ton, D. C.

"Sir: The main body of the Army of Occupation marched under my
immediate orders from Point Isabel on the evening of the 7th of
May, and bivouacked seven miles from that place.

"Our march was resumed the following morning. About noon, when
our advance of cavalry had reached the water-hole of 'Palo Alto,'
the Mexican troops were reported in our front, and were soon
discovered occupying the road in force. I ordered a halt upon
reaching the water, with a view to rest and refresh the men, and
to form deliberately our line of battle. The Mexican line was now
plainly visible across the prairie, and about three-quarters of a
mile distant. Their left, which was composed of a heavy force of
cavalry, occupied the road, resting upon a thicket of chapparal,
while masses of infantry were discovered in succession on the
right, greatly outnumbering our own force.

"Our line of battle was now formed in the following order,
commencing on the extreme right: 5th Infantry, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel M'Intosh; Major Ringgold's Artillery; 3d
Infantry, commanded by Captain L. N. Morris; two
eighteen-pounders, commanded by Lieutenant Churchill, 3d
Artillery; 4th Infantry, commanded by Major G. W. Allen; the 3d
and 4th regiments composed the Third Brigade, under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Garland; and all the above corps, together
with two squadrons of dragoons, under Captains Ker and May,
composed the right wing, under the orders of Colonel Twiggs. The
left was formed by the battalion of artillery, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Childs, Captain Duncan's Light Artillery, and
the Eighth Infantry, under Captain Montgomery; all forming the
First Brigade, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap. The
train was parked near the water, under direction of Captains
Grossman and Myers, and protected by Captain Ker's squadron.

"About 2 o'clock, we took up the march, by heads of columns, in
the direction of the enemy, the eighteen-pounder battery
following the road. While the columns were advancing, (p. 286)
Lieutenant Blake, Topographical Engineer, volunteered a
reconnoissance of the enemy's line, which was handsomely
performed, and resulted in the discovery of at least tyro
batteries of artillery in the intervals of their cavalry and