The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-07
COMMUNICATION.
Communicated.


Battle OF Buena vista-Conduct Of the Indiania"s.
Soon after the battle at Monterey where success
crowned the American the papers were hled with
letters extong the heroism of the officers and soldiers
res but nothing was said OF the gallant and successful
charge of General Qutman and his brave Tennessee,
Mississippi and other volunteersa charge that decided
the fate OF the day. We told only of the gallant
Worth the carrying of the heights, and the soing of the
Bishops Palace. The Ohio volunteers 'showed the
| white feather" Gen Buffers rashness was severely
reprimanded the field of battle, by Gen Taylor! And
Gen. Twiggs, the only democratic general in the
regular service, was sick, and not IN the action.
These letters published 10 The great injury
of those who had not their hired letter writers upon the
ground, and too honorable TO such instruments,
if they had been within their reach. The game has
again commenced That horde OF sycophants who hope
when they have made General Taylor President 10 bask
in the sunshine OF executive favor now like the
yultures that follow victorious army fattening upon
the reputation of Drawer and better than themselves
The Indiana brigade has been charged with cowarlIce,
not by official reports but by political letter writers,
whose object be three ioi FIRST to eulogze the
officers and soldiers OF the regular army second to exoi
the feats of noble daring of the wings and third to de-
pecate the services OF every democrat They belong TO
that class of men who are now ready to claim all
the glory OF the victory, but if defeat had been
the result would have thrown the upon
the administration A lengthy communication written
the morning after the battle signed ''Buena Vista,
first appeared in the New Orleans Tropc, and is
repubshed in this mornings lnellgencer and from its
sided and for-eect character presume it will find
its way into all the federal prints of the country This
statement leaves untouched the regiment under the
mand of Col James H. Lane but charges the second regi-
mcn under the command OF Col Bowes with cowardice.
Ii appears from this statement, that when the line of
battle was formed the Indiana regiment under the
mand of Col Bowes stationed on the extreme left.
At this point the morning OF the 22d the battle COM
menced the writer after giving the disposition OF the
troops, says:
.'Fom the perceptibe along the left of
line it became evident that the enemy ping
large body OF cavalry and infantry his right Tho base
of the mountain around which these troops Were winding
fhnr ,voy mir cd u-Ii helt nt sfael uS
their gltering sabres and polished lances flashed back
the beams OF the morning sun Sherman's and Bragg
hem. While Col Mckee,s Kentuckians We're transit RED
from the right of line hold position the
centre The second Indiana regiment, under Col Bowes,
was placed on our extreme left nearly Perpendic ula to the
direction of our lne to oppose by direct fire the
flank movement OF tbs enemy These dispositions having
It's fires, and simultaneously the Mexican infantry com
menced rapid and extended discharge upon line from
the left to Mckee's regiment Our artillery belched forth its
hunders with tremendous effect, while the Kentuckans re-
turned the fire OF the Mexican infantry with great stead
ness and their field officers, Mckee, Clay and
Fry, passing along their line, anmatng and encouraging
the men by precept and example The second Illinois reg
and returned ample equivalent While the fierce
ct going the main body of Col Hardn's regiment
moved the right of the kentuckians, and the representa-
honorable ambition of doing the best service for their
undn lauels The veterans OF Auserlitz could
have exhibited more courage, GOODNESS, and devotion"
During the whole OF this time, the Indiana regiment
remained firm. Not word is said TO their disparage-
ment, although Colonel Bowes-who is guilty Of the san
of being democratis not classed with the veerans of
Austerz, who are all wings. The writer then pro-
ceeds
In the time the enemys cavalry had been STEALTH
y pursuing its way along the mountain and though
artillery had wrought great havoc among its numbers the
leading luadrons had passed the points of danger
and almost in position to attack in Al this
critical the Indiana regiment turned upon its prop
front and commenced ngorious flight. The efforts
OF Colonel Bowles to bring it into position van.
| Is it to be wondered that regiment OF raw militia,
had and ho had
done military duty numbering not more than seven
hundred after having withstood fire from the Mexican
infantry front, and almost surrounded and attacked
the by large body of Mexican cavalry, whose
progress "Sheman and Braggs batteries could not stop
whose armor, in the poetical language OF the writer,
was SUCH that the base of the mountain around which
the troops winding their way seemed grdled with
belt of STEEL their gitteng sabres and polished lances
flashed back the beams OF the morning SUM- should
treat' The loss Of this regiment alone amounted in
killed and wounded TO number equal TO the whole loss
of the regulars. Among them thai fell Captains
Kinder and Walker, two brave spirits ever bucked
on sword The killed and wounded amounted to near
eighty When overpowered by numbers, they may have
retreaed and, for want of military experience have
retreated in bad order. Their generalthe brave and
chivalrous 'yoe Lane, he is Familiarity caled-was
wounded in the early part OF the action refused to leave
his post, but everywhere to be found where duty
called him, with the blood streaming from his wound
yet he passed off with cold and formal notice. By
careful perusa of this elaborate document it will appear
that the writer himself done tall retreating After
describing of the gallant charges in which he
engaged, he says:
The pursuit hot, aud. it evinced clearly
oar deficiency in numbers the Mexcans, with sudden
ness which was almost tgica rallied and returned upon
us. They myriads and for while the carnage
was dreadful on both sides We were but handful to OPP
pose the rghtiu masses which hurled upon and
conld easily have resisted avalanche of thuudebo
Wewere driven back aud the day seemed lost beyond
demption Victory, which moment before appeared
within our grasp, suddenly from standard
There was but one hope but that proved anchor
and steadiast.
''Whie driven through the ravnes, at the
eXtrenties OF which body of Mexican lancers
toned ponce upon them like tigers Brent and Whiting
of Washngon battery, gave them such of crap
as to put them to Hight, and thus saved the remnants Of
those brave regiments which had long borne the hottest
portion OF the fight
Now, it would SEEM that if the Indianans retreaed
over hls and ravnes, he and hi. compeers rereated
Through ravlnes at the exremes of which a body of
Mexican ancers stationed" These ancers were
put 10 flight by the artillery. Not so in the case of the
Indiana regiment the force of the enemy at that point
great that their onward could not be stayed
by the artillery. mention this not to their
disparagment they no doubt did their duty But do
complain of these attacks upon officers and men, who
believe are naturally as brave any soldiers in the
army and predict, when the whole story is old and
the matter explained, it will be found, like the charge
malice. The field officers of the two Indiana regiments
and most of the subordnates democrats there are
be many wings, but why should there be any dis
tnction the field of battle' 1t battle fought at
great hazards The result has added use to the Amer
lean arms, and the press instead OF drawing distinctions
which must iealouses and discussions, should do
Justice to all. Is. j. W.