Complete history of the late Mexican war/Battle of Palo Alto
BATTLE OF PALO ALTO.
Most of our forces were at Point Isabel and in that vicinity though some were opposite Matamoras. General Taylor, May 7th directed the army to march in the direction of Matamoras. It started at 3, P. M. having a valuable train of provisions and munitions of war. Six twelve-pounders were in the wagons and a battery of two eighteen pounders was drawn by oxen. The forces were under the command of Lieut. Churchill. On the morning of the 8th the enemy were observed less than a mile distant, occupying a front of about a mile and a half. The general formed his men in column of attack and permitted them to go half at a time and get water to fill their canteens, as they had marched twelve miles that day and suffered from heat and thirst. Our army moved on with firmness to meet the enemy, and when within 700 yards the enemy opened their fire from a battery on the right. The right wing of our army was composed of the fifth Infantry on the right, Ringgold's Artillery, the 3rd Infantry, Churchill's eighteen pound battery and 4th Infantry and commanded oy CoL Twiggs. The left wing composed of Duncan's Artillery and the 8th Infantry was commanded Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap. Ringgold's and Duncan's batteries advanced and commenced firing. The enemy fired continually but not with much precision. Their cavalry move on the left and then three batteries placed in a line at a considerable distance from each other and bodies of infantry between, making a long line of battle. Ringgolds battery made dreadful havoc, cutting down almost whole platoons at once. The two eighteen pounders roared tremendously and the cavalry of the enemy soon began to retire, at first in a trot and then in a gallop. A movement of the enemy's flank, composed of Cavalry one thousand strong, endangered our train and was promptly met by a section of Ringgold's battery under Lieut. Ridgeway and the fifth and third Infantry. They were received by 5th in a square and twenty of them were killed from the fire of an angle. When the enemy saw the 3rd Infantry advancing in column by division, they fled with rapidity. On the left Duncan cut them down in great numbers and the shout of our men could be heard above the cannon's roar. Our left wing, particularly the 8th Infantry, suffered from the fire of the enemy, being in a column instead of being deployed in a line. In the midst of the battle the prairie took fire and enveloped the armies in smoke. The firing commenced at 3 P. M. and ceased for a time at 4 P. M. Then Ringgold's battery and the eighteen pounders were pushed round to the left flank of the enemy and the 4th Infantry and 1st Brigade moved up to their aid. the firing soon commenced again and the enemy were obliged to change their line of battle. At this moment Duncan poured a tremendous fire into their right flank and threw it into the greatest confusion. As night approached the firing gradually ceased on both sides. The enemy had been driven from his position and forced to retire, and our army were left victors upon the battle ground. We had only nine killed, forty-four wounded and two missing. Major Ringgold, Captain Page, Lieutenants Luther, 2nd Artillery and Wallen, 4th Infantry were wounded. Major Ringgold received a shot while sitting on his horse, which carried away the flesh on his legs from his knees up and passed through the withers of his horse. The lower jaw of Capt. Page was shot off. Lieut. Wallen received a slight wound in the arm and Lieut. Luther in the calf of the leg. The Assistant Adjutant General, Capt. Bliss and Lieut. Daniels had their horses shot under them. Our wounded suffered much during the night. General Arista commanded the enemy having 6000 men and our force consisted of 2211. Thus ended the famous battle of Palo Alto. May 9th the enemy, at day break, moved along the borders of the chaparral and it was supposed that they intend to occupy the road and prevent our farther progress. It was decided that we should attack them, and after the train was suitably guarded, our army moved forward soon after sunrise. It was found that the enemy were rapidly retreating. In going over the battle field the scene was awful. There were at least five hundred of the enemy killed and wounded. It would seem that enough had already been done to settle the difficulty between the two nations but a nation's pride is not easily satisfied. This war but the commencement of bloody scenes. Gen. Taylor ordered our men to take care of the wounded among the enemy wherever found, as carefully as our own wounded. At 1 P.M. our army moved on.