New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-04-05
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.


A
fton2His trhfe h0rse-Batte Of 22d FebTudry
-Deatk of Col. MeKee, Col. Clay, Col. Hardin,
AdJt Gen Lincoln Col. Yell, Capt Wills
Col. MorshaUs Charge-The Gallant MsHs-
s,pplans-Gen. Tdylor's LEFT flank iurH>d-De
,sdnd 10 SurTender-KRfed and Wounded
MH0n's Discomffurs.
We had the pleasure OF an interview yesterday
with Major Coffee, of the Army, who BROUGHT over
( Gen Taylors dispatches. This gallant oihcer-a
son of the distinguished General who fought SO
bravey on the Plains Of Chalnette, and IN various
other battles by the side OF the ilusrlous jackson
acted as the Aid Of Gen. Taylor In the nio0dy
fight at Buena Vista We are greatly indebted 70
hin, for many particulars of this hard fought battle
Gen. TAYLOR had fallen in love at first sight with
the position at which he finally made bis stand al
| Buena Vista. His movement toward Aqua NueIa
wa, merely a rlse TO decoy the enemy into the held
which he had selected for his battle ground As soon as
/ mcCulloch's men who were invaluable IS scouts, in
formed him of Santa Annas approach 10 Aqua Nueva
Gen TAYLOR quietly broke up h camp and Tell Oack 10
hs first iove-Buens Vista. This position was sdmlra-
bly chosen II the foot OF mountain, or rather
Of two mountains between which ran the road through
narrow valley. On his right there was deep reVlhe
which protected that flank more eHectuay then nan
/ dozen regiments could have done. Inc leit OF zen
Tsylor's line rested the base OF mountain Inc
road in the center was entrenched end defended "
! strong battery. In front the ground was uneven
broken into hills and deep rnvihes-wel adapted 10 the
mode of fighting suited 10 our volunteers ana ~ us
peculiarte supplying the disadvantage oil great IN
! ierority Of numbers. ,,.
! ON the 2lst the enemy were decried, approaching
Ing over the distant hills At their appearance the vol
unteers raised great shout and gave three tremendous
cheers Their engineers and officers were seen Tying
over the field and dragging their cannon about 70 gel
them into position but the nature oil tne grouho oo
not the undertaking and was TOO a'e IN te o1y
before the big guns began TO open.
The enemy had with them thirty two cannon, mostly
Of large cabre Their fire. though kept up very brisk
lv and appsrenty well menned did 50 little execution
In our ranks that it not considered necessary TO re-
turn their fire. Our cannon were therefore silent the
whole of the 2lst. Eight OF ten killed and wounded
were tho extent of the casualties sustained By our army
ON the Dist During the day an oincer approached our
lines with dag Of truce and requested to be SHOWN 10
Gen TAYLOR The brave old man was sitting quietly on
bis old white charger with his leg over the pomme Of
the saddle watching the movements OF the enemy when
the Mexican officer was presented In very courteous
and graceful manner the officer stated that be had been
sent nv bs Exceency Gen santa Anna. 10 his Excel.
lepey Gen Taylor to INQUIRE, in the moot respectful
manner what he Gen. Taylor was waiting lot =
From the silence Of General Taylors batteries ana
the quiet manner in which be received santa Annas
terrific cannonadng the Mexican supposed he was ask.
