The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-04-20
LITTER FROM SALTHLO-LNCI
DENTS-A BATTLE FIELD,
Correspondence Of the N. o. Delta,
SALTILLo, March 2, lS47.

SALTILLo, March 2, l547.
In letter which wrote few days since
gave you a very full account Of the San
culinary affair Ct Buena Vista, and will now
give you few scenes which have witness
ed. not mentioned III the letter.
The first view that we caught Of the enc
my was when they had turned 10 the leiI
flank ofour lines, and were pursuing The n.y.
ing infantry and horsemen. Column alter
column succeeded until they formed dense
mass, numbering something like twelve
thousand inca. No words can convey 10
you even faint idea of their imposing ap-
pearaDce. Their arms, brilliantly FURNISH
ed, reflected million times the dazzling rays
of the sun-their rich and gaudy uniforms
stood out in bold relief against The soiled &
tattered garments Of the suffering Volun-
ieers"-their Cavalry Lancers drawn up
in beautiful style, in numbers from two 10
three thousand, and in lines, the beauty oil
which. the most accurate military observer
could have found no fanlt with; aud. added
TO This, that they were for the Time, victors,
assure you we did not look upon them with
contempt. But when.he quick. sharp rim
Ging Of our rife sounded tho dearh-knell Of
score after score OF them, three hearty Mis-
sasippi cheers told full we'll that no coward
Iiy lear paralizedlthat little band. Rushing
on our small force would have scattered the
retreatiDg foe in all directions over the death
strewn field, had not our watchful leader,
Col. Davis, perceived that we were about 10
be surrounded by an overpowering force.
and ordered us 10 retire and rally
Here an amusing circumstance took place.
Major Bradlord-who is probably the most
impetuously brave officer who ever drew
sword-perceiving us reteing and thought
we were defeated. He dismounted from his
horse and followed on slowly alter us, ex-
claimine-"Shool me Shoot me" Some
one called out
"What the devils the matter with you.
MAORI"
"Ah. kill me! The Mississippi Regiment
has run, and / don't xan't to lire another
minute p
But the gallant MAJOR was quickly unde-
ceived, for we soon re -lormed, ADD although
our ranks were terribly thinned by the killed
and wounded, yet again was heard the dee =
voice ofthe noble Davis, "E0rrdrd! Guide
centre! March, The command was re-
peated by fifty voices, and with more steadi-
ness and precision than The careless fello VS.
were ever known 10 evince on a drill, they
returned to the bloody contest, but il is not
nv intention to repeat what have already
written.
| At one time during The fight, We reisr-
ned over the ground on which was made our
| first charge. We there saw the mangled
bodies of our fallen comrades. and although
animated by the excitement OF The fierce con-
test which was just then renewed, yet think
there was not heart among US which did
not for a moment cease 10 beat on beholding
that horrible scene. Butfor his straw hat
and a few other articles of clothing which
the rufians had left on him, 1 should have
failed 10 recognize the body of young Eggle
! sion, He was shoL stabbed and otherwise
abused. This was, indeed, the fate Of all
whom | saw. Lieut.. Moore and man ma
med Couch Of our company, where the only
person whose bodies reasily recognized.
'kfter the battle rode over the whole field,
Parties were engaged in burying the dead
but there were sill bodies lying stiff and
cold, wi:hno covering save the scanty rem
nant OF clothing which the robbers Of the
dead found TOO valueless 10 take with them,
saw the human body pierced in every place.
saw expressed in the faces Of the dead al
most every expression and feeling. Some
seemed 10 lave died execrating their enc
mics, and cursing then: with their last breath
- others had tho most placid and resigned
expression and feeling. Some seemed to
have died defending their lives bravery 10
the last. while others evidently used their
asst words in sunpicating for mercy. Here
lay youth and mature age calmly reposing
10 untimely end.
Passing on from this part of the bloody
ground, wont over 10 the plain literally
covered with the dead bodies OF those who
haS SO recently bcen vur foes. This scene
was horrible enough, God knows--buI was
divested Of some tits horrors by the fact
that not one OF The Mexican soldiers was ei-
Their robbed or stripped Of his clothing, nor
was there the least appearance Of the bodies
haveing been abused alter being wounded.
This, indeed. speaks much for tho 'barbari
Gus volunteers of the Um;ed States Of the
North" as the Mexcans style US.
Saltillo is one vast hospital. Beside our
own wounded. -four TO FIVE hundre in mum |
berD Gen. Taylor has collected all The woun-
ded Mexicans who were lett by their nrmy,
and put them in hospital. il is most ds,res- |
sing TO visit one OF those places. All ofthem
1.-The Mexicans] are badly wounded, for those
that were slightly wounded went OF. They
are dying every hour in the day