Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-13
Gen. Lanes Official Report 60 General
Wool
HkApauAnrEHs On BRis. lsr DIv'S,1
Buena Vista, Mexico, Feb, IS, ls47-

HkApouAnrEHs On BRiG. lsr DIv'S,1
Buena Vista, Mexico, Feb, IS, ls47-
Brig. Gen. Wool u s. H.:
sIn-I have The honor of laying before you the follow
ing report Of that part OF The 22d and 23d ns in which
the forces under my immediate command took part
In obedience your ORDERS the 22d took position
the left Of the field upon which the battle fought
near The foot OF the mountain with the eight battalion
companies Of the ID regiment my brigade supported by
three pieces of light artillery commanded by Lit Bnen
The fur rifle companies of this brigade CwO from the I'd
and from the Sd regments) having been sent under
your ORDERS together with companies Of Kentucky
mounted nfemen TO occupy eminence AID ridge on the
side Of the mountain check the advance OF the enemy
(wo regments) who attempting to turn the LEFT
flank IL my position by climbing the sides Of the noun
tain. Those rifle companies took their position In the n
tenoon of the 3d. the four Indiana companies command
ed by Major German, Of the Sd regiment the whole under
command of Col Marshall Of Kentucky, aud aterward
the enemy opened brisk FIRE upon forces but with
little If CT which they continued without ntermsson for
three hours the meantime my being secured from the
enemy balls and watching their chances and taking good
aim, succeeded in killing aud woundng thirty
forty Of the enemy.
In this engagement my loss was four men slightly
wounded. Dunng the night Of the 22d, the enemy sent
reinforcement Of about thousand five hundred men up
the mountain and succeeded in occupying heights which
commanded the position Of the rIfemen My whole CON-
mand slept upon the field their that night As
it light the morning Of the ed, the enemy
opened FIRE from their whole force the noun
tain, now amounting in ell TO about $500 1890 men,
commanded (t is beleved) by the Mexican Colonel Am
Pudia Notwithstanding the great superiority Of the
my in numbers our gallant rlemen held them in check
for several hours, killing and wounding so 60 of
their number.
About o'clock, A. NJ of the 2sd sent part of the
Kentucky mounted remen and cavalry (dismounted for
that purpose) the mountain side support the forces
already there which time the fire of the enemy became
tremendous but which returned by gallant force
for more than one hour longer.
NJ instructions from yourself TO hold my position
OF hsle of the field against any force which the enemy
might bring against in that quarter. The enemy had
been IL great force all the morning Of the 23d directly in
my 'front.' and in sight, but too far distant to be reached
by 1t o Briens battery. About o'clock was inform
ed by Col Churchill that the enemy advancing
wards my position, in great force. sheteng themselves
in deep ravine, which up toward the mountain d.
recty in nv 'front.' Immediately put my column in mo-
ton, consisting of those eight battalion companies, and
1t Briens battery amounting in all to about 400 10
meet them. The enemy, when they deployed from the
ravBc and appeared the RIDGE displayed force Of
about 1000 infantry supported by large body of Ian
GERS The infantry Immediately opened most destruct
i've FIRE. which was returned by my small command, both
infantry ahd artillery, in a most gallant for
time. perceived that far from the enemy
for my muskets to take that deadly effect which desired
and Immediately sent my Aid de Camp It. O'Brien, d.
rectng him to place his battery in advanced posi-
ton with the determination of advancing the whole line
By this movement should not only be the
out should also bring the company extreme
left more completely into action the brow of the hill
impeed their fire. BY this time the enemys Ere Of mus
Retry and the rakng FIRE of ball and grape shot of their
battery posted my left flank had become terrible, and
my infantry instead of advancing ordered regret
say, retired in disorder from their position,
whsanding my and the efforts of my officers
to prevent them. About the same time the rfemen and
cavalry the mountain retired the plain below The
Arkansas cavalry who had been posted by your orders
my the foot Of the mountain circumstau
mic alao fefft hole
ing rerograde along the plain towards the
rear at the same time Of the Illinois regiments, not
under my command but stationed distance rear
and the right Of position also retired to the These
troops, the most of them, Immediately rallied and
fought during the whole day like veterans few, regret
to say, did not return to the field at all By this appsr
ent success the enemy were much eated, and poured
down the side of the mountain the extreme left of the
field their thousands of infantry and ancers and formed
themselves IN good order along the mountain fronting
pendcuarly where lines had been posted. At this
critical uncture the Mississippi regiment, under command
of Colonel Davis arrived the field and being joined by
part of the I'd Indiana met the enemy in most gallant
style and after and bloody struggle repused them
with loss In the meantime large body of lancers
COO 500 in number who had passed down along the left
towards made most desperate charge upon the
Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry, with Of calling off
and punderng the baggage train of the army, which
rancho near the battle field. This charge met and
resisted CALAMITY by those cavalry aided by
200 infantry who had taken refuge there after they had
retired from the field. This repuIse discouraged the
my and the Mississippi regiment and part of the ID
Indiana being joined by the 3D. Indiana regiment under
command of Col JAS H. Lane, advanced up towards
the foot Of the mountain for the purpose of dslodgng the
eDemy's force stationed there.
In this enterprise was siled by Capt IS battery
Of light artillery, and crowned with complete
cess the enemy retreang great disorder and with
loss back alongside Of the mountain 10 the position
which they had occupied in the morning, flying in
the sides of the and the ravines
while few were taken prisoners.
Amongst the last desperate attempts of the enemy to
regain and hold the left Of the field charge made by
large body Of lancers upon my command This charge
for gallantry and determined bravery both sides has
seldom been equaed. The forces either side
nearly equal in numbers. Instead of throwing my
mand into squares to resist the charge the enemy
received in line of ranks my force reserving fire
al the enemy within about 20 yards, which dev
cred with deadly am and which proved most destructive in
its effects the enemy flying every direction in disorder
and making Preclpate retreat toward their own lines
About sunset the enemy Withdrew from the field and the
battle ceased. In brief report it is impossible
into the details of day like the 23d.
The fighting throughout consisted of different engage
ments, in different parts of the field, the whole of them
and well contested many Of them bloody and terri
bic. The men under my command actually discharged
eighty aud of them ninety rounds of cartridge the
enemy during the day. The I'd regiment under my
msnd which opened The battle on the plain in such gal
liant STYLE deserves passing remark shall attempt to
make apology for their for it their duty
stand and die to the last man, until they received orders
retire. But desire to call your attention fact
neced with this affair they remained in their position, in
lines, receiving the fire of 5000 1000 infantry 10 'front.'
exposed at the time their left flank des-
perae raking fire from enemys battery posted within point
blank shot until they had deliberately discharged fueny
rounds of cartridges the enemy Some may be
framed for those who retired for few moments and then
Immediately rallied and fought during the day. but unless
they hasten to retrieve their reputation, disgrace for
hang around the Of those who refused to re-