Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-13

following copy from the Evansville Journal; and
Notwithstanding the severity of the charges against
Col. B., there is certainly reason to believe it,
than to believe whole regiment towards However,
the matter will no doubt be thoroughly sifted by
Court Martial. Until that result is known, the peo-
pie, while forming opinions, should suspend final
Judgment.
BuENA VISTA, Mexico.l
March ID, 1877.
/ wrote you short account of the battle we fought
at this place the 22d and Odd Of February but did
not give you all the particulars. wish now to give
the people of Indiana a few facts connected with il
in order to vindcate the I'd Regiment of Indiana
Volunteers from unmerited disgrace They COM
menced the battle on the morning of the Odd in as
lne style as any body Of troops on Garth could and
fought bravey until III o'clock when they retreated
IN confusion, and part of them could be after-
wards rallied. They mustered on the field much less
than 400 men, and were opposed, at the time they
gave way, TO at least 1000 Mexican troops and ex-
posed to the fire of one of the enemies batteries at
the same time This state of things would not have
justified them in retreating IL the reason trhv
they did so. They were manfully maintaining their
ground against all the immense Odds and Brig. Gen.
Lane had ordered battery their right to take an
advanced position with a view Of bringing the Repi-
men closer to the enemy that their fire might be more
effective. Before his Camp had time to return
from delivering the order to advance to the battery
and while he was still waiting his return in order to
give the necessary orders for advancing the troops
they gave way the right, and in a few minutes the
whole line was in full retreat This unfortunate cir
cumstance was very losing us the victory, and
costing the lives of the whole army for il has since
been ascertained that Santa Anna had given orders to
take prisoners, and it has covered the Regiment
and the State with disgrace This odium must be
removed, and the establishment of fact is sui-
clent to do It, They were ordered 10 retreat by their
(rOlO7lelI Colonel William A e
that Regiment had acted through the fight in way
but little calculated to inspire his men with confidence
IN his bravery He dismounted as as the firing
commenced, and endeavored to shelter himself by
staying Immediately in the rear Of his troops with
his horse between him and the enemy,s battery and
while the men were fighting as bravely as men
ever fought, and no one thinking of rereating, he
gave the order to 90 cease firing and retreat,
This led to disorderly flight and some few of the
men could not be induced again to join the troops and
continue the fight Two-thirds three-ourths of the
regiment, however, were rallied by their officers and
Tough: bravely throughout the rest of the action,
which continued until night.
The odum of this retreat should not attach to the
men who retreated, but TO the officer who gave the
order Had they not obeyed it, they would have been
guilty OF one of the greatest military Offences and
justly liable to the severest punishment As soon as
the order was given by Colonel Bowles, and while
Lieutenant Colonel MADDEN, Major Cravens, and the
other officers of the regiment, together with General
Lane. were endeavoring to stop them by repeatedly
ordering them to halt he mounted his horse and fed
from the field He made no effort afterwards to rally
the men, but was concealed in deep gully dis
mounted and holding his horse by the bride. He
afterwards took his station behind the Mississippi
Regiment where he had no command, and there con-
tinued till the close of the action
That the I'd Regiment, composed Of as good and
brave men were embodied, should be disgraced
IN the manner it has been by the cowardice of its
Colonel is not to be endured, and to-day, to vndicate
themselves and the character of their State they have
caused Colonel Bowles TO be arrested and in few
days the verdict of Court Martial will wipe out the
infamous stain he has inflicted. He is charged with
Incompetence ordering all unnecessary retreat
without authority, General Lane in the mme-
date command of the Regiment--with acting in a
cowardly and unsodierlike manner before the enemy
and with abandoning his post and his men, and con-
cealIng himself in deep gully. All these charges
have no doubt, will be proven against him, and he
dismissed from the service in disgrace. This will
efectually redeem the Regiment from shame, and the
character of our State will shine heretofore bright
and untarnished. At the time that Gen. Lane made
his official report of the action, these facts were not
known to him. They have come to light since, and
will in short time be officially laid before the public
remain yours, A VOLUNTEER.
Since the above was in type we have received the
Evansville Journal, containing the following:
05-The following is an extract from letter of our
correspondent under date of the 9th March, and con-
tans the latest information have received in regard
to this matter, 1.-The charges against COL Bowles,
having been forwarded by Gen. Wool, to Gen. Taylor
for his sanction; answer has been returned that be
will not entertain the charges nor order court-mar-
tial in the case because Gen. Woos and COL Davis's
reports Of the battle both eulogse him. Now Davs
made his report on this matter upon the authority of
Bowles himself, and Gen. Wool made his report on
the authority of Col. Davis. So that Gen. Taylor
refuses court-martial the strength of Bowess
statements of the battle, made at the time, for the
purpose Of screening himself. Though court-mar-
tial is refused the matter will not rest So Gen. Lane
has obtained court of inquiry into his conduct on
that day, in order that the facts connected with the
whole matter may then be brought to light. The Off
of the regiment finding that they have all been
dlsgraced in Gen. Wools report, founded on Bowess
authority, have determined that the matter shall not
rest So and that the I'd Indiana Regiment shall be
disgraced by the inconceivable baseness of Bowles
They are determined that the truth shall come out
On the 18th the court of inquiry called for by General
Lane, will commence its session, and in about week
full development will be made of the facts.
ToRNADo.-A dreadful hurricane passed over this
city Saturday afternoon last, abuut o'clock. For
time it seemed as though the whole city would be
swept off, 1t reached the lower part Of the city, at
first from the southwest and passed without Co.
ing much damage but changed its direction, and came
back from the west-blowing down small ten
ement on Mill street, the corner of Main Cross
by which Mrs. Mckee, (not the widow Mckee, who
resides on Mulberry was instantaneously killed, and
one OF her daughters had both her lower limbs broken
and received other injuries. number of other hou
ses, also including the Cotton Factory were unrooed
and otherwise partially injured. The steepe on the
First Presbyterian Church partially shattered and
driven eastwardly from its proper place about Is
inches at the base Ii will probably have to be taken