ing a very pertinent question: to which, however old
Rough and Ready gave the very pertinent reply mat
he was only waiting for Gen. Santa Anna 10 surrender
The Mexican returned hastily TO bis lines. This mes
sage proved to be Tnse to ascertain where Gen lay
ors position was for after the return OF the Mexican
officer 10 his own ranks the whole Mexican battery
seemed 10 open upon Gen. Taylors position, and the
balls few over and about him like hail Utterly indfer
ent 10 the peTs Of hs situation there sat the OLD chei
on conspicuous white morse, peerlng
spy glass at the long lines Of Mexican troops that could
be seen at great distance on the march The Persna
sion of his aids could not induce him to abandon nj; ia
yorabe point for observation nor give up his Ola whe
horse TO the suggestion Of his staff that old Whitley
was rather too conspicuous charger for the command
err he replied that the old fellow had missed the fun
at Monterey on account OF sore foot and he was de-
termined he should have his share this time"
AT sunrise on the 22d February the battle began In
earnest The Mexcans were drawn out in immense
numbers The dark columns Of infantry extended as
far as the eye could reach and the cavalry seemed to
cover the whole view with their niermnabe lines AZ
intervals between the infantry and cavalry, their big
guns strongly protected by large artillery force kept
up an incesssn cannonade against our lines Their forces
were soon In motion. Our artillery was thrown forward
TO meet them projected by the volunteers. Gen. Wool
led the main body in person, and was seen everywhere
ralyng and encouraging the volunteers The TWO armies
were engaged In hot connct Inc Drokeh nature
of the ground divided the forces SO that Instead Of
one general engagement the regiments were COM
PEELED in great measure TO fight ON their own hook
Our officers were always IN the advance, Leading
their troops-hence the great mortality among tnem-
In this general melee, Of our small regiments
Of 400 men, would be attacked by whole Mexican brig
ade of several thousand. Thus the Kentucky Infantry
was attacked at the foot OF hill in deep ravine, by
animmense force of the enemy, large number OF the
officers was killed here-among them was Col. Mchee,
who fell badly wounded, and was Immediately dis
patched by the enemy who pierced him with their bay
onets as he lay on the ground Lieut. Col. Clay was
shot through the thigh and being unable TO walk,
taken up and carried some distance by some OF his men
eO; OWING 10 The sI Gn ' sSs n the men
numbers pressing upon them the gallant Lieut. Colonel
Forced 10 leave him on the field the last that
of this noble Young officer he was lying his back
fighting with his sword the enemy who were stabbing
him with their bayonets. The veteran Capt VIM. ;.
Willis of the same regiment at the head Of his company
with three stslwart who fought at his side,
badly wounded hut still continued the fight until he
was overcome with the loss of blood.
In the meantime, the Indiana brigade, who were
dr.x NM md charge
seized with panic ard displaying some hesitation
Assistant Adt GeD. Lincoln rushed 10 their 'front.' and
several balls passing through his body. In justice to
this brigade il should be stated that they subsequently
rallied and fully redeemed their reputation by the most
gallant and effective fighting.
Col Hardin led the lllinoisians in very handsome
STYLE and the sturdy suckers tough; like lions Their
intrepid Colonel fell wounded and experienced the fate
of Coils Mckee and Clay, and was killed 10y the enc
my-not however before he had killed one of the
srdly miscreents with pistol which he bred while
lying on the ground.
Col. Yell led, the foremost man a charge OF bis
mounted volunteers against large body Of ancers and
was killed by lance which entered his mouth and tore
of one side of his face.
The Mssissippans, the heroes OF Monterey after do
ing hard duty skirmishers were ordered into line 10
receive charge of cavalry, which they did with their
rifles, delivering at the same time most destructive
fire among the crowded columns Of cavalry. The
my completely repulsed. The distinguished com
mander OF this gallant regiment Col Jefferson DAVE
was badly wounded an escopette ball having entered
his foot and passed out OF his leg lie was, however
doing well when last heard from. The chivalrous Col.
McCung was prevented from doing his share of the
brave deeds of this brilliant fight by the grevous wound
received at the battle Of Monterey, which still confines
him to his bed and from which it is feared by his best
friends he will never recover.
Col Humphrey MaTshalls splendid regiment OF Ken
lucky cavalry were impatient for opportunity Of
showing their mete and ayengng the capture of their
brethren then in the bands of the enemy. They
favored with the desired opportunity by the sp
prosch Of force of more than 1000 lsncers and hus
sars who calamity charged them. The hentuckisns
stood their ground with immovable stesdiness and
ceiving the enemy with fire from their csrbnes, /
charged in the most gallant style through the column
on the right and wheeling fell their left dispensing
and killing great many of them. Ike charge
made by Col. May at the head Of squadron Of dra.
goons, and one of Arkansas cavalry against a large
body OF the enemy's cavalry, with like results.
During the engagement on the right Santa Anna see
ing that Gen syors force was not well protected
the left flank large force OF cavalry around tina,
point and out1snking Taylor succeeded In throwing
20O0 into his But Gen. Taylor Immediately
sent Capt Bragg with his artillery against this force
who succeeded in cutting them of from the main body
Lieut. Crttenden dispatched, with flag OF truce
TO demand the immediais surrender OF this force The
Mexican officer pretending not to understand the char
acter Of his mission insisted that be should be blind
folded according the rules of and thus had the