The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-16 00:00:00

each other to surrender—after the battle!

The following details of the conflict are from a New
Orleans paper, which reached New York at noon on
the 31st, just before the departure of the steamer
which passes over the Sound for Boston with the
mails and passengers for the Hibernia :
THE MEXICAN ARMY, LED BY SANTA ANNA,
DEFEATED AT BUENO VISTA WITH GREAT
SLAUGHTER.
We lay before our readers, in advance of our regular publi-
cation, the glorious tidings from the army, brought by the
schooner John Belt. Our reporter left the vessel in the river,
and came up to town by express with the news.
The following account was prepared for us by an officer of
the army. It may be relied upon. We publish also General Santa
Anna's account of the battle, from which it will be seen that
he has suffered a defeat, though he covers up his retreat with
a flourish of words. It will be seen that victory has been
won at a sacrifice of many brave men. _

To-morrow we will giie further particulars, prepared from
the editions of the Picayune, by Lieutenant J. J. C. Bibb, of
the United States army.
Dr. 'turner, of the United States army, who arrived at
Matamoras on the 9th instant, from Monterey. brought the
glorious inrelligence of another bril►iant victory over the
Mexican army. The scene of action was at Bueno Vista,
about six miles west of Saltillo.

The fighting commenced on the 22d of February, and
ended on the 23d. Santa Anna retired to Agua Nueva, a
distance of ten miles, leaving 4,000 killed and wounded up ,n
the field. The loss on our part was 700 killed and wounded.
Santa Anna's forces amounted to at least 15,000 men.

'hat of General;fa3lor'a to about 5,000 almost entirely

volunteers.

His army is composed of Washington's and Brag's Artil-
lery and Thomas's Batteries, one squadron of the Ist and 2d
Dragoons, the Arkansas and Kentucky Cavalry, a brig de
of lidnois and one also of Indiana Volunteers, the 14 Mis-
sissippi and 2d Kentucky regiments and company of Texas
Volunteers.

Dr. Turner brought a list of sixty-three officers killed and
wounded. I left in such haste that I was unable to obtain a

°LIZ; t a butnt - A
d u recollectta nt - m
b eane r°arg l
Unitedth e
killed e
sCaptain
,; Li tie o
Colonell n ,
Yell, of the Arksnsaa Cavalry; Captain Moor; Adjutant '
Vough, and three others not named of the Kentucky Cavalry ;
Captain M'Kee, Lieutehant-Colonel Clay, son of Henry
Clay; Captain Wiliis, 2d Kentucky Infantry; Colonel
Hardin sad Major Gorman, of the Illinois Brigade ; together
with many ot the Indiana Brigade, seveial of the Mississippi
Regiment, and the Lieutenants of the Texas Volunteers.
Awing the wounded I remember General Lane, Colonel
Jefferson Davis,. Ist Mississippi Regiment; Captain Stem,
Ist United States Dragoons; Captain Conner, of the Texas
Volunteers • Lieutenants S. G. French and O'Brian, United
States Artillery ; Lieutenant Barbour, 2d Kentucky :In-
tantry ; Lieutenant Corbin, let Mississippi Regiment; and
Lieutenant .Whiteside, of the Indiana Brigade.
.The official dispatches of General Taylor have been
cut off.

Colonel Morgan's regiment of Ohio Volunteers, being re-
inforced by a command from Monterey, had reached that
place in safety.

Colonel Curtis, of Ohio, with one company, Captain
Hunter, of the 2d United States Dragoons, his own egi-
ment, one of Indiana Volunteers, the Virginian Regiment,
and I think some Texas Rangers, in all about 2,000 men,
were about to leave Camargo, to attack General Urrea, who
is said to be about thirty miles south of that place, with an
army of 4,000 to 5,000 men, principally rancheros.
He is believed to have with him only 1,500 regular troops.
A great many, if not all, of these rancheros, as soon as
they hear of the destruction of Santa Anna's army, will dis-
perse, and the Gallant Colonel will, no doubt, obtain the
victory.

