Clash Between Mexican Cavalry and U. S. Dragoons
Battle of Resaca de la Palma

Mexican-American War 1846-1848. Brassey's History of Uniforms. Ron Field. Osprey, a division of Reed Ineternational Books, London, England. 1997. Painting by Richard Hook.

On 8 May 1846, a squadron of the 2d U. S. Dragoons, under Capt. Charles A. May, were ordered to charge the Mexican artillery at full gallop in columns of fours. They cleared the guns with little loss, but their momentum was so great that it took them a quarter mile further and exposed them to heavy fire from the flanks. Losing all semblance of order, some of the Dragoons ran into Mexican cavalry which consisted of the 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments and the Presidiales. After heavy skirmishing, May's command managed to return to its own lines with several prisoners, including the Mexican field commander, Gen. Diaz de la Vega, who was captured by Dragoon bugler Winchell.

In this plate, U. S. Dragoon in the foreground wears the non-regulation yellow cap band associated with his regiment, and is about to engage with a member of the Mexican 7th Regular Cavalry, raised in Mexico. The latter wears the uniform adopted by his unit in 1839. Behind them is a lancer of the Mexican 8th Regular Cavalry, raised amongst the Active Militia of Puebla. In the background are two members of the Presidial Companies of Mexico. Also armed with lances, as well as the sabre and carbine, these troops were greatly experienced in frontier warfare, but were subsequently neglected as a fighting force by Santa Anna.