McINTOSH COUNTY. 419 



to the command of Fort Mitchell, in Georgia, during the con- 

 troversy with the Federal Government, a situation of great de- 

 licacy for a Georgian ; he contrived, however, in obeying his 

 orders, to give no offence to his native State. He was then 

 employed in the west ; remained some time at Fort Gibson in 

 Arkansas, and was thence transferred to Prairie du Chien ; then 

 to the command of Fort Winnebago in Wisconsin; then to the 

 command of Fort Gratiot in Michigan, and finally to Detroit, 

 from which place he was ordered to Texas. He arrived at Cor- 

 pus Christi in October, 1845, and reported to General Taylor; 

 and on leaving this place for the Rio Grande he commanded a 

 brigade. He was present at the battles of Palo Alto and Re- 

 saca de la Palma, on the 8th and 9th of May. At the former 

 he displayed his usual self-possession in the midst of dangers; 

 and in a charge of lancers, 1500 strong, he threw his thin but 

 gallant regiment into square to receive them, and poured 

 upon them a fire so deadly, that great numbers were slain, and 

 the rest broke and fled in confusion. 



At daylight on the morning of the 9th, the Mexicans be- 

 ing reinforced by unknown numbers, and our army surrounded 

 by perils, and encumbered by a large train of supplies, 

 a council was called to deliberate whether to return to Point 

 Isabel, to intrench and wait for reinforcements, or to pro- 

 ceed to the relief of Fort Brown. Colonel Mcintosh promptly 

 and energetically advocated the latter measure, and the 

 hazards of another battle. In a few minutes, the little ar- 

 my, with their brave General at their head, was moving 

 forward. The battle of Resaca de la Palma soon ensued, 

 in which Colonel Mcintosh was hopelessly wounded. When 

 charging the Mexican lines, his horse was killed in passing 

 through the chapparal, and a number of Mexicans in am- 

 bush sprung upon him. One plunged a bayonet in his thigh ; 

 another bayonet struck his wrist, passed between the bones 

 of the left arm, which it broke, and came out on the opposite 

 side, a little below the elbow. While defending himself alone 

 against such odds, he received another bayonet in the mouth, 

 which he grasped with his teeth ; the sturdy Mexican thrusting 

 it forward with all his strength, overturned and pinned him to 

 the ground, the bayonet's point passing out at the back of the 



