ition and encamped upon the field. Our artillery
consisting of two eighteen-pounders and two light batteries, was
the arm chiefly engaged, and to the excellent manner in which it
was manoeuvred and served is our success mainly due.

The strength of the enemy is believed to have been about (p. 283)
6000 men, with seven pieces of artillery and 800 cavalry. His
loss is probably at least one hundred killed. Our strength did
not exceed, all told, twenty-three hundred, while our loss was
comparatively trifling: four men killed, three officers and
thirty-seven men wounded, several of the latter mortally. I
regret to say that Major Ringgold, 2d Artillery, and Captain
Page, 4th Infantry, are severely wounded. Lieutenant Luther, 2d
Artillery, slightly so.

The enemy has fallen back, and it is believed has repassed the
river. I have advanced parties now thrown forward in his
direction, and shall move the main body immediately.

In the haste of this report, I can only say that the officers and
men behaved in the most admirable manner throughout the action. I
shall have the pleasure of making a more detailed report when
those of the different commanders shall be received.

I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR,
_Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. A._, _commanding_.

_____

_General Taylor to the Adjutant-General of the Army._

Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation,
Camp at Resaca de la Palma, 3 miles from Matamoros,
To 10 o'clock P.M., May 9, 1846.
THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY,
Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honor to report that I marched with the main body
of the army at two o'clock to-day, having previously thrown
forward a body of light infantry into the forest, which covers
the Matamoros road. When near the spot where I am now encamped,
my advance discovered that a ravine crossing the road had been
occupied by the enemy with artillery. I immediately ordered a
battery of field artillery to sweep the position, flanking and
sustaining it by the 3d, 4th, and 5th regiments, deployed as
skirmishers to the right and left. A heavy fire of artillery and
of m