The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-04-09

The dark columns Of infantry exlend,d
as lar as the eye could reach, and the
cavalry seemed to cover the whole view
with their lultrminable lines. Al inter
walls between the iniantry and cavalry.
Their h'g guns, strongly protected hy .
large artillery force, kept up an incessanl
cannonade against our lines. sThcir for
ces were soon IN motion. Our artillery
was thrown forward TO meet them, pro-
lected by The volunteers. Gen. Wool
led the main body in person, and was
seen everywhere, raIyng and encoura-
ging the volunteers. The two armies
were soon engaged in hot conflict. The
broken nature Of the ground divided the
forces. 50 that instead Of one general en-.
/ gagement, the regiments were compelled
IN great measure TO fight on
'nclr own hook. Oar officers were al
ways IN the advance, leading their troops
hence the great mortality among them.
In this general melee, one Of our small
regiments, OF 400 men. would be attack
ed'by whole Mexican brigade of scv.
oral thousand.
Thus the Kentucky infantry was at
tackled at the foot of hill, in a deco "a
vine, by an immense force Of the enc
my. large number Of the officers
were killed herc-among them was Col
Mckee, who fell badly wounded and
was Immediately despatched by the enc
envy, WHO pierced him with their bayo-
nets as lie lay on the ground. Lieut.
Col Clay was shot through the thigh.
and beng unable 10 walk, was taken up
and carried some distance By some of
his men, but owing 10 the s,eepness OF
the bill, the men finding it very difficult
to carry him, and the enemy in great
numbers pressing upon them. the gallant
Lieut. Col. begged them to leave him
and take care Of themselves. Forced to
leave HIM on the field, the last that was
seen Of this gallant young officer he was.
lying on his back, fighting with his sword
The enemy, who were stabbug him with
Iheir bayopets. Thevt,oran Capt. W. $.
Willis, of the same regiment, at the head
OF his company, with three sialwarI sons
who fought at his SIDE, was badly woun.
died., but still continued the fight, unlll he
was overcome with the loss of blood.
In the mean time the Indiana brigade,
who were drawn out d ordered to charge
The enemy, were seized with panic and
displayed some hesitation, Asst admit
Gen. Lincoln rushed 10 their front, and
whilst npbrading them for their cowar-
dice, was shot, several balls passing thro'
his body. Ia justice 10 this brigade, il
should be stated, that they subsequently,
rallied, and fully redeemed their repula-
ton by the most gallant and effective
fighting.
Z Col, Hardin led The lIliroisians in
very handsome style, and the sturdy (
- Suckers" fought like lions. Their Z
intrepid Colonel fell wounded. and en-
perlenced The late OF Co.'s. Mckee and
Clay, and was killed by the enemy-no,,-
however, before he had killed one OF the F.,
co"ardIy m'scieanls with pistol, which .
he h'ed whist lying on lie ground.
COL Yell led the foremost man.
charge OF his mounted volunteers against .
a large body OF lancers' and was Killed /
by lance, which entered his mouth and /
tore OIL one side oil ms face.
NIhe M'ssissipP.ans, the heroes OF
Monterey alter dong nara DUTY as sk'r-
mishers' were ordered in'o line to receive .
a charge oil cavalry "hlch 'hey c'a WIN !
he'r r'iies' oe'iSerlhg al the same 'ime
most destructive i're among me crowdec /
Columns OF caVairy' ne enemy were 1
completely repulseu' ne distinguished
c"n''ia"uef VI "''' gal'dh' regiment ,oi'
'en' paws, was oao'y "o"n"eo' d" e'co,
Pe''e pau having e"'e'e" MS 'o"' anu
Pas'eu out D, us reg nc was no"e''
ell WONG wen VINE" ,as' 'eafu ''o'"'
oo'' humphrey Ma'S'a,' 5 si'ehu'o .
regimen, VI Ne"'ucNy cavalry were i'"'
Pa'.S"' 'o' "h oPP'''""''y VI SHOWING
'ne.' 0'e'ne' S"u a'ehg'"g ',e capture VI
''e'' o'',,ae"' ''e" !" '"e "S''u' VI '''e
e"'"Y. ,"'y "e'e '"'' 'a'o''u WIN
inc ueslTt" opportunity, ny we dpPloaci