Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-04-15
LOB PRINTING.
The Battle of Buena Vista.
From the New-Orleans Delta, March =

We had the pleasure of an interview yesterday
with Major Coffee, of the Army, who brought over
Gen. Tavlor's dispatches. This gallant officer
son of the distinguished General who fought so
bravelv on the Plains of Chalmet,e, and in various
other battles, by the side Of the lustrious Jackson
acted as the Aid of Gen. Taylor in the bloody
fpht at Buena Vista We are greatly indebted to
him for many particulars of this hard-fought bat
fle
Gen Taylor had fallen in love, at first sight,
with the position at which he finally made his
stand at Buena Vista. His move toward Aqua
Nueva was merely ruse to decoy the enemy into
the field which he had selected for his battle
ground. AS soon as McCulloch's men, who were
invaluable as scouts. informed him of Santa An
mas approach to Aqua Nueva, Gen Taylor qui-
etly broke up his camp and fell back to his first
love-Buena Vista. This position was admirably
chosen. 1t was at the foot of a mountain, or ra-
ther OF two mountains, between which ran the road
through narrow valley. On his right there was
deep ravine, which protected that flank more ef-
fectuay than half a dozen regiments could have
DONE The left of Gen. Taylor's line rested on
the base of a mountain. The road in the center
was entrenched and defended by strong battery.
In front the ground was uneven-broken into hills
and deep ravines--well adapted to the mode of
fighting suited to our volunteers, and by It's Pecu-
iarities supplying the disadvantage of great in
1erlority OF numbers.
On the 2lst, the enemy were decried, approach
ing over the, distant hills. At their appearance
the volunteers raised great Shout and gave three
t,amondouc chaorc Their onoinaerS and of1IcprS
were seen flying over the field, and dragging their
cannon about TO get them into position; but the ma
ture Of the ground did not favor the undertaking,
and it was too late in the day before the big guns
began to open.
The enemy had with them thirty-two cannon,
mostly Of large calibre. Their fire, though kept
up very brlskly, and apparently well manned, did
little execution IN our ranks that il was not
considered necessary TO return their fire. Our
cannon were therefore silent the whole Of the 2Is
Eight or ten killed and wounded were the extent of
the casualties sustained by our army on the 2lst.
During the day an officer approached our lines
with flag of truce, and requested to be shown to
Gen. Taylor. The brave old man was sitting
quietly on his old white charger with his leg over
the pommel of the saddle, watching the movements
OF the enemy, when the Mexican officer was pre-
sented In very courteous and graceful man.
ner the officer stated that he had been sent by
his Excelency Gen. Santa Anna, TO his Excel
lency Gen. Taylor, to inquire, in the most respect
ful manner, what he [Gen. Taylor] was waiting
for" From the silence Of General Taylor's bat
teries, and the quiet manner in which he received
Santa Annals terrific eannonading. the Mexican
supposed he was asking very pertinent question,
TO which, however, old Rough aud Ready gave the
very pertinent reply that she was only waiting for
Gen. Santa Anna to surrender The Mexican
returned hastily to his lines. This message proved
to be ruse to ascertain where Gen. Taylor's DO
sition was, for after the return Of the MexicSn of
fcer 10 his own ranks the whole Mexican battery
seemed to open upon Gen. Taylor's position, and
the balls flew over and about him like hail. Ut
1ery indifferent to the perils Of his situation there
sal the old chief, on his conspicuous white horse
peering through his spy glass at the long lines of
Mexican troops that could be seen at a great dis
tance on the march The persuasion of his aids
could not induce him to abandon his favorable
point for observation, nor give UP his old white
horse. To the suggestion OF his staff that old
whitley was rather too conspicuous charger for
the commander, he replied ''tiat the old fellow had
missed the fun at Monterey. on account of a sore
loot, and he WAS determined he should have his
share this time"