This news from above proves that the various reports
which had before been received of General Taylor's retreat
upon Monterey, and the advance of a large force to attack
our depots at the Brazos and at the mouth of the Rio Grande,
to be untrue. Of the defences at the mouth of the river, I
know nothing, but have been told that they are sufficient to
make a strong resistance.
The fortifications at the Brazos, with the force of artillery
and persons in the quartermaster's employ, which can be
raised as a garrison, are sufficient to drive back a command
of at least 2,500 or 3,000 Mexicans. The work, which may
be technically termed a continued line, enclosed all the guar-
terraivter's and commissaries' stores in the depot. The pa-
rapet is formed of barrels of damaged commissary stores,
with sand bags at the superior slope.
The sand from a ditch has been thrown up against the
barriers, and forms the exterior slope. The armament con-
sists of four pieces of artillery, two twelve and two six-
pounders, in barbette, which sweep the foot of and cross
three tires upon the level plain over which the enemy would
be compelled to advance, and about three hundred muskets
to line the parapet. This was thrown up when an attack
was daily expected.
Nothing having reached us from General Myler for several
days, we believe he has surrendered, as was reported. We
give some credit to the rumour of an advance of a large
body of the enemy upon our depot.
After waiting three or four days anxiously expecting the
approach of the enemy, we received the glorious news above,
understood, of course, that the battle of Brazos Santiago was
no go; and when I sailed the artillery of Fort Harney, in-
stead of mowing down the Mexicans, was pealing forth a
salute in honour of Old Rough and Ready and his gallant
army at Bueno Vista.
SANTA ANNA'S ACCOUNT.

We annex Santa Anna's own account of the actions of the
Bueno Vista, as translated for the Tampico Sentinel. We
have the original Spanish account in our possession :
Camp near Bueno Vista, Feb. 23.
Excellent Sir,—After two days' battle, in which the enemy
with a force of 8,000 to 9,000 men, and 25 pieces of artilley,
lost five of his positions, three pieces of artillery, and two
flags, I have determined to go back to Ague Nueva, to
provide myself with provisions, not having a single biscuit
or a grsin of rice lett. Thanks to the position occupied by
the enemy—he left on the field about 2,000 dead. Both
armies have been cut to pieces, but the trophies of war will
give you an idea on which side has been the advantage.
We have struggled with hunger and thirst during fort)
hours; and if we can provide ourselves with provisions we
will go again and charge the enemy. The soldiers under
my command have done their duty, and covered the honour
of the Mexican nation with glory. The enemy has seen
that neither the advantage of his position, nor the broken
nature of the ground, nor the rigour of the season (for it has
been raining during the action) could prevent the terrible
charge with the bayonet, which left him terrified.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
On the 22d Santa Anna began the battle, by various
manoeuvres, attempting to outflank and terrify Old Rough
and Ready. On that day the battle was confined to skirm-
ishing and cannonading, without much effect on either.
In the meantime Santa Anna had sent a large force to
Taylor's rear, but our artillery opened upon them with great
effect, and they were soon compelled to withdraw. On the
23d the battle commenced in real earnest, and raged with
great violence during the whole day.
The Americans did not want to be attacked, but with the
most daring impunity charged on the enemy with loud
huzzas, their officers leading them most gallantly. General
Taylor was everywhere in the thickest of the fight. He
received a ball through his over-coat, but was not injured.
Adjutant Bliss was slightly wounded at his side. Adju-
tant Lincoln, also, of the General's staff, the intrepid young
officer who so distinguished himself at Resaca de la Palma,
was killed.
The battle of the 23d lasted from early in the morning ti'

about four Pon., when Santa Anna drewoff his army,— an d
retired to Ague Nueva, to await a reinforcement.
It will be remembered that SantahaAdnnba'esencordpesiadyeedin reserve,its
commanded by General Vasques,
daisi
n anatdtem the
y
r many
of and has no doubt j'
battle, but in the mean
time
of his men deserting. hinisedarhmimy'isastfirr;
Captain Hunter's strong artillery company was not in the
action, but had left Monterey to join General Taylor with six
cannon, two of them being 18-pounders.
On the 7th of March one of the Ohio regiments also left
Monterey to join General Taylor. If these and the heavy
artillery of Captain Prentiss arrive in time, the General's
heavy loss will be fully repaired, and he will be ready to meet
Santa
at the last accounts, was still maintaining
A nn
Taylor,aguin
General
pinriisseoan et
or s
Choaldo
ntaken
Marshallplace, at d
gOeltd
bßaocukg hc and. Rcel aadyyaa'neingdpe
his position, undisturbed by the enemy. An
exchao
M.
nge of
party by taking Mexican prisoners enough to exchange fur
them has been fully redeemed.
General Wool greatly distinguished himself in the action,
and all the officers fought like heroes. After the battle
General Taylor demanded of Santa Anna an unconditional
surrender of his whole army, which the latter declined; but
in return requested General Taylor to surrender immediately.
immortal be the reply of Old Rough and Ready, as delivered
oy the gallant Lieutenant Crittenden
" Gener,d Taylor never surrenders!"
Santa Anna's Adjutant General was captured by the
'.inerican,, but was afterwards exchanged. General 'Cad for
ccupied his ground on the 24th and 25th without oppositioni
Mexicans,
Colonel Morgan, of the Ohio volunteers, with a small
, force, cut his way through large bodies of armed
I and arivod at Marin. A detachment of three companies,

