Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-15
From the New orle ans Delta of March 81.
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA
HIGHLY INTERESTING PARTICULARS.

We had the pleasure of an interview yes
terday with Major Coffee, of the Army, who
brought over Gen. Taylor's dispatches This
gallant officer-a son of the distinguished
General who fought so bravely on the plains
of ChaImette, and in various other battles,
by the side of the illustrious Jackson-act-
ed as the Aid of Gen. Taylor in the bloody
fight of Buena Vista. His movement to-
wards Aqua Neuva was merely ruse to de-
coy the enemy into the field which he had
selected for his battle-ground. AS soon as
McCulloch's men, who were invaluable as
scouts, informed him of Santa Annals APP
proach to Aqua Neuva, Gen. Taylor quiet
" broke up his camp and fell back to his
first love-Buena Vista. This position was
admirably chosen. 1t was at the foot of
mountain, or rather two mountains, between
which ran the road through narrow valley.
On his right there was deep ravine, which
protected that flank more effectually than
half dozen reg iments could have DONE
The left of Gen. Taylor's line rested on the
base of mountain. The road in the CEN
tire was entrenched and defended by strong
battery. In front the ground was uneven
broken into hills and deep ravines-well a.
dapted to the mode of fighting suited to our
volunteers, and by its pecularities supplying
the disadvantage of a great inferiority of
numbers.
On the 2lst, the enemy were deserted APP
preaching over the distant hills At their
appearance the volunteers raised a great
shout, and gave three tremendous cheers
Their engineers and officers were seen fly
ing over the field, and dragging their cannon
about to get them into position but the ma
ture of the ground did not favor the under
taking, and it was too late in the day before
the big guns began to open.
The enemy had with them thirty-two can
non, mostly of large calibre Their fire,
though kept up very briskly, and apparently
well manned, did so little execution in our
ranks that it was not considered necessary
to return their fire Our cannon were there
fore silent the whole of the 2lst. Eight or
ten killed and wounded were the extent of
the casualties sustained by our army on the
Dist. During the day an officer approached
our lines with flag of truce, and requested
to be shown to Gen. Taylor The brave old
man was sitting quietly on his white char
ger, with his leg over the pommel of his sad
die, watching the movements of the enemy,
when the Mexican officer was presented. In
very courteous and graceful manner the
officer stated that he had been sent by his
Excellency Gen. Santa Anna, to his Excel
lency Gen. Taylor, to inquire, in the most
respectful manner, what he (Gen. Taylor)
was waiting for" From the silence of Gen.
Taylor's batteries, and the quiet manner in
which he received Santa Annals terrific can
nonading, the Mexican supposed he was ask
ing a very pertinent question, to which, how
ever, old Rough and Ready gave the very
pertinent reply that che was only wait
ing for Gen Santa Anna to surrender. -
The Mexican returned hastily to his lines.
This message proved to be a ruse to ascer-
tain where Gen. Taylor's position was, for
after the return of the Mexican officer to his
own ranks the whole Mexican battery SEEM
ed to open upon Gen. Taylor's position, and
the balls flew over and about him like hail
Utterly Indifferent to the perils OF his sit
uation, there sat the old chief, on his con-
spicuous white horse, peering through his
spy glass at the long lines ofMexican troops
that could be seen at a great distance on the
march. The persuasion of his aids could
not induce him to abandon his favorable
point for observation, nor give up his old
white horse. To the suggestion of his staff
that old Whitley was rather too conspicuous
charger for the commander, he replied
4" that the old fellow had missed the fun at
Monterey, on account of sore foot, and he
was determined he should have his share this
time"
At sunrise on the 22d February the bat
tie began in earnest. The Mexicans were
drawn out in immense numbers. The dark
columns of infantry extended as far as the
eye could reach, and the cavalry seemed to