Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-04-22
A BATTLE FIELD-INCIDENrS
The following letter from Saltillo we copy from
the New Orleans Delta:

io, VI Duo." 'iS'a' pronounced WdnO ESta J and
will now give you few scenes which have wit
messed, not mentioned in that letter.
The first view that we caught of the enemy ,,s
when they had turned the left flank of our lines.
and were pursuing the Flying Infantry and Horse.
men, Column after column succeeded. until tbey
formed dense mass, numbering something like
weiVe Thousand men. No words can convey to
you even iant idea OF their imposing appearance.
Their arms, brilliantly FURNISHED, reflected mil.
lion times the dazzliug rays of the sun-their rich
ana gaudy uniforms stood out in bold relief against
the soiled and attered garments of the ssuffer;no
volunteers their Cavalry (Lancers) drawn mn
m beautiful style, in numbers from two to three
thousand, and Ill lines the beauty of which the
most accurate military observer could have found no
iauit with and, added to this, that they were, for
the tine, victors, assure you we did not look npon
them with contempt. But when the quick. sharn
ringing OF our rifles sounded the death knel OF
score after score Of them, three hearty Miss;sspn
cneers told full we'll that cowardly fear paraiyz
ed that little band. Rushing on, our small force
would have scattered the retreatng foe i'm all direc
lions over the death-strew field, had not our watch
iui leader, Col. Davis, perceived that we were "a
bout to be surrounded by an overpoweripp force
and ordered us to retire and rally.
Here an amusing circumstance took place. Ma
lot Dradford-who is probably the most impetuous-
ly brave officer who ever drew a sword-perceiyed
us retiring and thought we were defeated He dis
mounted from his horse and followed on slowly af-
ter us, eXclaiming: "!Shoot mel s.Shoot me y,
Some one called out
hat the DEVILS the matter, Major 90
nm, kth me The mississippi Regiment has
run, and don't cant to lice another minute -
But the gallant Major was quickly undeceived,
Tor we soon reformed, and although our ranks were
terribly thinned by the killed and wounded, yet a
gam was heard the deep voice Of the noble Davis
''FOr,card! Guide centre! March - The COM
mand was repeated by fifty Voices and with more
steadIness and precision than the careless fellows
Were ever known to evnce on a drill, they return
cd to the bloody contest. But it is not my intention
to repeat what have already written
At one time during the fight, we returned 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 herce contest just passed, and the knowledge
that that contest was just then to be renewed vet
think there was not a heart among us which did
not for a moment cease to beat on beholdinp that
horrible scene. But for his straw hat and a few
other articles Of clothing which the ruflians had
lett on hun. should have failed TO recognize the
body OF young Eggleston. He was shot, stabbed
and otherwise abused. This was. indeed, the fate
OF all whom | saw. Lieut.. Moore, and man
named Couch, Of our company, We're the only per
sons whose bodies easily recognised
After the battle rode over the whole field Par
ties were engaged in burying the dead-but there
Were sui hundreds OF bodies lying stiff and cold
with no covering save the scanty remnant of cloth
ing which the ROBBERS Of the dead found loo value
less TO take from them. | saw the human body
pierced in every place. | saw expressed in the
faces OF the dead almost every passion and FEELING
Some seemed to have died execratinp their enemies
and cursing them with their last breath others had
the most placid and resigned expressions ap-
peared to have died defending their lives bavelv to
the last, while others evidently used their last
words in supplicating for mercy Here lay youth
and mature age calmly reposing in untimely death.
Passing on from this part of the bloody ground -,
went over to the plain literally covered with the
dead bodies of those who had so recently been our
foes. This scene was horrible enough. God knows
but was Invested OF of its horrors by the fact
that not one of tho .Mexicnn soldiers was either
robbed or stripped of his clothing nor twas there
the least appearance of the bodies having been a
bused after being wounded This indeed speaks
much for the ''barbarous volunteers of the United
States Of the North, )" as the Mexicans style u.s.
Among the hundreds of dead whom saw there.
was much touched by the appearance of the corps
of Mexican boy, whose age should think could
not have exceeded fifteen years. 4 bullet had
struck him full through the breast and must have
accustomed almost instant DEATH He was lying on
his back. his face slightly inclined to one side and
although cold, yet beamng with bright and sun
ny smile, which eloquently told the spectator that
he had fallen with his face to his country's foe.
Satillo is one vast hospital Besides our own
wounded, four five hundred in number) General
Taylor has collected all the wounded Mexicans
who were left by their army, and put them in hos
Pltal. 1t is most disgusting to visit one OF those
places. All Of them Ohe Mexicans) are badly
wounded, for those that were slightly wounded
went Off They are dying every hour in the day.
The New Orleans Delta. extra, Of the 18th inst,
contains letter from Vera Cruz, giving the follow
ing description Of
COL. HARNEY'S DRAGON FIGHT.
Information was received in camp this morning
that body of Mexicans hanging on our rear
intending to force the lines if possible and make
their way into the city with number OF cattle
Col. Harvey, with one hundred and twenty dra-
goons, was ordered out in search of them, and to
report his observations. He discovered them about
two thousandiR number eDtrenched at a bridge and
supported by two pieces of artillery, three miles
from Gen. Patterson's headquarters. Col. Harvey
started on his return, intending to prepare properly
and attack them the next morning. But the gal