Major Ringgold died at Point Isabel May 11th and was buried with funeral honors on the 12th. May 17th our army were ordered to cross the Rio Grande and take possession of Matamoras. General Arista sent over and wished for an armistice until he could hear from th Capital, but Old Rough and Ready said, "No!" Taylo. was asked if he intended to take the city, "Yes," was the reply, "if he had to batter it down. Tell General Arista, said he, "that the city must capitulate, all public property, amunition, provisions &c. must be given up, and then the army may march out and retire. Arista was ordered to give an answer by 3 P. M. In the mean time our army marched three miles up the river, where there was a suitable place for crossing. No deputation came from Arista and we crossed May 18th. By a sad accident Lieut. Stephens was drowned. It was found that the Mexican army precipitately left the city and the authorities invited General Taylor to take possession. The battlefield of Resaca de la Palma presented a sad spectacle—such vast numbers of the slain and now the hospitals were filled with the wounded! Near one poor wounded man, sat a beautiful girl of seventeen keeping off the flies. She was his wife. There the mother and her children were seated by the wounded father. Colonel Twiggs was appointed to the chief command of the city.
Colonel Garland was sent out with two companies on the 19th to follow the enemy. After he had gone 27 miles he came up with them, had a skirmish, and returned the 22d. Two of his men were wounded. He killed two, wounded two of the enemy and captured twenty men with their baggage. Barita, a small town near by, was taken May 17, by Colonel Wilson. When the Congress of the U. S. heard of the capture of Capt. Thornton and his command, that body made declaration of war May 1 3th, and voted to raise fifty thousand volunteers and to appropriate ten milions of dollars for the expense of the war. War was declared by Mexico, April 23rd. Our Congress appointed General Taylor Brevet Major General, after the battles of Palo Alto and Resca de la Palma.
Numerous reinforcements soon came in and the army moved forward. Monterey, Reynosa, Camargo, Mier and other towns were soon taken without resistance. When our army left Matamoras, Lieutenant Colonel Clark was appoined to the command of the city. Poor Page after suffering intensely, died July 12th.
The U. S. army proceeded up the Rio Grande as far as Mier and then left that noble river and turned to the south towards Monterey.
Sept. 14th, Capt. McCullough, with thirtv-five men, had a brush with two hundred Mexicans, near Ramos. Two of the enemy were wounded, and the Capt. lost one horse. Reports seemed to be confirmed that the enemy were preparing for a hard battle at Monterey. It was expected that we should have a fight at Marin, where the enemy under General Torrejon were seen, just before our army entered the town. When we arrived the enemy had left. At this place the mountains at the foot of which Monterey stands, were distinctly visible, about twenty-five miles distant.
Sept. 17th General Taylor was addressed by the Spanish Consul at Monterey inquiring whether the property of foreigners would be respected. Taylor replied that he could not be responsible for anything if the city was taken by assault.
Sept. 19th at 9 P. M. the advance of our forces arrived within three miles of Monterey. Some heavy cannon were heard and our men pushed forward: but before they came within reach of the guns General Taylor ordered them to halt. It seems that some lancers came out of the city and endeavored to draw our men within reach of the shot. When our advance halted the enemy opened upon us in earnest. The third shot went directly over General Taylor's staff, coming very near him. Our troops encamped three miles from the city. The city seemed to be well fortified and it was feared that our small guns would not be effectual against the large ones of the enemy. It was concluded that our men must take the big guns of the enemy and turn them against themselves. The town was thoroughly reconnoitered on all sides and our men were frequently fired upon. General Taylor decided to send Genera. Worth to take possession of the road to Saltillo, and storm the heights at the west part of the city. This division, including Colonel Hay's regiment, and Captains McCullough's and Gillepie's rangers, moved off according to order.