The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-04-20

some time, when the enemy was seen
advancing in the distance, and the clouds
of dust which rolled up before him gave
satisfactory evidence that his numbers
were not unworthy the trial Of strength
upon which we were about to enter
He arrived upon his position ia immense
masses, and with forces sufficiently nu-
merous to have commenced his attack at
once, had he been as confident of success
as 1t subsequently appeared he was soli-
citous for our safety. The first evidence
directly afforded us of the presence of
Santa Anna was a white flag, which was
dimly seen futtering in the breeze, and
anon Surgeon General Lindenberg, of the
Mexican army, arrived, bearing a beauti-
full emblem of benevolent bravado and
Christian charity. 1t was a missIye from
Santa Anna, suggested by considerations
for our personal comfort, which has pla-
ced US under lasting obligations, propo-
sing to General Taylor terms Of nco
ditional surrender; promising good treat
ment; assuring US that his force amounted
to upwards of 10000 men; that our de-
feat was inevitable, and that, TO spare the
e%fusion of blood, his proposition should
be complied with. Strange TO say, the
American General showed the greatest
ingratitude; evinced no appreciation what
ever of Santa Annals kindness, and in
formed him that whether his force amoun-
ted to 10000 or $4,000. it was equally a
matter of Indifference; the terms of adj
justment must be arranged by gunpow-
der.
The messenger returned to his employ
er, and we waited in silence to hear the
war of his artillery. Hours rolled by
without any movement on his part, and
it appeared that the Mexican commander,
grieved at our stubbornness, was almost
disposed to retrace his steps, as if deter
mined to have no further intercourse with
such ungrateful audacity. At length he
mustered resolution to open a fire from a
mortar, throwing several shells into our
camp without execution. While this
was going on, Captain Steen, of the lst
Dragons, with a single man, started to-
wards a hill on which the Mexican Gen
eral seemed TO be stationed with his staff,
but before he completed the ascent The
party vanished, and when he reached the
top he discovered hat two regiments had
thrown themselves into squares to resist
his charge. The Captains gravity was
overcome by this opposition, and he re-
turned.
Just before dark a number of Santa
Annals infantry had succeeded in getting
a position high up the mountains on our
left, from which they could make a noise
without exposing themselves to much
danger, and at a distance of three hundred
yards opened a most tremendous FIRE up
on Col. Marshall's regiment. This was
returned by TWO of his companies, which
were %dismounted and detached for the
purpose as soon as they could arrive
within a %neighborly range. The Skin
mishing continued until after dark, with
no result to us save the wounding of three
men very slightly.
During the night a Mexican prisoner
was taken, who reported Santa Annals
force as consisting of fifteen pieces of ar
tillerv, including some ~24-pounders, SIX
thousand cavalry, and fifteen thousand in
fantry, thus confirming the statement OF
his superior.
The firing on our extreme left, which
ceased soon after sunset on the 22d, was
renewed on the morning of the 23d at an
early hour. This was also accompanied
by quick discharges Of artillery from the
same quarter, the Mexicans having estab-
lIshed during the night a ~l2-pounder on a
point at the base Of the mountain, which
commanded any position which could be
taken by US. To counterfeit the effect of
this piece, Lieut.. O'Brien, 4th artillery,
was detached with three pieces of Wash
ington's battery, having with him Lieu
tenant Bryan, of the Typographical En-
gineers, who, having planted few shells
in the midst of the enemy's gunners, for
the time effectually sllenced his fire.
From the movements soon p%erceptible
along the left of our line it became evil
dent that the enemy was attempting TO
turn that flank, and for this purpose had
concentrated a large body of cavalry and
infantry on his right. The base of the
mountain around which these troops were
winding their way seemed girdled with a
belt of steel, as their glittering sabres and
polished lances flashed back the beams Of
the morning sun. Sherman's and Bragg's
batteries were Immediately ordered to the
left; Col. BisselI's regiment occupied a
position between them, while Col. Me-
! KEGS Kentuckians were transferred from
the right of our line so as to hold a posi-
ton near the centre. The second Indiana
regiment, under Col. Bowles, was placed
on our extreme left. nearly perpendicular
to the direction of our line, so as to OPP
pose by a direct fire the flank movement
OF the enemy. These dispositions hav-
ing been promptly effected, the artillery