The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-19
TIL E U MON.

Prenss ls artillery was near at hand when dis
covered that the enemy had abandoned his position du
ring the night Our scouts aseeraned that ne haa
fallen back upon Aqua Nueya. The great disparity OF
numbers, and the exhaustion OF our troops, rendered
inexpedient and hazardous to attempt pursuit stan
officer despatched TO General Santa Anna to nego-
tate an exchange of prisoners, which was satisfactorily
completed on the following day. Our own dead were
which large number had been LEFT upon the field, were
removed TO Salno and rendered rs comfortable as cir
cumstances would permit
On the evening OF the 26th close reconnaissance was
made OF the enemy's position, which was found to be
occupied only by small body OF cavalry, the infantry
and artillery having reueated IN the direction OF San
Luis Potosi On the 27h our troops resumed their for
mer camp at Aqua Nueva, the enemys guard evac
uatng the place we approached, leaving consdera-
bic number OF wounded II was my purpose to beat up
his quarters at Encarnacon early the next morning. but
upon examination, the weak condition OF the cavalry
horses rendered il unalvisabe attempt long march
without water. A command finally despatched to
Enearnaeion on the Isl OF March, under Col Beknap
Some two hundred wounded, and about sixty Mexican
soldiers found there the army having passed on IN
the direction of Maehuala with greatly reduced mum,
bers, and suffering much from hunger The dead and
dying strewed upon the road and crowded the build
ngs OF the hacienda.
Vista shown by the accompanying field report to have
been 33i officers and 42j men, exclusive OF the small
command lett in and near Salto OF this number Two
squadrons OF cavalry and three batteries OF light artie
~. making not more than 133 men, composed tne only
force of regular troops. The strength OF the Mexican
army is stated by Gen Santa Anna, IN his summons, to
be 10000 and that estimate is confirmed by all the nior-
nation obtained Our loss is 267 killed, 400 wound
ed and 90 missing. OF the numerous wounded, many
did no, require removal TO the hospital and is hoped
that comparatively small number Will be permanently
disabled The Mexican loss IN killed and wounded may
be fairly estimated at 800, and VIII probably reach
1000 AT least 500 of their killed were left upon the
field of battle. We have no means OF ascertalnng the
number of deserers and dispersed from their ranks,
but il is known 10 be very great
Our loss has been especially severe IN onlceIs twenty
eight having been killed upon the field We have TO la
nent the death OF Capt George Lincoln assistant adlu
an general, serving on the stall OF Gen Wooi-a young
officer of high bearing and approved gaaniry who fell
early in the action No loss falls more heavily upon the
army in the field than that OF Coils Hardn and Mckee,
and Lieut. Col Clay. Possessing in remarkable de-
gree the confidence OF their commands, and the last two
having enjoyed the advantage OF military education,
had looked particularly 10 them for support IN case we
met the enemy need say that their zeal IN engaging
the enemy and the cool and seadfast courage with which
they maintained their positions during The day fully real
lied my hopes and caused me 10 feel yet more sensibly
their untlmely loss
perform a grateful duty in bringing to the notice OF
the government the general good conduct OF the troops
Exposed for successive nights without fires to the seve
" OF the weather. they were ever prompt und cheerful IN
the discharge of every duty, and finally displayed con-
spcuous s,eadness and gaantry in repusing at great
odds disciplined foe. While the brilliant success
achieved by their releases from the painful ne
cessy of specifying many OF bad conduct before
the enemy, feel increased obligation to mention par
tcular corps and officers, whose Skill cooness and gal
lantry in trying situations and under continued ana
heavy fire seem to merit particular noh hf.., m
ton OF several of the volunteer regiments was attained
under his command, and to HIS vigilance and arduous
Services before the action, and his galantry and activity
the field large share of success may justly be
attributed. During most of the engagement he was IN
immediate command of the troops thrown back on our
left flank beg leave TO recommend hm to the iayora
bic notice of the government Brlgadier General Lane
Slightly wounded) was active and Jealous throughout
the day. and displayed great GOODNESS and gaany before
the enemy.
The services of the light artillery, always conspicuous
were more than usually distinguished. Moving rapidly
the toughest ground was always IN acton at the
right place and the right time, and It's weli-dected hre
dealt destruction in the of the enemy. While
recommend TO particular favor the gallant conduct and
valuable services of Major Munroe, chief Of artillery
and Captains Washington, lth artillery, and Sherman
and Bragg Sd artillery commanding batteries, deem IT
more than Just to mention all the subatern offces
They snearly all detached at different tines and In
every situation exhibited conspicuous skill and gallantTy
Captain OBrlen Leuenants Brent Whiting, and Couch,
18th artillery, and Bryan typographical engineers (sgh
ly wounded,) attached TO Captain Washingtons
battery. Lieutenans Thomas, Reynolds, and French,
Sd artillery, Severely wounded to that Of Captain Sher
man; and Captain Shower and Lieut. kilburn, 90 arti-
ley 10 that OF Captain Bragg Captain Shower IN con-
lunc'onwith Lieut. Donaldson LIST artillery rendered gal
liant and important service in Tepulsing the cavalry OF
General Mnon The regular eayaTy under Lieut. ool
of Arkansas horse rendered useful service IN holding
the enemy check and in covering the batteries at sew
era points Captain Steen, LIST Dragons, severely
wounded early in the day while CALAMITY endeavorng,
with my authority, 10 rally the troops which were falling
10 the
ly conspicuous for then gaantry and seadiness and
sustained throughout the engagement the reputation OF
veteran troops Brought into action against an immense
~ superior force, they for long
time unsupported and with heavy loss and held an I'M
poFtant part OF the field until reinforced. Col Davis,
though severely wounded, remained in the saddle until
the close OF the action His distinguished GOODNESS and
gaanry at the head OF his regiment on this day enMe
him to the particular notice OF the government Inc
Sd Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane, and "a
fragment of the I'd, under Colonel Bowles, were
associated with the Mississippi regiment during the
greater portion of the day, and acquitted themselves
credtaby rcpuIsng the attempts of the enemy to break
Colonel Marshall rendered good service dsmounled act
ing light troops lett and afterwards with por-
OF the Arkansas regiment, in meeting and dispensing
the column of cavalry at Buena Vista The LIST and I'd
Illinois, and the I'd Kentucky regiments served immedl
atey under my eye, and bear willing testimony to
and gaantry with which the st Illinois and ID Ken
lucky engaged the enemy the morning. restored conn.,
dence to that part of the field while the list OF casual
ties will show how much these three regiments suffered
in sustaining the heavy charge of the enemy in the after
Captain Corners company OF Texas volunteers,
attached to the I'd Illinois regiment fought bravey ITS
captain being wounded and two subaerns killed Col
Bisse the only surviving colonel Of these regiments,
merits notice for his GOODNESS and bravery on this occa
sion After ther fall of the field officers OF the LIST Illinois
and ID Kentucky regiments, the command OF the former
devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Weaherford; that OF
the latter upon Major Fry
Regimental commanders and others who have render
ed reports speak in general terms OF the good conduct OF
their officers and men, and have specified many Names but
the limits of this report forbid recapitulaton OF them
here may, however, mention Lieuienants Rucker and
Campbell, of the dragons, and Captain Pike Arkansas
cavalry, commanding squadrons Lieutenant Colonel
Field Kentucky cavalry; Lieutenant Colonel Roane, Ar