Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-27

F,:n lAs 81. Loai. 6sloa.

editor Of that paper, who among the FIRST IN Hit
n2is 10 volunteer. Every incident connected with
that bloody and desperately contested struggle pos
great interest at this time Ii is said that Gen.
TAYLOR remarked after the battle, that if the Misss-
sippl regiment had been regulars tie day would have
been lost but that the Mississippi volunteers although
thrice beaten, never knew il. The proprieiy Of the
remark depends the supp0siton that regulars would
have been aware of their critical position at the
mens referred to, and would have withdrawn, from
Considerations OF prudence, leaving the enemy to
complete the important movement, nearly successful,
on which the fate Of our army depended. We do not
mean by this That there other and tTuer reason
for the herOism displayed by this regiment. Like
most volunteers, the Missssippans, possessing. IN
faering confidence in their colonel, were ready 70
rush into whatever dangers he might wish them To
meet, and no order could be unacceptable than
for a retreat Although retreat IN good order, un-
der Calling fire fierce charge evinces the highest
order Df Goodness aud courage volunteers DIFF
ferently-ihey never Ike to Z" take the back track"
With them, to Ego ahead" is the only mode of sue
cess and when ordered 10 retire, they too often Jump
ut the conclusion that - the game is up" Hence
they frequently break in retreat, under msaPPre-
tension of the order, Of the design OF the COM
handing officer. Ii was in this way of the lndi-
regiments has suffered in Its reputation Its Colo
mel left his men, instead of attempting to rally them,
and his conduct may have been the of their
precpitate acis. Ii is stated that he quit his regi-
ment it began TO ialler, and that act was
probably U'isconstrued by the who'd rank ana fle.
At such a momenl his services were most needed with
his own men.
The editor of the Free Trader saws HAEDIN's fegi-
ment and WAsHIN6ToN's battery were placed on the
22d, to guard the pass the left OF line
They about miles in front of Gen. TAYLOR's
camp, and were the first to meet the foe. The pass
was about twelve feet wide On its left at some dis
lance, a bluff 400 feet high and ON the right
Tavnes running for about miles towards the Sal
tillO road. redoubt thrown up al the pass
where WAsmNGToN's battery placed; and HAR-
DIN's regiment extended along the adjoin ng "a
vine to the right, and the ridge between thatTa,ne
and the next in front.
The first movement Of the enemy on the 22d, was
to bring up and station his twenty -four Founders on
an eminence near enough to reach our battery. The
calibre of the enemy's pieces twice great as
ours. Whilst this was going on our forcos advanced
to Buena Vista and took positions the ridges be-
hind Hardin and the bluff. The enemy then
sought to reach the pass with the view of forcing it
and turning our left flank. As he was. emerging
from ravne in front of our line, HARDIN's regl-
ment and two Mississippi companies climbed from
the Favine where they had been Standing. to the ridge
beyond, and poured fOrha volley which caused the
MeycanS TO rush back hastily to the ravne they had
Just left. Similar movements occupied the remaining
hours of the 22d, both armies remaining in their
spectve positions
During the night, most of our horsemen and the
ID Indiana regiment placed the left, near the
MCkEE's regiment and Braces battery were station
ed on the extreme right Of our line 10 protect that
flank. They must have been nearly three miles dis
tant from the pass The remainder of our forces
were in the neighborlood of HARDIN's regiment.
At o'clock, heavy column of Mexican horse
and infsntry advanced the left Of the pass, with the
view of forcing their way along the foot of the noun
tain As this Mexican force gained the mountain,
cur sSirmishers who had been thrown forward, fell
back. This the time, we believe, at which it IS
said the I'd Indiana regiment broke 1t was IN the
position to meet the first advancing column of the
enemy IN that directions As far as the accounts 60,
it not properly supported at the moment, and
could not resist the overPowering attack. The I'd
Illinois and other regiments were hurried forward IN
that direction, and after keeping the enemy at bay
for two hours, ordered TO withdraw to deep
vine 300 yards in the rear. O'BRIENs three pieces
were then lost the Mexican column being supported
with heavy pieces, eighteen and tweny-four pound
ers. The Kentucky and Sd Indiana assisted by the
Arkansas regiment then charged the enemy, but
successfully. They fell back TO reform under cover
Of deep ravne. The Mexicans advanced a mile
down the foot of the mountain, and were met by the
I'd Illinois, part of the let Illinois, the kentucky,
Mississippi and Sd Indiana regiments, and beaten
back in that quarter. The main body of the Mexican
column however, pressed ON. The I'd Illinois regi-
ment ordered back to protect the train; HARDIN
and the Kentucky infantry TO support Braces battery
which had been brought up. Col. MARsHALLs regi-
ment, the two Indiana and the Mississippi again
charged the enemy and drove him some distance up
4 the mountain. Cox NAYS Dragons and a portion OF
the Arkansas mounted nf5nsb1sdea Charge also, and
divided the Mexican column. About ZOO Mexican
lancers dashed forward in the direction of train
where they were met and dispersed, whilst MAY re-
newed his charge on the Mexican column and routed
the horse entirely. As the Mexican cavalry broke
it threw confusion into the ranks Of the enemy and
the whole column fell back. WAsgNGToXs battery
BRACES battery the Kentucky cavalry Nfrss. .lra.
goons the two Indiana regiments and the Mississippi
rifles, poured deadly fire upon the retreaing foe
The carnage was tremendous, and white flag was
seh: TO TAYLOR. That trick enabled them to escape
behind their heavy battery, and saved them from a
total route.
1t was now that Col. Hardin, who had got u, ar
additional company of his regiment by this time
ordered, having asked for the order several time
before, to make charge upon the heavy Mexican
battery near the foot Of the nountain that had beer
terribly in our way all day. But he knew not how
heavily that battery supported. The Mexicans
relied upon their right arm. and besides the i'm
mense columns they had all day in the engagement
they kept reserve Of or 1000 cavalry and lancer;
behind hill, conceang them completely from US, L
support the battery III any event. So when they saw
their whole force retTeating they easily knew that
zsattempt would be made upon the battery, and the
reserve Immediately moved up. Hardin dashed
of with his five companies confident that he would
have difficulty in driving the retreating Mexican
legions, though they might outnumber him 70 to 1
but he had barely opened his FIRE, when this reserv
upon him; yet his boys stood their ground ant
next Col. Clay advanced TONS Assistance with part o
his regiment: and Col. BIsse Of the I'd Illinois
brought up fragment of his, and here this handful
of men maintained their ground for over half IN hou
against not only the that had come up, bI
against the whole Mexican army that could fnd4vofr