Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/31

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BATTLES OF MEXICO
27

officers were Colonel M. M. Payne, 4th Artillery, acting Inspector-General; Col. J. S. Mc'Intosh, 5th. Infantry; Capt. A. Hooe, 5th Infantry; Lieut. S. H. Fowler, 5th Infantry; Capt. W. R. Montgomery, Lieut. J. Selden, R. P. Maclay, C. F. Morris, C. R. Gates, J. G. Burbank and C. D. Jordan, Sth Infantry; and Lieut. S. D. Dobbins, 3rd Infantry. We captured eight pieces of artillery, 2000 stand of arms, 200 mules, one hundred and fifty thousand rounds of musket cartridges, and all the baggage and camp equipage of the army. Arista's private papers and baggage fell into our hands. One General, one Colonel, one Lieut, Colonel, four Captains and five Lieutenants, were taken prisoners. Three Captains and four Lieutenants of the enemy were buried on the field, and forty-eight officers besides were acknowledged by the Mexicans to be missing. The killed, wounded, and raising of the enemy could not have been less than 2000.

Gen Taylor was sitting upon his horse in the hottest of the battle, and the balls were rattling all around him. An officer remarked to him that he was exposing himselt too much, and proposed that he should retire. The General said, "Let us ride a little nearer, the balls-will fall behind us."

During the bombardment of Fort Brown (opposite Matamoras). Major Brown the commanding officer was wounded by a shell May 6th and died on the 9th much lamented. The enemy fired 2700 shells at this fort killing one officer, one sergeant, and wounding thirteen privates. They were repeatedly ordered by the enemy to surrender; but would not. Major Ringgold died at Point Isabel May 11th and was buried with funeral honors on the 12th. May 17th our army were ordered to cross the Rio Grande and take possession of Matamoras. General Arista sent over