Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-28

teI uepaiIment-WaS ordered 10 the extreme lei
and front of The plain, which was terminated BY
a deep ravine, extending from the mountain TO ,ht
road, with orders TO prevent the enemy from com
ing around by the base of the mountain.
Al 3 o'clock, as the enemy s light infantry wert
moving up The side Of the mountain and in The
ravines, they opened fire on our rifiemen from
a large howilzer posted in the road and between
3 and 4 o'clock Col. Marshall engaged the Me1i
can infantry on the side of the mountain, and the
firing continued on both sides at intervals unit
dark In this our troops sustained no loss, willis
that OF the enemy is known, by subsequent in
spection of the ground, TO be considerable After
the firing had ceased, the major general com.
handing again returned TO Salillo 10 see TO mat.
tiers at that place, and 10 guard against Gen. Mi.
non and his cavalry, taking with him the Missis-
sippi regiment and squadron OF the ID dragons
The troops remained under arms during The
night in the position they occupied al the close Of
the day. About 2 o'clock, m., of The 23i, our
pickeis were driven in by the MeIicans,, and al
the dawn Of day the action was renewed by the
Mexican light Infantry and our rifemen on The
side oil The mountain.
The enemy had succeeded during the night, and
early in The morning. in gaining The very top OF
The mountain, and in passing TO our left and rear
He had reinforced his extreme right by some
1900 to 1900 infantry.
Major Prail, Cd Illinois volunteers, was order
dered with his battalion OF rif1emen, 10 reinforce
Col. Marshall, who was engaged in holding The
right of The enemy in check
The enemy now opened FIRE upon our left
from battery planted on the side OF The noun
tain near where his light infantry had commenced
ascending it-everythIng now indicating that the
main attack would be against our left.
The ID Kentucky Infantry and Bragg's battery
-, M1sn
Mansfield, ordered from The extreme right, and
Sherman's battery ordered up from the rear 10
lake post with Col. Birrells regiment cd Illinois
volunleers) on the plateau which extends from
the centre of the line 10 The foot Of The mountain,
the sides of which were now filled with the Mex
lean infantry and our rif1emen, between whom
the firing had become very brisk. About This
time The major general commanding was seen
returning from Satillo with The Mississippi regi-
ment and the squadron OF the I'd dragons; and
shortly after he arrived and took his position in
the centre OF the field OF battle, where he could see
and direct the operations OF the day. ATS o'clock
a large body OF The enemy, composed Of infantry,
lancers and three pieces OF artillery, moved down
the high road upon our centre held by Captain
Washingion's battery and the Isl illinois volun-
,eers, but were soon dispersed by The former
The rapidly and precision of the fire OF The ar
tillery scattered and dispersed this force in few
minutes with considerable loss on their side, and
little or none on our own.
In connexi0n with this movement heavy CO.
lumn OF the enemy's infantry aud cavalry, and
the battery on the side of The mountain, moved
agains, our left, which was held by Brigadier Ge-
neral Lane, with The I'd Indiana regiment, and
Lieutenant O'Bfien's section OF artillery, by
whom the enemy's fire was warmly returned, and
owing to The range, with grea, effect by Lieuien-
ant O'Bren's artillery. General Lane, agree
ably to my orders, wishing TO bring his infantry
within striking distance, ordered his line 10 move
forward. This order was duly obeyed by Lieu
tenant O'Brien. The infantry, however, instead
of advancing, retired in disorder; and in spite of
the utmost efforts of their general and his OFF,
GERS. left The artillery unsupported, and fled the
field of battle. Some Of them were rallied by Co.
lionel Bowes, who, with The fragment, fell in The
ranks Of The Mississippi Tidemen, and during The
day did good service with that gallant regiment.
deeply regret to say, that most OF them did not
return 10 the field, and many OF them continued
their flight TO Saltillo.
