mand of the Mexican forces at Matamoras; and either did, or pretended to, construe General Taylor's movement as a retreat. In a bulletin sent to the city of Mexico, he spoke of it as a fact, and assured the nation that it had gained a bloodless triumph.

On the same day, but a few hours before, the Mexican general-in-chief left Matamoras to join the forces already thrown forward on the north bank of the Rio Grande. General Taylor marched with all his available force towards Point Isabel, and was not overtaken by Arista. The latter was certainly anxious to do so. Failing in this, an attack was made on Fort Brown, on the 3d of May, from a battery of seven guns, which were soon silenced by the fire of the fort. The Mexicans were not, however, intimidated, but returned to the attack with shot and shell, which, notwithstanding, did but little serious damage.

General Taylor at the head of his troops had marched to the depot, and there heard the firing. A party having been sent to reconnoitre, returned with information that Major Brown could very well maintain his position against the Mexican assailants. The result of the first day's bombardment, the Mexicans affected to think a victory, and drew from it the conclusion that the American army, in courage and skill, was the inferior of their own.

During the night of the 4th of May, a body of Mexican troops crossed the river, and threw up a strong battery in the rear of Fort Brown, from which, as well as the city, a heavy fire was opened on the morning of the 5th. Before the close of the day, however, the Mexican guns were silenced.

On the 6th the fire was renewed, and the shot and shell were thrown with great accuracy. The size of the

work, however, and the small number of men left to defend its area, rendered the loss of life far less than would have been the case, had its garrison been ample. Early on this day, Major Brown was struck by a shot, which carried off one of his legs, and so shattered his nervous system that two days afterwards, amputation having in the meantime been performed, he died. Major Brown was an officer of great distinction, and was regretted by all who knew him, as a loss not only to his regiment and the army, but to the country. In its service he had grown gray, and had served in every climate, and under the most trying circumstances, with honor and reputation. The command then devolved on Captain Hawkins, of the same regiment. The keen perception of General Taylor had enabled him to foresee the result of the attack on Fort Brown. He had therefore left with its commander the most distinct orders to defend himself, at all hazards to risk no rally, and in case of being surrounded, to fire his heavy guns at stated intervals, which would inform him of the fact. After the Mexican battery in the rear had opened its fire, this signal was given, and General Taylor immediately set out to return to the gallant defenders of the fortress. The Mexican general also understood the signal, and redoubled his efforts to overpower the garrison before Taylor could arrive. At this crisis Fort Brown was summoned to surrender. The commander positively refusd, replying, "That he did not understand Spanish."

The firing, which had temporarily ceased, was again renewed with more intensity than at any previous time. At this crisis the ammunition was nearly exhausted in the fort, and the garrison was compelled to remain almost inactive.

On the morning of the 7th the fire of the Mexican
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batteries was heard again, with the exception of the one in the rear of the fort, which had been taken to Matamoras. The fire did not, however, last long. It was from time to time afterwards resumed. A few men had deserted from the fort, and having informed the Mexicans that the garrison was almost without ammunition, the latter changed their course, and evidently evinced a determination to force the besieged to expend the small supply they yet possessed. From time to time they approached near the fort, but were driven off by the excellent practice of the American artillery. After night on this day, under the command of Captain Mansfield, of the engineers, the army levelled a few natural and artificial defences of which the enemy had taken advantage. A few volleys were fired after midnight, and the cannonade was resumed on the next day.

On the 8th of May, at noon, the garrison was nearly exhausted by the length of the bombardment, and scarcely paid attention to the shells thrown among them from Matamoras. At length the fire ceased. A long, loud, and heavy cannonading was borne on the winds from towards Point Isabel. Every breath was hushed, every ear was attentive. Again and again it sounded. They knew that General Taylor was advancing. The firing told them that he, too, had an enemy in front, and the simultaneous cheer which burst from the lips of every one showed how confident they were as to the result of the contest. The people of Matamoras heard the firing and the cheers of the garrison, for immediately forces were thrown forward to reinforce the Mexican army, and the bombardment was again begun. A new battery, the fourth, was then opened on the fort. At nightfall all again became quiet, and it was time; for during the

twenty-four hours three hundred solid and hollow shot had fallen within the parapet of Fort Brown.

The signal guns hurried General Taylor from Point Isabel, which he left on the evening of the 7th, with twenty-one hundred men, and a train of two hundred and fifty wagons. He had determined to fight the enemy. On that night he encamped about seven miles from Point Isabel. At early dawn he resumed his march without any obstacle, until noon, when the vanguard reported that the Mexican army was drawn up in battle array. He was soon after informed that it had fallen back towards Fort Brown. The train and troops again advanced until they reached a level prairie, surrounded by a grove, known in the country as El Palo Alto. The American army advanced between two small fresh water lakes, each of which was bounded by chapparal, a thicket of cactus, meschete, and various spiny shrubs peculiar to the country, and almost impenetrable. Across the prairie the Mexican forces were again arrayed, in the following order: On the right was a regiment of lancers, next artillery, and next infantry of the line, with other troops of the three arms alternating on the prolongation of the deployment.

The train was formed at once into a compact square, and General Taylor deployed his column. While this manœuvre was being executed, Lieutenant J. E. Blake, since dead of a wound received by the accidental discharge of his pistol, made a reconnoissance of the whole American line in so gallant a manner, as to elicit the praise of the whole army. The report he delivered to General Taylor on this occasion, subsequently verified by sure information, evinced a military eye and knowledge, which gave the most brilliant promise for his future career.

The two armies were now within seven hundred paces of each other. The Mexican stood firm, and the American with silent step (the prairie was covered with dense grass) was closing up. The artillery and horse moved up, and the only sound heard was the rattling of the equipage of the men and guns. The Mexican batteries at this time opened on the American line, which was formed as follows:

On the right was the 5th infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel M'Intosh; next to which was a troop of flying artillery, commanded by Major Ringgold. The 3d infantry stood next, and was commanded by its senior captain, Lewis N. Morris; on its left were two eighteen-pound guns under the direction of Lieutenant W. N. Churchhill, of the 3d artillery. Beyond the heavy artillery was the 4th infantry, commanded by Major G. W. Allen. The 3d and 4th infantry brigaded together were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John Garland; and the whole, besides two squadrons of dragoons commanded by Captains Ker and May, were led by Colonel Twiggs of the 2d dragoons, since become a general. On the left were the artillery battalion commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Childs, a troop of light artillery commanded by Captain James Duncan of the 2d artillery, and the 8th infantry under Captain W. R. Montgomery. This brigade was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap.

The whole Mexican artillery, which was dispersed along their line, poured a heavy fire into the American army, which had advanced by head of columns, deployed, and halted. The heavy artillery of Churchhill began to fire, and Duncan's and Ringgold's batteries rushed into the open prairie and fired with a rapidity almost inconceivable. The Mexicans fired badly, their balls