Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-04-01
MEMORANDUM OF. THE BATTLE OF
BUENA VISTA

MEMORANDUM OF THE BATTLE OF
BUENA VISTA,
Prepared for the Editors of the Picayans by Lieut..
]. ]. z. BIBB, IT, s. A.
Dr. Turner, u. S. A., who arrived at Matamoras
the 9th inst from Monterey, brought the glorious
intelligence Of another brilliant victory the
Mexican army. <-,-ssene Of action was at Buena
Vista, hacienda about six mles west OF Salli.o.-
The lighting commenced on sne S.ot February and
ended the 3d. Sana Ann retired to Aqua
Nueva, distance of ten n leaving four thousand
killed and wounded on the led S1sta Annals Ad-
juiant General and many other officers and men
prisoners The loss op sUr part was seven hundred
killed and wounded. Santa. Annals force amounted
to at least ffteeh thousand men, that of Gen Taylor
to about five thousand almost entirely Volunteers
His army is composed Of Washington's, Bragg's and
Thomas batteries one squadron of the LIST and one
of the I'd dragons, the Arkansas and Kentucky cav
airy, brigade of Illinois and one Of Indiana volun-
teers, the LIST Mississippi and Kentucky regiments,
and one company Of Texas volunteers.
DR.. L. brought a list of SO officers killed and
wounded l left such haste l unable to obtain
copy, but recoect among the killed Capt. Lincoln,
Asst Adjt Gen. u. S. A.; COL Yell, Of the Arkan-
sas cavalry; Capt More, Adj't Vaughan and three
others (not named) IF The Kentucky cavalry; Col.
Mckee. Lieut. Col. Clay; Capt. Willis, I'd Kentucky
Infantry; Col Hardin, of the Illinois brigade; Ma
Jor German, and many of the Indiana brigade: seve-
rr of the Mississippi regiment, aud two Lleutenants
of Texas volunteers. Among the wounded | remem-
Der Gen. Lane, COL Jefferson Davis, LIST Mississippi
Regiment, Capt. Stein, LIST U. S. Dragons, Captain
Connor, Texas volunteers, Lieuts S. G. French and
O'Brien, u s. Artillery, Lieut.. Barber, I'd Kentucky
Infantry, Lieut.. Corwln, 1st Mississippi Regiment,
and Lieut. Whtesde, of the Indiana brigade.
The official dispatches of Gen. Taylor have been
cut off. Col. Morgan's regiment Ohio volunteers,
having been reinforced by command from Monterey,
had reached that place in safety.
Col. Curtis of Ohio with one company, Capt. Hun
ter'sl of the I'd U. s Dragons, his regiment,
one OF Indiana volunteers, the Virginia regiment and
think some Texas rangers, in all about 2)OO men,
was about to leave Camargo to attack Gen. Urea,
who Is said to be about thirty miles south OF that place
with army of from 1000 to 5000 men, principally
rancheros. He is believed to have with him only
100 regular troops.
great many if not all of these rancheros, soon
as they hear of the discontinue of Santa Annals
my, will dispense, and the gallant Colonel Will no
doubt obtain the victory. This news from above
that the various reports which had before been
received of Gen. Taylors retreat upon Monterey, and
the advance of large force to utack our depots at
the Bazos and at the mouth OF the Bio Grande, TO be
untrue. Of the defences at the mouth Of the river
know nothing, but have been told they are sufficient
10 make strong resistance. The Notifications at the
Brazos, with the force ofsarery and persons In the
quarermaster's employ, which can be raised as gar
rison, Is sufficient to drive back command OF at
least 300 or 5000 Mexicans.
The work, which may be technically termed con-
tInued line, encIoses all the Guartermasters and COM
missarys stores In depot. The parapet is formed of
barrels of damaged commissarys stores, with sand
bags for the superior slope the sand from ditch in
'front.' thrown up against the barrels forms the exte
rlor slope
The armament of the for; consists of four pieces
OF artIllery-two twelve End two slx-poUnders, in
barbette-which sweep the foot of and across their
fires upon the level PLAIN over which the enemy would
be compelled,O advance, and about 3OO muskets 10
line the Parapet This was thrown up when
tack was dary expected. Nothing having reached
US from Gen. Taylor for many Gays, we believed him
surrounded, reported aud gave some degree Of
credit to the rumor of the advance OF large force
upon our depots. Alters waiting three or four days,
anxIously expecting the approach Of the enemy, we
received the glorious news aboves-understoOd of
course that the battle of Brazos Santiago " no
go;' and when sailed the artillery of Fort Harvey,
instead Of moving down the Mexftans, was pealIng
forth salute In honor Of old Rough and Ready 1"
and his gallant little army at Buena Visn.
Re annex Santa Annals own-account OF the actions
of Buena VISTA translated dor the Tampic0 Senti-
mel. We have the original Spanish account in our
possessions
CAMP NEAR BUEsA VISTA, Feb. %, l647.
EXCELLENT -SR :2Afier two days of battle, In
which the enemy with force of 5000 to 5000 men
and twessYei}RpseS of artillery, lost FIVE Of his Po-
stons u. t$+<a<lf. artillery and two flags, have
DIR We-na 800 Aqua Nueva to provide my
sell with pptislb$ nQ( having single huscult or a
grain OF rice let sl1efo the POSITION occupied Dy
the enemy. he has not completely beaten, but he
left on<lhe field about 2u00 daed. Both armies have
been Ut to pieces, but me trophies of war will give
you an dea on winch si6e' has been the advantage
We have struggled. >w.sf hunger and thirst .duriKs
forty and 1f-,ge can provide ourselves with pro-
visions wdeF1H - 1gain 70 charge the enemy The
soldiers unde fmy t6nmapd have done their duty and
covered tile honor Of thu Mexican nation with glory
The enemy has seen That neither his advantageous
position the broken of the ground the
yigor of the season, Cor it has beer raining during
the action) could. prevent the terrible charge with
the bayonet which left him terrified.
Il is highly probable that the loss on the part Of th'
Mexican forces about 1000 men, whilst that of th
American side is about 500. Gen. Taylor has nj
doubt fallen back upon Saltlo continued his cours
towards Monterey. Some say that the coun
fry:besyeep Satlo and Monterey is hlled with arme'
Mexicds1;. also, between Monterey and Camargo
and bef1sens Matalnoras. aud the Brazos; but WI
doubt the truth of them, and, If true, we doubt the
ability to get hold. Of any important point Iher
was a story yesterday that the Mexicans had take
possession of point Isabel, and that the schoone
Swan. which arrived yesterday, brought conhrIna
ton Of these facts. We need only say that there
not word of truth the report far as she is con
cerne6. and that no such news has been officially re
ceiyed by the commander Of this city.
AN. OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED
REGULARS.
Kiled-Cspt Lincoln, Assistant Adjuiant Gen
ersl: