Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-06-15

cnemy's infantry, and after sharp
rencontre with their cavalry, in which
ours acted well, and performed some
fsats Of daring chivalry, they retired in
good order, having had two men Sc
verely wounded, and several horses
killed; in the mean time, the infantry
/ under the command of Lieut.. Col. VIII
lard, and Col. Busl's regiment, with
the artillery, had marched out for the
Ipurposeof covering the retreat, II ne.
cessary. All these fell back in good
J order TO our encampment about sunset,
and remained without any ostcnsible
action until the 2lst; at halfpast three
o'clock, taking the first refreshments
which they had enjoyed for two days.
The enemy in the mean time extended
the right flank Of their infantry SO as
to occupy the extreme point OF skirt
Of timber on the bank of the San Jacin-
to, and secured their left by fortifica-
ton above FIVE feet high, constructed OF
packs and baggage, leaving an opening
/ in the centred Of the breastwork in which
their artillery was placed, the cavalry
upon their left wing.
About nine 9 O'Clock on the morning
Of the 2lst, the enemy were reinforced
by 500 choice troops under the COM
mand Of Gen. Cos, increasing their eff
fective force to upwards Of 1900 men,
while our aggregate force for the field
numbered 1873. At half past three o.
clock in the evening, / ordered the Of
fcersoft the Texian army to parade their
respective commands, having in the
mean time ordered the bridge OH the
only road communicating with the Bra
EOS, distant eight miles from our en-
campnent, to be destroyed, thus cut
ting of all possibility Of escape. Our
troops paradcd with alacrity and spirit,
and were anxious for the contest. Their
conscious disparity in numbers, only
seemed to increase their enthusiasm and
confidence, and heightened their anxi-
ETY. for the conflict. Our situation af-
forded me All opportunity Of making
the arrangements prcparatoryto the at
tack, without exposing our designs to
the enemy. The Isl regiment com-
manded by Col. Burleson, was assign
ed the centre. The ed regiment, un-
der the command Of Col. Sherman, for
med the left wing Of the army. The
Artillery, under the special command
of Col. Geo. ". Herklcy, inspector
general, was placed on the right of the
LIST regiment; and four companies of
Infantry, under the command Of Lieut..
Col. Henry Willard, sustained the Ar
tillery upon the right. Our Cavalry,
sixty-one in number, commanded by
Col. Mirabou b. Lamar, (whose gal
liant and daring conduct on the previ-
GUS day had attracted the admiration Of
his comrades, and called him to that
station,) placed on our extreme right,
completed our line. Our cavalry was
first dispatched to the front of the enc
my's left, for the purpose Of attract
ing their notice, whilst an extensive ISL
and Of timber afforded us an opportuni-
ty Of concentrating our forcesAnd dis
playingfrom that pointagreeatly to the
previous design Of the troops Every
evolution Inexperienced with alacrity,
the whole advancing rapidly in line. .
andsthrough an open prairie, without
any protection whatever for our men
The artillery advanced and took sta
ton within two hundred yards Of the
encmy's brcastwork, and commenced
an effective fire with grape aud cannis-
ter.
Col. Sherman with his regiment ha-
wing commenced the action upon our
eft wing, the whole line, at the cen ,
re and on the right, advancing in dou-
u, quick time in the centre, rung the
var cry "Remens6cr the .4Ian,o,' re-
.eived the enemy's FIRE, and advanced
within point blank shot before a piece .
vas discharged from our lines. Our ]
inc advanced without halt, until they
we're in possession Of the woodland and !
he enemy's breastwork. The right
wing Of Burleson's and the left Of Mil
ord's taking possession Of the breast /
york; our artillery having CALAMITY
harged up within 20 yards Of the enc 3
'y's cannon, when it was taken by our
roops. The conflict lasted about eigl,. 8
zen minutes from the time Of close ac-
on, until we were in possession Of the /
nemy's encanpment, taking one piece $
cannon, loaded four stand Of CO. p
ors, all their camp equipage, stores and a
'aggage. Our cavalry had charged and d
outea thatoftheenemy upon the right,
~ !. gwen pursuittot hefugitives, which p
10 mol cease untikthey arrived at the Il