Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-04-29
General Taylor's Detailed Report Of tn,
Battle of Buena Vista,
HEADauARrERs, AnMY OF OCCUPATION. |

Sin: have the honor 10 submit, a detailed reoor,
of the operations of The forces unJer NV command
which resulted in The euosgencn, of Dycna Vista.
the rspulse Of .he Mexican army. and the reoccupa.
tion Of this position ~
The information which reached me or tho al.
vance and concentration Of a heavy Mexican force
in NV front had assumed such a probable form. a.
10 induce speciaI examination far beyond the
reach of our pickets 10 ascertain its correctness A
small party Of Texan spies, under Major Nc Cul-
Ioch. despatched TO the Hacienda of Encarnacon,
80 miles from this, on the route San Luis Potosi,
had reported cavalry force of unknown strength
at that place On the 20th Of February a strong
Reconnaissance under L. Col MAY was despatched
10 the Hacienda of Heclionda, while Major Nc
CnlIoch made another examination of Encarnacion
The results of these expeditions leit no doub, tina,
the enemy was in large force al Encarnacion under
the orders of Ienefaf Santa Anna. and that he med
itated a forward movement and attack upon our DO
siton.
As the Camp of Aqua Neuya could be turned on
either flank, and as the enemy's force was greatly
superior TO our own particularly IN the arm Of cav
alfy. determined. after much consideration. TO
take I'm a position about eleven miles in rear. and
there wal, the attack. The army broke 10 its
camp and marched al noon on the 2ist. encampina
a, the new position little in front Of The Hacienda
near Buena Vista With a small force proceeded
IN SaI,;IIo n mako some necessary ARRANGEMENTS
for the defence of the town leaving i,riv Gen Wool
in he immediate command Of the troops
Before hose nrranoemen,s we're oomnleied on the
mornipc of The ood 7 was advised ,hat the enemy
was IN siuh,. advancing. Upon reaching the ground
Il was found thai his cavalry advance was In our
frop,s having marched from Encarnscion. as we
have since learned. Al II o'clock ON tho.day prey-
GUS and driving in a mounted force left al Aqua
Nuey. 10 cover The removal Of public stores. Our
troops were in posi,iou oceupynv line Of remark.
able strength The road Al This poin, becomes
narrow dee the valley ON lis right being rendered
quite imprac,cabIe for artillery by a system Of deep
and impa,sable pullies. while on the left success
sion of ruOved ridges and precioitous rsyines ex.
tends far bsek towards the mouutain which bounds
the valley THE features oC Inc Ground were such
a. nearly 10 paraIyze the artillery and cavalry Of
the enemy while his infantry could no, derive ali
The advantage of its numerical superotity. In th,
nos;,ion NO nrenared 10 receive him, Cant Wash.
ingon's ba,,erv I4tb Artillery was postcd 10 com.
msnd The road. while the Isl and Sd Illinois req.
imen,s under Colonies Hardin and Bissell. each
eight companies 10 The later Of which was attach.
ed Cam Gamers eomnany Of Texas volunteers !
and the oJ Ken,pcky nnde, Colonel Nc Kee oc.
cup;ed The ercs,s Of the RIDGES on The Ieft and in
rear
The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments Of cav.
alry. commanded nv Coils Yell and n. Marshall.
occooied The cxlreme leh near the base of the
moun,n;n while the Indiana briyade under Brioa.
der General Lane feonposed Of The ID and 81
regiments under Co.'s. Bovles and L,uel the Mis-.
si.sinni riaemen under Col Davis. The sonadrous
OF the LIST and ID dragons under Cant. S,een and
Leut. Col. Nav. and the lgbt baueries of Cant.
Sherman and Bragg. I'd artillery. were held in re.
serve. ALL o'clock received from General San.