- • .
- •
naier onntnanci. anti Ockatel, Owings wM font to. his a
and the *hole party- are said to hav4l !1,171"" in ,fety a
•
s
Monterey. - _
A train of one bundrectinecied the United
s of
States, on their way, figiii_Maaterrej, t-t uurgo, under an
W
escort of thirty vobutteartfcTeglaiW6l by a body Of
riuo. Three of
.
Mexican cavalry irfee'lactlei beyond 3i
the men made good their escape the reL,t. were =en
prisoners.
A young lady, the daughter of an American citizen, livtg
in Mexico and returning home from New Orlean.s, where 8,.1212„
had been going to school, was taken with this tram,
father having been killed by the Mexicans. She haA sacs
_,=
and arrived at Monterey in safety, where her mis:for"1""
had excited the most lively sympathy. The lady's nalaa is
Miss Burns.
Colonel Curtis, of the Ohio volunteers, had started on :big
expedition against Urrea, who was at Aldernas, a village oil
the San Juan river, above forty miles from Camargo.
The Colonel has a fine force of volunteers, composed of tilt
Ohio and Indiana regiments, and two or three companies of
Virginia volunteers, and Captain Winter's company of
United States dragoons. ,
The Mexicans have possession of Saraivo, China, Mier,
and all the towns beyond Camargo and Monterey. Major
Coffee, pavitristvr, will carry on General Tali ,r's dispatched
to blinterev. _ _

V
--''

Previously to the departure of the Hibernia it was ru-
moured that Vera i-uz had surrendered to the Aniericans.
however, wants confirmation. In relation to the re-
port we give the following trunk the Washington Union:—
" The streets of our c:ty have thus day bee.n inundated with
rumours about Y.-ra Cruz. It has been sai I that the city
had surrentl,-red without firing a gun. and that the Castle of
San Juan d'Ulloa was b:own up. Neither of these rumours
is correct, as tar at leas
a. the Government is now advised.
The facts are these :
" A letter, which we have seen. hrs been received this day
from Havannah, which states that or, the previous evening
the steamer ississipri had arrived fro:3 Vera Cruz, having
taken the place of the unfortunate Tweei7, which has been
recently shipwrecked on the coast. From the reliable ac-
counts brought by her it wou:d appear that Santa Anna
had ordered the troops to be withdrawn from the city, leaving
the Castle to defend itself. According to an order issued by
Santa Anna, it appears that his troops are to make a stand
at the Puerte Nacional—the National Bridge—about 23
miles from Vera Cruz. This is a strong military position, of
which Madame Calderon (the lady of the Spanish Minister
in Washington, to whose beautiful and admirable Life in
Mexico; being a Residence of Two Years in that Country,'
fmn.1839 to 1841, we are indebted for so ranch amusement
and 'formation) gives the following description :
"‘ We arrived (on travelling from Vera Cruz to the capital)
at Puerte Nacional; formerly Puerte del Rey, celebrated as
the scene of many an engagement during the revolution,
and by occupying which Victoria frequently prevented the
passage of :he lilf7tniqi troops ;And that of the convoys 'c
silver to the port. Here we stopped a short time to
admire the beaUtiful bridge thrown over the river
Antigua, with its stone arches, which brought Mrs. Ward's
sketch to my recollection, though it is very lung since I saw
the book. We were accompanied by the commander of the
fort. It is now a peaceful-looking scene. We walked to the
bridge, pulled branches of large white flowers, admired the
rapid river dashing over the rocks, and the fine bold scene&
that surrounds it. The village is a mere collection of huts,
with some fine trees.
" Our Baltimore correspondent states that there is no foun-
dation for the report."