Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-15
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
General 1aylor's detailed report Of the Bat
tie of Buena Vista.

aqua NueVa, March D, lS47.
SIR: have the honor 10 submit detail.
ed report of the operation of the forces
under my command which resulted in the
engagement of Buena Vista, the repulse of
the Mexican army, and the reoccupation of
this position. ~, ..,,...,.. .....,l ..., |
The informaiion.- which reached me of
the advance and concentration of heavy
Mexican force in my front. had assumed
such probable form, as to induce special
examination far beyond the reach of our
plckets to ascertain its correctness. A
small party of Texan spies, under Major
McCulloch, despatched to the Hacienda of
Encarnacion, 80 miles from this, on the
route to San Luis Potosi, had reported a
cavalry force of unknown strength at that
place. On the Goth Of February strong
reconnaissance under Lieut.. Col. May was
despatched to the Hacienda of Helconda,
while Major McCulloch made another ex-
animation of Encarnacion. The results of
these expeditions left no doubt that the ene-
my was in large force at Encarnacion un.
der the orders Of General Santa Anna, and
that he meditated forward movement and
attack upon our position.
As the camp of Aqua Nueya could be
turned on either flank, and as the enemy's
force was greatly superior to our own, par.
ticularly in the arm Of the cavalry, deter
mined, after much consideration, to take up
position about eleven miles in the rear,
and there await the attack. The army
broke up its camp and marched at noon on
the 2lst, encamping at the new position a
little in front of the Hacienda of Buena
Vista. With small force proceeded to
Saltillo to make some necessary arrange
ments for the defence of the town, leaving
Brig. Gen. Wool in the immediate com.
mand of the troops.
Before those arrangements were compile
ted on the morning of the 22d, was ad-
vised that the enemy was in sight, advan-
cling. Upon reaching the ground, it was
found that his cavalry advance was in our
front, having marched from Encarnacion,
as we have since learned, at IL o'clock on
the day previous and driving in mounted
force left at Aqua Nueva, to cover the re-
moval of public stores. Our troops were
in position occupying a line of remarkable
strength. The road at this point becomes
a narrow defile, the valley on its right being
rendered quite impracticable for artillery,
by system of deep and impossible gullies,
while on the left succession of rugged
ridges and preciptous ravines extend far
back towards the mountain which bounds
the valley. The features of the ground
were such as nearly to paralyze the ar,il-
lery and cavalry Of the enemy, while his
infantry could not derive all the advantage
of its numerical superiority. In this posi-
ton we prepared to receive him. Capt.
Washington's battery. 9th artillery was
posted to command the road, while the lst
and I'd Illinois regiments under Colonels
Hardin and Blssel, each eight companies,
TO the latter of which was attached Capt.
Corners company of Texas volunteers)
and the I'd Kentucky under Col. Mckee,
occupied the cresls of the ridges on the
left and in rear. The Arkansas and Ken
lucky regiments of cavalry, commanded
by Coils. Yell and H. Marshall occupied
the extreme left near the base of the noun
tain, while the Indiana brigade, under
Brigadier Gen. Lane, composed of the I'd
and Sd regiments under Coils. Bowles and
Lane,) the Mississippi rifemen under Col.
Davis, the squadrons of the LIST and I'd dra-
goons under Capt Steen and Lieut Col.
May, and the light batteries of Capts.
Sherman and Bragg, Sd artillery, were held
in reserve. At ii O'Clock, | received from
| Ucil. odu'd huud euHtlioile 10 euTTSUutI
at discretion, which with copy of my re-
ply, have already transmitted. The enc.
my still forbore his attack, evidently wait
ing for the arrival of his rear columns
which could be distinctly seen by our look.
outs, as they approached the field. A de.
monstration made on his left, caused me to
detach the I'd Kentucky regiment and a
section of artillery to our right, in which
position they bivoucked for the night. In
the meantime, the Mexican light troops
had engaged ours on the extreme left
composed of parts of the Kentucky and
Arkansas cavalry dismounted, and rifle
battalion from the Indiana brigade under
Major German, the whole commanded by
Col. Marshall) and kept up sharp fire
climbing the mountain side, and apparently
endeavoring to gain our flank. Three pie
ces of Capt. Washngtons battery hae
been detached to the left, and were supper
ted by the I'd Indiana regiment. An occa
sional she'll was thrown by the enemy int
this part Of our line, but without effect
the skirmishing of the light troops wa
kept up with lrifling loss on our part unit
dark, when became convinced that no Sc
rious attack would be made before III
morning. and returned with the Mississippi
regiment and squadron Cd dragons TO Sal
tillo. The troops bivouacked without fire
and laid upon their arms. A body of cav
airy, some fifteen hundred strong, had bee
!. visible all day in rear of the town, havin
entered the valley through narrow pas
| - a. oss olrx, 10