Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-04-16
INCIDENT At THE BATTLE,
From the \. o, Picayune, March Se

FROM Tue ~ ". fIcayune, March 26
At a very critical point Of the battle on the
I'D, when it became necessary to sustain one of
our columns, which was staggering under a
charge made by the Mexicans in overwhelming
numbers, General Taylor despatched Mr.. Crit.
tenden to order Col. Mckee, Of the Cd Kentucky
regiment to bring his men into immediate action.
Mr.. Crttenden found the regiment, men and Of.
GERS, eager for the fray, delivered the order and
rode back to the general, by whose side it was
his duty to keep. The Ken,uckians moved for.
ward in gallant style, led by Mckee and Clay,
both OF whom, alas fell in a subsequent part Of
the day 1t so happened that before reaching q
position from which they could deliver an efiec.
tive fire. the regiment had to cross valley which
was broken up ly ravines and masses Of stone.
Whilst crossing this valley, the heads only of
the men could be seen from the point which Gen.
Taylor and Mr.. Crttenden occupied-and these
were hobblng up and down and crosswise in
s"c' confusion as ~ ,up-oss both with the itea
that the regiment had fallen into disorder The
Mexicans were annoying them at the same mo-
ment by a fire, which helped to confirm the opn.
ion of the general that the Kentuckans were
thrown into disnay. 1t was one of those dec.
slve crises which occur in every contested field
when the issue ofthe day depended. for the time
being, upon the gallantry of particular corps.
Gen. Taylor, who, as before said, could ONLY
see the heads of the troops. and misled by their
motions IN getting across gullics and going
round rocks and other distractions, into the be-
liei that they were about to falter turned to Mr.
Crttenden, who is Il kentuckian, and with
counenance indicating deep modification, for
the General is 4 kentuckan too. and an eve
fierce with emotion, exclaimed. 'By Cd, Mr..
Crttendcn, this will not do-this is not the way
Tor kentuckans TO behave themselves when cal
led upon to make good battle-it will not an.
swer. sir :, and with this he clenched his sword
and knit his brow, and set his teeth hard togeth.
err. Mr.. Crttenden, who was mistaken by the
same indications that deceived the general, could
scarcely make reply from very chagrn and
shame. In few moments, however, the Ken.
tuckians had crossed the uneven places and were
seen ascending the slope of the valley, shoulder
to shoulder, and with the firm and regular stem Of
veterans of hundred fields. On they moved
until they reached the crest of the hill, where
they met the enemy before the flush Of tempo-
rary advantage had subsidized. Here they deiiv.
cred their fire BY companies, with such REGULAR.
" and deadly aim, that the decmated phalanx of
Mexico gave way and retrcaed percipitately.--
As the kentuckians emerged from the valley.
the conntcnancc O. the old general, who was re-
garilng them with the intensest interest, grad
uIlIy relaxed the bitterness Of its expresson-
\ glow Of pride ,nPplantei the deep inortitics-
ton which fixed lis muscles, and enthusiasm
qualified the fierce elances of his eve. Forward
they moved under his rveted gaze, whose feel
ngS became more and more wrought I'D as thew
approached the scene of carnage. When thew
opened their fire the old general could no LONGER
restrain his admiration, but broke forth with
loud huzza. "Hurrah for old Kenturk," he ex.
claimed, talking as it We're to himself and rising
in his sadde-"That's the way to do it;"and
the tears of cXultation rolled down his cheeks a,
he sand it.
Having got rid of this ebullilion of State bride
he went about looking after other parts of the
field.
Some OF our readers may regard this incident.
which we derived from one of the parties con-
cerned, AS savo:ing more of profanity than of
generalship; but it must be borne in mind thai
under the excitement of such terrible scenes Of
havoc and bloodshed, those engaged in them use
the name of the God of Battles with some depre.
of familiarty.
From the Washington Union, April .
As every incident connected with this memo,
able conflict as remarkable for its result as for
the disparity between the opposing forces, must
be interesting 10 our readers, we have endeayor
ed to group together some of them, as caupbt
from hastv conversation with the interesting
and gallant volunteer aid of General TAYLOR. who
was witness OF the whole scene.
The pass OF Buena Vista is abou, one and
three-quarters OF a mile wide, the road being in
the middle. Gen. Taylor's right rested upon the
road, and was So protected by the broken nature
Of the ground as to be secure against any Ar.
tempt to flank him on that side From the road
to the mountains on the LETT is 700 to 500 wards
the iirst half OF the distance being a good deal
cut up by short ravines, running to the road
beyond the heads of these rayines the plain ex.
lends to the mountain, which is steep and almost
inaccessible, On this plain the battle was main.
y fought Most of Washington's battery was
planted on the right, TO defend the road. Bragr's
ana Ihomas's batteries, and others, were on The