velope both armies in the smoke of artillery, and even to set on fire the long grass of the prairie.

The firing of the Mexicans now ceased, and for an hour both armies remained quiet. Meanwhile the enemy formed a new line

of battle, and the American general ordered forward the eighteen pounders nearly to the position first occupied by the lancers, and caused the first brigade to take up a new position still on the left of the eighteen pounder battery. The fifth infantry was also advanced from its former position, and occupied the ground to the extreme right of the new line.

These changes effected, the battle recommenced with great fury. The artillery of Churchill and Ringgold did even more execution than before; and yet the broken ranks of the enemy were filled up with a promptness and courage which excited the admiration of their antagonists. In order to throw them into confusion, Captain May's squadron was ordered to charge, if possible, the left; but after considerable loss he was obliged to desist from a paucity of troops. Meanwhile the fourth infantry was exposed to a most galling fire of artillery, by which they lost a large number in killed and wounded, and among the latter Captain Page. About the same time, while Major Ringgold was directing one of his pieces, he was mortally wounded by a cannon ball which passed through both his thighs and the body of his horse.*

* Samuel Ringgold was born in Washington county, Maryland, in 1800. His father was General Samuel Ringgold, and his mother a daughter of General John Cadwalader, so renowned in the annals of the American revolution. Young Ringgold was sent to the Military Academy at West Point, in 1814, and was graduated at the head of his class in 1818, having creditably performed the arduous duties and requirements of that institution. He entered the army as lieutenant, and was soon after recommended to General Scott, whose head-quarters were then at Philadelphia. Being satisfied with his merit, as well as somewhat acquainted with his family, the general immediately selected him for one of his aids, and he repaired to head-quarters and joined the staff, in which he remained for nearly three years. During that time he enjoyed the respect and confidence of his superior, and profited greatly by the instruction he received under so accomplished a soldier. He possessed qualities of heart and mind which endeared him to his associates and superiors, and was one of the few who may be said to have no enemies, although belonging to a profession so eminently calculated to engender envy and rivalry.

Upon leaving the staff he entered active service, doubly qualified by the advantages he had enjoyed, and the close application he had pursued while in this honorable position. He was attached to the third regiment as lieutenant

During these movements, Lieutenant-Colonel Childs's artillery had been brought up to support the artillery on the right. As the cavalry of the enemy were now advancing, notwithstanding a severe cannon

by brevet, and in July 1822, he was promoted to first lieutenant in the place o Samuel Spotts, who had been raised to captain.

In 1831, he accompanied his command to Fort Moultrie, S. C., where he remained until the difficulties occasioned by the "nullification" question were ended. In July of the following year, 1834, he received the rank of captain by brevet, to date from May 8th, 1832. In August 1836, he was promoted to captain, and assigned company C, third artillery. In the latter part of the same month he was sent, with his command, to Savannah, Ga., in order to garrison the fort at that place; and shortly after he was commanded to Florida, where he served through the greater part of the war, to the great injury of his health. The rank of major by brevet was conferred upon him for his "meritorious services" in that territory.

By orders of November 5th, 1838, his company was disbanded, and he was instructed to proceed to Carlisle, Pa., and organize and equip a company of light artillery. This was in conformity with an act of 1831, to "authorize the mounting and equipment of a part of the army of the United States," the men to be entailed from the first and second artillery, and to be dropped from the rolls of their respective companies, and mustered as company C of third regiment. The major's former company, then in the field, was broken up, and the men transferred to other companies of the regiment, the subalterns only joining the company of Carlisle.

Major Ringgold now applied himself diligently to perfecting the discipline in this arm of the military service. His efforts were highly successful, and mainly through his instrumentality and that of Captain Duncan, the flying artillery has become the most important military branch in service. Though, perhaps, never thoroughly tested until on the plains of the Rio Grande, yet the great share it there contributed toward a successful result, has distinguished it as one so valuable, as to demand the serious attention of the government in order perfectly to organize and extend it. The performances of the flying artillery in an engagement are of the most ingenious character, and the effects of the battery the most destructive to an enemy. The necessary arms are the sword, pistol, and cannon, the latter used almost as expertly as the former. "They advance rapidly, halt with astonishing suddenness, dismount, separate their cannon from the carriages, replace them, mount, and start off again. At a certain signal after the firing, they instantly drop; while the enemy, supposing them disabled, venture too near, and in an instant are completely surprised, and are shot down before they. can collect themselves."

