retreated pêle-mêle to the river, crossed it, disgracefully, it is said, the general-in-chief and second in command leading the flight. The Mexican force in the action was certainly not less than six thousand, and their loss must have been immense, as the working party on the next day buried two hundred of all grades. The loss of killed and wounded of the Mexican forces in the two battles has been estimated at nearer two than one thousand.

Completely identified by popular opinion with this action is brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Charles May. This officer is a son of a well known physician of Washington, District of Columbia, and was first appointed in the army by General Jackson with rank as a second lieutenant of the 2d dragoons, from the 8th June, 1836. He immediately proceeded with the first detachment to Florida, where, in 1839, he had already become a first lieutenant, and on the 2d February, 1841, was promoted to a company. May was a bold, active officer, stationed in almost every part of East and West Florida, and did much duty. His career in Florida was, however, without any striking event. He was always remarkable for a profusion of brown hair, and a beard which by no means improved his personal appearance. For his services at Palo Alto, May received the brevet of major, though the report shows that he absolutely had no opportunity to do anything; and for commanding in the charge by which the Mexican battery and General La Vega were captured, he received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel. He was subsequently at Monterey and Buena Vista, but his services there were not conspicuous. A short time after the capture of Monterey, Colonel May was unlucky enough to fall into an ambuscade and lose a part of his command.