Richard Ellis Cochran distinguished himself by bravely leading his men into battle during the Mexican-American War.

The Battle of Resaca de la Palma was the second engagement of the Mexican War. It was fought May 9, 1846, a few miles north of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, one day after the retreat of the Mexican army at Palo Alto.

The Mexican troops under the command of Maj. Gen. Mariano Arista and the Americans under Maj. Gen. Zachary Taylor had fought to a draw at the Battle of Palo Alto on May 8 (three years later, Major General Taylor would be the President of the United States).

During the night Arista had withdrawn and established new positions in a dry streambed or resaca, Resaca de la Palma, which crossed the road between Matamoros and Port Isabel and provided the Mexicans with a strong defensive position. Sometime after 2:00 P.M. Taylor ordered the attack. After considerable difficulty with the Mexican artillery the American Dragoons and light infantry forced the Mexicans out of the resaca. The Mexicans counterattacked twice, were beaten back both times, and fled in panic, leaving behind all manner of baggage. Among the items left were 474 muskets and carbines, eight pieces of artillery, Arista’s correspondence and silver service, and the colors of the Tampico Battalion. Of the 1,700 Americans engaged in the battle, thirty-three were killed and eighty-nine wounded. Of an estimated force of 4,000, the official records show the Mexican losses as 154 killed, 205 wounded, and 156 missing, many probably drowned trying the cross the Rio Grande in the dark of night. Taylor claimed to have buried 200 Mexican dead.

On the American side, Columbia’s Richard Ellis Cochran was among those who bravely fought and died. The following is gleaned from a direct report of the battle:

The strength of our marching force on this day, as exhibited in the annexed field report, was 173 officers and 2,049 men; aggregate 2,222. The actual number engaged with the enemy did not exceed 1,700. Our loss was three officers killed, thirty six men killed and seventy-one wounded. Among the officers killed I have to regret the loss of Lieutenant Inge, 2d dragoons, who fell at the head of his platoon, while gallantly charging the enemy’s battery; of Lieutenant Cochrane of the 4th, and Lieutenant Chadbourne of the 8th infantry, who likewise met their death in the thickest of the fight. The officers wounded were Lieutenant Colonel Payne, inspector general; Lieutenant Dobbins, 3d infantry, serving with the light infantry advance, slightly; Lieutenant Colonel McIntosh, 5th infantry, severely, twice; Captain Hooe, 5th infantry, severely, (right arm since amputated;) Lieutenant Fowler, 5th infantry, slightly; Captain Montgomery, 8th infantry, slightly; Lieutenants Gates and Jordon, 8th infantry, severely, each twice; Lieutenants Selden, Maclay, Burbank, and Morris, 8th infantry, slightly.

This battle ended the 6-day siege of Fort Texas and secured the north bank of the lower Rio Grande and it paved the way for further American advances into Mexican territory. The victory boosted American morale and demonstrated the effectiveness of Taylor’s troops. Among them 1st Lieutenant Cochran.

Richard Ellis Cochran was the son of Richard Ellis, Sr. and Eliza Evans—both from Delaware but who died in Columbia. All are interred at Mount Bethel Cemetery.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Resaca_de_la_Palma

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/resaca-de-la-palma-battle-of

https://www.mymexicanwar.com/battles/460509-resaca-palma/#google_vignette