Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-05-05

ID OF OUR FEDERAL CO
NESDAY, MAY 5.aI847asea
lto make some necessary arrangements 70
ffbe defence the town, leaving Brig. Gen
gool ID the immediate command Of III
81 Il Bsioro a sI,ose III arransenefis we're eoa, !;
pleted on the morning Of the 22d, wa
advised that the enemy was in sight
advancing. Upon reaching tho ground i
was found that his cavalry advance was il
our front, having marched from Encarna
cion, as we have since learned, at ii O'Clock
on the day previous, and driving in I
mounted force left OF Aqua Nueva to cove,
the removal ofpublic stores. Our troop:
were in position occupying line ofremark'
able strength. The road at this point
becomes narrow deile, the valley on its
right being rendered quite impracticable for
artillery by system Of deep and impass.
able gullies, while on the left a succession
Of rugged ridges and procpitous ravines
extends far back towards the mountain
which bounds the valley. The features OF
the ground were such as nearly to paralyze
the artillery and cavalry Of the enemy,
while his infantry could not derive all the
advantage of its numerical superiority
In this position we prepared to receive him.
Capt. Washington's battery (4th artillery
was posted to command the road, while the
lst and I'd illinois regiments under Colonels
Hardin and Bissell, each eight companies,
Ito the latter of which was attached Capt.
Corners company of Texas volunteers,)
and the I'd Kentucky under Col. Mckee,
occupied the crests of the ridges on the left
and in rear The Arkansas and Kentucky
regiments Of cavalry, commanded by Coils.
Yell and H. Marshall, occupied the extreme
let near the base Of the mountain, while
the Indiana brigade, under Brigader Gen.
eral Lane, composed Of the I'd and 3 rcgi
ments under Coils. Bowles and Lane The
Mississippi riAemen under Col. Davis, the
squadrons Of the lst and I'd dragons under
Capt. Steen and Lieut.. Col. May, and the
light batteries of Capts Sherman and
Bragg, Sd artillery, we're held in reserve.
At ii O'Clock | received from General
Santa Anna summons to surrender at
discretion, which, with q copy of my reply,
| have already transmitted. The enemy
still forbore his attack, evidently waiting
for the arrival Of his rear columns which
could be distinctly seen by our lookonts as
they approached the field. A domonstra
ton made on his left caused me to dctach
the I'd Kentucky regiment and section
Of artillery to our right. in which position
they bivouacked for the night. In the
meantime the Mexican light troops had
engaged ours on the extreme left, (compos.
ed Of parts Of the Kentucky and Arkansas
cavalry dismounted, and rifle battalion
from the Indiana brigade under Major Cor.
man, the whole commanded by Col. Mar
shalI.) and kept up a sharp fire, climbing
the mountain side, and apparently en-
deavoring 10 gain our flank. Three pieces
OF Capt. Washington's battery had been de-
tached to the left, and were supported by
the I'd Indiana regiment. An occasiona
she'll was thrown by the enemy into thi'
part of our line, but without effect. The
sk,rmishing ofthe light troops was kept uf
with trifling loss on our part until dark
when became convinced that no serious
attack would be made before the morning
and returned with the Mississippi regimen
and squadron Of "a dragons to Saltillo.-
The troops bivouacked without fires, an
laid upon their arms. A body of cavalry
some 1900 strong, had been visible all dn.
in rear Of the town, having entered tn
valley through narrow pass east OF tn
city. This cavalry, commanded by Ger
Minon, had evidently been thrown in on
rear to break up and harass our retrea
and perhaps make some attempt again
the town if practicable. The city wa
occupied by four excellent companies
Illinois volunteers under Major Warren {
the lst regiment. A iield-work, whic
commanded most Of the approaches, WI
garrisoned by Capt Webster's compan
lst artillery, and armed with two 24-pour
: howitzers, while the train and headquart
camp was guarded by two companies Nj
sissppi rifemen under Capt. Rogers, and
! feld-picce commanded by Capt Shower. ;
artillery Hnving made these disposition
for the protection Of the rear, | proceed'
on the morning Of the 23d to Buena Visit
ordering forward all the other availnb
troops. The action had commenced befo
4 my arrival on the field.
u During the evening and night of the 90
the enemy had thrown body Of lig
troops on the mountain side, with the pu
pose Of outatnking our left; and it was he
that the action Of the23d commenced at Q
early hour. Our riaemen, under &c
J Marshall, who had been reinforced |
three companies under Major Trail, ID III
: nois volunteers, maintained their grouI
handsomely against a greatly superit
force, holding themselves under cover, al
using their weapons with deadly effec
About 9 o'clock, q strong demonstrate
was made against the centre Of our positio
a heavy column moving along the roa
u This force was soon dispersed BY a fs