Being made sensible of the superiority of the American artillery, the Mexican general fell back upon the Ravine of Resaca de la Palma, drawing up his troops in a concave line to suit the physical character of the ground.

The Americans attacked the whole line with skirmishers, and with dragoons supported by light artillery, and the charge of a heavy column of infantry decided the victory.

General Taylor's operations at Monterey partook more of the nature of an attack upon an intrenched position than of a regular battle upon the field.

No doubt Worth's movement to the right had an important influence in deciding the contest, but the separation of his column from the main body, by a distance of some five miles, was, to say the least, a most hazardous operation.

The Mexicans, however, took no advantage of the opening to operate between the separate masses into which the American army was divided.