Battle of Angostura, First Day

Leaving the bulk of the army under Wool’s command, Taylor took a force including several artillery batteries to head off an attempt by General Miñon’s cavalry to cut off the American’s route of retreat to Saltillo. To accomplish this, however, the Mexican cavalry was forced to expose itself on the Saltillo Road, where it was subjected to a decimating artillery barrage. Ultimately Miñon was forced to withdraw.

Captain Pike’s Pulaski County company, along with the Philips County company, formed a squadron which Pike commanded. They were among the best trained of the Arkansas troops, and Taylor relied on them heavily. On February 22 they were stationed at Saltillo to discourage General Miñón’s threatening cavalry and escorted Taylor to the battlefield. The next day they were attached to the regular army Dragoons and again escorted Taylor to the battlefield from Saltillo, before being sent as a reserve to support threatened portions of the American lines. This kept Pike’s squadron out of much of the fighting during the battle, although when they were brought into play, it was where the action was the fiercest.