Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-04-27
80, FROM MAI. AT. MORRISON.
prrxA VIsrA, f6 miles south OF Saltiiio')
Mexico EehrnnrY 90, ls4I.

c,..-After one Of the most desperate
.a~ninar- battles. Of this or any other age,
ssd myself sufficiently compose Dr., .i,. TO under
az :. .boYt the 81 or 4ih Of Feb. Gen. Tay-
O:.. .jl his forces, amounting to about 800
- -. ,ren advanced from SalfIio. on the San
pososi road, to a small Hacienda, called
- Nueys, New Water) where he eneamped
~ remained until sunday. 'ne <n eo,"sy.
sS;ch day at IL o'clock, no commenced
% 49,. moyement towards SsltiIio, and re-
~uI - miles to Buena Vista. pronounced
$780,. v.eda.") He there encamped at pass
...r the mountains where the only road -
ss:s..n an abrupt hill, extending 10 the noun
be'v ~. south and row Of ravines on the
Ss'as Oh .d;nc across tho valley to the noun
se''"' ~. .ame side. Here he threw up a
tnns o" w nkm ent so as TO reduce the pass
snoH IT, wagon road way. On Monday NOR.
- about o'clock, our pcAets announced
-. s.oproach Of the Mexican army commando
crrr,. Anna in person, and accompanied by
Amoudia, consisting Of 1000 or II ,ooo
cell armed and equipped, and PROVIDED
.I large train OF artillery, from = to "a poun-
~" They drew up and formed for battle at
s:.,.ree some two three miles from our INES,
- Gen Santa Anna sent forward nag Vi
-. demanding a sure nder OF our army, prom
~. "a treat us with becoming clrm-ncv, sta
80, ~. numbers to amount to 2O,O0O men, ana
20 our hour for consideration and answer.
Zen TAYLOR promptly returned ior ahs"e, ,'ia'
1. cared not for the size OF his army. as ne az
Ia, had a army that was able TO whp ~ o"'
c.,,, Anna saw fit to sure nder TO him he wo"iu
h treated in proper manner lhese cere"
-. beiny over, at 10 minutes before = crock,
, H. the Mexican batteries opened Inc CONNECT
L.. discharge Of bombs. which was promptly re-
tanned by our light artillery After an exchange
~ n, .,ots the Mexican columns began to adj
~. and after a short time gained an impor-
80, nosition on the mountain side, on the south
- The pass The y. S. army was posted in de-
,.ehed portions in such manner as best to sub
s.yve the intentions Of our Generals -FOUR
rae companies Of the Indiana brigade, under the
.ommand Of Major German, were ordered to
;,,.,cr,, the progress Of the Mexicans, who
vryc attempting to cross the mcnnta,n ranges to
mass our left flank. These companies very ac-
lively ascended the mountain, and lay behind
ridge. The Mexicans opened Il very brisk and
continued fire upon them, which lasted until
dark. The Tihemen. commanded by Capts
walker Sluss, Dunn and Osborn, Law close, and
tvs Of the companies only were enabled TO shoot
vheu the enemy advanced to the brow of the
ridre, which they did do with very conslde rabe
.asct. killing many Of the Mexicans. Our rifle
nep had only two three slightly wounded
Tins ended the operations of the first day. and
hofh armies Law upon their arms upon the field,
thrsug, "a cold and inclenent night. AT the early
dawn the contest was enewed on the mountain
ade and when the light rendered ii possible to
make accurate observation. IT was discovered
hat not less than 5000 of them were on the hill
aide above our forces, where and when they pour
I'd forth an inc-ssant vollev of musketry upon
our lines below, and upon the riflemen who had
again attempted to prevent their progress around
M. mountain The Mexicaus had also erected
.bafterv near the base of the same mountain,
and their cavalry and lancers were moving in an
immense column, eud-avoring to force passage
towards Saltilo. on our left flank. The second
Indiana regiment commanded by Col Bowie.
and led by Gen Joseph Lane in person, was
fo,med so as to be in front Of the advancing
eolnmn. The second Illinois, Col. Harden, was
next and the Kentucky, G l. Mckee, came in
IN the supnort of the ohrrs. in checking the col
umn Of the enemy. The Kentucky cavalry. Col
Humphrey Marshal, aud tn. Arkansas cavalry,
Cot Yell, were in the mountain gorge attempt
ing TO aid the rifemcn in opposing the thanking
column Of the enemy. Here tho whole line be-
come hotlv engaged, and a most de IDLY, vigorous
and gallant conflict, Of AT least three hours ragged
between the contending hosts. the artillery OH
both sides playing during the whole time upon
the contend masses. After the contest had
fairly opened, the Mississippi regiment of rifle
men. commanded BY Col. Davis. marched into
the engagement at IA mos; critical moment, and
srdentIv engaged the Mexican column. SO very
numerous were the forces of the Mexicans. and
20 obstinatciv and effectively did they maneuvre
and fight that il required all the bravery, skill
aad devotion Of our brave men to Withstand them.
Our officers most gallantly. heroically, and glo-
YiouslY led their men to the charge and TO the
eanucn's mouth. and the fatigued and exposed
volunteers most CALAMITY gave twenty full
rounds Of mrsketry, being at the same time I'M
der a most destructive and CALLING fire of cannon
and grape shot, which enfilded their ranks fro n
left "a right, aud which! was also met By the
FIRE of the ,exican infantry. AT the time that
the Mississippi regiment came to the attack, the
pressure upon the left wing Of the second reg-
ment Of Indiana volunteers was so great that a
&cft lin. w compeilct q q and
some Of them reiterated in disorder, but it was
after they had stood their ground equal to any
veterans for three hours, and after reg nj upon
segime MT of fresh troops had been brought to
bear aud charge upon them Many Of them
d.yotedly paid the forfeit of their lives the
nr;ce Of their bravery, and those who fell back
only did SO when further resistance seemed un-
,vniling part of the Arkansas squadron of
horse, who had dismounted, and fought vaiantly
on foot were also compelled to retreat from the
line. but they had nobly stood for long time,
exposed to every chance of death before they
vsvered in the least. lie re was a most impor-
iant iuneture in the affairs of the day. and here
the prowess Of American arms, sustained by
American hearts and nerves. was shown 10 be
spper,or to all the force of numbers, the Cisci-
pline of regular veterans, and the ferocty of the
savage and mercenary hordes. who so vigorously
pressed upon comparatively small army
The gallant Mis.issippians most nobly led their
way to the hottest of The fight; and at this period
we're Joined by many of the second regiment of
lndianians who had been forced to separate from
their comrades. The third regiment of Indiana
volunteers commanded by Col. J. H. Lane, was
now for the first time allowed to participate in
the action, having been previously stationed near
The right wing, where it was supposed the enemy
would make desperate effort 10 force passage,
should that point be, by any means weake ned
The third most CALAMITY moved TO the support
Of the Mississippians. and participated in open
81 e. a