ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

Arista's Despatch.

and eleven men; aggregate, two thousand two hundred and eighty-eight. The Mexican force, according to the statement of their own officers, taken prisoners in the affair of the 9th, was not less than six thousand regular troops, with ten pieces of artillery, and probably exceeded that number-the irregular force not known. Their loss was not less than two hundred killed, and four hundred wounded-probably greater. This estimate is very moderate, and founded upon the number actually counted on the field, and upon the reports of their own officers.

As already reported in my first brief despatch, the conduct of our officers and men was every thing that could be desired. Exposed for hours to the severest trials—a cannonade of artillery-our troops displayed a coolness and constancy which gave me throughout the assurance of victory. I purposely defer the mention of individuals until my report of the action of the 9th, when I will endeavour to do justice to the many instances of distinguished conduct on both days."

The Mexicans evinced great determination in this first day's battle, and remained almost within sight of the American army during the night. General Arista employed the night in writing a despatch to the minister of war and marine, giving an eloquent account of what he claimed as his victory, and at daybreak on the 9th, slowly moved into the chaparral, leaving General Taylor in possession of the battle-field. Fearing that the enemy might dispute his progress towards Fort Brown, as the fortification opposite Matamoras was now named, he ordered the train to be strongly parked. An intrenchment was thrown up, and the artillery battalion, with two

Death of Lieutenant Blake.

eighteen-pounders and two twelve-pounders were "assigned to its defence.

The army then moved over the plain in line of battle with lively music, marking every where around them the evidences of the terrible destruction produced by the American artillery on the previous day. Wounded soldiers, dying of thirst and hunger, received relief from their generous enemies. The ground was covered with torn clothing, military caps, gun-stocks, and large quantities of cartridges for muskets and artillery. On the edge. of the chaparral, the army halted at a place convenient to water. A detachment under Captain McCall was sent forward into the chaparral to ascertain the position of the enemy. General Taylor then rode back to the train, accompanied by Lieutenant J. E. Blake of the topographical corps, who had displayed the utmost gallantry on the previous day. At the train, Lieutenant Blake dismounted from his horse to procure some refreshment, and expressed gratification at the prospect of a little rest, his labours during the previous twenty-four hours having been very arduous. He unbuckled his holsters and threw them on the ground, when one of the pistols unaccountably exploded, throwing the ball upwards into his body. He was mortally wounded, and expired shortly after, expressing his regret that he had not died on the battle-field on the preceding day.

Captain McCall with the advance guard found the enemy intrenched at La Resaca de la Palma, the Dry River of Palms, a strong position entirely commanding the approach to Fort Brown. At this place the road crosses a ravine sixty yards wide and nearly breast high, the bottom being wet, forming long and serpentine ponds

Gallantry of Ridgely.

through the prairie. Along the banks of this dry river, and more particularly on the side then occupied by the Mexicans, the chaparral grows most densely, and at this time, save where it was broken in by the passage of the road, formed almost a solid wall. The enemy occupied this ravine in double line; one behind and under the front bank, and the other intrenched behind the wall of the chaparral on the top of the rear ridge. A battery was placed in the centre of each line on the right and left of the road, and a third battery was on the right of the first line. Six or seven thousand troops were thus strongly fortified in a form resembling a crescent, between the horns of which the army had to pass, while the Mexican batteries were enfilading and cross firing, the narrow road which formed the only unobstructed approach to their position. Lieutenant Ridgely, the successor of Ringgold, was ordered forward on the road, while the 3d, 4th, and 5th regiments of infantry were ordered forward as skirmishers to cover the battery and engage the infantry of the enemy. General Taylor and his staff came up with Captain McCall and his party at four o'clock. He immediately deployed Captain McCall to the left of the road, and Captain C. F. Smith to the right, with orders to bring on the action.

Having received orders to advance, Lieutenant Ridgely moved cautiously forward with Captain Walker, who was charged with assisting him to find the enemy's batteries. At the instant they discovered them, they received a fire from them, which Ridgely, moving about a hundred yards to the front, returned with spirit. This contest was maintained for some time, their balls filling the air, and passing through Ridgely's battery in every direc

Action Commences,

tion. His men worked at their guns with invincible determination, and he himself sighted them with all the coolness and certainty of ordinary target practice. These well-directed charges were necessary to keep off the enemy who were constantly charging upon him, and whom he had sometimes to beat back with his own sword. The rapid firing of the artillery on both sides produced an unintermitted roar. Colonel Duncan's battery was at the edge of the ravine, but he could not use it; Lieutenant Ridgely holding the only position from which the enemy could be assailed without galling our troops. These had come into the action in the most extraordinary manner, the firing of their musketry being heard at almost the same instant that Ridgely opened his fire in the centre.* The 6th regiment under LieutenantColonel McIntosh supported Ridgely's battery. The 3d

It is to be observed that the artillery, during the whole course of the present war, has proved the most efficient arm of the service in determining the fate of battles, with, perhaps, the exception of the rifle corps in the recent battles near the city of Mexico. Nothing can exceed the efficiency and bravery of the rifle corps. General Scott's pointed eulogy of their conduct was richly deserved.

The efficiency of this arm of the national defense, as we have had occasion to remark in another place, is greatly owing to the indefatigable exertions of Major Ringgold. In this important service the major was aided by Captain Duncan, whose battery rendered most efficient service in the battles of the 8th and 9th of May, as well as in the other most important engagements of the war. The batteries of Sherman, Bragg, and Washington have also become famous, especially by their efficient service at Buena Vista.

The services of the artillery in the battle of Buena Vista were so essential, that it is considered by all military men, that the absence of a small portion of it would undoubtedly have occasioned the loss of the

battle.

May's charge.

regiment with a part of the 4th came up on the enemy's right, and the other portion of the 4th joined with the 5th on the left. The 3d and 4th were separated by the chaparral, through which the soldiers literally pushed each other into squads of five or six, and they were obliged to form in the ravine. The 8th, under Captain Montgomery, with Smith's light and other corps, faced to the right. The best troops of Mexico were now contending with the greatest bravery for victory. The contest with artillery and musketry, the sword and the bayonet, at the end of two hours, resulted in the Americans gaining possession of the ravine in which the enemy were posted at the beginning of the action. Yet the batteries in the centre still stood firm, pouring a perfect shower of grape and shells into the American front, and prevented General Taylor from reaping the advantages which the bravery of his troops would otherwise have secured. Captain May rode back to the general, and asked if he should charge the battery on the other side of the ravine. "Charge, captain, nolens volens," was the reply, and away dashed the gallant fellow.* He rode to the head of his command; every rein and sabre was tightly grasped. Raising himself in the saddle, he shouted to his command, "We are ordered to take that battery-follow!"

In columns of fours, they dashed along the narrow road, until they came to where Lieutenant Ridgely obstructed their advance. "I am ordered to charge those batteries," said May, coming to a halt. Ridgely knowing the perilous nature of the duty, said, "Wait, Charley, till I draw their fire!" All begrimed

* Henry's Campaign Sketches.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »