The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-04-20
Auga Nueya. March I, 1S47


.. Santa Anna designed no doubt TO
whip Gen. Taylor's small army Of Volunteers
here and then TO rush all the way down to The
Rio Grande, destroying all our dePots. driv-
ing away all our forces, and thus just putting
the United States back TO the old starting
point, and proving TO the world that he is the
.second Napoleon" Gen. Taylor-"Old
Zeck" Rough and Ready" or 1.-THE crafty
old Yankee, THAT Santa Anna GALES him.
OF By whatever name you please to style him,
remained here in this camp which bad been
selected. not with view to defence, but as
a good position TO gain information of and to
| watch the enemy, and as furnishing good
ground for an encampment, plenty Of wood
and wafer, proximity to corn, &c. When
| the enemy was within one days march Of
hero. we quickly and with great good order,
not leaving biscuit for the enemy. fell back
to pass in the mountains near Buena Vista
The mountains are two high ridges about
two miles apart from base TO base, with an
| intermediate range Of lesser mountains near
| the western range, all running nearly north
and south. Between this lessee range and
! the high eastern one, runs the road from Sal
| tillo TO Agna Nueva; from the eastern noun
tains tho ground gradually 'descends TO the
| naly level. is cut by the action of the water
which passes down the various ravines, dug
into gullies, deep pits, terrific chasms, &c.
OH all sides are these percipitous ravines and
ehasms. formed by the pouring Of the mighty
! torrents from the mountains during the rainy
| seasons. These are sbsolstely impossible
! by ony species of force which is at all oppos-
I ed-snG there are no passes or roads by
f-lI
back and taking very circuitous route. come
| al as. without forcing this pass. We dug up
| The road. enirenched our guns at it, posted
I our various field batteries on the eminence
and in well-selected positions, arranged our
lines of troops in proper positions and then
| awaited the sol, disant Napoleon ii. He,
seeing that it was apparent we had left Auga
Nueva in haste, determined TO enter at once
| upon our destruction. On the 22d little was
doue-Gen. Taylor and his staff occupied
the road-Gen. Santa Anna and his Staff a
hill 10 our 'front.' where each with spy glasses,
engineers, pickets, &c. &c. made himself as
well acquainted as circumstances would per-
| nit, with the positions assumed by the other.
Toward evening there was q little firing. the
Mexican infantry pressing up the face of the
eastern mountains, apparently with the de-
the regular battle opened with full vigour and
| lasted all day until dark, with various pros
poets at different periods. We bad not more
than 5000 Inen-Santa Anna about 20. 600.
Both sides fought their best; hut We had
Gen. Taylor and some exceedingly well ham
died batteries. four companies Of regular
Dragons and some Volunteer Regiments
which fought with terrific valoT Al night
the conflict ceased-each side occupying the
ground they had in the morning, though there
had been some advancing and yielding du-
ring the day. Wagon-loads Of privislons
were distributed late at night on tho field of
battle. and DOR men who had fought SO we'll
during the day, bad secured TO them. every
man. full rations at night. Thus they were
we'll prepared and all expected TO resume
their fighting again the next day; but at the
earliest peep Of day it was found that SANTA
Anna and his whole army bad, during the
night. quit the field and suddenly retired
II was soon found that his whole army wns
IN full reireat-ihat it was cut to pieces dis
organized, broken spirited.-The field was
then examined; great numbers OF dead and
wounded lying everywhere. Santa Anna did
not take care Of, or take away his own wouad-
ed. The Mexican killed and wounded. is
probably 1900 or mors.-The Mexican Ar
my is dsstroyed-iti is no longer an army-it
is still refining without order-wiIhout the
means Of ubsistarce-Nithour my single
element Of recovery, This is one Of the
most signal victories Of modern times.