Lieutenant O'Brien being unsupported by any
infantry and mol Icing able to make heaG against
the heavy column bearing down upon him with
destructive fire, fell back on The centre, leaving
one of his pieces at which all The cannoneers and
horses were either killed or disabled, in The hands
OF The enemy. Seeing themselves cut OIL from
The centre by the flight OF The I'd Indiana regiment,
and the consequent advance OF The Mexican IN
taniry and cavalry upon the ground previously
occupied by il, The Iifemen, under the command
of Colonel Marshall, retrealed from their position
in the mountain, where they had been so success.
fully engaged with the enemy, to the other side OF
the dry bed of a deep and broad torrent that IS
Immediately in rear Of our position. Here many
fed in disorder to The rear. Some OF them were
subsequently, rallied, and brought again into ac-
ton, with their brave companions; others were
s,upped al the hacienda OF Buena Vista, and there
re- formed by their officers.
The enemy Immediately brought forward
battery of three pieces, and took position on The
extreme left oil our line, under the mountain, and
commenced an enflading fire on our centre,
which was returned with so much effect upon the
advancing column OF the Mexicans, containing
near 5000 infantry and lancers, that II forced
them 10 keep to the upper side oil the pla-
tear close under the side of The mountain and,
instead Of turning 10 The left and advancing on
our centre, against the heavy fire OF SO much
well-served artillery, continued It's course perpen-
dicular TO our line on The extreme lett, crossed
over The bed Of the dry torrent, in the direction
taken by our relreating rifemen, keeping all The
while close 10 the foot Of The mountain Co.'s.
Marshall and Yell, with their cavalry companies,
Col. Nav. with the squadron OF the Isl and End
dragons. and Capt. Pixies squadron Arkansas
regiment in connexion with brigade oil intan-
try, formed of the Mississippi regiment, The Sd
Indiana, (Col. Lane,) and fragment OF the I'd
Indiana regiment, under Col. Bowes, and braeg's
artillery, and three pieces of Sherman's oatlery,
succeeded in checking The march OF this column.
The Mississippi regiment alone, and with now
ilzsr under Capt. Sherman, moved against some
ANN ~ thu anopu ctonDad thpm in their
march upon Sallillo. A large body OF lancers,
from this body, formed column In one oil the noun
tain gorges, and advanced through the Mexican
infantry, 10 make descent on The hacienda Of
Buena Vista, near which our train OF supplies
and baggage had been packed. They were gal
lantly and successfully mel by our mounted men
under Coils. Marshall and Yell, and the attacking
column separated-parl returning 10 Inc noun
tain under cover of their infantry, and part go
ing through the hacienda. Here The latter were
met by destructive fire from those men who hat
left the field iD the early part oil The action, ano
had been rallied by their officers. Col. Mays
dragons and a section OF artillery, under Lieut.
REYNOLDS, coming up al Ibis moment, completed
the rout of this portion of the enemy's cavalry
The column that had passed our LETT, and had
gone some two miles 10 our rear, now laced about
and commenced relracng their steps, exposing
their right flank TO very heavy and destructive
FIRE from our infantry and artillery, who were
drawn up in line parallel 10 the march OF the
retrealing column, OF whom many were forced
on and over The mountains, and many dispersed
Gen. Santa Anna, seeing The situation OF this
part of his army. and, no doubt, considering them
as cul of, sent in flag 10 the major general com.
handing 10 know what he desired. The general
asked me to be The bearer of his answer, 10 which
cheerfully consented, and proceeded Immediate.
ly 10 the enemys battery under The mountains to
see the Mexican general.n-chiei But in conse-
quence OF refusal 10 cease firing on our troops
to whom the news OF truce had not YET been com,
municated, and who were actively engaged with
the Mexican infantry, declared The parley a, an
end. and returned without seeing General Santa
Anna, or communicating The answer OF The gene
raj commanding.
The Mexican column was now in rapid retreat,
pursued by our artillery, infantry. and cavalry,
and, Notwithstanding The effect of our fire, they
succeeded for the greater part, favored by the con,
figuration of the ground in crossing The bed Of
The torrent and resaining The plateau from which
lhey had previously descended.