CHAPTER IX.

A Council-of-War-Taylor's March resumed-Mexicans killed and woundedAdvance-Guard under Captain McCall-Skirmish with the Enemy-His Position at Resaca de la Palma-Commencement of the Battle-Ridgely's ArtilleryThe 5th Infantry-The 4th Infantry-Service of the Cannon-8th Infantry brought up-May ordered to take the Enemy's Battery-May's brilliant Charge -Death of Lieutenant Inge-Capture of General Vega-Bravery of LieutenantColonel Belknap-Lieutenant-Colonel McIntosh wounded-Capture of Arista's Camp-Lieutenant Cochrane killed-The Tampico Battalion-Capture of its Flag-Rout of the Enemy-General Taylor's Report-Burial of the DeadHumanity of General Taylor--Exchange of Prisoners-Congratulatory OrdersManifesto of the Mexican Commander.

Ar daybreak on the 9th, the rear of the enemy was seen retiring through the chaparral towards Fort Brown, and the general belief was, that he was disposed to try his fortunes again, and would further dispute the advance of the American army.

After their morning meal, General Taylor called a council composed of the heads of the commands, in which some were for marching forward; others preferred intrenching where they were, until reinforced by the volunteers that were expected; while others, again, were in favour of returning to Point Isabel. The commanding-general reconciled all differences by declaring, that he would be in Fort Brown before night, if he lived. Thereupon the council closed, and orders were given to form in line, and march forward. In passing over the battle-ground of the former day, the terrible effects of our artillery were visible in the heapedup masses of dead bodies disfigured with ghastly wounds and distained with blood,-in the dead horses scattered along the route of the retreating cavalry,—and in the fragments of arms,

military accoutrements, and clothing strewed over the field in admirable confusion.

On reaching the edge of the chaparral, General Taylor halted the troops at a pond, and ordered forward into the chaparral an advanced corps, to feel the enemy, and ascertain his position. This consisted of the light companies of the First Brigade, under Captain C. F. Smith, 2d artillery, and a select detachment of light troops; the whole under command of Captain A. G. McCall, 4th infantry, and numbering two hundred and twenty men. Captain Smith's party moved along upon the right of the road, the remainder of the command upon the left. In expectation of an engagement, General Taylor parked his supply-train, and fortified its position by intrenchments, and by a battery consisting of the two 18-pounders and two 12's. The artillery battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Childs (excepting the flank companies), was stationed as a guard to the train, some distance in advance of it.

While scouring the chaparral in search of the enemy, the American advance upon the right discovered some small parties of infantry, and one of cavalry, and immediately fired upon them. Shortly after this the head of the command, on reaching the open ground bordering upon the Resaca de la Palma, came within range of a masked battery, and received three rounds of canister, which killed one man, and wounded three others. Upon this the men broke and took to the chaparral. Shortly after, however, they rallied, and uniting with the detachment under Captain Smith, prepared to move upon the flank of the enemy and attack him.

While this was going on upon the right of the road, Lieutenant Dobbins, with a small party, encountered upon the left a large body of Mexicans. The lieutenant raised his rifle and killed the Mexican leader; almost at the same instant his soldiers fired, killing and wounding a number of the enemy, while the remainder

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fell back. Soon after, a masked battery opened upon the party, and Lieutenant Dobbins was struck down by a grape-shot. He recovered himself soon after, and ordered his men to the dense chaparral, which they reached in time to escape a troop of Mexican cavalry that came dashing up in pursuit. He now ordered his men to press upon the rear of the cavalry, who, fearing they had fallen into an ambuscade, hastily retreated. After this the lieutenant, with his men, returned to the main body of the advance-guard; when Captain McCall despatched three dragoons to inform General Taylor that the enemy occupied the ravine in force, with the evident design of obstructing his march.

The position selected by the enemy was one of great natural strength. Midway between Palo Alto and Fort Brown, and in the centre of the forest of chaparral which extends for about seven miles between these points, the road crosses a ravine which is semicircular in shape, with the opening between its extremities lying towards Point Isabel. The ravine is about sixty yards broad, and is nearly breast-high. At different places along its extent are ponds, oval or of serpentine shape, which are so increased during the rainy season, as to unite and form a continuous stream that flows off towards the Rio Grande, and is hence called the Resaca de la Palma, or Dry River of Palma. The bed of this river, now dry, with the exception of ponds at intervals, was occupied by the enemy in double lines; one posted under the front bank, the other intrenched behind the chaparral that lined the further bank. Batteries were planted upon the right and left of the road in the centre of each line, and one upon the enemy's right, so that the fire of the whole might converge in a terrible focus upon the American column, as it advanced between the horns of the crescent which the ravine formed across the road. With these advantages of position, Arista, with seven thousand men, many of them veteran troops, awaited the approach of the American army.