Major Ringgold was ordered from Fort McHenry to Texas with the "army of observation." When General Taylor left Point Isabel on the 7th of May, the major, with his regiment, occupied a position near the vanguard. At Palo Alto the Mexicans opened their batteries on the right, half a mile from the American line, and were answered by two eighteen-pounders in charge of Lieutenant Churchill. Ringgold took position to the right and front of the eighteen pounders, at a distance of seven hundred yards from the enemy (subsequently advancing one hundred yards) and opened his battery with tremendous effect. He pointed the guns with his own hand, and with unerring precision, directing the shot not only to groups and masses of the enemy, but to particular individuals. He saw

ade, the battalion of artillery was formed into square, in order to receive their charge; but when the advanced squadrons were within close range, a fire of canister from the eighteen pounders, dispersed

them fall in numbers; their places occupied by others, who in their turn were shot down, and he declared that "he felt as confident of hitting his mark as though he had been using a rifle." During all this time the infantry were formed as a support in his rear, and cheered rapturously the brilliant movements and destructive execution of his battery.

At length a regiment of the enemy's lancers were seen to make a demonstration toward the right, apparently to gain possession of the wagon train. Lieutenant Ridgely was detached with two pieces to check them, leaving the major with but a small number of men. He continued, however, to play upon the enemy with his two remaining pieces, advancing, retrograding, or shifting his position, according to the nature of the action, for three hours, when he was shot through both thighs by a six-pound ball. He was mounted at the time, and the ball came from the right, passing through his right thigh, about midway, at right angles through the holsters, tore away the front part of the saddle and the horse's shoulders, and passed into the major's left thigh. An officer ran to his aid, but the major exclaimed-" Don't stay with me: you have work to do—go ahead." He was conveyed to his camp under charge of Dr. Byrne, placed in comfortable quarters, and his wounds dressed. A great quantity of muscles and integuments were carried away from both thighs, and yet the arteries were not divided, nor the bones broken. Dr. Foltz, surgeon of the United States army, remained with him during the night. He had but little pain, and at intervals slept. He continued to grow worse through the 9th, but conversed cheerfully upon the incidents of the battle, constantly adverting to the efficiency of his guns, and the brave conduct of his officers and men. He died at one o'clock on the morning of the 10th of May, and was buried on the next day with military honors, lamented by the whole camp.

"He was an accomplished gentleman, beloved by his friends, and respected by all. He was devoted to his profession, and justly appreciated the high responsibilities of an officer in command. He rigidly enforced discipline at all times, and in all things; and yet, probably, no officer had more entirely the respect, the confidence, and the affectionate regard of all his officers and men.” The Philadelphia North American thus speaks of his death:—

"The death of this accomplished officer is a heavy loss to the country. He had been entrusted with the revision of a system of tactics for our army, and devoted much time and study to improving upon the English and French systems. His corps was as fine a one as any service could boast. He leaves unfinished we think, a work which he was preparing on the utility and practicability of the flying artillery arm in service. Major Ringgold's constitution was much impaired by his long campaigns in Florida, but passionately attached to the profession of arms, he still remained in the army, and died a martyr to his country.

"His death has stricken thousands of hearts, that gush under the blow with feelings which no ordinary public calamity could have excited. He was generally known and appreciated in this city as the Bayard of the age-the star of the war; and his career was watched with anxious eyes and hearts. That it would be glorious no one doubted; but who thought that an orb so bright would sink so early? The soul of chivalry and honor, accomplished as a soldier, lofty

them. The fire of the enemy now ceased, and with it the action on the right of the American line.

Meanwhile the enemy had made a serious attack against the left. Their movements were for a while concealed by the smoke of the burning plain; but this having dispersed, Captain Duncan discovered and communicated to Lieutenant Belknap the fact, that the enemy were moving the entire cavalry and infantry of their right wing upon the train in rear of the American left. He was ordered to proceed to the threatened point immediately, and hold the enemy in check, until the eighth infantry could come to his support. He rapidly advanced in full view of the enemy, moving so unexpectedly that they were compelled to halt, before a shot had been fired or a gun unlimbered, and engaged them within range of their small guns.

A strong body of the enemy's infantry, supported by two squadrons of cavalry, now issued from the extreme right point of the chapparal, and moved forward to an attack. They were driven back by a discharge of shells and round shot from a part of the battery, the other part in the meanwhile playing upon the cavalry, which had halted in front of the guns. Their broken column rallied and returned to the attack, but were again repulsed in greater disorder than before. At the same moment the cavalry which had hitherto maintained their ground, rushed back upon the advance columns, communicating a panic from squadron to squadron, until their entire right wing was in full retreat. The artillery continued its fire until the enemy had gained the chapparal, when darkness put an end to the battle.

The force of each army in this battle, together with the killed and wounded and other incidental matter, will be gathered from the despatches of the two commanders which we insert.

as a patriot, beloved as a man, it demands an agonizing struggle to reconcile us to such a sacrifice. And yet it is a noble one. In the flash of his fame he has died, as he lived-for his country. The offering was doubtless a glad one. He desired no better fate than such a death; he could leave no richer inheritance than such an example. While we feel as if destiny had robbed the future of the fame which such a nature must have won, we dare not repine that his career has been closed in its morning with this sunburst of glory. His memory will be gratefully cherished so long as honor has a victory, freedom a hero, or his country a name."