Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/28

24 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