infantry. These batteries were soon opened upon us, when I
ordered the columns halted and deployed into line, and the fire
to be returned by all our artillery. The Eighth Infantry, on our
extreme left, was thrown back to secure that flank. The first
fires of the enemy did little execution, while our
eighteen-pounders and Major Ringgold's artillery soon dispersed
the cavalry which formed his left. Captain Duncan's battery,
thrown forward in advance of the line, was doing good execution
at this time. Captain May's squadron was now detached to support
that battery and the left of our position. The Mexican cavalry
with two pieces of artillery were now reported to be moving
through the chapparal to our right to threaten that flank, or
make a demonstration against the train. The Fifth Infantry was
immediately detached to check this movement, and, supported by
Lieutenant Ridgely, with a section of Major Ringgold's battery
and Captain Walker's company of volunteers, effectually repulsed
the enemy, the Fifth Infantry repelling a charge of lancers, and
the artillery doing great execution in their ranks. The Third
Infantry was now detached to the right as a still further
security to that flank, yet threatened by the enemy. Major
Ringgold, with the remaining section, kept up his fire from an
advanced position, and was supported by the Fourth Infantry.

"The grass of the prairie had been accidentally fired by our
artillery, and the volumes of smoke now partially concealed the
armies from each other. As the enemy's left had evidently been
driven back, and left the road free, the cannonade having been
suspended, I ordered forward the eighteen-pounders on the road
nearly to the position first occupied by the Mexican cavalry, and
caused the First Brigade to take up a new position still on the
left of the eighteen-pounder battery. The Fifth was advanced from
its former position and occupied a point on the extreme right of
the new line. The enemy made a change of position corresponding
to our own, and after suspension of nearly an hour the action was
resumed.

"The fire of artillery was now most destructive; openings were
constantly made through the enemy's ranks by our fire, and the
constancy with which the Mexican infantry sustained this severe
cann