of the shoulders of his horse, and then striking the left thigh in the A large mass of muscles and integuments were carried away from each thigh, but the arteries were not divided, nor the bones broken. During the whole day he had managed his artillery in a masterly manner, directing his shot not only to groups and masses of the enemy, but even to particular men. He saw them fall, their places occupied by others, and they in turn shot down, as he still pointed his guns to the same place, feeling as confident of his mark as though using a rifle.

IEUTENANT-COLONEL CHILDS'S battalion moved up to support the artillery on the right. It was followed by a strong body of cavalry, which, notwithstanding a severe fire from the eighteen-pounders, prepared to charge. The battalion was formed in square, in order to meet the attack; but when the advancing squadrons were within close range, a fire of canister was opened upon them with withering effect, and soon they were in full retreat. A brisk fire of small arms was now opened upon the square, by which Lieutenant Luther was wounded; but a well-directed fire from the front of the square silenced all further opposition in that quarter.

C

While these events were transpiring on the right, the Mexicans had made a serious attempt against the American left. Lieutenant Duncan met this by a masterly movement, which largely contributed to the final success. Under cover of the smoke, he moved rapidly round to the enemy's right, and then, suddenly unlimbering, poured in a galling enfilade fire upon their flank. Shells and shrapnell shot told with murderous effect, and in an instant the enemy's masses were in disorder. A charge of cavalry at this moment would have swept the whole field; but, as such a movement would have endangered the train, the American general wisely forebore. As night approached, the fire of the enemy slackened, and it ceased on both sides with the setting of the sun. The Americans lay all night upon their arms, on nearly the same position that the enemy had occupied in the morning.

The total force of the Americans in the battle of Palo Alto was two thousand two hundred and eighty-eight, including one hundred and seven officers, but a portion of this force took no part in the oattle. The loss was nine killed, forty-four wounded, and two miss

ing. The force of the Mexicans, according to the statements of their own officers, was not less than six thousand regular troops, with a large irregular force, and ten pieces of artillery. "Their loss," says General Taylor, "was not less than two hundred killed, and four hundred wounded-probably greater. This estimate is very moderate, and formed upon the number actually counted on the field, and upon the reports of their own officers."*

The havoc committed by our artillerists, amid the densely crowded masses of the enemy was indeed terrible. When the Americans passed the battle-field on the 9th, they found heaps and groups lying piled upon each other, in every imaginable position, and mangled in every possible manner. The prairie was in many places dyed with streams of blood for several yards, and where the grass had been burnt, carcasses of men and horses blackened with fire and blood caused the hearts of the victors to recoil within them. The efficiency of the flying artillery, so remarkably shown in these battles of the 8th and 9th of May, became more and more conspicuous in the subsequent actions of the war. Major Ringgold, who fell at the battle of Palo Alto, is entitled to the perpetual remembrance and gratitude of his countrymen, for his exertions in contributing to bring this efficient arm of the service into so high a state of discipline.

URING the night the two armies slept quietly, almost in sight of each other. The night was serene and beautiful, the moon casting a soft light on every thing around; and but for the groans of the wounded, and the screams of those suffering under the knife of the surgeon, no one could have imagined the scenes which had occurred during the day. The first care of General Taylor was to visit the wounded, and see that every comfort was supplied. But the constant and well-directed exertions of the medical department left him but little to do-every one, whether officer or soldier, having been attended to with unwavering care and watchfulness.

A council of officers, held at night on the battle-field, having decided to go forward, General Taylor, early on the morning of the

POSITION OF THE MEXICANS.

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9th, formed his line of battle and moved forward. Far in the distance was seen the enemy's host, moving slowly towards the chaparral which bounded a view of the eastern horizon. As the soldiers moved over the recent battle-field, many an eye was pained at the spectacles of misery lying thickly around. Where the artillery had performed its fearful office, men and horses shattered and mutilated, were lying thickly piled upon each other. The wolf and the vulture were revelling upon them, with whose screams were mingled the groans of many who through the whole night had writhed and moaned in the intensity of suffering. Arms, trappings, provisions, and clothing, strewed the field; the prairie was red with blood; and many a gallant spirit, whom the shock of battle could not daunt, felt sick and childlike as he gazed upon the wounded and dying on the field of battle.

On approaching the chaparral, General Taylor became convinced. that the enemy had occupied it in force. Another battle seemed inevitable; and to prepare for it the commander halted his troops near a convenient watering-place, where they were allowed a season of repose. Captain McCall, with some light companies under Captain C. F. Smith, and a select detachment, was ordered to advance and reconnoiter the enemy's position. They numbered about two hundred and twenty. Captain McCall, with the artillery and infantry, moved along the left of the road, Captain Smith on the right, while Captain Walker with some rangers was thrown in advance, and Lieutenant Pleasanton, with the 2d dragoons, brought up the rear. Walker charged a party of Mexicans, killing one and capturing another. McCall entered the chaparral, and perceived other parties of infantry with some cavalry. These were fired upon by Captain Smith. On reaching the borders of a ravine, known as Resaca de la Palma, Captain McCall was met by a discharge from a concealed battery, which killed or wounded three of his men, and drove the remainder into the thicket. At the same time Lieutenant Dobbins was charged by some cavalry, and fired upon from the battery, and after a slight skirmish his men were defeated. McCall now collected his command, and placing them in a strong position, sent three dragoons to inform General Taylor that the enemy were in front.

The position chosen by the enemy for the second day's battle wa a most admirable one for defensive warfare. The ravine known as Resaca de la Palma, is nearly two hundred feet wide, and four feet deep. It is crossed at right angles, by the road to Matamoras. The ridges on each side are covered with dense rows of chaparral, utterly impenetrable to horse, and defying every weapon save the bayonet In the thicket nearest the Americans, as well as in the ravine below,

the enemy lay in double rows; and another line of them extended through the chaparral on the opposite bank. Three batteries were placed so as completely to sweep the road, their fires at the same time crossing each other. Through such a pass, defended by six thousand veteran soldiers, must Taylor's little army of less than two thousand men pass. In this respect, the battle-field of the 9th presented a marked contrast to that of Palo Alto, where, as we have seen, each army was drawn up in open space, and thus every opportunity afforded for maneuvering. We will find a consequent difference in the mode of conducting the attack-the engagement of Palo Alto being almost entirely of artillery; that of Resaca de la Palma, depended on other and more decisive weapons.