The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-05
JOSEPH LANE, Brig. Gen.

I'd regiment oil Indiana volunteers al the hehofpie pe
JOSEPH LANE, Brig. Gen.
BUENA VISTA, May IS, 1917.
SIR: In compliance with your order OF this date re-,
uuiring me to transmit to brigade headquarters full
and detailed report of the action OF the Sd regiment OF
Indiana volunteers during the battle OF Buena Vista
have the honor to report that on the morning OF the
22d of February, about O'Clock, m, the alarm was
beaten camp and the tents OF my regiment were I'M
medatey struck, the camp and garrison equIpage and
baggage all packed in the regmenta train, and the regl
ment formed order of battle AS careful in
specton had ascertaned that the OF the regiment
in complete order, and that every man was sup
piled with at least forty rounds OF ammuntIon my regi-
ment, in conjunction with the I'd regiment OF Indiana
volunteers marched in the direction OF the enemy
about mile, and placed position upon the side OF a
broad ravine about three hundred yards IN rear and a
little to the left of Washngtons battery. in the road
While this pos na the % my r.
command of Major Gorman and ordered to the extreme
left of our line.
take position upon height Immediately in rear of Wash
ingtons battery, and overlooking the battery and the
road by which the enemy must advance to attack the
right Of our line In this position the regiment remained
during the rest of the day and the night OF the 22d While
in this position, four companies OF my regment-com
pany I, under Capt Taggart company +, under lei, capt
Elny G, under Lieut.. Provnce-were actively employed
during the afternoon in terrifying the pass in the road
men and officers working the spade and pckaxe with
out regard to rank On the morning OF the 23d, about
O'clock and almost simultaneously with the commence
ment of the battle on the plateau, heavy force of the
enemys cavalry and infantry were discovered advancing
terry at the pass When within about twelve hundred
yards the battery opened its fire upon them with destruc
tive effect and their column broke confusion. For
moment cloud of dust hid them from view but imme-
datey afterwards they emerged from 1t again In ORDER
and resumed the advance.
The artillery played upon them with great rapid
ty and accuracy and after wavering for a moment the
whole column broke 10 their right up the bed OF the
ravne and joined the forces which had Just engaged the
al T,l,o nlnft
heavy fire of artillery from mortar battery in
'front.' and battery OF is and 24pounders the base
of the mountain our lett, was opened upon my reg
ment, killing several horses in rear, but doing
execution in our ranks. This fire maintained as
long we continued TO occupy that position The men
were ordered TO Lie down, to avoid its effects which must
otherwise have been very destructive round shot
passed repeatedly along the entire length OF our line.
About % o'clock, a. M the regiment was ordered TO
the lett OF our position, to join the Mississippi renen
and the "a Indiana regiment for the purpose OF defeating
or capturing large body of the enemys cavalry and in
antry that had become involved in gorge of the
tain our left So soon as this junction was formed
whole force, consisting of the eight battalion compa
MES OF my regiment, about 500 strong the cd Indiana
regimen, and Mississippi ntemen, each about 200
strong, and two pieces of artillery under command of
Captain Sherman, advanced TO the attack So soon as
we arrived within muskery range, the enemy opened a
severe fire upon u.s. which was Immediately returned and
kept up until an order to cease firing arrived from Gen
Taylor, consequence, afterwards understood of a
white flag having been sent in by the enemy.
The enemy, however, continuing their fire, we re-
sumed ours also, and maintained it until we had fired
twenty rounds Of ammunition Perceving at this time that
the enemy organizing on our front and rght-a
heavy charge ocavalry and their battery which had
enflading fire upon US, commencing 10 do execution in
our ranks--l marched my regiment by the right flank
under heavy fire of muskery and artillery, TO what
conceived to be more advantageous position, about
four hundred yards to the right My regiment was here
placed in position to receive the cavalry, with its left
resting upon the break OF steep ravine which, by pro-
tecting that flank, rendered the formation OF d
squire unnecessary. Marching into this position by
the right flank had necessarily thrown our rear rank
next TO the enemy; and prepared to receive them
faced by the rear rank. This disposition placed my left
companies upon the extreme right of the line. Upon the
left of line, thus formed posted the ID Indiana
regiment and upon their left the Mississippi rhemen and
artillery.
AS soon as the enemys cavalry, backed by large
masses of infantry, in view II perceived that
they designed charging us on successive squadrons and
that the head of their column directed obquely upon
the right of our line | Immediately directed Captains
Gibson and Conover throw their companies sufficiently
back from the line to present their front directly the
charge-which Immediately done; thus giving those
companies direct while the rest of the line had
oblique fire upon the approaching column The enemy
down upon ms at easy gallop, and IN admirable
order, and were permitted TO approach within about TIM