Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-04-29

and canister from Mexican battery on the left Capt.
OBrcn fond il impossible TO retain his position
without support. but only able to withdraw two
OF his pieces all the horses and cannoners of the
third piece being killed disabled. The I'd Indiana
regiment, which had fal-r back as stated, could not
be rallied and took further part in the action,
cept handful Of men, who, under its gallant Colonel
Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment, and did good
service and those fugitIves who at later period IN
the day, assisted in defending the train and depot at
Buena Vista. This portion Of our line having given
way, and the enemy appearing in overwhelming force
against our left flank, the light troops which had rem
dered such good service the mountain, were COM
PEELED TO withdraw which they did, for the most part,
in good order. Many, however, were not rallied I'M
al they reached the depot at Buena Vista. to the de-
fence Of which they afterwards contributed.
Colonel Bissell's regiment cd Illinois,) which had
been Joined BY a section Of Captain Shermans bat
terry had become completely outfanked, and was COM
PEELED to fall back. being entirely unsupported. The
enemy now pouring masses of infantry and
cavalry along the base of the mountain our left,
and was gaining in great force At this
moment arrived on The field. The Mississippi regi-
ment had been directed to the le before reaching the
position, and immediately came into action against
the Mexican infantry which had turned our flank.
The ID Kentucky regiment and a section Of artillery
under Captain Bragg had previously been ordered
from the right 10 reinforce left, and arrived at
most oppor tune moment. That regiment, and n por-
tion of the lst Illinois, under Col. Hardin, CALAMITY
drove the enemy, and recovered portion Of the
ground we had lost The batteries Of Captains Sher-
man and Bragg in position the plateau,
and did much execution, not only in front, but par
iicularly upon the masses which had gained
Discovering that the enemy was heavily pressing
upon the Mississippi regiment, the third Indiana
regiment, under Colonel Lane, was despatched to
strengthen that part of line, which formed
CROCHET perpendicular TO the first line of battle At
the same time Lieutenant Kilburn, with piece of
Captain Braggs battery, directed to support the
infantry there engaged. The action was for long
time warmly sustained at that pOint-the enemy
making several efforts both with infantry and cavalry
against line, and being always repulsed with
heavy oss. had placed all the regular cavalry and
Captain Pixies squadron of Arkansas horse under the
orders of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel May, with d.
rectons to hold In check the enemys column, still
advancing tc the along the base of the mountain
which done in conjunction with the Kentucky
and Arkansas cavalry under Coones Marshall and
Yell. In the meantime our LETT, which was still
strongly threatened by superior force, further
strengthened by the detachment OF Captain Bragg's
and portion of Captain Shermans batteries, to that
quarter. The concentration of artillery fire upon
the masses of the enemy along the base of the noun
tain and the determined resistance offered by the two
regiments opposed to them had created confusion in
their ranks, and of the corps attempted to effect
a retreat upon their main line of battle. The squad
ron of the LIST Dragons, under Lieutenant Rucker,
ordered up the deep ravine which these
retreatng corps endeavorng to cross, in order
to charge and disperse them. The squadron pro-
ceeded to the point indicated, but could not
pli~h the object being exposed to heavy fire from
battery established the retreat of those corps
While the squadron detached on this service,
large body of lheenemy was observed to concentrate
on extreme left, apparently with view of max
| ing q descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista,
where train and baggage were deposited Lieut..
Colonel May ordered to the support of that point
with two pieces of Captain Sherman's battery under
Lieutenant Reynolds. In the meantime the scattered
forces the hacienda, composed In part of Ma
jors Trail and Germans commands, had been to some
extent organized under the advice of Major Munroe,
chief of artillery with the assistance of Major Nor
rison, volunteer staff, and were posted TO defend the
position Before our cavalry had reached the baci-
enda that of the enemy had made its attack, having
been handsomely met by the Kentucky and Arkansas
cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell The
Mexican column Immediately divided, portion
sweeping by the depot, where it received destructive
fire from the force which had collected there and then
gaining the mountain opposite, under FIRE from It,
Reynolds section, the rema lining portion regalhing
the base of the mountain our left. In the Charge
at Buena Vista, Colonel Yell fell gallantly at the
head of his regiment also lost Adjutant Vaughan
Of the Kentucky cavalry-a young officer of much
promise. Lieutenant Colonel May, who had been
reloned by the squadron of the LIST Dragons and by
portions of the Arkansas and Indiana troops under
Lieut.. Col. Roane, and Maj German, now approached
1
/ flank of the enemy, upon whose masses, crowded in
the narrow gorges and ravines, artillery was
doing fearful execution.
The position of that portion Of the Mexican army
which had gained our very critical, and
it seemed doubtful whether it could regain the main
body. At this moment | received from Gen. Santa
Anna message by staff officer, desiring to know
what l wanted F! / Immediately despatched Brig
General WOOL to the Mexican genera-in-chlef, and
sent orders to cease firing Upon reaching the
/ Mexican lines, Gen. Wool could not the enemy
to cease their fire, and accordingly returned without
having an interview. The extreme right of the
enemy continued lis retreat along the base of the
mountain, and finally, in spite OF all our efirts,
effected junction with the remainder of the army.
During the day, the cavalry of Gen. Mih1n had
assembled the elevated plain above SaItlo, and
pied the road from the city to the field of battle,
where they intercepted several Of our men. APP
preaching the town, they were fred upon by Captain
Webster from the redoubt occupied by his company,
and then moved off towards the eastern side of the
valley, and oblquey towards Buenl Vista. AT this
time Captain Shower moved rapidly forward with his
piece, supported by a miscellaneous command Of
mounted volunteers, and fired several shots at the
cavalry with great effect They driven into
the ravines which lead to the lower valley closely
pursued by Captain Shower, who was further sup
ported by piece of Captain Websters battery under
Lieutenant Donaldson, which had advanced from the
redoubt, supported by Captain Wheeler's company,
Illinois volunteers. The enemy made one or two
efforts to charge the artillery, but finally driven
back in a confused mass, and old not again appear
upon the plain.
In the mean time, the firing had partially ceased
upon the principal field. The enemy seemed to con-
fine his efforts to the protection of his artillery, and
| had left the plateau for moment, when was
called thither by a very heavy musketry fire. On
reganing that position discovered that our infantry
cxxI rbuN had rro tlr