Fiery Finale Wayside

This wayside provides a summary of one of Captain James Duncan’s actions during the battle.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Brownsville, TX

Main Text

As darkness fell, Captain James Duncan—who was positioned about 200 yards to your left—demonstrated the full potential of the new U.S. "flying artillery." As Mexican horsemen and infantry charged the left end of the United States line, Duncan's men rushed their cannon forward to meet the attack. Their swift, skillful movements turned back the charge and brought the battle to a dramatic end.

Quote Text

Captain Duncan moved rapidly. unperceived under cover of a dense smoke...and opened so unexpected and destructive a fire upon it that their ranks were broken and hundreds of them mowed down and the whole right wing of their army thrown into the utmost confusion. This closed the day... ~ Phillip Nathan  Barbour, captain, 3rd Infantry Regiment

[The) enemy infantry, supported by two squadrons of cavalry….moved steadily forward to the attack...[my) battery opened upon them, with round shot, shells, and spherical case, so well directed that the whole advance…fell backward in disorder...until [the Mexican forces] disappeared in the chaparral. ~ James Duncan, captain, 2nd Artillery Regiment

Sub Text

Duncan's gunners moved and fired and moved again so swiftly that they not only stopped the Mexican charge but even continued in pursuit of the retreating troops. No one had ever seen cannoneers operate this way on a battlefield before.

Image Description

Center
Historical depiction of a U.S. Army light artillery crew in action.