The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-04-07
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.
from The N. o. Della. March 27l


from the N. o. Delta, March 271
Description Of Gen. Tayl0r's Position Can
n0noding on the Dist Gen Tdylors exposed
sltuatiOn--His achite horse Battle Of 22d
February-Death Of Col. Mckee, COL Clay,
Col. Hardin, Adj't. Gen. Lincoln, Col. Yell,
Capt. Willis Col .Marshalrs Charge.
Gen. Taylor had fallen in love, at first sight,
with the position at which he finally made his
stand at Buena Vista. His movement toward
Aqua Nueva was merely ruse to decoy the en-.
envy into the field which he bad selected for his
battle ground. As soon as McCulloch's men,
who We're invaluable as scouts, informed him of
Santa Annals approach to Aqua Nueva General
Taylor quietly broke up his camp and tell back TO
his FIRST love-Buena Vista. This position was
admirably chosen. 1t was at the foot OF noun
tain, or rather OF 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 re
giments could have done. The LETT of Gen. Tay-
lor's line rested on the base of mountain The
road in the center was entrenched and defended
by strong battery. In front the ground was I'M
even-broken into hills and deep ravines- well
adapted to the mode OF fighting suited to our vol
unteers, and by its pecuharties supplying the
disadvantage OF great interiority of number.
On the 2lst, the enemy were decried, approach
ing over the distant hills. AT their appearance
the volunteers raised great shout, and gave
three tremendous cheers. Their engineers and
officers were seen flying over the field, and drag.
ging their cannon about to get them into position;
but the nature OF the ground did not favor the un-
dertaking, and it was too late in the day 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 briskly, and apparently well manned, did
so little execution in our ranks that it was not
considered necessary 10 return their FIRE. Our
cannon were therefore silent the whole of the
2lst. Eight or ten killed and wounded were the
extent OF the casualties sustained by our army on
the 2lst. 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 old white charger with
his leg over the pumme of the saddle, watching
the movements oil the enemy, when the Mexican
officer vas presented. In very courteous and
graceful manner the officer stated that :" he had
been sent by his EXcelency Gen. Santa Anna,
TO has ExceIlency Gen. Taylor, to inquire, in the
most respectful manner, what he (Gen Taylor)
was waiting for" From the silence OF General
Taylor's batteries, and the quiet manner in which
he received Santa Annals terrific cannonading
the Mexican supposed he was asking very per-
tinent question, to which, how ever, old Rough
and Ready gave the very pertinent reply that che
der" The Mexican returned hastily to his lines.
This message proved to be ruse to ascertain
where Gen. Taylor's position was, for after the
return Of the Mexican officer to his own ranks
the whole Mexican battery seemed to open upon
Gen. Taylor's position, and the balls flew over
and about him like hail. Utterly indifferent to
the peFis OF his situation, there sat the old chief
on his conspicuous white horse, peering through
his spy glass at the long lines OF Mexican troops
hat ha Of AZ A.
march. The persuasion of his aids could not in
duce him to abandon his favorable point for OBJ
seryation, nor give up his old white horse. To
the suggestion of his staff that old " hitey was
rather too conspicuous a charger for the COM
mander, he replied that the old fellow had miss
ed fun at Monterey, on account OF a sore foot and
he was determined he should have his share this
time"
At sunrise onthe 22d February the battle BEGAN
in earnest. The Mexicans were drawn out in
immense numbers. The dark columns OF infant
ry extended us far as the eye could reach. and
the cavalry seemed TO hover the whole view with
their interminable lines. At intervals between
the infantry and cavalry, their big guns strongly
protected by large artillery force, kept Up an
incessant cannonade against our lines. Their
forces were soon in motion. Our artillery was
thrown forward TO meet them, protected by the
volunteers. Gen. Wool led the main body in
person, anu was seen everywhere raliying and
encouraging the volunteers. The two armies
were soon engaged in hot conflict. The broken
nature Of the ground divided the forces, 80 that
instead Of one general engagement the regiments
were compelled Ia great measure 10 fight on
their own hcok.-Our officers were always 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
attacked by whole Mexican brigade Of several